Carried or wheeled?
Opinions differ. If you carry your bag, long walks around the terminal can be a strain, and shuffling towards the boarding gate a pain, but the advantage is you are more mobile and can fit the most into your allotted allowance since you don’t have to allow for wheels.
Two wheels versus four
You’ll fit more in a two-wheel than a four-wheel, and they don’t roll away if on a slope or in a train, but a four-wheel means nearly all of the weight is taken through the wheels and you can always pull it tilted on two wheels over rough ground or if you’re in a rush. Four-wheel carry-ons, also known as spinners (go figure), also allow you to wheel the bag alongside or in front of you – useful in narrow aircraft aisles.
Price
Two arguments here. Spend a lot, and get something durable. Spend very little, and replace it as often as it breaks. The problem with cheap bags is that they rarely break at home and the handle is far more likely to come off in the middle of a trip as you’re dashing for a flight. At such times, penny wise, pound foolish.
Guarantees
All bags will break at some point, but the more expensive brands have very effective guarantees – up to lifetime in some cases (pun intended). Check out the Briggs and Riley one, which “covers the repair of all functional aspects of your Briggs and Riley bag for the life of your bag”.
Hard shell versus soft
Generally, a hard-shell case is the heavier option but offers more protection for your belongings, suiting those with valuables or fragile possessions. A soft-shell case is a more flexible choice as the fabric gives way, catering to travellers who need to squeeze in that little bit more on the way home.
Bad back?
If you suffer from back pain, a four-wheel case would be best, and probably not a hard shell since at some point you’ll have to lift it into an overhead locker. If you are tall, test the bag to ensure the telescopic handle is long enough and won’t mean the bag catches at your heels as you walk along.
