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Meet my luggage collection up there—that’s just a fraction of what I’ve had over the past 15 years. I’ve been on a quest for the perfect one, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. Some were amazing, some not so much. In fact, a few were so bad they’ve already found their home in the local landfill.

I’ve tried large luggage, carry-on luggage, under-the-seat luggage. Then there has been luggage made of cloth, soft plastic, hard plastic, and backpacks.

I’ve purchased luggage from discount stores, Costco, luggage stores, and various other retailers. To call myself an expert on luggage might be a stretch, but I’ve tried a lot and can tell you the pros and cons based on my own trials and tribulations

Is There a Perfect Luggage Size?

Full-Size Luggage

This is luggage large enough that it needs to be checked. Full-size luggage ranges from 24″-32″.  Standard checked luggage is 27 x 21 x 14 inches. This luggage is good for extended trips and allows travelers to pack what they want without worrying about not having enough room. Weight limits can be an issue for larger luggage so a luggage scale is recommended.

Carry-On Luggage

Carry-on luggage has two different sizes, either 18″-20″ or 20″-22″.  The 18″-20″ will work for the carry-on allowance for most international flights and the 20″-22″ will work for most U.S. domestic flights. 

The compact sizes are good for quick trips and when traveling to multiple destinations during one trip. When we know we are taking lots of flights, ferries, etc. or will be pulling our luggage down cobblestone or uneven streets, such as in Europe, then carry-on luggage is our choice.

Using carry-on luggage also ensures that your luggage arrives with you.  As you can probably guess, we’ve had lost luggage.  On one trip our luggage flew to Denver while we flew to Florida.  No bueno friends! Not good! 

Another benefit of using carry-on luggage is that on most economy flights, one carry-on and one personal item are usually free.

Under-the-Seat Luggage

Under-the-seat carry-on luggage, with wheels, is handy if you don’t have long legs that need to stretch out. 

I personally like to use under-the-seat luggage for electronics and other items I want to have handy during long flights.

It is also useful for carrying multiple electronics which can be heavy in a duffel or backpack. 

What’s the Perfect Luggage Design?

Soft-Sided Luggage 

Soft-sided luggage is generally made of synthetic cloth. The downside to soft-sided cloth luggage is that it can tear and is not easily cleaned.

I can attest to the fact that it rips. How does it rip you say to yourself…when it is thrown on and off the luggage trucks. Yep, thrown, tugged, pulled, tossed. It happens. These are busy guys trying to get your luggage loaded and unloaded as quickly as possible.

Lesson Learned… It Wasn’t the Perfect Luggage

Hard-Sided Luggage

Not all hard-sided luggage is really “hard”. We were so excited the first time we bought what we thought was hard-sided luggage.

Several years ago we found what we considered hard sided luggage at a local discount store. We splurged and purchased two pieces of large luggage each at the price of about $70. Our new shiny black luggage with its flexible plastic shell was going to be our savior after several soft-sided luggage failures. After just a couple of uses, one actually cracked.  We didn’t notice the crack until we returned home. What we learned after the fact was that you should inspect your luggage prior to leaving the airport.

Trudy Tip: If your luggage is damaged during the flight, immediately head to the airport luggage office and make a claim with the airline directly.

Well, we hadn’t done that, but we went with receipt in hand to our local Samsonite luggage repair store. We had the paperwork to show that it was still under warranty. 

We had no idea what a character the store owner would turn out to be. Like proud parents taking their child to the doctor, we showed him our shiny black luggage hoping he could “make it better.”

You bought two of these? Ugh!

Well, he couldn’t make it better and instead, he looked at it and us with disgust. As he shook his head in disgust he stated, “You bought two of these, UGH!”  Needless to say, because it was under warranty, we left with another suitcase to replace our shiny black one.

I will say our second shiny black suitcase has not cracked like its twin. However, the plastic is no longer shiny.  It is now dull and scuffed up, and areas of the plastic are now peeling off.  

Trudy Tip:  Flexible, thin plastic, unless reinforced, does not make for durable luggage.

Luckily he replaced our shiny black suitcase with what is truly a rugged hard-sided suitcase. The material on this hard-sided luggage is thick and durable.  It has held up over many years. It also wasn’t shiny to start so it looks the same even with years of use.

Trudy Tip:  Luggage purchased at a discount store, at a discounted price, still qualify for the full manufacturer’s warranty.  Stores such as TJ Maxx and Marshalls often have great deals on luggage.

Although it has held up nicely, it was not the perfect luggage.  Believe it or not, it weighs 14 pounds empty, yes empty!  Not to mention, the wheels, although rugged, only effectively roll on smooth hard surfaces.

Why would this matter you say? Hotels halls are often carpeted and my 40+ pounds of luggage hardly moves across the carpet. Again, this is no bueno, my friends! Not good!

Lesson learned, not all hard-sided luggage is equal. To this day as we drive by the luggage repair shop we say out loud, “Sorry Mr. Luggage Guy!” and then chuckle remembering how he scolded us like poorly behaved children.

