LuggageWorks Stealth Premier 22" Expandable
01-20-2023, 05:04 PM
#1
Rubber dogsh#t out of HKG
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Senior Seat Cushion Tester Extraordinaire
Posts: 620
LuggageWorks Stealth Premier 22" Expandable
I am always looking for the better bag and I am currently interested in the LuggageWorks Stealth Premier Expandable Suiter 22”. Preemptive thanks for other suggestions (Briggs and Riley, Costco, etc. (I probably have ‘em all)), but I am specifically looking for input on this bag. Anyone?
LuggageWorks Stealth Premier Expandable Suiter 22”
LuggageWorks Stealth Premier Expandable Suiter 22”
01-20-2023, 05:16 PM
#2
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,002
I have a stealth premier bag (three of them, in rotation). I used to travel with a 26" bag, which was useful for extended time on the road. Presently I use a smaller one. My 26" bag went for about fifteen or so years without incident. the newer bag broke on the first trip, cracked through the base. I ordered a second one, sent the back for service, and for a few bucks more, they upgraded to premier. I bought a third off ebay, sent that in and they rebuilt it, for little cost, to a new premier bag. They hold up well. If you haven't used Luggage works, half the weight of your packed bag is the empty bag.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
01-20-2023, 05:39 PM
#3
Rubber dogsh#t out of HKG
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Senior Seat Cushion Tester Extraordinaire
Posts: 620
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
I have a stealth premier bag (three of them, in rotation). I used to travel with a 26" bag, which was useful for extended time on the road. Presently I use a smaller one. My 26" bag went for about fifteen or so years without incident. the newer bag broke on the first trip, cracked through the base. I ordered a second one, sent the back for service, and for a few bucks more, they upgraded to premier. I bought a third off ebay, sent that in and they rebuilt it, for little cost, to a new premier bag. They hold up well. If you haven't used Luggage works, half the weight of your packed bag is the empty bag.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
Last edited by Radials Rule; 01-20-2023 at 05:55 PM.
01-21-2023, 02:38 AM
#4
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2013
Posts: 99
As a commuter do you recommend the 26” bag? I’ve been using the common 22” stealth for almost 9 years and i dont see how I could add more height on those commutes. Id love to have more space but I also commute.
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
I have a stealth premier bag (three of them, in rotation). I used to travel with a 26" bag, which was useful for extended time on the road. Presently I use a smaller one. My 26" bag went for about fifteen or so years without incident. the newer bag broke on the first trip, cracked through the base. I ordered a second one, sent the back for service, and for a few bucks more, they upgraded to premier. I bought a third off ebay, sent that in and they rebuilt it, for little cost, to a new premier bag. They hold up well. If you haven't used Luggage works, half the weight of your packed bag is the empty bag.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
The handles hold up well, but I make my own velcro tie-down, because if the handle does when its being tossed, it will bend. The premier bag is a bit lighter. The new ones open the opposite direction from the old one, which is annoying. If you weren't used to it the other way, you wouldn't notice.
The wheels are easily user-replaceable. I like them much better than others I've had, and when I replace them, I get good inline skate wheels with good bearings. towed on the two wheels, the bag balances well with a cockpit bag on the "j-hook," and I often take a small knick-knack bag on top.
My second bag got cracked along the base, much like the first, after a foreign airline got hold of it. Rather than send it in, I'm repairing it at home using channel aluminum and aircraft rivets and sealant; it won't be noticeable externally, but will be stronger.
01-21-2023, 06:05 AM
#5
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,002
The 26" height really only works if you check the bag. Otherwise, it doesn't fit anywhere.
I'm not a fan of expanding bags (eg, unzip to get more room); overstuffing ends up being hard on zippers and the bag, and they never fit. I use both the side pouches on my bag, because I always travel with a full eight days of clothes; on airplanes like the A321, the bag won't roll up on its side because it's not quite skinny enough, and there are some airplanes that have narrow enough overhead bin doors that the bag doesn't want to slide through, the skinny way, without assistance. On anything regional, of course, it just gets gate checked.
If you do 2 day trips and pack accordingly, it will probably go just about anywhere. I always plan for extended time and an inability to get to a laundry machine, so I need to be able to get to the next full rest day plus one more, to be safe, plus what I'm wearing, so eight days. Even with everything packed tight and rolled, it's still a little bulk. I've never felt a need to expand beyond the existing size of the case, though (meaning using an expansion feature). As the case is now, it fits under certain cockpit seats, and in most overheads, so I wouldn't want to go any thicker.
I'm not a fan of expanding bags (eg, unzip to get more room); overstuffing ends up being hard on zippers and the bag, and they never fit. I use both the side pouches on my bag, because I always travel with a full eight days of clothes; on airplanes like the A321, the bag won't roll up on its side because it's not quite skinny enough, and there are some airplanes that have narrow enough overhead bin doors that the bag doesn't want to slide through, the skinny way, without assistance. On anything regional, of course, it just gets gate checked.
If you do 2 day trips and pack accordingly, it will probably go just about anywhere. I always plan for extended time and an inability to get to a laundry machine, so I need to be able to get to the next full rest day plus one more, to be safe, plus what I'm wearing, so eight days. Even with everything packed tight and rolled, it's still a little bulk. I've never felt a need to expand beyond the existing size of the case, though (meaning using an expansion feature). As the case is now, it fits under certain cockpit seats, and in most overheads, so I wouldn't want to go any thicker.
02-19-2023, 12:34 PM
#6
New Hire
Joined APC: Feb 2023
Posts: 1
So I am honestly not a big fan of the Premier. I sent my old 22" Stealth one in for rehab and was offered a new bag instead, with the option to upgrade to Premier for $50. It certainly has a few improvements (it IS noticeably lighter) and the side pouches are definitely bigger (although that does make the overall bag quite a bit bulkier somehow). There are, however, two major disadvantages (and one minor issue). The front pouches (where i routinely keep my headphones and my laptop) have gotten quite a bit smaller, so now they don't hold much at all any more. Luckily the laptop will fit into a new pouch inside the lid, accessed via a new vertical zipper. The headphones, however, won't fit anywhere. Plus, even with just the laptop, the bag always looks overstuffed and bulky, even when the inside is near empty. This design flaw is really annoying actually. The second issue is that the zippers get stuck in the corners because there is a (supposedly protective) protrusion of material on the inside that works well along straight lines but keeps the pulls from smoothly gliding around the corner. Also very annoying. Finally, the bag opens the wrong way now. If you put it into an overhead using the side handle (as you typically would), you cannot access the main compartment. The zipper used to open on the same side that the side handle was on. Now it opens on the opposite side which you obviously can't reach inside a bin. So overall I am quite disappointed with the Premier and, after using and loving LuggageWorks for decades, I am for the first time not that happy with their product. I don't know whether the non-Premier has similar issues, but I definitely don't see any benefit for the Premier.
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