BOISE, Idaho — Choosing a new set of luggage is a big decision. Wheeled suitcases and carry-on bags are not cheap, and ideally, you’ll be using them for years — so you want to make sure that whatever you pick, it’s durable and stylish enough to last. With so many options out there, some of which seem to generate endless hype on Instagram, how can you tell which are built for the long haul?
To help determine which bags are best for you, we’ve chatted with flight attendants about which affordable bags they recommend, how to tell if a set of luggage will be durable, and which brands actually live up to the hype.
What To Look For
Durability
When shopping for an affordable bag, it can be tempting to look for the cheapest option. In this case, however, that could be a bad idea. That lightweight plastic bag might look cute now, but you’ll probably like it less when it cracks after its first or second journey through the sky. As with most things, it’s all about striking a balance — in this case, between price and sturdiness.
Price
For many of us, price will largely be a key factor in buying luggage. Thankfully, your bag doesn’t need to be a status symbol to get you where you need to go; plenty of bargain bags will get you to your chosen destination safely and in style.
Weight
If you plan to use your bags for long-haul trips, weight will be a crucial consideration. The heavier the bag, the harder it’ll be to lug around — especially if it’s a carry-on you intend to bring with you across multiple flights.
Organization
Flight attendants recommend making sure that on top of being durable and lightweight, your bag also includes a number of different compartments to keep you organized from your first departure to your final arrival.
“I love anything that has an abundance of pockets,” says Laura McDonald, a flight attendant coming up on 10 years of experience with Republic Airways. McDonald also recommends looking for bags with a dedicated space to carry a reusable water bottle — a feature she’s found on more and more new bags. (Remember to bring it empty to check-in and then fill up at a water fountain once you’ve cleared security.)
Hendel, a flight attendant for American Airlines, meanwhile, recommends looking for a checked bag with a separate compartment to store dirty clothes. “A laundry bag is just not going to cut it,” Hendel said. “I’m really looking for as many pockets as possible to store things separately from [everything else].”
Other Considerations
How can you tell if luggage will be durable and won’t scratch or crack?
“Pull on the zippers,” Hendel recommends. “And really yank the slide of the handle, because that’s first to go.”
Jacqueline Bryant, a United Airlines flight attendant with nine years of experience, recommends checking out the handle for sturdiness and examining the bag’s materials and “cohesiveness.” After that, she says, take a look at the wheels and make sure that they seem solidly built, with a wheelbase that feels proportional and not flimsy.
As McDonald put it, “You want something that doesn’t feel cheap — like, the things that feel like plastic. I know we all want something that’s lightweight, but you have to consider it’s lightweight because it’s made out of plastic. It’s lightweight because it’s cheaply made. A lot of times, those lightweight bags are the first ones to go.”
As with most things in life, then, the balance between weight and durability is a balancing act.
How do you find luggage with sturdy wheels that won’t break?
In the case of hardside bags with four wheels, Bryant said, the wheels often “come with these plastic brackets that are connected to the plastic. So if that plastic or hard shell was to crack, then it just really screws up the entire luggage.”
For luggage that lasts, look for suitcases that feature sturdy wheels and brackets.
Which is more durable—hardside or softside luggage?
Those looking for an ultra-durable hard-shell bag to last a lifetime might want to spend hundreds on a metal bag, but the flight attendants we spoke with all agreed that softside bags tend to last longer.
What type of luggage is better—hard shell or softside?
The flight attendants we spoke with all recommended soft bags on the grounds that they’re easier to pack, can store more items with less weight, and are more likely to fit in overhead bins.
How can I protect my luggage while traveling?
Bryant advised that many travelers actually wear their wheels out by rolling their bags through the airport incorrectly. To protect the longevity of your rolling bag, make sure that you’re pushing your bag in front of you with all four wheels on the ground; dragging it behind you like an ordinary rolling bag will put excess strain on two of the wheels and wear them out faster.
To make sure the pull handle doesn’t break, McDonald cautioned that travelers should also avoid resting other bags against the handle while traversing the airport; instead, look for a rolling bag that includes a J hook, which can latch additional bags onto the top strap. (You can also easily purchase your own to attach to the bag.)
And finally, Bryant suggests that if you’ve purchased travel insurance, “Always ask the question: ‘Is my luggage covered? Is there any kind of insurance for that?” That way, if your bags get damaged during your travels, you’ll know your options.
Where is the best place to buy luggage that won’t break the bank?
All of the flight attendants we spoke with advised buying directly from retailers whenever possible to ensure the best possible warranty and coverage. That said, Bryant confessed, “I’ve gotten a couple of my travel pieces on sale at T.J. Maxx, which is always a great score.”
