Suitcases and Me. No. Just No. Oh… Fiddlesticks….

I’ll go on record as saying this: I don’t like suitcases. Not in the least. No, no, no, and… no.

Why?

Maybe I’ve had experiences with bad suitcases before that have made me think twice, but it’s more the portability of the things. I’m used to carrying my world on my back – quite literally.

Near enough Zero of these bags are now in service 🙁 – Salomon 150 to the left, Addias bag with shoe compartment on top, Survivor 100ltr Rucksack to the right.

65ltr Survivor Rucksack with the 30ltr Addias bag.

The last iteration – Etines 30ltr rucksack, a No-name 1 meter snowblade bag and the Survivor 100….

Maybe its the student/young person in me, but I’ve always loved the thought of packing up my trash, putting it on my back and carrying the world with me. Not that I ever did backpacking or the great year out thing (I was more interested in making up time on my degree). That’s not to say I was in post-unified Berlin, in and out of a Youth Hostel with a rucksack (or walked around central Berlin with a rucksack… or went home from University… with a rucksack… bottom line… rucksacks and me go way back).

And in many ways, I still love rucksacks as a way of dumping my stuff (or forcing me to pack very carefully in a lot of circumstances to maximise the space inside the rucksack.

And besides, it means I don’t look like a fool when confronted with a suitcases natural enemy –  STAIRS

Yes, it’s not suitable for suits and shirts… but I’ve never been much of a person to wear them on my travels – I’ve had no need.

However – like a lot of things, change is a fact of life.

Maybe I’ve got sick of carrying 23kg on my back. Maybe it’s because I can’t find a 100ltr rucksack that I like anymore. Or maybe it’s because AA wrecked my bag last time when I went to San Juan….

The damage at the base of the bag… any more stress and the rip would had taken out the bottom of the bag.

I can sew. Honest Gov.

After 3 flights… its holding. Just.

The old bag, ready to be recycled.  PS. If your name is American Airlines, you’re not forgiven over this still…

None the less, I’ve bitten the bullet. And I’ve finally got a suitcase.

The new bag at Chez GhettoIFE. Please note that AA certAAin AAirline did not contribute to this new bag after denying any responsibility with their luggage handing at SJU. 

Whilst a lot of you love your Tumis, Rimowas, TravelPros, Samonites, etc – I was looking for something sturdy and something relatively reasonably priced. I therefore went for a TRIPP bag – as sold by a major department store in the in the United Kingdom with a five year guarantee.

A total of £50 or so.

It’s a two-wheeler as opposed to a spinner and seemed to handle well empty – well all bags do when you’re travelling with them empty.

For the upcoming trip… it’s not perfect, but it will do.  Although this thing won’t know how to deal with stairs I suspect (apart from being carried…).

Still the 100ltr rucksack had a good run at it. Its been flying with me since 2007 (giving it 6 years of duties and use)… and I’m sad to see it go.

6 years out of THIS suitcase. Lets see. I have my doubts… 😉

I’ll be reviewing this bag as I use it on trips and journeys on a long-term test, and will be putting it to the test this week as I subject it to freezing cold temperatures.

This should be amusing 😉