How to Choose Luggage

What the best luggage to choose?

As with so many things in life, it's usually a good idea to get the best quality you can afford. Airline travel in particular can be tough on luggage and you won't save money if you have to buy new bags for each trip. Even worse would be if the bag doesn't survive the trip.

Infrequent travelers or those who use a number of different bags and carry them on-board can manage with less sturdy fabrics and thus less expensive bags.

Travelers who check the same bags frequently need sturdy luggage to withstand the rigors of the road. The more you travel, the more you require durable luggage.

A suitcase with wheels, will help make your trip through an airport, bus terminal or train station easier. Even with wheels, a good rule-of-thumb is to only take bags that you can lift by yourself — into a cab, up a flight of stairs, etc.

A duffel bag could be the best solution if you're joining an organized group or don't expect to have to carry your own luggage. These soft zipped bags are strong and light, can fit into awkward spaces and are easily carried by porters or pack animals.

Choose material that won't rip and then remove or stow any shoulder straps, pull handles, or other loose elements that could get caught on a conveyor belt.
Leather looks good and is sturdy but it's also heavy.

For sheer toughness, the traditional hard cases do best although they will be heavier than the most popular style currently which is a soft-sided case built on a sturdy frame.

While a hard-sided shell has the advantage of being resistant to stains and can — if well packed — protect fragile items the corners can crack or dent when they receive severe blows.

Less expensive bags might be made of 600 dernier Polyester. More expensive, and sturdier bags, might be made of 1000 denier Cordura or a ballistic nylon. These fabrics provide far better wear quality.

Denier (sometimes represented as "d") is a measure of the fineness of a fabric. The higher the denier the stronger the fabric. Look for a minimum of 600-1800 denier polyester toward the least expensive end and 500-1000 denier Cordura or 1800 to 2500 denier ballistic nylon at the more expensive end.

Cordura resists abrasion, puncture and general wear extremely well. Ballistic nylon performs as well or better and is smoother and attracts less dust and lint.

Choosing Carry-on Luggage

 
Airlines have varying standards for carry-on luggage, particularly between regular and commuter flights and airlines operating in other countries.

Verify with your carrier — not the travel agent, who may not have current information — to ensure that you have what is required.

If your ticket is purchased directly from an airline, the inside flap of the ticket folder often shows the carry-on baggage restrictions. You may also be able to find this information on-line at the carrier's web site.

Some, but not all, airlines allow a second bag which could be a briefcase or laptop style computer bag, a tote bag, soft carry-on or cosmetic bag.

A commuter airline, by contrast, may have very restrictive requirements — possibly allowing only a single relatively small bag or briefcase.

A wheeled backpack can be a great solution for a carry on bag. Wheels give you the option of pulling the backpack when changing planes, but wearing it when you need to pull or carry other things. Click here for samples of wheeled backpacks

Luggage isnt just luggage

So many bags, which one to choose? You want to buy a bag that will hold up to the way you travel. As you compare bags you should be comparing these points...

Fabric:
The biggest difference in the quality of a bag lies in the fabric it is made of. Most bags are made from nylon, leather, or polyester. However, there are varieties of each:

Nylon - When talking about nylon, you will notice differences in the "denier" of the fabric. This is a reference to the thickness of the nylon threads in that fabric. The higher the denier, the more rugged the fabric woven from it. 2520 denier is the most durable nylon you will find. Many manufacturers have created names for their own specialized heavy variations. The toughest are Dupont, Ballistic, & Cordura. These heavy nylons are extremely hard to puncture or slash. In fact, the names come from their origins as layers in bulletproof clothing made for police. Lighter nylons are also strong and are often used for backpacks and duffels because of their flexibility and lightness. Most nylon bags are also treated with a sealant on the interior face of the fabric that helps to keep your garments protected and dry should the case get wet.

Leather - You will often see leather bags described as "Full-Grain" or "Top-Grain". These bags are made from the exterior hide rather than from split layers, and are very sturdy. Belting leather is thick leather often used in briefcases, attaches, and catalog cases. Luggage sewn from belting leather is stiff enough to stand alone without a frame. That thickness also lends it for use in the trim and piping of nylon bags.

