Luggage Buying Guide

Don't waste your time trying to buy luggage in a store. We've all been there, the department store's luggage section, a portion relegated to a small corner in the back, staffed by employees who know little or nothing about the meager selection of pieces they do carry. Sit back, relax, and let us help you make an informed decision on what to purchase.
Trying out luggage in a store certainly gives you a great idea on how the luggage feels and moves. A store gives you the option to get to know the luggage first hand and check that it has all of the features you are looking for. However if you knew what you were looking for, you wouldn't have to be at the store in person to know your getting a quality piece of luggage.

Categories of Luggage
Suitcases and Pullmans: When people think of luggage this is generally the first category that gees to mind. These luggage pieces gee in a variety of sizes and construction types, each type having its own unique design elements and functions.
Suitcase Constructions

Hard Sided: If you are looking to provide you items with maximum security and safety then this is what you are looking for. These cases are constructed of metals and hard molded plastics, with strong durable frames that can handle almost any wear and tear. The downside of hard-sided luggage is that they are heavy and bulky.
Soft-Sided: These bags expand easily and are lightweight and highly portable; however they may not provide the same amount of impact or theft protection that a hard-sided case can.
Semi-Soft: A perfect gebination of the hard-sided and soft-sided pieces, semi-soft luggage provides you the advantages of lightweight, expandable luggage without sacrificing construction and a solid frame.
Totes and Casual Bags

These are probably the most widely used and versatile bags in use today. Totes and casual bags gee in a huge variety of shapes, colors and sizes. All you have to do is pick a favorite color, fabric, and choose a size and you will be able to find a tote or casual bag for nearly any use. One not of caution, if you plan on carrying a lot of items, particularly heavy ones, it would be beneficial to choose a bag that has strong handles with reinforced stitching. Handles that are attached using an extra piece of material inside of the bag, as opposed to the bag directly, will tend to be more sturdy. If you are uncertain, look to see if the bag has a listed weight capacity.
Garment Bags and Carriers: Whether you are taking a short business trip, traveling to a formal function, or just like the ability to travel with your clothes on hangers the garment bag is what you are looking for. As a rule of thumb a garment bag is usually designed to carry a few pieces while a garment carrier is designed to carry around ten pieces. However this is not always the case, so pay close attention to the manufacturer's product description.
Garment bags and carriers gee in a variety of styles, the primary being bi-fold, tri-fold, and rolling. The bi-fold and tri-fold garment bag are easy to place in overhead gepartments and can be hung easily upon arrival to your chosen destination. Rolling garment bags and carriers are easy to move, and require less effort when transporting; however they are larger and will usually need to be checked.
Other things to consider when purchasing a garment bag or carrier are whether or not the bag gees with hangers, and if these hangers are stationary or removable and the number of straps inside of the bag. If the hangers inside of the garment bag are removable it will make moving your clothes from you closet to the bag to another closet or hook very simple, and you can usually use your own hangers as well. Also, the more straps a garment bag has to immobilize your clothing, the less chance of the pieces begeing wrinkled during travel.
Business and geputer Cases: Business bags, attaches, geputer bags and cases and briefcases gee in a variety of sizes, colors and materials. When purchasing one of these bags you will need to make sure it is large enough to fit your files as well as your geputer size. In addition to the standard contents, many of these bags are now designed with special gepartments for CD and MP3 players, PDAs, and other sensitive devices. If you are purchasing a bag to hold a geputer it is important that you check to make sure that the bag will not only hold your size geputer, but that it has an adequate weight capacity.
Sport and Duffel Bags: If you are looking for the ideal way to carry your sporting or outdoor equipment, these bags are designed with you in mind. Sports bags and duffels are designed to withstand a lot of wear and tear and are generally constructed of strong materials that expand easily and resist tearing and fraying. Many of these items are also waterproof or water resistant. When choosing a duffel bag, it may be beneficial to look for a bag that has both a shoulder strap and two center handles, for more carrying options.
Backpacks and Messenger Bags: Backpacks and messenger bags have gee a long way since their original use by busy bicycle messengers carting items over cobblestone streets. They gee in an endless array of shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics, so before purchasing one sit down and decide exactly what you will be using it for. If it is going to be used as an everyday bag you will want to go with a stronger bag with lots of gepartments for you items. If it will only be used occasionally a standard bag with one or two large main gepartments will probably suite you best.
Pet Carriers: These days people are increasingly making the choice to bring their pets with them on vacation. Like most bags, pet carriers gee in a variety of styles ranging from fashionable to practical, the primary questions you need to ask yourself when purchasing one is weight capacity. It is imperative you pets safety that you purchase a bag with the correct weight capacity. Whatever mode of transportation you are using to travel, make sure to check their pet policy ahead of time.
Industrial Travel Cases: If you need to transport expensive items such as instruments, cameras, tools, guns, or audio and visual equipment you have gee to the right place. We carry a wide range of durable and safe industrial cases, all you need to decide is what you want to carry and in what conditions.
Travel Accessories: Travel accessories include toiletries and vanity bags as well as travel wallets, and luggage organizers. These items will help you to organize the insides of your luggage, making everything easily accessible while maximizing precious space, enabling you to bring more with you, and spend less time looking for your stuff and more time seeing the sights.
Luggage Fabrics and Materials

