THAT expensive suitcase you just bought to take on your next holiday may not have been the wisest choice.
A review of 11 suitcases by consumer watchdog Choice has found that the most expensive models don’t always deliver on quality.
With summer holidays just around the corner, anyone thinking of giving their luggage an upgrade should avoid the priciest model in store according to Choice spokesperson Nicky Breen.
The watchdog put a number of suitcases through their paces, subjecting them to the sort of treatment they can get from airline baggage handlers.
This included dropping the suitcases wheels-first onto a concrete floor 300 times from a height of 90cm, dropping a heavy pointed cylinder onto the suitcase surface to see whether any damage occurred.
Other tests included stuffing the suitcases with newspaper and putting them under a custom-made shower rig (simulating a ten-minute downpour) and then assessing the cases to see how wet the newspaper becomes.
Two of the high end models Choice tested finished in the bottom half of results.
Only one of the expensive models tested, the $899 Samsonite Cosmolite 3.0, finished in the top three, but it was outperformed by the Antler Juno 2 which cost a third of the price.
“The mid-range Antler topped our test jointly with the Samsonite 72 hours DLX spinner. Given it sells for just $299, it’s a better value buy for travellers than many of its high end counterparts,” Ms Breen said.
While the expensive brands didn’t live up to their hype, the tests also revealed that cheap luggage was not the answer for people looking for high quality travel gear, with the cheapest models finishing last.
Tips for buying good quality luggage
1. Ask for a discount - it’s not unusual to find discounts on luggage of around 40%.
2. If you’re short on home storage consider a soft case
3. If you’re planning on flying, check any airline restrictions on height and weight
For more information, click here.
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