Travel Select Amsterdam Business Rolling Garment Bag

This is a handsome looking garment bag that with plenty of additional storage capacity that folds up like a standard piece of luggage but never disrespects your suit. It’s fashioned from 1200D poly, is water resistant (in case you get caught in the rain hailing a taxi) and light enough that it won’t wear you out toting it around. Whereas some less expensive bags show their hand when you open them up the Travel Select Amsterdam actually shines when unfolded. Inside is a luxurious interior lining that seems like it was lifted from a far more expensive bag and plenty of zippered pockets to keep peripherals.

Pros

• Well made from handle to lining.
• Extremely light for such a robust bag.
• Can slip into the overhead no problem.
• Outstanding value for the money.

Cons

• The inline skate wheels are not all they’re cracked up to be.

We could focus on the extraordinary amount of peripheral storage space, or talk about the quality of the zippers, or the smooth action of the handle when extending or collapsing it, or we could hone in on that beautiful lining. But instead we’ll take a big picture view and state that, for the price, this is one of the best overall luggage values you’ll find anywhere.

Olympia Deluxe Garment Bag

The Olympia Deluxe Garment Bag is the very definition of smart travel luggage. It’s lightweight but rugged, attractive but practical, affordable but not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. This is a well thought out bag that reminds one of far more expensive bags and shares many of their characteristics including water resistance, lots of zipper pockets, dual tie downs that keep your suit in place so it doesn’t wind up a crumpled mess and durable zippers that won’t have you cursing under your breath because they got stuck, again.

Pros

• Solid construction throughout.
• Plenty of external pockets make it more than just a garment bag.
• Built in “add a bag” strap
• Attractive price point.

Cons

• The shoulder strap is not what any reasonable person would call “comfortable”.

The Olympia Deluxe is a garment bag after the frugal traveler’s heart. The exterior is tough and won’t succumb to incidental contact in the airport or in the luggage compartment. There are enough large zippered pockets to handle all your socks, ties, suspenders or whatever else you need and the bag itself is attractive enough to put a shine on your image wherever you are.

Samsonite Luggage Liftwo Carry On Wheeled Garment Bag

Samsonite has been making good to excellent luggage for decades and so it’s no surprise that their Liftwo Carry On Garment Bag should be such a hit. While it’s attractive enough and sports nice clean lines and discreet features it’s really the ability of the bag to handle all your garment needs with aplomb that sets it apart from less well considered garment bags. At 7 pounds the Liftwo is extraordinarily light and you might be forgiven for thinking that means they’ve stripped it of features to get the weight down. But you’d be wrong. There are lots of pockets both external and internal, a padded compartment for your laptop, internal compression straps and a generous main compartment that won’t squeeze the life out of your Sunday best.

Pros

• The hanger/hook lets you take move your suit directly from bag to closet.
• High quality zippers throughout.
• Durable, textured corner protection.
• Fits neatly in the overhead.

Cons

• The design isn’t going to bowl anyone over.

If getting your finest apparel to the destination in prime condition is important, and you want a bag that’s light enough to carry on, you can’t go wrong with the Liftwo from Samsonite.

Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 2 Softside Deluxe Voyager Garment Bag

The Silhouette Sphere 2 from Samsonite is a definite step up in both quality and price from the Liftwo. That doesn’t take anything away from the Liftwo, which is an excellent value, but simply goes to show that in the world of luggage there’s always a bigger fish. The Silhouette Sphere 2 features four high quality, multi-directional wheels that make toting the bag through the airport a breeze. The bag is loaded with storage space, has plenty of room for other things besides your suit, can be packed either laying down or upright and is also a step up in the looks department from some of Samsonite’s other designs.

Pros

• Durable, comfortable handle stores away out of sight.
• Inside is beautifully rendered with outstanding workmanship throughout.
• Suit ‘envelope’ swings open to allow easy access to other items.
• The spinner wheels are tough and not likely to break off or jam.

Cons

• Not as big as you might think looking at the photos.

The Silhouette Sphere 2 from Samsonite is a marvel of compact efficiency wrapped in an attractive skin of durable, water resistant 1200D polyester. It’s the kind of bag you’ll have in your closet for years, if not decades. A valuable travel companion that will make you look good no matter where you’re going.

Zegur Suit Carry On Garment Bag

Business travelers are going to love the Zegur Suit Carry On Garment Bag. It’s built to last and that is evident right from the outset with the 1800D polyester shell and smooth as silk, never say die zippers. While we found it to be a bit (and only a bit) wanting in the looks department it’s unrealistic to expect Gucci-style looks for the price of a couple of large pizzas. So we’ll cut it some slack. Because where the bag really shines is in practicality and overall value. There are lots of zippered pockets. It also allows you to organize everything in a logical manner with more frequently used items closer to the surface and less frequently used items deeper inside.

Pros

• Well made, practical and durable.
• Water resistant 1800D polyester shell.
• Generous exterior pocket for business essentials.
• Easily slips into the overhead.

Cons

• A bit heavier than some other garment bags.

If you’re a business traveler on a budget the Zegur Suit Carry On is the answer to your garment bag prayers. Durable, practical, professional looking with plenty of storage capacity for peripherals and a padded inner compartment that respects your suit. An excellent value.

How to Select a Best Carry on Garment Bag

Here are the steps to ensure you wind up with the right bag for you.

• Set a realistic budget – Don’t break your travel budget on a custom made designer garment bag if you really don’t need it. If you’re transporting your Armani suits then you’ll want something that is up to the task of protecting them, certainly. But if, like most people, your suits aren’t 5-figure affairs you can likely be served just fine by one of the bags profiled above.

• Determine the role of the garment bag – Is this going to be your only carry on? If it is you’ll want a garment bag with plenty of storage for peripherals. If however, your garment bag is going to be only that, a garment bag, you won’t need all the storage bells and whistles.

• How many suits do your plan to transport at any one time? – If you regularly transport 2 or 3 suits make sure the bag is up to that sort of load. Some aren’t. If the bag will accommodate several suits make sure it has adequate tie downs for each.

• Consider the overall size of the bag – If you primarily travel with one airline it will be relatively easy to find a single bag that adheres to their dimensional requirements. If you jump from airline to airline you’ll need to determine what size bag will be accepted on all of them.

• Is the bag easy to carry/transport? – If you travel a lot there will be times when you’ll need to carry the bag long distances through enormous airport terminals. Is the bag easy to carry? Does the strap dig into your shoulder? Are the wheels effective or little better than dragging the bag?

• Consider the material – At minimum you want 1200D water resistant polyester for the outer shell. You’ll also want to check the quality of the zippers and don’t forget to take a close look at the stitching and liner materials.