Expert advice on choosing the best luggage: Full-size, carry-on, hardshell and more
Plus, more travel tips and tricks to streamline your upcoming trips.
Travel season is fast approaching and it might be time to replace your worn-out luggage.
Suitcases, carry-ons and other vital travel accessories are an investment, though, so we spoke with two experts who deal with these items every day to help you determine what to look for when shopping for your next vacation.
They have a wealth of knowledge on everything from which lock types are OK to what kind of luggage might help you avoid packing more than you can carry.
Read on to learn more about those experts and some of their top travel suggestions, then shop bags that could work best for you.
Our experts
First we spoke with Emmett Adames, a co-owner of Altman Luggage in New York City. Founded in 1920, the vendor not only sells top-quality luggage, they also offer some of the most trusted luggage repair services in the city.
Our second expert is Johnny Jones, the secretary treasurer of the 100 AFGE TSA Council and Treasurer of Local 1040, the former of which represents more than 45,000 Transportation Security Administration officers. With more than 20 years in the business, Jones was forthcoming on everything from getting to the airport (“Always take a taxi!”) to correctly packing liquids in your carry-on.
Common luggage problems
Adames was quick to point out his most common repairs: zippers and wheels. He sees these breaks happen most often in lesser-quality luggage and suggests avoiding any luggage closeouts where the price might seem nice at first, but the product won’t hold up over time.
Another less common but daunting problem is hard-shell luggage breaking at the corners, an “irreparable” issue, he said, but not a reason to avoid them entirely as long as you’re buying quality suitcases.
“The hard shells are fine depending on what quality you buy,” he explained. “Usually, that [breakage] happens on the lower end … with higher-quality bags, you rarely see that happen.”
Jones prefers hard-shell suitcases for his personal use, noting hard-shell cases can prevent over-packing like you might with a bag that has more forgiving sides. It’s a built-in way to ensure you don’t get slapped with extra charges at the gate or have to fork over even more cash to buy an additional bag at the airport.
Another common mistake is having the wrong lock on your bag. Adames suggested TSA-approved locks or none at all, as security may have to cut the lock if they can’t access the inside of your bag, which can potentially damage the zipper and/or its pulls.
Jones belabored this point as well, once again citing packing too much and how a broken zipper can quickly turn messy if security is unable to quickly re-pack your belongings.
“People don’t realize that someone might have to open that bag and reclose it,” he warned of routine examinations performed on checked bags, adding, “I’ve actually had to duct tape bags shut!”
Adames also suggests buying suitcases with four wheels.
“We recommend the four-wheel version. It’s easier to go down the aisle of the plane,” he explained, “and you can always use it on two wheels.”
Keeping these tips and suggestions in mind, we've selected several high-quality pieces we feel are worth every penny, as well as some handy add-ons to smooth the travel process. Keep scrolling to shop!
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