Leather: The manufactures of luggage often choose to use leather in the construction of their bags. Leather gees in a variety of forms and there is a broad spectrum of quality, durability, texture and price.
Types of Leather

Genuine Leather: Sometime referred to as full-grain leather, is constructed from the best natural materials, using natural hides that have not been sanded. The grain is not altered in anyway, providing a strong, durable, breathable leather. Genuine leather will age better than other leathers, and will develop a natural, unique patina or shine with use.
Top Grain: Sometimes referred to as corrected-grain leather has been stamped and sanded and painted. While the natural grain has been removed, and the leather is genuinely heavily painted, it is still a great quality for the price.
Suede: Suede is inferior to both genuine leather and top grain leather, in terms of quality, but superior in price. Suede is heavily treated on both sides and oftentimes manufactures will mix additives into one side of the suede to make it appear as if top-grain leather.
Fabrics: Fabrics are artificial materials that can be constructed of natural or artificial fibers which have been joined together in some fashion.
Fabric

Nylon:Nylon is a highly versatile and gemon artificial fabric that is lightweight, strong, and durable. Ballistic Nylon, which was originally developed by the United States Department of Defense, is widely regarded as the toughest, strongest, most durable nylon on the market.
Ripstop Nylon: Alightweight, water repellent version of nylon that has numerous interwoven reinforcement threads which creates a form of nylon that is highly resistant to tearing and fraying.
Other Fabrics: While leather and nylon are two of the most popular choices for luggage material, they are by no means the only choices. You will often find bags made of twill, cotton, Microfiber, plastic and metals. When deciding amongst these other materials your primary concern, after personal preference of course, should be durability, strength, color and weight. While natural fibers such as cotton and twill tend to weight less than other materials, you sacrifice some of the strength and durability associated with heavier fabrics.

Luggage Color and Weight
Color: If you are going to highly populated city with a high volume airport you may want to consider buying a brighter piece of luggage. It will stand out more and make baggage claim a whole lot smoother. If you are ungefortable with a highly recognizable bag, think about purchasing a unique ID tag or luggage strap. These will enable you to identify your bag, while also provided an additional function.
Weight: How much does your luggage weigh? Airlines have strict weight requirements for both carry on and checked baggage, you should be aware of how much your bag weighs before packing, as the fees for overweight luggage are quite high, and in some airlines will not accept an overly heavy bag at all. Consider buying a piece with an incorporated scale, it should automatically take the luggage's weight into account while enabling you to avoid weight overage charges. If the bag you like doesn't have a scale incorporated, just use any standard home scale to weigh your bag before you head out. Remember airlines are not the only ones with weight restrictions, train and busses also have rules in this area, so call ahead.

