Originally Posted by
Santos Dumont
Just fashion. Like many have said, the metal frame LW is ugly as hell and way too heavy. My first year I knew I was going to be commuting and walking to a crashpad during the winter, that's why I got the LW with the metal frame... the thing got destroyed in about 10 months. I got it rebuilt and I don't commute now, but it is already all dented and scratched after 2 years. I also own a plastic LW, which seems a lot better (haven't used t much), but I'm not sure if its worth what they charge for it.
Huh? How did a metal LW get destroyed in 10mo? Did you drive over it with your car? I've been commuting with mine for 7 years and aside from one failed zipper, some scratches and dents it's still going strong. 3 of those years were on a Saab where the rampers threw it in and out of the baggage compartment 7 times a day. The Travelpro I bought when I started was destroyed after 2 months of Saab abuse.
I'm not saying the plastic is bad, it is also great, and with my bag no longer being dealt that abuse is what I'd buy now, but the metal is not fragile like you imply.