Luggage buying guide: 5 bags for every trip [Sep 2024 update]

How do you choose the best luggage? Seasoned travellers will tell you that travel bags should be light but spacious, be stylish but also protect their contents, and be agile while also secure. Most bags offer a balance between these criteria.

Deciding which luggage to take on your trip is an important decision. The best bag for you depends on the length of your trip, what you plan to bring back from your destination, and how much you will move about with your bag, for example, on buses and trains.

Here are the 5 types of bags to get you through every trip imaginable.

Check-in bags and cabin bags

With so many different types and designs of luggage, how do you begin to choose one? With check-in luggage and cabin bags, the main difference is construction material.

1. Material – Hard shell (ABS or polycarbonate)

Hard shell luggage has become the most popular type of both check-in and cabin bags. The main advantage of a hard shell is obvious – a rigid case offers the best protection for its contents.

Another advantage is that the smooth surfaces of hard luggage make it easier to manoeuvre – they slide on and off luggage racks easily. Their fixed, box-like shape makes them easier to stack, too.

Travellers who check in expensive camera equipment, laptops or similar items should opt for hard case luggage. It is also the best option if you are planning to buy souvenirs, especially fragile decorative pieces or artwork.

Besides protecting from impact, a hard suitcase is the best defence against water and heat, too.

Our recommendation:
American Tourister Stratum 2.0 (28-inch large check-in) from S$128

This is a steal from American Tourister, especially for their stylish Stratum 2.0 Series.

• Material: ABS

• Size: 78.6 x 51.0 x 31.8 cm

• Weight: 5.1 kg

• Warranty: Limited 10 years international warranty

Designed for a weeklong trip, the 28-in (79 cm) Stratum 2.0 comes in a range of colours, all with a grain finish. It expands 1 inch (2.5 cm) and has mesh separator, large zipper pulls and an ergonomic carbon fibre-texture trolly grip.

You get a security zipper, TSA lock and a scratch resistant finish. The 10-year international warranty tells you that you are going to get value for your money.

2. Material – Soft case (Nylon and/or polyester)

Despite the massive surge in popularity of hard case luggage, soft case luggage is proving itself a reliable alternative. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that it is lighter, especially helpful if you are trying to avoid excess baggage fees.

It is easier to store and stow softer luggage, too. This is great both when you are trying to fit all your bags in a car boot or putting them away at home. With its less rigid structure, soft case luggage won’t get ugly dents in transit, which eventually become cracks and compromise the entire bag.

Many travellers also love that soft case luggage is more affordable than hard case alternatives.

Our recommendation:
American Tourister 4 Kix 2.0 (28-inch large check-in) from S$127

This expandable trolley bag from American Tourister is available in 20″, 24″ and 28″ versions. With 4 sets of double spinner wheels, it cushions contents from impact and also negotiates minor bumps and uneven surfaces with ease.

• Material: Polyester

• Size: 69.9 x 44.5 x 27.9 cm

• Weight: 2.4 kg

The large check-in version is a massive 70cm tall and 45cm wide but weighs just 4.1kg so you can make the most of your baggage allowance. All 3 also have 2 zippered compartments on the outside to conveniently store and retrieve objects.

Should you buy hard case or soft case luggage?

Still undecided? Here is what you should consider before buying luggage:

• Appearance – Hard case luggage looks more modern and stylish. However, it attracts scratches and dents, which can be very obvious.

• Security – All other things being equal, a hard case bag is almost always more secure than a fabric bag.

• Longevity – While more secure, hard cases tend to crack from impact while soft case bags absorb the momentum better.

• Care – Fabric makes for a lighter bag but also attracts more dirt and is harder to wash and dry than a hard-case bag.

Other bags

There are 3 other main types of travel bags – backpacks, overnighters and duffel bags.

3. Backpack

The ubiquitous backpack is the most common type of personal luggage, particularly among men. Made for mobility, they are designed for carrying your essentials – particularly electronics – into the cabin.

