Bullet-resistant body armor, race cars, football helmets, and luggage may not seem to have anything in common but as I learned last month, they do, and that fact has dramatically changed the design of the bags you carry on trips.
When I landed in London for a month-long business trip in Europe, my luggage did not arrive on the same flight. The following day, one piece showed up at Heathrow, but not my garment bag with all of my clothes. As a result I had to go shopping for new luggage, clothes, and every other item that I would need. It was a real hassle, although Delta Air Lines, to their credit, made it right when I sent them the bills for everything I had to replace.
I have always relied on large Tumi garment bags for all of my global travel because of their reliability and durability. See my interview with Tumi CEO Jerome Griffith about the engineering decisions and materials that are required to produce modern luggage.
Since that conversation, Tumi and other firms have introduced next-generation luggage with space-age materials and four wheels, rather than two. Little did I know when I arrived in London just how relevant our discussion would become. It was clear that much has changed in the industry since the last time I bought any luggage.
When it became apparent after two days that my luggage would not be found, I planned on buying the exact replacement for my 29&#; garment bag.
This was made of a patented ballistic nylon and was about as tough as it gets. Unfortunately, it was also heavy and very difficult to handle in confined spaces, such aisles on trains. The store manager at Tumi on Piccadilly explained that two-wheel garment bags were &#;out,&#; and larger vertical roller cases with lightweight materials were &#;in.&#; So I reluctantly bought the 29" Tumi Tegra-Lite.
For a month in seven countries on a variety of different surfaces and in many different environments, I put the Tegra-Lite through its paces with the typical abuse of foreign travel. I did my best to destroy it: rolling it over rough and broken streets in Spain, bouncing it down long flights of concrete steps to the underground in Paris, moving along cobblestone paths in Italy, encountering obstacles in rural Norway, and a variety of other endurance tests of materials, handles, and wheels that included several train rides and eight different flights. I actually hoped I could get the luggage to fail, but I could not.
What I found may provide some insight if you intend on purchasing new luggage and have been trying to decide on the material, wheels, internal space configurations, and other options that you must choose from.
There is no substitute for quality, which is why if you travel a lot you need to spend the money for well-constructed and properly engineered pieces. An investment in the bags you carry will minimize failures, avoid travel hassles, and will help keep you both sane and organized on trips. Higher quality luggage last longer, wears and looks better after airline abuse, and will not add to travel problems.
The new generation of luggage is also lighter, which will save you money in the long run by avoiding excess-weight airline baggage fees, especially on low-cost intra-Europe or overseas flights. The typical weight limits for coach-class travel is about 23 kilos, or about 50 pounds. Weight is also a factor when you have to lift your bag, like when stowing it in an overhead rack or carrying it. The older style luggage, regardless of construction and materials, is significantly heavier than the new plastic-based materials.
I travel for a living, so the last thing I need is a problem with my luggage. Among the many different brands I have used over the years, certain failures, inconveniences, and design flaws have stood out and continue to occur. I can find no manufacturer that has provided a good checklist of issues for consumers to review before they buy new luggage. So, here is my list.
How to choose your luggage
Preliminary questions you should ask before purchasing luggage:
Criteria to consider when choosing luggage
Luggage category and overall design
For me the primary criterion is the ease of moving and carrying any piece of luggage, especially through airports and train stations and on the street. Traveling with luggage is a necessary evil; difficulties in its movement and control should be minimized, especially if there are multiple pieces.
You must decide whether you want luggage that is carry-on or to be checked. In part, this choice must be based upon the length of your trip and how much you carry with you. Carry-on has less capacity but offers the advantage of never getting lost, nor delays upon landing. The flip side is that some smaller aircraft will not accommodate larger bags in the overhead and they end up being gate-checked. Assuming you choose larger luggage you essentially have three choices: two-wheel fold-over garment bag, two-wheel vertical case type, and four-wheel roller case. Each has advantages and disadvantages for travelers.
Luggage size and configuration
Luggage comes in many sizes and internal configurations which are dictated by individual needs. Primary considerations are based upon the volume of clothes and other items you need to carry. In addition, the internal organization, dividers, pockets, zippered areas and capability to hang suits, dresses, and shirts are important. Some travelers prefer garment bags that can be hung in the closet when you get to your hotel; others like suitcases that open like clam shells.
The relevant issue for me is the amount of space that is usable and how much I can pack into a case or garment bag. I also like outside pockets for compartmentalizing shoes, dop kit, light jackets and other items. Finally, pay attention to the handles or grips and where they are positioned. Luggage with top and side grips are far more convenient to move around.
Construction materials
I have used metal, plastic, leather, fabric, and ballistic nylon. After more than forty years of travel in just about every part of the world and on virtually every method of conveyance. I had always believed that ballistic nylon was by far the best to protect internal contents. The nylon wears well, always looks good, (unlike metal or leather luggage), and does a fair job of protecting the contents from outside elements. Ballistic nylon or any fabric material can be a problem if luggage is left standing on a tarmac in the rain, and I have had problems in such cases.
My first take on the new generation of luggage was to avoid it because I thought it was too thin and flimsy and not well constructed. I was so accustomed to fabric and garment bags that I had paid little attention to the transformation in the luggage industry. I was wrong: the extremely light and tough cases have a lot of advantages to offer, but with some caveats.
My preference for outer materials changed last month after using the new material adopted by Tumi called Tegris. It is a thermoplastic material used in race cars and NFL helmets because it is both stiff and impact resistant, and also very light.
Many manufacturers have begun using high tech materials that are extremely durable and flexible. These are essentially impervious to liquids, scuffs, punctures, and normal damage associated with baggage handling by airlines and other carriers. The materials are strong, light, thin, and moldable to any configuration. Their strength makes them more secure, especially if the zipper system is strong, thwarting brute force cutting or ripping. The thin materials also maximize internal useable space.
