by Bernard McClay
20 years ago selecting luggage was easy; everyone traveled with a hard-sided black suitcase. But now the choice on the market is endless with duffel bags, backpacks and totes becoming ever more popular for the seasoned traveler. But which one should you choose?
Duffel Bags
Duffels come in an array of colours, outrageous patterns, with wheels, without wheels, in leather or fabric. They are easy to pack, extremely lightweight and storable once at your destination. They are perfect for road journeys and can be thrown into the back of a trunk and squashed in to fit. Or if you are moving from place to place, a duffel with wheels is a great choice. They also weigh practically nothing so wont tip you over the baggage limit at airports, meaning you can spend more money at your destination on new clothes!
The obvious downside to duffel bags is the lack of protection for your belongings. Items can easily be broken, so if you are planning on souvenir shopping a tote or backpack may be a better option. Duffels also arent the easiest bag to pick up and carry, so if you’re opting for adventure travel a backpack might be a better option. Theres nothing worse than trying to carry a heavy duffel or tote on one shoulder whilst walking down an uneven surface. Some of the better quality duffels are made by Travelpro and Swiss Army Victorinox.
Backpacks
The perfect choice for independent, adventure travelers who need to keep their hands free for maps and guidebooks. Backpacks come in a number of shapes and sizes, from day packs to 14 pound packs for month long adventures.
Designed to be comfortable to carry when full, make sure the backpack you choose is easy to take on and off, is adjustable to suit your frame, has padded shoulder straps and a waist and chest strap to avoid backache.
You can now buy backpacks with straps that can be zipped inside to prevent handles getting caught on transport and potential thieves from picking them up easily. Another backpack tip is to choose one that can be laid flat and zipped open to pack. Top load backpacks can be a headache - you have to take everything out in order to find just one item.
Totes
Totes are the perfect choice for business trips, providing a fashionable, easy to pack option that affords a professional image, particularly when chosen in leather. They are full of pockets and compartments, to house all your documents, files and even your laptop, as well as enough space for a couple of day as worth of clothes. If you travel by air regularly, investing in a good quality tote will make your travel experience much easier, providing you enough space and protection for a few souvenirs along the way.
They can either be shoulder carried or wheeled, are often expandable and come in a vast variety of styles, colors and designs. Choose one to suit your personality and have a great trip!
For lots more travel tips, articles and resources visit http://www.travelshack.info
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