Polyester - Polyester is the least durable of the 3 fabrics. Like nylon, you will notice differences in the "denier" of the fabric. The higher the denier, the more durable the fabric. Polyester bags are best suited for infrequent travelers.
Handles:
Most upright cases are equipped with a push-button handle that locks in two positions. There are some variations. Some bags have a swivel handle that pivots and locks into a natural "palm-facing the body" rolling position, some handles have a Thermal Plastic Rubberized grip for comfort, some handles extend further to accomodate taller travelers, etc. But, for the most part, the handles are very similar and the difference in handles is going to be in the construction of the handle, which can best be determined by the reputation of the brand.

Wheels:
Most luggage manufacturers have adopted the rubber wheels originally created for in-line skates. They are quiet and wear like iron. Look for wheels that are slightly recessed into the frame of the bag, which helps reduce wear. Some bags are equipped with four, 360 degree rotation wheels for multi-directional rolling.

Check-In comes in 2 sizes, usually up to 77cm and up to 65 cm high. Weight allowances usually are up to 25 kgs.

For carry aboard luggage allowances please see the table below (as restrictions often change please check with your Airline to confirm sizes):

Domestic:

Qantas 2x105cm or 1 x 105cm bag plus 1 x 185cm non rigid garment bag or 1 x 115cm bag 7kg per piece

Virgin Blue

And, 1 suit/garment bag, non rigid/unfolded not exceeding 11x60x114 (total linear dimensions equal to 185cm) or another small bag or briefcase 7kg in total.

Jet Star

International Economy:

Qantas 1 x 115cm bag or 1 x 185cm non rigid garment bag 7kg per piece

British Airways 1 piece 55x40x20cm 6kg

Cathay Pacific 1 piece 56x30x18cm 5kg

Malaysian Airlines 1 piece 56x30x18cm 5kg

Phillipine Airlines 1 piece 115cm 5kg

Singapore Airlines 1 piece 36x23x56cm 7kg

Thai Airways 1 piece 58x34x23cm 7kg

United Airlines 1 piece 55x35x22cm 22kg

Air New Zealand 2x105cm 10kg No piece to exceed 7 kg

When it comes down to packing your bags, common sense should prevail. Here are a few tips you might find useful:

• Don't pack any knives or sharp objects in your carry on luggage.
• Don't joke when asked about the contents of your bag. I once saw a gentleman joke about the contents of his violin case - he was detained for eight hours while the claim was investigated.
• Most people pack much more than they need. Don't worry, its natural. If you remember to pack only what you really need you should be fine. Try to pack items of clothing that complement each other, that way you can pack less and have a greater combination of outfits.
• Raincoats are great. A travel raincoat (or poncho) takes up very little space and can come in very handy.
• Wet wipes (like the disposable wipes they uses for babies) are fantastic when you are travelling, especially if you are back packing or visiting or staying in places that are not that 'clean'.
• If you're not a particularly careful packer (like me) you would be best advised to pack clothes with fabrics that require little care (wrinkle-free). If you pack carefully there is less chance that your items will become creased in transit.
• A change of clothes in your carry-on luggage is always a good idea.
• Pack for the climate you intent to travel to. A safari suit in Moscow isn't going to go down too well.
• With toiletries, bring mini-bottles or sample sizes to conserve space. Remember to pack them in a plastic bag just in case there is a breakage or leak. If you intend to wash your clothes while you are away take a little bit of detergent as well. Washing your clothes while you are away may mean you have to pack less.
• Shoes should go on the bottom of your suitcase/bag. Also, remember to put them in a plastic bag because you don't want your other items to get dirty.
• Since we are all suckers for souvenirs and shopping in strange new places, it is very likely that you will come back with more in your bags than when you left in the first place. Remember to leave room or carry a bag that is expandable.
• Small, breakable items are best packed in between items of clothing. The more cushioning the better. If the item is particularly valuable you might want to keep it in your hand luggage so you can keep an eye on it.