Can you answer Shaun245582’s question about Luggage?:

How much weight can a VW (genuine VW part) roof rack for a 2002 two door GTI hold? Also which luggage carrier is the best for the same car and racks? The best dimensions and sizes that go with the Base Carrier Bars would be helpful along with any personal experiences. Thanks

Victorinox Wheeled Luggage

Can you answer bittsen2000’s question about Luggage?:

I am leaving from San Diego at 3:30PM but check out of my hotel by 11AM.
Since I don’t have a car, I was thinking about dropping my luggage off at the airport at 8AM and then going sightseeing till 2PM.

Will the airport accept my luggage that early?

Carry On Luggage Restrictions

Finding the right travel luggage before you depart on your trip will greatly depend on where and how you will be traveling. If your journey is a weekend getaway to Paris, and you will have all the amenities provided, then you may need little in the way of travel luggage; the same applies if you are a backpacker who will be constantly on the move. Your bags must be easy to pack, transport and carry. However, if you are heading to Southeast Asia and are planning to put your roots down in Bangkok for a long time, then you can buy the biggest suitcase allowed, along with some added trunks and boxes.

There are a couple of important considerations when choosing travel luggage. First, one of the greatest mistakes that people make when buying travel luggage, is worrying more about weight than size. Weight is less of a problem than bulk, though it is important to be conscious of both. If you can travel light, all the better, but if you cannot, then try to travel small. Secondly, bring what is the most important to you. Some people have the incredible ability to travel with merely a tent, a toothbrush, a change of clothes and a guidebook. I am not one of them, but have found that if you can bring a balance of basic necessities and things for enriching your experience (such as a camera or journal), this can help you pack more quickly.

Your choice of travel luggage is of paramount importance, and will most likely involve you making a purchase at one point or another. After a certain point in your life, it will no longer suffice to borrow your brother’s ripped backpack from fifteen years back or your father’s first roll travel suitcase. You will have to hazard a purchase on your own.

Backpacks can be an obvious choice for people who will be hiking over hills and doing a fair amount of camping. It is the kind of travel luggage that distributes weight evenly on your shoulders and hips and takes the main weight off your lower back. However, if you are considering using public transport and walking in busy, crowded areas, it may be wiser to buy a combination bag and backpack. Both pieces come apart and zip together depending on where you are going, and can be very helpful if you do not wish to look too conspicuous with your backpack.

If you are going on a tour, and will be with a group who has their travel luggage carried for them, it may be wise to look into purchasing a duffel bag. These are easily stored in compartments where suitcases do not fit, and can be easily hoisted on to a pack animal or stowed away on a boat.

Traveling by air may merely require that you purchase a conventional suitcase, and if you are a frequent traveler, it may be wise to get a good quality one. The typical way that travel luggage is handled in airports could easily seeing you replacing that cheap suitcase after each trip.

However and wherever you go, remember to consider the importance of what you will be carrying, and how the travel luggage that you eventually choose can either make or break a trip.



Thanks to John Pawlett for contributing this article to our Luggage blog:

Trifold Garment Bag

The luggage that you will select for your cruise will also be suitable for other travel purposes. Baggage handlers at the airport and the pier can be rough when it comes to handling your luggage so it is important that you choose a luggage that is durable and sturdy. Your luggage doesn’t have to be expensive and top of the line. What is important is that it is strong enough to withstand what it has to go through from the sorting machines and conveyors not to mention being stacked with other luggages on top of each other.

Buying luggage is considered an investment for we want to be able to maximize its use over a long number of years. You have to make the right decision when it comes to the durability, functionality and style of the luggage. It is desirable to purchase brand name luggage with a warranty but bear in mind that through time you can always expect some wear and tear.

The longest wearing luggage would have to be hard-side luggage. Their being equipped with built-in locks assures you that they are very secure and water-tight. Although many luggage manufacturers have exerted efforts to make them as light-weight as possible, the luggages can still be heavy even when empty. Popular though among the travelers are the soft-sided luggage that are lighter in weight, with zippers that could be secured, with wheels and with some styles that are expandable.

Hard side luggage should have solid hardware. While built-in combination locks are convenient, still look for those types that provide key locks. Check the wheels if they run smoothly and the luggage should be stable. The luggage’s retractable handle should be strong and adjustable for easy maneuvering. If you frequently travel, hard-side luggage would be an ideal choice for your luggage needs.

If you are considering soft-sided luggage choose those made of woven ballistic nylon for this provides the greatest durability. Another important consideration would be the luggage’s frame construction. When the luggage will be fully packed, it should be strong enough not to flex out of shape. When it comes to the wheels and retractable handle look for those that have similar qualities as that of the hard-side luggage.

Whether it is hard-side or soft-side luggage, it should be stable and well-balanced so that they don’t keep on falling while you may be standing up waiting in line.



Thanks to Jim Brown for contributing this article to our Luggage blog:

Airline Baggage Allowance