If you are investing in luggage, you want it to not only look good, but also last a long time and be easy to carry.

Below are the top 9 things I learnt you need to know before you buy some good luggage.

1. You need to know about the frame

The frame is like the chassis of the bag, and can affect it in 3 ways: its shape, its strength and its weight.

Obviously the best combination is something that keeps it shape, is very strong, but is also lightweight. Traditionally frames have been made of aluminium or wood, which are strong but heavy. However today’s luggage can come with moulded plastic or fibreglass frames, which can be just as strong but make the luggage much lighter to carry.

2. You need to know about the construction

It is all about the quality of the seams and the joints, as this is where the wear and tear is going to show. Look for reinforced strips along the seams, and lock stitching, which means if one stitch on the seam comes loose, the one next to it will not. Also look for reinforced joints where the seams meet, it is best if these are covered with something hard wearing like leather or metal.

3. You need to know about the material

Like when thinking about the frame, what material the luggage is made from will be a compromise between how strong and protective it is, compared to how heavy the it is.

Much luggage today is made from nylon, which is tough and lightweight. Ballistic nylon is the best quality, but can be expensive, and Cordura nylon is cheaper but not as protective. Leather is also very popular and a classic “look” for luggage, but to get the best quality, harder wearing leather, called top or full grain, it can be very expensive.

Also, now you can get luggage made out of modern ABS plastics, these shell-like cases, popular with manufactures like Samsonite, are very tough, and quite lightweight, but are very bulky.

4. You need to know about waterproofing

You would think that most people do not plan to get their luggage wet, but there are some situations where it is unavoidable, such as when you are hiking and camping. Much luggage today will be treated to be waterproof, or at least shower-proof. But do not worry if luggage is advertised as waterproof but does not look it, often it will have been treated on the inside, so even though the outside can get drenched, you things will stay dry.

5. You need to know how it opens and closes

It might seem like an unimportant factor, but when it comes to how you open and close your luggage, the quicker and easier the better. Most times when you are carrying your luggage you are on the move to and from your destination – if you need to open your luggage quickly you will be glad when it is easy to do. The best is zippers, both because they can be quick, take a lot of strain (modern ones anyway), plus they can be easier to repair if they do break.

6. You need to know about locks

Being able to lock your suitcase is an obvious bonus. Some luggage come with padlocks already, or you will need to purchase a lock separately.

If you do have to purchase a lock separately, firstly check it will fit your luggage (check the it is not too thick to attach), plus check it will actually lock (for example, zippers will need to be two-way, so you can connect them together).

The last thing to consider is keys or combination – are you the type of person who loses keys or forgets combination numbers?

7. You need to know about handles and straps

There are two main factors when considering handles, are they well constructed, and are they comfortable?

Also think about how you want to carry your luggage. If you get luggage you carry by hand, look for extra padding and comfort. The same with shoulder straps, plus make sure they are wide for extra comfort.

For luggage with a pull out handle and wheels, go for one that locks the handle in place once extended, otherwise you will get annoyed with it retracting every time you let go.

8. You need to know about wheels

Luggage that has wheels can make life much easier when you are on even ground.

If you go for wheels, with larger luggage it is better to have four wheels, as it will be more stable, but two wheels will be fine for smaller luggage.

Also, check that the wheels are well protected as they could get damaged in transit if not. Luggage with wheels that don’t work is a waste of money.

9. You need to know about extra gadgets and features

Some luggage are very basic, just a single compartment, while other luggage come with detachable day bags or a multitude of compartments.

If the luggage has a special feature, make sure you really need it before you pay the premium to have it.

Limited discount at Luggage Online for Mobal Members!

Luggage Online are offering an extra 10% discount and free shipping to Mobal Members until March 5th 2007, when you quote code LS77JF (box for code is in Step3 of their ordering process)

(Offer excludes TUMI and Briggs and Riley products.)

Visit Luggage Online

Last month I revealed the shocking truth that here at Mobal, we're cross dressers.

Well it's all about to get even stranger...

...We also dress as pigeons.

So what's the story behind the pictures...

These were taken in summer 05 when Mobal took part in a 10 mile raft race to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Everyone in the office lent a helping hand in building our raft, which was a complete replica of London's Trafalgar Square, complete with column (cardboard tube), statue of Nelson (GI Joe action figure) and 4 lions (toy fluffy kittens).

