Suitcase designs whether buying individually or as a set seem to almost always come in 3 sizes.
small for carry-on
big for checking
but what it the purpose of the medium suitcase?
Why Are There Three Suitcase Sizes?
bargain huntress on 20/12/2019 - 21:29
Comments
Well
1. A lot of suitcases are divided into 2 compartments. If you don't have enough to fill it, you can either put everything in 1 compartment and have the suitcase be unstable. Or you divide it into 2 and have everything move around and get messy because you didn't fill it.
2. I don't want to drag around a bigger bag than I have toBaggage allowance is not the only factor driving size of your baggage. For me personally I would pack what I need, not what I can carry. Subject to the maximum of the baggage allowance.
Because the large suitcase weighs more than a medium suitcase
I own the full size and the medium size you say. Whenever possible I'd prefer taking the medium as it allows decent amount of space and not so cumbersome to handle. The larger ones I'd keep only when loading to the max.
you can just not fill up the big sometimes?
I take practical approach over do things just because I can.
because some days I'm transporting lead but other days I'm transporting feathers.
Depending on your baggage allowance, the medium is often better for checking in. As it’s hard to fill an 81cm if your limit is 18kg And the 81 cm is heavier.
can't you just not fill the large? how much weight difference is there? - they all seem pretty light by design
Depends on the brand sometimes 1 kg heavier
But is hard to fill the big one if you pack properly and the baggage limit is small. So your better off with the medium because its lighter.if the problem is empty space, couldn't you fill the extra space with something light like a pillow? then if you ever need to pack more, you have the room available?
For either carry-in or check-on… It's your choice
so the mediums aren't too big for carryon limits?
I said carry-in
When you go to US shopping at the outlets.
Put medium inside large suitcase on way out. Fill both for return.
Worked better when AUD was at parity.neat
Silly question !
there is no such thing
You obviously haven't seenmostof the other forum posts on this site!
Because woolworths/coles charge 15cents for a bag. I find it really convenient to choose between my Samsonite bags, knowing the wheels will not falter.
does a photo or video exist of you shopping for groceries with your samsonite suitcases? if so i would be so enthralled to witness such a feat.
Sometimes when you need to put a body in a suitcase you need different sizes
Body sizes vary and so should suitcases
well i have basically the same question i had for stewardo - why can't you just put smaller bodies inside the larger suitcase sometimes? - then logically one suitcase is all you would need for any situation.
Too much slack, the body moves around too much in the case and makes it too obvious by the way the bag sags.
Especially for different body parts!
It's to confuse the slow people
i am very confused. does that mean it is working?
I have often wondered why suitcases come in sets and agree that it seems a bit random.
But sometimes you need a carry-on size, sometimes you need the biggie, and sometimes you only need enough for a few days away I guess.are those sets just a trick to make you buy an extra unnecessary suitcase do you think?
because if you need 2 checkin suitcases, why would you get a medium one instead of a second large one?what is the benefit of packing your things for a few days into a medium suitcase, over packing them into the large suitcase with room left over?
I've noticed the same with cars, its all very confusing.
You have small cars, for individuals/couples. Large cars for families. But what's the purpose of the medium car?
you're right! never thought of it before.
medium cars don't make sense either… is this some kind of conspiracy?
I've got a car which is probably a medium car. I don't understand why I don't have a small car. In a sane world I think 90% of people would have a small car. Once a car is big enough to fit someone who is well over average height comfortably it's big enough. Next time I guess I'll get it right.
You can put the medium in your boot while you travel there, then fill both cars with shopping and drive them both home.
@idonotknowwhy lol
Large cars for large suitcases, medium cars for medium suitcases and small cars for carry on.
Put your inappropriately sized cars and unwanted suitcases on the forum people.
When you dont need all the space. A large suitcase can be quite annoying to travel around with.
large suitcases still have wheels… they don't seem any more difficult to manoeuvre - especially if not full, they still fit in any car i've seen… they're not really heavier if they're partly empty (stewardo reckons a kilo, which is not much and you're not even carrying it)…
why is a large suitcase that is partly empty more annoying than a full medium suitcase?
