Luggage & Bags Buying Guide
But figuring out what luggage to buy isn't easy. With countless styles, sizes, and price points to compare, the task can be overwhelming. To help you arrive at your luggage decision destination, Consumer Reports reviewed a variety of luggage types. Consider these factors before you shop.
Decide How You'll Use It
Is it for flying, driving, cruising, or some other purpose? For airplane travel, familiarize yourself with the luggage rules of the airlines you plan to patronize. If it's for road trips, look for bags that are pliable enough to maximize your trunk space. For cruise ships—which stack baggage in the boat's belly before departure—flat, rigid luggage is optimal.
Consider How You'll Store It
Once the luggage gets home, where will you put it? Hard-sided bags are the most unforgiving; you can't squeeze them into a storage space. Soft-sided, structured bags have a little forgiveness on the front and back, but the footprint is fixed. If you have no place to store a stand-up suitcase, you may have to limit yourself to unstructured duffels or the selection of new collapsible bags.
Know What Size You Need
This will depend mainly on the length of your trip and, if you are flying, airline luggage restrictions. It also depends on your own habits. Some people can pack for two weeks in their carry-on and an underseat personal item.
Ask yourself this: How many bags do you really need, and what sizes will cover all of your needs?
Carry-On Luggage
A carry-on bag is one you can bring aboard the airplane and stow in the overhead bin. To avoid being forced to check your suitcase for later retrieval on the conveyor belt, buy a bag that conforms to the strictest rules in the industry.
Currently, for U.S. carriers, those rules are the ones set by the big three—American, Delta, and United—at 22 inches high x 14 inches wide x 9 inches deep. (The maximum linear size is 45 inches, but none of the dimensions can exceed the aforementioned measurements.)
Height is the measurement from the floor, including wheels, to the top of the handle in its lowered position. Depth is the measurement from front to back. Width is the measurement from side to side.
Some U.S. carriers permit larger carry-ons. For international flights, defined as those originating AND ending outside the United States—the size limit is generally smaller than for U.S. domestic flights.
If you are a frequent flyer on different carriers, you'll have to decide if you want to buy several carry-on bags to conform to the various size restrictions, or if you'll use one carry-on that meets the most restrictive rules. But even rule-abiding luggage isn't a guarantee your bags won't be relegated to the plane's underbelly, as the flight crew can impose further restrictions, even after boarding has begun.
Personal Item
A personal item is a bag that you stow underneath the seat in front of you on a plane. It includes briefcases, tote bags, camera bags, laptop bags, and small backpacks. But you can get the most out of your allowed personal item if you buy a bag specifically designed for this purpose.
Often they contain compartments for your passport, phone, pen, and wallet, as well as a padded section for a laptop and a main section for clothes and overnight essentials. Many of these underseat personal items can serve you well for a one- to two-day jaunt. Paired, the personal item and carry-on can get many people through a week-long trip.
Unfortunately, there is no standard size for the personal item. For U.S. domestic flights, the measurement rules range from a generous 16x12x14 (Spirit) to a meager 17x9x10 (United), and some airlines (American, Delta) don't even specify dimensions.
Whether it fits or not under the seat can vary even within the same aircraft. Aisle seats are notorious for having the least wiggle room underneath. Before you shop, review the specifications for various airlines. You can also check the aircraft's guidelines for on-board pet carriers—a reasonable proxy for the floor-to-under-seat clearance.
Large Luggage
Any suitcase larger than carry-on size must be checked. The most common size options are 24 to 30 inches in height. You can find suitcases as large as 36 inches, but check with your carrier for size limits. There's usually a weight limit, with extra fees applied for excess weight per bag. Outside the U.S., restrictions on total cumulative weight of your checked luggage might apply.
Watch our video below for top luggage brands, and what to do in the store before you purchase new luggage—especially carry-on luggage.
Soft-sided luggage continues to dominate the market, but hard-sided is quickly gaining popularity due to newer, lightweight materials.
Soft-Sided Luggage
Soft-sided luggage is made of fabrics that move and yield, usually a woven nylon fabric, such as Cordura or ballistic nylon. Ballistic is the shinier of the two and over time can abrade, but abrasions will not compromise the strength of the fabric. Cordura is a little softer and abrasion-resistant, preferable for an over-the-shoulder bag. If you consider a suitcase made of ripstop nylon, or "parachute material," make sure that it is a high-denier (pronounced duh-NEER) fabric. Fabric denier is a measurement of weight, not quality.
Pros: Usually lighter in weight and can flex and compress to conform to tight spaces. This flexibility also enables you to squeeze in an extra outfit, (which could be a con if you tend to overpack). Also, a yielding material might be the difference between keeping the bag on board and having it relegated to gate-check. Fabric flexibility also comes in handy when packing a car trunk and storing the bag at home.
Cons: Not as protective as hard-sided and vulnerable to ripping (accidental or intentional) if not high quality.
Hard-Sided Luggage
Today's hard-shell or hard-sided luggage is made with high-tech plastics such as ABS and polycarbonate, that are both lightweight and durable. ABS is the lightest, but polycarbonate is more durable. The most durable, but also the heaviest, is aluminum. Hard-sided luggage sometimes features a 50/50 split opening, allowing you to pack two sides equally, and stabilize the contents with an x-strap or middle divider. Note: Because they close like a clam shell, you need double the surface space to open these. Most hard-sides are built this way, but there are some on the market that have a top-lid opening.
