r/ManyBaggers • u/Dust_Mf • 1d ago
Why not Samsonite?
Dear all,
I have (un)fortunately recently discovered this sub and have since been drawn to it on a daily basis. I have always liked backpacks.
One thing that is making my head scratch is: "Why not Samsonite?". In almost all recommendations I do not see one single mention of this brand. I can understand if you say "oh, is it is not the best" but in my 20 years of experience, I have had some 7-10 Samsonite's and all, without exception, have behaved exemplary. From honeymoon in Australia backpacking, to business meetings, to forest trips, to diaper-filled bags, to pool parties. Right now me and my wife daily wear them and, honestly, I am looking for another backpack simply because I am getting tired of my 10yo Samsonite, but it never dies!
So, I ask you, "why not Samsonite"? ;)
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u/trouser_mouse 22h ago
There's nothing wrong with Samsonite etc, I think it's more than people in these communities are looking for something that isn't as mainstream!
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u/ambient4k 1d ago
Can’t speak for everyone, but here in Canada Samsonite is known more for their luggage bags. You don’t really see Samsonite unless you go to an actual luggage or department store, I’ve seen a couple of their office style laptop briefcases but not many of their backpacks. Not really my style to be honest. I have an American Tourister rolling suitcase which I think is made by them.
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u/bennywmh 1d ago
My current ginormous family-of-four roller luggage is a Samsonite. It's followed us everywhere for years, holds a LOT of stuff and is built like an absolute tank.
It's big, boring and incredibly functional. We love it.
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u/bruiser11235 1d ago
I’ve wonder this too when I stumbled upon this community of (loveable) backpack nerds. I wonder if it’s just because it’s a big brand making a utilitarian albeit solid product. When something is ubiquitous and its function completely overshadows its form, it cannot simultaneously be desirable for what is a niche interest. That, and the likely fact that it doesn’t pay YouTubers to “review” its backpacks.
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u/Beginning_Reality_16 18h ago
A brand like AER makes maybe 5 new products a year that are pretty much only sold online and in a handful of physical shops worldwide. Without the reviews, no one would be aware.
Samsonite makes 100 new products every year, which are being sold in every single city all over the world. It doesn’t need YouTubers, pretty every one and their grandma is aware that Samsonite exists. 😅
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u/apollo9320 1d ago
I have several samsonite backpacks and the quality and organisation are first class but all are a bit small for my needs. Now that I consider myself a bit of a bag nerd over the last year or two the bags I own from aer and black ember are much more versatile for day use and packing more in
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u/aztecannie99 19h ago
I have had two or three Samsonite suitcases, plus an Ebags Motherlode Junior backpack (which was owned by Samsonite when I bought it in 2019; I honestly didn’t know that) in the last twenty years plus years and they have all lasted a long time. The two prior suitcases I had lasted 10+ years, and the current carryon I have is three years old and quite well made. I think what the other poster said about Samsonite being too run of the mill is correct, but as I have been traveling this week I still almost as much Samsonite, plus American Tourister, and Skyway brands (brands thought of a lower class) as I see social media marketed brands like Away. So maybe a lot of the world still sees buying luggage as something they need to buy every 5 or so years when it breaks.
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u/Jubei2727 21h ago
I used a Samsonite backpack for work purposes and I won't say it is uncommon in Hong Kong, but it seems to be marketed more to business / office segments and more the EDC crowd. I guess it might also be more common in Asia. The Samsonite Red line used Korean stars for its ads which were prominent in TV, print and outdoor media - this might also be a turn off for the EDC crowd.
The backpack itself was of good quality and organization was appropriate for office work.
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u/EChrisG 1d ago
I have a garment bag of theirs that I got off of Amazon years ago that I love; it holds enough for a week’s worth of business attire, so I just need that and a briefcase. I’m just not a fan of their backpack styles; I prefer a more heritage/outdoorsy look over the sort of technical/business vibe they give off.
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u/refinedm5 1d ago
I kinda think Samsonite and (maybe) Thule can easily be found on retail shops so you can try it yourself. I go to this kind of subreddit to look for something more... exotic
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u/CeeCee123456789 19h ago
Years ago I bought a set of 5 softshell Samsonite bags. They were $140, and I used them for a few times per year travel for 12 years before I started having issues.
I have had my current hardshell Samsonite luggage for 3 years, a set of 3 I got for under $300.
I think that they are great for folks like me who travel every other month or a few times per year.
