Samsonite Silhouette 11 26" Spinner

Best Piece of Luggage I've Owned (2010-07-23) Rating: 4/5
I bought this (along with the 29" version) for a trip to the UK. We packed for a family of four using these two bags, for a 9-day trip, and everything fit fine. The wheels were a dream - even over Edinburgh's cobbled streets - and there were no problems at check-in due to size for either bag. I would heartily recommend this line of luggage - it is sturdy, well built and easy to use.
Great Suitcase (2010-06-29) Rating: 4/5
This is a great, sturdy suitcase with lots of space. The spinner wheels are fantastic. I way-overpacked for a 10-day trip and had room to spare. I rolled this on cobblestone streets, up and down stairs, and generally abused it, and it's still in great shape. Highly recommended.
Great luggage--make sure you know the best size for you (2010-02-24) Rating: 5/5
First, let me say that i own almost every piece of luggage in the samsonite silhouette spinner series. I would say that this is top of the line luggage. The material is better and lighter than what is put into most luggage. It is better because it is more durable, resists scratching and scuffing, and holds up well. I have some pieces from a previous silhouette series that hi have had around 3 - 4 years and they show no wear. In preparation for another trip that required more luggage i also purchased pieces from the 11 series.

I think durability is a key with luggage--and these certainly are durable. In the past, i would try to get by with purchasing cheaper luggage and in the end would find that i had to replace it because it wasn't durable-it would get holes or zippers would break, etc. The zippers on the Silhouette are top of the line zippers to maximize their life. I have never had an issue with the zippers in either model years of the silhouette.

The spinner wheels are awesome. I did not know about spinner wheels prior to my purchase of the silhouette 10. They make maneuvering around 100 times easier--you will never want luggage without spinner wheels once you have tried it.

The handle is telescoping to various positions so people of different heights find it comfortable. If you purchase the silhouette boston bag or the shoulder bag, it has a slip on the bag of it and will slip securely over the handle so you can piggyback it with this luggage easily. Both the boston bag and shoulder bag meet carry-on requirements-and they will also slip over the handle of any luggage in this series.

The material is lighter in weight than average--which is handy for people who have more difficulty lugging weight around. I bought some for my mom for this reason.

This 26" does expand--but here is where size comes in---which size to get--this or the 29". I personally suggest that for any trip greater than 7 days, you get the 29". For me, i use the 29" for most trips unless i can just fit everything on a carry-on because it is just a couple of days. If I had to choose a size I would say that the 29 is much more versatile and you will get much more use out of it. The 26 would be ideal for trips of 5-7 days. However, the 29 is not unmanageable and you can use that for those smaller trips as well. I find that I do that even if it isn't full on the way to my trip--because it gives me more space to bring things back that I buy on my trip. The 29 is obviously larger, which means it is slightly heavier--so again, someone that has a more difficult time with weight and managing bigger pieces might choose the 26".

Between the 22" and 20"--the 22" is considered a called a carry-on, however, it does not meet carry-on requirements for all airlines. For that reason, i personally chose to go with the 20" as it does meet carry-on requirements--even if you have it expanded. and the 20" when expanded has almost the same capacity as the 22" non expanded (the 22" also expands but will not meet any airlines criteria for carry-on if you have it expanded). The 20 inch is large enough for a weekend trip. Pair the 20 inch with the boston bag--both will meet carry-on requirements--and you have enough room for 4-6 days.

Bottom line: I highly suggest this series! You can not do better, in my opinion, in terms of quality, convenience, and ease of use. You just have to decide which piece or pieces best fit your life and needs. I hope the information i provided based on my experience will help you make that decision.
Beautiful! but TOO small... (2009-11-06) Rating: 3/5
We bought this suitcase for our trip to Italy (15 days) my husband said that 26" was enough...but it's way too small!! I mean, it's really26" but I didn't realize what the other measurements were (10.2x17.8) Anyway, it's a gorgeous suitcase, I love the wheels, but I''m thinking we're going to exchange it for the bigger size (29"), it's too small for what we need.