Most people will agree that if you travel a lot, you need to own some good luggage. But what if you’re only an occasional traveler, staying close to home for most of the year? Because you don’t use your luggage as often as frequent travelers, it’s tempting to just pick up a couple of cheap polyester suitcases instead of some more expensive hardside luggage. After all, they don’t need to be all that great, right?

No way. Even if you don’t do much traveling, having good luggage is an important source of peace of mind during your trip. One reason why is because a good piece of luggage holds up better against baggage handling than cheap luggage does.

Investing in a suitcase from a good manufacturer will help you avoid finding ripped luggage with broken zippers waiting for you on the baggage carousel. Good hardside luggage from a known manufacturer will protect your belongings, but a cheap one can easily break.

But a good suitcase does more for you than just arrive in one piece at the airport. Your luggage can come out a bit battered after trips in trains or cars, or after walking it to your destination. Just as frustrating as finding your bags damaged coming off of the airplane is having your suitcase zippers or clasps break while you’re walking, spilling the contents out all over the sidewalk or the hotel lobby.

Security is another important thing to consider when choosing a new suitcase. A cheap bag that looks easy to break into makes an alluring target for thieves. A good, tamper-resistant one with secure locks help keep many away. Many hardside luggage models today include TSA approved locks built right into the luggage. Taking precautions while traveling and in your luggage design will help you to deter at least the casual thieves.

Lastly, a good suitcase is actually very convenient. A lightweight suitcase is easy to move around and use while traveling. Putting some time and money into finding a good suitcase right for you will also make packing easier, giving you room and organization for everything you need. And the best reason of all is that a good suitcase will last you for years, so you don’t have to spend more time and money on replacing cheap suitcases, and using it instead for your vacations.

And don’t forget that suitcase reviews are the best place to start looking for your new luggage. Find lots of lightweight luggage reviews here to get you started.