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Checking Your Baggage

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Whether you are traveling for three nights or three weeks, preparing for a getaway or a big holiday vacation can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to choosing the right luggage. With airline and TSA requirements changing constantly, a few carefully selected packing tools can help make your trip high on organization and low on stress.

Before packing and selecting the optimal bag for your trip, professional travelers always check the weather and try to plan an itinerary for their destination. Experts also agree to avoid being an over or under-packer; it’s always best to stick to the basics. This includes packing tops, blazers, pants, dresses, and skirts, all in neutral tones so you can mix and match as you travel. Here are my picks for travel-worthy luggage.

Broadmore Backpack

The X-ray Friendly Backpack: The luxury bag of choice among frequent travelers is the sleek, Brenthaven Broadmore backpack. In addition to its upscale look, this bag has a coveted x-ray friendly, TSA-approved compartment, which is an added feature for those who must tote a laptop through security. When using this bag, you simply unzip the center and lay it flat on the conveyor belt. Smooth sailing—no more need to remove your laptop. ($249.95) brenthaven.com/broadmore

Hard-side Sophistication: When choosing a durable, hard-side carry-on with tasteful and chic design, the Tumi Tegra-Lite International carry-on bag combines impact resistance with lightweight ease and maneuverability. Made from a cutting-edge polypropylene thermoplastic material (created for lifesaving armor, NASCAR, and protective gear for NFL players) this bag has 360° swivel wheels, a patented handle system, and exterior bumpers for added protection. ($545) tumi.com

EBags TLS Professional Slim Backpack

The Laptop Bag: Another state-of-the-art choice is eBags— TLS Professional Slim Laptop Backpack. With a streamlined design, this bag’s isolated quick-access compartments not only protect your laptop and tablet, but also include a special section for electrical chargers—this preserves storage space and provides effortless access to all of your devices. ($99.99) ebags.com

 

 

 

Baggallini Bag, skyline rolling briefcase

Listen to the Pros: Baggallini offers handbags and travel accessories designed by flight attendants who blend personal style with thoughtful function. Try the Skyline rolling briefcase, which has expandable pockets, fits easily under the seat in front of you, and comes in 10 different colors. ($149.95) baggallini.com

Packing Cubes: Smart packers are organized right down to the last detail. Try using color-coordinated packing cubes to keep clothing items separated and easy to locate. With these zippered cubes, it’s easy to pack similar items together. Ebags offer six new patterns for the holidays including open road, brilliant blooms-blue, and posh paisley. ($29.99) ebags.com

Briggs & Riley International Carry-on Spinner

International Elegance: TORQ is the first line of hard-sided luggage from Briggs & Riley, backed-up by an unconditional lifetime guarantee. The collection features an outside protective pocket and unique 80/20 top-lid opening capacity for packing, instead of the usual 50/50 clamshell opening. ($479.00) briggs-riley.com

Portable Luggage Scale: Finally, to ensure that your trip is worry-free, it’s important to know the weight of your luggage in order to avoid extra baggage fees. Bring along a portable scale, such as the GripScale Digital Luggage Scale, featuring an ergonomic shape and illuminated LCD display. ($15.99) ebags.com

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