All-rounder luggage built to last....

[fotocycle]

... And $100 or under?

I need some carry-on luggage. Something rugged and somewhat versatile. Mostly I'll be carrying some camera gear (SLR and lenses) and some clothes in those vacuum-seal bags, etc. I don't need much, most trips will be for 10 days or less. I may require a hiking backpack or something down the line, but I'll worry about that later. I just want a good bag that I can stow in the overhead and get some decent use out of it. I don't want a backpack but don't know if I need a rolling cart either. The case would stay at the motel room, and I'd carry the camera gear in some nondescript shoulder bag.

I'll be doing some airline traveling in the next several months. First trip is to see some friends in Las Cruces, New Mexico, next month, but I am in the process of picking a destination for next year (Peru for the rainforest? Slovakia or Colombia so I can come back married? lol).

[Kojak]

I work overseas and I have been using a Stormcase 2500 for my carry on. It is a wheeled unit and a bit bulky but protects my stuff and can be locked up when you leave it in your room. You can get it with foam insert for your camera gear. Here is the link: http://www.stormcase.com/StormCaseSizes/StormiM2500.htm

Pelican cases (www.pelican.com) also makes a similar case. I have several Pelican products and they are the best.

Randal

[Devlin]

A little out of the price range but built to take a beating.

http://www.maxpedition.com/

[waylonwally]

eagle creek makes very durable bags.

[fotocycle]

Thanks, guys. For now I ended up getting a Dockers 21" roller, I got it for $40 at a discount outlet. I'll have to buy something better for next year, I'm sure (I don't know about Dockers' quality?) since I'll be taking at least a couple of good trips out. (Narrowing down the list to the rainforests in Peru, or tracing some of my genealogy in Spain, or checking out the non-tourist spots in Slovakia...)

[lightstalker]

I had a Hakibu case for several years before I got a Hardigg: http://www.stormcase.com/
http://www.hardigg.com/

Pelican also make high quality cases but they are very pricey. I would recommend Hardigg

[Devlin]

I had a Hakibu case for several years before I got a Hardigg: http://www.stormcase.com/
http://www.hardigg.com/

Pelican also make high quality cases but they are very pricey. I would recommend Hardigg

I own both Storm cases and Pelican cases and for the money just go with the Storm cases. They are a bit cheaper but built just as well and in some aspects better.

[javaman]

I don't carry camera eq and don't need cushioning but my bag of choice is OGIO. Super tough, strong zippers and when my laptop was "accidently" dropped from the cargo bay of a 50 seater I had zero damage. Smart designed also.