What hard shell luggage do you recommend?
 

I'm off again round the world, and this time I want to avoid the zippered cloth-style luggage that got my belongings squashed and wet outside Singapore airport one time recently.

I'm going for a Samsonite case, I think it's an Oyster model, with a fold out carry handle and wheels on the narrow end.

Anyone had experience with these cases, or is there anything better?

This model also comes in bright yellow - while that's good to quickly identify it on a luggage carousel, the color offends my sensibilities.

What's your thoughts?

Ken Silver
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~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

My wife and I were just discussing the yellow Samsonite case. We're a pretty traditional couple in our mid-50's, but the thought of getting something that stand-outish is getting interesting.

Why not? It's easy to see on the carousel. Few people would steal it because of its uniqueness... the airport police would be able to identify it at a glance.

One net reviewer of this case said that he liked to look out the window of his plane on the tarmac and see HIS case being loaded. You wouldn't be able to do that with the standard black.

What's everyone's thoughts here? Plain ol black, or status-defying yellow?

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

Here's a pic of the style and colors.

I've got a Silhouette 6 hard case....really nice and scuffs really don't show.

I bought it at AAA for about 60% off retail.

Re: World tour!!
 

The way I travel, I only check the bag in once, and it ends up at my destination no matter how many intermediate stops I make. That's a sort of ship.

And it's not a world tour - I wouldn't know what to do on any of these giant trips - mine is just my bi-annual jaunt from NZ to Britain to see my family for a couple of weeks.

I was hoping to get to see through the Aston Martin plant this time, but they only allow owners through these days <sigh>

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

The power of the net! I've decided to buy the yellow Samsonite based on an amazing 884 customer reviews for this bag at http://www.ebags.com/product_detail/index.cfm?modelID=121&sourceid=COMJ0001&AID=10293324&PID=1367884

Of these reviews, 801 were positive. That's good enough for me.

I've said it many times before - what would we do without the information obtained from this splendid resource, the internet!

-I make my living solely from it.
-I get accurate and relevant information from it.
-I've made friends on it.
-I've helped others with it.

For me, it ranks along with electricity and television as the foremost advance of our time.

Oh, and then there's spam :(

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver /black, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey / grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

We have excellent experience with Delsey. They are really well made, much better than Samsonite. I still have the two Delsey's that must have logged over 300k miles all over the world in 10 years and they just started to show some sign of wear and tear from the abuse of the airlines :) My wife's Delsey is still in great shape in 15 years although she doesn't travel as much as I used to. Go with Delsey;)

Yes, I've heard that they're good. But the die is already cast! :)

Ken Silver

I am a frequent traveller and the best hard shell luggage in my oppinion would be a Delsey. The quality is also very good... and more importantly the wheels are protected. I had luggages that had wheels ripped and knocked off by those gentle and courteous people handling the luggages.. and making sure they get to the right destination on time.:rolleyes:

If you're style conscious, check out vintage hard luggage. I've got a Samsonite form the 60's with awesome travel stickers on it-like fly fishing and rec. stuff. Otherwise, the previous poster put the colors on the Samsonite case-my brother uses them and they are totally cool.

I'm certainly style conscious Orkrist - that's why my wife and I own SL's. :) But I had to grip the edge of the seat when I bought the yellow Samsonite this afternoon.

It's color you won't miss, and that of course is the reason I bought it. But I wouldn't buy a yellow Merc. Cases for courses! (Or should that be horses for courses).

My trip is at the end of May, so I'll post my experiences with this bag on my return.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening triple black, xenons: http://www.kensilver.com/SL
~1999 SLK 230 Kompressor, silver/black leather, CD, immaculate (my wife's)
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey/grey leather, best in country!
~ex 350SL, 230E, 280E, MX5 and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice.

I bought the red Samsonite case about 2 years ago after having owned 2 other Samsonite Oyster cases in black. I agree I was a little gunshy about the flashy color but it works great at the airport and as you observed it is much more readily identifiable if someone tries to steal it.
I have no complaints with the Samsonite in the 15? years I owned them, other than my ex-wife liked them so much she took them in the divorce.