Luggage is made from various materials, but not all of them are equally durable. The material affects more than 80% of a suitcase's lifespan. So, before choosing the right trolley luggage for your trip, it's important to understand the characteristics of common materials.
1. PC (Polycarbonate)
PC (polycarbonate) is a popular material for luggage because of its many advantages. First, it has high strength and elasticity, meaning PC luggage can withstand significant impacts without breaking or deforming. This makes them excellent for protecting your belongings during travel, even if they encounter unexpected bumps or pressure. For example, when luggage is being handled at the airport, PC luggage can resist collisions and stacking with other bags.
Second, the PC material is waterproof and heat-resistant. Even in humid environments or under direct sunlight, it maintains its performance, so you don't have to worry about your items being damaged by the weather. Additionally, PC is non-toxic and odorless, making it an environmentally friendly material that's safe for your health.
Furthermore, PC luggage has a good texture, strong rigidity, and a smooth, attractive appearance. It's also impact-resistant and relatively lightweight, making it easy to carry without adding too much burden—especially important for frequent travelers like businesspeople. Plus, PC luggage comes in bright and diverse colors, meeting the personalized preferences of different consumers.
However, a PC isn't perfect. Its relatively high price might deter some buyers. Also, it's not very scratch-resistant, so scratches may appear during use and affect its appearance. Some high-quality PC luggage addresses this issue by having special surface treatments to enhance scratch resistance.
2. ABS
ABS is another common material used in luggage. Its advantages include good hardness, strong toughness, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, easy processing, and overall good performance. This means ABS luggage is fairly strong and can handle some bumps and knocks during everyday use.
Additionally, ABS is relatively affordable, making it a good option for budget-conscious consumers. The surface of ABS luggage can be electroplated, vacuum-coated, printed, or spray-painted, offering a variety of appearances to suit different aesthetic preferences.
However, ABS does have some drawbacks. It's relatively heavy, which can make it harder to carry—especially if you have to walk long distances or use public transportation. This added weight can be a burden. Also, while ABS luggage is tough, it can crack or get damaged under strong impacts, and they're difficult to repair once broken. For example, if an ABS luggage is violently squeezed during airline check-in, it might break.
3. PC+ABS
PC+ABS is a composite material made by mixing PC (polycarbonate) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). This blend combines the strengths of both materials: the high strength, impact resistance, and heat resistance of PC, and the easy processing and lower cost of ABS.
Luggage made from PC+ABS is more durable and can withstand a certain amount of external impact and pressure. They're also more affordable than luggage made entirely of PC, offering better value for money. Many mid-priced luggage brands use PC+ABS to meet consumers' needs for both quality and price.
However, PC+ABS isn't perfect. Because it's a mix of two materials, its performance might not be as high as pure PC, and under extreme conditions, its effectiveness can decline. Additionally, the quality of PC+ABS luggage can vary between manufacturers, so consumers should be careful when choosing.
4. PP (Polypropylene)
PP, or polypropylene, is a durable material that's inexpensive to produce. However, it's bulky, and the molds required to make PP luggage are costly, so it's not widely used in the market. PP suitcases are strong and impact-resistant, able to withstand external shocks.
On the downside, they're heavy, which makes them less convenient to carry. Additionally, the design and color options are quite limited, so they may not meet the diverse preferences of consumers.
5. PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
PVC is a non-flammable material that's strong, resists climate change, and holds its shape well. PVC luggage is tough—it can withstand drops, impacts, water, and wear. It's much stronger than luggage made from ABS material.
However, PVC luggage is heavy, which can be a drawback for people who fly often. It's also relatively expensive and can become brittle in low temperatures, which affects its performance.
In summary, different luggage materials have their pros and cons. If you want extreme durability and aren't too concerned about price, aluminum alloy or aluminum-magnesium alloy suitcases are good choices. If you're looking for something cost-effective that's durable and lightweight, PC or PC+ABS luggage might be better for you. If you prefer something affordable and don't need top-level durability, ABS or Oxford cloth luggage can meet your needs. When choosing luggage, consider how you'll use it, your budget, and your personal preferences to pick the material that's best for you.
