Travel and Vacations

What to Look For Before Buying Travel Luggage?

Story Published on August 8, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

I’m sure that most travelers have at one time or another bought inexpensive travel luggage that literally fell apart after only a few years of traveling and vacationing. It seems that most times in life you get what you pay for, so it may make a lot of sense to invest in a more expensive, but very durable set of luggage. Quality counts. And, in the long run you can save a lot of money by not continually buying cheaply made luggage.

Always buy wheel-equipped luggage, including your carry-on luggage. Make sure that the telescopic handles will lock in both low and high positions. If you are a tall person, you don’t want to have to stoop just to pull your luggage along.

Two of the top-of-the-line, wheeled, nineteen inch roller board carry-ons are TravelPro’s FlightPro4 and the Tumi.

Carry luggage bungee cords with you so you can tie down any piggybacked luggage if you have to.

What important things should you look for in larger-sized luggage?

Look for soft-sided luggage as it is superior to hard-sided suitcases as the locks on the latter can easily break open when your luggage is thrown around. Most luggage handlers are famous for not being gentle when it comes to transferring luggage from place to place. It is advisable that the luggage be made of strong, durable, 1,000 denier cordura nylon or polyester, and have double or triple stitching as well as extra reinforcing at all stress points. Every piece should have a padded, expandable handle that locks into both short and long handle positions. They should also be light-weight, expandable, and have outside pockets. Choose brightly colored luggage as it is easier to pick out as it circles around on the carousel. Last but not least, your luggage should have large zippers and wide, rubber, recessed wheels.

A number of luggage reviews can be researched on the web at LuggageOnLine.com

If any luggage you buy has detachable handles or straps, they should be taken off as they can get hung up on airport conveyer belts.

What should you look for in a backpack?

When shopping for a backpack, it should be lightweight and feel comfortable while you are wearing it when it is full. Gender-specific design and a built-in lumbar support are two important features that will greatly increase your comfort. The backpack should also have a weather resistant polyurethane coating, a zip-off day pack, outside and inside pockets as well as a hip belt with pockets, and adjustable, padded, wide straps. The backpack’s carrying capacity should be approximately 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches.

A great feature of some backpacks is a light-weight steel mesh sewn inside to prevent valuable personal items from falling out if it is slashed by a robber while it is being worn.

Some top-of-the-line backpack brands are GoLite, ArcTeryx, and REI.

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