While style and color may be what first attract those shopping for luggage, consumers today have many choices in products. Function, durability, size, and weight vary widely. Fabric technology has made great strides; generally, today’s luggage is more lightweight and durable than ever before, making possible features such as expandability,   wet pockets, and molded materials.

Luggage falls into two major categories: Hard-sided and soft-sided.

         Hard-sided – longest wearing, with maximum protection against outside impact; most water-tight and secure. Molded cases are made of metal, polypropylene, or ABS plastics; box-constructed cases have metal or wood frames, covered with fabric, vinyl, or leather. Hard-sided luggage often comes with built-in locks, wheels, and pull straps.

         Soft-sided – more lightweight and most expandable, with partial frames or stiffeners like cardboard or hard plastic; less resistant to outside impact. Covering fabrics include:

• Top grain/full grain leather – the outermost skin; stylish, expensive, durable        
• Split leather – underlayers split from the top grain; cheaper, less durable  
• Processed/bonded/laminated – leather treated to resemble another type, or pulverized and glued together – less durable                 
• Nylon – strength is rated in deniers, a measure of the thickness of the fiber. Higher denier means stronger fiber. Nylon for luggage should be a minimum of 400 denier (ballistic nylon is one of the sturdiest; the weave is similar to that used in bulletproof vests). Water and stain repellent coatings are usually applied to the fabric surface                 
• Vinyl – commonly made to resemble leather; easy to clean, moderately priced