How to Choose a New Luggage Bag, and Tips and Tricks for Maintaining your own Luggage Bags - Read More:
This section explores the technical aspects for current / prospective owners of mid to high-end luggage bags, and attempts to share what we think are the most important when selecting a new luggage bag, and how you should store / maintain them to preserve as much of the useful life as possible.
Choosing a New Luggage Bags - Some Considerations for the Aspiring Enthusiast
Shell Arguably the most defining feature of a luggage bag. If you didn't already know this, the handling of all luggage bags beyond the check-in at the airport reception is not always meticulous. Thus it is always important to ensure that the shell of your luggage is sturdy enough to withstand mild shocks. While we do not expect a shatterproof shell, we should always keep an eye out for the like - corrugated, honeycombed. "Strategically Reinforced"
Retractable / Extendable Handle While not indispensable, the benefits of having a good retractable handle often goes unnoticed. Being able to drag / guide a luggage bag effortlessly stems from a solid grip and support for your hand.
Rollers / Wheels Probably what makes or breaks a good luggage trolley - the rollers / wheels are what differentiate a luggage bag from ordinary duffels and the like. Without rollers / wheels that turn smoothly, you are probably just lugging around your luggage and what is essentially the extra weight of the roller assemblies. These are probably the hardest to find, even if given a budget of SGD$200. The gap in performance and utility is so game-changing, most travel enthusiasts hardly pass up the offer to get the best rollers available. As for whether you should aim to get a 2-Roller, a 4-Roller (360 spinner), or an 8-Roller (360 spinner) - that's entirely up to your habits and the conditions of the grounds at your planned visit. The traditional 2-Rollers are by far the more versatile as they accommodate for brisk walking. Depending on the make, 2-Rollers could be more stable than other 4 or 8 roller options. The more recent and contemporary models of 4-Rollers and 8-Rollers are better suited to smooth tracks and leisurely strolling. You might be thinking at this point: "Aren't the roles reversed here? Why is a 2-Roller less versatile?" This is where many people make the mistake. Much like a quadrupedal mammal or a 4-wheel-drive car, all 4-Rollers and all 8-Rollers are meant to be used with all of their rollers / wheels in contact with the ground. It might seem more convenient to just roll the luggage bag on 2 of the 4 wheels provided, but in reality it only doubles the strain / stress on the 2 wheels in use, and hastens their expiry. You could however, opt into models that have made considerations for such events, and pick up a hybrid that caters to brisk walking and leisurely strolling.
Maintaining your Luggage Bags - D.I.Y. Tips from an insider
As with most tools and machines, there are parts of the luggage bag that has components requiring love and attention every once in a while. Most notably, the roller assemblies will need extra caring for because they bear the brunt of the heavy loading (quite literally).
Oiling For any component that can move about in an assembly / system, take some time to lubricate the joints, and places that frequent contact with one another. This helps to make sure that there is minimal friction, thus preserving the useful life by reducing the effects of wear. For those who have been tempted by offers of a "self-lubricating' roller, we advise against it, since there really isn't much of an upside to it. Our experience with these rollers has not been all that great. You can see for yourself what the rollers do to themselves after being in storage for over a year:
Cleaning Always be sure to clean the interior of your luggage bags before and after each trip, just to make sure the condition of luggage bag allows for use and storage - a general check for any cracks or dirt should be good enough while you are at it. As for the rollers, ensure that they are free of any hairs / dirt that might be caught in between as they could impede the mobility of the rollers (a pair of scissors could help to remove any strings that are trapped, but be sure not to damage the rollers while doing so. exercise extra caution when using scissors)
(All Observations and Opinions are Personal and at the Reader's Discretion)