Whether you're preparing for your first big trip or a seasoned traveler, you always have to decide what luggage you're going to travel with. A variety of factors impact this decision, including the following:
Duration of trip
Transportation to be utilized
Accessibility needs
Items to pack
Available luggage storage at destination
If you are going to purchase luggage for the first time or looking to make an upgrade from your current suitcase, this post features helpful tips for deciding what luggage will be the best option for you!
Types of Luggage
If you type "luggage" into a search engine, you will have millions of results with a plethora of retail options and luggage types in less than a second. In this section, I'm going to help define different types of luggage by placing them into larger categories with descriptions to help you decide what might be a good fit for you.
Backpack
A backpack is a travel essential. A standard school backpack can work just fine. For those traveling with electronics, you may want a laptop backpack and some even have built-in portable chargers. There are also security backpacks that are designed to prevent pickpocketing while you're out and about. There are even backpacks the size of a carry-on if you would prefer a larger backpack that can fit everything you'll need for at least 3-5 days. I prefer something with a lot of pockets because I like to organize and store my belongings by compartment.
Softside or Cloth Suitcase
Hardside or Hard Shell Suitcase
Duffle or Weekender Bag
Oversized Tote
How Many Pieces Do I Need?
Now that you know more about some different types of luggage, let's discuss how many pieces you'll need. I'll break this down into two main ideas: purchasing and using. These factors will help you determine how many pieces you need.
Buying New Luggage
Once you've determined what type of luggage you like, the next thing to do is buy it if it's not already in your possession. If shopping online, know that prices will vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and the retail website you're browsing. Luggage is not one of those items that you purchase where "you get what you pay for". Even if you opt for something cheaper, it can last a while if you do what you can to take care of it. I have never purchased luggage online that wasn't already part of a set that I owned. I like to see my luggage in a physical store before making a purchase so I can get a feel for its weight, quality, color, and ease of rolling or carrying comfort.
My general rule when shopping for just about anything is to never pay full price. You can get high quality luggage at discount stores like Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, or TJ Maxx. They offer plenty of variety with everything from designer luggage to more generic brands at much more affordable prices than you may find on various retail websites. I went to Ross a few weeks ago to purchase new luggage because I decided it was time to retire the set that I used throughout high school, college, and these few early years of my career. That set also had MANY pieces and I had 8 of the at least 12 items that could be purchased. I'm keeping a few of the accessory pieces, but it's time to downsize and have fewer pieces of luggage in my possession. As my travel habits have changed, so have my luggage needs and, for me, less is more.
Luggage Use
The reason why I had 5 individual pieces of rolling luggage from such a large set was because I was traveling to a lot of places for extended periods of time for about 10 years. In high school I went on choir trips during the school year and to conventions and camps in the summers. I took a 2-week trip to Europe where I visited multiple countries just before going to college where I moved nearly every single year and spent every single summer living out of my suitcases. After graduation, I did some traveling for work and the pandemic that paused all of my travel plans. In that time and as I returned to traveling last year, I realized that I don't use much of my luggage anymore because I primarily take shorter trips compared to earlier years.
As you're purchasing luggage, those are the types of things to consider when determining how much you need to buy. Some people are just fine with a duffle or weekender bag. My brother, Mr. Well-Travelled, regularly uses a large backpack that's the size of a carry-on because it offers great efficiency. Same concept and these types of bags that are good for 1-4 day trip can be useful for most people. I recommend everyone have one of these types of bags.
If you're asking yourself, "Do I need a complete set?", then you'll have to take some things into consideration before answering yes or no. You'll want to consider things like how much storage space you have for a set. If the pieces can nest inside of each other, that's a bonus. You should also think about how much stuff you pack when you travel or how you may want the items you pack to potentially be separated. An important factor to keep in mind is how frequently you'll be taking trips that are long enough to require use of a complete luggage set. Some people travel routinely enough for a 5-piece set to be a beneficial investment. Others may get just enough use out of a 3-piece set to be satisfied. If you know you won't be traveling anywhere for at least 7 days or longer multiple times a year, it might make more sense to refrain from owning a luggage set and borrowing larger pieces from a friends or family who are willing with lend them to you instead.
What's Next
Ultimately, only you can determine what luggage you need to travel with. This blog post is simply here to offer guidance for anyone who may be unsure. Now that you have a better idea of what type of luggage you want to own and how much of it to have, the next thing is getting it packed for your next trip!
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and share your thoughts or if you plan to use any of the recommendations from this post!