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Luggage Buying Guide
Summary: Lightweight, durable and functional luggage can be affordable if you know what you're shopping for. 10 keys to buying luggage.
Imagine, you’re waiting patiently at the baggage claim and your suitcase comes out; one piece at a time. First the wheels, then the handle, then the rest of the bag – and eventually, your clothes. This is your punishment for buying a cheap, poor quality suitcase.
But don’t just think that an expensive bag is the best bag. There are a lot of affordable bags that are light weight, durable and functional – and you’ll look good carrying them. Doing your homework when shopping for luggage will pay off – just follow these 10 keys to buying luggage.
- Style: We know. We should have started this list of with the things
that really matter –durability, materials and warranties –
but what fun is that? Style is what it’s all about.
- Price: With so many choices in luggage, it’s always a good
idea to know how much you want to spend. A simple bag at a discount
store can run as little as $20, higher end brands like Tumi offer
rolling bags as high as $1000.
- Wheels: It really is where the rubber meets the road. When it comes
to durability, one thing that’s often overlooked is wheels.
Cheap discount bags usually come with molded plastic wheels that are
the first thing to go. Mid to high end bags come with either rollerblade
style wheels or wheel systems. If you go with a bag with rollerblade
style wheels, look for ones that are well protected or slightly recessed.
- Fabric: Suitcases come in as many different materials as there are
days in a year. Polycarbonate shells, rip-stop ballistic nylon, high
count polyester and leather just to name a few. For the road warrior
we recommend high quality nylon like the 2520D Ballistic Nylon on
the Delsey Helium Pro line.
- Frame: Most of the weight in luggage comes from the frame. Look
for a frame that’s a composite fiberglass/graphite. These materials
will stand up to the rigors of travel and keep functioning smoothly.
- Handles: Poorly designed handles are a pain in the…hand. Especially
when you’re lugging around 49 pounds of gear. (Just under the
50 pound weight limit of most airlines!) Look for reinforced handles
wrapped for ergonomic comfort.
- Padding: Another thing that is often overlooked on luggage is padding.
It’s easy to see the outside material and inside liner, but
a lot of the durability comes from the padding that protects you personal
items from wear and tear.
- Reinforcements: There are obvious places on any suitcase that take
the most punishment. The corners of almost any bag come with some
type of solid material to lend support.
- Zippers: All of the reinforcements in the world won’t keep
your personal items safe if the zipper breaks. Look for a bag with
a large, double stitched, self correcting zipper.
- Warranty: Generally speaking, the better the bag, the better the warranty. Over time, baggage takes an incredible amount of abuse and inferior products will not survive.