The Great Luggage Debate Look at your fellow road warriors as they run to catch a plane. Check out your colleagues as you pile into that rent a car. Or take a look around the business class lounge the next time you have a two-hour delay. Chances are you'll notice an obvious luggage trend. Quite simply, men prefer to carry their carry-on while women prefer to roll. It's clear that gentlemen prefer garment bags, but does it make sense? Should you let your sex determine this important travel decision or are there other factors to consider? Which is the better way to go? Here's a guide to help you decide. Physical - How big are your shoulders? Are you in shape? Let's face it, men usually have broader shoulders than most women -- and in general they are taller. Garment bags hang better on men -- they can manuever with them and walk quickly without tripping. Rollerbags are suited to smaller, petite women. Unless you are a woman built like a fabulous supermodel -- does Cindy Crawford even carry her own luggage? - wheeled luggage is probably best. Your best choice often depends on your physical condition. Even if you switch shoulders while carrying the bag, over-the-shoulder garment bags put continous, concentrated strain on certain parts of your body. They have been known to cause and aggravate back, neck and shoulder pain. Overloaded garment bags -- are there any other kind? -- are a chiropractor's delight. Rollerbags allow an even weight distribution of your load. It's important, however, when you are rolling -- that you change sides frequently. Have you ever had back, neck or shoulder problems? Are you feeling any twinges now as you hoist your garment bag? You might want to switch to a wheeled bag. Psychological - What's your Image? Let's face it. Many men don't like "the look" of pulling a rollerbag. Businessman often think of themselves as battle-weary travel veterans, fighting for frequent flier miles around the globe. Remember, Tom Clancy books are best sellers at airports. The tough guy image might seem hard to maintain when you are pulling the luggage equivalent of a little red wagon. One male financial services sales executive says that his manager discourages men in his department from using rollerbags because it diminishes their macho "go-get-'em" image. Many men feel that rollerbags are effeminate, perhaps because because of their popularity as "stewardess luggage". Whatever the reason, it is hard to get a man to switch to wheeled luggage even when he he is crippled by back and shoulder pain. Many female business travelers feel they look more pulled-together with rollerbags. A female frequent flier with the same financial services company prefers the roller alternative because it makes her look more professional and organized: "No woman wants to be thought of as a bag lady -- and that's what I look like when I'm hefting an over-the-shoulder bag.” Consider what type of bag your boss, clients and colleagues use. If it's important that you fit into the organization, you might want to follow along. Duffels say "cool" or "just graduated" ; backpacks : "edgy" and "iconoclastic", garment bags "professional male business traveler " and rollerbags "professional female traveler" or "male traveler who is confident in his masculinity." What image do you want to portray? Packing - How much stuff do you have? Garment bags also offer the lure of "more space to stuff" things. Rollerbags with their hard edges provide clear limits on the amount you can pack. If you have trouble organizing your items and limiting what you take, you will probably be better off with a garment bag. Just remember, the airlines are cracking down and you can't always board with those stuffed garment bags. In general, suits travel better in garment bags. Ultimately, when you reach your destination, you don't want your business suit to end up as wrinkled and disheveled as you probably feel. Traveling with a suit and considering a rollerbag? Here's the best way to pack your suit in a rollerbag. To pack a suit in duffel or backpack, you have to practice the fine art of rolling your clothes. It is essential to become a packing expert if you want your clothes to arrive with a minimum of wrinkles. |
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