Time for a new bag?

If it ain't broke...

I replaced my RS 22" rolls with a 20" three trips ago because I was beginning to use more flights within Europe.

I had problems with the new bag on this last trip, the extension zipper broke. RS store replaced it. But the old bag seemed sturdier to me, and the fabric seemed stronger. My new bag is about 16 lbs. packed.

So, I would keep the old one until I have to change it for some reason.

Then keep what you have. But this much is true for luggage, especially for those who pack light and roll: good ain't cheap and cheap ain't good. Zoe got three years out of her RS bag. Sounds good until you consider that these things break in use, not sitting in your closet. So, go with what you have or prepare to invest in a better quality bag.

I have the old 21" and a 20". The 20" is lighter, but the older one is easier to pack. The dimensions aren't that different, but it's enough to notice.

Sometimes I'm tempted by spinners. I love the exterior long pocket on the RS bag (great for a jacket), but my creaky shoulder has other opinions regarding 2 wheels vs 4 wheels.

Also, I haven't had trouble with my 20" for handle or zippers but there are 2 small wear spots in the fabric that covers the lower corners that concern me.

The new RS bags look to be made of polyester material which maybe less durable than the cloth on your current bag. I have some cordura bags that I've used for over 20 years and are still going strong. If the wheels on your bag are worn there are YouTube videos that show how to replace them.

The older RS bags were better quality. If the one you are using is working well, keep it and spend the money elsewhere.

Since it "...is still rolling along and functional.", then Jane is spot on. Another way to look at it is that it's better to dance with the devil you know than one you don't know.

I agree that you should keep your existing bag. I really regret ditching a wonderfully light 19" Travelpro that had broken wheels. Instead of paying the shoe repair shop big bucks to replace the wheels, I figured I could get a comparable new bag for just a little more $$. No such animal. "If it ain't broke....."

Regarding the spinner issue, I'm a bit ambivalent on that one. I have a 21" eBags TLS Motherlode roller duffle, and it's awesome if a tad heavy. Never failed to fit on a US flight (not regional jets), very durable. And the wheels are tough and smooth rolling.

But I like the spinners as well, though four wheels are inevitably smaller than two., and increase the length of the bag, a concern for tight overhead baggage limits. The problem with spinners is outdoors over rough pavement versus the smooth floors of airports and hotels. I tend to take my spinners on short hops to major cities, but if I'm traveling to less "urban" cities, I'll go with the Motherlode.

I also own the current RS roller and have been satisfied so far. The 21" length makes it virtually "uncheckable" by a gate agent, and it's pretty roomy.

Here's the thing with spinners: the wheels are vulnerable and get a lot of banging around on rough pavement. If you buy an inexpensive spinner and drag it (like you have to at times) like a rollaboard on cobblestones curbs and the like you risk breaking a wheel. This will happen when you're on vacation-not good. On the other hand well built and therefore higher priced spinners have sturdier wheels. We've abused our TravelPro and Briggs & Riley spinners throughout Europe and they keep on ticking. Nothing compares to the beating they took in Lisbon this summer. I don't think there is any smooth pavement in the city. For us spinners are overall much easier on our body mechanics. But, if you buy one know that the cheap ones will likely not hold up.

Good point. I have two Travelpro spinners, and you can tell from the construction that the wheels will hold up. I've had to use the "two wheel option" often, and they've come through like champs. Of course, if and when something fails with the wheels, you're probably going to be somewhere inconvenient, so you take your chances. But in this case, cheaping up on a spinner isn't a good idea.

I totally agree that older RS rollaboards are the much, much better product. In fact, just this past week, my sister brought her old RS rollaboard to our house to see if my husband could repair the handle that had become hard to retract. It was determined that such a repair was not do-able, but instead of trashing the case, it is now in a closet to serve as a "parts resource" in case another wheel dies on one of our two older RS rollaboards.

RS sent me a new, smaller case when I contacted them about the issue with a dead/dying wheel (seems there had been some quality issues with the wheels on certain cases that were manufactured), but the smaller case is just way tooo small. I showed it to my sister, and she agreed. But, she is still pondering ordering one for those smaller planes.

