The Best Luggage for Women Travelers

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, women are more likely than men to have at least two items in tow: a purse and a piece of luggage. Having used my father's luggage for the majority of my traveling life, it never dawned on me that I might need bags that were a little more specialized to my size and use of toiletries. Oftentimes, I would have to bend down to pick up my rolling luggage that was so top heavy, it would fall over when I let go of the handle. In doing so, the purse that was slung over my shoulder slid right down and off my arm. Awesome. Wrestling with baggage in a security line is no fun. As strong as I like to think I am, I've often had to get assistance when lifting my carry-on bag into the overhead compartment. There must, I thought to myself, be a better way.
Here are some ideas to be aware of as you buy your luggage and as you pack it, no matter where your ticket takes you.

TSA and airline regulations. The TSA website states that "most" airlines limit passengers to carry-on luggage no larger than 45 inches total all-around. That means you're looking for a bag with the dimensions of 22x14x8 '"ish. Most bags this size weigh about nine pounds and cost anywhere from $30 to $300. If you're a big shopper, you'll want to choose an expandable carry-on that can stuff an extra two or three inches of clothes in for the return trip. Bags that are 24 inches hold three to four days worth of clothes. At 26 to 28 inches you could hold up to a week's worth of clothes unless you're packing sweaters. Diane Von Furstenberg makes great fashionable luggage, even though it might not pass the Samsonite gorilla test. I love it anyway.

Special Features. The bags you might want to avoid are the ones with four wheels on the bottom that can roll in any direction '" also called Spinner Luggage. Unless you need this feature to ease the drag effect, the extra wheels tend to help the bag run away from you on uneven surfaces. If you chronically overstuff your luggage like I do, look for bags with "feet" that will help stabilize the weight once you let go of the handle. Luggage that can stand on its own is like a child that doesn't need your help to use the bathroom. So. Much. Easier.

Side pockets. I'm not sure why most carry-on bags have these, other than to store liquids and laptops. If you're worried about a small liquid explosion, you can use the outside pockets to store your three ounce containers. If you travel with a laptop, you might be able to store it in the larger side pocket (sites like ebags.com can help you find bags with this feature). I've rarely seen women use these side pockets for the same purposes as men. If we carry a magazine or folder of work to do, it usually goes into a large purse. Heys USA has TSA lines of luggage with stamps of approval. Their Athena collection would make the goddess proud. It's beautiful and tough as nails '" notice the lack of outside pockets.

Cutting corners. If your luggage has straight corners, meaning they do not fold in at the top near the zipper, you can fit more shoes/boots in your luggage. The bags that curve in at the corners eat up space and cramp your style. Yes, you can always place your boots in the center of the bag, but when you over pack this makes it harder to push down on the lid and zip it shut. It's better to over pack near the middle of the contents and keep it low around the edges where the zipper is located. Keep in mind that most flat women's boots are about 16 inches tall (the carry-on is around 21 inches tall) and if you don't want to fold them over, you'll need the heels at either end of the bag.

If where you're headed, "there are no roads," they also make duffle bags with optional wheeling abilities. I'm also thrilled with the choices for laptop purses now available everywhere from Overtstock to Amazon to Endless.com.