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What sort of bag should I take?

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The kind of bag that you should pack for a trip depends primarily on what you’re going to be doing and what you’ll need. Consider if the size and weight of the bag is important and what sort of luggage (hard, soft, etc.) will best fit your traveling requirements. Here are some of the options you have in styles of bags:

• Hard suitcase. This is great for protecting your belongings and lasting for a long time. Its getting thrown around and beaten up is not a huge concern. The only downfall of the hard suitcase is its inflexibility; it won’t be able to change shapes or fit into tight spots.
• Soft suitcase. This much more flexible bag can not only be fit into a great many different packing spaces, it also more easily accommodates additions (in case you purchase a few souvenirs). They come in a variety of materials and designs, probably the most well known style being the duffle bag. Their big disadvantage is that wear and tear shows up very quickly.
• Semi-structured. This is a combination of the first two and is usually seen in the form of soft-sided rolling bags and others of that style. They maintain a defined form and yet have a little more give than the hard-sided cases. Adventure bags would fit under this category and are often very popular choices for those “backpacking” places. Once again, a downfall of this version is the wear that begins to show on the material covering. Prone to rips and other damages, it is not quite as long-lasting as the hard luggage.
• Garment bag. These are quite popular for travelers because of the idea that the clothing will hang in the luggage just as in a closet. They are also designed with zippered pockets which can hold anything from toiletries to shoes. A negative to these garment bags is that they can be very heavy and cumbersome.

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