Poster: A snowHead
|
I could do with getting a couple of new ones as two of my children are away with a school ski trip at the same time I'm away skiing. What I'd like is a hard shell, 4 wheeled case and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck with any of the 'no name' cheaper brands on eBay or Amazon? Or conversely if you've had bad luck with a cheap case (i.e. it's fallen apart quickly) let me now what to avoid. I'm sure it's perfectly possible that some 'no name' cases are made in the same factory in China as the 'name' cases which sell for 4 times the price. It's just finding out which ones! Cheers.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Good backpacks would be worth considering for the kids - along with a ski bag if they are taking skis. Dragging a heavy suitcase through snow and ice is no fun. Kids should not need any more than they can carry, and the stuff they simply cannot do without will magnify to fill the space allotted.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
I don’t know if these count as cheap but I thought they were reasonably priced (pretty basic though) and we’ve been happy with the carry on sized hard case.
https://www.tripp.co.uk/
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Can vouch for the Tripp ones as @ster, said. Keep an eye on ebay as they pop up now and again, just sold in laws ones on ebay - Tripp hard shell type, telescopic, 4 wheeled ones medium & large for £70 to the winning bidder.
We've still got the same ones and have used regularly, seemed to stand up to most Airport Handlers dealings and still going strong.
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
pam w wrote: |
Good backpacks would be worth considering for the kids - along with a ski bag if they are taking skis. Dragging a heavy suitcase through snow and ice is no fun. Kids should not need any more than they can carry, and the stuff they simply cannot do without will magnify to fill the space allotted. |
The school has given them 20kg luggage allowance to include their helmets and boots. I don't think either of them would be happy carrying a 20kg backpack but I will ask them.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
ster wrote: |
I don’t know if these count as cheap but I thought they were reasonably priced (pretty basic though) and we’ve been happy with the carry on sized hard case.
https://www.tripp.co.uk/ |
Thanks. I'm not worried about bells and whistles, just that they will survive a ten foot drop when launched by an indifferent French baggage handler!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon94 wrote: |
Can vouch for the Tripp ones as @ster, said. Keep an eye on ebay as they pop up now and again, just sold in laws ones on ebay - Tripp hard shell type, telescopic, 4 wheeled ones medium & large for £70 to the winning bidder.
We've still got the same ones and have used regularly, seemed to stand up to most Airport Handlers dealings and still going strong. |
Thanks. Out of curiosity why did they sell them if they are a good suitcase?
|
|
|
|
|
|
greengriff wrote: |
ster wrote: |
I don’t know if these count as cheap but I thought they were reasonably priced (pretty basic though) and we’ve been happy with the carry on sized hard case.
https://www.tripp.co.uk/ |
Thanks. I'm not worried about bells and whistles, just that they will survive a ten foot drop when launched by an indifferent French baggage handler! |
I reckon they’ll do the job better than the ebay/Amazon knock offs.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Tripp are fine..had mine for years
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quote: |
I don't think either of them would be happy carrying a 20kg backpack but I will ask them.
|
It's easier to carry a 20 kg backpack than a 20 kg suitcase - and you can't always rely on being able to wheel a suitcase. And 20 kg is the absolute max - they ought to be able to get away with less than that. But decent backpacks aren't cheap.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@greengriff, Thanks. Out of curiosity why did they sell them if they are a good suitcase?
Sold them as these were the in laws and they no longer need them (they are no longer going abroad). Still got ours though!
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
We got a couple of cheap cases from either Amazon or ebay about 10 years ago for the kids to use as cabin bags and they are sill going strong.
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
I've always thought TK Maxx was a good place for suitcases. Got a lightweight Columbia one there a few years ago for a good price that is proving to be very good. Also had a 4 wheel hard shell weekend case that was a bargain and excellent too.
