Originally Posted by Herkulesdrvr

does anyone even know if they make the pretty neats still or is that the LW?

Afterburner, no I don't think a bag, any bag is more desirable in the 400 dollar range. I dont know many cheap airline dudes that are running about asking if they can blow 400 bucks to fix a zipper and foam handles. Its all about price point and value. Not sarcastic by the way just telling you the way I see it.

Originally Posted by Cruise

It sounds like you're heading in the right direction with your improvements.

Here's one that would be a tremendous benefit to me....and I realize it would present a huge challenge to create....BUT, you asked what would be a good improvement....so here it is:

On top of all the other improvements you've already mentioned, what I'd like to see is a bag that telescopes from say 22" to 26"-27"....you know, depending on the trip, or time of year, my rollerbag needs change. Would be nice to have my bag adjustable to my needs instead of requiring multiple bags to cover different scenarios.

Originally Posted by afterburn81

Luggageworks is the new PNT. They bought it sometime in the late 90's from what I remember.

People are spending close to $400 right now for a LW bag. The 27" computer front bag is $388 with tax. And I see a bunch of them. Even at the regional level (not taking a personal shot at regional guys, just stating this because the pay scales are dramatically less).

Just FYI the improvements I'm taking about consist of far more than zippers and a better grip. One of the major improvements is that the new bag is about 70% lighter with no strength compromises.

Thank you for the feedback Herk.

Originally Posted by afterburn81

Note: Hey Mods I put this in the Majors section to expose it to the right people. Those people being legacy and major pilots. If at all possible please leave it here.


A little over a year ago I started a business that works with Luggageworks directly to support the Southeast with warranty and repairs. For the past 6 months I have been developing a modified Stealth series rollerbag. For all you old timers it's a new version of the Purdy Neat Things bag you currently use. I wanted to get some feedback from the guys at the majors and legacies on their likes / dislikes on the bag that they use (Luggageworks and PNT).

Unfortunately there really is no hope of improving the bag for the regional lifestyle given the nature of how often a bag goes in and out of an overhead or a closet designed for a purse.

Luggageworks does not currently provide a "premium" rollerbag for people that desire high quality, practicality and most importantly reliability. Their bags are geared towards a generic client. If you think $300-$400 is too much for a bag you need to see what the rest of the world is charging.

My design is almost done and a few of the things that I have improved greatly are: Super durable zippers, Ultra-lightweight to strength characteristics, upgraded handle grip that doesn't fall apart, and an improved trigger pin system to hold up the handle that doesn't wear as fast.

Given the current price of the larger international bag with all of these improvements how much more would you spend? I'm trying to get an idea of what some might pay for a MUCH better bag. Improvements cost money so the price must go up.

Anyone have any other suggestions while I'm at it?

Originally Posted by RockyBoy

I'd pay $300 if the zippers, handle, and kickplate were fixed, but nothing more. I think that LW should fix them anyways because those are obvious defects in the current bag. You will never see a LW bag older than 2 years that doesn't have zippers that are broken and electrical tape wrapped around the handle.

Originally Posted by CATIII

then I guess you'll not be in the market for a Rimowa Stealth series bag at $1480.... but then that would likely be the last bag you ever bought until age 65...

you DO get what you pay for in this world... a $400 made in the USA bag by this guy is going to last you a bit longer than that $99 bag from Target.... and look better as part of your uniform as an added bonus.

Originally Posted by afterburn81

This right here is the key! This is one of the most significant reasons I decided to sink a substantial amount of cash into R&D with this bag. So many pilots are quick to judge guys about the appearance of their uniform, and other things such as back packs and headphones. Which is understandable. It would seem as if appearance is important at some level.

So why not judge a guy walking around puling the worlds cheapest bag with one wheel dragging, the skid plate just waiting to give someone tetanus and stuff hanging out of the pockets that are duck tapped shut? Granted a guy with a bag like that has pretty much put himself in that situation since these bags really don't just fall apart. Trust me, if there is anyone that has seen it all when it comes to the crap people do to their bags it's me.

It truly makes me cringe when I see a senior captain driving around a 3 year old bag that has clearly seen a war or two.

When people send their bags to me or drop them off at Crewoutfitters, they get a loaner bag. Sometimes they run out of LW bags so all they have left is Travelpro. From the moment they drop off their bag people are calling me asking me when it will be done and if I can hurry up so that they can get their LW bag back. Most guys really hate those Travelpro things. At least that has been my experience. From the sounds of this thread you would thing otherwise though.

Originally Posted by CATIII

then I guess you'll not be in the market for a Rimowa Stealth series bag at $1480.... but then that would likely be the last bag you ever bought until age 65...