8.8.2013

I ordered this set of suitcases in advance for a cruise we're going on in three weeks time - the delivery estimate was 5-18 days - yet the suitcases arrived this morning in just four days - excellent service. The cases themselves are just stunning - the apple green is more of a lime green which is what I really wanted. They're much lighter in weight than you'd expect yet are very stable on four wheels - they literally glide along the floor without a sound. Each case has a telescopic handle but they're so smooth on their wheels you can walk along holding the normal handle and they seem to float alongside you!The instructions are in German so I'll have to study the combination lock to figure out how to set it - I'm sure it'll be simple enough.After opening all the cases I found a little zip-lock bag in the smaller one with three sets of sticky alphabet transfers in it to put our initials on each case - nice little touch.There's a separate zipped compartment in each of the cases with a mesh front which is very handy for those little extras that you want to find quickly - I had a Samsonite for the last twenty years which served me well though only had one loose, elasticated pouch on each side and that was it - also it was a lot heavier and more cumbersome to pull along than these cases - and it was much more expensive than these at the time.There's not a chance of missing these beauties on a conveyor belt with their distinctive colour - we wasted nearly an hour at the port searching for our black cases on our last cruise! Each case has an extra zip which allows for up to 4cms expansion - haven't tested these yet as they've just arrived but I'll give an update when we return from our holiday - for now I'm just happy to sit here with my morning coffee admiring them!As promised I've returned to give an update on these cases after using them for the first time on a cruise recently. I have to say they lived up to all expectations and more! The cases can hold a serious amount of luggage yet still manage to remain stable when upright, gliding along on the four wheels as though they're empty. The smallest case fits into the medium one, which then fits into the largest one - this may not seem too much of a bonus until you actually arrive in your hotel room or cabin, the fact that I was able to slot the large case (stuffed with the two smaller cases) into one little inconspicuous space was a real bonus when space is at a premium, last year I had suitcases sticking out under the bed, inside the wardrobe as well as poking out on top of it - taking up too much valuable space.I used the expansion zips on all three cases yet this did not affect the stability of any of them. I had duty-free drink packed in two of the cases and despite the cases taking obvious hard knocks during the journey, nothing was broken. Everyone's luggage was placed in allocated areas on departure to make it easier for everyone to find their cases - I have to say though that we didn't have to look which area our cases had been allocated, as soon as we entered the luggage area we could see ours immediately in the distance - the bright green made them stand out very vividly amongst all the dark coloured cases - any of the bright colours would be as distinctive.The taxi driver who kindly took our cases and packed them into the back of his car actually commented that he wished everyone's cases were as easy to wheel as these - as mentioned before, they really do seem to float alongside you whether they're full or empty. I did manage to suss out the combination lock by the way - just pulled back the tab slightly and moved the numbers to the combination I wanted then released the tab - I didn't have to remove the lock as mentioned by another user.The bright colours may not be to everyone's taste which is fair enough - but for practical purposes, they really will expedite your departure from airports/ports etc due to their high visibility - no more wasting time sifting through dark cases trying to read the name tags to see if it's yours or not - there's no mistaking these!! They attract a few backward glances (I like to think admiring ones) from the odd passer-by, 99% of the luggage that I saw was either black or dark-coloured, these cases are bright, colourful and very distinctive - and they do a fantastic job!!I'm very, very pleased with them - they stood up well to the rigours of being thrown about by the luggage handlers - a few scrape marks here and there but I can see these are going to be around for a long time - incidentally, there's a video on YouTube you can watch - just type in hauptstadtkoffer - you'll see it's possible to jump up and down on these cases and they'll still retain their shape - nice to know they're well equipped to fight the luggage handlers!!

