Hey just wanted to chime in. If you can't afford the Purdy Neat stuff, get the ebags pilot 22" upright (not the expandable one). Mine's been going strong for two years, I got it for a little over 100 bucks, and I've seen it on sale for as low as 80, and the customer service is really good. I've been pretty rough on mine too, commuting from Boston and dragging it around on the cobblestone, and I figure as long as I get 4 years or so out of it, it was well worth the price. The only thing I changed were the wheels, which rolled nice, but plastic roller bearings just won't last that long. Fifteen bucks later, courtesy of play it again sports, I had a new set of roller blade wheels, which have lasted a year and a half with no problems. I can still roll my suitcase-lunch cooler-flight case combo, which weighs 80 lbs. or so, along with one finger, and the bag weighs half as much as the Purdy Neat and is nearly as strong.

So, when NWA put a forklift through your PNS, what'd you do? You had to get a loaner, or did the Purdy Neat heal itself? If so, that is 'purdy neat'!

With my Costco bag, I just go to Costco, get a new one. I've got 6 returns so far - I replace mine once ever 2 years, never an issue with my Costco. No need to worry about a loaner, or time to replace - I got a new bag. Scuff marks - time for a new bag. A ramper throws it off a jetway set for a 74 in Korea- time for a new bag (yes, seriously). Wheel squeaks - you guessed it, new bag! I keep the receipt in the bag, under the liner so I can always go to any Costco to change it, any time I want, anywhere in the US.

I will say the Costco bags aren't as good as they used to be. Metal pull tabs are now plastic, and the latest one has a plastic 'auto-expander', which is silly, but not an issue for a regional guy b/c you never expand your bag, making it too big to qualify for carry-on status. The hangers that come in the garmet bag (garmet bag?! Oh, yeah, that's included, with 3 hangers, and a 'dry bag' for dirty laundry or swimsuits or whatever too!) are now plastic hooked, rather than metal, but since I have 18 of the darn things, it's no big deal:D).

All that jazz you can do with the PNS (chair, ottoman, julian fries, whatever) you can do with the Costco too, but the best part is when you're done parading around your bag like a show pony, you can lift the bag into an overhead b/c it doesn't weigh as much as that show pony. If you plan to ever fly cargo, that kind of stuff is important, since you have to actually carry your bag up the stairs, and there's a lot of stairs on a 74, particularly when you got to go to the upper deck (both as the pilot, and as a passenger when you are positioned in business class to asia).

I gotta' say the PNS bag does do one thing the Costco bag can't do - ever see it go head to head with a lower lobe cargo door? Since it's all metal (the bag, though the door is too), its amazing, it turns into a freakin' pretzel, as does the owners face as they try to perform surgery and unravel their new $250 origami sculpture.

PNS makes a god bag, but you'd think the darn things can roll on water after reading all the posts about them. Trust me, all that metal, they sink. Did I mention the Costco bag floats too?:)

They are Tax deductable. Besides, expensive stuff makes me a better pilot, and hides the fact that i make less than a school bus driver.

Nah, it was at MSP, so a visit with the Stopover Store had me in a loaner and I had the repaired bag the next time I was through MSP (a week later). I found the metal bags to be rather uncomfortable to sit on and handles flimsy, thus went with the ABS plastic bags. Unfortunately, they're not the same plastic used in cutting boards, so not "self-healing."

I've heard the new PNTs are not as durable as their ancestors, but haven't needed one for years, so can't comment.

They have a couple versions of bags..... The older style is still available and seems more durable, the newer style has some plastic parts as opposed to metal.

Regional guy here with a purdy neat bag, scott flight case and a bose x. Never once have I been sorry I bought a quality item. Can't say the same thing about buying junk. These are tools that make my life better.

Very few actually take there bags up stairs into the upper deck on the 74Fs. We time them down by the L1 door. Since there are no overheads in any 74 upperdecks I have been in, only sidewall storage and they will not accomidate most rolling luggage anyway.

Have you ever had a luggage blow-out on the first day of a 2 week trip? It really really sucks. If you can afford it, get a quality bag.

Best deal out there
 

I don't know how many of you have to pay for your Jepp Binders if they get trashed. I have a perfect binder with two inch rings that I don't know if I ever used. I was going to pitch it but figured someone might want it. PM me with your address.....you pay postage.

I'm with Jedinein. In addition to everything else, I loathe wasting my off time to go into any retail environment.Not to mention, I prefer to not have my suitcases go to the landfill just because I went the cheap route.

I pack a PNS 26" for 2 week trips and the whole thing weighs 40lbs. When I do ride a 747, my bag stays on the main deck anyway.

There's a good reason why there are lots of posts with good reviews of the PNS bags.

In any case (no pun intended), to each their own.

But, does it float with your stuff in it? If it does, then you may have sold me.:D