My guess is when it's not full, you need to put alot more effort in to ensure things don't move around so much in transit resulting in crumpled clothes, items getting damaged, etc…
And even with wheels, when you're running and pulling a suitcase as you try to make the airport train, it can be harder if it's larger. Also let's not forget when travelling, you may need to fit it into whatever storage compartments are left on a train or bus or ferry, etc… sometimes having a slightly smaller suitcase can be the difference between it fitting in the racks, or it being left on the side to roll around.
I'd also mention 1kg could also be the difference between fitting into your baggage allowance and having to pay something… so I wouldn't overlook it especially on budget airlines where if the plane is fully loaded, they'll be checking it twice.
I took a half filled fabric style suitcase with me on a trip once. Upon collecting the suitcase from the baggage carousel I found the extendable handle wouldn't extend. At the hotel I found the extendable arms were bent in the middle. I managed to straighten the arms enough to make the bag usable for a couple.more days, but after the trip was over I replaced the suitcase with a hard case suitcase.
I can't see this type of damage being a problem with a half filled hard suitcase, but something to keep in mind if half filling a soft suitcase.
I can't see this type of damage being a problem with a half filled hard suitcase,
But there always the possibility that the wheels will break off.
I stopped buying hard suitcases because wheels would break.@grantg thanks that's a good point. i do prefer hard
Don't seem to understand why you've asked the question since you're just rebutting every reply you're getting.
Anyway, I never get the large size because I can never fill it. To answer your question as to why I wouldn't "just get the larger one", there's a couple of reasons:
1) Cost - the larger ones are more expensive. If I don't need it, I won't pay for it.
2) Ease of use - I travel for work a lot - that means small hotel rooms, having to truck my luggage alone, sometimes having to pull it onto public transport…etc. Trust me, the smaller luggage makes a HUGE difference.
3) "You're not even carrying it" - this is false. Plenty of times I've had to haul my luggage up a flight of stairs, onto a rack, or just down a cobblestone path because it's too hard to pull.
If you've only ever travelled on holidays with your family where you can take as much as you want and have someone else deal with your luggage for you, then you're lucky. A lot of people have to travel for work where convenience is key and the last thing you want to do is to fuss around with trying to open a large suitcase in a small hotel room.
Plenty of times I've checked in a "carry on" size suitcase because that's all I needed and I didn't want to haul it around the airport.
I'd actually go the opposite of you and if travelling for work, I try to see if I can fit everything into my carry on so I minimise time spent waiting for luggage and can just get in/out as fast as I can.
I'd do that for domestic, too hard for international to fit everything into carry on only.
True. Depends how long you’re going for. For an overnight trip or shorter, it’s just doable depending on your itinerary and schedule- but can make all the difference especially in some countries where the airports and baggage collection is far slower than Australia.
Thanks for all those thoughts. I didn't mean to be dismissive, just legit trying to understand. I have a small and a large and I'm trying to decide if I will buy a second large suitcase or a medium.
Not all forms of luggage use revolves around airline travel…
If there wasn't demand for a medium bag, they wouldn't make it. Of the three sizes I use the medium the most, the carry on size is useless - easier to carry a backpack, the large is too ungainly and annoying to store in smaller hotel rooms/carry up stairs etc.
If I am going away for a weekend I am more likely to take a medium sized bag, fits in the boot easier and carries just the right amount.
that's a good point, it's not always a plane it needs to fit in.
i haven't found a car that a large case won't fit in though.i like the roll on carry-on, because you can have a purse/backpack as well.
Small hatchbacks won't fit a large case in the boot, have had a number of them as hire cars on work trips over the years. Nothing worse than having to perch a suitcase on the backseat.
You can't have a proper backpack as well as a carry-on roll on, only a tiny purse one. I carry a 35L backpack, bag itself weighs less than 500g. Even the most lightweight roller bag would be at least 3x heavier. This helps when traveling with airlines who like to weigh things - I can maximise the actual items and not the bag weight.
i get away with backpack that says it's 40L and a roll-on. i think it helps to have a monostrap so you can hold it like a purse.
i haven't found a car that a large case won't fit in though.
What about 2 large suitcases?
Or does everyone go to the airport in their own car?
