How to Choose the Right Travel Bag

The right travel bag depends less on where you are going than on how you get there. A weekend by train, a week of flights and a month on the road each ask something different of the bag you carry.

Weekends and short trips

For two or three nights a soft duffel is hard to beat. It squeezes into overhead racks, it opens wide so you can see everything at once, and a leather one only looks better as it ages.

Flights

Airlines are strict about cabin sizes, so check the dimensions before you buy. A hard shell cabin trolley protects what is inside and rolls easily through long terminals.

Longer journeys

On the move for weeks, most travellers end up with a backpack for the days and a trolley for the stays. Pack the heavy things close to your back and keep a small bag free for the day.