| ABS |
Rigid plastic, lighter than PVC,
with excellent resistance to breaking, scratching, chipping and
wear;
commonly used by plumbers |
| Accordion
file |
Allows for storage of files or
papers within a catalog case, briefcase, attache, etc. Also known as a fan
file. |
| Acetal |
A crystalline thermoplastic with
a high mechanical strength and excellent wear properties with a very low
moisture absorption rate resulting in excellent dimensional stability.
Commonly used to support frames and handles in the luggage industry. |
| Adapter |
Fits to a US electronic for
safe, effective fit in an international outlet; adapters can vary depending
on country |
| Attache |
Small, rectangular business case
with a hard frame. |
| Backpack |
A carrying pack with two
shoulder straps that can be comfortably carried on your back. |
| Ballistic
nylon |
Originally developed for use in
bulletproof vests and automobile tires, this tough nylon yarn is used in
luggage, business cases, and backpacks. An incredibly durable fabric with
high abrasion resistance and tear strength. |
| Belting
leather |
Thick, quality leather often
used in belts, briefcases, luggage or luggage trim. |
| Carry-on
approved |
Will meet most airline
requirements for luggage allowed onto an airplane; small enough to fit under
the seat or in the overhead bin. Standard size is 22 x 14 x 9" |
| Computer
sleeve |
A protective sleeve for your
laptop which fits inside a business case. |
| Converter |
Used frequently in international
travel, converts US electronics for use in other countries with a different
voltage; may vary depending on country |
| Cordura |
A durable, lightweight, tear,
abrasion and puncture resistant nylon yarn used extensively in luggage and
outdoor gear. |
| Cosmetic
bag |
Small piece of luggage used to
carry cosmetics and other personal items. Usually fits inside a larger bag,
such as an upright or garment bag. |
| Cow
hide |
Leather made from unsplit cow
hide or its grain split. |
| Daypack |
Smaller backpack. Meant to be
work over the shoulders in backpack style. |
| Denier |
Weight measurement which refers
to the fineness of a yarn. Typically, the lower the number, the finer the
fiber; the higher the number, the heavier the fiber. |
| Duffel |
Large, open luggage or sports
bag, with few or no interior compartments. |
| Ergonomic |
When used in referring to
luggage handles, a comfortable hand position, causing little or no stress to
your body. |
| Expandable |
Compartment which expands 1 or
more inches for added packing space. |
| Full
grain leather |
The original grain surface hide;
has not been buffed or split. |
| Garment
bag |
A bag that holds suits, dresses,
gowns, shirts, etc. using a hanging system. May be wheeled. |
| Garment
sleeve |
A folding sleeve within an
upright that holds 1-2 suits, dresses, shirts, etc. Also referred to as a
suiter. |
| Gusset |
An insert of extra fabric to
allow for greater storage or organizational options. |
| Hardside |
Made from plastic, aluminum or
other hard materials. Provides more protection for your contents; is often
heavier than soft-sided luggage. |
| Herringbone |
Fabric construction where the
twill is reversed, or broken, at regular intervals, producing a zip-zag
effect. |
| Jacquard |
A method of weaving or knitting
patterns directly onto fabric. Its rare that a true jacquard fabric is
printed on the material. Fabric has a raised pattern effect. |
| In-line
skate wheel |
Usually made of polyurethane or
other rubber, these wheels were originally designed for in-line skates, yet
used with wheeled luggage pieces, allow for a wider base and smooth
manuverability. |
| Mesh |
Fabric characterized by its
net-like appearance. |
| Microfiber |
Soft, lightweight, breathable
and durable synthetic fiber; finer denier than silk. |
| Napa
(Nappa) leather |
Soft full grain leather made
from unsplit sheep, lamb, or kid-skin. |
| Neoprene |
Durable synthetic rubber; very
resistant to oil or sweat. |
| Nubuk |
Full grain leather that has been
"sanded" on the right side for a suede finish. |
| Nylon |
The first completely synthetic
fiber developed. Known for its high strength and excellent resilience, nylon
has superior abrasion resistance and high flexibility. |
| Organizer |
Small personal planner, usually
with areas to hold credit cards, IDs, money, etc. Often includes calendar and
small notepad. |
| Overnight
bag |
Luggage large enough to carry
clothing and personal items for an overnight stay. Also referred to as a
tote. |
| Portfolio |
Flat, rectangular bag with a
zipper top or envelope flap. Many have handles, some which recede into the
bag. |
| Polypropylene |
Synthetic, long chain polymer
fiber that will not absorb moisture, but will "wick" moisture away
from the skin quickly. High heat, such as an iron or a dryer, can damage this
fiber. |
| PVC |
Poly vinyl chloride: a firm
rubber-like plastic. |
| Roll-a-board |
Used by Travelpro, this is fast
becoming a generic term for any upright piece of luggage with wheels and a
telescopic handle. |
| Satchel |
A soft, carry-on bag, usually
with two handles. |
| Self-repairing
zipper |
Zippers which function even when
a few teeth are missing. |
| Skid
plate |
Metal or plastic plates found on
the exterior of some luggage to protect against bumps, scratches, and other
abrasions. |
| Shoe
pocket |
Separate compartment within
luggage used to keep shoes away from clothing and other items |
| Suiter |
Addition to luggage that allows
suits, dresses or other garments to be packed separately. Style varies, and
many are removable. |
| Teflon |
A
durable, long-lasting fabric protector that forms a molecular shield around
the fibers, guarding them from oil-and-water based stains, dust and soil. |
| Telescopic
handle |
Extendable handle, usually
released by a button or pressure, that hides within its own casing. Common on
most pieces of wheeled luggage. |
| Toiletry
kit |
Small luggage accessory used to
carry toiletries and other personal items. Fits inside most other pieces of
luggage, duffel bags, or backpacks. |
| Topstitching |
Stitching detail parallel to the
edge of seam on the outside of the fabric, used as a styling detail, or added
for strength to a stress point. |
| Tote |
Luggage large enough to carry
personal items, which may include clothing, toiletries, reading materials,
etc. Also referred to as an overnight bag, a tote is usually carry-on
approved. |
| Tweed |
A coarse, heavy weight, rough
surfaced wool fabric, originally hailing from Scotland. |
| Upright |
Common term for luggage 18 -
32" in height; can be hardside or softside, with wheels and a handle for
easy maneuverability. May be referred to as a pullman. |
| Waist
pack |
Also known as a fanny pack, this
accessory item is used to hold money, ID or other documents close to your
body for added security. |
| Wally
clamp |
Used
in garment bags or suiters, a hanger system which locks any wire closet or
dry cleaning hanger in place, allowing for larger packing capability |
| Wardrobe |
A large garment bag, usually on
wheels, which stores several hanging garments. |
| Webbing |
A strong, narrow, tightly woven
nylon strip material, commonly used for straps. |
| Wetpack |
Plastic compartment within a
piece of luggage often used to hold wet or soiled items, such as bathing
suits. |
| Wheel-a-way |
Used by Tumi to describe any
upright piece of luggage with wheels and a telescopic handle. |
| Wick |
Pull moisture and sweat away
from the skin and disperse it throughout a material, such as polypropylene. |
| YKK
zippers |
Durable, coiling zippers, often
oversized. |
Shopping Cart
