Wheeled holdall guide

A holdall (or hold-all) is a name for a large bag made of a flexible material such as cloth, nylon, polyester or leather. The term initially gained its popularity in the US, but is being increasingly used worldwide. The standard holdall model has two grab handles to carry the bag as you would a suitcase, but some styles also have longer shoulder straps. Holdalls are commonly seen in sporting venues, where they are used for carrying sports equipment. But given their versatility their use is broadening into other arenas. For example stand around in an airport these days and you'll notice that wheeled holdalls seem to be starting to take the place of the standard rectangular shaped wheeled carry-on.

The name says it all. A 'hold all' is a highly versatile bag. And being soft you can compress it when empty. When full it's still has some flexibility and is pliable enough to squeeze into surprisingly small spaces. Perfect for a car trunk for example. Just try and fit a bulky hard suitcases into the same space.

The result is your perfect bag for traveling. Given the soft shell, it always feels like you can squeeze that one last item into your holdall. If you have a tendency to pack heavy, then a wheeled holdall may be just right for you. You'll breeze through the airport with no danger of back or shoulder sprain.

The best wheel design to look out for when you are choosing between models are 'spinning wheels' that can turn 360 degrees. These allow you to steer the bag in all direction. It makes sense to choose a brand with four wheels rather than two as you won’t even have to tilt the handle to move the bag but can maneuver it upright.

Does it feel like the overhead cabin space is getting smaller and smaller? Given their rounded shape and pliability, you will have more chance squeezing a holdall into that tiny space left in the overhead bins. Far better than having to stow your luggage 10 rows towards the rear of the plane and having to struggle against the tide of exiting packages to retrieve it at the end of the flight.

Now of course there is nothing stopping you from making a statement and choosing a bold color and pattern for your wheeled hold-all and not just sticking to a boring black or brown. See our pink suitcase guide for tips on how color can add pizazz and glamor to your travel experience. Going bold doesn’t always mean going expensive, you should be able to find cheap wheeled holdalls in stand out colors.

For checked luggage we still prefer hard suitcase designs for the added protection they provide to your contents - especially these days when you have to check all your liquids and creams. But if you choose carefully you may be able to find wheeled holdalls that offer the kind of protection you need. Look out for models made out of thick material and ones with extra protection panels built into the sides. You may even find some new models that rival standard lightweight suitcases when it comes to weight and capacity.

While the terms duffle bag and holdall are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually describe quite a different style of bag. A duffle bag is also made of cloth or other soft fabric but it differs from a holdall due to its cylindrical shape and drawstring closing mechanism. You'll also be hard pressed to find a wheeled duffle bag.

To round out a comfortable travel experience consider packing the following in your holdall for long haul plane travel:

• A pair of thick airplane socks
• An inflatable neck pillow or a memory foam travel pillow
• Noise canceling headphones
• An eye mask
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and moisturizer (Remember not to exceed on board restrictions for liquids)
  

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