Top Hardside Luggage – Samsonite Fiero

 

The Samsonite Fiero Hardside Luggage Collection is one of the newest arrivals at Irv’s Luggage. As a Samsonite Luggage brand, there is a lot you should expect. Given the quality of other Samsonite hard sided luggage as the Winfield 2, Silhouette Sphere, L.I.F.T collections, Fiero Hard Side Luggage carries on the legacy of quality, durable hardside luggage that Samsonite has come to personify. Reengineered spinner wheels, a diamond textured 100% pure polycarbonate hardside luggage shell, TSA-approved lock, super lightweight construction, and expandable functionality certainly make these hard sided cases a confident buy for any traveler.

If you’ve never been sure why spinner wheels are so important, see here:

 

The hardside luggage is composed of a polycarbonate shell; it’s “diamond” pattern helps prevent scratches and scuffs. That is common with hard side luggage, and Samsonite wants to ensure that your case will hold up under whatever conditions you encounter. Seeing your checked bag visibly deformed or squished, possibly scratched/torn would be a thing of the past. The spinner wheels and lighter weight make hardside luggage easier to move and pull alongside you rather than behind you, so you’re not tripping up fellow travelers or getting your handle/hardside luggage caught on a corner. You may pack a lot for your trip, and the lighter weight of the luggage itself and the spinner wheels help you stay on the move regardless of the contents (within reason!) Expandability allows for room for almost everything from laundry bags to electronic device chargers, so that no necessity is left behind. Or so you can bring back plenty of souvenirs.

Hopefully, the Fiero hardside luggage would limit mad dashes because you ran late dragging a heavy non-spinner wheeled case. Hopefully, the Samsonite Fiero hard sided luggage will save you on additional baggage fees because they fit everything you need. The Samsonite Fiero is available in 20”, 24”, and 28” to ensure you have just enough room for any kind of trip and hopefully, you look as good and flawless while traveling, as your scratch-preventive polycarbonate hardside luggage should.

 

Luggage Sets, get your Discount Luggage Sets!

 

It’s one thing to buy a single piece of luggage to travel, but there will come a day you will need a full luggage set.  Enough toiletries to last a month, clothes and shoes of a number of varieties, and in this day and age possibly a lot of gadgets, chargers, and so on.  Luggage sets, while initially a bit pricey, pay off in the long-term by giving you everything you need at once as opposed to buying luggage piecemeal, and consistently designed luggage is easier to keep track of when traveling.  Not that there’s a shortage of companies that make luggage sets.  Samsonite, American Tourister, and Heys USA all make luggage sets, and at Irv’s Luggage you can guarantee the price you’re paying for it is the lowest one out there.

Heys USA Luggage sets are some of the best lightweight luggage sets out there.  Their Britto by Heys spinner luggage set is hard to miss, and its hardside polycarbonate shell ensures its durability in addition to being light to carry and easy to move.  It comes with a 12” beauty case; a 19” carry on, as well as a 23” and 25” piece of luggage. Whatever you need for an extended stay, it’s safe to say you could bring it with you.  Or bring a lot of souvenirs back.  Currently Britto is 50% off at Irv’s Luggage as well, down from $2,120.00 making it one of our best discount luggage sets.

 

 

American Tourister Fieldbrook Luggage Sets come in 2 or 4 pieces, and are another great lightweight luggage set offering. Made of tough polyester and with multiple, this is a steal at 55% own from MSRP from its already everyday low price.  American Tourister Luggage is certainly a great brand to look at when you’re on budget.

 

 

Finally, one does not simply write about luggage sets without mentioning Samsonite.  The luggage heavy hitter offers a couple of hardside luggage sets in its popular Winfield 2 and Gravtec models, and while these lack totes they have dual spinner wheels and a polycarbonate shell to withstand the roughest terrain and calamities, as Samsonite is known for.  Starting at $347.99, Samsonite luggage sets truly provide some bang for your buck.

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Summer Travel with Spinner Luggage by Samsonite & Heys

Are you looking for a new luggage set and cannot decide what to purchase? Try Spinner Luggage! A simple definition of Spinner Luggage is: A luggage case on four wheels that can easily move and maneuver in any direction. During the last few months we have spoken to hundreds of people in and out of the luggage field about their favorite brands and uncovered their favorites. Numbers One and Two on their list? Samsonite Luggage and Heys USA Luggage.

Spinner Luggage is made in a variety of sizes from small (19” airline carry on size) to medium (24” case) and large uprights (28” case) and even larger to accommodate extensive trips and is quickly becoming one of the most sought after types of luggage to travel with. Whether traveling by car, airplane, boat or train it is almost impossible not to notice a fellow passenger toting new pieces of spinner luggage or even spinner luggage sets around with them.