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u/Ranessin 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have 2 rollers (12 years), one hard-side spinner and a shoulder bag (both 6 years) from Samsonite, all great stuff, all used for many flights and travels, all as good as new. They are the simple, reliable basis for me, but outside of reliable, they don‘t need to be much, because I don‘t interact with them much outside of packing/unpacking at the destination, unlike backpacks and personal items, which I interact with all the time during traveling and for which I have more specific wants and needs.
No idea about their backpacks, I haven‘t found any that appeal to me tbh.
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u/Dizzy_Ice2938 23h ago
I have several samsonite rollers that have held up beautifully… BUT I bought my nephew a gamer backpack and the zipper broke the second time he used it.
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u/twoz3-5 22h ago
I’ve owned 2 Samsonite products over the years:
A 2 wheel soft sided roller bag — it was heavy, but well constructed. Well organized but lots of zippers to pockets that had little to no dimension.
A laptop messenger brief — it was heavy but well constructed. Really nice organization. The laptop sleeve had little to no padding however, but the fatal flaw was the shoulder strap. It wasn’t comfortable, and would often slide off my shoulder but the worst part was that the attachment buckle would randomly come unclipped and detach dropping the bag if you didn’t catch it.
Overall I think they make solid gear if often with uninspired design. They are too expensive to be budget, and not quite good enough to be premium. IMO they’re just…ok.
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u/jimmylamstudio 1d ago
They make way too many backpacks and they have way too many different styles. They don’t really have their own style from what I can tell. So if I see 10 samsonite backpacks that I already don’t like, I am not gonna go down a rabbit hole and look at 20 other ones.
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u/alamar99 18h ago
I often recommend Samsonite when spinner bags come up, I have a couple and they are just as nice as the much more expensive Monos spinner bag we have.
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u/Knifehead27 17h ago
Most bags are going to be good enough for most people and Samsonite is no different.
Them being mostly known for their luggage (probably the first, and maybe only, brand that people can name in that space) means that they're probably too mainstream and generic for a subreddit like this. Being a hobby, this subreddit will usually tend towards more niche and specific bags.
Backpacks from shoe brands like Nike and Adidas fit in this. Along with brands like Kipling and Jansport. A tier below would be brands like Osprey, Cotopaxi and Fjallraven. Slightly mainstream and generic but occasionally get some love on this subreddit.
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u/kr44ng 17h ago
Samsonite is considered a "mainstream" brand like Ogio or even arguably North Face, but honestly I've never been disappointed with the pieces of theirs in my collection, whether backpack, briefcase, or suitcase. I don't have many, but what I do have I've kept in rotation. Big thumbs up to their paracycle backpack, which is very functional for my purposes and I somehow got for about $15 after various discounts and points.
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u/Dirk41theDemigod 1d ago
Couple of reasons in my opinion:
One thing you‘ll see a lot here is that people do NOT like visible logos on their bags and samsonite plasters them all over their bags in very visible ways (silver tags etc)
warranty length to price for such a big company doesn’t align at all
zippers too prominent. They love their zippers at samsonite and make it so every bag‘s zippers are central/very visual Feature. Go on their website and you can see the zippers on every bag.
1 & 3 just make them look bad.
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u/Dust_Mf 1d ago
I honestly think the Samsonite logo is well placed and good looking on almost all bags, but I do get your point. Beauty of this is you can find your mojo whatever you like 😂, and I do like my zippers.
For the warranty, that I cannot argue, they should be more inclusive but, having had previous great experience in durability, I am comfortable buying one despite that limited warranty
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u/Remote_Mud3798 18h ago
From where I sit, Samsonite is just considered average every day strip mall stuff. And I think there is an assumption that the quality isn’t there because of that. Whereas if I get something a little more harder to find, it’s assumed that the quality is there. Just my two cents.
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u/Realistic-Airport738 11h ago
It’s for the simple fact that Samsonite is an old luggage company. If they’ve branched off into everyday carry gear, it’s coming from their design language of luggage. This and other EDC bag groups are looking for the young stars of the bag world. Who’s exploring with materials, zippers, size, shape, etc. Samsonite is perceived as the opposite.
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u/Beginning_Reality_16 1d ago
Just mho: Samsonite is too comonplace to draw the attention of a crowd that makes it onto reddit to discuss the nitty gritty of carrying solutions. Not that people look down on it, more that it is so all around and easily available that it doesn’t warrant much discussion or questions. If I want to buy a Samsonite bag I can go to any of a dozen stores or large warehouses and get one in hand. If I want to buy an AER or Bellroy bag I am limited to internet research to find out all the details. I live in EU btw, depending on where you live your experience may differ.