A version of this article originally appeared in the September issue of WiFi HiFi Magazine
I once wheeled a cheap piece of luggage up and down the cobblestone streets of Paris. A wheel popped off, then a hole appeared from dragging the bag. I spent precious vacation hours looking for Krazy glue (a term that doesn't translate easily into French) to fix it. Take it from me: properly engineered luggage is worth the investment if you're a frequent traveler.
Everyone has a preference with style and features. We all expect to have something lightweight, durable, and compatible with TSA requirements. Don't want to bother checking luggage? For carry-on, you'll want something that affords easy access to electronic equipment and toiletries for the security checks, not to mention something that won't put your back out from lifting it over your head to place it in an overhead bin.
Here are a few picks for the best high-tech luggage for a three-day business trip:
Travelpro Crew 10
The look: Travelpro bags were originally designed by a pilot, and who better to know what frequent flyers want? There are eight carry-on models in the line, each accented with a leather side and top carry handles.
Standout features: 360-degree dual-wheel spinner system with MagnaTrac wheel technology: self-aligning magnetic wheels roll straight in all directions. I've found this useful for squeezing down the aisle of an airplane, and it also helps to reduce shoulder and arm strain (think of the "drifting" associated with pushing spinner luggage).
Why it's especially cool: For paranoid travelers, an RFID blocking interior pocket is designed to protect your passport and credit cards against identify theft.
Who it's for: Road warriors because it can handle bumps and bangs, and a tapered expansion for packing flexibility, shear-resistant zipper heads and a suiter for wrinkle-free packing.
Travelpro.com
Price: US$99-$349
Victorinox Lexicon
The look: Hailing from the makers of the Swiss Army Knife, the Lexicon cases are sort of like the Swiss Army Knife of luggage. This one is a carry-on upright with padded protection for a laptop or tablet in the front pocket, and a removable suiter with foam bolsters that can be used with or without the bag.
Standout features: If you often need extra packing space on the way home (you've picked up swag on the trade show floor or souvenirs for the family), the extendable packing area (it expands an additional 5-6 cm) is a huge bonus. And top and side retractable handles lay flay for easy sliding in and out of an overhead compartment.
Why it's especially cool: The Swiss Tracker Bag Tracking Program will reunite you with your bag anywhere in the world - for free!
Who it's for: Creative types on a budget who still want to express their personality and show the world "I'm different!"
Swissarmy.com
Price: US$319-$599
Samsonite Silhouette Sphere
The look: Several designs (both hard-side and soft-side), made from tri-core nylon fabric to resist stains from oil, dirt and water. Aside from its standard carry-on designs, there's a wheeled duffle. The Spinner Boarding Bag has a removable organizer that keeps smaller items securely contained and a padded laptop compartment that accommodates up to a 15.6-inch computer. A gel-infused locking handle provides a comfortable grip. And with its tri-core nylon fabric, the bags tend to wear well.
Standout features: A shoe pocket in the duffle lets you keep footwear separate from clothing (if you like to work out when you travel, this is great for throwing in sneakers and workout gear).
Why it's especially cool: It's all about the wheel. This piece uses a new wheel design with four spherical spinner wheels for better control and turning ability.
Who it's for: The traveler who values reliability and no-nonsense performance above all else. It's not the most stylish, but like a Honda, it's guaranteed to get you from Point A to Point B.
Samsonite.ca
Price: $220-360
Delsey Chatelet Carry-on Trolley Case
The look: The French brand Delsey is known for its avant-garde designs, and this is no exception - it's luggage you want to be seen with. And it's durable, made from lightweight and scratch-resistant Makrolon polycarbonate.
Standout features: The Zip SecuriTech is more resilient than a conventional zipper (a nice feature if you often stuff your bag to capacity and struggle to zip it up). The brake system is activated with a knob under the telescoping handle to lock the two front wheels and prevent the bag from drifting away (I've had problems with previous four-wheel spinners rolling around on a train or subway.)
Why it's especially cool: Get this: it has a built-in overweight indicator. Lift the bag and a red mark signals when it exceeds the standard 50 lb. weight restriction enforced by most airlines. No more surprise overweight baggage fees, or throwing on an extra sweater (or two!) from the bag at the last minute to avoid the charges.
Who it's for: Don't bother me about petty generalizations. I'm sitting here in a café, enjoying a cigarette and my latte while reading Le Monde. And why yes, this is a fabulous bag!
Delsey.com
Price: US$460
Rimowa Salsa Air
The look: It's lightweight, durable, and fun with bright colour options like lime green, ice blue and ultra violet.
Standout features: It's made of polycarbonate, the same material used in aircraft and vehicle construction. It's resistant to heat and cold (from 125°C to -100°C,) and can even withstand exposure to UV radiation.