If you are in the market for durable spinner luggage with a name you can trust, look no further than Samsonite. Samsonite Luggage has come out with a new collection of spinners, Samsonite Hyperspace. Complete with 5 different sizes of luggage, Samsonite Hyperspace Spinner Luggage  is the next generation of luggage. With large main compartments, a fully featured interior, four dual spinner wheels and Rugged Poly/Nylon Blend Fabric that is both dirt and water resistant, this a suitcase you will use forever.

Another great style of spinner luggage comes from Heys USA. Heys USA Luggage is known for their hardside cases which are durable and eclectic – perfect for the traveler with a big personality! Available in a variety of shapes, silhouettes and colors, Heys USA offers dozens of luggage options with a wide range of features including a built-in TSA-accepted 3-digit combination lock, deluxe tie-down straps to provide additional support for your clothing during travel and a fully lined interior with clear-view multi-use organizational pocket for ease of packing. This is one luggage brand you will not want to miss!

Whether you are planning on traveling for Memorial Day Weekend or throughout the summer travel season, know you can travel in style with the Spinner Luggage you found at Irv’s Luggage.

Business Cases, Briefcases, Messenger Bags and More for Airline Travel

As you plan for your next business trip, take a few minutes to visualize how the trip will go – What will the weather be like? Will you stay in a comfortable hotel? Will you have enough time to prepare for your meetings? As prepared as you might be, the unthinkable happens. Darn your luck! You never imagined your trusty leather briefcase would break just as you were getting in the cab to go to your hotel. Just perfect! Luckily for you, Irv’s Luggage has dozens of great business case options to choose from.

Business cases come in many sizes and shapes: rolling and non-rolling; simple two-handle bags, backpacks and messenger bags, among others. Even with so many options, there is a business case for you! If you are someone on the go who wants a secure, reliable business case that will also hold your laptop, you won’t go wrong with a laptop backpack by JanSport. Most people will recognize Jansport from their youth, carrying around books in their trusty backpack; but the brand has grown and improved with time. JanSport Backpacks are available in many different styles and the colors they come in will fit any personality or occasion necessary. With additional padding to hold laptops in place, you will not have to worry about your valuables with these backpacks.

For something a bit more modern, some men and women today are switching to messenger bags as business cases. Messenger bags are extremely convenient – just throw it over your shoulder and go – and come in a variety of styles: buckle, Velcro, zipper, front-flap, half-flap and full-flap; and materials: leather, canvas and polyester. Some of the most popular leather messenger bags we offer are from David King. Made of the highest quality leathers, with adjustable shoulder straps and large spacious pockets, David King messenger bags are worthwhile lifelong investments.

Now if you’re a “no-frills, I like my bags simple and clean” kind of person and are looking for a classic business briefcase, look no further than a briefbag by Samsonite Luggage. With briefcases available in both soft side and hard side exteriors, Samsonite leads the pack in quality and style. Their business and laptop cases range from classic gusseted ballistic nylon briefcases to leather business cases with expansions and multiple add-ons to fit an ever-changing crowd.

The most unique business case option we have would be the lawyer’s briefcase. This briefcase is distinctive in shape and style, with interior file pockets with one specifically designed to hold a laptop along with a security feature on the outside, either a key and lock or a combination lock to keep your important documents, files and folders protected from prying eyes. The Johnston & Murphy Lawyer’s Briefcase is no exception. With three interior pockets, an organization panel with pen loops, USB pouch, business card pockets and Quick Retrieve™ compartment for easy access to electronics, an easy-grip padded fixed handle and lifetime warranty this briefcase will last a lifetime.

Traveling on business may not be as easy as 1,2,3 but here at Irv’s Luggage we strive to make it a little easier for you to navigate these complex waters. From leather briefcases to laptop backpacks and everything in between, Irv’s Luggage has the perfect business case for you!

Traveling Soon? Tips for buying good luggage!

After six weeks of frequent airline travel (six airline trips in six weeks) I’ve been in a lot of airports and seen a lot of luggage.  I worked for Irv’s Luggage for over five years and now have a new job and travel quite a bit. Over the last six weeks of traveling I acquired an entirely new perspective on airline travel and more importantly for Irv’s Luggage, a brand new perspective on luggage. I guess that I have now been upgraded to a frequent flyer, as the flight attendants now know my name.  Traveling with good luggage can make a huge difference in your trip and a huge difference in how you feel about traveling.

Three things to consider when purchasing new luggage.

