Technology Carries Luggage a Long Way

These high-quality features come at a premium -- the wheeled garment bag is $595, while the 24-inch wheeled packing case is $450 -- but as with other Tumi bags, you get what you pay for. All come with the company's exclusive tracing system, which can help recover bags that are lost or stolen, along with a guarantee against defects in materials or workmanship.

The Pilot's Pick

The rolling vertical suitcase is a veritable travel staple today, but 15 years ago, tourists were using leashes to jerk their lumpy luggage around the airport. While shifting a suitcase 90 degrees and adding sturdy wheels seems like an obvious idea now, no one had ever done it until Northwest Airlines' pilot Robert Plath made the first Rollaboard suitcase in 1989, which quickly became the luggage of choice for airline pilots and flight attendants.

What was true back then is still true today -- Travelpro's Rollaboard suitcase is the industry leader, racking up endorsements from Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports, and as the company notes, 425,000 aviation professionals worldwide. This spring, Travelpro rolled out the Rollabout Crew5, which is just 10 pounds and 22 inches long, but spacious and tough enough to withstand a beat-down at the baggage claim.

"Durability is a huge factor for us," said Marcy Schackne, spokesperson for the company. "We use high-end component parts, we have high manufacturing standards and because of our founder's connection to the industry, we're the luggage of choice for 100 airline carriers worldwide. We meet the rigors of daily travel."

The bag's one-of-a-kind lightweight plastic frame can take a 300-pound blow without yielding. Its tightly woven microballistic nylon covering cannot be torn, the wheels have passed grueling durability tests from an independent lab and every inch of the case is lined with Teflon-coated waterproof fabric.