Travel Luggage - What Features Should Travelers Look For?

By Author: Constance Martinez
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Almost all travelers have at one time have bought cheap travel luggage that literally falls apart after only a few years of travel and vacations. Most times in life you only get what you pay for, so it usually makes sense to invest in a more expensive, but extremely durable set of luggage. In the long run quality counts you can save a significant amount of money by not continually having to buy inexpensively made luggage.

Make sure that you always buy wheel-equipped luggage, including your carry-on. Check and make sure that the telescopic handles will lock in both the low and high positions. This is especially important if you are a tall person, as you don't want to be always stooping over 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 should you look for in larger-sized luggage?

Soft-sided luggage is superior to hard-sided suitcases as the locks on the latter can easily break open ...
... when your luggage is thrown around. Luggage handlers are not noted for being gentle when it comes to transferring luggage from place to place. The luggage should 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. Each piece should have a padded, expandable handle that locks into both short and long handle positions. The luggage should also be light-weight, expandable, and have outside pockets. Brightly colored luggage is easier to pick out as it circles around the carousel. Lastly, your luggage should have large zippers and wide, rubber, recessed wheels.

Luggage reviews can be researched on the website LuggageOnLine.com.

Please note that if you purchase luggage that has detachable handles or straps, it is advisable to take them off as they can easily get hung up on airport conveyer belts.

What are the features that you should you look for when buying 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 great feature of some backpacks is a light-weight steel mesh sewn inside to prevent valuable personal 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. Dorothy Yamich has a passion for travel. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe as well as traveled in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. She is a travel consultant and specializes in luxury cruises as well as vacation packages. To quickly find and book cheap airfares, at the best price possible, every time you feel like traveling, visit Travel Tips Guide, for more information. Find more on Travel Luggage - What Features Should Travelers Look For?