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Previously, we’ve talked about some of the things that make our lives easier and better while travelling. But what we haven’t really talked about is one oft-overlooked gadget that’s more than worth its weight, literally. Enter, the luggage scale.
We rarely check bags anymore, but when we do, I can’t tell you how many times we’ve laid stuff out to pack for an upcoming trip and…gotten carried away. After all, some of those suitcases are awfully large and if you have the space, why not fill it with something you’ll want (need?) while away? Trouble is, all that stuff adds weight to your luggage, and can do so rapidly. On top of that, if your suitcase is an older model, the bag itself can be hefty before you put anything in it. Fortunately, as luggage technology has advanced, the bags have become very lightweight, allowing for more weight to come from the stuff inside. Helpful.
Still, when you travel it’s helpful to keep in mind that, in almost all circumstances, your bag can weigh no more than 50 pounds (or about 22.7kg if you’re outside the US). An airline employee once told us the 50-pound rule is essentially an average for your party. In other words, if your bag is 45 pounds and the person you’re travelling with has a bag that’s 55 pounds, then on average each bag weighs 50 pounds, in which case you’re fine. Note that we haven’t tested this. If your bag ends up being heavier than the 50-pound limit, you’ll end up being one of *those people* that everyone stares at while, frantically looking for the one thing in their luggage they can easily put in their personal item or carry on. Then they awkwardly put their bag back on the scale, fingers crossed, to see if they’re now within the limits. All good? No? *expletive* Hurry up and find something else…people are watching/waiting! Or you can always opt to pay the excess weight fees, but they can sometimes reach $80 per bag depending on where you’re heading. *falls on knees, wrings fists in air*
Fret not; there’s another way. We bought a digital luggage scale a while back and it’s saved us on more than one occasion. How’s it work? Glad you asked. First, pack your luggage as you normally would (don’t forget any liquids or other bathroom materials you’ll be taking as well). For us, we do this as we’re about ready to head out the door to the airport. Then turn the scale on, wrap the fabric strap around your luggage handle and clip back to the scale. Next, just lift the whole pairing: scale and bag, and the scale will tell you the weight of your bag. Neat, right? Works just like…a…scale. We’ve found ours is pretty spot-on: any time it says we’re under 50 pounds, the scales at the airport check-in counter say the same.
Once your bags are weighed, we toss our scale into one of our carry-on bags, but you could just as easily add to your checked bag (assuming you aren’t cutting it too close to the weight limit!). Just remember to take it with you; if you’re anything like us and like to buy stuff while away to bring home, that means more weight. Always helpful to know before you head to the airport what to expect.
The fanciest of gadgets it isn’t, but still proved its worth multiple times over. Go get one; you’ll be glad you did.
Happy travels!
