Today, we’re talking about travel bags. I find the timing for this post and query quite fitting since I’m planning for a trip that I’ll be taking with the Style Manila flipflop in a few weeks months time. Travel date is still to be determined.

When I mentioned query, I was referring to an email I received from one of Style Manila’s subscribers a couple of days back. And it starts off — Dear Joe… (oh, my humour can be so tacky sometimes, LOL). Oh, blast it. Just read it yourself, copy-paste is so much easier to do than to paraphrase it. Heh.

hi sasha

i am one of style manila’s subscribers. your posts are really helpful for girls/ladies and its nice that you really use/try the goodies you recommend.
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i was checking your archive because i was hoping i could find some helpful tips on which light luggage to purchase.
unfortunately i wasn’t able to find any.
would you by any chance have an old post or create a new post — pls pls
i wanted to ask some help on which brand of luggage/trolleys is cheap but durable
i wanted to purchase a hand-carry luggage for short flights like going to hk, sg.
hope you can help me thanks

thank you,
gail

And then it rained smileys. LOL.

I did appreciate knowing that she was in a good mood when she wrote that email. So, in response, I’m indulging her request of creating a post esp since I can only remember having written about luggage or travel bags in just one instance and twas on a simple overnight bag! Hehe.

Luggage/Trolley

When traveling, esp if it would involve tedious flight transfers and terminals the size of a city (heh), I will definitely opt for the trolley type of luggage. I’d rather pull the weight than carry it, know what I mean? So, how do I decide which size of luggage do I use? Well, there are several considerations and note that brand comes last.

First, where you’re going (duh, I’m referring to you getting an idea of what’s on the itinerary — are you trekking a city or a mountain? Digging your heels deep in the sand or on concrete and marble of malls and zoos? Get the picture?) just so you know what sort of clothes, etc you’ll be bringing. Next, you have to consider the length of the trip so you’d have an idea of just how much you’re going to pack in the luggage. Third, be aware of luggage limitations for your preferred airline or where you booked your flight. Fourth, choose a luggage that has warranty. You wouldn’t want to find yourself stuffing and lugging your stuff around in a garbage bag, yes? Which brings me to my personal choice — Samsonite.

Took a trip to Vietnam-Cambodia last year and I had shopped for a luggage. I didn’t want anything big and heavy once packed with stuff that I’d have problems hauling it around (another good thing to note: though it seems ideal that a bigger luggage will accommodate more things, think about the trouble of traveling with it). So I opted for a 17kg Samsonite trolley. It proved suitable for the Australia trip which I took from December 2008 to January 2009 since most airlines only accommodate around that much for checked in luggage.

Its size and eventual weight didn’t hassle me too much. I appreciate the unstructured nylon material, which makes the bag look casual and young. The bag on its own is light weight which won’t mess up the amount of stuff weighed in at the check in counter. Plus I like the idea that I can have my Samsonite luggage repaired anywhere I go (but so far it hasn’t failed). It makes me feel that the amount I spent on it is worth it since it’ll last longer than the cheaper luggage. This luggage is good for long trips of more than a week and/or if the trip requires a plane ride, IMO.

This bag has traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Australia.

Overnight Bags

For short trips out of town, sleepovers or overnight roadtrips, I rely on my trust-y Celio bag. If I had opted for a more casual trolley bag, I went for the structured faux-vinyl material for this overnight bag. Reason behind that is because it still looks young and mod but not as casual as something made out of nylon. I guess, I want my overnight bag to not be mistaken as a gym bag, though, come to think of it, you can also use it as a gym bag. LOL.

It’s also a good hand-carry bag for those plane essentials you can’t leave home without. Ones you can’t fit in your hand bag but must be accessible during the long flight. All the extras, if you catch my drift. So, you’ll be left to carry a smaller handbag once it’s safely tucked away in the overhead compartment.

This bag has traveled to Subic, Palawan, Tagaytay, Laguna (several times), Batangas, Singapore and Australia.

Carry Alls

One of the things I find important when traveling (long or short trips) is the use of a carry-all. The name says it all, actually. It can be a canvas shoulder bag like the one I bought from Benetton or a canvas tote which I bought from Esprit. The main thing is that it’s roomy enough to accommodate the travel essentials, all the way down to a pair of flipflops in case your feet need a break from the pair of shoes you had opted to wear for the day.

I reckon since I can be a pack rat, I bring a lot of stuff with me when I travel. From my camera and camera equipment, to a journal, pen, book and a hand santizer. A bag that can fit all those things and still isn’t in danger of breaking apart, gets 5 stars from me.

Apart from being lugged around Manila, these bags have been around. The Benetton bag has been to Punta Fuego, Subic, Palawan, Singapore and Australia. The Esprit Tote was bought in Australia and has traveled with me to Laguna, Batangas, Tagaytay, and Singapore.

Final thoughts

I can tell you to check out SM for cheap luggages but durability can be relative. A cheap luggage can be durable for a trip or two and you just may end up opting to by new ones just because there’s a missing handle or wheel, or the trolley bar won’t come loose, or worse, putting a package tape AND rope around it just won’t do anymore.

If you love to travel, or if you know that this upcoming trip won’t be your last, I’d say spend a little on your luggage. They are, after all, your travel bestfriend. You wouldn’t go cheapo on your best mate now, would you? Besides, like what the reader said in her email, I really can’t recommend something I, personally, haven’t tried and tested.

But then again, that’s my personal opinion. Let’s throw the question out there, perhaps some of the other readers can clue us in on there luggage preferences. Where do you buy your travel bags folks?

Photo © 2009 Sasha Manuel