Easy to identify on the luggage carousel
Pros:
Can take the abuse of baggage handlers
Cons:
The locks could be better - stronger
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I've owned luggage made by Samsonite, American Tourister, Delsey and Hartmann. I purchased this particular Hartmann after I lost my other Hartmann in a house fire. My previous Hartmann was not a soft sided version, so I was curious as to how this would hold up.
While I do not travel as often as others, I've taken this luggage with me on trips to Canada and other US destinations. Most recently I took a trip to the Far East and Southeast Asia. This luggage returned with me completely intact though there were signs that my luggage had been tampered with.
When I was shopping to replace my previous Hartmann luggage, I was disappointed that they were not making the older style any more. I had always preferred hard-sided luggage and was concerned that the soft-sided luggage would not be as secure or as rugged. Once I had convienced myself that soft-sided luggage might be okay, I had to decide as to whether to purchase the Tumi or Hartmann brand. The major difference that I perceived between the two brands was the quality of the wheels. The wheels on the Tumi are similar to wheels on inline skates. The wheels on the Hartmann looked like standard luggage wheels. The thing that made my decision was the Hartmann was on sale and was substantially less in price. For the price difference, I could live with the standard luggage wheels.
It is very easy to pack the Hartmann because you essentially have an empty box. No irregular shapes to contend with. The main benefit of the soft-sided luggage is that you can pack a lot more stuff in it. From previous experience, I know that Hartmann backs their products. If ever damaged, you can send you luggage back to the factory for repairs.
As I stated in the title, it is easy to identify you luggage on the luggage carousel at the airport, because no other bag looks like the Hartmann. After my three week tour of the Far East and Southeast Asia, I feel confident with traveling with my Hartmann luggage.
As I had mentioned, there were signs that someone had tampered with my luggage. One of the locks was damaged, but it did not open. I will have to replace the lock however. Better to replace the lock than to replace the contents.
