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Home › Q & As › Luggage Specs › Exterior materials

Exterior materials

Durable, water-resistant and easy-to-clean exterior material is indispensable to make a quality piece of luggage. Questions like how to find easy-to-clean fabric are included in our Q&A.

      Exterior materials
What is the difference between die-cast lock and plastic lock in material? Which one is better?

Category: Exterior materials

It depends on your need and preference. Die-cast lock is made of metal, such as zinc or steel, often plated for appearance and durability. Plastic lock is usually made of polypropylene or nylon...
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What kind of handle works well in durability?

Category: Exterior materials

The most durable handle adopts metal or metal-reinforced base at mounting part, with a number of rivets, screws, or prongs attached to the frame of the case itself.
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I am going to buy a nylon luggage case. But there are so many types of nylon, which one is better in quality?

Category: Exterior materials

Probably the strongest type of nylon used in luggage is ballistic nylon. It is a fabric developed by the United States Department of Defense. Also, you can choose rip-stop nylon, which is another common type that is strong and water-resistant.
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Which kind of fabric is easy to clean? And how to test the durability of the fabric?

Category: Exterior materials

For easy-cleaning, vinyl is recommended. It is a moderately priced plastic material, and can be wiped clean. The best way to compare durability is through the denier of the fabric. Denier refers to the size of the yarn used in creating the fabric. A higher denier means more durability.
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I'm interested in leather suitcase. Are the corners of such a case also made of leather?

Category: Exterior materials

Not all the corners and feet on a leather case are made of leather. Some of them are often reinforced with metal, or vinyl.
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What are the "Split Leather" and "Man-made Leather"?

Category: Exterior materials

Split is a kind of lower-quality leather. The under-layer of the skin is known as "split", because they are split off from the top grain leather.

Man-made leather is actually imitation leather, composed of plastics...
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What is the difference of "top grain", "full grain", and "genuine leather"? Which is the best?

Category: Exterior materials

All of them are strongest and most durable leather.
Top grain leather comes from the outermost layer of a hide and is processed or sanded to get rid of the natural markings.
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What kind of frame should I choose when buying a luggage case?

Category: Exterior materials

The most common type is the honeycomb frame. It is both lightweight and durable, and it has the ability to withstand pressure. Another choice is polycarbonate frame. Beware of the plastic and metal frame.
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Can soft-sided luggage bags maintain their shape during the trip? Are they resistant to outside impact?

Category: Exterior materials

Stiffeners or partial frames are usually adopted on soft-sided cases to help them hold their shape. Compared with hard-sided luggage, the soft ones offer less resistance to outside impact.
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I suppose hard-sided luggage cases can offer maximum protection against impact from the outside. What are they usually made of?

Category: Exterior materials

Yes, you are right. There are two types of hard-sided bags: molded cases and box-constructed cases. The former are made of polypropylene, ABS plastics, or metal, while the latter are covered with leather, vinyl or fabric, with metal or wood frames.
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