Welcome to the Luggage Buying Guide. This section is designed to help you choose the right luggage to suit your travelling needs. To set your mind at ease, we have already selected 'thoroughbred' luggage that is world class, backed by good warranty backup, that has been designed to withstand the rigors of baggage handling.
And why are some cheaper than others? Because we buy in bulk container loads, we do get stuck with some styles, colors or sizes. We then slash the price even further so we can make room for the on coming containers. And some brands are like Hondas and some are like BMW's. But there is nothing wrong with a Honda, is there ? Albeit half the price or less of a BMW.
We have chosen the Hondas (International Traveller/American Tourister etc), the Merks and Beamers (Antler/Samsonite/Ricardo/Delsey etc) and the top end (Victorinox/Titan and the flagship models of Antler or Samsonite). So you can buy with confidence
5 Questions to Ask When Buying Luggage
- How often will I travel with this luggage?
- How many people are travelling?
- Where am I travelling to?
- What colour do I prefer?
- What is my budget?
Depending on how you answer these questions you can determine the luggage you'll need and the material best suited to your travels. Hard shells are definitely tougher than any fabric, waterproof and dust proof, and today, polycarbonate hardshells are as light as fabric luggage. but no external pockets, like fabric luggage.Bear in mind that a good brand only uses quality parts and quality manufacturing practises in creating their luggage. And we have selected world class brands. You would not ask "What are the wheels like , or what is the paint like, on a mercedes benz"? It's the same with quality brands of luggage. They reputation that they have built is dependant on their quality. So the quality of the components and the manufacturing process is world class, if it's a world class brand. Like Samsonite, Antler, Delsey or International Traveller.
Quick Overview of Luggage Brands
What constitutes the best luggage can be subjective, but the following guidelines will help.
If you are looking for value for buck luggage that is built to last, consider International Traveller, Samsonite's American Tourister, or one of our daily Hot deals.
How about luggage that combines world-class reliability and engineering and is super lightweight? Samsonite gives global warranty, but other international brands of repute are Antler, International Traveller, Delsey and Victorinox. All luggage on our website indicates the weight, volume, size and warranty.
Are you a road warrior who lives out of your luggage and wants the very best in construction backed by the best warranty in the luggage business? You can safely choose any Samsonite, Antler, Delsey or Victorinox luggage.
Example 1: John's Trip To Sydney
 John is going on a business trip to Sydney for 1 week. Since John is the only person travelling and it is only a relatively short trip with little chance of damage to the luggage, John will most likely need a soft shell bag with a length of approximately 63cm (72 L capacity) such as the Antler Litestream.
Example 2: Sarah's Trip To England
 Sarah is travelling to England with her husband and son for 4 weeks. As Sarah is travelling for a significant period of time and may be sharing the luggage with her son or husband she will require a larger bag which would need to be approximately 75-80cm (95-125L capacity).
She could take either a hard-shell or soft-shell bag depending on her preference. However, as the travelling conditions will most likely be good, a soft-shell suitcase should be fine. In Sarah's case another factor to consider is that she is travelling to a colder climate and will require more space in the bag for sweaters, jumpers and coats. The Samsonite Duralite (74cm) or the Mendoza Seahawk 29" Four wheel Spinner (84cm) are both suitable for this type of travel. Sarah will also be able to pack more into her luggage using space bags & other packing systems.
Example 3: Greg's Trip To Africa
 Greg is travelling to Africa for 6 weeks. He'll be staying Africa for quite a while so he'll need to carry a lot in his bag. If he will be staying in one place then a 70-80cm (95-125L capacity) hard shell suitcase should be adequate. This is a large suitcase which will allow Greg to carry enough for his 6 week trip and because it is a hard shell bag, it will be more resistant to dust and water. If Greg will be trekking about then a travel pack (large backpack) will be better for him because it is easier to carry and store. The Roman Mammoth (75L) pack would be ideal.
Example 4: Jane Visits Her Uncle
 Jane is visiting her uncle for a couple of days. Her uncle is a three-hour train trip away and Jane rarely does any travelling. Since Jane is only travelling for a short period, rarely travels and the travel conditions will be light on the bag then a soft-shell bag such as the Antler Jupiter 2 (45cm) would be suitable.
HANDLES
Handles are telescopic, so not rigid. it's not a cricket bat, so movement in it is ok. Good brands test their handles rigourisly, and it's meant to pull your bag , upto 35 kgs. it will do this well. so dont be alarmed at movement within the handle.
It is important that the handle is not situated on the outside of the bag.
WHEELS
Inline , ball bearing wheels are the best. The quality is assured on world class brands.
FRAMES AND CASING
Frames basically refer to the material the casing of the bag is made from. There are generally two types:
- Hard shell suitcases are moulded from materials such as polypropylene, ABS plastics, or polycarbonate. Hard-sided suitcases are waterproof and dustproof.But no external pockets, like fabric cases.
- Soft shell suitcases are partially framed with soft, somewhat expandable tops and bottoms.
HARD SHELL OR SOFT SHELL?
Many people ask which is better - hard shell or soft shell cases? What it really comes down to is what you will be using the luggage for and how often you will be using it. For example, if your contents require significant protection from rain and dust then a hard shell case may be more suitable.Fabric cases dont have to be rigid to be strong. Infact the more flexible the bag, the stronger it is. like a beehive.Honeycomb construction is far more withstanding than the old fashion rigid construction.
Buying Luggage Online
Each product description on our website provides you with a detailed run down of all the features of the luggage including size, colour, material, capacity, warranty, weight and security .
This buying guide and our Travelling Tips sections are here to help you make your selection. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.
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