A good backpack should have these features:

• Size – The right size for your laptop or tablet

• Expandable – Small size but can expand to fit more when needed

• Compartments – Separate compartments for different accessories/types of accessories

• Padding – Both on the straps for comfort and all around to protect the contents

• Security – Hidden zippers or compartments that cannot only be accessed without you knowing

• Weather resistance – Waterproof backpacks or those with effective rain covers are useful

• Cable slots – These allow you to charge a device outside the bag from a powerbank inside the bag without opening it

• Straps – Chest straps and hip belts prevent the bag from moving about too much

Our recommendation:
AREYTECO 40L Travel Backpack S$48

Made of water resistant polyester, this large backpack is ideal for protecting electronic equipment, including laptops as large as 17.3″. Just turn it to one side and use the convenient handle to carry it as a suitcase instead. It unfolds 180 degrees for easy access and even easier security screening.

• Material: Polyester

• Size: 49.8 x 32.8 x 22.9 cm

• Weight: 1.2 kg

This is one of the few backpacks that also comes with an expandable section. It’s the only one that I have seen that comes with both a USB charging slot and a headphone jack connector.

4. Overnighter

Appearance-wise, overnighters may be described as backpacks on wheels or as half-sized cabin bags. Their name describes them perfectly – they are ideal for short trips.

In a way, overnighters are status symbol bags. Despite their smaller size, overnighters (sometimes called wheeled laptop bags or compact briefs) usually cost as much as or more than the biggest luggage bags from the same brand and collection.

In choosing the best overnighter bag, you should look for the same features as you would in a backpack and cabin bag. Also, consider these:

• Resizable compartments – Create sub-sections, usually with the help of Velcro partitions

• Internal straps – Keep contents in order, especially when the bag is not full

• Large wheels – Allow you to conquer small obstacles and even steps with ease

Our recommendation:
Somago Aluminum Frame 18inch  From S$173

Chic enough for a lady and rugged enough for the gentleman, this stylish overnighter is the perfect companion for a short business trip. It fits laptops as large as 15.6in, secured behind 2 TSA-approved locks. Inside, stay organised with separate laptop and notes compartments within its 35L capacity.

• Material: Polycarbonate on aluminium frame

• Size: 44.0 x 39 x 23 cm

• Weight: 3.4 kg

• Warranty: 5-year replacement service

Your things will be well protected inside the water resistant lightweight case. On the outside, silent spinner wheels conquer bumps and humps from the airport to the hotel and beyond.

5. Duffel bag

Most of us know duffel bags from NS time, either our own or a family member’s. Those simple but tough olive green kit bags could take a lot of punishment! They are very convenient for packing all your clothes at the end of a trip as they are spacious but do not offer much impact protection.

The modern travel duffel bag retains the roughly cylindrical or boxlike shape but adds some basic features to make it more user-friendly:

• Material – Tough fabrics such as ripstop nylon offer good security

• Sling – A padded sling makes it easy and comfortable to carry about

• Wheels – A new addition to spare you carrying a heavy duffel about

• Convertible – Backpack-like straps so you can free your hands

• Pockets – Zipped pockets on the outside or inside to organise small objects

Choose a duffel bag if you want a lightweight but tough, no-frills travel buddy that can fit almost anything. Some also include water resistance for added functionality.

Our recommendation:
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 90L From S$167

Water repellent and reinforced, this is the all-weather duffel bag you always wanted. There are side grab handles, padded top handles and removable backpack straps for versatility. 6 lash points allow you to strap this tough cookie to your vehicle.

• Material: 100% polyester

• Size: 68 x 34 x 26 cm

• Weight: 0.822 kg

• Warranty: Lifetime

At a very light 822 grams, this Eagle Creek duffel still packs in a 90-litre capacity. The zippers are designed for easy opening, even for gloved hands. Carry it in 3 different ways; tuck-away travel backpack straps connect into a duffel bag strap. It conveniently folds into a carry case for easy storage.

Other things to consider

• Cost – Don’t just go for the best luggage brand you can afford or choose the cheapest option to be economical. Brand names are generally indicative of quality but they can sometimes lack practical features found in cheaper bags.

Features

• Free-swivelling wheels – Wheels with well-lubricated bearings that turn at the gentlest touch minimise the effort required to move your bag.

• Double coil zip – This is a security feature that tells you immediately if your zip has been pried apart because it cannot be resealed.

• Rigid handles – Especially with telescopic handles, rigidity gives you good control of your bag when you wheel it.

• Zip position – Most bags have the zip halfway between the top and bottom (when the bag is resting on its side). Others have it near the top edge so the bag opens like a regular box.

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