Every traveler understands how important it is to hit the road with a good, high-quality travel bag. Especially relevant her choice is for those who have to ride or fly very often. In today's article, we will consider such a variant of luggage as a polycarbonate suitcase. Reviews about this type of suitcase are mixed - some strongly support them, considering them the height of practicality, convenience and beauty, while others do not like them at all.
Features of Polycarbonate Luggage
Polycarbonate is the latest synthetic material with amazing lightness and strength. A huge number of products of various purposes are made from it, including elements from which they create various buildings (arbors, greenhouses and pavilions). It is also suitable for the manufacture of smaller items, for example, travel suitcases and travel bags. Quality products from this material are distinguished by a number of undeniable advantages, which confirm real reviews. A polycarbonate suitcase is:
- reliable - it has a strong frame, which has excellent resistance to mechanical stress;
- convenient - such a suitcase is stable, even very fragile items can be transported in it;
- practical - it does not require additional care and washing;
- esthetically - manufacturers make products of any colors, sizes and shapes.
This type of suitcase has all the functions of analogues made of fabric or leather - textile upholstery is provided inside, additional compartments equipped with a zipper and a clip on an elastic tape, most models also have a combination lock, all of them are equipped with a pull-out handle and a sliding mechanism on wheels. A polycarbonate suitcase is quite light, its weight depends on the size (small, large or medium). The average product parameters are 40 x 55 x 20 cm, 50 x 70 x 30 cm, 55 x 80 x 35 cm, weight from 2.5-3 kg to 9-10 kg.
Suitcase made of plastic or polycarbonate: the main difference
Often consumers confuse products made of polycarbonate and plastic, while there is a big difference between them. Plastic cases are cheaper, but not only their price, but also impact resistance are lower. If the loader at the airport, due to negligence or negligence, drops his luggage, then it is likely that he will be damaged. A plastic suitcase can crack, after strong blows scratches and dents remain on it, sometimes whole fragments of the frame fall off. Some manufacturers are trying to improve the quality of their products by adding various polymers to conventional plastic. In part, this solves the problem of fragility of suitcases, but does not completely eliminate it. Inexpensive suitcases made of polycarbonate - these are the very products that are created from mixed material.
Polycarbonate suitcases are better in quality than their more budget counterparts. Along with them you can put products from ADS-plastic. These are materials similar in their characteristics, but not the same. They belong to frost-resistant, non-combustible, especially durable substances that are well resistant to chemical and mechanical effects. It is logical that very good suitcases on wheels are made from these materials. With careful use, they will last for years, if not decades.
How to choose a good suitcase?
Custom reviews help many buyers make the most competent choice. A polycarbonate suitcase, according to most consumers, should not be too heavy. A lot of weight "steals" the passenger the opportunity to freely take with him on the road all the things he needs. In the assortment of manufacturers, in fact, there are models that weigh 8 kg or more, and buying such a product, you should think carefully about whether you need to pay air carriers to transport the suitcase, and not its contents.
The second important point is the structure and placement of the wheels. If they strongly protrude beyond the framework, there is a high probability that they will come off at the first “break-in”. It is better to choose a model of a suitcase in which the rollers are a little recessed inside.
And thirdly, it is necessary to pay attention to how the retractable handle is arranged, holding onto which, in fact, you are carrying the suitcase. In high-quality models, it is covered with an additional bar, which prevents it from breaking during the fall of the suitcase.
Popular brands
The most affordable suitcases are made in China. These are products from TM StreetGo, Bonro Smile, Kodor, Travelite, etc. Many of them are manufactured using European technologies. Note that not all suitcases marked Made in China are a cheap pleasure, among them there are also models that cost $ 300-400.
Popular brands of European-made polycarbonate suitcases are Hauptstadtkoffer and Titan (Germany), March (Netherlands), Roncato (Italy), Victorinox (Switzerland). Products of these brands have proven themselves in the market very well. But the best, according to travelers, are American Tourister and Samsonite (USA) suitcases, at least the best reviews write about them. Polycarbonate suitcases from this manufacturer are quite expensive, and this is their main disadvantage. Nevertheless, the price is justified by their high quality.
Useful tips for proper use.
No matter how durable the polycarbonate cases are, they must be used carefully. Most models have a textured surface, so they are quite resistant to scratches. The case of high-quality products almost never breaks, but the lock that closes the suitcase and theoretically protects it from hacking often does not save passengers' belongings from dishonest airport employees. To prevent theft and possible damage to the suitcase, it is better to wrap it with tape before putting it into the luggage compartment, including wrapping the locks with polyethylene.
When packing luggage, you need to try to fold things as compactly as possible. If the rag suitcase under the pressure of strong hands can still close, because its frame stretches a little, then this number will not work with plastic - the lid simply will not close to the base. But even in a half-empty suitcase, things will freely “hang out”, which increases the risk of their deformation, therefore, the choice of the size of the accessory must be approached wisely.
Polycarbonate Suitcase: Maintenance and Repair
The outside of the suitcase is washed with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water. This will be enough to put the accessory in order after a trip or flight. Textile elements are sewn from fabrics that can be easily washed at home, but if something has spilled or crumbled inside the suitcase, it is better to dry clean it.
Manufacturers and sellers warn consumers that when packing a suitcase, it is necessary to completely fill its internal space. The presence of voids helps the product to be damaged. If a crack does appear on it, there are several ways to rectify the situation:
- glue the defect with superglue, the composition of which is suitable for repairing plastics;
- make a special “patch” from a small plastic strip that sticks to the back of the suitcase in the crack area;
- to prevent the crack from spreading further, small holes must be made at its edges with a small diameter drill.
Also, with suitcases, the wheels and pull-out handles often fail. Spare items can be purchased at points of sale selling travel bags. Sometimes repair of polycarbonate suitcases is included in the list of services that they provide to their customers.
Owner reviews
Consumers with experience using plastic and polycarbonate suitcases claim that it makes no sense to overpay and buy the most expensive products. No matter how high-quality they are, they will still have to be wrapped with a protective film to avoid scratches. Of course, if the traveler moves in his own car, then such precautions will be superfluous.
However, in the vast majority of cases, a beautiful and bright suitcase needs to be protected. By the way, simpler models attract less attention from unscrupulous loaders. But it is not worth trifles, buying such a thing. According to customer reviews, cheap plastic suitcases very quickly fail - the wheels break off, the handle bursts, and the case itself cracks or misses.
We hope you find our tips helpful. Have a good trip and easy road!