But, I love the old (I think Kiva or something that sounds like that manufactured them for RS) case.....truly LOVE it. Wish they would bring back the exact same original design, if they could find someone to manufacture it today. I think a lot of us would rush to buy a new one, so we have a spare lined up :)

Keep the older case!!!

If you decide you don't want it, too bad RS does not have an Ebay-like sales method on his site for used original RS rollaboards that still have life left in them.

@Maggie - love that you keep the old bag for parts...like a mechanic or something. :-)

My old bag is getting scruffy - any tips on how to clean it?

The new bag is smaller, but it's endearing in its own way.

For heavy duty nylon or poly bags, I've seen suggestions to use eco-friendly dish soaps, something that's supposed to be even gentler than Dawn or Palmolive. I'd do a test patch first and see how it looks when dry before hitting the whole thing.

Kiva designed and used to manufacture the RS bags. A few years ago, RS switched and now Ricardo of Beverly Hills makes their bags. (The RS people weren't happy with the quality of the bags coming from Kiva.)

Shortly after that, Kiva was sold to Baggalini. The brand name was never used for new bags and is no longer in use.

After that, some of the people behind Kiva started LiteGear. If you look closely, you'll see a big resemblance of some of their bags and RS bags.

One of the reasons people complain about some of the new RS bags over the old ones is that the price for these bags has not changed in many, many years. But costs have risen. To keep the same price point, costs have to be lowered. To do that, quality usually suffers.

Frank II,
Thank you for posting the info you did. Very interesting!!!

Jane,

We have a RS suitcase and the zipper broke off. I called RS customer service and they were great. They replaced it. Couldn't have been nicer. Get a new bag and make sure it is a RS bag!

Red Oxx has a 'How to clean your bag' article here:

https://www.redoxx.com/travel/how-to-clean-your-bag/

They like (and sell) Dr. Bronner's Soap for that purpose.

Keep the bag you have until it gets to the point where you can't use it anymore.. get your money's worth!! :)

I have an old RS bag and the smaller, newer bag (3 yrs old, I think). While the old one is sturdier with a fuller frame, I was disappointed immediately as it is not 22" in full, so not a true carryon. It is 22" plus wheels and handle...so it was inaccurate and didn't qualify as a carryon. So I suggest you measure your old bag as the airlines are much pickier about the 22" length measurement these days. I do like the newer 20" carryon, which is actually slightly longer than 21". While I usually check my carryon bag these days, I like the ability to change on a dime and carryon if I want to do so.

We have had at least 4 sets of the old RS 22" and LOVED them. After about 5 years our last set of 2 of these are in tatters and we replaced them with the new Rivannah sets. To our dismay, they were noticeably smaller (didn't think after all these years to look at measurements-definitely my bad). However the return policy caused even more dismay.
RS cost $22 to ship the two suitcases. When I called to return I was told that they will not do anything to assist with return-shipping. Further, I was told that it will cost a lot more to return than $22 as they get a discount on shipping. I asked if they could extend that discount for return shipping and the answer was an unsympathetic "NO" and a reprimand for not reading that notice on the website.
Well, it did cost a lot more to UPS Ground the two suitcases back to RS...$112 to be exact! So for a $189 bag we are out $134 in shipping costs. This is truly horrible service in a world of free to/fro shipping. Even if they could have covered half the cost, I would have been satisfied.Our 25 year love affair with Rick Steves and all his wonderful products is definitely deflated. It's a pity that there customer service is not as reliable as their products.

greathall, I doubt RS alone is charging for returns. I can tell you, little in Canada will return free, even Amazon, unless there is a defect or error. You also have to understand that you might not see shipping or return costs as a separate line item, but you can bet that those 'free returns' sites are working the cost of shipping into the initial cost posted....just like merchants hide their credit card merchant fees in the price of everything. At least RS is honest about their pricing and the rest of us aren't saddled with the expenses of those who return items out of choice.