Baggage

Suitcases are the normal luggage when you have organized transport. They are usually optimized for the restrictions on airlines (and those restrictions in turn are based on suitcases). They are less good if you actually have to carry them any significant distance, especially in places where you cannot use the wheels most of them have. Even big wheels require a smooth, hard surface, so if there are gravel roads or snow, hand-carrying can turn out to be necessary.

Suitcases generally come in these basic types:

• Hard-shelled cases, good for protection of fragile items. They are clamped and/or locked closed.
• Hard-sided cases with zippers that can be padlocked for modest security. Some of these can be expanded.
• Soft-sided or duffel bags.

Wheeled bags are easier to carry. Two quality wheels should track well and last the life of the bag. Four-wheeled bags are easy to roll on smooth, hard surfaces such as airport hallways; however, they must be carried more often, and they tend to use an inch or so more length than two-wheelers. Bigger wheels help on less smooth surfaces, but also take some more space.

See also: Flight baggage#Carry-on luggage

The airline carry-on luggage size is particularly convenient for short trips, so sometimes bags of this size are called overnight bags or weekend bags. Many people keep one of these bags ready to grab in case of an unexpected trip. Generally, they're large enough to carry one or two full changes of clothes plus toiletries, a laptop computer, and other essentials. It may look like a small suitcase or be designed as a foldable hanging garment bag to carry a business suit (some airlines have different dimension rules for garment bags).

On an airplane, the maximum exterior dimensions for carry-on luggage varies by country, airline, and whether you are flying internationally or within a single country, but it is typically around 20x40x55 cm (about 8x16x22 in) for suitcases. Not all luggage has exactly the advertised dimensions, which means that the bag may not fit in the overhead compartment even though it is supposedly the correct size. If you fly to a wide variety of places, especially if you fly to smaller airports, then you may want to buy a bag that is one or even two sizes smaller than what you think you'll be entitled to.

If you're driving or taking a bus, train, or ferry, then carry-on bags have many advantages. The smaller size compared to larger suitcases means that they aren't very heavy, and are usually designed to be comfortable to carry. They are usually easy to stow in whatever space is available to you, including under the table at a restaurant while you're waiting for your connection.

Backpacks are easy to carry as they leave your hands free and distribute the weight better than suitcases (when you cannot or do not want to use the wheels), but few backpacks are optimized for airline restrictions. They are also not good at avoiding creases on your clothes. A fit man with a good heavy-duty backpack can carry about the typical airline weight allowance; a rule of thumb for trekking (with appropriate fitness level) is to carry at most one-fourth to one-third of your ideal weight.

Sizes vary from that of a big handbag to those suitable for a week-long trek in the wilderness. As the backpacks are soft (except for the frame), the space they take depends on how they are packed, but the capacity itself gives some overhead. Some are more flexible in that respect than others.

When you use a backpack for significant amounts of stuff, there are trade-offs regarding how easy it is to pack in available space (such as overhead racks on trains and buses) and how easy it is to carry. There are two main types: internal frame backpacks are more compact and usually the better choice for general use, while good external frame backpacks have some advantages on the trail. The shape of the backpack and the design of the strap system significantly affect how much you can carry, and how comfortably. Get a quality backpack from a specialist store, explaining your use case, and learn to adjust the straps. Also distributing weight right when packing is essential for balance and comfort.

Smaller backpacks often have no frame, which makes them lighter and easier to pack away, but less comfortable if heavy. They also lack the strapping to get the weight on the hips instead of the shoulders. Neither is a problem as long as the packing is light. Even with little to carry, pack so that you have no edges pointing into your back.

When carrying a backpack among people, you may have to take special measures against pickpockets. As the backpack is at your back, it is a fairly easy target; some backpacks for use in cold weather even have straps on the zipper pulls to allow easy opening with gloves on. Smaller backpacks can be worn on your front in high-risk areas. Consider getting a backpack with locking zippers, or run a large safety pin through each zipper. Generally, to deter a pickpocket, you don't need to have an impenetrable bag. You only need to avoid being the easiest and most tempting target in the crowd.

With a big or moderate backpack, do not forget your increased size. It is easy to cause a disaster in a porcelain shop, and to knock people over in the bus.