I go to Florida in 3 weeks and i am buying new suitcases.

Question

I don't know whether to get a hard suitcase or a material one i don't know which one will be heavier when packed , can anyone help please?

Answer 1

you will be able to judge by the weight of it before you buy. try lifting them when i the shop to get a better idea. some of the hard ones are lightweight now

Answer 2

Hard cases weigh more so take a big chunk out of your luggage weight allowance.

Think about it if your allowance is 20 kilo and the case weighs 4 kilo to begin with you have only 16 kilo left.

A material one would weigh very little leaving you more weight for packing.

Answer 3

Hard suitcases are heavier to begin with, so they'll be heavier when packed.  Their biggest benefit is that they protect whatever's inside from the abuse of baggage handling. However, if you pack "smartly" then this shouldn't be a problem.  Some tips on packing "smartly."

1- do not pack breakables or valuables in your suitcase.  Many are not covered by baggage liability (such as electronics) and you will not recover the loss.  Carry on, or if you must have it there and it's too big to carry- FedEx it out.  That way it's insured and should arrive shortly after you if you timed it right.

2- If you must pack something that's breakable, put it in the middle with soft items (usually clothing) surrounding it.  

3- Do not overstuff your suitcase.  This makes it more likely to pop a seam or worse- a zipper- when you're traveling.  Those suitcase belts that strap around the outside aren't a bad idea, but not really necessary if you're careful.

4- Always include your address and phone number on a slip of paper that's easy to see when you first open the suitcase.  Many bags are lost and never returned because their tags get yanked off (they catch on the belts and get pulled off- same with zippers).  This helps ensure that your bag will make it back to you.

5- Don't pack your suitcase too heavy, either. This will put stress on the structure of it. A suitcase full of books is not such a great idea plus- you'll find that you have to pay extra.  many airlines charge for the first bag now, but even southwest charges for over 50 lbs.  You'd be surprised how quickly that adds up.

I prefer the regular material suitcases because they're lighter, have more pockets, and can "nest" when not in use.  If you're traveling with expensive equipment I'd say have a hard case for that, but otherwise I would go with a GOOD quality material set.  I bought my set of 5 pieces from Costco several years ago (Ricardo is the brand I think). I'm quite pleased with it.

Since so much luggage looks alike, tying a colorful shoelace to your bag is helpful for quick identification.  It can get caught in a belt- and you'll know it if the shoelace comes missing, but I travelled with one on my bag for years and never had a problem.  There are other creative ways of marking a suitcase- that's just one.

Lastly, do not lock your suitcase.  TSA will cut it off and your bags are subject to search.

Hope this helps. Enjoy Florida!