6.4.2012

I am planning an upcoming holiday in Japan, and because of the general logistics of bullet trains, lack of elevators at stations and luggage-locker sizes, I wanted to take two small carry-on size bags instead of one larger one. This necessitated buying one more small bag with the intention of it being the "check in" one, since we already have a soft-sided carry-on that I want to take on the plane.Buying cases sight-unseen and without recommendation is always a bit of a lottery, but this looked like the one most up to the job after I checked out the info on the manufacturers website. I was a bit wary of buying from abroad in case of any difficulty with delivery - but I really needn't have worried.The case arrived perfectly undamaged in record fast time (three days!!!)and I have to say, I love it. It feels much more solid and sturdy than similar ones for more money that I have seen in department stores or TK Maxx; it's a great colour - bright enough to stand out on a conveyor but not too garish; and there's plenty of attention to detail in the design, not least the expansion ability which will likely prove extremely useful when returning with souvenirs.The handles seem very sturdy and so does the towing handle - though as with all wheeled cases, I wouldn't want to pick up the case by the latter if it's full. The inside is nicely lined and fitted with straps and a separator for clothes that will make packing much tidier. It has good, chunky bumper protectors and though I haven't tried out the lock yet, that seems also to be perfectly fine and advantageous in that it doesn't leave the zipper-pulls loose to be caught on anything.If I had to be picky, I'd suggest the manufacturer consider a different zipper system - though I should add that the nylon coil one it is equipped with is of the same standard as those on other higher-end cases. It's just that I'd have happily paid a bit more for a metal YKK style one for strength, and I think many other travellers would too when looking at a case for £100 or above. But that's certainly no reason to downgrade it a star, since apart from that personal preference, I can't think of much you could do to improve it.I'll add to my review after the holiday to report how it performs "in the field" but at this stage I am pretty sure I have the perfect suitcase for my needs. Honestly I'd have paid the full price for it, but at £49.99 I feel I got a bargain compared to others I have looked at.EDIT: Well, just a quick note to say that it survived my holiday just fine, was a perfect size for lockers and train racks, and easy to pull along. It is also an easy size to manhandle one-handed up and down the (many) staircases and steps in railways stations/on streets in Japan. I initially worried that the handle wouldn't stand up well to being dragged around on uneven ground but actually it dealt pretty well with some of the less well maintained pavement I encountered once or twice. No complaints whatever and I think I will get a larger one too for single destination holidays. Great stuff!

9.8.2015

** UPDATED **Original review:Really annoyed as the handle for this suitcase has sheared off after 3 trips since I got it in December last year (< 8 months ago). Otherwise the case has been great - plenty of space inside, seemed good quality (except handle did always feel a bit flimsy but put this down to it being lightweight). This time, luckily it lasted until near the end of my trip, although I had to cross London on the underground (after returning from France on the Eurostar), rolling it as best I could as the case is a bit too difficult for me to carry with the handle for more than a few metres.I think the handle must have been defective as I have no subjected the case to anything out of the ordinary for a small,

1.2.2014

I bought these in Jan 2014, and the set has been tested on a trip to the US, Italy, and around the UK. These cases are amazing for this price. The quality of the wheels, the zips, and the overall construction is excellent, and lighter than some fabric suitcases.While these cases seem flimsy, they are tough. The flex in the case means there is give, but the zips hold and the seams are well stitched. the corner protection make the cases look old fashioned, like old leather cases. This is where the designers have figured out where the weak points are, and protected accrodingly.The cases have experienced transatlantic and transAsia travel and even worse, annoying concrete steps at home in the UK.The cases have not a singl dent,

3.11.2013

I've had my cases around 9 months now and have had 5 transatlantic trips and around 7 european trips and these cases have been superb.They are well built and have survived with only scuffs to the outside. I've used the smallest on every trip (as hand luggage) and the choice of which of the medium/large case to use was dependent on the length of stay. The largest case is easily adequate for a 2 week trip and the medium case is good for a week's trip (including running shoes, squash shoes and 2 racketball rackets).The only sign of wear and tear after this use is the lock on the smallest case is broken. And that was deliberately broken off by me after I inadvertently locked it with the worng combination and had to break into it,

21.1.2014

I ordered 4 each in a different colour as xmas presents They started arriving from different places ,not a particular worry except no one told me so when first one arrive on its own I went in to a panic After a 20 min wait on the phone i began a chat with a nice guy who explained what was happening Then he told me that the first parcel should have had 2 in it IT DIDN"T so he got back to me the carrier had lost one ?? Odd in one parcel So he arranged another in the missing colour but from a different supplier because first one didnt have right colour in stock STILL WITH ME??????? then a third arrived then the fourth didnt come on date advised !!! Xmas now days away!!!!!!

2.3.2013

This case ticked all the boxes and some more. Definitely " Vorsprung durch technik ".I was looking for a board size case, which was sturdy (did not want fabric type, as they get slashed to get into your case), of which they are many available on Amazon, but this one immediately caught my eye. Although red was not my first choice of colour but I thought maybe easier to spot in the event it had to go into the holdall of the plane.What a superb surprise when I opened the box and found a superbly made case, with a tasteful darker polished red case and at a fraction of the cost of many more . The quality of the shell is superb and the four wheel allowed a smooth rolling of the case on hard and soft floors.

