Samsonite Rigid Suitcase. (Samsonite Luggage)

Member Name: GillMN

Product:	Samsonite Luggage
Date:	27/08/08 (287 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Protects your luggage. Looks good. Hardwearing.

Disadvantages: Expensive.

I am the proud owner of a Samsonite 'Sky Wheeler' suitcase. It should have cost me about £150.00 which is a lot of money!
It actually cost me an incredible £8.00 at Chirk car boot sale!
Mine is black but they are also available in other colours. Beige and yellow if I remember correctly.
My last hard sided suitcase used to scuff very easily but this one (touch wood) still looks pretty unblemished.

I have always looked at the expensive luggage in various airport shops a bit wistfully. There is no way I would pay the asking price for this item. I just don't have that sort of money to spend on luggage. (Especially when I could be spending it on travelling!)
Having said that, I would say it was worth the money, I don't suppose this one will ever wear out or go wrong it is so strongly built. It is elegantly designed too.

Inside it has elasticated partitions at the sides to hold bits and bobs. It also has elasticated straps that meet in the middle to help to hold your clothes in place. (but I nearly always forget about them and have to extricate them from under my clothes!)
Another little compartment inside zips shut to hep organising your things.

It has a combination lock which you can set your own number for very easily.
I like the handle which is retractable and you can also adjust the height of it which is really handy. (No pun intended.)
The two wheels are very solidly mounted and unlikely to snap off as you often see with wheeled suitcases.
If you are somewhere where wheeling isn't an option there are comfortable handles on the top and side.

I don't know what the suitcase weighs, it is not as heavy as I expected it to be. Weight of the luggage is definitely a factor to be considered if you don't want to pay excess baggage charges.
(but if you can routinely afford Samsonite you might not be too worried!)

It is supposed to be hand luggage size. I always check mine in because it looks too big to me to get in an overhead locker. Perhaps it is okay for travelling in America where their lockers are much bigger.
It has plenty of room for three of four nights worth of clothes and accessories unless you are a kitchen sink packer. I find it useful for weekend meetings because it will also hold my laptop and papers safely. I have never had any items damaged using a hard sided case.

I seem to remember that Samsonite advertised the strength of their cases by having an elephant stand on one. They are certainly very sturdy. If I ever go back to India I might try this! As it is, I am not quite elephantine but I use it to sit on quite regularly when there are no seats available. I haven't harmed it yet.

Summary: If you can afford, buy it. It is the best.