Yes luggage has come a long way from the old commercial in the 1970s where a gorilla is seen throwing luggage around before it gets put on the airline cargo hold. Luggage today has to be stylish and functional, but each aspect is a formal requirement, no one travels with ripped bags or tapped boxes, and we mean this seriously.
The newest luggage has nylon which is impenetrable and has secure retractable handles that won’t pull out of joint or come out of the track. The wheels are built in and swivel in every direction so that the traveler can change directions at the drop of a dime, which is a realistic situation in an airport when the gate has been unexpectedly changed. Of course, everyone wants a piece of luggage which is different and unique – so that it can be spotted quickly on the turnstile when luggage is being retrieved at the end of the flight. In the old days, there were scrunchies sewed to the handles or even duct tape slashed down the sides of the bag for ease of identification. Those days are over and now unusual patterns, designs and custom colors are de rigueur if one wants to be considered a world traveler.
Luggage is made for several markets: students, teens, upscale travelers, reasonably priced pieces and practical all the way luggage for everyday use. With the upscale markets, imported leather and designer labels rule with luggage price tags which range in the several hundred to several thousands of dollars. Luggage for youths includes reflective straps for safety and can have blinking lights to help parents find their children in crowded airports. Women are by far by the most luggage and they have the coolest patterns available from plaids to floral designs. They have secret compartments galore and are able to store toiletries, makeup, magazines and all clothing items securely in the new trend luggage made just to fit their needs. Most men are happy with the basic black luggage which is functional, can hold a business suit and has an outward compartment for golf shoes.
When choosing luggage it is still important to go over the basics. Do you want a hard side case in metal or plastic or a soft nylon sided case which will offer no protection if crushed against other bags, but has more give in it when over packing is necessary. If the nylon luggage is the best option for the traveler for ease of transport and light weight even after fully packed, the nylon itself should be the best and strongest fabric available. Some manufacturers call this nylon ballistic (like the stuff of bullet proof vests) and the fabric is typically puncture and cut proof to protect the belongings especially on long international flights.
When it comes to zippers, the best ones may be plastic since the metal zippers tend to get tangled up and are difficult and expensive to repair. The wheels should revolve in a smooth circle, not get stuck when pushed in different directions (consider the horror of the “shopping cart wheels syndrome” as you are rushing for a last call of your flight while standing at the wrong gate, you want those wheels to fly through that airport as fast as you do, not be a dead weight you have to carry down several concourses to your destination). The carrying handles on the luggage should be larger than your hand and should have a wide enough handle that a person’s hand will not be pinched or injured when pulling it in any direction. If the handle locks in place but is easily retractable, this is the best deal. If the handle is telescopic and is smoothly opened or closed, it makes it easier for the traveler to operate when walking, sitting, getting into a bus or cart or when getting into a car or taxi at the final destination.
Remember, most airlines have a limit to the size of luggage taken on the plane (22 inches domestic and 20 inches for international flights) and some require gate checking even if the bag is under the requirement. The total dimensions of the bag cannot exceed 62 inches (domestic) and have a weight limit of no more than 50 pounds (international is usually half this weight). So consider the weight of a hard sided bag before it is even packed, it may be over the weight limit at half full. Finally, forget locking the bag since TSA requires that all bags be accessible. There was a lock offered years ago with a universal TSA accessible key, but most people forgo this as one more hassle at the airport – if it is locked expect that it will be required to be opened for that reason alone. In terms of identification, Tumi luggage offers specific bar codes on bags which can be traced to the original owners and new innovations in luggage are being developed to make the bags easier to find among other bags.
Jeff covers travel safety and other travel topics for the Travel Insurance blog hosted by the Consumer Media Network.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! I need some new luggage after reading this post. Mine is apparently in the stone age.
Jeff @ Myrtle Beach Real Estate´s last [type] ..Up.Up.Up.
When I travel, I always like carrying a bag pack and a trolley bag, no matter how long or short my trip is. But the history of bags that you went into was a real insight. I usually have problems with my luggage now that I have to take flights to various business meets around the world. Thanks to your post will keep the figures in mind to not have any more problems in the future. The metal and plastic zip point is also true, but I feel plastic zips break easily, if you are rough with them and that is even worse. Anyways many helpful insights, thanks for those.