Pros: Best for protecting breakable contents, and offer better security due to integrated locks. They can't be ripped open with a blade. Most composite plastic hard-sides close with a zipper, which can be vulnerable—aluminum luggage often has metal draw-bolt latches instead of zippers. Hard-sided luggage stacks easily, making it ideal for cruise ships, which stack the baggage in the belly of the boat before departure. If you tend to overpack, a hard-sided piece will rein you in. There's no chance of over-stuffing it. For carry-on, this guarantees that the piece will fit easily in your airline's luggage-sizer.
Cons: They scuff and scratch easily and are inflexible, so you can't squeeze in extras; and you need a fixed storage space for it. Also, few hard-sided suitcases have outside pockets.
Wheeled suitcases comprise at least two-thirds of all luggage sales today. If you plan on rolling your own luggage, your first decision is whether to buy a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler.
Two-Wheeler Luggage
Suitcases with two wheels, also called rollers, utilize the same type of wheels found on in-line skates—they only roll forward and backward, not side to side. The suitcase rolls behind you as you pull it from the extending handle.
Pros: Wheels are recessed, which protect them from snapping off during rough handling. For urban journeyers, two-wheelers are better than four-wheelers for clearing curbs and rolling on uneven surfaces like sidewalks or cobblestones.
Cons: Some travelers complain that the dragging position causes shoulder, wrist, or back pain. Also, it can be cumbersome to drag a two-wheeler in a crowded space because you need clearance between yourself and the bag. Bags with Recessed wheels intrude into the interior packing area.
Four-Wheeler Luggage
Also known as spinners because each wheel swivels 360 degrees, as on a shopping cart. You can push them, pull them, wheel them alongside yourself, and turn them in any direction.
Pros: Easier to navigate in tight spaces. A heavy or large suitcase may be easier to manage with four wheels. Ergonomically, the spinner is a better choice than the roller because it does not put stress on your shoulder.
Cons: Wheels are externally mounted, not recessed, so they are vulnerable to snapping off. (Wheels attached with screws are more secure than those with rivets, according to experts.) Spinner wheels also take up valuable overhead-bin space, as the length of the wheels is included in the overall allowable dimensions. A spinner won't remain stationary on an incline; you have to lay it on its side if the floor is on a slight gradient.
No Wheel Luggage
You might want to forgo wheels under these circumstances:
• To ensure the maximum possible interior volume. The wheels and the handle structure use up space.
• You expect to take your bag on bumpy, rough, sandy, or icy surfaces, where wheels are hard to manage.
• You won't have to ever handle your own luggage, as on a luxury tour.
Bring a Tape Measure
Don't pay attention to tags, labels, or promotions that proclaim, "official carry-on luggage." There's no regulation that dictates carry-on size—airlines impose their own restrictions, and the limits can vary among airlines and even among aircraft. Know the rules of the airlines you plan to fly. Measure the dimensions yourself and make sure the measurements account for all parts, including outer pouches, wheels, and handles.
Hold That Handle
Check the wrist angle and the feel of the grip. For maximum durability, the handle should have little to no wiggling or rattling as you pull the bag. Also, check for smooth movement as you pull it up and retract it.
Wheel It Around
The wheels should roll smoothly and stay in place. Gently jiggle the wheels with your hands to make sure they are firmly attached.
Check the Interior Capacity
While the outside measurements are important, don't forget to consider how roomy the inside is. This can be hard to do because many manufacturers do not disclose the interior volume. Look for the features that maximize interior space. These include:
• Squared edges: Interior volume is sacrificed with curved corners.
• Integrated outer compartments: Outside zip compartments should be on the same geometric plane as the main part of the bag—protrusions waste space.
• No wheels or handles: If you really need to make the most of every interior inch, forgo wheels and handles. They impinge on total packable space.
Check the Warranty
If you want your bag for the long haul, get the one with the best manufacturer's warranty. A lifetime warranty to repair or replace the bag is, of course, the best option. Some examples of manufacturers offering the best warranties include:
• Briggs & Riley
• Boyt (on some product lines only)
• Eagle Creek (some product lines)
• eBags (house brand)
• Lands' End
• L.L. Bean
• Osprey
• Travelpro (Platinum 7 Collection)
• Victorinox (some collections)
Always make sure to check the warranty statement for specific requirements, such as exclusions for airline damage.
Shopping Online
If you don't shop for luggage often, and stumble across an online deal, try to find the item in a brick-and-mortar store first so you can handle it, wheel it, and lift it to make sure the bag is suitable for you.
Here are some helpful hints about what to look for when it comes to the important features on your new luggage.
Zippers—It's all in the Teeth
A lot can go wrong with a zipper. If it breaks while you are traveling, you might have to toss out the bag. Zippers come in two types: chain and coil. A chain zipper has two sets of interlocking teeth, usually made of metal. They are better and stronger than coil zippers, which slide on two parallel coils usually made of polyester. Chain zippers are much more difficult to break into than coil zippers, which can be pulled apart with a ballpoint pen and reclosed without a trace of wrongdoing. Zippers can be a proxy for the overall quality of the bag. A YKK zipper is widely believed in the industry to be the most reliable zipper on the market.