Baggage shopping

I recently went luggage shopping and I realized how easy it was for me to get lost amongst all the options and choices. I wanted to make a post about how to simplify the luggage shopping experience and what specific things to look for in a bag.

1) It is not all about the looks

OK I get it. I am one to admit that I am naturally gravitated towards certain bags based off external characteristics such as color and pattern, but this is trivial. In reality a "good bag" is not based off looks rather off other defining characteristics It is tempting to choose the eye-appealing ones, but try steering away from that and making sure the bag fits other criteria's before choosing it as your bag.

2) Look to the wheels

The wheels I would argue are the fundamentally most important aspect of the luggage. They hold up the entire suitcase and trying to haul a 40-50 pound bag through an airport, is challenging, and add the fact that it does not wheel, makes it even more challenging. Therefor it is crucial to get strong durable wheels that will support the bag. Think about if you want four or two wheels for the base. Practice moving the luggage around the store to see if the wheels move with stability or if they have challenges moving. All these adjustments can indicate if the wheels are what you need for a bag. Make sure the wheels are able to go in multiple directions and don't get stuck on different surfaces.

3) Think about size

Luggage can come in all shapes or size. Smaller ones could be good for weekend trips, but not always the same size works for every person. Some people travel with only a carry on, even internationally. Others pack large and have a larger back to put blankets, camping supplies, and other larger packages. Think about why you need the bag and where you will be taking it. If you are trying to only buy one luggage bag and will use it for smaller weekend trips and larger ones, try to settle for a size in the middle. Again it is hard to anticipate how much you will pack and how much you will need, but by thinking roughly about the usage, supplies needed, and the trip one may be able to determine the size bag that works best for them.

4) Plastic or Fabric

One choice comes down to if you want a plastic hard coating or a fabric coating. This difference stumps people who may not know the difference or how one would suit their trip differently. Both have pros and cons and are in fact different. Research the difference and don't be gravitated toward the one your friend uses. While you friend may have one type of outer coating, that might not be the right coating for you. Determine the difference to find which type of style would work better for you.

5) Don't be afraid to try

If you are unsure of what bag you need or want, try out a few. A good amount of stores allow refunds for bags so when in doubt (make sure they allow refunds) buy a few. Bring them home and test them out on different surfaces, see how many clothes you can fit in them, and see how it roles. Obviously make sure to return the suitcase in original condition, but this option allows one to try it out in the same way you try on clothes before deciding to keep or return them.

Overall, looking for bags can feel overwhlemony (I defiantly thought what am I looking for multiple times) but through research and trying out multiple bags, I have learned what works for my travel and what doesn’t. I hope a piece of this was helpful and that your shopping experience can be smoother by keeping these tips in mind.

Shout out to TJ-Max for the luggage shopping experience

bonus: A good chuckle from traveling and bags: having a strong bag can help prevent bags from exploding and resulting in the following situation. this happened to someone we were traveling with and this still makes us laugh.