Customer Reviews

Samsonite F'Lite 31" Upright

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We bought this luggage to contain some very heavy items we travel with (my husband has a physical disability and this is his transfer device to move from the bed to the wheelchair). The transfer device weighs about 65 pounds. The size is perfect, the straps that snap over the top are useless for something so heavy but would work well for clothing. What I love about this piece is that it's very lightweight and yet was able to transport the device without trouble. My only complaint is that there is really only one handle to use when lifting the bag - the one on the side. If there was another handle on the top besides the pulling one, that would be perfect. It is very awkward to lift the bag otherwise. I find I have to use the plastic feet on the bottom of the bag for a hand hold and they are not the best shape for that use - sharp edges and small size allow only for careful finger placement, which is hard to do on the airport luggage roundabouts. Warranty is nice.

First of all, this is a budget collection designed for occasional travel. Not for road warriors. I've had the 31" version for about 5 years and it's great for long trips since I can fit everything in one suitcase -- but it's very easy to exceed 50 lbs if you're not careful. Be sure and weight it at home. If the suitcase is fully loaded most women & children would have a hard time handling the suitcase. The wheels are great and reliable (roller blade style) and are perfect for parking lots, rough sidewalks, cobblestone streets, etc. My main gripe is that every time I pick up it up from baggage claim the center latch is open. It doesn't stay shut. The side latches secure it nicely since there is a slide-lock, but there is no such slide lock on the center latch. I am terrified that one day I will pick up the suitcase and it will be gaping open with half my stuff gone. Hasn't happened yet, but it could easily happen if TSA or the airline opens the luggage and forgets to secure the side latches. My next suitcase will be a Samsonite, but I'll look for a hardside model with a zip-around closure instead (probably the Dura-lite series).

I have a luggage container from samsonite that is 20 years old that the lock was broken on. I wanted a replacement for it and found this new model. The plastic is not as strong as my original suitcase, but it gets the job done. The new handle that allows the suitcase to roll on the fattest side is much better and more stable than the old one that allows the suitcase to roll on its skinney side. The locks are strong and the wheels roll very nicely.

It is everything I expected and serves my needs. I travel quite a bit for extended periods of time. This bag was large enough for me to throw in whatever I need during my travel. Also, it is durable and surprisingly light weight.

I am not happy with the product. Eventhough the height of the bag is 31", the actual width is less than it appears. The reason being the belt inside the bag is located below than it should be normally towards the edge. And it is not strechable enough. So if one is buying for long term, there are better options available. Also if you want to return it than you have to pay for the return shipping charges and it is costly.

I bought this one night after I got up late and found a HUGE cockroach in my hotel bathroom. I like the suitcase because there is no lining so it is much easier to clean. There is a cloth cover that is over the hinge. It needs to be velcro or snapped in so it removable for cleaning. I drive most of the time so I am not worried about it being a little light duty.

I'm totally sold on these hard-sided suitcases from Samsonite. They're sturdy without being heavy, and they stand up to all the vagaries and uncertainties of travel without blinking an eye.

This 31-inch F'Lite is completely in that happy tradition. It is large (its dimensions match the (current) size limit for a piece of checked baggage on United), which makes it a little too easy to load beyond most airlines' weight limits -- but if you're carrying bulky items, that size is invaluable. On the inside, it's as simple as simple can be: a space without end pockets, a stretchy strap to hold things in place, and (new since my last Samsonite F'Lite purchase) a stretchy net barrier that can be fastened across the suitcase's lid to give you another controllable compartment.

The hinges run the full length of the suitcase and simply don't fail. The clips holding it closed are reliable, too -- and even more solid than in years past.

The suitcase is also lightweight -- so you can use your luggage weight allowance on the contents, not on the suitcase itself. I really appreciate that!

If you want a generous-sized suitcase that's affordable, sturdy, durable, and lightweight, this would be an excellent choice. I'm very, very happy with mine (and with its long series of Samsonite Oyster cousins, most of which are still in service!).

My husband and I travel to remote beaches in Mexico, and we need a big suitcase to fit our collapsible beach chairs. The large suitcases are not easy to find, and most cost significantly more. The one we have is older and heavy. This is very straightforward - no frills - but perfect for our needs. Very lightweight, very plain, and very affordable for a bag this big. We haven't traveled with it yet (we leave in less than two weeks for a beach in the Tel Chac Puerto area!) - but it is so much better than our older suitcase, and so much lighter too! We are thrilled with it. It isn't glamorous, but I am all about functionality. It is perfect for us! That said - if it pops open or otherwise breaks during our flight/vacation (which I sincerely doubt) I'll update this posting.

I bought this suitcase because it is the only suitcase recommended by the company that made my folding bicycle; apparently it is the one they currently sell for packing the disassembled bicycle and checking it for airline travel. The bike manufacturer (Bike Friday in Eugene Oregon) sells these but at a considerably higher price and only in black.

So far I have not used the case. I like the appearance of it but can see the point of earlier reviews that I have read pointing out that the retractable handle can easily be broken if someone (such as a baggage handler) uses it to lift the fully packed suitcase. Ideally, Samsonite would have provided a way to lock that handle into the retracted position. I will probably have to tape it with lots of ugly duck tape and hope the baggage handler doesn't have the time to bother untaping it.