The question that people spend a lot of time thinking about… should I buy white luggage. Its strange that this is pretty much the only color that people need to spend time thinking about!
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Well today, I will help you in finding that answer. Ultimately it will always come down to you and your personal choice…but there may be a few things that you have not considered that may change your buying decision.
I am assuming that you already have a particular piece of luggage in mind and hence why you are asking this question…you may already have doubts about it…or you simply want some reassurance that all will be okay.
You may just have seen a picture in a magazine and thought…yes that is the look for me. Lets look into white luggage a little deeper.
What should I consider?
- Material
- How will you travel
- How particular are you
Material
The material of the luggage is an important consideration when it comes to white luggage. It can drastically affect your buying decision. Is it a soft case or hard case that you are looking at?
If it is a soft case, my immediate advice is not to buy a white suitcase. The material is prone to dirt marks and stains…as are all soft cases…but it is magnified on a white suitcase. You can see dirty luggage a mile away.
You can but nano technology fabric sprays that claim that they will protect against dirt marks and dust. This is the same technology that you can spray your sneakers with. To a degree it does work but not so much that it leaves your suitcase ‘clean’ after a flight.
If it is a hardcase that you are looking at, this is a more positive direction. You can clean these relatively easily…maybe not so it looks new but you can do a good enough job on it. Some also have a protective clear coat on them which helps in this and therefore they have a level of protection built in.
How will you travel?
How you travel is a relevant consideration. Some people do not fly at all like maybe assuming.
If you do not fly, this gives you more scope to play with. This is because you are in control of your luggage at all times. You are not ‘checking’ them in anywhere. You are in control of how it is handled and where you put it.
If you do fly, you have more to consider.
When you ‘check in’ luggage, you are effectively giving away control. The care of your pristine white luggage is in the hands of other people…will they are so much that your suitcase is white? Will they treat it with more care than a black suitcase?
I think we all know the answer to that…no.
They don’t care what colour your suitcase is. To them, it is a process of moving one piece of luggage onto the aeroplane and then removing it at the end back to the consumer at the end.
There is a basic level of care involved…which does not extend to dirt and marks.
Your white suitcase will pick up dirt and marks as it is thrown from one end of the aeroplane to the other. Read any testimony of a baggage handler…this is how this is done. They do not have time to place each piece if luggage carefully…it is literally thrown…I mean literally.
Hence why there is so much damage to suitcases reported.
How particular are you?
If details and style matter to you…white suitcases are not for you.
I am one of those people. I like to keep things looking pristine for as long as possible. Dirt marks are not something I want to look at let alone deal with.
I know that it will bother me. Therefore, I steer away from white luggage. It’s the same reason why I won’t buy a white car…it looks dirty too quickly for my liking.
White cars look best when they are freshly washed or new. The same applies to white suitcases. They look great in the pictures. Give it a journey or two and the reality looks a distant memory from the images in your head.
What do you need the luggage for?
This aspect has some bearing on whether you should buy a white suitcase.
Business
If you are thinking of buying white luggage for business trips, think again. They wont look elegant for long once an airport has handled it. Do you really want to turn up at a nice hotel trailing a dirty piece of luggage? Do you really want clients seeing you with it?
It becomes a reflection of you and your standards. I would therefore err on the side of caution and consider something darker and more conservative. At the very minimum, something that looks relatively clean at all times.
Leisure
This gives you more flexibility as you are not really being judged at a professional level, as if you were by travelling for business.
Some people like to look stylish. Image matters. If this is what you want, go for it but don’t be surprised that you have to spend more time than you would like in the vain attempt to keep it looking fresh. You can’t…and won’t in most cases.
People do still judge though…do you? If you saw somebody with a dirty suitcase, would you think that this reflected their own standards? The answer is subjective but I prefer not to take that risk.
Advantages and disadvantages of white luggage
Having considered the aspects above, lets quickly look at the advantages and disadvantages which should help answer the question, should I buy white luggage.
Lets first look at the advantages;
Advantages
- White luggage can look incredibly stylish…so fresh looking.
- Not many people have white luggage, you will stand out…if that is what you want…congratulations.
- Baggage reclaim…your piece of white luggage will stand out on the conveyor belt like a beacon…no more mistaking your bag for someone else’s.
- It is less likely to be stolen or mistakenly taken at baggage reclaim. Generally, thieves claim they took a piece of luggage by mistake. Its difficult to argue this with a w white suitcase…they are pretty unique.
Disadvantages
- They get dirty…quickly.
- That image you saw in the magazine…it lasts about 5 minutes in real life. Have I mentioned…they get dirty!
- They attract attention…do you really want that when travelling solo?
- In some cases, some people are attracted to purposely making it dirty…for some bizarre reason.
What other colors to consider
This is a question that only you can really answer. However, if it is a light-colored suitcase you want…as I do, I always suggest silver. This offers some of the benefits of white luggage without some of the drawbacks.
I own several pieces of luggage, one of them being a Rimowa aluminium case. I love it. It is so stylish and premium looking without looking dirty. Sure, it gets dirty but a quick clean can have it looking pristine again.
If it is a loud color you want to attract attention, there are no shortage of colors. Pinks, greens, purples and yellows all come to mind. Each to their own and it’s not my job to judge…whatever your flavor is, carry it with pride.
How to protect white luggage from damage
The reality is that there is little you can do, especially if it is taken out of your control. Other people will not care as much as you do, so set your expectation at that level.
If you do have a white soft case, try spraying it with a sneaker protection spray. This nano technology does protect from dirt and marks and also has the benefit of some waterproofing.
If it is a hard case, it may well have a clear coat coating that can be cleaned. Some plastics are more difficult to clean so consider this before you buy. You may also be able to use the nano technology on hard cases but check in a small area before you do this.
Summary…should i buy white luggage?
Should I buy white luggage? It all comes down to opinion. What do you really want?
If that’s what you want, go for it but be clear of what to expect.
Personally, I would steer clear of white luggage but that is just my opinion. It is just an opinion…everybody will have a different view.
If you do, good luck and I hope it makes you very happy 😊
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FAQ
What is a good brand of luggage?
There are many excellent brands of luggage that use the latest materials available and offer luggage at several price points. Some of the most famous ones are Samsonite, American Tourister, Rimowa, Antler, Carlton, Brigs and Riley, Ricardo…the list goes on. Have a look at the brands section on this website.
Is hard or soft luggage better?
This is answered in more detail on other posts but to summarize, a soft case is more flexible and may have extending sections. You can probably squeeze more into it, especially odd shaped items. It does limit the protection though.
Hard cases offer more protection but limit the flexibility of squeezing odd shaped items in there. They are rigid after all.
Which is better? Only you can really answer that as it depends on what is important to you and your needs.
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