Soft Sided Garment Bags

Benefits

Protection and Portability

Soft-sided garment bags are lighter than their hard-sided cousins, while still providing excellent protection to your cherished items of clothing. Most travelers do not want to deal with the bulk and weight of a hard garment case, preferring instead to keep their valuable clothing with them in the airplane cabin.

This is not possible with larger hard cases, but the soft-sided bag can adapt to smaller compartments while still keeping your clothing safe.

Storage Efficiency

The soft outer shell of these cases maximizes storage space. They sit against smaller, or flatter items, without holding a lot of empty space inside, like a hard shell would. They can also accommodate clothing of a more irregular shape by bulging outward where needed – a feat that is beyond the ability of a hard-shell case.

This makes them ideal for people who sometimes travel with fewer items, and sometimes with more – and for those moving costumes and other clothing of irregular proportions and contours.

Durability and Maintenance

Made from materials well-suited to the wear and tear common during travel, quality soft-sided bags really hold up. They are usually made of materials like nylon, polyester, or leather. Most bags are easy to clean with a damp cloth.

Leather bags tend to be more stylish and luxurious, but do require a few minutes, a couple of times a year, for conditioning. This entails wiping on a cream or paste using a clean cloth, to keep the leather supple and beautiful.

Accessibility and Organization

Access to your garments is easy, with a long zipper, in most cases, that allows you to open the bag up wide, for packing or unpacking delicate items. Some models are equipped with various pockets and compartments for accessories, personal items, and so on.

Cost-Effectiveness

Soft-sided bags, despite having some advantages over hard-sided options, usually come in at a lower price. This is due to less complex construction and a different makeup of materials needed. That is not to say hard cases have no advantages – they do – but they come at the price of a heavier bag, and less adaptability to situations like overhead stowage on aircraft and fitting oddly-shaped items easily inside.

Environmental Consideration

Many soft-sided bags are made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials. Leather, for example, is a byproduct of the meat industry and would go into landfills if not used for purposes such as this. If produced using eco-friendly processes, like vegetable tanning, they are a great choice for the planet-conscious buyer.

How to Choose

Material Matters

The fabric your bag is made of will be the thing standing between your precious clothing and the rugged, dirty, uncaring outside world. Opt for materials that will do the job well, like polyester or nylon – or if you want an added touch of luxury, full-grain leather. These are all relatively lightweight materials that are easy to clean and maintain and will protect your clothing from the weather, spills, and incidental knocks and bumps that come with travel.

Size and Capacity

Consider how much clothing you are likely to pack in the garment bag on a regular basis, and choose a bag that suits that amount. Consider also the accessories and personal items you hope to pack with them. If you are a light enough packer, then this one bag may be all you need to deal with for shorter trips.

Features for Functionality

Some features will allow you to use the bag more frequently and more easily. Multiple compartments, locks on the zippers, comfortable shoulder straps, and reliable nagging mechanisms are all features to keep an eye out for.

Weight and Portability

The bag should be as light as possible while maintaining the best protection as possible for your clothing. This eases shoulder and back strain, while not compromising the safety of your clothing.

Brand and Price

Renowned brands will often work harder to ensure you have a quality product, and they almost always have superior customer service, both before and after the point of purchase. They do this to protect hard-earned good reputations. The quality and support behind these bags often mean a higher price tag too, but the value is easy to see when you factor in the peace of mind, the added luxury, and the extended longevity of these products.

Types

Within the category of soft garment bags, there are subcategories or types. Each one has advantages for certain situations and users. Consider which one of these best suits your needs.

Wheeled Garment Bags: Mobility and Convenience

To save your shoulders and back from the strain of carrying even a modest load over longer distances, the wheeled bag takes the weight of the garments onto itself and all you need to do is pull it alongside or behind you.

Bi-Fold and Tri-Fold Bags: Compact and Space-Efficient

A folding model is your choice to have the best in roomy packing and unpacking, combined with a compact, agile configuration for transport and stowage. The bifold folds in half, and the trifold into thirds, maintaining the controlled position of your clothing for minimization of wrinkles and maximum protection – in a minimal size.

Expandable Garment Bags: Versatility in Capacity

But maybe what you need isn’t smaller, but bigger! If you plan to pick up additional clothing on your trip but don’t want to haul around a floppy, half-full garment bag on the way there, then the expandable options might be just what you need. You can pack your clothing for the trip properly, snugly, and protected. When you buy more items, the bag zips open to allow greater volume inside, fitting in one or more additional garments for the trip back, all properly stowed just as the single one was on the way out.

Specialty Bags for Uniforms and Delicate Garments

Some garments, such as wedding dresses, formal suits, or costumes, may need specialized treatment. Bags designed for these garments can have added padding and support to maintain shape and position. They may also be designed to handle the additional volume of a gown or wedding dress, with its train or other voluminous features.

