How to choose the right travel luggage for your vacation

As exciting as traveling can be, it also comes with some stressful aspects. Throwing luggage back and forth can be a piece of cake or it can put a strain on your travel experience. The first thing to do is consider your travel style and specifically cater to those needs when choosing the right travel luggage for your vacation. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of some important things to consider beforehand.

Suitcase or Backpack?

We mainly focus on suitcases instead of backpacks in this article for the following reasons:

  • convenience

Maneuvering in airports with a lot of people and traffic, carrying a heavy weight on your back is not easy. Suitcases are much easier to maneuver through traffic with ease.

  • Wheels

Just roll your luggage with ease. This is our main reason for choosing a suitcase.

  • organization

A backpack does not give much room for organization. You’ll only have access to a top-loading packing mechanism where you’ll be forced to remove everything to reach an item at the bottom. A suitcase gives you a clear view of all your belongings as soon as you open or open it.

  • fingerprints

Carrying a backpack really doesn’t look good.

Hard or soft?

You should choose your travel luggage based on your travel needs. For example; Are you traveling for business or fun? Are you planning to bring any expensive items that can break easily? A hardshell carry-on is perfect for anyone carrying items like an expensive camera or if your vacation will be in areas with harsh weather conditions. The hard shell will offer protection to any item prone to breakage.

Soft luggage is perfect for anyone looking for extra storage. These bags can be expanded, making them ideal for anyone who wants to take some souvenirs with them. Plus, soft carry-on bags are easy to store in an overhead bin.

Size

One important thing to keep in mind is to never buy a carry-on that is larger than you can actually lift over your head. Next, how long will your vacation last? Many people can get by with fewer items than others, but when visiting a foreign location, a smaller carry-on is more ideal. Before you buy a carry-on bag, find out about the domestic and international size requirements of that specific airline.

Some planes allow smaller carry-ons, so it’s best to always limit yourself to buying a bag that’s about 21 x 13 x 9 and aim for a weight of 15 to 20 pounds.

Here’s a breakdown of some popular carry-on sizes:

  • International carry-on size is mostly 18 to 20 inches
  • The most popular size for a carry-on is 21 to 22 inches. This is a great size that offers ample space, yet is light enough to lift. You can travel for a month without much hassle.
  • If you are traveling with a loved one, a medium size would be perfect. So, consider buying a 23- to 24-inch carry-on.
  • For those who love extra space, then 25 – 27 inches will give you plenty of room to carry your souvenirs or clothing items. Plus, if you’re on vacation with your family, you can easily fit everyone’s belongings into just one of these suitcases for easy handling.
  • A size of 28 to 32 inches is simply too big for a travel suitcase. It is very bulky and can be very difficult to maneuver. This size is simply the best fit for anyone planning to move abroad or anyone thinking of moving abroad for long periods of time.

Sometimes it may be better to buy two smaller suitcases instead of buying one big heavy one. Granted, you’ll have to pay more, but it’ll be worth it because you won’t have to worry about packing everything in one bag or incurring overweight charges when you travel back home with some souvenirs.

Colour

It is best to buy a bag with unique patterns and colors. This way, it will be easy for you to spot it on the baggage carousel. In addition, you will not accidentally confuse it with someone else’s bag.

Wheels

Wheel options come in two options; two or four Two wheels are most common, as these bags tend to be lighter and easier to use. You can also pull your bag up the stairs with ease without having to manually lift it. However, these types of cases tend to tip over easily.

All four wheels stay upright, allowing you to easily roll them sideways on crowded or shallow paths, like inside an airplane.

Look for bags with wheels that lock; this will prevent your bag from rolling.

material

Always make sure your luggage has waterproof materials or has at least been treated with a sealant on the inside to keep your belongings dry. This is very important, as baggage handlers can sometimes place your baggage on wet, sticky, or dirty surfaces.

If your bag doesn’t have a moisture-resistant sealant, simply line the top and bottom of your suitcase with plastic bags (a trash bag or dry-cleaning bag will work just fine). This simple trick will keep your clothes dry even if your suitcase gets wet on the outside.

straps

Purchase a suitcase that comes with adjustable straps. These straps will help keep your belongings secure and compressed.

piggyback clip

Have you ever seen those loop clips located at the top of some travel bags? They’re called piggy back clips, and they allow a traveler to clip a second, smaller suitcase on top of the larger one; this way, his items will stay safe together during your travels.

If your carry-on doesn’t come with any back clips, you can go online and purchase one for a reasonable price.

compartments

Compartments are useful when you want to organize your belongings. For example; Instead of keeping your small shampoo or liquids with your clothes, keep them in an external pocket (this will prevent your clothes from being ruined in the event of a spill). In addition, they will be easy to locate when the need arises.

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