AFTER TWO YEARS of huddling indoors and traveling only in our dreams and on our screens, the world is finally beginning to reopen. Trips are being planned, to places near and far—and wherever you’re going, you’ll need a suitcase. Carry-ons are the smallest size of luggage and the most popular. Even if you aren’t flying, you usually won’t need anything bigger if you’re packing for one person and heading out for a week or less.
When deciding between all of these great travel bags, how do you choose the best bag for travel? Here are some pointers…
Size
One of the easiest ways to narrow down the choices is to consider the size of bag you require. If you’re searching for a bag that will see you through the daily commute you’re almost certainly going to need a smaller travel bag than if you’re heading off vacation away from home.
Generally, good travel bags of somewhere between 30 and 45-liters, unless you plan to use air travel check-in. If you have a lot of electronics, camera gear, camping equipment, or clothes (we’ve all been there!), then a larger bag makes much more sense.
Style
If you have a travel bag you’re looking to replace or upgrade, ask yourself what sort of style it is – and whether of course, you like that style!
If you’re comfortable with a backpack-style travel bag, then focus your search on the same; whereas, if you prefer the ease of a duffel bag or wheelie suitcase, that’s the way you should be leaning.
Weight
Will you be carrying your travel bag for long distances? Because if so, every gram (or ounce) of excess weight matters. While wheelie suitcases are a great idea for city movement, wheels always add weight to a bag and are a pain if you are heading off-road (or even onto the cobbles of a city like Paris).
Also, remember that weight is often a trade-off for durability, especially when it comes to travel and hiking backpacks. The more durable a bag, the more it tends to weigh. Understand how you plan to use your bag before buying the lightest or most heavy-duty pack!
Are you traveling with Tech?
Are you traveling with tech? These days you probably are, whether you’re traveling for pleasure or for work.
In which case, do you want a rigid travel bag that provides protection, or perhaps a padded laptop sleeve or compartment? We have an entire section dedicated to good travel bags for laptops.
If this is the case, make sure the sleeve is large enough for your particular laptop or tablet too!
Are you Hiking?
While some of the best travel bags are geared for travel, they’re often not designed for hiking. Some backpacks are designed for both travel AND hiking, but that usually means it’s not the best at either, just manageable.
If you want a backpack that you can take on the trails, then pay attention to how the backpack holds its weight, the suspension system (if it even has one), the shoulder straps, and waist strap comfort.