And what should the crew wear?

If you've ever been to Trafalgar Square you'll know it's populated by 2 main groups. Tourists and pigeons.

Well, as I hope you've come to expect from us, we weren't going to take the easy option to dress as tourists and instead went for our feathered friends (or sky rats as I like to call them).

I think we did a pretty convincing job, although I did have to laugh when I saw a little boy point at our crew and said to his mum, "look mummy, they're all dressed as Batman!".

And how did we do?

We only managed one of the quickest times of the day, doing the 10 miles in 2 and a half hours, and not once got overtaken!

Ever wanted to know more about Mobal? The best question each month will win $50 free call credit

Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

In my ongoing quest to make this the best newsletter you'll ever have the honour to receive, I've changed the format of this section a bit.

Each month while doing "internet research" (if my boss sees this -- it's work related, honest), I get told about the most popular and visited travel websites of the moment, and I'm going to share them with you...

What time is it around the world?
Do you find yourself frantically trying to work out what time it is in Tashkent or Vladivostok? Be frantic no more and use this rather nice little website instead:
http://www.timezonecheck.com/

Which are the best seats on the plane?
Is it just me, or are plane seats getting smaller? And what makes it worse, as you're packed in with your knees up round your ears, one seat in front will be a (noisy) four foot child by the emergency door with double leg room. Well, get the inside knowledge on the best seats to book using this website:
http://www.lovemyseat.com/

The World's Most Dangerous Road
I have first-hand experience of this road in Bolivia as I've mountain biked down it and come back up it on a bus -- I can honestly say, hand on heart, it was one of the scariest experiences I've ever had (aside from have a gun pointed at me by Mexican police -- but that's a different story). Note: the pictures 1 to 10 are actually in China, so you can ignore them (but they're still scary):
http://www.slideshare.net/rado_fun/driving-in-bolivia-14171

The World's Most Unusual Hotels
When you're a global adventurer, such as we are, normal hotels hold no excitement anymore. We're constantly looking to push the boundaries and experience the new. So, if balancing on top of a pole like an Indian holy man, or staying in bat cave are more your idea of a great hotel, check out this website! (Note: I made those examples up -- in fact, the website might seem a little tame now):
http://www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com/

Seen something amazing, crazy, or both? The best suggestion each month will win $50 free call credit

Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

Raymond Shwartz has a great tip if you're getting sick of your tour group and want a bit of peace to go exploring on your own...

Dear Michael,

I am not sure where this fits in, but I want to add a tip for international travelers who have a Mobal World Phone and are going on a tour.

I always load in the tour director's and the hotel's numbers into the phone when arriving.

Then, I can wander off on my own without worrying about getting lost. My tour guide is only a phone call away!

Once, when I was really lost and could not communicate in the taxi driver's language, I phoned the hotel, handed my phone to the taxi driver, who talked to the hotel and promptly got me back there.

Regards,

Ray Schwartz
Memphis, TN.

Barney Popkin went above and beyond the call of duty and sent me 2 tips. He has a way to reduce your luggage by a whopping 75%, without taking any less stuff. And, a way to lock your suitcases when traveling, even if the airport is saying no to locked suitcases...

Michael,

I've got TWO travel tips that have recently made my travel MUCH easier.

1. I purchased roll-up vaccum packing bags which have a line of one-way valves that bleed out the air so my clothes now take up about 25 percent of their otherwise luggage space.

These don't require a vacuum-cleaner hose!

This means I can travel with fewer and smaller bags, which is WAY more convenient, or travel with normal bags and have WAY more room for SHOPPING!

Try for www.safetycentral.com.

2. I purchased oversized combination luggage locks that can be opened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspectors at airports, so I don't need to unlock my luggage for US air travel.

The oversized locks are especially nice because the have a slot for a business card.

I got them through www.travelsmith.com, for $19.75

Regards,
Barney Popkin

Wilbur Anderson sent me some feedback of his own experience about last months article -- 20 Tips To Prepare Your Health Before You Travel...

Michael,

Here are a few comments on your article "20 Tips to Prepare your Health Before You Travel".

