After years of battery and abuse at the hands of the savage baggage handlers, it is time for me to get a new garment bag. I am leaning strongly towards this Filson. Does anyone have experience flying with any piece of Filson luggage? How well do they resist the rigors of being checked?
Filson Luggage
- Thread starter professorchaos
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I have really put my filson duffels through the ringer. Filson says they are water resistant, but I have been in some stiff rain and had no problems with leaking at all. I now have four pieces of Filson luggage and if I ever needed another piece, it would most assuredly be Filson.
The only thing I wish I had done was purchase the dark green color instead of the tan. My tans have started to 'show their age' a bit. I would love it except for those times when I visit family and they look dirty. Otherwise, I wouldn't care.
The only thing I wish I had done was purchase the dark green color instead of the tan. My tans have started to 'show their age' a bit. I would love it except for those times when I visit family and they look dirty. Otherwise, I wouldn't care.
Cheaper here ... http://www.cranes-country-store.com/store/product.php?productid=16279&cat=286&page=1
I have one. I have never flown with it though. It's certainly sturdy and likely to withstand the rigours of travel (but the specific rigours of baggage-hanndling conveyor belts & other machines ... I have no experience). I've never subjected it to any seriously wet conditions.
It's big. When they say "capacity for 2 or 3 full suits" ... yes, that capacity is there. That is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your needs. Also, the zippers are heavy brass ... so you need to keep some space between your suit & zipper when zipping, otherwise they'll eat your suit.
I have one. I have never flown with it though. It's certainly sturdy and likely to withstand the rigours of travel (but the specific rigours of baggage-hanndling conveyor belts & other machines ... I have no experience). I've never subjected it to any seriously wet conditions.
It's big. When they say "capacity for 2 or 3 full suits" ... yes, that capacity is there. That is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your needs. Also, the zippers are heavy brass ... so you need to keep some space between your suit & zipper when zipping, otherwise they'll eat your suit.
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- #4
The tan is handsome - it is my first choice. Yet even with a thick layer of scotchguard, I can envision baggage handlers doing a number on it. Happy to hear that beyond blemishes, they've held up. Exactly what I wanted to hear.
One of the blogs I follow recently put in a glowing recommendation for Filson luggage. He travels 4-5 days a week by plane and loves the whole line, had a few for several years now with hundreds of trips through baggage handling and they're holding up very well.
I have that Filson suit carrier. It is fine, really can carry a lot of stuff, but can become bulky when it is overly stuffed. I also have a Filson Pullman suitcase (medium Pullman, I think) and I am completely awed by it. The Pullman has seen a lot more use than the suit carrier, mainly because I use the Pullman on road trips, which I do all of the time for work, while I only use the suit carrier on air travel for vacations, but often end up using a smaller one (non-Filson, but made by an out-of-business company). The Pullman has now gone on about 400,000 miles of driving with me and has held up amazingly well (and I mean "amazing" in the sense of when the word meant truly amazing). The most impressive thing about the Pullman is how tough the zipper is - it should have broken years ago, but no problems at all, despite routine abuse (this is 10 years of road travel). It has required no repairs of any kind and is still in fine shape with no sign of beginning to fail. I have the tan and still prefer that color. I think a great combination for air travel would be the Filson suitcase with wheels along with the suit carrier you are interested in - this way you could carry the suit carrier leaning against the suitcase and roll both at once, which is a lot easier than walking with two large bags on your shoulders.
So yes, Filson luggage is about as good as it gets for heavy use. Compared to other kinds of luggage (pretty much anything made of nylon), it is like comparing a fine straight edge to disposable plastic razors - more expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run and providing greater satisfaction with every single use.
So yes, Filson luggage is about as good as it gets for heavy use. Compared to other kinds of luggage (pretty much anything made of nylon), it is like comparing a fine straight edge to disposable plastic razors - more expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run and providing greater satisfaction with every single use.
I absolutely and completely agree with this statement!
Go for it Henry! You really can't beat the quality of Filson. But if you buy it, I would not be worried so much as the luggage holding up as much as I would someone trying to steal it.
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- #9
Thanks for selling me on Filson, gents. Now I am torn...I think one of the duffles is more what I need. Make my decision easy and tell me I need both
The duffels are great as well. I will offer up this tidbit. The canvas cloth is really thick, but it takes a bit of work to make sure it 'stands up' whole you are loading. I have found that if you load the side pockets first, it will keep the bag open and easier to load. Definitely see if you can find one to look at before you buy, I imagine this could turn some folks off. That being said, I love mine!
Does anyone have any experience with the tin-cloth duffle?
I've had my eye on it for awhile. Nice, minimalist styling. That it's lighter-weight canvas and more nondescript are both pluses for me.
I've had my eye on it for awhile. Nice, minimalist styling. That it's lighter-weight canvas and more nondescript are both pluses for me.
I think the tin cloth duffel is a new product for them. Looks good in the picture, haven't seen one in real life.
I think the big secret of the Filson luggage line is the compartment bag. I have one of these (the regular size, I think) and have found it to be an amazing carry on bag for flying. With the current "checking luggage is for chumps" approach (which recently was reinforced by the charges for checking bags), you can never count on finding any overhead space. The beauty of the compartment bag is that it fits perfectly under the seat in front of you, yet is large enough to carry a lot of stuff. Having it under the seat means that anything you want is accessible to you at anytime during the flight. I use mine every time I fly. It also allows me to ensure that I don't have to risk losing valuables by leaving them in checked bags.
I think the big secret of the Filson luggage line is the compartment bag. I have one of these (the regular size, I think) and have found it to be an amazing carry on bag for flying. With the current "checking luggage is for chumps" approach (which recently was reinforced by the charges for checking bags), you can never count on finding any overhead space. The beauty of the compartment bag is that it fits perfectly under the seat in front of you, yet is large enough to carry a lot of stuff. Having it under the seat means that anything you want is accessible to you at anytime during the flight. I use mine every time I fly. It also allows me to ensure that I don't have to risk losing valuables by leaving them in checked bags.
Thanks for selling me on Filson, gents. Now I am torn...I think one of the duffles is more what I need. Make my decision easy and tell me I need both
You need both!
Don't even think twice, Filson makes the best hands down. It will last 2 lifetimes
try the filson pullman . wonderful!compartments all over. two main compartments, outside pockets. zip-around, shoulder srap, easily carryable. durable as hell! best ever!
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- #16
You need both!
Thank you! The duffle is on the way... garment bag pending.
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- #17
The large duffle arrived today. A handsome looking piece! And tomorrow, its first trip.
Nice score -- congrats! I'm looking to replace a travelpro and may go in a similar direction sometime soon...
which colour did you end up ordering?
- Thread starter
- #20
Went with the Otter Green. The tan looks better but probably shows dirt better too.
This is a very, very well made piece of luggage.
This is a very, very well made piece of luggage.
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