Luggageworks Stealth Series Improvements
 

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?

My biggest complaint has been the crappy zippers and foam handle pad that falls apart after about one week. The back kick plate has also given me some issues as far as durability. Other than that, I've had mine for 6 years and have had no other issues. It is extemely heavy, but I don't mind that if it makes it more durable. I'm not sure I would pay over $300 for the bag even if it had better zippers and a handle. I think I got my stealth 22' for around $250 and better zippers and a handle shouldn't cost alot of extra $$$.

There is no way I would pay $400 for a bag unless it came with a sherpa to haul it around for me.

my bag is just starting to show signs of wear after 8 years.

Zipppers are my only complaint. Let me know if you need a product tester!

Its an OK bag. I really think everyone uses it because everyone uses it. Here's my list of gripes:

Nylon is weaksauce. It shreds easilly on high wear areas and edges.
Zippers are good but not great (sounds like you are addressing that).
Kick plate works great, unless its actually kicked. Then it bends forever.
Frame bends permantantly and fairly easilly.
Screws back out constantly. There is no excuse for this. A quarter drop of locktite would prevent this and should NOT have to be done by the customer.
Foam handle is a POS. Enough said.
Main handle lugs wear and break leaving you with a hot mess for the rest of your trip unless you baby it going over curbs and on and off busses. Yes that's "abuse" but its part of the job and customers shouldn't have to baby a premium bag in their everyday environment. A premium "crew" bag should be able to handle that abuse.
Threading on back pocket is POS. If you actually use it the back pocket separates constantly and you have to "field repair" it. Stitch it at least 3 times as good as it is or leave it off to save weight and thickness.
Make the main strap cinch-able for those of us that pack like Imelda Marcos on a 12 day trip everywhere we go (don't h8).
The bag is a bit too heavy for its size and durability.
The current bag is too expensive relative to its quality.
I don't really care about side pockets. Even when empty they add width. I'd rather eliminate them as is or use that width and material to slightly widen the bag over all and add thicker (or BETTER) nylon.
Consider slightly recessing the handle when stowed. There are numerous AC bins where it juuuuuuuust won't fit wheels first, especially if you get the part of the bin near the latch. A half an inch extra is all you need. That's what she said.

Fix all those issues and upgrade the warranty (at least 2 year unlimited warranty with customer paying round trip shipping for 3 more years) of a 5 year warranty and I'd pay 100 or so, maybe 150 more than current price for it. Most of all it needs to be backed longer than current warranty.

It goes against my nature to buy anything POS and I hate hate hate taking things back so I really don't want to do the Cosco trick. But I will before I buy another PNS bag unless and until its made into the premium choice for the profession that it was always marketed to be but never seemed to be able to live up to. When mine falls apart (again) I'm probably going with a Strongbag.

$250 is pretty good for a Stealth. They sell for $300 now. That's with tax and all.

I wouldn't pay anymore than $100 for a watch but I have seen quite a few capitanos strolling around with $10K on their wrists. It's all about value.

Thanks for the info.

Daymn! I bet that thing tells time like a M0$#@% 7V<#@$!!!!!

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.

can't see spending more than $300 for a bag. With that being said I reverted to TJ Maxx and started buying the $50 dollar name brands. The latest bag has lasted me three years with no problems so why spend the extra money? It breaks or I see something as nice I just buy a new one without worry of a warranty or waiting on the phone for customer service. Sorry, LW just lost a lot of quality in my opinion and that foam handle is ridiculous for the price they charge.

Lol @ Sherpa

I have many of the same issues/concerns gloopy has. The exception being I like the outside pockets. I would have just put the big pocket on the other side. I would like to see a smaller interior front pocket to keep/organize things.. nothing major, just dont need all my stuff going to the bottom of the big pocket.

I would also have a better way to lock the handle in the down position (and maybe a more intuitive way to unlock/stow the handle). When you work for a company where you DH a lot OAL, the handle tends to get worked pretty bad. The TSA and baggage handlers are just smart enough to know how to extend the handle, but not smart enough to know how to stow it. The result is many times seeing your bag come onto the carousel with the handle extended. Once it was even bent so bad the handle wouldnt retract.

Because it cant be mentioned enough... zippers, zippers, zippers.

I dont know if I would pay any more for this bag.. these improvements are the minimum required to make the bag a viable choice.