Your tip to take extra medication for constipation and diarrhoea, etc. is good advice. On a stay in Tahiti and a subsequent cruise with Princess Cruise Lines, shortly after leaving shore, I started to feel bad so ship's hospital arranged for air evacuation at the first port.

Had I have carried the very cheap insurance of constipation and diarrhoea medicine, all this would have been avoided and I would have not missed my cruise.

Next, the point about water purification. When traveling to many countries with poor health conditions be prepared. We traveled to Mainland China in 1983 we could not find any bottled water so to prevent dehydration, we finally ordered two bottles of beer for breakfast (we neither drink beer, but then we never got sick).

Some water purification tablets would have been welcome.

Finally, in areas of poor hygiene and possibly contaminated water, DO NOT BRUSH YOUR TEETH USING THE TAP WATER. My wife did that in Kenya and got sick, the only sickness she has ever experienced in worldwide travel.

Regards,

Wilbur Anderson

Got an amazing travel tip you want to share? The best tip each month will win $50 free call credit

Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

The basic moral of her story is, if you're going to let your husband go off for the day with an Italian he met on the internet, make sure you have a means of keeping in touch...

Dear Michael,

We have owned a mobal phone for several years and find it helpful when we travel to Italy - especially in Florence where you cannot hail a cab from the street - rather you need to call the cab company to secure a taxi ride.

However, last year while in Florence we found the true value of having access to our Mobal phone.

My husband Phil is an avid fly fisherman and while planning our week stay in Florence, he found a fly fishing guide over the Internet. Phil made arrangements over the Internet with Marco to meet at the Florence train station and Marco would then drive them about 2 hours west of Florence to the headwaters of the Tiber River for a day of guided fishing.

I enjoyed a wonderful day of shopping while Phil and Marco were fishing. I was looking forward to a late romantic dinner with my husband that evening, when I received a call on our Mobal phone around 6:00 p.m. from Phil. What I learned was that Marco had lost the keys to his car somewhere along the Tiber River.

At this point, it was dark, my husband was hours away, in a foreign country, wet (it started to rain), cold (all their rain gear was locked in the car), without transportation, and with a fellow who spoke little English that he met over the Internet. To make matters worse, this stranger not only had my husband and his passport, but also access to a set of keys to our apartment in Florence.

For a moment a huge wave of panic flooded over me.

All I could think about were the headlines in the US papers about the naive American who willingly got in a car with a stranger he met over the Internet and drove away never to be seen again, while his wife was found dead in a Florence apartment where there had been no sign of forced entry!

Luckily, this story has a happy ending!

Phil kept me informed via our Mobal phone as Marco tracked down a friend in Florence who drove out to their secluded river location with an extra set of keys. Phil and Marco walked about 4 miles in their fishing waders and creek boots and found a kind bar owner that allowed them to eat and drink for free until Marco's friend arrived with the keys and access to their wallets.

While it was too late for a romantic dinner by the time Marco dropped Phil off at our apartment, we did us our Mobal phone to cancel our reservations and make them for the next night.

Thanks for offering such a great product and service.

Regards,
Alison and Phil Spare

As you can see, having a means of communication is very important...

If you'd like to get a second Mobal World Phone, so you can easily call between you and your partner, visit www.mobalworldphone.com

Got an amazing story you want to share? The best story each month will win $50 free call credit

Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

Shock and scandal…

Alert the authorities…

Overt your eyes…

It’s time to let you in on our little secret...

MOBAL ARE CROSS DRESSERS!

Yes, you read that right, Mobal are cross dressers — the boys like to wear girls clothes and the girls like to wear boys clothes.

Oh the shame!

The real reason we're all dressed up

Ok, I'm only joking, as far as I'm aware, none of us are cross dressers -- it is all for charity.

In the UK every year there is a charity called Children In Need Day, that uses comedy to raise money for charity. Some bright spark decided we should all dress up as someone else from the office for the day.

Our office manager said when he bought gas on his way home, the attendant couldn't look him (her) in the eye!

Ever wanted to know more about Mobal? The best question each month will win $50 free call credit

Email it to me now at michael@mobalphone.com

In September I took my long-time girlfriend, Lillian, on a secret trip to Europe. First to London and then to Rome.

I had my Mobal World Phone throughout my duration in London but kept it hidden and out of sight. We did the typical touristy things that one does in London. Go on the tube, visit the west-end, have pint, walk tower bridge, walk down the Thames.

