Back when travel was a chic, elegant affair that was as much about image as it was about going somewhere – anywhere – the weight and size of your luggage was the last thing on anyone’s mind. But in the world of low-priced airfares, cattle call-style boarding and hurried dashes from the gate to gate, being able to handle your bags with ease is more important than ever.

Thankfully, new technology and better design are making luggage lighter and more functional every season. But if you truly want to make the most of this lightweight luggage, you first have to find the right bag – and secondly, you should learn how to choose what to put inside those bags that will make them lighter than you ever thought possible.

The Bags

To make travel easier on you – try to choose a suitcase that’s as lightweight and durable as possible. Obviously leather bags look great, but they also tend to weigh much more. And the same goes for hard-sided cases. So if you’re searching for truly lightweight luggage, your best option is always a soft-sided bag.

Of course, not all soft-sided suitcases are created equally, so when making your decision, there are a few things you should consider.

• Try to find a bag with graphite and/or honeycombed frames.
• Ballistic and Cordura nylon are both sturdy and durable – and when paired with quality construction methods, they will last a lifetime.
• Look for signs of quality construction, such as taped zippers, reinforced edges, etc.
• All of your bags should come with well-constructed handles that fit your hand comfortably – and if they have shoulder straps, those should be made of wide webbing and offer padding where the strap meets your shoulder. After all, you’ll likely be carrying these bags yourself, so they should be comfortable.
• If your bag has wheels, make sure they roll smoothly and are securely attached to the bag.
• Read online reviews of the bags you’re considering and find out what others think of them.

For my two cents, some of the best super-lightweight bags on the market are made by Delsey Luggage. Their Helium line is seriously lightweight. In fact, my Delsey luggage tote, which is perfect for overnight trips, weighs just two pounds – and even my big 29-inch rolling bag weighs just 10 pounds.

All of my Delsey luggage boasts the same graphite frames, ballistic nylon fabric and construction I mentioned above – and they’ve really changed the way I feel about traveling with carry-on bags.

Packing Tips for Even Lighter Weight Bags

Even with bags that are lightweight like the Delsey luggage collection, there are still some things you can do when packing that will lighten your load even more.

• Pack multi-functional clothes and shoes so you can simply change your accessories for dressier occasions.
• If you want to wear jeans while you’re on your trip, wear them on the flight to your destination. They’re bulky and heavy and if you can wear them during the flight and simply iron the sagging knees back into shape for use later, it will save you room – and weight in your bag.
• If you can get away with packing just one pair of shoes and wearing another, you should certainly do so. As with jeans, shoes are bulky and heavy and can really weigh you down.
• If athletic-style gear is appropriate, packing nylon or nylon-blend pants and shirts makes perfect sense. Not only are they lightweight, but they’re wrinkle-resistant and very often come in “urban chic” styles that don’t read too outdoorsy for the city.
• Don’t take your entire make-up or toiletry collection. Instead, pack in travel sizes and take only the bare essentials. Plus, with the new TSA rules, liquids and gels have to be kept at three ounces or less, so packing for lightweight travel in this way just makes sense.

No matter what type of luggage you have, you can still create a lighter weight bag using these packing tips, but if you invest in the right pieces and follow these packing tips, you can easily make struggling with your bags a thing of the past.