With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales upon us ' and the festive season approaching ' many Australians are turning their thoughts to heading off for a well-earned break.
If you're travelling this summer and in the market new luggage, you may find yourself tossing up between a hard-shell suitcase and a soft-sided one.
There's a lot to consider, so we take a look at the pros and cons of each.
Consumer advocacy group CHOICE puts suitcases through a rigorous series of trials, assessing durability, weight, and general stability and ease of use as the organisation's household expert Kim Gilmour explains.
"We have rigs where we run rain simulator showers through them, we do a lift and drop test where we drop them hundreds of times onto a hard surface, and we also do a puncture test and drop a sharp object onto them to see if they break," Ms Gilmour says.
"We find that when it comes to hard and soft, there's pros and cons of both types."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, hard-shell suitcases generally fare better in puncture tests; when soft cases are punctured, they can rip and make a hole, but that damage can often be easily repaired.
You can often squeeze a few extra items in a soft-sided suitcase. (Supplied: Vlada Karpovich/Unsplash)
"[But] if something cracks in our lift and drop test on a hard-shell one, it's really hard to fix that and the crack might get bigger, or little pieces of plastic might break off," Ms Gilmour says.
Hard-shell suitcases are generally constructed from high-tech plastics, and aluminium, which is more durable, but also heavier than its plastic counterparts.
Soft-sided luggage is commonly made from woven nylon blends such as cordura, ballistic and ripstop.
Photo shows David Stuart with his wife and two children on a Denmark beach at sunrise.
But appearances can be deceiving, and hard-shell suitcases don't always weigh more than soft-sided ones.
"A number of the hard cases are actually quite light," Ms Gilmour says. "They're made of ultra-lightweight materials that are quite durable and a number of the soft ones are made of kind of a heavier type of type of vinyl material, so [opting for a hard-shell] doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to get a heavy suitcase."
If you're not planning on checking-in your luggage, it's important to remember most airlines have a 7-kilogram limit for carry-on suitcases.
"A number of the ultra-lightweight models might be under two kilos or so, so that gives you plenty of space to take it up with the rest of your belongings.
"We're seeing quite a few around the two-and-a-half-kilo mark, about a third of the of the [carry-on] allowance or a bit over that, so if you're [only] paying $40 for a model you might be prepared to sacrifice a little bit of weight."
One of the big tips to take heed of when looking for a new suitcase is to shop around ' particularly during Black Friday and Boxing Day sales.
Big-brand suitcases can sell for hundreds of dollars and as Ms Gilmour explains, there are often discounts on offer ' even when it's not sales season.
"One thing we do say is don't go by the recommended retail price," she says.
"Quite a number of stores will have discounts and it just pays to shop around because you might save hundreds off the recommended price."
As well as avoiding paying full retail for a suitcase, shoppers shouldn't assume that a hefty price tag automatically equals higher quality.
"Paying the cheapest [amount] doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a bad product," Ms Gilmour says.
"If you've got a carry-on suitcase and it's not going to be thrown around, and you're going to be with it most of the time, maybe it's just worth getting a cheap one."
Soft-sided suitcases have a bit of "give", so you can squeeze a few extra items in.
They often have external pockets, which can be handy for quick access ' but make sure they can be locked if you're intending to store important documents or items in there.
You have to check in luggage that weighs more than 7kg limit on most airlines. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
Transport Security Administration (TSA) locks are a feature on many suitcases and allow you to secure your luggage while still making it possible for security authorities to inspect baggage without damaging the locks.
Link to Shengtailuo Case &Bag
Hard-sided suitcases might offer greater protection for your belongings ' especially if you're checking luggage in ' but fitting additional belongings inside might be more difficult.
Four-wheel spinner cases have become more common than two-wheelers and rotate 360 degrees, which allows for greater manoeuvrability. But they can sometimes be trickier to control on rough terrain and inclines.
And importantly, make sure you check how far the handle extends ' especially if you're tall.
"Check things like how tall the handle goes up to if you're a particularly tall person, how many different settings you have for the handle for heights, and just how easy it is to manoeuvre."
In the market for new luggage? The sky is the limit when it comes to choice. You'll find a variety of options available, including a multitude of colors, features, styles, sizes, materials, and even purchase options.
Before you buy, consider all of your packing needs. It may make more sense to buy a matching luggage set rather than buying luggage a single piece at a time.
Choosing luggage'whether a single piece or a set' is like choosing a car. It's a matter of form and function. While you want styles and colors that capture your personality, you also need certain features and the right capacity to support your travel needs, length of trip, and packing style.
Take a minute to consider some of the most important details that can make or break your next trip, including whether you are better off with one piece of luggage or a set of two or more bags.
If you're taking a quick overnight flight for business, a lightweight carry on can help keep you moving and prevent waiting at the checked baggage carousel. On the other hand, if you're planning an extended getaway or a family road trip in the minivan, larger pieces of luggage like check-in luggage and trunks can accommodate additional weight and hold enough for long trips or multiple people.
When flying, to avoid the carousel and still carry more, pair a carry-on with a personal item, like a multi-function backpack or computer tote. Read more here about finding the right size bag for your trip.
Hard shell suitcases have gained popularity in recent years, but soft-sided bags are still the most widely carried luggage today. Each type of luggage has its own benefits, which we compare here to help you choose between hard and soft sided luggage. Some luggage sets even come with both a hardshell suitcase and a softsided companion bag.
The world of travel was transformed when Travelpro® founder Robert Plath put wheels on an upright suitcase and started selling it as the original Rollaboard®. Spinner luggage followed many years later, giving travelers even more choice on how they want to roll. When deciding between 2 wheels or 4 wheels,consider whether you will be carrying more than one bag and need your luggage to stack.
The typical matching luggage set includes a combination of individual luggage pieces, including smaller carry-on options used for shorter trips or as companion luggage, paired with larger, check-in suitcases for longer trips or multiple people. From a style standpoint, nothing looks sharper than amatching luggage set that coordinates perfectly while neatly packing everything you need.
Often priced for savings off individual pieces
Designed to offer variety and work together
May include pieces you won't use
While buying a luggage set results in having an instant luggage collection, choosing individual pieces allows you to build your personalized luggage collection over time.
If you aren't ready to commit to a set or have wide-ranging travel habits, shop for a single piece of luggage that answers most - if not all - of your needs.
Mix and match any bags
Build your collection over time
Mismatched colors and styles
Other items worth considering include accessories like packing cubes, passport covers, toiletry kits, and more. Travelpro® offers endless essentials like these to complement your luggage of choice.
Keep in mind: Luggage sets are designed to seamlessly match in trim, finish and some features. USB ports, interior dividers, TSA-compliant locks, water-resistant pockets and other unique details will be found in different sizes throughout the same set, but not necessarily in all bags in the set.
If you're looking for a coordinated, multi-purpose packing solution, choose a luggage set. You'll typically get more for less money and be ready to go at a moment's notice. If, on the other hand, you're in the market for a specific bag to fulfill a specific need (like a lightweight duffel for a short getaway) buy the single piece that best suits your needs now.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Fabric Suitcase Set. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.