strong bags or luggage works?
10-25-2009, 06:53 AM
#51
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: EMB 145 Capt.
Posts: 101
PNT stealth, have it going on 7 years now, replaced the wheels last year with some standard rollerblade wheels(bought a set of 8 bearings included for 25 bucks at Dicks, so I have extras)the foam handle cover tore, so I got a velcro closure wrap for it(5 years ago, it's a bit dirty but still in great shape)No Dividers, but with all honesty I rip them out any way. I like the flexibility of an open bay. I had a Victoronox before this (PNT)bag, in the 8 months I had it, I replaced the wheels 4 times, the retractable handle twice, the side handles twice, the piggyback strap mount once(and the one that was sent was already cracked) I can't speak about the Strong Bags, but I do love my PNT, and would buy another(assuming that I would actually have to).
10-25-2009, 07:35 AM
#52
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 747 FO
Posts: 937
Originally Posted by bodycheck
I don't usually post anything, but I came across this thread, and I have to say that I bought the Vortex 2 from strongbags and this bag beats the 3 pnt bags that I've had.
The first 2 pnt bags that i paid for that were plastic, didn't last longer than 14 months. I called PNT (luggageworks) for warranty repair, and i got peaved to say the least when they wanted me to pay for shipping both ways for warranty work. They had the bag 3 weeks. Not good. Maybe things have changed, but Strongbags have my loyalty from the minute I opened up the box, and thoroughly checked out the Vortex 2.
I unzipped the inner lining of the V2, to inspect the construction, and they really have beefed up the bag from the previous model - which i think was their first product that they came up with. I hadn't started hearing about them until recently, so I checked them out and bought one.
I'm glad I did.
The zippers are top notch stainless steel with a groove on the slider part where the arm actually sets into that so the puller does not come off. Unlike my previous PNT bags where i lost a few zippers my first couple of months. No biggie, but just noticed that the zippers on the SB were significantly better.
The frame is as solid as it could be built, and is a few pounds lighter than the PNT bags.
The material, and everything else about the bag looks like it is high quality.
Yes it's made in China, but so is the skin from PNT!!!! Just look inside the bag for that made in china tag. It's there. The guys at PNT in Missouri, just assemble the bag in their factory with some metal pieces and screws. In my mind that is not a "made in the USA" product if they import the majority of their luggage from China. I have had a duffle bag that I still use from PNT that I like (expensive), that has a made in china tag in it.
I buy USA when I can, but when it just makes sense, I buy whatever works for me.
So to me, it was important to have a bag that was strong, with replaceable parts that I can change myself.
I talked to guys that had the first strongbag, and they liked them. The ones that i checked over did have a lot of zipper pulls missing, but he fixed that, and went even further by getting really smooth stainless steel zippers.
I haven't seen a V2 without a missing pull, and the guy I talked to had his V2 when SB first came out with the "improved" V2 version. He really liked it.
So take what you want out of 1 pilots opinion, and it is just that, but I am sold on Strongbags, and not by a slim margin. They beat PNT bags in price, weight, and quality. The guy knows what he's doing.
I did my homework, and all the issues mentioned above have been taken care of. Oh, I did read above that on the first one, there was part of the frame at the bottom where it was metal. There is no metal foot anymore - they molded their own solid plastic foot that is part of the frame. Won't leave any scratches on my hardwood, but then I won't drag it on the wood anyway.
I've had it with PNT. I gave them a shot, well 3 shots, and came up short on 2 of them. The other bag I just got tired of and was too small for me. 13"er.
Be good, be good at it.
BC
The first 2 pnt bags that i paid for that were plastic, didn't last longer than 14 months. I called PNT (luggageworks) for warranty repair, and i got peaved to say the least when they wanted me to pay for shipping both ways for warranty work. They had the bag 3 weeks. Not good. Maybe things have changed, but Strongbags have my loyalty from the minute I opened up the box, and thoroughly checked out the Vortex 2.
I unzipped the inner lining of the V2, to inspect the construction, and they really have beefed up the bag from the previous model - which i think was their first product that they came up with. I hadn't started hearing about them until recently, so I checked them out and bought one.
I'm glad I did.
The zippers are top notch stainless steel with a groove on the slider part where the arm actually sets into that so the puller does not come off. Unlike my previous PNT bags where i lost a few zippers my first couple of months. No biggie, but just noticed that the zippers on the SB were significantly better.
The frame is as solid as it could be built, and is a few pounds lighter than the PNT bags.
The material, and everything else about the bag looks like it is high quality.
Yes it's made in China, but so is the skin from PNT!!!! Just look inside the bag for that made in china tag. It's there. The guys at PNT in Missouri, just assemble the bag in their factory with some metal pieces and screws. In my mind that is not a "made in the USA" product if they import the majority of their luggage from China. I have had a duffle bag that I still use from PNT that I like (expensive), that has a made in china tag in it.
I buy USA when I can, but when it just makes sense, I buy whatever works for me.
So to me, it was important to have a bag that was strong, with replaceable parts that I can change myself.
I talked to guys that had the first strongbag, and they liked them. The ones that i checked over did have a lot of zipper pulls missing, but he fixed that, and went even further by getting really smooth stainless steel zippers.
I haven't seen a V2 without a missing pull, and the guy I talked to had his V2 when SB first came out with the "improved" V2 version. He really liked it.
So take what you want out of 1 pilots opinion, and it is just that, but I am sold on Strongbags, and not by a slim margin. They beat PNT bags in price, weight, and quality. The guy knows what he's doing.
I did my homework, and all the issues mentioned above have been taken care of. Oh, I did read above that on the first one, there was part of the frame at the bottom where it was metal. There is no metal foot anymore - they molded their own solid plastic foot that is part of the frame. Won't leave any scratches on my hardwood, but then I won't drag it on the wood anyway.
