Wheeled duffel bags
Who would have thought that the humble duffel bag used generally by sportspersons would one day become an essential part of just about every travelers luggage! The wheeled version is even more convenient, as it literally allows you to haul it willy-nilly anywhere and everywhere you go. It is sometimes referred to as a rolling duffel bag. It is useful not just for the individual going on a business trip, but also for a camping expedition or family excursion.
General Characteristics of a Duffel Bag
A duffel bag is basically cylindrical in shape and is zipped shut along the central line. Its roomy interior enables you to even carry sports gear, gym equipment, and shoes. Pack it, sling it over you shoulders with its handles, and off you go ! Its easy ability to expand makes the duffel bag a versatile luggage piece. Over the years, luggage manufacturers have come up with innovative designs to make duffel bags more spacious and easy to transport, namely with attached wheels.
Specific Features of a Wheeled Duffle BagToday wheeled duffel bags do not have just a single compartment with on internal pocket. What you will see, instead, is what is known as a drop-bottom type of bag. This means that there is an individual compartment at the bottom of the bag, with a zip that separates it from the upper compartment. In this bottom compartment, you can keep your special apparel, say an ironed business suit, and so that it does not get wrinkled when put with your regular clothes in the upper section of the bag. There will be adjustable straps in both the upper and lower compartments, to keep all items inside in a fixed position and not shift around. The upper section of the bag will have a top-opening flap, which is generally well padded. This flap will have a pocket on its external side (where, for example, you can put a travel brochure) and an internal pocket (say for a toilet kit) on the inner side of the bag. Some wheeled duffel bags also have a couple of vertical mesh pockets at the sides on the outside, which come in handy to keep a bottle of water or odds & ends. There will be a pullout handle and, most important, skate wheels that enable mobility and maneuverability. Some bags come with separate grab handles at the sides, too, for removing quickly from the luggage carousel at the airport or for removing from the cars trunk. There are also likely to be guardrails at the bottom to prevent abrasions on the bag. Many wheeled duffel bags also have an additional feature called a mono-foot, which enables the bag to be kept in an upright position.
Materials used in Wheeled Duffel BagsNylon is a very tough material and can take plenty of knocks, so is ideal for a wheeled duffel bag. It is unlikely to get damaged very easily and thus has a long life span. Also, compared to other types of bags, it is considerably lighter in weight. You will get a wide variety of nylon wheeled duffle bags ripstop nylon, ballistic nylon, Cordura nylon, and so on. These special types of nylon ensures that your wheeled duffel bag is not only resistant to abrasions, but also to stains and moisture.
Wheeled duffel bags made from leather are popular amongst some travelers as they are much more tough and resilient than nylon ones. They also look very elegant. However, keep in mind that a leather duffel bag means paying more greenbacks (quite a bit more!) than nylon ones. Also, while you can load as much as you wish in a wheeled nylon duffle bag, this is not the case with leather types. This is because leather, unlike nylon, does not stretch. So you cannot cram in something at the last minute !
Manufacturers of wheeled duffel bags sometimes use polyester, as it does not wrinkle easily. Moreover, it is abrasion resistant and does not get affected by mildew. It does not shrink and also dries up easily.
Many bags come with a combination of materials for example, a layer of foam padding will be ensconced between a top layer of cotton canvas and a bottom layer of special nylon.
Selecting A Wheeled Duffel BagFirst and foremost, you need to confirm how much weight is permissible for baggage while traveling by air. You may personally think that the wheeled duffle bag is the right size, but are likely to find the airlines marking your bag as oversize. The best thing to do is to get your bag weighed with all its items duly packed inside a day before your trip. This is what I personally do I take the bag to the local scrap dealer who has those large weighing scales, and check the weight. That way, there are no unnecessary last minute glitches at the airport !
Your wheeled duffel bag should be easy to move around. If you are going in one direction and the bag insists on going its own way on its wheels, the very purpose of buying a wheeled bag is defeated.
Talking about wheels, make sure they are not the kind that will just come apart from their fixtures. Also, take a closer look at the wheels to ensure that there is no rust formation.
Buy a wheeled duffel bag as per your requirements. There is no point in paying for a large sized one if you are just going on a short 2-day trip.
Check out the space inside. If you are heading outdoors on a camping trip, for example, you can opt for a wheeled duffel bag that has a separate compartment to keep dirty boots and / or wet clothes. This is where the drop bottom bag (mentioned earlier in this article) comes very handy.
Also useful for outdoor excursions are wheeled duffel bags that have backpack straps. These straps are generally hidden away behind the back panel of the bag.
Make sure that the straps inside are not frayed, are sturdy, and are the adjustable type.
It is important to test the handles of the wheeled duffel bag. The handle, like the wheels, should have firm fixtures. Preferably buy a bag with padded handles for a softer grip. Furthermore, go for bags that have handles that can be recessed back and not remain sticking out awkwardly.
All zippers of compartments and pockets should function smoothly and be strong.
The security aspect of your wheeled duffel bag, should, naturally be an important part of your checklist. Many bags come with wheeled number locks, but a savvy thief can easily roll the numbers up and down till the right combination clicks. So it is always better to have proper locks and keep the keys safely in your shirt pocket / handbag. Of course, the locks should also adhere to the standards stated by airport authorities.
A wheeled duffel bag can cost less than $150 and go all the way up to over $600, depending on the brand, type and size. When you buy online, you are likely to get major discounts with the actual retail price being drastically slashed. Just ensure that you are buying from a creditworthy dealer and that your online transactions are secure. Find out about warranties as well as refund & return policies.
To sum up, when buying a wheeled duffel bag, look for versatility, flexibility, durability, dependability, convenience & comfort.
Get ready for your trip!
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