Saturday, May 5, 2012

Carry on Luggage - Making the Best Selection

Traveling for business purposes is a very common reason for airline travel and the need for carry on luggage is equally common. Many people, though very educated, have a difficult time selecting the best carry on luggage that suits their needs. Most of the focus of this article will be about wheeled carry on bags. If you follow the information in this article you will have the knowledge to select the right carry on bag for your travels.

Carry on luggage with wheels is the most common type of carry on in use today. A good quality wheeled carry on bag provides much more benefit to the business traveler than ever before. The bags layout allows the business traveler greater capacities than old style carry on bags. This allows for more days of travel with a fresh change of clothes daily. Next are some basics to keep in mind when making your next purchase of a carry on with wheels.

Cost is always a consideration when buying new luggage. The price of a carry on bag is not always the best guide to show quality. Shop around but always compare "apples to apples" to give a fair price comparison before you make your final decision. Do keep in mind, higher price usually means more features except in the case of expensive designer bags. What I mean is; you usually get what you pay for when you buy luggage. Unless you really want the most expensive bag, stay with a mid-priced carry on. Usually the economy priced bags are not the best choice if quality is a concern. There are deals available if you check close out items from the previous year's inventory, which can save you some money.

Your next consideration of the carry on is quality of construction. The most popular carry on luggage today is the soft shell construction. Occasionally one will see the hard shell bags but they are becoming less popular among airline travelers. Of the soft shell bags, a dense nylon is the most commonly used material for the exterior shell of the bag. It is actually the same material that was used in military body armor many years ago. It was discovered that the woven ballistic nylon was not so great for body armor but is great for many other applications. The soft shell bags are very durable and lightweight which makes a great combination for the external shell for carry on luggage. Stay with a bag in the six hundred denier scale and your carry on will last for many years. Make sure the rolling wheels are durable and support the bag in an upright position when at capacity. The wheels should roll smoothly on hard surfaces and carpeted floors.

We always expect the items that we buy to be perfect, with no blemishes or defects of any kind, but that's not reality. Problems at the manufacturing stage occasionally do occur. That is why it's important to have a manufacturers warranty with any item that we purchase whether online or in a retail store. Always evaluate the product for factory defects or damages related to shipping. Make sure you can return the item for a full refund if you are not happy with your purchase. Most reputable businesses have a return policy so check with the manufacturer prior to purchasing the item.

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