How to choose a suitcase on wheels?

A suitcase on wheels is an indispensable attribute of any trip, whether it is a vacation or a business trip. It will be he who will become your faithful assistant in any journey, will bring your things safe and sound. Therefore, it is very important to choose a good suitcase that does not fall apart halfway and does not create additional problems.

How to choose a suitcase on wheels, what to look for when buying and by what criteria should I choose? We will deal with this in this article.

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Purpose of purchase

If you do not plan to buy a suitcase every year, then be careful when choosing. First of all, decide which transport you use most often:

• If you travel by train more often, then pay attention to the weight of the suitcase, because you often have to lift it.
• If you fly by air, then pay attention to such an indicator as the strength and safety of the product, because you will be checking it in your luggage.

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Suitcase size

It all depends on which company you are traveling to:

• If you travel alone, then the average suitcase will contain all your belongings.
• If with family, it is better to buy a few small suitcases.

Important! Some buy a huge “trunk”, in the hope that things fit there. They may fit in, but you have to drag such a whopper alone. It will not be difficult to carry it - on wheels, but you will have to lift it. In addition, putting all your belongings in one large suitcase, you risk exceeding the allowable amount of kilograms per baggage unit. This is relevant, of course, only for flights on an airplane.

The volume of suitcases is measured in liters, and the size is determined by the longest side. Thus, three categories are distinguished:

• Small - with a volume of up to 25 liters, a height of not more than 55 cm.
• Medium - with a volume of 25 to 70 liters and a height of 55 to 65 cm.
• Large - with a volume of 70 liters and a height of 70 cm.

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What material to choose?

In the matter of how to choose a good suitcase on wheels, great importance is given to the material from which your travel assistant is made. It must be wear resistant, especially with respect to damage and moisture.

Fabric suitcases

Such models are not afraid of blows, but fragile things to carry in them is not recommended. Their main advantages are low prices and low weight.

Important! But when buying, pay attention to the material, the models from polyester, nylon or polyamide impregnated with a special waterproof mixture. Such suitcases are not afraid of moisture, they are easy to clean and they are not capricious in leaving.

Plastic suitcases

They are divided into different types, depending on the alloys.

Important! One of the main disadvantages of such models is their susceptibility to scratches, as well as the risk of chips.

Types of plastics for travel bags:

• Alloys of plastic with metal chips are able to withstand strong moisture and protect things from falling and bumps. But they are very susceptible to scratches - such a suitcase will quickly lose its appearance.
• Alloys made of plastic with titanium chips are one of the best options, as they are resistant to scratches, water and have a durable case that will not crack even with strong impacts. But it has a high price.

Important! If you are able to afford an expensive model from a good manufacturer, this will be the perfect choice for flying on airplanes and more.But if your financial capabilities do not allow this, then you should opt for fabric models.

Leather suitcases

Such models have a beautiful appearance and high price, are not afraid of moisture. But at the same time, they are impractical, because they have a lot of weight and quickly lose their beautiful appearance, because they are easy to scratch.

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Color

Color is also important, here you need to consider the following points:

• During the trip, the suitcase can be in a variety of conditions, so try to choose not soiled colors, so that unexpected spots appear are not so noticeable, and your suitcase does not look untidy.
• If you often fly by plane and hand over your suitcase to the garage, then choose a model of some original coloring, so that it stands out on the luggage belt and does not merge with other luggage of classic colors.

Important! Whatever original color you choose, always check the tag so that you do not accidentally carry away someone else's suitcase.

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What handle should a suitcase have?

Good, high-quality models has three handles: a retractable and two plastic or woven. What do you need to pay attention to?

• To get started, grab a suitcase by the handle and see if it’s convenient for you to hold it. You often have to keep it that way, and even filled it up, which means it’s heavy.

Important! If the handle seemed thick, thin or sliding, you should not opt ​​for this model.

• If the handle is fabric, it must be securely sewn with threads to the body. It is best when the fabric handles are fixed with metal rivets. This will ensure durability, otherwise - the handle can quickly come off from the constant transport of goods.
• Check the operation of the latch on the pull-out handle. It should easily extend and slide back into the housing, without special effort to be fixed with a button in both the assembled and extended positions.

Important! It is desirable that it be metal, not plastic, which can quickly break.

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Locks and zippers on a suitcase

In order to choose a suitable suitcase on wheels and not worry about the safety of its contents in the future, special attention should be paid to the locks.

Locks

There are models of the following types.

• With a combination lock. Great, reliable option. To open such a castle you only need to know the desired combination of numbers. The main thing is not to forget it; otherwise, you cannot open such a suitcase without “self-mutilation”.
• With a lockable key. There is no need to remember any numbers, just do not lose the key to the lock, and everything will be in order.
• With two types of locks. If you are a very suspicious person or you have very valuable things in your suitcase, then you should buy a model with two types of locks - regular and code locks. Such a model will be more expensive, but you will be confident in the safety of your things.

Zippers

Which zipper is better to choose? There is definitely no answer:

• Some people think metal zippers are more reliable. Others prefer plastic - they are lightweight, strong and durable.
• The most optimal width is 8-10 mm.
• Ideally, lightning should be self-healing. This means that even if she breaks a few teeth, she will still work
• It should be reversible - open on both sides.
• It is also good if the zipper is protected against intrusion, that is, it is possible to fix the fastener to the code lock.

Important! When buying, check the fastener for operability - open and close several times. The zipper should not be fastened tightly.

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Wheels

In the question of how to choose a good suitcase on wheels, you can not ignore the choice of wheels themselves:

• The most important thing here is the location of the wheels. Do not buy a suitcase with wheels on one axis.
• Models can have two or four wheels. Experienced travelers recommend models with two large wheels.They should rotate completely independently, making luggage moving more comfortable.
• To reduce driving noise, it is better to choose a model with metal bearings mounted inside the suitcase. If there is a latch, then the probability of rolling decreases. In addition, strongly protruding wheels can break at the most inopportune moment.
• The wheels are of three types: silicone, plastic and rubber. Plastic ones are very noisy, in addition, they can crack from heavy loads, but silicone and rubber are a very reliable option.
• The wheel mount should only be metal, since the plastic will not last long.

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What else needs to be considered?

• Never buy a suitcase that is too cheap, as its quality is too low, and it can fail you at the most important moment.
• It is desirable that the corners of the suitcase have reinforcing rubber overlays.
• Extra compartments and pockets will not be amiss. In the interior - you can put the most necessary things so that on arrival you do not have to turn over all your luggage. And the external ones are useful for water, sandwiches and other things that you can get without opening the entire suitcase.
• It is also good if there is a pocket for a card with your contact details. This may come in handy if you lose your luggage.

Important! Inside the suitcase should be a dense fabric of good quality. A good-quality suitcase will necessarily have a secure document compartment, which should be waterproof.

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Stock footage

Now you are ready to go to the store to choose a suitcase. Do not be stingy and buy a high-quality, solid model once, especially if you plan a lot of trips in the coming years, so that after the second or third trip you would not expect unexpected expenses for a new thing for luggage.