Alternatives

Vacuum Compression Bags: Maximize Space and Protect Garments

Vacuum compression bags have the advantage of sealing garments in, for maximum protection and minimal volume. The drawbacks are that the plastic adds weight to your bag and the vacuum process causes wrinkling to the garments within, so some pressing or steaming will be needed once unpacked.

Hanging Closet Organizers: Streamlined Storage at Home

If your storage needs are mainly located at home, a bag made for travel and transport may not be your best option. Instead, consider a hanging closet organizer. These systems include multiple compartments to isolate garments, preventing dye rub, scuffing, or damage from things like buttons, sequins, or zippers. Your items are organized, easy to access, and totally safe while in storage.

Rigid Garment Cases: Ultimate Protection for Delicate Garments

Rigid cases are heavier than soft-sided ones and aren’t as adaptable to overhead stowage or other confined spaces. That said, they do provide additional protection from impacts, drops, and other potentially damaging events. This may provide the best protection for clothing with delicate parts that extend from the surface, like some costumes or wedding dresses. Rigid cases are also suitable for checking into an airplane cargo hold.

Post Purchase Considerations

After purchasing a bag, it is common for people to have after-thoughts and concerns about their choice – especially if they invested in a high-quality item. In order to put your mind at ease, we’ve put together a few thoughts from the professionals.

Durability Concerns

Soft-sided garment bags are flexible, but they are not flimsy. They are made from material that will stand up to regular, significant wear, all while keeping your clothing safe inside. Lower-quality items will wear and fail quickly, endangering your clothing, but a high-quality bag will stand up to the tests of travel.

Weather Resistance

Owning a water-resistant or waterproof bag that keeps clothing safe inside despite what is going on outside will bring you peace of mind as you travel and move your clothing around. More than any other kind, formal clothing should always look clean and wrinkle-free, without blemish or damage. The right bag will keep the weather from ruining your look.

Storage and Portability

The soft-sided bag will function well for your travel needs, but it will also work as an excellent storage solution at home. It will keep the dust off of your formal clothing and protect it from scuffs and damage from other clothing in a closet or drawer. A safe shell within your home and when on the move – a great value.

Weight and Size Limitations

Air travel tends to have strict limitations on weight allowances, so a soft-sided bag is a great choice for minimizing weight. It also suits the size limitations of most airlines, especially since the soft sides can adapt to the shape of the compartment around it. You won’t want to mash it in and thereby wrinkle the contents, but a little flexibility here and there will get your belongings into safe stowage with no ill effects.

Maintenance and Care

Properly caring for your new bag will extend its usable life and keep it looking great. Leather bags, for example, should be conditioned when new and then again a couple of times per year. This only takes a few minutes but will pay you back richly in the luxurious look of your bag, and the elongation of its usable life.

FAQs

What is a Soft-Sided Garment Bag?

A soft-sided garment bag is a flexible, protective piece of luggage designed to keep your formal clothing wrinkle-free and clean during travel. It is lighter in weight than hard-case options and fits more easily into overhead and other restrictive compartments.

Why Choose One?

The advantages of this kind of bag include the lighter weight, the flexibility for stowage, and the ability to hang up in a closet once at your destination, protecting your garments while there, as well. They often include compartments or pockets for accessories and personal items as well, making it possible to use just one bag and no other luggage for short trips.

How Does Material Affect Performance?

The fabric should look good and be easy to clean and maintain, but most of all, it should be durable, providing a reliable barrier between your cherished clothing and the outside world.

What are the Size and Weight Considerations?

If you are a tall or large person, you may want a larger bag to suit the clothing size. A smaller bag is easier to stow and move around but needs to hold all of your needed items, too. Bags that are too large for the clothing inside them or that are underloaded for some other reason can be floppy and ungainly to carry, and there is some risk that clothing will shift and wrinkle in the extra space.

How Do Design Features Enhance Usability?

Look for features that will be useful to you, like additional pockets and compartments, or safety features like lockable zippers or additional padding. Adjustable, padded shoulder straps, wheels, and other mobility features are also worth considering.

Are There Special Care Instructions?

Most items will come with specific care guidance included, but in general, wiping the surface of the bag with a damp cloth, and letting it dry naturally, is all that is needed for cleaning. Leather bags need conditioning from time to time, but that is quick and easy and keeps the bag looking like new.

What is the Environmental Impact?

To minimize environmental impact, look for bags made from recycled materials or manufactured in a sustainable way. Leather, for example, is a byproduct of the meat industry and would otherwise go straight to landfills. Durable, eco-friendly bags are available in a number of materials and designs.

How Does Price Reflect Quality?

High quality costs more, but that cost is usually spread over a much longer time than is the case with cheaper bags. A cheaper bag may have to be replaced several times during the normal lifespan of a higher quality item, and may endanger your expensive clothing when it does fail. A little more cost up front is often the less expensive option in the long run.