I have owned Hartmanns, Samsonites, Tumis and Ricardos. I like this piece of luggage the best out of all of them. The thing that makes it is the pockets and the ability to find room where you didn't think you could on the way home. I have seriously expanded it to fit a small rug on the last trip, and a comforter on one earlier this year. One last note: It is perfectly fine to take it on board when it is unexpanded (it is made for that). However, when it expands, I think it is just a little too big for the overhead and better to check it.