When planning a trip, making sure you have quality luggage should
never be an afterthought. Unfortunately, there are enough options on the
market to make even the most thorough researcher feel a bit
overwhelmed.
To help steer you in the right direction, we spoke with Moses Berger, president and founder of Portmantos.
Portmantos is an online boutique specializing in luggage and travel
accessories, designed to make the process of acquiring new travel gear a
bit easier for everyone. Here are Moses' recommendations about how to
find the right luggage for you.
About: Are there any
current styles of luggage you've noticed your customers gravitating
toward, or new trends driving the industry?
Moses: There
was a time when consumers sought either style or durability when
shopping for luggage. We have noticed that the majority of our customers
are now gravitating toward pieces that are stylishly durable. Rimowa is a perfect example of that. Rimowa is making real waves in the industry because they are not just fashionable, but because they are incredibly resilient.
More significant than their style is their remarkable ability to sustain impact and the elements.
About: What are some key features shoppers should look for when buying new luggage?
Moses:
Consumers tend to forget they will be filling a suitcase with
potentially 50 pounds of clothing, so it’s important to always keep in
mind that lighter is better. But aside from the obvious, consumers
should really consider the size of the luggage necessary for the trip
they are taking, as well as making sure the aesthetic matches their
personal style.
About: What fabrics or materials do you think lend themselves best to durability?
Moses: Fabrics that lend themselves best to durability are Nylon (like Tumi), Scratch Resistant Polycarbonate (like Bric's), and Aluminum (like Rimowa).
About: What are the luggage essentials every man should have - does it go beyond just a carry-on and a bigger suitcase?
Moses:
A garment bag. Living and working in New York, you see an alarming
number of suits that obviously just got pulled out of a piece of
luggage.
A small carry-on that can be kept at your seat and hold
things that you will use during your flight (like a good set of
headphones, battery operated universal charger, and a travel pillow).
An
outlet adaptor. Don’t forget to always leave an outlet adaptor in your
carry-on. You don’t want to end up on the other side of the world with
no way to plug in your devices!