I'm the sort that maximises my packing space and over pack for my holidays. After Japan and Europe my husband said he refuses to roll around 2 large bags so now I use the medium and roll it around myself :(
i also tend to overpack.
do you find a large too difficult to roll yourself?Yeah, if you are on public transport, or a place with lots of stairs it's a pain
By having the 3 common sizes it can suit your current circumstances better.
e.g. Small trip may just need the small bag. Medium trip use the medium bag to fit a bit more stuff. Large trip, use the large bag to fit a lot more stuff.
Most travel is not via a plane. I use the size that suits what I need to put inside the bag. I would never half fill a large bag, then i have to cart around all the extra bulk (I don't mean weight) for no reason. I take the smallest bag I can for the trip, I don't want to be lugging around a bag that is any bigger than I need. Carting the huge bag around on trains, trying to fit in cabs, dragging around hotel lobbies, lifts, up and down stairs etc can be a real pain. The smaller the better.
My perfect world when flying is everything fitting in the carry-on so I don't need to deal with waiting around at the baggage carousel, but for longer trips that's not so practical for me.
i see.
i don't personally find much difference between a big and partly empty case and a smaller full case in terms of manoeuvrability.
also what if you buy souvenirs or something cool? - you don't have room if you take a bag exactly sized to your clothes etc.
Which one did you use last week when you arrived in Australia?
Are you serious? It is called "choice".
They have spent years researching and observing in order to certain the most efficient travel sizes and this is what the industry has determined.
But you do not have to stick with this industry standard size, but be prepared to pay for stepping out of the box.Y'all are missing the simplest reason suitcases are in three sizes. Shipping a container load of new suitcases is going to be mostly shipping empty space. To minimise the cost of that you make sizes that will just fit inside each other, so a large suitcase contains a medium and a small case when shipped.
russian dolls
interesting
but what it the purpose of the medium suitcase?
I think you missed the point entirely.
What is the point of any suitcase when you can have a duffel bag that can go from small to large.
hardshell?
lol.. this thread made it to the main page of ozb…
You don't travel much do you…
Case sizes
Large(76cm): ~158cm (some push 160-180 but don't tell)
Medium (67cm): ~135cm
Small (55cm): ~112cmTypical limits:
1 case: 158cm
2 cases: 270cm (max 158cm for either)
3 cases: 405cm (max 158cm for either)Potential Efficient Combinations:
112 + 158 = 270cm
112 + 135 + 158 = 405cm
112 + 158 + 158 = 428cm (maybe sneaks through)
135 + 135 = 270cm
135 + 135 + 135 = 405cmtl;dr:
1. Large = 1 case limit
2. Large + small or 2x medium = 2 case limit
3. Full set or 3x medium = 3 case limitThese are international limits btw, for domestic (ie 140cm case limit) just use an expendable medium case or sneak a large one through.
These are international limits btw, for domestic (ie 140cm case limit) just use an expendable medium case or sneak a large one through.
domestic has a smaller limit than international? large cases are over that limit?
That's correct. I've flown Qantas and Virgin domestic with 158CM no issues though. Both automated and non-automated bag drop.
Just keep it in mind to check if you're flying a budget airline - they'll likely get out the measuring tape lol.
helpful thank you
when did these limits get set?
112 + 158 + 158 = 428cm (maybe sneaks through)
maybe?
Not sure, have been this way for 3-5+ years. I'm not familiar with historical limits.
Maybe?
The staff typically don't measure / care if it's close (ie don't try to sneak 3 large through). Automated bagdrop has the technology to check, but I've never had issues using a 176cm case on Qantas. That's 18cm over with one case, so I'm sure you could sneak through 23cm over with 3 if you ever needed.
thanks!
Has OP not ever travelled.
Suitcase size is always determined by how much you are packing.
You dont take a half empty suitcase with you unless you plan to go shopping.
Any typically the smaller the bag the easier it is to carry and manouver around (convenience)How did I have to scroll this far to see this.
Smaller bags are easier to handle. Why use the biggest bag if you don't need the space?
Goldilocks effect.
Is it illegal to use one of these 3 bags when going around a roundabout?!
The small is to carry a small amount. The medium a medium amount. Not sure what the large is for.
Moving house
Short trip, medium trip, long trip? Thats why I use my 3 for. I understand the sizing is a very confusing concept to grasp.
Medium one is for people who can pack
for those who want a bag that is bigger than small or smaller than big?