How to find a travel bag

When was the last time you traveled on business or travel with your travel bag? Surely you don't even have a bag, and you just get by with an old suitcase or sports bag, which you often use to go to the gym.

Most people don't care how their luggage looks. However, it is still useful for a stylish man to know how to choose a travel bag in order to remain stylish even while traveling.

Have you paid attention to business people who move around airports or train stations with a beautiful leather bag on the shoulder, which is larger than a regular briefcase for documents? A travel bag sometimes holds a full set of a business man: a classic suit, a pair of shirts, shoes, a pack of documents. All this is folded so that it can be safely taken to a hotel in another city or country.

Today we are going to look at 10 tips on how to choose a travel bag for a stylish man, which will help you choose the right accessory for your luggage.

Tip 1. Buy the right travel bag

As strange as it may sound, you need to buy a travel bag for certain purposes, paying attention to the practical possibilities of a travel bag. For example, large bags with built-in hangers are good for long business trips, while small bags with one large section and a couple of small ones are good for 1-2 days business trips.

Don't make hasty decisions based on the looks of your travel bag. Imagine what you will carry with you; how often you will travel on business; for a long period of time you will be leaving home.

Tip 2. Service

Expensive travel bags are often accompanied by improved service, which provides additional pleasant bonuses. When buying a good bag from an expensive store, ask the seller if there are any additional privileges for the client.

Here are some of the key points of a good service:

• Brand history. It's great when there are domestic brands from which you can buy a bag for modest money. However, it is better to look for a company from England, Italy or America that have been making travel bags for more than 100-200 years. Is this not a confirmation of quality and reliability?
• Lifetime warranty. If a travel bag company provides a lifetime warranty on its products, that's the best the manufacturer has to offer. Usually, firms provide a 1-year warranty, and you should be wary of buying products with a lower warranty.
• Own repair shop. If you check in a bag in order not to carry it in your hands, then there is a high probability of damage to the bag. A big plus is that you can come to the store and give the bag for repair to professional craftsmen, and not to the 'jack of all trades' in the next entrance.

A good service for a client can easily lead to the choice of a certain brand, right?

Tip 3. Reviews about the company and / or travel bag

The first thing most of us do before buying any product is to seek product reviews on the Internet. It is best to look at reviews on independent sites, as a last resort on the manufacturer's website.

In 2004, the Yale School Of Business conducted a study on “how the online sales of 1-star and 5-star products differ”. It turned out that products with a 5-star rating exceeded sales volumes by 3-4 times compared to low-rated counterparts.

However, you shouldn't take reviews at face value. People write reviews when they are either very happy with a product or very unhappy with a product. Reviews often contain only emotions and do not contain an objective opinion. Moreover, today it is not difficult to buy reviews for 5-10 rubles in many Internet services.

Tip 4. The weight of the travel bag

A travel bag itself can weigh 2 to 3 kilograms, which increases the total weight of the luggage that you have to carry on your shoulders.

Convenient items such as a telescopic handle and casters also add extra weight to your travel bag. On the other hand, you can not carry it on your shoulders, but carry it around the airport terminal or railway station.

If you prefer minimal weight, then pay attention to the travel bag with one large compartment and carrying handle on the shoulder.

Tip 5. Travel bag size

The size of the travel bag matters. It should be understood that you must have enough strength to carry with you a huge bag of things for all occasions.

Today, most airlines in the world limit the size of carry-on baggage. As a rule, for domestic airlines it is 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm and the weight is no more than 8 kilograms. Western airlines have even stricter requirements. Therefore, before buying, evaluate the size of the travel bag so that it fits these parameters.

Actually, the best option is again a travel bag with one large compartment and a carrying handle on the shoulder. If necessary, you can take it with you to the aircraft cabin or check it in your luggage to free your hands.

Tip 6. Travel bag material

Formally, the materials from which travel bags / suitcases are made can be divided into 2 categories: soft and hard.

Soft materials

Travel bags made of soft materials are the lightest and most robust. Basically, we recommend bags made of soft materials for carry-on luggage as carry-on luggage in order to travel light and not be afraid of losing luggage. Besides, moving around with a bag on your shoulder or in your hands is more stylish than just rolling a suitcase on the floor, isn't it?

There are 3 types of bags made of soft materials:

A leather travel bag is the best you can get. Genuine leather looks stylish and yet has sufficient durability. A leather bag is pleasant to wear, and at times such a bag looks like a work of art. Unfortunately, the cost of a good leather bag is high. In addition, the skin can be scratched or stained, while quickly losing its presentable appearance.

A polyester / synthetic duffel bag is the most durable and affordable solution. If you are on a limited budget or prefer practicality, then you should take a closer look at travel bags made of artificial materials: leatherette, polyester, nylon and so on. Such bags may not have a stylish look, but you should not mind putting them in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.

A cotton or linen travel bag is a stylish option with a very light weight. Most bags are made from beige, olive, or brown denim. These bags are very practical and can even be washed in the washing machine.

Synthetic travel bag Cotton travel bag Leather travel bag

Rigid materials

There are times when you need to transport something fragile, so a travel bag / suitcase made of hard materials would be the best solution. Today, products made of plastic, aluminum or carbon are popular. The latter is the most expensive, but also the lightest. Typically, these bags are water and shock resistant.

On the negative side, there is a greater likelihood of cracks or other damage after falling or hitting with a heavy object. It's no secret that luggage is handled carelessly at airports or train stations, so you shouldn't be surprised at a broken wheel or cracked suitcase lining.

Another negative point is weight. Sometimes, a good travel suitcase weighs 4-5 kilograms. This is 1/5 of the accepted baggage allowance per passenger (currently the approximate rate is 23 kilograms).

Tip 7. Quality stitching

Similar to clothing, travel bags need to be well tailored. A thick double-stitched bag will last for many years than items with poor single-stitching.

First of all, notice how close the stitching is to each other. How smoothly the line goes relative to the edge and is there any scrap when the line leaves its trajectory.

Next, notice how tight the threads are in the stitching. If the tension differs from one place to another, it's time to change your mind about buying such a bag. Pay attention to places of increased stress. A good manufacturer reinforces areas of increased wear with additional stitching / seams / overlays.

Tip 8. Quality details

When I talk about quality parts, I mean zippers, locks, buttons and other fasteners made of metal. Before purchasing, be sure to zip up and unzip several times, pockets and check all iron parts. It happens that manufacturers save on locks and fasteners that break after a couple of months of active use. Replacing the lock can be expensive. In addition, the design of the bag will almost certainly be compromised.

Tip 9: Personalize your travel bag

Small details on clothing or accessories can speak volumes. Dear, luxury travel bag manufacturers offer to embroider your personal initials. Depending on your desire, these can be either simple letters or your own logos / emblems. Ask the salesperson if it is possible to customize your own or someone else's initials if the travel bag is a gift.

Tip 10. The price of a travel bag

Price is the determining factor in buying for most, but this should not apply to travel bags.

As with quality shoes, a travel bag should be relatively expensive. It is much better to buy one quality bag for 7-10 years than to change the 'quality' fakes from China or Vietnam. Although, the latter, it must be admitted, have achieved an incredible level of making counterfeits with tags, holograms and other protective attributes. Sometimes, even the original manufacturer cannot distinguish an original from a fake, which can be said about an ordinary consumer.

Finally

So, we've covered 10 tips on how to choose a travel bag for your travel needs. By memorizing even half of the tips, you can find a quality bag that will last you a year. Try to walk around with a bag before buying and make sure that it suits you, without interfering or annoying with its size / shape. After making sure of the right choice, do not skimp on a quality accessory. Enjoy the shopping!