First, how do you travel? Do you check your bag or are you more of a carry-on luggage person? For me, I really like a carry-on, cabin bag. I had to wait this past Sunday, while one of my traveling companions  waited for her large, wheeled checked bag came off the airline carousel.  The wait wasn’t terrible, but how do you find your bag among the sea of black bags?  Impossible. Plus, no matter how pristine the luggage is when  you check it, it comes out smashed, dirty and often something is damaged or scratched.  So whenever I can, I carry my luggage on board. My choice for the best carry on luggage? Easy: Briggs and Riley 21 inch wheeled carry on bag. Durable, easy to wheel and made of ballistic nylon, this rugged carry on is my first choice for a carry on bag.  And, good news, right now the Briggs & Riley Baseline 21″ Carry On Expandable Upright Chocolate – Discontinued  is on sale at 35% off.

Second, warranty. Let’s face it, luggage gets damaged…frequently. Look for luggage that offers a lifetime warranty, or a ‘no questions asked’ type of warranty. Briggs & Riley was one of the original ‘lifetime luggage warranty’ companies, and now many luggage manufacturers offer either lifetime warranty or a ten year warranty.  Hartmann Luggage, Samsonite, Victorinox, High Sierra and even Eagle Creek offer wonderful warranties.  And, should your luggage get damaged… first, if the airline damaged the bag, then stop at the ticket counter immediately and file a claim.  Second, Irv’s Luggage offers luggage repair on virtually every major brand. So, if you need luggage repair for wheels, zippers, handles, or seams, bring it to Irv’s Luggage for all your luggage repairs – no matter what the damage is.

Last, thought… right now spinner luggage is hugely popular (vs. the typical two – wheeled luggage).  My preference of spinner luggage verses the traditional wheeled luggage: spinner luggage.  Spinner luggage is easier to wheel in an airport, down the center aisle of the airplane and virtually everywhere. And, if your luggage gets damaged, and you lose a wheel, you still have three others!  I love my new spinner luggage. If you want something other than Briggs (see paragraph above) I am also a huge fan of the new Samsonite Hyperspace Spinner 21.5″ Expandable Upright (SM 47166). Offered in black, teal and pink, this is rugged, spinner carryon luggage is spacious, durable and lightweight.

Back on the road again on Friday to lovely Memphis. This trip, my Samsonite Hyperspace will be traveling with me!

 

 

Pros and Cons of Buying Hardside Luggage

You’re waiting at the airport on your way home from a tropical getaway with your family. It’s a Sunday morning in the middle of winter and you just threw on a heavy winter coat – Can you feel that chill in the air?? Brr! As you walk towards the baggage claim to pick up your trusted soft-sided luggage set, you see a pile of clothes thrown on the carousel and think to yourself “Man, I feel so bad for that person.” Upon closer inspection you realize those are YOUR belongings on display for everyone to see. You quickly throw the broken suitcase on a luggage cart, gather everything you can in one swift motion, pile your clothes into the open suitcase and run like crazy to the car waiting for you.

At home a few days later you start searching the internet for new luggage and realize just how many options there are compared to a few years ago. Do you need hard-side or soft-side luggage, 2-wheels or 4-wheels, plain colors or fun prints? The choices are overwhelming! Taking a step back, you realize you just want luggage that will fit all of your belongings and that will last.

While browsing the internet, you come across Hardside Luggage on www.IrvsLuggage.com and decide to check it out further. The first page shows some brands you know (Samsonite and Heys) and some brands you aren’t too familiar with (Titan and International Traveller); and you’re intrigued. You see that most hardside luggage pieces have a stiff molded construction – typically made out of polycarbonate, aluminum or ABS plastic – giving the luggage flexibility and strength, not to mention increased protection against airline damage (and we all know the havoc the airlines can wreak on a perfectly good suitcase!) They also come in several sizes for every need: business cases, carry-ons and checked uprights up to 33” in height.

That may sound pretty good, but you’re still not convinced. You start reading customer reviews of different hardside luggage brands. Customers speak of how their hardside luggage carry ons and luggage sets last longer and are damaged less often than any softsided piece they carried before. Consumers also love that their luggage expands, no differently than a softsided piece.

While these are great attributes, the design features are the best selling points. A TSA lock comes attached to most luggage pieces and the protection that is offered by the reinforced materials used (no squishing important documents or electronics) makes a huge difference when traveling.

In contrast, some consumers dislike the fact that hardsided pieces cannot be squished into small spaces. And even if you are extremely careful, the unexpected dent and scratch do happen. What some consumers are not always ready for is that hardside luggage is more expensive than softside luggage – and it may come as a shock at first! But even after debating the good and bad of hardside luggage, the pros far outweigh the cons.

