How We Research
Every guide on PlentyCrate starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our luggage guides, that means your trips, your airline and how much you need to carry.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with size and the kind of trip
A carry-on that fits one airline may be too big for another, and a set that suits a cruise may be too much for a weekend trip.
We check the outside size, including wheels and handles, the empty weight and the size class each maker lists. When an airline's rules limit the choice, we tell you to check the airline's current size and weight limits before you buy.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the shell (hardside or softside, and the material), spinner or two-wheel design, the handle, zippers, locks, the inside layout and whether the bag expands. We also note the warranty terms the maker lists.
When a detail comes from the maker, we say so.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after traveling with a bag. We look for patterns, like cracked shells, wobbly wheels, handles that stick or zippers that split.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one buyer may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Luggage lines also get new model names and sizes, and airline rules change, so we check each model name before we write about it.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have traveled with every bag we cover.
Airline rules change, and our guides don't replace the airline's current size and weight limits. We don't call any bag "airline approved".
We make no promises about locks, baggage checks or damage in transit.