Packing 101: how to pick the best luggage for travel

As I get ready to start traveling more this year, I thought I would start a new ”Erin’s Fake Travel Show” segment! Not just travel guides and photos of our trips, but travel tips, travel hacks, money saving pointers, my travel stuff, etc! First up, before you go anywhere, you need to pick the best luggage!

The Best Luggage for Travel

Ok, this post isn’t about the most expensive luggage or the most ”aesthetic” luggage. I’ll show you guys options for every budget – from luxury to budget & different styles. But the goal here is to break down the different types of luggage, what features are actually helpful, different types of luggage sets & tips from someone (me) who actually travels regularly!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LUGGAGE

HERE IS MY ”LUGGAGE MUST HAVE” CHECKLIST

HARD VS. SOFT SIDED LUGGAGE – PERSONALLY, I ONLY RECOMMEND HARD SIDED LUGGAGE. OBVIOUSLY IT COMES DOWN TO PERSONAL PREFERENCE, BUT I FIND THAT HARD SHELL LUGGAGE IS MORE DURABLE, EASIER TO PACK & ORGANIZE, PLUS ARE WATERPROOF & LESS PRONE TO OVERPACKING.
POCKETS – I’M LAUGHING AS I WRITE THIS BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF HOW EXCITED I GET WHEN A DRESS HAS POCKETS. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, POCKETS ARE SUCH A GAME CHANGER WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZATION. I ALWAYS LOOK AT THE INTERIOR (AND EVEN EXTERIOR) POCKETS TO COMPARE THE DIFFERENCES.
SIZE & CAPACITY – GENERALLY, THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT LUGGAGE SIZES. CARRY ON, MEDIUM CHECKED & LARGE CHECKED. EACH SIZE HAS DIFFERENT USES. I PERSONALLY LIKE HAVING ALL 3 AND HAVE A NESTING SET. THE SIZE I USE DEPENDS ON THE LENGTH OF MY TRIP & WHAT I NEED TO PACK. HOWEVER IF I HAD TO ONLY PICK ONE, I WOULD DEFAULT TO THE MEDIUM SIZE.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE SUITCASES, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF LUGGAGE TO CHOOSE FROM:

DUFFEL BAGS
BACKPACKS
GARMENT BAGS
TRAVEL TOTES
LAPTOP BAGS

MY TRAVEL BAGS & LUGGAGE

My husband Tony & I generally have the same travel set up. The only major difference is that I use a purse!

But, over the years, we’ve gotten really good at packing. He travels for a living, touring in a band around the world. Since he regularly travels for long periods of time, but also does quick fly trips – we’ve figured out different approaches to different types of trips.

The type of luggage you use & the way you pack should change depending on your trip. What & how you pack if you’re going to Vegas for 2 nights vs. going on a winter snow trip for 2 weeks will be different!

MY LUGGAGE SET

FIRST THINGS FIRST, EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE LUGGAGE. I’VE HAD THE SAME LUGGAGE FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE. THIS IS MY SECOND SET OF CALPAK NESTING LUGGAGE & I’VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS.

I ORIGINALLY PICKED IT OUT BECAUSE IT CAME IN THAT NESTING SET OF 3 BAGS I MENTIONED EARLIER. I ALSO WANTED SOMETHING THAT LOOKED DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE’S LUGGAGE (MINE IS BLACK MARBLE) – MAKING IT EASIER TO SPOT AT THE LUGGAGE CLAIM CAROUSEL. BUT ALSO LESS LIKELY TO BE CONFUSED FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S.

IT’S LIGHTWEIGHT, SO I NEVER RUN INTO ISSUES WITH OVERWEIGHT BAGGAGE. I LIKE THAT IT ALSO EXPANDS 2 EXTRA INCHES & HAS THOSE INTERIOR POCKETS FOR ORGANIZATION I MENTIONED!

HERE IS A LINK TO THE MARBLE ASTYLL 3 PIECE LUGGAGE SET I OWN.

YOU CAN GET $25 OFF YOUR CALPAK ORDER BY CLICKING THIS LINK – REGARDLESS OF WHAT LUGGAGE YOU PICK OUT!

IF YOU’RE NOT A FAN OF THE MARBLE – THEY ALSO MAKE THIS POLYCARBONATE SET THAT COMES IN SILVER, GOLD, ROSE GOLD & BLACK..