24.4.2017

Arrived much sooner than expected, which was a pleasant surprise.As others have reported, it comes wrapped in film, to protect it during transit, but I found this to be a doddle to remove.The Forest Green colour is really nice andit seems to have been well put together, to boot.It isn't quite as big as indicated; the overall dimensions, including wheels and handles being given, and looses about 5cm / 2 inches in lenght and 1cm, or a little under1/2 inch in width, when measured internally. Approximately 2cm of internal depth is lost to the aluminium tubes and plastic fittings for the extendable handle.I've actually fitted it out as a camera case, rather than usinging it as a suitcase,

13.10.2016

Durable, attractive and functional cases. Unbeatable at the price.These fairly lightweight cases are durable enough to take years of punishment. I must have flown 20+ times with these over three years, and all I have to show is a zipper pull that eventually broke off. Still works.Hard shell is great and will keep your fragile belongings safe from careless baggage handlers. Soft cases suck if you're a frequent traveller.Locks are TSA-compliant. Sadly this is a must these days unless you want the Americans taking bolt cutters to your case to examine your suspicious electronics. They also lock the zippers in place, instead of just locking them together. This helpfully prevents someone from popping open your zip with a ballpoint pen,

22.7.2016

These are absolutely fabulous suitcases. I bought a bright blue one last summer as I was moving to work at a British International School in Spain, so I would need a robust bag that would withstand 4-5 return trips every year. This bag definitely lives up to the strength that is purported by the company. Yes sure, you get a few of the black marks from being handled and being forced along the black belts. But if you are seriously worried about that, you can clean them down and they still look fabulous.To be honest, I haven't bothered cleaning the outside of the bag - I can still spot it a mile away! There is no one else that has a bag like mine. Everyone else's is black,

3.4.2013

Both suitcases arrived in the same box one apple green gloss the other gloss yellow,very fast delivery, these cases are german made they seem to be very well made with four wheels on each courner of the case two grab handles one at the top and one on the side and four studs on the opposite side for resting on the floor, the extendable handle its in the top of the case and it is easy to push or pull, inside the case is lined with one zipped compartment which is netting type material that also has two plastic push fit clips to seperate your clothes etc, in the top section of the case is a holding strap with two plastic clips to hold the top section of clothing etc.

31.1.2013

After looking around at many other brands i decided to take this one and was not disappointed.It is quite lightweight but still protective enough. After packing a PS3 and taking x2 longhaul flights from GB to the far east nothing inside was damaged at all. Also the case still looks as good as new.Only one thing i would mention as a downside was there is nowhere to write your address on the luggage (not everybody likes to do this these days anyway) so needed to stick on the address with tape.That said, this is a high quality item and well worth its price.UPDATE (19/04/2015)Well, I have been using this suitcase now for the last 3 years and have travelled long-haul flights another 6+ times.

24.11.2014

Wow! Awesome case! I had spent ages looking at suitcases on Amazon to pick the right one with the right size and weight. I have never been fussed on hard sided cases in the past because of their weight. I liked the look of them and did a little more research on YouTube to see some vids. I am glad I did, they videos on there about the cases was fascinating and I would highly recommend you take a look before purchasing.The case itself is the perfect size. Large enough for me to travel to Ozz for a month. The quality of the case itself is fantastic, very hard, but very flexible, risk of shattering is near on impossible. The four wheels spin 360 degrees and are very strongly built and also glide very easily.

27.1.2014

Good quality for the price paid. Aesthetically pleasing too, a shame the glossiness blemishes (naturally expected) in transit.Used it via Ryanair to and fro for the journey to the Baltics, and have no complaints that spring to my mind whatsoever.Good use of the compartments, the number lock works well (although, if someone would want to get in they could easily slit with a blade along the zip), the casing seems flexible enough to withstand pressure without cracking (unless major pressure, of say, the weigh of a car, ala the Samsonite one) the wheels run along smoothly without the annoyance of the dreaded twisting-off-balance-turning malarkey that results in frustration and wrist pain,

5.8.2013

Shipping was amazing - received it in 3 working days! However the green isn't quite as pictured. It's a little bit more washed out, but it's still lovely and bright.I measured it and it is indeed 55cm from top to bottom, IF you don't include the handle on the top. With the handle, the complete height is more like 57cm. If you really are desperate to make sure your suitcase fits the cages for budget airlines, the handle can be unscrewed, making the true height of the suitcase 55cm (including the wheels)! Had no problem with the other dimensions.The side with the telescopic handle has a cardboard piece glued to the inside of the case behind the lining, to smooth out the inside.

Hauptstadtkoffer Alex 4 Wheel Trolley 55 cm - Reviews

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