We live in a world filled with accessories -- cars have accessories, cellular phones have accessories, and even we have personal fashion accessories. What's to stop suitcases from having their own? You can find suitcase accessories that have practical purposes, serve as mere decoration, or even accomplish both.
Carrying and Transport Accessories
Suitcases are meant to be carried and dragged around, and there are accessories that will make this oft-strenuous task easier. Probably the most common are suitcase shoulder straps, which sport ergonomic, soft-grip, and non-slip features.
There are also suitcase grips (sometimes called "grippers") for duffel bags, backpacks, and telescopic suitcases (those that have long, telescopic handles that make lugging around your suitcases easier).
Other carrying and transport accessories include attachment straps and multi-bag stackers (for attaching several pieces of luggage together), as well as mini luggage scales (so you won't exceed the airline's baggage limit!).
Identification Accessories
These accessories serve to distinguish your suitcases from the crowd, which comes in handy when claiming baggage at the arrival terminal. The simplest form of suitcase identification are ID cards attached to the handle, which provides contact details in case of suitcase misplacement.
If you've got the regular, dark-colored suitcases, neon identification strips and neon luggage tags will make it easier for you to spot your luggage. You can also opt for mini pom-poms that attach to the suitcase handle.
Security Accessories
Your suitcases won't do you any good when you arrive at your location if they went missing along the trip. That's why security accessories are becoming popular. The most common of these are suitcase locks, which can be combination lock or padlock variants.
Other types of security accessories include cable locks and pacsafes. Cable locks wrap several pieces of luggage together, while you can think of pacsafes as durable wire "nets" that wrap around the whole suitcase.
Just remember, adding a slew of accessories to your suitcase might make it heavier and "tackier", so keep them in moderation.
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Phillip Kimpo Jr. suggests http://suitcases.ca for more information regarding
suitcases, tips, shopping guides, and more. The author is also with
Ituloy AngSulong.
