Why Durable Luggage Makes the Best Luggage
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
If you’re traveling over the holidays and suddenly a wheel comes off your luggage, your trip becomes a little more difficult. The same goes for when the zipper gets stuck and you can’t close the case, or the fabric tears, leaving your belongings exposed.
There’s not much you can do if these things happen. You can, though, reduce the risk of such incidents by purchasing the most durable luggage you can find.
Durability, it turns out, is the single greatest predictor of overall satisfaction with luggage, according to a survey of Consumer Reports members.
In fact, among the 27,000 readers who participated in our brand ratings, 61 percent said that durability was the most important factor when choosing carry-on or midsized/large luggage. A small fraction of our readers felt that style and brand name were most important.
Just how important is durability? That depends on how you plan to use your luggage. The best luggage you can buy might depend on whether you’ll use it for, say, a cruise, or for air travel, where it could take more of a beating.
What Makes Luggage Durable?
Here’s what to look for:
Zippers. The zipper might be a proxy for the durability of the entire bag, so take a close look. Metal chain zippers, which have two sets of interlocking teeth, are the most durable. They’re stronger than the other common type, the coil zipper, which slides on two parallel polyester coils. Chain zippers don’t break easily; coil zippers can be pulled apart with a ballpoint pen. The zipper brand YKK is widely considered the most reliable zipper on the market, and its presence on luggage could indicate durability.
Wheels. The wheels on your luggage should roll smoothly and stay in place. Gently jiggle them with your hands to make sure they’re firmly attached. On four-wheelers, check that the wheels are attached with screws, which are more secure than those attached by rivets. When looking for the best luggage for your needs, keep in mind that a two-wheeler is less vulnerable to breakage because the wheels are partially recessed and roll in only two directions—forward and backward. They’re also likely to hold up better on urban sidewalks.
Handles. The best luggage—and the most durable—will have a handle that’s firm, with little or no wiggling as you wheel the bag. A handle that retracts completely inside the bag is less likely to sustain damage. Also, check for smooth movement as you pull it up and push it down.
Construction material. There are two basic choices when buying luggage: hard-sided and soft. In the past, hard-sided luggage was considered better; it was more durable and heavier. But today you can find durable soft fabrics and lightweight hard materials, so the gap between the two has narrowed. If you prefer soft-sided luggage (it’s pliable for stuffing into car trunks and overhead airplane bins), make sure it has a high denier count. (Denier is a measurement of fabric weight.) If your highest priority is protection from rips, a hard-sided bag still has the edge.
Hard-sided luggage is made with plastics such as ABS and polycarbonate. These are both lightweight and durable, though ABS is the lighter of the two and polycarbonate is the more durable option. If you really need the most durable luggage possible and aren’t concerned about the weight, bags made from aluminum will meet your needs. Keep in mind that flat, rigid luggage stacks easily, making it ideal for cruise ships, where bags are stacked in the belly of the boat.
Warranty. The best luggage might come with the best warranty. A lifetime warranty for repair or replacement is, of course, the best option and a good indication of durability. But make sure to check for exclusions, such as for airline damage.
More from Consumer Reports:
Top pick tires for 2016
Best used cars for $25,000 and less
7 best mattresses for couples
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2018, Consumer Reports, Inc.
