Purchasing luggage these days can be a complex undertaking. Not only do you want to consider the usual factors you would when making any kind of purchase: style, quality, your personal needs, etc. but today's raised security concerns, particularly with air travel, mean that you are also presented with a dizzying array of rules and regulations as to what can be carried, how big it can be, whether you can lock your luggage or not, and other issues. Regulations are always in flux, and may vary from airline to airline, so you should always check with your carrier about current rules before you travel, but here are some basics that should hold true across the board.
One of your first concerns may be carrying on luggage. Many stores and catalogs will carry bags that are called carry ones or are advertised as being suitable as carry on bags. However, rules regarding carry on luggage vary widely, and many bags sold as carry on exceed the size limits imposed by many airlines. If everyone is different, what should you do, then? A good rule of thumb is to try to limit yourself to the items that you will absolutely need or use during the flight. In other words, get the smallest carry on you can that will hold what you think you need, and in most if not all cases, it will be within your airline's guidelines. Since most airlines will let you bring one carry on and one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase, or small backpack, consider using a larger purse, or putting personal as well as business items into your briefcase so as to maximize all the space you have. Other things to keep in mind are that you will probably have more restrictions for international travel and smaller commuter flights (that use smaller planes).
The flip side of putting less in a carry on may mean that you put more, and possibly more valuable, items in your checked baggage. Often now, checked bags will be not only electronically screened like your carry ones are, but may also be inspected by a person, which means that security personnel will need access to your bags after you have dropped them off. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved several brands and types of luggage locks that are designed so that you can open them, security personnel can open them with a master key, but other people cannot. If you want to lock your luggage, this is a no-brainer. If TSA agents cannot open your luggage to inspect it, they will break your lock. Some high tech versions will even alert you (by a light) as to whether the bag was opened or not, and if so, if it was with a TSA key or by an unauthorized person.
Pack smartly and avoid headaches at the airport.
When you travel, you may be faced with the dilemma of what size of luggage to take along with you. You may get confused on whether to gear up with just one carry on bag so you may need to economize and force to fit all of your clothes in a single bag or you can bring along those gigantic ones so that you can bring many items and have extra room for some shopped items.
You can basically simplify your decision making process. The first thing that you need to take a look at would be your itinerary. Consider the number of days or duration of your trip, the climate and the possible activities that you'll be engaged in. With these considerations, you can make a list and select the clothes, shoes, accessories and other possible articles that you will be packing.
When you have already narrowed down the items that you will be taking on your trip, it is now time to decide on the luggage type. You can find many luggage types and varieties in the market. You have the soft-sided types that have multi-compartments to help you organize your belongings. This is best recommended when packing light. You also have your roller bags, backpack bags and roller boards. These roller boards have been designed to fit effortlessly on the plane's overhead compartments and under plane seats. However, you cannot expect this type of luggage to hold many contents and most designs do not have compartments for easy separation items and easy reach.
For those who are expecting to be bringing many items with them, large duffel bags and large suitcases are a favorite. Duffel bags though are not convenient to carry as they are bulky and heavy plus it needs to be slung over your shoulder for which the weight can be such a burden. Newer models and designs though have wheels on them for easy transport. Duffel bags can crumple clothes so these are recommended for casual clothes. Your hard-sided luggage can basically protect its contents but ensure to purchase one that is of good quality, durable, has a proper balance and a good set of wheels. Check its overall construction, its locks and hinges. If possible choose luggage that are lightweight.
The amount of clothes that you should bring should not be based on the possible largest luggage you have or could purchase or on how many bags you can manage to carry rather it should be based on practically what you need. Select the most appropriate and minimal sized luggage.
Both Cathy Peterson & Jim Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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