Victorinox WT

 
Most of my trips are three to five days long, so this medium-sized bag gets a lot of use. The colorful bright-blue exterior is easy to spot on the luggage belt, and made of ballistic nylon that's extremely tough. The two exterior pockets can hold documents or other large flat objects, but I generally keep mine 'locked' using plastic tie-wraps to prevent anybody putting things in the bag without my knowledge.

Inside, there's a zippered lining for added protection. There's a mesh pocket inside the lid as well as two small mesh packing cubes that snap to the bottom of the bag, and another mesh zippered pocket hanging from the top. Sturdy handles on the side and top are comfortable when you need to carry the bag. The curved telescoping handle slides easily up and down. The rubberized grip is quite comfortable, while the large wheels roll easily over any surface.

My bag was purchased in 2005 and has proved very sturdy, despite being on the road at least once a month. The only signs of wear and tear are that the tabs have broken off the main zippers.

The Victorinox WT 24-inch bag has a list price of US$485 but can often be purchased for much less. Check our own Travel Store for pricing, options and other details.