LuggageWorks

Flying Forester

Flying Forester

Well-Known Member
Looking for reviews on some of the LuggageWorks line.

It's looking more and more like I will be going the airline route in the coming months, so I'm going to need set of luggage that'll take more abuse than we give it on our pampered and gentle Part 91 Citation XL. Thinking about investing in the stuff before I lose my nice corporate salary, even though I am getting a nice severance.

1a) Always liked the bullet proof nature of those hardcore suitcases. So who has one and what do you think? I've seen a few different models from LuggageWorks so I'm curious which ones are better.

1b) Do many people really get the 26 incher vs. the 22 inchers? Why or why not, aside from the obvious greater capacity.

2) Anyone have the LuggageWorks Rolling Computer Brief (or "Multi-purpose Rolling Tote")? They appear to be the same thing. Comments on durability, spaciousness, support, and construction are appreciated.

I haven't had good luck with Samsonite, and TravelPro has really gone down hill as far as their Flight Crew selections. They don't offer a rolling computer briefcase anymore that isn't ugly. I love Victorinox luggage, but at upwards of $400 a piece, I'm considering other brands for now. I have a non-wheeled Victorinox brief that will continue to fill that role for now. Just need and want a good quality, durable wheeled briefcase.
 
You can't go wrong with LW, The stealth 22" is pretty much the standard in crew luggage. and with all the pockets it had, you will fit so much more in it than you think you can.

And if it breaks? just about every part is serviceable at home. Or some retailers offer a loner bag while they repair yours.

I've only had mine 2 years and like you im corporate so it gets the best handling possible by yours truly, but it still looks and works like new. Tho I have heard some guys getting upto 10 years out of LW bag before replacement.
 
I have the Stealth 22, believe stealth because it has a computer pocket on the side. Vast majority of the ones I see are 22, I think the longer one could stick out on some overhead bins.
Had it over 3 years and still is in great shape. Customer service is very good and have gotten a couple missing/worn out parts in mail for free. I've seen others really beat up with less time on them but it depends how you treat them and if you commute and regularly have to valet check.
But compared to other brands I think they are the best and when mine eventually wears out I'll get another.
 
I have the 22... I've had it for 3 years in 121 service and it's still in good shape... although after this MSP winter I'm gonna have it refurbished.

The 24 is MUCH better, also a lot more expensive. These cases take a lickin and keep on tickin.

Make sure to get the one with METAL frame, black annodized. Don't get the plastic frame. It's lighter, but not nearly as durable.

I've really considered designing/selling/manufacturing a carbon fiber replacement kit for the luggage works case. It would cut the weight drastically and it would be stronger, wouldn't bend. Rampers in IAH bent mine over the course of 6 months, and now the road salt here in MSP has started to rust some of it.

The added room provided by the 24 is massive.

DO NOT GET TRAVELPRO. Leave that garbage to the Flight Attendants. You'll be replacing it in a year tops. Stick with the LW.
 
Well, from the cheap bastard cheap seats, may I suggest Kirkland? I know, I know. But listen to my little story and see what you think. I bought the old model in 2007, used it for six years, during which it performed flawlessly at (counts on fingers) four different (135) jobs. Then, finally, one of the wheel bearings went out. So I took it back to Costco, thinking, you know, maybe they could replace the wheel. But no, they took the bag back, gave me a full refund for the purchase price, which turned out to be about $20 more than the replacement bag which is also kickass, as far as I can tell so far. So essentially they just paid me $20 to replace my old bag with a better, newer one. And the quality level is pretty high, although I'm sure not quite on par with the bags that cost five times as much.
 
While they are very strong suitcases, I still don't understand the hype though, they are heavy as hell and ugly. When they get knocked around and beat up, they look even uglier.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Well, from the cheap bastard cheap seats, may I suggest Kirkland? I know, I know. But listen to my little story and see what you think. I bought the old model in 2007, used it for six years, during which it performed flawlessly at (counts on fingers) four different (135) jobs. Then, finally, one of the wheel bearings went out. So I took it back to Costco, thinking, you know, maybe they could replace the wheel. But no, they took the bag back, gave me a full refund for the purchase price, which turned out to be about $20 more than the replacement bag which is also kickass, as far as I can tell so far. So essentially they just paid me $20 to replace my old bag with a better, newer one. And the quality level is pretty high, although I'm sure not quite on par with the bags that cost five times as much.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Kirkland...