HERE ARE SOME OTHER SETS FOR EVERY BUDGET:

MY CARRY ON BAGS

I RARELY USE MY CARRY ON BAG AS A CARRY ON. PERSONALLY, I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE CHECKING MY BAGS – ESPECIALLY WHEN I MULTIPLE FLIGHTS & LAYOVERS. I FEEL LIKE IT’S A LOT EASIER TO RUN THROUGH THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH A BACKPACK OR PURSE VS. A SUITCASE.

I’VE ALSO FOUND THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THERE ISN’T ROOM FOR CARRY ON BAGS ON FLIGHTS. THEY REGULARLY MAKE YOU CHECK YOUR BAG AT THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE BOARDING. WHICH STRESSES ME OUT!

I NORMALLY TRAVEL WITH A BACKPACK AND/OR TOTE BAG. IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS ON OUR TRIP.

I LIKE HAVING THE OPTION TO USE EITHER OF THE BAGS OR BOTH & LIKE THAT THEY FIT IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT OR UNDER THE SEAT.

IF I’M BRINING MY CAMERA, LAPTOP, WORK STUFF, ETC, I’LL NORMALLY BRING A BACKPACK. I NEVER CHECK MY TECH. I ALWAYS KEEP MY CAMERA AND COMPUTER WITH ME – I DON’T WANT TO RISK ANYTHING BREAKING OR GETTING LOST. PLUS, I LIKE TO WORK ON THE GO!

I HAVE 2 BAGS FROM VESSEL THAT I LOVE: A LAPTOP TOTE & BACKPACK – BOTH ARE MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL. THEY’RE SO CHIC BUT ALSO SO FUNCTIONAL & WELL MADE.

WE ALSO HAVE THIS TRAVEL BAG FROM DOUG FROM WILDONE – LITERALLY THE MOST AMAZING TRAVEL BAG FOR DOGS. I TELL MY FRIENDS IT’S LIKE THE FERRARI OF PET CARRIERS. THIS LINK GETS YOU 15% OFF!

THE BEST DOG TRAVEL CARRIER BAG FOR FLYING - WILDONE

PACKING ORGANIZATION

I COULD (AND PROBABLY WILL) DO A WHOLE POST ON MY TRAVEL & PACKING ORGANIZATION. HOW I PACK. WHAT I PACK. GADGET, ETC.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF STAYING ORGANIZED WHEN I TRAVEL IS USING PACKING CUBES. THEY’RE LITERALLY A GAME CHANGER.

I HAVE TWO SETS OF PACKING CUBES FOR STAYING ORGANIZED. THE FIRST IS A 5 PIECE PACKING CUBE SET THAT MATCHES MY MARBLE LUGGAGE FROM CALPAK. IT COMES IN A TON OF COLORS AND PATTERNS – I JUST LIKE THE MATCHING ELEMENT!

I ALSO HAVE THIS SET OF 6 COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES. I LIKE USING THESE WHEN I’M PACKING BULKIER ITEMS – LIKE WINTER CLOTHES, SWEATERS OR SWEATS, ETC. THEY’RE SO HELPFUL WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO PACK A LOT IN A SMALL SPACE!

LASTLY, I HAVE THIS HANGING PACKING CUBE THAT I USE IN MY SMALL CARRY ON LUGGAGE.

WITH ALL 3 VARIATIONS, I LIKE THAT ALL OF MY CLOTHES STAY ORGANIZED & TAKE UP LESS SPACE IN THE LUGGAGE. I NORMALLY PULL OUT THE CUBES AND THROW THEM INTO A DRAWER OR SHELVES IN MY HOTEL ROOM. I KEEP EVERYTHING IN THE BAGS & PULL THINGS OUT AS NEEDED. A LOT OF TIMES, I’LL KEEP THE LARGEST CUBE EMPTY WHEN I’M PACKING & USE IT FOR DIRTY LAUNDRY DURING MY TRIP.

WITH THE HANGING CUBE, I LIKE THAT IT FITS PERFECTLY IN MY CARRY ON. I GENERALLY USE THIS TO STAY ORGANIZED FOR A SHORT TRIP OR WHEN I VISIT TONY ON THE ROAD. I LIKE THAT I CAN PULL EVERYTHING OUT AND HANG IT IN A CLOSET – OR EVEN IN A BATHROOM ON THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD WHEN I’M GETTING READY. THIS IS ALSO SUPER HELPFUL IF YOU’RE CAMPING OR HOPPING FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL!