While the casual traveler may be able to get away with grabbing whatever bag is in their closet and hitting the road, those who travel more frequently or who are embarking on a longer journey need to make careful luggage choices.
One of the most important features to consider early on when purchasing luggage is the kind of shell or case a suitcase has. Soft case luggage serves very different purposes and will need to be packed differently from hard case luggage. What kind you choose will depend on what you’re packing, how far you’re going, and how you’re getting there, among other factors. That means the best place to start when it comes to choosing the right luggage is with the details of the trip ahead.
There are several questions you should stop and consider when you decide to invest in new luggage for a trip. By going through these questions step by step you can be certain no detail has been missed and that you have the right luggage for the job.
There is a secret about hard luggage that only some of the most experienced travelers know. The secret is that if you’re trying to meet airline weight restrictions, extra light luggage is almost always of the hard case variety. This is because the tough, protective materials needed to make hard sided luggage can also be manipulated to be super lightweight in ways that the fabric used in soft case luggage cannot be. When shaving those valuable pounds off of a suitcase, this difference in material can be vital.
Take this as a warning to not assume that soft case luggage is always the lightest. It may cost a bit more to buy the extra lightweight hard case luggage, but if you travel frequently, the savings in airline overweight fees will add up quickly.
Soft luggage can get a bad rap when it comes to snags and tears in the fabric, but a careful look at the material details can help you to choose ultra-durable soft shell luggage. Look for the denier level indicated on the luggage label. The higher the denier level, the higher the quality of the fabric used to make the suitcase and the less likely it will rip under frequent use. Most people don’t know to look at denier level, but if you’re concerned about having luggage with some extra give that won’t break down after a few trips, this is the information you’ll need.
At the end of the day, you may end up with even tally marks for both hard case and soft case luggage, so the very best thing you can do before investing is take some luggage for a test drive. Borrow from a friend, practice packing, and pull it around the block a few times. How does it feel? Is a hard sided case too heavy in the size you need? Don’t forget to consider questions of scale. You may love how hard case luggage handles as a carry-on piece, but find it too heavy for checked luggage. Particularly if you’ll be traveling alone, make sure you don’t choose something you find too unwieldy to manage.
Luggage is a big investment, so don’t choose pieces that will break down after a few trips. You’ll find yourself regretting the waste of money. Instead, contact the luggage professionals at Zoomlite. Zoomlite offers several excellent luggage choices in both soft case and hard case varieties. With different sizes and designs to choose from, you’re sure to find just the thing to fit your specific travel needs. Let Zoomlite help make your next trip a success.
Whether travelling for business for pleasure, the Ultimate Packing list is an exhaustive checklist of everything you could ever need on a trip. This free download will help even the most forgetful to take what they want and not leave anything behind.
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