Your luggage is more than just a box to carry your
things. People are looking for new luggage that makes
travel easier, more comfortable and makes a fashion
statement. Modern designs are more ergonomic and better
designed to minimize back stress, neck pain and shoulder
discomfort. Let’s address that issue first.
Take the strain off
Look for padded shoulder straps, a well-designed,
comfortable pull handle on an upright, smooth rolling
in-line skate wheels, a fully padded back on a backpack,
a back slip pocket on a tote or brief that can slide
of upright handles Pick up the piece you’re considering,
along with several others to see how much it weighs.
If you’re mostly going to be carrying the case
on the plane, make sure it has handles on both sides
so that you can lift it into an overhead compartment
easily. Look at all the new innovations in wheeled computer
bags, catalog cases, cosmetic cases and duffles. Just
about any specific bag you need now comes on wheels.
Quality
If you shop at a specialty luggage store, knowledgeable
sales staff will make all the difference in deciding
what to buy. They should first ask you your traveling
habits. This will narrow down considerably on what they’ll
show you and make your decision on what to buy much
easier.
Most soft-sided luggage is made of nylon in some form.
The fabric is marked according to denier; the higher
the denier the stronger. Urethane coatings are applied
to make the fabric water and stain repellent. In better
luggage, the nylon will be labeled “ballistic”.
This connotes a sturdy nylon weave that is similar to
bulletproof vest fabric.
Hard-sided cases are made of materials such as polypropylene,
ABS plastics or metal. Consider a case of this nature
if you need maximum protection against outside impacts.
Carry-On. If a case is labeled “suitable for carry-on”
this generally means it’s no bigger than 22”
when not expanded. On international flights, the carry-on
size limit is 20”. A new expandability feature
has become popular, so if you buy a 22”, it will
expand another 2” to 3”. Look at the inside
and outside pocket configuration to see if it’ll
work for what you normally pack. Most cases also contain
a removable garment carrier. Some cases come with removable
wetpacks, shoe pockets laundry organizers, etc.
Other suitcase sizes
Ranging in size from 24”
to 36”, these are check-in bags. Consider these
sizes for longer trips, if you pack with another family
member, want to have extra room for bringing back souvenirs,
or don’t want to deal with going through a bag
security check and just put everything in one big bag
and be done with it. (Most airports now have express
lines and if you don’t have a bag they have to
go through, it’s a lot quicker). In a better bag,
the interiors of larger suitcases are compartmentalized
and organized so that you can pack it efficiently.
Garment Bags
If you have clothes you
want to transport on hangers; this is the bag for you.
The hangtag should tell you how many suits and/or dresses
the bag can handle. Some garment bags are designed vertically
so that it’s wheeled and able to be carried on
the plane. A “garment sleeve” generally denotes
a bag, which slips over hanged clothing. The length
of a garment bag ranges from 40” for suits, 54”
for women’s dresses and 60” for evening dresses.
Totes, Cosmetic Bags and Casual Bags
A well-designed all-purpose bag
is a necessity. Open it up and examine how it’s
configured inside. Do you need plastic bottle holders,
a waterproof compartment, file space, water bottle holder,
expandable features, multiple pockets? All these features
are available. Look on the back to see if there’s
a way it can attach to the handles of an upright. Or
check out the new styles in wheeled totes and wheeled
cosmetic bags.
New Security Friendly Travel Accessories
The first time you’ve had
your entire suitcase opened up and gone through at airport
security, you’ll want to go out and get some pack
it cubes. These are usually mesh or plastic see-through
zippered cases so that you can separate your toiletries,
socks, undergarments, shirts, etc. Another necessity
is an I.D. holder to wear around your neck for your
license, passport and/or boarding pass.
A visit to your local luggage and travel specialty
store is worth the trip! And happy traveling!
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