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
pam w wrote: |
Quote: |
I don't think either of them would be happy carrying a 20kg backpack but I will ask them.
|
It's easier to carry a 20 kg backpack than a 20 kg suitcase - and you can't always rely on being able to wheel a suitcase. And 20 kg is the absolute max - they ought to be able to get away with less than that. But decent backpacks aren't cheap. |
Maybe for an adult, but not for a kid. 20kg would be nearly half their bodyweight. Maybe my mind is unfairly closed, but for a ski trip 4-wheeled suitcases have proved invaluable to me over the years. The places where you can use wheels far outnumber the places where you can't (usually just getting from the transfer bus into the hotel lobby), and when you're trying to manage ski bags, kids, and their luggage too, being able to just leave it without having to physically pick up and put down, is a godsend. Also I can manage 3 or 4 wheeled suitcases at a time in an airport, and plop 3 or 4 sets of hand luggage on top of them when I do. As Orwell might have said '4 wheels good, 2 wheels (or no wheels!) bad'!
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 17-11-22 14:35; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Cheers. Tripp cases on their website are a little cheaper than no name brand on Amazon, so that's good. Still 50% more than no name brands on eBay though. Caveat emptor I guess!
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Buy cheap - buy twice! there always seems to be a luggage outlet at any of the big outlet centres around the country, TK Maxx usually have some as well but as with everything there its potluck what they have on your visit
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
musher wrote: |
We got a couple of cheap cases from either Amazon or ebay about 10 years ago for the kids to use as cabin bags and they are sill going strong. |
But they don’t make them like they used to!
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
So Tripp is looking like the best 'bang for buck' so far. Interestingly they do not allow you to buy spares, so if you break a wheel or a handle, that's that! Not very helpful. There's another brand, Kono, with similar good specs to the Tripp cases (e.g. Polypropylene shell instead of ABS, YKK zippers etc.) but that are available nearly a third cheaper. Has anyone got one?
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Quote: |
Buy cheap - buy twice! |
Absolutely! I've collected my undies up off the conveyor belt after the zip bust on the cheap rucksack my parents bought me to travel with when I was 15 (it weighed in at 17kg, and I was fairly lightweight and under 160cm tall – the bag weight wasn't really a problem). As a student, they bought me a much better Samsonite hard shell case, which I am still using 20 years later, and when the handle came loose, Samsonite sent me another (improved) part without issue FOC. Mum still has some Delsey hard cases which are around 40 years old, and still good, it's just that modern designs are much better shaped.
Could you not supply some decent cases, maybe as a Christmas present? They really do last a long time. Or otherwise ask family or neighbours if they have a couple you could borrow, given your timing predicament?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perhaps borrowing is the way to go!!! I just thought that if I could get a good case for cheaps by being open to unknown brands then I would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scarlet wrote: |
Could you not supply some decent cases, maybe as a Christmas present? |
Suitcases as Xmas presents for school aged kids? Not sure that would go down well.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
ster wrote: |
Scarlet wrote: |
Could you not supply some decent cases, maybe as a Christmas present? |
Suitcases as Xmas presents for school aged kids? Not sure that would go down well. |
Absolutely! It would be a frosty atmosphere at lunch
|
|
|
|
|
|
ster wrote: |
Suitcases as Xmas presents for school aged kids? Not sure that would go down well. |
So give them the suitcase and tell them the extra ski trip is for Christmas? Ages are not stated – a soon-to-be travelling with mates late teen might be fine with pricey travel stuff.
I get your point though – someone used to getting a new iPhone or first car for crimbo might find it not up to expectations.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Scarlet wrote: |
ster wrote: |
Suitcases as Xmas presents for school aged kids? Not sure that would go down well. |
So give them the suitcase and tell them the extra ski trip is for Christmas? Ages are not stated – a soon-to-be travelling with mates late teen might be fine with pricey travel stuff.
I get your point though – someone used to getting a new iPhone or first car for crimbo might find it not up to expectations. |
A car for Christmas??? I wish I had your parents
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
If it helps, my 11 year old uses my 50L rucksack bought aeons ago from Decathlon for Scout camping and hikes with no problem at all, it must weigh the best part of 20kg by the time he's loaded it with the Scout packing list. And it's probably not far off half his body weight although rugby since age 5 has possibly made him tougher than most! A back pack also leaves them hands-free for carrying coat, handluggage etc through the airport.
Am with @pam w here that for a teen (assume a teen as it's a school ski trip) a backpack would be better than a wheeled suitcase, and they can use for it for festivals, gap year etc in years to come which would add longevity to the purchase more than a wheeled case.
|
|
|
|
|
|