Assessing Your Luggage Needs

Before we recommend a particular style, type or line of luggage, we ask our customers a series of questions so we know what luggage we can recommend that will best fit their travel requirements and personal taste. Though this process can sometimes be involved, we recommend you begin your search for the right luggage by conducting this short "needs analysis" survey.

Question 1. Do you travel mostly for business or for pleasure?

Explanation: Business travelers tend to have different needs than people who travel mainly for pleasure. Business travelers typically pack lighter, go on shorter trips, and if possible, prefer to live right out of their luggage. Pleasure travelers, in contrast, typically go on longer trips and pack for a week or more at a time. Because their stay is longer, they prefer to transfer their clothes to a closet or drawer rather than keep them in their luggage. As a result, pleasure travelers typically use larger bags, even though the luggage has to be checked.

• If you travel mostly for business, you may consider a carry-on size suitcase (typically 20-22 inches tall).
• If you travel mostly for pleasure, you may want to consider a larger 24-26" suitcase or a duffel on wheels.

Question 2. How frequently do you travel?

Explanation: This is probably the most important question you should ask yourself. Frequent travelers--whether for business or pleasure--need luggage that is designed to withstand the rigors of frequent travel.  Though this sounds obvious, many people are surprised to learn that not all luggage is able to withstand frequent or extensive travel. Indeed, many pieces of luggage that are very well suited to infrequent pleasure travel fall short of performance expectations when used more extensively. Like most products, some luggage is designed for less-demanding consumer use, while other luggage is designed for more rigorous commercial use.

• If you travel frequently, find luggage that is designed to handle the rigors of regular travel. Typically more expensive, these top of the line bags--from makers such as Tumi, Briggs & Riley, and Victorinox--will ultimately save you money, time, and aggravation.
• If you travel less frequently, you can typically save money by finding a bag that has all the features you want but isn't specifically designed for extensive travel.

Question 3. How long are your trips? Do they vary?

Explanation: Figuring out how long your trips are is an important consideration when selecting luggage. If your trips are longer, luggage needs to be bigger or you need to carry more pieces of luggage. If your trips are generally shorter, then your luggage can be smaller, and therefore, more likely to meet carry-on requirements.

• Find bigger luggage--like 24-26 inch cases or a large wheeled duffle if you typically go on long trips
• Find smaller luggage--like a 20 or 22 inch carry-on--if you typically go on short trips
• Find small luggage with an expandability feature if you typically go on small trips but sometimes go on long trips
• If you sometimes go on short trips and sometimes go on long trips, consider buying two bags.

Question 4. Do you also carry a laptop or briefcase when you travel? 

Explanation: Before selecting a piece of luggage, think about what other bags you carry with you when you travel. If you carry a laptop case, for example, you may want wheeled luggage onto which you can attach your laptop case. The same goes for a briefcase or tote bag.

• Make sure the luggage you select has the ability to "piggyback" other luggage you intend to carry.

Question 5. Do you need a carry-on bag or can you check your luggage? 

Explanation: Most business people who travel on short "in and out" type trips prefer luggage they can carry onto the plane with them rather than have checked with the airline.  Some people, in contrast, prefer the convenience of having someone else carry their bags.

• Choose a 22 inch bag if you prefer to carry your luggage on the airplane with you.
• Choose any size bag if you typically check your luggage.

Question 6. Do you travel abroad?

Explanation. Traveling abroad requires you to think differently about travel. For example, carry-on restrictions are far stricter internationally than domestically. Further, depending on your typical destinations, carrying bags that are uniquely or obviously "American" may draw unwanted attention in certain parts of the world.

• If you need to carry your luggage on to the plane, research the carry-on restrictions of the airlines and/or countries into which you will be flying.
• Evaluate the style of your luggage to be sure it will serve your purpose without drawing unwanted attention.