It's in the Bag - The Best Carry-on Luggage

If you are planning on travelling a lot, you will thank yourself for investing in a well-designed light weight bag. Don’t make the common mistake of choosing a stylish, hard-shelled bag with all the bows and whistles, but unable to meet your needs. The reality is, you will be wheeling, carrying, weighing, and struggling to close this bag on your most exhausting long-distance trips. Instead, focus your attention on the following attributes, when choosing the ideal hand luggage.

Traits to look for when buying carry-on luggage

4 strong rubber wheels with a 360 degree spin – Only when you find yourself travelling regularly, will you really understand the pain of squeaky wheels, terrible suspension, and turning corners. Good quality rubber wheels should take the weight off you, and allow you to smoothly sprint through the departure gates.

Soft and expandable – Hard shell bags are great for protecting your valuables, but a soft borders offer more forgiveness for those duty free investments you make on the way home. Ideally choose a compact bag with hard corners and an expandable zip section.

Tech compartments – Even in soft shell bags, you can find padded tech compartments in the centre to keep your laptop and tablet safe. Go one step further, and invest in a bag that includes a portable battery charger and wifi router, for added convenience.

External Pockets – A thin external pocket is perfect for keeping your travel documents and your phone. But steer clear of clumpy outer pockets that don’t hold much, and only increase your luggage dimensions.

Light-Weight – Choose a light-weight bag that doesn’t impact too much on your limited weight restrictions. Most high-quality travel bags are built with durable light-weight fabrics, except for some allowance for good quality wheels of course.

Comfortable Carry Straps – Not all environments allow for smooth wheeling, so it is also important to ensure the carry straps are fitted to suit you. You will be thankful for double shoulder straps (backpack style) as this allows for even weight distribution. If there is only one shoulder strap, make sure the length is adapted to your height, and that there is sufficient padding on your shoulder. A thin zip cover is also great for keeping the straps out of the way when they aren’t needed.