But it wasn’t until Rome when I needed my Mobal World Phone.

On our third evening in Rome, I took Lillian to the Trevi Fountain and began to explain the throwing the coin into the fountain tradition. I handed her one coin and said to throw it in the fountain so that some day you will return to Rome. She did so, posed for a picture and returned. I then handed her a second coin saying that this coin was to find your true love. Her response was that she didn’t need the second coin and refused to throw it. After a few moments of encouragement she finally threw in the second coin and posed for yet another picture. When it came to the third coin (which is to find your true love in Rome) instead of a coin was a ring.

Of course she said Yes!

After hugging, crying, kissing, and the crowd around us clapping, we returned to our hotel. On the journey I surprised her with my Mobal World Phone so that she could call everyone in her family to tell them the good news.

Thank you for providing a great product!

Ryan Klein, Overland Park, KS

Picture these two potential trips:

1) You take a few health precautions before you leave and end up having a wonderful and exciting trip
2) You ignore the health precautions, get ill and spend the rest of the holiday trying to arrange treatment in a foreign language, and return home to an astronomical bill

Which would you prefer?

The truth is, although your health should be one of your number one priorities when going abroad, most of us leave it until the last minute, or totally overlook it.

Well, I want you to change that before you take your next trip. All you need to do is follow my simple guide.

Remember — your trip may last a few weeks, but your health will affect you for life.

When you book (or think about booking)

1) Check out any potential health risks for visitors to that country. For more exotic locations you may need to have some immunisation shots. Don’t just rely on the travel agent’s advice, as it may be out of date. Always check for up-to-date information for the government (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/).

2) If you need any immunisations, contact your local doctor or a specialist travel clinic as soon as possible, as certain treatments need up to a few months before they become fully effective.

3) If you’re pregnant, or hoping to become pregnant, make sure you mention this to your doctor, as you may be at risk to certain treatments, such as anti-malaria.

4) Also tell your doctor if you’re planning to travel with young children who have not had their full course of childhood immunisations.

5) Ensure you have medical insurance cover

4 weeks before you travel

6) If you need anti-malarial treatments, buy them now, as certain treatments need to be started 2 or 3 weeks in advance.

7) If you suffer from a medical condition such as high blood pressure or asthma, get a check-up to see that you’re stable and that you have enough medication to last for your trip.

8) Get a detailed record of your medical condition and medication, translated into the language of your destination if possible, so if you need to see a doctor or lose your medication, it will make things easier to explain.

9) Find out if there are any restrictions on bringing your medication into the country you’re visiting. You may need to get a letter from your doctor (also true if you need to take needles and syringes).

10) Consider taking medication for non-frequent conditions, such as constipation, as a change in foods or lifestyle while traveling may flare up.

11) If you have a dental problem, remember to get a check up with your dentist too.

Two weeks before you travel

12) Stock up on your sunscreen if you’re going to need it. Experts say you need to check the SPF (and go for 15 and above), and also check the UVA star rating (new this year) and go for a high one.

13) Stock up on insect repellent, especially if you’re sensitive to bites.

14) If you’re going to be doing lots of walking and site seeing, think about your feet and sort any potential problems that could flare up once you’re feet have been rubbed and swollen in your shoes (and also try to break in any new shoes you may be taking to minimise discomfort). Also consider protecting yourself against verrucas, which are very easily spread, if you’re going swimming in public pools.

15) If you’re going to be traveling to remote areas without a supply of bottled water, make sure you get some water purification tablets.

16) Get yourself a first aid and medication trip. Even minor conditions such as travel sickness can ruin a holiday, and prove cause hassle if try to find treatment in a foreign language.

17) You may find that you have trouble sleeping for any number of reasons. If you’re a light sleeper then it may be a good idea to get some sleeping tablets.

18) If you’re going long haul and are worried about the risks of deep vein thrombosis caused by prolonged inactivity (such as sitting in your airplane seat), you can now get special socks that help combat this problem.

When you’re packing

19) Make sure you have a list of all the medication you have bought in preparation so you don’t forget any of it.

20) Don’t pack it all together (especially if you have a serious medical problem). Bags can go missing and you run the risk of losing all your medication in one go if you have it all in the same place.