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Whether you are choosing luggage for business or pleasure travel and whether you are looking for a single suitcase or a 6 piece luggage set, quality counts. A failed zipper or broken wheels wreak havoc on travel. Although price does not always guarantee quality, it pays to buy the best luggage you can afford at the best price. Look for these qualities in good luggage:
- Frames should be lightweight, but rugged. Check manufacturer’s specifications for frames made of aluminum, fiberglass or plastic composites.
- Luggage exterior counts for a lot in durability. Hardside luggage should be made of polycarbonate or a crylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). In softside fabric bags, denier is a key to durability and strength. The high the denier, the stronger the fabric. Choose a minimum of 600 denier polyester. Opt for 1800-2500 microballistic nylon for highest performance. Exterior corners should be reinforced with leather, piping or welts.
- Zippers should be large and easy glide. Look for coiled loops that can be repaired if necessary. The best zippers are on strips of heavy duty cloth that is then double stitched to the bag on both sides of the zipper.
- Handles should be attached to a separate piece of sturdy fabric and then double stitched in an X-pattern to the luggage or attached with screws. Some handles are attached by rivets, but rivets are not easily repaired if they are pulled out of the bag. Telescoping handles for wheeled luggage should be rigid and lock in place. Shoulder carrying straps should be wide and padded for comfort.
- Wheels revolutionized luggage maneuverability. Few travelers choose luggage or suitcases without wheels. Four “spinner” wheels are better than two wheels. Wheels should be recessed into the bag’s frame or protected by side shields. Wide wheels typically outperform narrow wheels.
Luggage brands cited for high quality include: Samsonite and American Tourister, Atlantic luggage sets, Delsey suitcases and Victorinox Swiss Army. It’s easy to compare quality features between different brands of luggage with at-a-glance online comparison charts. Luggage set reviews by consumers who know first hard the pros and cons of a bag are also helpful in finding the best luggage sets.
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