Duffels are the newest piece of lightweight luggage to gain in popularity. They have always been popular with campers and were originally called soft trunks. Summer campers have been using them almost exclusively for a long time. Then these duffels caught on with the college crowd. They quickly realized that duffels would fit easily under the bed or behind a closet for convenient storage. Now with the strict weight restrictions on baggage for airline travel, the duffel is catching on with all travelers. Whether you're planning a trip to a ski area or to a beautiful sunny resort, the duffel will neatly hold all of your clothing and accessories. They are truly lightweight and unstructured; so there is always room for one more article of clothing or one more pair of shoes.

Wheels have been a nice addition on these duffels. They will now roll along easily anywhere you are going. The best cases have the inline skate wheels for ease in wheeling over every kind of surface. Skyway Luggage makes some wonderful models of duffels out of ripstop nylon. They come in handy thirty-inch sizes or twenty-two sizes for smaller trips. They also make a super sized thirty-six inch wheeled case. This size will most probably end up going overweight because it holds so much. Like most discount luggage, these cases are popular priced and a real bargain in this classification. The newest model is available from Athalon in a "graffiti print" with a pocket on top for a soccer or football. How convenient is this? Both models also have multiple pockets to organize your smaller items. Additionally, Skyway has the handy add-a-bag strap to hook up another piece and roll them both along. Students that are taking a semester abroad have always used these innovative duffels. These duffels also open up completely so you do not have to rummage around inside to find a particular shirt or item. You can slide anything out and not disturb the rest of the items in the duffel.

As the duffel has gained in popularity with the traveler, fashion forward companies like Vera Bradley have introduced them to their line. These are great looking cases, with multiple compartments for organizing all of your travel accessories. They are available in twenty-six and twenty-two inch sizes. The outside prints called Java Blue and Mesa Red also have contrasting prints inside the cases. These cases are lightweight and very attractive. The fabric used on the luggage is very durable and made to withstand the rigors of airline travel. They cause a “wow” anywhere they travel.

Another great duffel is the Prolite duffel by Coronado. This case is a double Decker and has a separate bottom compartment for dividing up your clothing. It is available in ballistic nylon for extra durability. The bottom of the case can hold dressier clothing, or separate dirty clothing on the way home. It makes packing much easier and more organized. This piece of luggage is popular for corporate gifts. The leather monogram area can be embossed with a company name or logo. Of course, it can also be monogrammed with your individual initials for easy identification. All of the duffels mentioned have the locking pull or push handle. This is very handy when maneuvering through busy areas. Although they have regular carry handles, you'll want the convenience of the wheels and the locking handles. Plan a trip and get ready to pack that duffel!