How to Choose Travel Luggage

Your travel needs will determine what the best travel luggage is for you and which luggage features are most important. The main features you must look at and choose between are as follows. The size of your luggage should be big enough to hold everything you normally need on your travels. Though it often seems the luggage size does not matter, we tend to fill up whatever space we have available.

Travel luggage size is normally classified as small (or carryon luggage size), medium or large. Carry-on luggage is popular on shorter trips. Medium-sized travel luggage is in most cases suitable for one traveler on longer journeys (more than 2 weeks) or for shorter journeys (up to 1 week) for two travelers. Larger luggage size can be useful when many people are travelling together, especially families with young children. It is so much easier for the adults having to handle as few bags as possible when traveling with young children. Find the right discount travel luggage that you can use.

Top travel tips: Airline luggage restrictions vary so always check in advance with your airline to find out the exact dimensions and weight allowed for your carryon luggage. Airline luggage restrictions are getting stricter all the time. This is the result of competition from low cost airlines who charge you for every extra kilo/pounds you exceed your luggage weight allowance. You need to be aware of the luggage weight limits for both check-in luggage, as well as carryon luggage. It is therefore important when choosing your travel luggage to consider the weight of the luggage piece itself as well as the luggage size. It can vary greatly - the difference in the actual luggage weight for the same luggage size can easily be several kilos. I have seen cases where the weight of an empty bag is as much as 30% of your luggage allowance.

The majority of luggage now comes with wheels as wheeled luggage is so much easier to travel with - all you have to do is pull. This reduces the strain and effort needed to lift and carry heavy loads. The wheel system adds somewhat to the weight of the luggage piece itself but the benefits of being able to wheel the luggage around makes up for it. However, check the quality of the luggage wheels carefully as you want something that will last you for a while. Travel luggage comes in either soft or hard material. Hard-sided luggage is more weatherproof, withholds more pressure in transit, and therefore protects well the contents inside.

Hard-sided luggage is therefore ideal when traveling with fragile items. However, they are considerably heavier than soft case luggage. Soft case luggage is on the other hand substantially lighter. It is usually expandable and many feature zip compartments on the exterior of the case, giving you more flexibility when packing your things. You have to decide what durability you are looking for as the more durable travel luggage usually comes at a higher price. The durability you need is likely to depend on your travel style; frequent travelers should definitely choose more durable luggage than less frequent travelers should. There are discount travel luggage that you can buy in the market. Find the one that fits your needs most.

When evaluating luggage durability look at the material, the wheeling system, the zips, handles and all other features that are important to you. The main items that tend to break down on your bags are the wheels, the zippers, and the handles. Therefore, when it comes to choose the best travel luggage, you should look carefully at these features.

Most bags on any flight have a similar design and color... black. Customizing your bag makes the bag easier to spot on the baggage carousel. It will also reduce the risk of other passengers picking it up by mistake. You might want a bag that "fits your personality" but you must bear in mind that a bag that travels a lot will be "worse for wear" after few trips... especially if the bag is checked-in. The best travel luggage comes not only in different shapes and in sizes - it also comes at very different price. You can spend very little or very much on a similar shaped and sized piece of luggage.

The price difference usually reflects the different features I have mentioned before, including the quality and durability of the materials used. It can be worth to spend a bit more for better quality luggage as you don't want to be buying luggage on regular basis. It is also very inconvenient when your luggage breaks down while you are traveling, i.e. if the zip breaks or a wheel falls off. You might have to buy some last minute replacement, without the time or choice you would normally like to have when buying the best travel luggage for you and your travel needs.