Trudy Tip: Whether selecting soft-sided fabric luggage or hard-sided luggage, the thicker materials hold up better.  

Wheels

Luckily for all of us over-packers the world has moved past a time where all luggage was carried.  Now we have wheels and with those wheels have come options.

Luggage With Two-wheels or Spinner Wheels

Two-wheels

With your basic two-wheeled rolling luggage, the luggage is pulled behind you.

Packing technique for this style of luggage is important to ensure it doesn’t fall over.  If not packed with the heaviest items near the wheels, your bag is more likely to fall over when standing. 

Two-wheeled rolling luggage tends to do well on smooth surfaces and performs better on non-smooth surfaces such as carpet, cobblestones, inclines and when transitioning between uneven surfaces.

Two-wheeled rolling luggage also tends to be more compact as the wheels don’t stick out as far as spinner wheels.

Due to the wheels attaching further into the luggage they also tend to be more durable.

With spinner wheels, the luggage stands upright and can be pushed alongside you. Spinner wheels allow for the luggage to glide effortlessly and is easily maneuvered.  I thought, for this reason,  it was the perfect luggage design.

As you can see below, spinner wheels allow for effortless movement on smooth surfaces.   However, spinner wheels are not efficient on rough terrain or when there are gaps in surfaces, as the wheels tend to get stuck in them.

When would you run into rough surfaces when traveling? When we were in Greece, we often had to pull our luggage down cobblestone streets. This did not work well, so we ended up tipping them back on two wheels and pulling them or carrying them.

Spinner wheels also tend to stick out from the luggage, which can make a difference on whether it fits in the overhead bin or not.

Single or Double Compartments

Single Compartment Luggage

There are benefits to single and double compartment luggage. Single compartment luggage is more convenient when staying in confined areas because you don’t need room to lay out both sides of the suitcase.  

Another feature of single compartment luggage, is there are often pockets on the inside of the cover. These pockets are good for smaller items such as undergarments and socks.

One drawback of single compartment luggage is that everything is one compartment.  Stacked items can be hard to find.  I also don’t like my shoes and toiletries placed up against my clothes, risking dirt or accidental spills getting my clothes dirty.

Double Compartment Luggage

Double compartment luggage does take more room.  It can be inconvenient to have this type of luggage when there is no room to lay it open on a flat surface.  Also, the weight of the full upper half can be awkward to hold open when searching for items.

Benefits to double compartment luggage are that items can be kept separate. I keep clothing items on the left side with the straps to keep them in place. I then place other items, on the right side that is held in place by the zipped cover. These items include shoes, toiletry bags, souvenirs and other items that can fall out, of the straps on the left side. 

I think the double compartment luggage is the perfect luggage design because it makes it easy to keep everything organized.

Other Features

Outer Pockets

Outer pockets are especially nice for carry-on luggage as it provides space to stow electronics and other items you may want quick access to when approaching security or before taking your seat on the plan. Read more about how outer pockets can help you How to Get Through Airport Security Like a Pro.  I would add an outside pocket as a perfect luggage design feature.

Expandable

Benefits of expandable luggage are just that, it expands. Expanded carry-on luggage may not fit in overhead bins. However, if the luggage is being checked the only drawback to the expansion is that the additional items can become a weight issue.

Color

Most travelers tend to opt for standard black luggage. Although it looks nice, it also looks like everyone else’s black luggage. For travelers who prefer black luggage, there are a variety of luggage tags available that can help identify your luggage as it moves down the baggage carousel.

TSA-Approved Combination Lock

We all want to make sure that items in our luggage are safe and sound.  In order to ensure this, we may want to lock our baggage prior to handing it off to the airline. 

For safety reasons, TSA screens all checked and carry-on baggage before it is allowed on the plane.  This screening is usually completed electronically, but there are times that bags may need to be physically inspected. 

Luckily, TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by TSA security officers using a master key.  Using TSA-Approved locks prevents TSA from cutting your lock if your luggage needs to be searched.  With that being said don’t lock your luggage with a standard padlock as it may be cut off.  

Instead, of risking locks being cut, you have two options.  First, you can purchase a TSA-Approved lock and second, you can purchase luggage with a built-in TSA-Approved lock.  I think luggage with the built-in TSA-Approved lock is a perfect luggage design feature.

What Type of Luggage Do You Need?

Different travelers have different needs.  For me, the perfect luggage is a set that includes both carry-on and full-sizes.  This provides flexibility between short weekend or business trips where a carry-on will do, and still meet the needs of a longer trip or when packing for more than one person. 

After having purchased a lot of cheap luggage, we are appreciating the longevity of a higher quality product. Your best bet is to consider your individual needs and the features that will make traveling easiest for you.  Remember cheap is not always the best deal in the long run.

If you travel on a regular basis, stop buying cheap luggage.  It ends up costing you more in the end.

What I Like

My two favorite suitcases that have held up are our Samsonite soft-sided luggage and our AWAY hard-sided luggage.