image-1794048782.jpg
 
Boris Badenov said:
Well, from the cheap bastard cheap seats, may I suggest Kirkland? I know, I know. But listen to my little story and see what you think. I bought the old model in 2007, used it for six years, during which it performed flawlessly at (counts on fingers) four different (135) jobs. Then, finally, one of the wheel bearings went out. So I took it back to Costco, thinking, you know, maybe they could replace the wheel. But no, they took the bag back, gave me a full refund for the purchase price, which turned out to be about $20 more than the replacement bag which is also kickass, as far as I can tell so far. So essentially they just paid me $20 to replace my old bag with a better, newer one. And the quality level is pretty high, although I'm sure not quite on par with the bags that cost five times as much.
Click to expand...

Thats all fine and dandy until your bag explodes and you have to carry it or drag it around LGA during a 30 minute plane swap for 2 days straight. Watched a FA have to do that. I used to hate LW bags for the same reasons @Inverted said, and then I flew a Saab... Just get one.
 
Flying Forester said:
I'm sold on the suitcase! Thanks for the input! Now. Anyone have any input on the briefcase I asked about?
Click to expand...

Glad to hear it. The stealth 22 is, as said before , the standard for crew luggage. In fact, one the funny things I've read on this forum was how you know if you're an airline pilot...and someone wrote "if you bag looks like it's done several air tours over 'Nam". And that's the truth, some peoples look better than others but I bought mine to work, and I don't worry to much with how I treat it . I've had mine for 6 years and all the zippers are blown out except the main one, it is shaped like a banana, and there is no paint on the back metal pieces. It's been the best luggage I've ever had by a good margin. It's due for a referb and for all the people I see that got a referb, I'm fairly certain they just took the handle with their name sewn on it and put it on a new bag... So you got that going for you too .
 
jwp_145 said:
I have the 22... I've had it for 3 years in 121 service and it's still in good shape... although after this MSP winter I'm gonna have it refurbished.

The 24 is MUCH better, also a lot more expensive. These cases take a lickin and keep on tickin.

Make sure to get the one with METAL frame, black annodized. Don't get the plastic frame. It's lighter, but not nearly as durable.

I've really considered designing/selling/manufacturing a carbon fiber replacement kit for the luggage works case. It would cut the weight drastically and it would be stronger, wouldn't bend. Rampers in IAH bent mine over the course of 6 months, and now the road salt here in MSP has started to rust some of it.

The added room provided by the 24 is massive.

DO NOT GET TRAVELPRO. Leave that garbage to the Flight Attendants. You'll be replacing it in a year tops. Stick with the LW.
Click to expand...
DO IT! Carbon fiber is an awesome idea. I just might have to try and do it to mine.

I would use it a lot more if it was substantially lighter. I used mine for every trip at XJT for two years. They're bullet proof. Now that I'm in the corp world, lugging that thing around gets old. There's no real need for the heftiness since I load my own bag ever so gently now :). I still use it for our longer trips because it holds so much. If you roll every thing and pack neatly you could easily get 10-14 days worth of clothes in it.
 
I live right down the road from LuggageWorks in Aurora. Bought a Stealth 22" when I went back to the airlines last year. When I transitioned to the 737 I brought it back to them and they removed the side pockets for no charge! Great customer service!
 
The crew bag stowage is too small for the standard stealth 22". It (supposedly) tears up those pockets trying to get it in and out of there.
 
Just bought my first LP Stealth. Had a TravelPro for 2.5 years and it was FINISHED. I'd like to get a few more years so I dropped $300 (with shipping) from the stopover store. If anything breaks, they fix it and give you a loaner if you bring it into the store.
We'll see if it works out.
 
If you ever cross paths with the 737, get the 22 with NO side pockets. They (w/ pockets) won't fit under the crew bag storage area and end up getting torn up or ripped off. We just went with Jeppesen ship-sets and I just bought a bag from brightlinebags.com for my headset and personal gear to replace my flight bag. They are modular in design and are the coolest little bags ever. My Stealth 22 and brightline bag is the perfect combo for me.
 
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