Why it's especially cool: The shell yields to pressure, but then returns to its original form (a great feature for luggage that gets banged around in airplanes or on baggage carousels).
Who it's for: Those who travel from, say, northern Alberta in the dead of winter to a more tropical clime, the heat and cold resistant features of polycarbonate are a huge bonus for protecting the contents. If you aspire to travel by private jet instead of domestic, this is the bag that says I spend as much time in Paris, London, and New York as I do at home.
Rimowa.com
Price: $475
Tumi Tegra-Lite
The look: Compact wheeled carry-on design, with four 360-degree swivel wheels and the X-Brace 45 handle system, which adds structural rigidity to the case. There are interior accessory pockets and tie-down straps, TSA integrated locks, bottom-grab handle and exterior bumpers. There isn't, however, an outside pocket.
Standout features: It's both impact-resistant and lightweight, thanks to Tegris, a polypropylene thermoplastic composite material created for use in NASCAR racecars and protective gear for NFL players.
Why it's especially cool: Just like the German World Cup team, Tumi is German engineering and efficiency at its best. It's an investment piece, but Tumi is well known for its craftsmanship, so you can expect this bag to last a long, long time.
Who it's for: Its compact size makes it ideal for quick business trips, yet you'll still be able to cram in everything you need.
Tumi.com
Price: US$595 ($650)
Filson Outfitter Travel Bag
The look: Stylish, rugged and manly - indeed, the company caters to men, with gear for hunting, fly-fishing and sport shooting. But the Outfitter Travel Bag is one I'd buy for both its good looks and unique features. It has a leather shoulder strap and handles, and packs like a suitcase, but doesn't have wheels (so there may be better options for frequent fliers, like the Wheeled Carry-on Bag).
Standout features: Lots of pockets, including a stow pocket and interior zipper pocket, though it's not really designed for a laptop.
Why it's especially cool: It's made of water-repellent fabric, and has a separate bottom compartment lined with heavy-duty nylon for wet items or boots (I'd use this to store wet bathing suits, dirty laundry or muddy shoes).
Who it's for: For the adventurous spirit who wants a bag that can double as a business suitcase and a weekender bag for his next outdoor adventure. As soon as this business trip is over, I'm getting on a seaplane and going fishing!
Filson.com
Price: US$440 ($480)
Golla Weekender
The look: From the Finnish lifestyle fashion brand, the wax coated canvas material with faux leather accents is meant to have a worn look, which means it can easily hide scuffs or stains. A front slot can hold a laptop or tablet (up to 16"), there's a large zippered pocket on the back, and three organizing pockets inside that are great for holding your passport, smartphone or favourite novel. Remove the shoulder strap if you prefer to carry the bag by its sturdy handles. The only downside for airplane travelers is that this one doesn't have wheels.
Standout features: There's a mesh zippered compartment around the inside perimeter, perfect for keeping papers, chargers, or unmentionables separate from the main compartment.
Why it's especially cool: It's versatile, stylish, and functional. Take it on a plane or train for your next work trip, or up to the cottage for the weekend for work or play.
Who it's for: Hipsters who would never be caught dead wheeling a bag like some puppy dog. The only wheels for this crowd are either on their Mini convertible or the single-speed Linus bicycle. A real bag has a strap. Period.
Golla.com
Price: $270 (distributed by Erikson Consumer in Canada)
Heys International SmartLuggage
The look: Made of polycarbonate, it provides flexibility and high-impact resistance. The hard-side luggage features a front-access system designed to make it easier to pack (as opposed to packing two halves of traditional hard-side luggage). It comes in traditional black, plus some other fun colours.
Standout features: A four-wheel spinner system that spreads weight evenly and a zippered expansion system that allows for up to 20% more packing capacity (while still fitting in the overhead compartment).
Why it's especially cool: It can also be divided, organized and packed from the middle using the centre access zipper, making it easy to access your belongings while the bag is in an upright position -handy for, say, pulling out a plastic bag of 100 mL toiletries while going through security.
Who it's for: The business traveler who likes to stay organized, loves vibrant colours, and is on a relatively tight budget.
Heys.ca
Price: $329-$499
Splurge-Worthy: Have a few extra bucks to fork over for a statement piece? Check out the Louis Vuitton Pegase 55, a cabin-sized business case from the iconic French designer. It rolls oh so smoothly, and is crafted of durable Taiga leather with natural cowhide leather trim and polyamide lining. Two-level telescopic handle? Check. Exterior padded pocket for laptop? Check. Plus two clothing protection flaps, garment cover and hanger, and a removable pouch with a protective sleeve. You'll need to save up for this beauty, to the tune of about US$5K. But boy, will you ever look good wheeling it around!