There’s a reason that baggage claim is often a sea of dark-colored luggage swarming conveyor belts.
Most people tend to buy black or navy suitcases, says Phil Dengler, co-founder of the travel site The Vacationer. It can hide normal wear and tear—such as scratches—better than a light-colored one, and let’s face it, darker tones can be a simple choice to default to when shopping for baggage.
Dengler approaches it from a different perspective: “The key is to set your luggage apart from the rest.” The travel pro recommends opting for colors like beige, light blue, light red, light pink, light green, and white, which will instantly catch the eye. What’s more? Your airline will have an easier time finding your light-colored bag if it gets lost.
That said, standing out isn’t limited to the items you usually hand off at check-in—weekenders can still benefit from the same idea, and you never know when you may end up needing to check that carry-on after all. Better yet, scuff marks may be one less problem to worry about, so why not take the opportunity to go for bold?
Take the plunge with our top-rated carry-ons and bags we’ve evaluated, available in a vibrant array of hues and patterns. And if you still prefer a neutral option, we’ve got you covered on that front, too.
The Best In Luggage
- Carry-Ons
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