Summer or not, holiday on the cards or not, now is as good a time as any to know your bags. Because there used to be days when travelling meant dumping everything that needed to be carried into one boring suitcase — only the size differed depending on the duration of travel. But now, picking a bag to travel with is more confusing than deciding on a destination: duffels, suitcases (two/four-wheeled), backpacks, laptop bags or cabin bags that come in printed, plain or metallic designs and colours.
“Vacations, business trips, conferences, class reunions — different trips call for different bags even if they are for the same number of days,” says Anushree Tainwala, marketing director, Samsonite South Asia. “The family vacation suitcase is going to be all about volume and will need rolling wheels to manage the weight, while a business trip suitcase should ideally be slim, easily slung over one shoulder, and broad enough to lay a suit jacket in without folding.
For international travel, choose a bag with security features such as a TSA lock and better packing capacity. Anushree shares more tips on choosing the right bag and giving your holiday a stylish grade:
For him: A man’s luggage has to be both practical and stylish. You would want something that carries all your necessities, is convenient to haul all over the world, and doesn’t look awful when paired with your travelling clothes. If you are the adventurer/explorer types, wheeled backpack/rucksack will be the perfect travel companion.
For her: No matter how beautiful a bag may be, if it can’t hold and organise what you need for a few days, then it’s not worth it. Travelling with a toddler or children can be challenging; in this case travelling light is not an option but a light-weight and durable suitcase is certainly an option.
Basic choice: You could choose trendy, bright-coloured, light-weight bags that not only protect your belongings but also provide easy identification at the conveyer belt. If you consider yourself a ‘design-junkie’, then transport your belongings in a design-driven case with a hard shell.
Colours: Latest fashion colours include pastels, neons and brights such as pinks, corals, cobalt blue and emerald green. Try prints, florals and metallic colours. Get experimental if your bag is for the marriage trousseau. Blood red, prints and feminine colours complement your personality and mood perfectly.
Material: Polycarbonate is lightweight and less likely to crack. Such suitcases also come with a glossy finish that appeals to women.
Accessorise: Be creative, accessorise your bag — tie a scarf to the strap, pin on a decorative brooch, attach a fabric flower. Attach souvenirs from across the world on your suitcase.
