The other day, I was at Costco strolling the side aisles looking at their “home” department when I came across something that was unexpected. It was luggage. I suppose it shouldn’t be that surprising, the retailer sells a little bit of everything under the sun, even pallets of laminate flooring, but I digress. Anyway, they didn’t have very many options, just two actually. Both were “carry-on” sized, aka 21” or less, but one was a hard shell and the other was more your classic expandable suitcase with extra front pockets. It got me thinking: what do you really need from your luggage? Because apparently, Costco assumes there are only two options: hard or soft shell. Like picking the perfect taco.

Not to be dramatic, okay maybe a little bit dramatic, but picking the right piece of luggage for your trip can really affect your experience, and add to or relieve the headaches of traveling. Have you ever been in the airport and had the strap of your longtime trusted bag just disintegrate in your hand just before you had to dash across the terminal to catch your flight? Or maybe you got to the check in counter and the mammoth bag your uncle lent you ended up weighing over 50lbs, forcing you to either reluctantly fork over the airline’s exorbitant extra fees or rearrange your undies and souvenirs in front of the long line of people waiting behind you. (By the way, those fees are due to OSHA rules that ensure loads of more than 50lbs are carried by two people, not one, for safety)

There are multiple ways the luggage you choose for your trip can make a difference in your experience. For example, wouldn’t it be nice if that formerly-trusted bag that betrayed you earlier had more than one handle so you don’t have to bear-hug it through the terminal? With a little bit of foresight, your baggage doesn’t have to weigh you down. To help you, I’ve come up with a list of my favorite considerations when choosing what bags to bring. Weather you are in the market for new bags or just want deciding which of your stock is best for your upcoming trip, here are some things to consider when choosing.

1. How many ways to carry it are there?
This may seem like an odd question, but no one likes to be out of options when it comes time to drag your bag around. I personally like to have at least two functioning handles on my bag at all times, even if it has wheels. Wheels on suitcases are super handy and can save you a lot of muscle pain, but if a wheel brakes or you have to climb a bunch of stairs, you will be very glad that there is a sturdy handle to help you get leverage on your bag just like I was when I found myself dragging my provisions for the next 6 weeks up four flights of stairs to my AirBnB in Bratislava.
Now why do I say you need two working handles? Because when your bag is really heavy, or old, or being handled roughly there is a chance one of the handles could break. If you only have one handle, then you’re kind of SOL. Granted most bags these days come with two handles, so as long as they are both in working order, you are golden.

2. What are you comfortable carrying on public transit?
When I went to Costa Rica, I knew that I would be there for a little over a month while I took my classes, so I packed a lot of clothes and ended up taking two suitcases and a backpack. Prior to leaving home, I had never considered what it would be like to have to get from my host family’s house to the school with all that luggage on a crowded public bus. At one point, I was standing in the aisle (the extra wide part where they’re supposed to put like bikes and strollers) with one case straddled between my legs and the other one pressed into the back of a seat held in place with my knee. All-the-while my backpack was kind of blocking the aisle because of how full it was. Needless to say, had I considered this situation, I would have perhaps packed a little differently, that ride may have been more comfortable.
If I could do it over again, I probably would have packed fewer clothes (because my host families let me do laundry) and instead I would have taken one larger suitcase and my backpack. Now normally, on shorter trips, I don’t fly with a checked bag. However, for that trip I had planned on it anyway so a bigger bag wouldn’t have been the end of the world.

3. Is your bag secure?
Unfortunately, theft and pick pocketing are realities that travelers have to contend with. Can your bag’s compartments be securely closed? Preferably with a lock. Locking your bag may not keep someone from grabbing your whole bag and running off with it, but it will deter your average pickpockets from sliding their hands in to see what they can pull off the top. Remember, theft is generally a crime of opportunity, so don’t make it easy for people to take your stuff!
Along the same lines, it is a good idea to check the status of your zippers before embarking on your journey. Look for signs of wear and tear that may lead to bigger problems down the road. I failed to do that before a road trip my senior year and had to deal with a permanently open duffel bag for the majority of the trip. Luckily I didn’t loose any of my stuff because of it, but it could have easily been avoided in the first place.

4. Hard or Soft Shell Taco?
Okay, forgive the continued reference to tacos, I may be a little bit hungry as I write this article. However, it is something to consider. Mostly it comes down to preference. I’ve talked to some people who swear by hard case suitcases, I personally prefer the more flexible soft case. I feel like I’m more likely to be able to squeeze in just one more souvenir into an expandable soft case. But some people like the hard cases because they hold their shape and their stuff is less likely to be damaged. Honestly, I can’t attest to the security of one over the other. It would be a good question for the mythbusters if they ever start up again.

Well, I hope you found this article to be helpful. I would love to hear about some of your own personal tips for choosing luggage, or mishaps you’ve experienced in the comments (just please remember to keep all discourse nice or I will remove offensive comments). I’ve also linked below to some pieces of luggage that I consider quality that you may find interesting.