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| It really depends on how you travel. If you're travelling by air, go to the airport Baggage Claim and see what you find; mostly soft-siders. They're generally lighter in weight and more flexible to take the abuse of handling. I used to do a fair amount of travelling: one to two (sometimes more) times a year internationally, and we considered spending more money on 'top quality' luggage. Changed our minds for two reasons:
1. Fancy luggage will attract thieves. We hosted group tours, and if anyone's bag came up missing at hotel checkout, it was always the nicest bag. If you are spending big money for a suitcase, stands to reason you might have something worth stealing inside.
2. Baggage handlers can destroy even the best. You're fooling yourself if you think you can spend your way into longevity.
The duffels are good, but can be limiting in capacity. Hard-siders will probably deliver your clothes with the fewest wrinkles (if that's a priority), but once they are damaged, they may not close, and then what? I like the looks of the hard-siders; just never was brave enough to try them. Soft-siders can take a tremendous amount of abuse and still get your stuff home with a little (okay, maybe a lot of) duct tape and/or a strap.
On the other hand, cheap luggage is the biggest waste of money there is. Crappy zippers and tiny wheels will make your vacation a headache. Take your time; shop around. Get big wheels set wide at the corners, and the biggest zipper you can find. Make sure the extendable handle will let you stack another, smaller bag on top and still use the handle (they seem to be getting shorter these days). The bags with 4 little swivel wheels that roll standing up are fine in the store or standing in line at check-in, but lousy trying to negotiate stairs or cobblestones. Get bags with a handle at both ends and one at one side.
If you travel as a couple, don't get two the same size. Make sure one fits inside the other for easier storage. You probably don't pack as much as she does anyway. If you're a Good Guy, she takes 'your' suitcase and you take her bigger, heavier one when it comes time to schlep.
If you're travelling by car, take that car shopping and make sure you can easily get them into your trunk. While testing, don't forget they'll be bigger/heavier when filled, and they get bigger and heavier as you travel.
Finally, a not-necessarily-related tip on underwear: Many people will buy new for travelling. I do that too, but I leave the new stuff at home. Take your oldest, tiredest, most worn-out stuff along. Wear it as much as you dare ;>) and throw it away when you're 'done' with it. You'll be making room in your suitcase and not hauling around a lot of dirty laundry.
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Luggage question.
