Garment Travel Bag
When you're getting ready for a trip, you have enough to do without worrying about whether your garment travel bag from 1978 can stand up to one more cross-country jaunt before it falls apart at the seams. But buying a garment travel bag doesn't have to be a big hassle: there are lots of possibilities!
A garment travel bag is more than just a place to stuff your stuff before boarding the plane. In fact, the right garment travel bag can make the difference between an easy trip and a tough one. People try to take shortcuts: one young woman we know who was on her way to Europe was talked into borrowing a friend's wheeled suitcase instead of investing in a garment bag. Unfortunately, the wheels weren't retractable, and while she was looking for the youth hostel in Stockholm, one of the wheels broke off. She had to carry and drag the heavy bag (packed for a six weeks trip!) three miles to the out-of-the-way hostel. The next day, she bought a strong, lightweight nylon garment travel bag from a Swedish department store—and put the broken, empty suitcase on a ship headed back to her friend in California. By then, she had strained muscles in her arms, neck and back.
Your garment travel bag should be able to stand up to the rigors of traveling. Look for strong seams, bars and clamps to hold clothing in place, and pouches for extra clothing, underwear and accessories. Zippers should be well-sewn, and either of "self-healing" plastic or a sturdy metal that won't easily break—even when handled by klutzy Customs officials. Mesh pockets on the inside give you extra storage space for address books or passports, and light materials should let you bring your garment travel bag onboard as carry on luggage.
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