How to Choose the Best Luggage for Business Travel

I. Before your purchase

There are two types of business travel luggage: rolling business luggage and non-rolling business luggage.

Before you buy a business travel luggage, write a checklist of the items that you may need to pack for business travel. This checklist can help you decide the size of your luggage. If your list is very long, a rolling luggage with wheels will be your first choice. If you have got fewer items to take, a carry-on business bag will work fine. The checklist also helps you buy the right multifunctional bag according to your own needs. For example, if you have much clothing on your checklist, you will need a handy luggage with a garment bag or suiter design to keep your clothes in order and ready to fetch.

II. How to choose a good non-rolling travel luggage (Briefcase)

Check out your luggage information and see if the following factors are included in their production introduction:

1. Materials

Classic leather briefcase is stylish and durable. A good briefcase is usually made of first-class or full-grain and exotic leathers. For budget travelers, ballistic nylon is also a good choice.

2. Lids, locks, zippers

The lids of best briefcases can stay locked in the open position. And the locks are usually solid and tough. Zippers should be made in a right size, do not easily catch on linings, and allow you to quickly open and lock it.

3. Inside compartments

Your briefcases should offer main compartments for documents, office tools, cell phones, etc. You may also need the inter-compartment foam padding which gives the bag some structure for packing purposes without compromising the flexibility. Plus, the file dividers should be deep enough to keep papers orderly and safely in place. You can check if it is easy for you to access files. If you have a laptop, look for a briefcase that has a laptop compartment together with a special laptop bag, also known as "protective sleeve".

4. Solid frame

A business briefcase needs a solid frame. Twist the case with a little force to make sure that it does not shake from side to side. Try many times and see if it will stay in its original shape.

5. Perfect edges

Make sure the coloring on the edge does not fade away, and all the edges are neat and properly sewn. Also make sure that the leather on the handle's edges won't separate, even when you use your fingers to rub across the edges.

6. Shoulder strap or handle

A shoulder strap is also necessary because it frees your hands. Pass the strap over your head, and let your bag rest on your back. It is the most common way to wear briefcases. Or you may want to carry your briefcase by its handle. The handle of your bag should be soft enough for comfort, yet firm enough to keep its shape. A slightly harder handle is a good choice, because it will get softer after use. Check if it has a crossbar. The crossbar won't easily pull through when the case is full and heavy.

III.How to choose a rolling business travel luggage

1. Lightweight

Look for lightweight yet firm design. The wisest way to protect your investment and your properties is choosing those stronger and tough frames to ensure your luggage survive years of rough handlings and fly thousands of trips. Space-age composites feature strength and rigidity, and they make strong premium luggage. Many manufacturers use either honeycomb or polycarbonate to create their frames, because these materials create the flexibility after enduring an impact. Besides, aluminum and durable plastic frames also provide sturdiness and light weight.

Here is a figure you may want to know. According to U.S. government figures, millions of bags were over the airline's size and weight limits. So, light frames should be your first choice, but be aware of any frame that is made of plastic or metal. Some lower-end manufacturers use the singly-ply plastic to cut their costs and the frames are easier to crack and shatter. Although some of the metal frames are unbelievably lightweight, they tend to bend and provide little protection to the contents, and these lightweight frames also have easy-to-crack plastic corners.

2. Easy to roll

Quality wheels are manufactured with durable polyurethane materials and boasts well-made systems to maintain luggage's mobility on trips. For example, the internally mounted design effectively reduces the chance of damage. A large-wheel-base design keeps your luggage from turning over. And a sealed ball bearing design keeps dirt and dust away from wheels. No matter what materials the wheels are made of, it is best to choose the smoother and tougher ones with corner wheel designs.

3. Water-, stains-, and tearing-resistant

Quality luggage should come with a product information tag or a comprehensive description from which you can be informed about the outside fabric's resistance to abrasion and tearing. However, to a novice traveler, the look of the fabric is more appealing than the durability, and this is why so many manufactures focus their attentions on the appearance instead of the quality. So, please keep in mind that a good luggage is more than just a pretty face. It is necessary to look for several important factors when purchasing the right luggage for long-term durability. Take the following issues into consideration before you hand your credit card to the salesperson.

First, look for a smaller denier, ballistic nylon fabric made with a two-by-two basket weave. Denier is the size of the yarn used in creating the fabric. Larger denier, polyester luggage proves to be less strong than that of smaller denier. Second, a water-resistant fabric is a better choice, because your bag will go through water and stretches in your journey. The Ballistic or Cordura nylon materials are superior to other materials in terms of water and dust resistance. Ballistic nylon, which stands well to tear and wear, is the best and cheapest fabric for luggage. We highly recommend this fabric and other strong nylons. If you want to invest big in your luggage, we suggest you buy leather ones. Large pieces of leather are now hard to find, as they are used to make small handbags. So what you'll see in the market is luggage made by small pieces of leather. This will affect its appearance. But if you are looking for endurable luggage that can withstand years of usage, leather luggage is your choice.

Generally, top quality leather luggage will cost you no less than $250; moderate ones made of foreign ballistic nylon material usually have a price tag from $100 to $250; budget luggage are usually made of Polyester and manufactured overseas, and priced no more than $100.

Make sure the zipper is properly laid with many rows of lock-stitch stitching. And choose larger zipper teeth, because larger teeth will better withstand tough handling. Meanwhile, you should make sure that these larger teeth are made of strong and durable materials, such as plastic and metal. Finally, try to find a zipper with a fabric separation from the frame, which keeps it from being caught on things.