Having the right luggage can make all the difference in the success of your trip. Here is a checklist of seventeen points to consider the next time you buy luggage.

1. Check with each of your carriers for the number of pieces that can be carried on, stowed or checked (with or without fees) plus size and weight limitations for each.

2. Number of pieces: Plan to take only what you can manage without help. There is not always a skycap, porter or bellman available. Airport carts may not be where you are when you unload a car, and carts are not allowed everywhere in the airport. It is also very awkward to hop on a shuttle or a train - often unavoidable - if you have too many pieces to load.

3. Size is important if you plan to travel in confined spaces such as a train, ship or houseboat. Luggage has to be stowed but easy to access. If you are riding in a car with other passengers, determine their bag sizes and whether there is there room for each piece of luggage ahead of time. Think about this, too, if you plan to rent a car at your destination or share a cab.

4. Weight of an empty suitcase can be deceptive. That piece that was so easy to lift in the store might weigh as much thirteen pounds before you even start to pack. That is more than a fourth of the weight allowed on most airlines before they start charging major fees. Find the lightest bag that suits your needs.

The Very Best Suitcase and Luggage Collections

5. Structure: Some bags open on or across the top. These are easier to open and use on a luggage rack in a hotel. Others open in the middle, like a sandwich, with divided pockets that zip closed. This can make it easier to organize the contents of the bag, but they need more space to open unless you remove the contents from the top part first.

6. Interior space is a matter of preference for convenience in packing. You might like one large empty cavity to fill or prefer separate compartments and pockets, inside and out. Some cases will have interior bags that snap in and out. It is handy to have at least one sealable compartment or a packing cube that shuts tight for liquids.

7. Capacity can be different in the same sized bags. Look at how the bag is designed. A rounded end, thick walls or a false bottom to cover up the supporting structure will limit the quantity of clothes and supplies you can fit into a bag. A sturdy duffel with the same outside dimensions as a hard case might hold more but still weigh less after it is packed.

8. Durability is especially important when using common carriers - especially when flying overseas. Baggage handlers rush to toss luggage from one place to the next and bags can land hard - breaking wheels and fragile contents. Flimsy bags can tear under an immense pile of heavy suitcases.

Best Luggage and Suitcases

9. Reliable zippers and closures are essential. These can also break under the weight of heaps of luggage while in transit.

10. Maneuverability: Check to see if a bag on wheels swivels easily when it is fully loaded.

11. Portability is affected by the bag's weight, bulkiness and grips. There will be times when you will need to lift a large suitcase in and out of the trunk of a car or pull it off a baggage carousel. If you have a duffell or a backpack, see how easy it is to throw it onto your shoulders and carry around when packed. If your carry-on bag has wheels, it may be easy to pull around the airport, but make sure you can lift it easily with one hand in case you have to carry it down a staircase from a plane to the tarmac.

12. Stability refers to a bag's ability to stand up on its own. Bulging outside pockets can move the center of gravity causing the bag to fall over. Any bag with two wheels might tip when you try to stand it up fully packed. Look for four wheels or extra feet opposite the two wheels to avoid this problem.

13. Convenience of handles and straps: You will not want to bend, even slightly, to hold onto the handle. If it extends, make sure the length allows a comfortable angle for pulling the bag. Test it to see if it is easy to pull out and tuck back in. Some duffels have extra handles in strategic places so you can grab two of them at once for easier lifting. Shoulder straps should have cushioned reinforcement. Wide straps on the backs of small carry-on bags allow you to slide them over the extended handles of larger suitcases for pulling.

14. Appearance should reflect your personal style. Many people like all of their luggage pieces to match so they may want to examine the whole collection before buying the first piece. Black bags tend to look alike but show less scuffing so you can add a scarf or ribbon to a handle to distinguish yours.

How to Shop For the Best Luggage for International Travel

15. Versatility: Garment bags might work well for you on business trips, but would you want one for your next cruise? Consider the many ways you plan (or hope) to travel, and think about whether you can use the same bag for more than one trip.

16. Storage after the trip: Do you have room for really large bags or multiple pieces? Can you use the bags for other storage - like off-season clothes - when you are not traveling? A collapsible duffel might be the answer if you are short on space.

17. Cost should be the last consideration in making your decision. You can get good quality without spending a fortune, but do not try to skimp. With the right choices, your luggage can serve you well, take you everywhere you want to go and last for years.

To jog your memory when you shop, use a checklist for buying luggage under travel tips on my website.

Gail Marie Wilson has traveled extensively and packed for nearly every travel style. Just a few of her many trips have included backpacking into the Grand Canyon - camping out in the Rocky Mountains - traveling by train through India - cruising from Argentina to Antarctica - and happily relaxing in many luxury resorts. Cross-country bicycle races, African safaris, and holidays on houseboats, whether she roughed it in the great outdoors or pampered herself in five-star hotels, she packed for every occasion and loved every minute.

The lists on Gail Marie's website can help you plan, prepare and pack for many kinds of trips to a lot of different places. Everywhere she went, she added to the lists - not for everything to take on every trip, but for everything to think about before the next.