When you need to buy new luggage, it’s best to buy the best suitcase or set that you can afford. But luggage is pricy, so it’s very easy to be enticed by the low prices offered by sets of bargain luggage.

Some people have bought bargain luggage — not to be confused with quality luggage bought on sale or online at a bargain price — and cite no problems, not being frequent travelers and not putting their suitcases through a great deal of use. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. This lower quality of luggage will save you some money when you purchase it, but it can be a disaster waiting to happen on your next trip.

If you fly often, you probably know a few horror stories of how baggage handling takes care of your luggage. Maybe you’ve even had a suitcase returned to you with a large hole in it, torn zippers, or some other damage that it did not have when you checked it. Though all luggage is at the risk of damage when you check it at the airport, a low quality piece is even more likely to show damage.

Low quality hardside luggage can come back to you cracked open or with a large hole in it. Polyester cases rip and fray easier than the more expensive ballistic nylon ones. A broken zipper can end up with personal items falling out into the street or in the terminal. Broken straps and handles make your luggage more difficult to carry around. Sometimes it’s better to spend just a little more for something more durable that will be less of a hassle during travel.

Another thing to note: beware of designer luggage as well. While sold at a completely different price range, some designer luggage is constructed similarly to the bargain brands, leaving you to pay large amounts for a label or pattern. It’s best to look for luggage priced in the middle range — not as expensive as designer luggage, but not as cheap as bargain luggage.

So when you go shopping for luggage, don’t be swayed by the low prices of cheap bargain luggage. Instead, go for the sturdy luggage that will last you not only through this trip, but through the ones you’ll make in the future. It will save you hassle as well as the time and money you would spend having to replace your luggage every few trips.

Need a set of affordable lightweight suitcases or do you just want to travel with some really cute luggage? Check out the reviews at Hardside Luggage Reviews to find your next piece of travel gear.