Getting luggage which is not worth for money is useless. And also after spending much on buying some branded luggage, sometimes it is not allowed in planes due to various reasons. So one should keep in mind various points while buying luggage. Your post JT, is very useful for these tips. Even I am going to keep in mind these tips next time when I’ll buy luggage.
When you travel a bag is really important and could be the cause of a lot of stress to people. Many may be shocked that I am saying this but it is true. The incident that Ben Stiller’s character, Greg undergoes as he goes to meet Pam’s parents in “Meet The Fockers” is true and happens to many people. So your tips about airline bag size guidelines seems very well directed. Thanks for the post. Cheers.
John@ireland golf´s last [type] ..Trump International Golf Links
My girl-friend is into fashionable labeled baggage and doesn’t let me buy beneficial baggage. I tend to travel a lot but my bags are more stylish and good looking. My girl-friend always goes in for looks rather than use. But now after reading this post of your I am running to the store closest to my office and buying a beneficial bag. Thanks for the post.
In my childhood days there was almost no such thing as carry on luggage and look at the changes over the past years. We have so much selection of every kink of luggage that people have a difficult time deciding what to buy. I have a set of Samsonite luggage that is probably 50 years and and you should see the looks I get when I occasionally carry that through an airport. I almost feel like people are looking at me like I’m the caveman on the Geico commercial. We have certainly come a long way.
Jeremiah @ Best Carry On Luggage´s last [type] ..Best Carry on Luggage-Backpacks for Airline Travel
New luggage was on my list but I was not sure about what I needed to buy. I also have some saving to do for my wedding so I did not want to splurge, as a result I did not get to buying anything at all. Your article turned out to come at the right time for me, it was just the dose that I needed. I will be following your advise when it comes to buying luggage, as per my lifestyle and needs.
While shopping for luggage one should be really very careful. I have seen this often that people tend to forget many of the vital points while buying, and end up with the bags that don’t suit their requirements. Your post has covered up all the points that one should keep in mind while shopping for the luggage. Even I have got to know many op the tips which I was not aware of.
Actually, the last time I’ve purchased a luggage the first thin g I’ve check is the quality of materials it was made of, second was the size and weight it could carry. The last would be the security lock and maybe if it’s waterproof in case of wet weather. I know it would be worth it to find the best one and quite a good investment too.
Levi@Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys´s last [type] ..TN traffic fatalities declined in 2011
Was not aware that buying luggage comes with so many factors! I usually only check out luggages which are big enough to get all my stuff in it. But after reading your post I got to know that so many other important factors are also related with it. From next time onwards I am going to take into consideration all your suggestions.
Buying a bag is like marrying a wife, after a lot of contemplation one must make the right decision. I liked the point you made about the airplanes and the bag size stipulation that they have. I do not know about others but I for one tend to totally not give any importance to all these things while buying a bag. But you have made an important point and I will surely be keeping it in mind next time I buy a bag. Thank you for the inputs.
Spending good money on luggage was a fantastic decision. I was blowing through suitcases at the rate of one a year for awhile….the one I spent some good money on is going on 5 years. Paid for itself after the 2nd year.
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Most folks think that getting a designer and branded luggage is like making a style statement and many of them even make it a status symbol. But thinking in that way, I think they are wasting their money on just making people feel jealous. Instead they should get the luggage that will satisfy their needs and should be worth enough. I liked reading your post. You have sorted out the right tips for buying the perfect luggage.
Before reading this post, I thought buying luggage is an easy job. The design of the bags which I liked I used to buy them. But after reading your post I have become more knowledgeable about the luggage. Your post is very informative! The information which you have posted is very rare to find. Will surely take all these points into consideration when buying luggage next time.
People generally end up having a lot of money but splurge while they buy baggage rather than investing in a thoughtful manner. I have a reservation against this and thought it was something personal, but now after reading your post it seems that it is not that way. Bags are to serve a purpose rather than be a good-looking piece.
