First, know that the 'Jourdan' here is not the designer, but a pretense name. Designer luggage is usually garbage, anyway. Always go by intrinsics, never the brand name; 30 years ago, brand names meant something. No longer. Excepting the handles and wheels, my fifteen-year old luggage ('Ascot', now owned by Skyway) is almost of better quality than this Jourdan set now. Yikes.
But the Jourdan luggage is pretty, the outer material is of good quality, as is the stitching, wheels, frame; and the picture here in Amazon, is accurate. I will keep it, and am generally happy with the purchase.
I just bought this on Amazon to replace other luggage I purchased here (see my luggage reviews from April). This review will try to cover what the product information page, leaves out.
COLOR for the 'red', is a true school crimson, very attractive. The picture is too bright, compared to the reality.
The OUTER POCKET LINING lining is cheap vinyl plastic. The inside of the case is fabric-lined, with a center zipper, rather than an all-around zipper.
OUTER CASING AND ZIPPERS, etc. are all good quality; the FABRIC reminds one of Cordura nylon. The WHEELS are doubled, excellent, could repair them, and they seem removable (the bolt has an arrow for direction, implying you can remove the bolt).
That bad cheap outer-pocket LINING is a real minus. I don't expect $200 luggage sets to have cheap vinyl lining. Then again, who cares if it gets ripped? Vinyl lining can be repaired with tape; fabric lining would be harder to repair. So maybe it's not a minus, and I am wrong to disparage it.
Overall, this luggage would LAST FIVE YEARS of regular use (flying, say, five-six times a year). Maybe less, if you travel often to places famous for banging up luggage. It's slightly tapered at the top. I'm not a fan of that design, but it's a minor quibble. It is more 'sophisticated', if looks are important.
HANDLES are better than average. The suitcase handles are two, one on top and the other on the side, so you'd carry it in landscape mode. There is no handle underneath with the wheels, nor any on the other side of the case. The handles are stitched and then riveted in UNDER the fabric, which offers a bit more protection, than if only rivets. However, the only viewable rivet, is one per side. (Maybe it's riveted underneath the fabric, as well.) This matters, as the fabric is backed by cardboard, or what seems like cardboard. The FRAME appears to be heavy plastic.
So too, for the BUMPER GUARDS AND WHEELS, though the wheels are the best feature of this bag. The wheels do not have a 'cover' over them. That matters a bunch, for in luggage sets with covers, the wheels REQUIRE the covers, in order to turn. Granted, the thought behind covering the wheels was to protect them from damage; but when you mold the wheels as part of the cover (same problem with office chairs), when the wheel breaks, it breaks due to the cover. Duct tape then is a must, but it won't survive much movement, after that. (I just had to duct-tape my office chair wheel three days ago, and every time I roll it around, the wheel falls out again.)
Plus side, you have four wheels per bag. So you could make do, if one or even two wheels fall off, depending on how the bag rolls. Here, you have more options: if the wheel only falls off while you have it, you can put in a stick so it will still roll. I've asked Jourdan if we can buy replacement bolts, and will put the answer here when I get it. Wheel plastic is relatively hard, yet higher-quality than the cheap wheels so common in store-bought luggage. (Rubberized wheels are ideal, but this set doesn't have them.) These are also hubbed, not the typical small hard black wheel. They are a tad larger than the typical small hard black wheel on cheap luggage.
There are no ADD-A-BAG straps on the top of the cases (when standing). But in my experience you don't need or want those. Better, to buy an add-a-bag strap here at Amazon, then attach the strap to the top of the telescoping handle, to gain more space for the second bag you're lugging -or, for the small 'personal item' bag to sit on top of the carry-on. I just traveled like that, and it was far better than using the add-on strap I had with that other carry-on.
My big concern with these modern bags, was the TELESCOPING HANDLE. This one is aluminum mixed with plastic (not much aluminum, must have been melted then molded in that mix) -on each case. What would normally be called 'bearings' which stick out when reaching the predrilled hole (so the handle telescopes reliably at certain heights) -these are flat, rather than round-top, so they're more like the posts you use for bookshelves, rather than ball-bearing style. The latter is a real problem, not at all reliable. So I'm glad THIS set has the post-style, rather than rounded tops.
However, they don't stick out much. Even so, you could always take a luggage or briefcase strap to the top handle, if you lost the telescoping pole. On the other hand, I tried to remove the handle, but couldn't. That's a good sign. There is a locking button atop the handle you must push for the handle to come up or down. It seems sturdy.
LIGHTWEIGHT is the claim on these bags. They are not. Weight is about the same as my old bags.
The label on the bags say there is a 3-year WARRANTY. Terms are weird. First, it literally says that the warranty is 'unconditional', but then says that abuse isn't covered. What constitutes abuse? And by whom? Also says that normal wear and tear is covered, but not damage by an airline. So then it's unconditionally conditional? KEEP THE LABEL, because this wording is very bad, legally. You might be able to make claims, if you needed to (assuming you're not trying to cheat the company).
