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What Features Should You Look For Before Buying Travel Luggage?

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by Dorothy Yamich

I’m sure that most travelers have at one time or another bought inexpensive travel luggage that literally fell apart after only a few years of traveling and vacationing. It seems that most times in life you get what you pay for, so it may make a lot of sense to invest in a more expensive, but very durable set of luggage. Quality counts. And, in the long run you can save a lot of money by not continually buying cheaply made luggage.

It makes sense to always buy wheel-equipped luggage, including your carry-on. You should make sure that the telescopic handles will lock in both low and high positions. The reason for this is that if you are a tall person, you don’t want to have to stoop just to pull your luggage along.

Two of the top-of-the-line, wheeled, nineteen inch roller board carry-ons are TravelPro’s FlightPro4 and the Tumi.

It’s a good idea to carry luggage bungee cords with you to tie down any piggybacked luggage you may have.

What features should you look for when purchasing larger-sized luggage?

Look for soft-sided luggage as it is superior to hard-sided suitcases as the locks on the latter can easily break open when your luggage is thrown around. Most luggage handlers are famous for not being gentle when it comes to transferring luggage from place to place. It is advisable that the luggage be made of strong, durable, 1,000 denier cordura nylon or polyester, and have double or triple stitching as well as extra reinforcing at all stress points. Every piece should have a padded, expandable handle that locks into both short and long handle positions. They should also be light-weight, expandable, and have outside pockets. Choose brightly colored luggage as it is easier to pick out as it circles around on the carousel. Last but not least, your luggage should have large zippers and wide, rubber, recessed wheels.

A number of luggage reviews can be researched on the web at LuggageOnLine.com

If you are planning to purchase luggage that has detachable handles or straps, you should take them off at the airport, so they don’t get hung up on conveyer belts.

What should you look for in a backpack?

A backpack should be lightweight and feel comfortable while wearing it when it is full. A gender-specific design and a built-in lumbar support will greatly increase your comfort. It should have a weather resistant polyurethane coating, a zip-off day pack, outside and inside pockets as well as a hip belt with pockets, and adjustable, padded, wide straps. The carrying capacity of a backpack should be approximately 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches.

A neat feature of some backpacks is a light-weight steel mesh sewn inside them to help prevent valuable items from falling out if it is slashed by a robber while it is being worn.

Some top-of-the-line backpack brands are GoLite, ArcTeryx, and REI.

About the Author:

August 7, 2008 by Dorothy Yamich 

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