ON CHOOSING A LUGGAGE: SAMSONITE, RIMOWA AND VOYAGER

I always liked Samsonite luggages and bags and I have always been satisfied with them.

But early this year, when I decided to buy a new luggage bag, I got a Samsonite lightweight hardcase luggage which indeed was very classy and light.

I decided to get the really big bag for 30 kgs allowance because my next trip will last for 10 days (Zam-Mla-Penang-Singapore-Mla-Zam).
I chose it because I thought it had the Rimowa look - silver and with vertical grooves.
(Pardon Samsonite, I got attracted to the Rimowa luggage when I read about it in 2009!)

The Cosmolite was the best of the Samsonite set and the most attractive, but what was available was only up to 20 kgs. size, which I thought was too small at that time. (but later, decided to buy one of that size, too!)


Well, I did buy another type of Samsonite polycarbonate luggage and I am all praises for the comfort I had while traveling abroad.
But, what I am worried about is the scratches it really got!
Yes, I was aware that there would be scratches and they say it is okay because it would just add CHARACTER!
THE MORE SCRATCHES, THE MORE TRAVELS, THE MORE CHARACTER!!!


After a 10-day trip, these are the scratches it got!

Sometimes, I am not too comfortable that it would have too much character because scratches a make me feel sad!


Also, I chose the one without the zipper because it is supposed to be safer and water couldn't get in the bag!

I think, I still prefer the one with zipper... it is more difficult to use the one without zipper! And I think, more difficult to close. Supposedly, it is more durable but I don't feel that.

As for the lock, it need a key and again, I am afraid the key would be lost (it is a special kind) and I can't open the luggage anymore!
The TSA lock is more ideal.


Anyway, for the lightweight and comfort during travel, the Samsonite gets perfect points. Rimowa is also known for superlight luggages.


For the other features, like a separate key and not the zipper type, I personally like it less but this is supposed to be a choice that I made myself!


Choosing a luggage, PERSONAL PREFERENCE is the primary criteria.
1) Price. One has to know how much you are willing to spend.
2) Make. It is your choice to choose a branded or generic one. There are also durable less expensive bags.
    My Voyager luggage bag went through the subways of London and survived! This is really durable!
3) Effect of handling. Look at bags in the conveyor belts of airports and see if the expensive ones still look good after all the rough handling.
    Note: the Rimowa bag I had was advised for special handling because it had a "hard case!" So I guess they were more careful with it!
4) Size. Check what size of luggage bag you need!
    I chose the 30 kgs. luggage bag because of a 10 day trip, or maybe for a trip to the US.
     I remembered, in the US, wherein the US domestic flights count the number of bags rather than weight of the baggage!

  .I chose the 20 kgs. luggage bag because it was a shorter trip and I went to HongKong and had to travel through the MTR train station and so I had to be more flexible and the bag has to go through the counters!

5) Type. The type of bag is your personal preference.
     a) Canvas or hard case?
          Canvas is not prone to scratches.
          Hardcase is supposed to be more durable, but have to check if it is the flexible kind of hard case! Internet helps a lot to find out about this.
         My Samsonite had black scratches. Rimowa of the same kind is said to have scratches of the same color but, I haven't seen the scratches on the Rimowa.

         For my black Rimowa, there were no visible scratches after the trip!

     b) Zipper or non-zipper?
          I prefer zipper type, but, non-zipper type is supposed to be safer since couldn't be opened.

     c) With key or no key? 
         I prefer without the key but just the lock combination! I might lose the key!
         But, always choose one with the TSA lock. One of my bags from the US had a paper notice saying that it was opened and checked.
        If the lock is not TSA type, they open the padlock forcibly. 

So far, I like the Rimowa Bolero best... with the hard case, zipper, TSA lock and outside pocket and didn't have any scratches after the trip!


You can choose whatever luggage you like. There is no perfect luggage. The very durable and beautiful ones have a PRICE to pay!