I can't tell WHERE the luggage was MADE. Label says suggested retail is $500 for the set, what a joke. This set is worth maybe what I paid for it, $210. (I paid $70 for my two-piece set, and it's better-made; though the wheels and handles are not better.)
As was expected, the listed SIZE is not the same as the actual sizes. The carry-on is 22" high (measured from the ground, including the wheels), by 8.5" deep (if flat, allow more space if you fill the pockets and top half), and 14.5" wide, measured across top or bottom. So it will fit in most overheads; but on the shorter regional flights might have to be checked.
Next, the mid-size bag is 26.5" tall (measured from the floor to top, standing) x 17" widest, by 9" deep (if flat).
Largest bag is 30.5" tall (standing, again measured from the ground, up), by 19.5" wide, by 9" deep (if flat). So it might be OVERSIZED for airplane travel. Watch how you pack it, because this bag can easily weigh 80+ pounds, when fully packed.
Expansion for each piece is almost 2", zippered out. Inside each main trunk, there is 1" less space than these width measures fit. In short, if the width of what you want to put in the mid-size bag is 16", it still might not fit. However, there is a lot of 'give'. I was able to put my 17" x 16" computer tower in the mid-size bag. It fit very snugly.
Innerside of each case is a middle-grey mesh pocket which is zipped in landscape mode, all across the top underside. That's a big plus. So when you get to your destination (or are in TSA) and you must open the bag like a box, the top inner side is easy to see at a glance. Lining pattern is an ugly gray with 1960's rounded squares' pattern in lighter gray. Definitely a bad fashion statement. But I didn't buy this, for fashion compliance.
The elastic tie-downs inside each case are light grey, cheap. They will soon become useless.
Air out the luggage when you get it, because the new-vinyl smell is strong. At least, to me. It's not a bad smell, but is noticeable. Febreze or put fabric softener sheets in it. Good news is, the manufacturer and seller (Sale Mom) care very much about helping to solve this problem. I get prompt response from them; first, they suggested the airing out; they also suggest baking soda (you know, like you'd do in a refrigerator, top open). The warmer the temperature, the stronger the smell. So a third option, is to load the luggage with packing bags or packing paper, so it will absorb the smell. Not sure which one will work the best.
Even so, I want to keep the luggage. Here are my DESIGN reasons for purchase, because I spent 20+ hours searching through nearly ALL the wheeled luggage offered here at Amazon, before settling on this set.
Two big reasons for purchase: wider design, and the two-pocket front design. Wider design means a) more stability, and b) better packing. Second big reason are the two front pockets: very easy to dump into them or have TSA examine them. I put the gels and liquids in the top pocket (in that one-quart bag), and my other questionable things in the lower pocket. Very easy to dump into the bins, or send through the scanner.
Another advantage to this design: the second (lower and bigger) pocket, can be stuffed the entire height and width of the case. Since it has a 2" expansion, you can cram a lot of stuff in there, even a big laptop (which I don't recommend, but others like it). The carryon alone could accommodate 10 rolled T-shirts or sweatshirts of the XXL size. The height of the just that pocket on the carry-on, is 18"; 21", on the middle case, and 26" on the largest case. Width is the same as the case. Subtract 1-2" each from the width and height, for the depth of what you're packing.
Finally, post-travel life, is a third reason. You just know the luggage will get banged up within a few years. Then it can still be used, to transport computer towers. Yes, the luggage is that strong. The outer fabric is thick enough to withstand drops and bangs. Wrap a computer tower in camp foam, and you've got a good method of safe transport, including all the related cords and most peripherals.
Here, the lining question remains dual-sided. On the one hand, vinyl lining restricts breatheability, though air would still come through the zippers, even when closed. On the other hand, less damage would ensue if transporting the computers in the rain, for the vinyl would stop any seepage the outside encountered when moving. So it's a toss up, huh.
I've used luggage for 'computer' transport; it's quite handy. Your average tower is about 18" or more often 17" high by 16" deep and maybe 6"-8" wide. So these pieces can accommodate the towers, as well as 386 or 486 computer chassis from 30 years ago. The carry-on piece will hold an SFF computer tower (i.e., Dell 5100 or Optiplex 780 SFF), which generally run 12" x 12" or 13" x 13".
They can also carry groceries well, and of course can store anything else, when idle.
In sum, for the same price, quality and features, I can't find any spinner sets in Amazon which compare favorably to this one. The lining might be a blessing in disguise, since plastic is easier to clean and repair.
Let me be clear--I love this briefcase. Aesthetically, I think it's elegant and utilitarian, and practically, it fits my needs. My complaints come from 6 months of use, and the wear and tear its gone through despite my efforts at meticulous care.