The next time you’re in need of new luggage, why not check out some of the great hardside luggage brands we have at Irv’s Luggage. We’re sure you’ll find just what you need!

Samsonite L.I.F.T Luggage – Light meets Might

Samsonite is one of the most recognized brands in the world… yes, in the world. It ranks right up there with Coke, IBM, Apple and Fritos in terms of name recognition. Samsonite has been manufacturing luggage for a long time…and is recognized by virtually anyone who has ever traveled with a suitcase. Samsonite has a huge following in their luggage collections: Silhouette is a long running collection and Samsonite recently launched the Samsonite Silhouette 12 collection… yes, 12! Wow. But here’s another Samsonite collection that is destined for a long ride (pardon the pun): the Samsonite L.I.F.T. collection.

Samsonite calls it their Light Meets Might collection.  Why? In it’s LIFT collection, Samsonite has built a rugged, durable and extremely lightweight suitcase. The 29” upright weighs in at 10 pounds… extremely light for a large, wheeled suitcase. And, the 21” carry on bag – aka: cabin bag, is a mere 6.2 lbs! Think about that the next time you are planning to carry your luggage onboard. The Samsonite LIFT luggage is a very lightweight luggage!. Offered as both a spinner case or the traditional wheeled upright, the Samsonite L.I.F.T. offers great value, and lightweight durability.

One of the many features that makes the Samsonite L.I.F.T. collection so lightweight is the material or fabric that it is made from: Tricore Polyester. This is a fabric that is resistant to punctures, tears and road wear and offers greater tear strength, better seam breakage results, and strong abrasion strength. Plus this new Samsonite luggage fabric is 30% lighter than its nylon counterparts.

So, what does L.I.F.T. stand for: well, Samsonite Luggage got clever here… L.I.F.T stands for: Lightweight Innovations For Travel.  Clever name, great luggage at a great value. My prediction is that the Samsonite LIFT luggage will be around for a long time. Guess that’s why Samsonite is one of the world’s most recognized luggage brands!

Luggage Trends in 2011

Continuing with my series of “Staff Picks”……. this week I interviewed Irv’s Luggage’ top luggage buyer, Phil.  Phil has been in the luggage business for over 30 years, and he too definitely has his opinions on travel luggage. In my interview however, Phil chose not to talk about his “favorite picks”; instead, he focused on the three trends he sees emerging in the luggage industry and the current buying philosophies of the 2011 consumer:  1) the rise of larger lightweight luggage 2) purchasing luggage with a lifetime warranty and 3) the rise of spinner luggage.

As Phil explained, while carry-on bags continue to be big sellers, he has seen a shift from purchasing moderate (24” – 25”) sized bags to larger (28” – 30”) bags.  This is primarily due to the changes in fees being charged by the airlines (many are now charging high fees for a second bag) and the lightweight technology that allows consumers to fit much more into one larger bag while staying under the 50 lb weight limit; making  these “larger bags” a much better choice for today’s travelers.  The larger 28” bags previously weighing 17 lbs. are now weighing-in at 7-9 lbs lighter.  Thus the benefits of carrying a 24” or 25” bag no longer exists. Three top lightweight lines Phil recommends are Antler Luggage – New Size Zero, Samsonite L.I.F.T and High Sierra Elevate collections.

The second trend in luggage buying Phil sees is consumers buying higher quality / higher priced luggage that comes with a lifetime warranty.  Purchasing one of the four brands that will repair or replace your luggage no matter what the cause (Briggs & Riley, Boyt Luggage, Hartmann and Victorinox) is a long term buying philosophy /savings approach many more consumers are now making.  They spend more money up front but will now own the same bag for a lifetime, with a huge savings on the back-end of their purchase!

Finally, while Phil notes the huge marketing campaigns promoting spinner luggage and the rising trend of purchasing spinner luggage, he does not necessarily agree that spinners are the  best option for today’s luggage consumer.  While the spinners offer some benefit with greater ease of travel, he does not feel the maneuverability advantage outweighs the hassles that accompany 4 wheeled spinner’s higher rate of repair (with two additional wheels and the wheels sticking out further on the bag, the bags are damaged more easily).  In Phil’s opinion you are better off with the traditional 2 wheeled pieces.

In conclusion, this is very interesting and useful information for today’s luggage consumer, thanks Phil….. but  I’m still kind of curious to know which are your favorites. I guess there is always next week’s blog…..until then…… happy trails from Irv’s Luggage!!