Internal Organization Capabilities
There should be individual divided areas to facilitate the organization and storage of clothes and items that you carry in your luggage. These may include zippered dividers, packing cubes, pockets, or other means to segment different articles.
TSA Approved locks and the ability to secure the contents
There are a number of different schemes for locking luggage to protect contents from theft in hotel rooms and at airports. Read my article about TSA locks and your luggage.
In my view, the only reason to lock luggage is to deter casual theft. Otherwise, forget it. Virtually all luggage, except the new plastic materials, can be easily cut or otherwise compromised. The locks have three or four digit combinations, with key override. They are extremely easy to compromise, except perhaps by the cleaning staff at your hotel. If you use a padlock, the TSA will likely cut it, rather than use their bypass key because they don't care and there is no accountability for doing so. My rule is not to lock luggage when checking it because of its inherent lack of security.
Some of the new next-generation bags have built-in TSA locks which mate with zipper pulls to prevent access to the zipper when secured. These are better than nothing and the cases are harder to break into. The combinations can be changed by the bag owner and should be provided as standard on any quality piece of luggage.
Wheels: two or four for mobility
Wheels are a necessity in order to facilitate pulling, pushing, or dragging. Luggage can fall into one of three categories: no wheels two wheels, or four. The difference in design is significant, but there are both advantages and disadvantage to each.
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No Wheels
Unless you have small pieces of luggage and carry little weight, few travelers purchase luggage without wheels. If you are considering buying new travel gear, do yourself a favor and be certain that whatever you acquire has wheels and that their design will fit your needs and the pull-out handle extends far enough so you don&#;t trip over the luggage when pulling it.
Two wheels
Until recently, the standard luggage design had two wheels, both for upright and garment bags. With the introduction of new and lightweight materials, the paradigm has shifted to a four-wheel system.
Two wheel luggage has certain advantages and disadvantages.
Four Wheel luggage and cases
The piece of luggage I purchased in London had four wheels. There are definitely some advantages with a vertical case that runs on four swivel wheels in comparison with a two-wheel garment bag or regular suitcase. A number of luggage manufacturers have adopted similar designs, including Rimowa and Samsonite. All of their luggage looks very similar, but there are differences in materials, weight and the design of the wheels themselves.
For larger cases I would recommend double-wheels, like those found on Rimowa. These provide more stability when rolling across uneven surfaces, like sidewalks, brick streets or even concrete with minor gaps between sections. Larger diameter wheels and a wider distance between them makes for more stable movement.
As I traveled last month I noted some features in the new Tumi case that made my life easier through airports and rail stations, and others that were extremely aggravating. For one thing, the four wheels are too close together and create instability, especially when you stack a second piece of luggage on top through the handle. The wheels are really not designed to deal with the weight and the center of gravity is not correct. The net result is serious difficulty in rolling this luggage over anything but a smooth surface. All surface changes or even the most minor obstacle presented serious challenges to a smooth ride and would often result in the luggage tipping over unless I physically pulled it with just two out of four of the wheels.
But four-wheel configurations have certain significant advantages that should not be dismissed. The energy required to move a piece of luggage in any direction, when on a perfectly flat surface, is minimal. This is extremely convenient in comparison to dragging a traditional case or bag. The roller case was very easy to maneuver through narrow passageways and was a real pleasure in this regard. I was on several trains where the requirement to carry a fifty pound garment bag and then lift it above your seat would have posed a real difficulty, especially for the elderly traveler. Watch out for four-wheel cases' tendency to roll on their own unless you lay them flat, and they can be difficult to move at angles, which depends on the design of the wheels themselves and their diameter.
Choosing luggage, especially if you travel a lot, is one of the most important choices you will ever make, because all of your needed possessions must be transported safely and securely without damage. Most of us get to carry our own luggage, which means we want the least weight with the most structural integrity and ease of handling. Well-designed luggage costs money, but the investment is well worth it and will yield real dividends for many years in terms of hassle-free travel. There are enough difficulties in travel these days; luggage does not need to be one of them.
Looking for a new bag supplier can often seem like a daunting task &#; how do you know if you are choosing a good supplier, or if they are the right fit for your business?
To help, we&#;ve put together a checklist of the top 5 things to look for in a bag supplier. Check it out below.
1) Quality
There&#;s nothing worse than seeing belongings smash to the floor as you have to deal with a snapped handle or a big rip in your bag. Your chosen supplier should be all about quality, as this can reflect on your reputation too.
Check whether the supplier offers a full range of high quality materials, styles and colors that will leave a (positive!) lasting impression.
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2) Fast turnaround
Consider how close the supplier is to your business and how quickly they can turn orders around. Some suppliers take weeks to deliver standard orders, which can mean you won&#;t have your order in time.
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A big benefit is if your chosen supplier can create bespoke items that will match your branding and can present your message clearly.
At Crazy Bags, we are specialists in bespoke service, giving you the opportunity to come up with a spec and design that works specifically for you, whatever the occasion.
4) Green and ethical credentials
This is an important one! More and more businesses are looking for ways to become more eco-friendly. Check your supplier produces sustainable, reusable products and has high environmental and ethical standards that meet your expectations.
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As a SEDEX member and working with SEDEX approved and SA certified suppliers, we&#;re able to ensure all our factories are working to high ethical and environmental standards. All our reusable cotton and canvas bags are manufactured using OEKO-TEX certified cotton too, so you can be assured that every thread, button and accessory has been tested for harmful substances.
5) Reliable
Spend some time looking at your potential supplier&#;s credentials. It&#;s definitely worth checking reviews to see what type of service you can expect to receive. You want a reliable supplier that can deliver the right products, at the right time.
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