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by Sana Bun

Holiday Guide: How To Choose Cabin Travel Bags For Your Summer Escape

18 Jul 2024

Photo: Andrej Lišakov

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There is a perfect place to go in the UAE when the summer breaks in — the nearest airport with plenty of aeroplanes that will take you to a more bearable climate. To help you escape the heat fully prepared, we have already published guides on the best fabrics for hot weather, seasonal must-haves for women and men, and even tips for fitting skincare essentials into a cabin travel bag. Now it is time to choose a reliable carry-on buddy that will accommodate it all!

Carry-on luggage bags restrictions

Luggage bags that you can take on board have their limitations, and the rules vary depending on the airline. For this reason, it’s crucially important to check the travel bags allowance for the companies you are normally travelling with and choose the size that works for most of them. Normally airport staff neglect a difference of a couple of centimetres, so you can just buy a suitcase or a travel bag marked as “Cabin” from your favourite luggage brand. Low-cost airlines, however, tend to be way stricter, so better not to mess around with them.
Size is not the only restriction, so while traveling with carry-on luggage, also mind its weight. The lower the suitcase itself is, the more you can squeeze into it. This is the point where you should set your priorities and decide if you go for a soft or a hard shell.
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Lipault, Samsonite, Lipault. Source: lipault.com, samsonite.com

Soft-shell VS hard-shell travel bags

The first option, normally made from fabric, is more lightweight and flexible, which is convenient for packing bulky items. On the other hand, the second travel bag made from plastic materials, provides better damage- and liquid protection, is easier to clean, and comes in way bigger variety of designs. The main downside — slightly heavier weight.
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Crash Baggage, Rimowa, Tumi. Source: rimowa.com, crashbaggage.com, tumi.com.

Additional functions

Another important feature is manoeuvrability. You are going to move the suitcase around a lot, so make sure it’s easy to transport. Imagine that you are buying a car and pick the carry-on with the same approach. Pay attention to details: in particular that it is equipped with 360° spinning wheels and a decent retractable handle.
Outside compartments are a nice functional addition to carry-on luggage for safer storage of fragile items and easier access to belongings that you might need on the road such as a phone charger or laptop. In general, you can find them on soft luggage bags, but, if you are in a rigid team, cheer up — some brands offer hard models as well as detachable harnesses.
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American Tourister, Crash Baggage, Rimowa. Source: crashbaggage.com, americantourister.com, rimowa.com.

Not necessary, but why not go for a travel bag with a vibrant shape and vivid colors like these ones by Globe Trotter x GOLF Le FLEUR*, Floyd, and Piquadro? Come on, it’s the summer holidays!

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