Globe-trotters are what we are, we travel-savvy of the new millennium. By car, by bus, by train, by plane, we go: Never have we been more mobile. And those of us not globe-trotting are, at the very least, town-trotting, so on the whole, the lot of us need luggage. Not just any luggage, mind you, luggage that’ll keep up, pack a personality and suit our lifestyles.
To lug luggage is passé; to think it a burden, behind the times. It’s been techno fine-tuned, industrially strengthened and hasn’t looked so fashion-forward since the turn of the century. The case may be made: Today’s luggage inspires the trip.
Making The Case
If you’re inclined to pooh-pooh the high price of good luggage, consider its all-important purpose: to protect and defend your most personal possessions. Your luggage is your home-away-from-home in that, on the road, it houses everything that’s most dear to you. Isn’t your peace of mind worth paying a little more for superior construction, durability, flexibility and good design?
Case History
People’s luggage needs are as diverse as their travel plans. Whether you need a five-piece set, a two-bag system or a single piece depends upon the type of traveler — and the type of person — you are. If you’re stumped on “set vs. single,” you could go with a classic set, buy the piece (or two) you know you need now and, as is done with fine china, add pieces as the need arises.
Case In Point
Say you’ve pinpointed your needs and have a specific piece in mind. What to consider: Do its compartments seem convenient to you? Is its size ideal? (Two inches, bigger or smaller, can make all the difference, both in weight and in what goes with.) Do your possessions need protection (soft vs. hardside)?
A Clean Case
Once you take the plunge and pay for your luggage, go the extra mile to protect it — for example, weatherproof it if its leather. Apply the product yourself. And do it before the luggage makes its first trip. A stain once set may be otherwise impossible to remove.