1. Oxford Cloth
Oxford cloth is a lot like nylon and is one of the most common materials for soft luggage. Its main advantage is its durability—it's resistant to wear and tear, so even during rough handling or collisions, it's less likely to get damaged and can protect what's inside.
Another benefit of Oxford cloth luggage is its flexibility. They can stretch a bit to fit more items and can be folded when not in use, saving space. Plus, Oxford cloth is affordable, making it a budget-friendly choice.
However, there are a few downsides. Its waterproof ability isn’t great, so your items could get damp in rainy or humid conditions. Also, Oxford cloth luggage tends to have a simpler appearance with fewer style and color options, which might not appeal to those looking for something more fashionable or unique.
2. Canvas
Canvas luggage, while not very common, offers a unique option. Their main advantage is their excellent wear resistance, similar to Oxford cloth, which makes them durable. Another benefit of canvas is its good breathability, allowing air to circulate inside the luggage and helping to reduce odors.
However, canvas doesn’t perform as well as Oxford cloth when it comes to impact resistance. It can deform or get damaged under strong pressure. Also, canvas suitcases aren’t naturally waterproof or dustproof, so they need special treatment to improve these qualities. Lastly, canvas can be harder to dye, and the colors may not be as bright or even compared to other materials.
3. Leather
Leather luggage often exudes a sense of luxury. Genuine leather options, like those made from cowhide or sheepskin, have a natural texture and feel. They're high-quality and can showcase the owner's taste and status.
However, real leather luggage is expensive and hard to maintain. They need regular care; otherwise, they can wear out and fade. They're also delicate and can be damaged by water, abrasion, pressure, and scratches, so you have to handle them carefully in daily use.
On the other hand, artificial leather (PU) luggage is more affordable and somewhat waterproof. But they lack the rich texture of real leather, don't look as high-end, and aren't very resistant to wear and pressure. As a result, they don't last as long.
1. Aluminum Alloy
Aluminum alloy luggage is extremely strong and durable. Aluminum alloy is very hard and can protect internal items from damage in harsh travel environments. For example, during long-distance travel, aluminum alloy luggage can ensure the safety of the items in the suitcase when encountering various complex transportation and handling situations.
At the same time, it is also waterproof, anti-corrosion, and anti-oxidation. It will not fade or wear after long-term use, and the appearance will always remain bright and new. For example, some travelers who often use it outdoors or need to experience harsh weather conditions will choose aluminum alloy suitcases.
However, aluminum alloy luggage also has some obvious disadvantages. Its weight is a big problem. Compared with other common luggage materials, such as PC, ABS, etc., aluminum alloy weighs much more, which is a big burden for travelers, especially when they need to carry the suitcase for a long time or go up and down stairs, it will be particularly laborious.
In addition, the price of aluminum alloy luggage is generally high. Due to its complex production process and high cost, its selling price is also much higher than that of luggage made of other materials, which may not be easy for consumers with limited budgets to accept. Moreover, when luggage made of aluminum alloy is hit by an external force, it may become dented, deformed, etc., and it is difficult to repair.
2. Aluminum-magnesium alloy
Aluminum-magnesium alloy also performs well in terms of durability. It has high strength and hardness, can withstand greater pressure and impact, has good anti-deformation ability, and is very effective in protecting items in the box.
Compared with aluminum alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy is relatively lighter but still heavier than PC, ABS, and other materials. In appearance, aluminum-magnesium alloy has a unique metallic texture, giving people a fashionable and high-end feeling.
However, aluminum-magnesium alloy trolley cases also have the problem of high prices, and under some extreme conditions, such as severe impact or long-term exposure to harsh environments, surface wear and oxidation may also occur, requiring regular care and maintenance.
3. Titanium Alloy
Titanium alloy is a special metal often used in aerospace equipment. It is much tougher than aluminum alloy, yet both materials have similar weights for the same volume. Right now, only a few high-end brands and luggage manufacturers make products from titanium alloy, mainly because the production process is difficult and costly. As a result, titanium alloy luggage is not very common on the market.
