ABS Luggage

Zipper to suitcase liner：The piece of a zipper that you pull in order to unzip the closure is called a zipper pull. In this case, pulling on the zipper pull often unzips the entire length of the suitcase liner and reveals a pocket between the liner and the outer shell.

Suitcase liner: A soft, smooth liner. It should feel slightly slick. High thread-count polyester fabrics can even provide a degree of moisture barrier between sections of the suitcase. This helps to keep that smelly, dirty clothes odor out of the main compartment when using the suitcase liner as a pocket.

Lid compartment：Not all suitcases have a lid compartment, but many modern suitcases include a zippered partition separating the lid compartment from the body of the suitcase. The lid compartment can be an easy way to organize your stuff during a trip.

Telescoping handle：The telescoping handle clicks up and down into place using a release button. When pushed all the way down flush with the top of the suitcase, the telescoping handle should remain in place with only the rigid handle visible. When the release button is pressed and the handle is pulled, the telescoping handle should pull upwards, allowing the bag to be rolled easily without stooping.

Telescoping suitcase handles may have one or two support pieces. These pieces slip into channels in the bottom of a suitcase, which can usually be felt under the suitcase liner when the suitcase is open.

Button to collapse roller handle：This part is especially important because it allows the repositioning of the telescoping handle. When a button to collapse or extend a telescoping handle breaks, often the pull-out handle has to be replaced or the suitcase repurposed for other uses (such as storage or as a secondary suitcase).

Outer shell：Suitcases have various forms of outer shells.

Carry strap：It could be argued that the most important part of a suitcase. Most suitcases have a carry strap on two sides- the top and t on the side opposite the zipper’s hinge. These carry straps are really important. While you may not handle your suitcase by these handles often (most travelers use the telescoping handle primarily), the carry strap is what baggage handlers at airports, valets at hotels, and couriers for trains, buses, and group tours will use to move your suitcase around. For this reason, this part of a suitcase is important and needs to be especially sturdy.

Combination lock：Many modern suitcases come with integrated locks.

Spinner wheels：Arguably the most important development in suitcase research and design in the last 50 years, spinner wheels are, in this pro traveler’s opinion, an important suitcase part. Spinner wheels, rather than set wheels (which only roll in one direction), allow you to maneuver around obstacles easily.

When comparing the merits of ABS vs polycarbonate as suitcase materials, who comes out on top?

From a purely functional perspective, polycarbonate luggage is the best option. While ABS is undoubtedly a tough plastic, polycarbonate has over twice the impact strength. Considering the rough treatment a suitcase experiences over the course of a holiday (thrown onto conveyor belts, stacked on luggage carts, dragged up hotel stairs), durability is an invaluable trait. The longevity of polycarbonate suitcases will also save you money over time, as you will be required to replace them less frequently.

Structurally, the elasticity of polycarbonate makes it easy to fix the shell indentations that can naturally form over time. But ABS — a rigid material — is more likely to crack under pressure. It’s also worth noting that ABS is also susceptible to UV radiation, meaning that direct sunlight will cause it to degrade and even take on a yellow hue over time. In contrast, polycarbonate has a high resistance to UV rays.

Weight is another factor where polycarbonate has the edge. You can broadly expect a polycarbonate carry-on case to weigh around 1kg less than an ABS alternative. That’s the equivalent of 5-6 cotton T-shirts — certainly not a negligible amount.

If affordability is a key consideration, ABS luggage has the advantage. ABS is relatively easy to manufacture and accordingly cheap — it costs around half the price of polycarbonate. Many smaller, less-distinguished luggage brands opt to work with ABS due to the lower cost of production. However, this advantage has to be set against the (often) inferior shelf life of ABS suitcases.

You can solve some small defects in your suitcase yourself. It is at least worth trying as this is still faster than sending your suitcase back.

The zipper of your suitcase is stuck and does not want to open any more. Do not panic. All you need is something 'greasy' such as labello, a bar of soap or Vaseline. Rub the 'teeth' of the zipper with this and then gently move the zipper from left to right. Then carefully pull the zipper and if it is good you will see that the zipper opens and closes again.

There is a dent in your ABS material case. How do you get this dent again? All you need is a hair dryer with 1600 watts of power. Hold the hair dryer for about 15 minutes where the dent is, as soon as the place is warm enough the material will restore itself to its original shape. By the way, do not use a hammer to repair the dent.

The hair dryer technique can also be used for dents on your ABS case. Heating the spot will reduce the white line.

You remove your suitcase from the baggage claim and you can see that your suitcase is completely under the black stripes. These stripes are easy to remove. A bottle of petrol and an old tea towel do wonders. Pour some petrol on the tea towel and gently rub the stripes, you will see that the stripes disappear like snow in front of the sun. This is not recommended for textile cases. The oil causes stains.

The telescopic pull rod no longer slides in and out smoothly. This can be solved by using a drop of oil or Vaseline. First slide the tie rod completely out and then lubricate the lower and middle section of the drawbar with oil or petroleum jelly. Then slide the tie rod in and out a few times so that the oil or petroleum jelly can spread. Be careful with textile cases, the oil can cause stains.