Travel for Beginners: Choosing the Right Suitcase

If you haven’t traveled very much, one of the first things to consider is which type of luggage to choose. As a beginner traveler, you have the advantage of choosing the exact right suitcase to fit your personal travel style and fashion sense. Different types of luggage present different advantages and problems, depending on what type of traveling you are going to be doing, so making sure to get the perfect suitcase or backpack is a great way to start your trip out on the right foot.

We can’t begin to talk about the right type of luggage until we know what types of luggage that are out there on the market.

Suitcase – you already know what this is, but you may not know that there are a number of types and styles of suitcases, from the old school large suitcases to smaller, rollable suitcases that have a pop-up handle and can fit into the overhead compartment on an airplane.

Rucksack – a typically British term for a large backpack that is used for longer trips, trekking and hiking. Usually a rucksack has straps that fit around the waist and chest, as well as a frame that helps keep the weight distributed properly down your spine.

Convertible rucksack – similar to the one described above, but with an extra outer layer that can be zipped around, converting the rucksack into a huge duffel for airplane travel.

Backpack – the traditional backpack is smaller and more suited to very short trips, day trips or overnights, as it has a limited amount of space for packing all the necessities.

Now that we’ve gotten the terminology out of the way, how do you go about deciding which type of luggage is right for you? Let’s go through some different travel styles and which suitcases are best for them.

Going on 1-2 week vacation by plane or car.

You need: Suitcase. Since you are most likely to be traveling by plane and car, or taking taxis at your arrival, you don’t have to worry about the annoyance of rolling your suitcase through multiple city streets, over cobblestones or up and down stairs.

Business traveler taking frequent short trips.

You need: Small suitcase. Since you won’t be traveling for very long, you have the advantage of packing light and carrying your suitcase on board with you.

Budget traveler going on your first trip.

You need: Rucksack. As a budget traveler, you probably won’t want to take too many expensive taxis and will be relying on public transportation and walking, which means a rucksack is the most convenient way to carry all of your stuff (suitcases just keep tipping over on buses and uneven streets).

Budget traveler taking a long-haul or round-the-world trip.

You need: Convertible rucksack. Since you’ll be using a lot of public transit and walking, a rucksack is definitely the way to go in this situation. Using a convertible rucksack, though, is best since you will also be flying long distances.

Experienced traveler going on a short weekend trip.

You need: Backpack or small suitcase. Whether you are driving, flying or going by train, packing light is the name of the game for short trips. Therefore, a backpack or a small suitcase will be plenty big enough to help you get around easily. If you plan to use a lot of public transportation/walking, then opt for a small backpack. If you are renting a car or driving, take a small suitcase.