I think one should buy luggage according to one’s needs and requirements. Whenever I travel I see to it that I don’t carry much weight. I don’t like carrying heavy weight luggage with me. And for that I always see to it that my luggage bags are not heavy. Because sometimes bag only adds up the luggage weight. And this is the reason why I take time while buying luggage. I see to it that my bags are not of heavy weight.
Getting luggage which will suit our requirements is very difficult. As a I love trekking it becomes more difficult for me to buy luggage in which I will be able to take all my necessary stuff with me. I experience this every time I go for shopping of luggage. But your post is very helpful for me. Your suggestions are perfect I guess. From now onwards I think I will be able to get luggage which will suit my requirements.
Buying and selling luggage, seems to be a major dilemma now-a-days with many people confused about the brand they should choose or should not choose. The choice is one difficult thing when a decision has to be made about what should and should not be done with the bags and brands. The reflection and thought process you have suggested before a buy seem very interesting. Thanks for that.
I think zippers are the most comfortable luggage options while traveling. They help us to keep our hands free while traveling which is very important I think. I always opt for zippers for casual trips, but for my official trip I need to carry my suitcases to get some corporate look. But it becomes difficult to carry them while boarding plane. There are so many restrictions for luggage. I always get difficulties while selecting luggage for such trips. But your post has given me much useful tips to avoid this.
This topic makes me laugh again.. just remembered what happened to my aunt in the airport. She’s on her way for her vacation. Too excited for it! So I went along with her to buy a new luggage. We chose a trolley type so it’s easy for her to carry it. The next day was her flight. We went to the airport, and when she’s about to approach the x-ray, her luggage was broke! all her things were messed up on the floor. Very embarrassing for her. All eyes are with her.
Moral lesson–1. Be prepared when travelling. 2. Buy all things ahead of your flight. 3. Don’t go for rush.
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Well no matter how many new styles or designs of luggage keep flooding the market, I always find ruck sack to be most easy to carry and comfortable bags while traveling. You can just fit in all your stuff in one single bad rather than carrying couple of suitcases and dragging them around. But I wouldn’t suggest it for women. I don’t think they will be able to carry around so much of weight on their shoulders. Buy for men, as they usually don’t tend to carry too much while traveling, this should be their perfect option.
Buying a bag is like marrying a wife, after a lot of contemplation one must make the right decision.
Thanks by the article
Afiliados
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I don’t really understand the use of buying expensive luggage. Being a guy, we as it is don’t have to carry too much like the girls do. A small bag of any material is fine for a week’s journey. Still people opt for expensive ones thinking that it will last longer. I had bought a Giordano bag last month. It was way too expensive. After a month of dragging it around, it has scratches all o0ver and looks like a bag from a street around the corner. I guess a street bag would have lasted longer.
I agree zippers or backpacks are really very comfortable on journeys, but they are not very secure. The plastic or the steel ones are really very strong and impenetrable. The zippers can be easily broken one handedly by anyone but these metal ones need a lot of strewngth and proper tools. i know they won’t give that classy look when you take it along, but it willsurely provide you the security you need for your luggage.
When buying a luggage you must consider some following tips. One of these is that to ensure that the luggage is quality and long lasting, because other luggage just after a few weeks the zipper has already a damaged and you can’t return it back to where you bought it and exchange for it.
Thanks for this info. I adore bags, and i travel a lot throughout the year, therefore i am always looking to have the best possible luggage with me. After reading this post, i came to conclusion that the luggage i have at the moment is not the best for its purpose, so as soon as i have free time, i will go to look out for some new stuff. thanks for this!
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I recently bought myself a new suitcase after having been annoyed by my old one for over two decades. You see, it had wheels but the handle was tiny and on the long side. So not only did I have to slouch while dragging it, because it was on the left side you could only use your right hand or otherwise it would bounce against your leg. Arrrghhh!
So happy with my new suitcase with a big handle and two sealable compartments!
I don’t really like carrying much luggage with me. All I need is a small backpack which fits in all my essential requirements. My mom need at least two big bags to carry her stuff and she still feels shes carrying less. Your post has been really very helpful for me to decide which bag would suit her the most and I am looking forward to buying one of those.