There's a lot of luggage manufactured today. It comes in every color and every type of quality. It's hard to know what's what! Even the well known brands make so many different lines in so many different qualities you're not quite sure what you're buying. You don't want to over pay when it's not necessary. Yet, you don't want to be forced to replace your luggage every other year either.
Let's begin at the beginning. Brand names are important, because you know there's years of experience behind the name. This doesn't mean a "designer" name that has just popped up will be a quality item. Luggage brands that have been around for years are Skyway, Samsonite, Tumi, Hartmann, and Boyt.
Some of the newcomers that have earned a very good reputation are Victorninox Swiss Army, Briggs & Riley, Prolite and Mosaic. When making your purchase, be sure to read the warranty information. All of the warranties differ in what they offer. Some do not cover airline or other carrier repairs, and some will. Also check if the place of purchase will do the warranty repair. Airlines are tough on baggage, so your luggage may someday need minor components fixed. If you can bring it back to the place of purchase, this will save you the trouble of having to pack up the case and ship it to be repaired. Additionally, the shipping can be quite expensive.
The very best material in luggage is Ballistic nylon. You may see the term "ballistic" without the word "nylon." Look for "Ballistic nylon" as nylon is the strongest fabric. The higher the denier the more threads in the fabric. Once again, this is only important when it is "Ballistic nylon" as the other fabrics are not quite as durable. Many of them shred when overstuffed, or thrown around on conveyer belts. You will note that almost all of the better brands, and most of the more expensive lines of luggage are made of "Ballistic nylon." Other important features would be "inline skate ball bearing wheels" and the "locking trolley handle." The inline skate wheels are the best wheels for rolling on different surfaces that you may encounter, such as carpeting, concrete, cobblestones, as well as tile. Ball bearings will insure that the wheels glide smoothly. The locking trolley handle will allow you to push the luggage along as well as pull. In some crowded areas, or where you need to board a train or mini train at airports, you will need this pushing feature. If the handle won't lock, the luggage will be very difficult to handle. This type of trolley handle also makes "piggybacking" another piece of carry on luggage or tote bag very easy and comfortable.
Always lift the luggage before deciding. Many pieces of luggage will say "lightweight". However, when you actually lift the piece of luggage it is anything but light! If you are doing a lot of airline travel, as opposed to cruse lines or train and bus travel, the weight of luggage is important. Many airlines now charge extra for overweight luggage, and the costs can be considerable. Also, check that the size remains within the airlines requirements of 62". This is linear inches, consisting of adding the height, the width, and the length of the case. Most of the luggage companies have reduced the size and weight of their luggage to comply with the airlines new requirements. Be sure you're not looking at an older model. Locks must also be TSA approved for airline travel and must say TSA on the lock. This allows TSA security personnel to be able to open your luggage with a master key should the need arise.
Look inside the luggage. Are there any features that you need when traveling? Some luggage has a removable suit fixture or garment bag inside. Some have many pockets, while other cases have fewer pockets. Some brands have large outside pockets. Other brands have only a small outside compartment. Most of the brands have the trolley handle inside the luggage. Some of these trolley handles take up a lot of room inside the luggage. Other brands have a flatter inside handle, or a padded area. One of the brands has the trolley handle on the outside the bag, so that you lose no room inside for packing. Which of these features are important to you? You also need to decide how much you will be traveling. Frequent travelers find the investment of the better brands to be cost saving in the long run. The luggage will last, and need fewer repairs. People that travel less frequently, can purchase one of the more popular priced brands. Now that you know the important features to look for before you buy, you also know "what's what about luggage!"
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