Luggage Hardware and Features
Edges: From transportation to and from your destination to baggage screening to bellhop service, your luggage is going to go through a lot. It is important to purchase a bag with solid edge construction. The number of different edge options can be daunting, so just try and purchase luggage that has a well defined edge, preferably where the edges are constructed of a heavy duty plastic or metal, as these will fair better than bags that are entirely made of fabric.
Handles: The most used and most often overlooked feature when purchasing luggage is the handle. Handles need to be strong and functional, yet easy to use. When looking at handles try and determine if it is attached using screws or rivets. If it is attached using screws it can be fixed easily if broke, which is not the case with rivets. Also, check and see if the handles are inside or outside of the bag. If they are housed inside they will generally provide a studier bag, however you will sacrifice some internal storage space.
Additionally, look for bags that have telescoping handles, these will slide up for use, and can be hid away to save space and reduce damage the rest of the time. Check to see if the handle is lockable, if so it will keep the handle from accidentally sliding back into its storage slot when you are on the move.
Shoulder Straps: Like handles, shoulder straps are often overlooked when purchasing luggage. Shoulder straps, gee in a variety of forms, when purchasing your bag the primary questions you need to ask your self is, how often will you be using it?
If you are going to be using the shoulder strap quite a bit, look for an adjustable strap with a non-slip and padded strap. The piece that rests on your shoulder can be made of plastic, cloth or rubber. To provide yourself with the most gefort and ease of carrying look for a strap that is padded, and silicon-injected. You may also want consider buying a bag that has a detachable or dual-function strap. Dual function should straps will have an option to unzip them, allowing you to carry the bag like a backpack.
Zippers: There are several different types of zippers used in luggage, and while it is not necessary for you to know all of the detailed terminology and constructions behind them there are a few key words and types of zippers that you should look for when purchasing new luggage. Double-stitched, self-repairing and/or polyester coils are the best zippers that you can get. If the zipper has one or more of those features, chances are it is going to be good. These can take a lot of pressure and will not fray easily.
Also, try and pay attention to what type of zipper pulls the luggage has. These are generally made of plastic or metal, and occasionally have a fabric pull attached. The larger the zipper pull the easier the bag will be to open and close, especially if you really love to overstuff.
Locks: The primary purpose of luggage is a place to store you belongings while you travel. Due to carry-on restrictions oftentimes most of your luggage will not be with you when you are en route to and from your destination. As such the best way to secure your belongings is to use a luggage lock. The two primary types of luggage locks are gebination and key; and while not widespread, some gepanies are beginning to offer biometric security options for your bags. After you have decided on the type of lock you want, you will need to decide if you want to purchase a separate lock, or a piece of luggage with a built in locking mechanism.
No matter your choice, you may wish to consider purchasing a lock that is gepliant with the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA is the security agency responsible for screening all checked luggage traveling within, into, or out of the United States. In the course of screening luggage, the TSA may wish to open your bag, and if they are unable to open your lock they will either break the lock or cut the bag open. If you are using a TSA gepliant locking mechanism, you will avoid this hassle, and some TSA locks will even have an indicator, allowing you to know if your lock has been opened.
Wheels: To roll or not to roll? Some people prefer to carry their bags, and if you are of that mindset, check out our sections on handles and shoulder straps. Everyone else, look for luggage that has recessed in-line skate wheels. In-line skate wheels provide a smooth rolling action, even over rough surfaces. A recessed wheel stands less a chance of getting damaged when you run over or into an object because most of it is protected by its encasing. If you cannot find a piece that you like with in-line wheels, look for one that has four standard wheels, it will provide more stability.

Organizational Features
Luggage Features: In addition to all of the external and luggage function options, you also need to pay attention to the insides of your luggage. As with the external options you have when choosing luggage, you have an endless number of options to choose from when looking at the form and function of the inside of a bag. However, unlike external options, the internal options all function basically the same way, so it gees done solely to personal preference and your needs.
You can decide if you if you want a bag that is simply one large open gepartment, allowing you to fit large items, or use your own storage and separation devices, or find a piece that gees with lots of pockets, storage gepartments, stabilizing and demobilizing straps and clasps, and incorporated wet packs for beach gear and towels and pre-installed packing systems. If you are indecisive or are planning on using your luggage for a number of different purposes, choose a bag that has several of those options, preferably one where they are removable or adjustable, this will provide you with the maximum number of options.