I've had it with PNT. I gave them a shot, well 3 shots, and came up short on 2 of them. The other bag I just got tired of and was too small for me. 13"er.
Be good, be good at it.
BC
, very interesting.....just sayin'
10-25-2009, 08:51 AM
#53
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Originally Posted by supercub04
Went to the luggage aisle, and surprise! No more Costco Kirkland 22" bags! After several phone calls to several stores, the product has been discontinued and will no longer be sold. If you have some in your local store, buy 'em up and sell 'em on here!
Bummer. That was a good value bag, but the return policy must have killed it. I don't think I've read a post about the bag without, "ya, bought the Costco bag, year later, returned it broken to get another bag free, then the next year the same."
I started building my own bag, with the intend to market it. Maybe I'll have to set up a poll to find out what folks think is most important. For me, I want it rock solid (that means it "can't" break). I hate being on a trip with a broken bag, no matter how good the return policy. Doesn't help me in Ghana.
I also want it built here in the US. And I'd want it built more like an airplane, and less like a plastic toy, or a heavy rock.
10-25-2009, 12:36 PM
#54
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 223
Originally Posted by TonyWilliams
Bummer. That was a good value bag, but the return policy must have killed it. I don't think I've read a post about the bag without, "ya, bought the Costco bag, year later, returned it broken to get another bag free, then the next year the same."
I started building my own bag, with the intend to market it. Maybe I'll have to set up a poll to find out what folks think is most important. For me, I want it rock solid (that means it "can't" break). I hate being on a trip with a broken bag, no matter how good the return policy. Doesn't help me in Ghana.
I also want it built here in the US. And I'd want it built more like an airplane, and less like a plastic toy, or a heavy rock.
I started building my own bag, with the intend to market it. Maybe I'll have to set up a poll to find out what folks think is most important. For me, I want it rock solid (that means it "can't" break). I hate being on a trip with a broken bag, no matter how good the return policy. Doesn't help me in Ghana.
I also want it built here in the US. And I'd want it built more like an airplane, and less like a plastic toy, or a heavy rock.
Another idea I just though of. Make it so that you can replace most things in a pinch. Maybe have a space for an allen key/screw driver and small pliers or something. And have the important parts have a "spare" type of thing where you could replace it with items brought from a big box store such as Lowes or Walmart since some overnights are close to those. Or maybe even have a hidden compartment in the frame where you can keep spare wheels, zipper pulls, and handle so you can replace them on the road as soon as they break and then order new ones when you get home so you can replace the spares. Just even thought of this...to save weight maybe the spares could be made of lighter less durable material just to get you thru the trip until you could replace the part with a new part...kinda like the donut tire for a car...gets you thru the trip good enough till you can get it fixed.
10-25-2009, 01:08 PM
#55
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Good points. Zippers break. My current design has no zippers. It is also water tight and lockable (really lockable... Cable locked to the bed in your room for when the "help" helps themselves to your iPod... Twice to me in the past year).
Numerous significant differences from the competition. But,it will be made out of metal, instead of a bag wrapped around an assortment of metal parts.
Numerous significant differences from the competition. But,it will be made out of metal, instead of a bag wrapped around an assortment of metal parts.
10-25-2009, 01:12 PM
#56
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
Wheels are industry standard. You can double up the wheels, just like any transport category plane, or carry a spare with a tool, as you suggest. Both approaches probably weigh the same, so duals sound best to me.
10-25-2009, 02:09 PM
#57
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 223
I've been thinking more about it again and I still think that a thing that would be a "must have" would be the ability to fix it good enough to get it home mid trip. I can't think of any bag that has this as an option. You say no zippers so you've eliminated that problem, but I say that the most important things (things that suck to most when the break) are 1. wheels. 2. Handles. 3. Piggyback strap/hook. Find ways to have spares of those incorporated into the bag...preferably with the ability to do it in the hotel with no tools (except for maybe ones included in the bag) and I'd say you'd have a bag that would be wanted by quite a few guys.
10-25-2009, 07:01 PM
#59
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: DD->DH->RU/XE soon to be EV
Posts: 3,732
Originally Posted by jamiestrat
Do any of you guys have the LW Stealth NG 26"? If so, do you ever have any problems with commuting or deadhead with overhead space? I just ordered one and I am thinking of changing it to the 22". Thoughts?
I don't know about you, but with the change in checked bag policies, there is less and less overhead space. So much that USelessAtoday did an article about it recently.
Anyway, the 26" won't fit into the overheads wheels in/wheels out, has to go sideways, requiring more overhead space. I'm sure, as you know, when commuting you're one of the last people on with the resulting lack of overhead space. Some airlines don't have the closet space, nothing sucks more than having to check your bag and not being able to get to the ramp to retrieve and it gets sent to baggage claim.
I've had the 22" for 9 years now, works great. The first 4 1/2 years it took a SERIOUS beating having to go in the back of the plane and the zippers got pretty beat up. Sent it in and got them fixed. I really don't see any other bag's zippers holding up better.
10-25-2009, 09:15 PM
#60
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
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Posts: 3,048
Originally Posted by Great Cornholio
1. wheels.
If you have two sets of wheels, and one of the four fails, you're still good to go. Sure, have a tool or method to get the failed wheel off, but let's say the ramper dropped it, and it broke both wheels on one side. You can still take one wheel off the good side, and put it on the bad side. Your spares are constantly there.
2. Handles.
That's tough. You've got 40 pounds of crap swinging off the end of a cheap handle on the Strong bag, and a grossly heavy LW handle (that can still be broken). But, nonetheless, there are alternatives.
3. Piggyback strap/hook.
There are other ways to handle that. Not sure a strap is my first choice.
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