[Suitcase] How to choose casters and introduction of types

Type of caster

It has become common for suitcases to have casters. However, suitcases with casters only became available after more people started using airplanes for travel and business trips. Actually, suitcases did not originally have casters.

By suitcase, I was referring to a travel bag designed to prevent your suit from getting wrinkled, especially when carrying a lot of luggage for business. However, carrying a large suitcase can be difficult. In addition to suits, business items and personal items are often packed in suitcases, and it would be more reasonable to attach casters to the suitcase so that it can be rolled rather than being lifted up and carried.

Carry cases were introduced based on this idea, and more and more products now also function as suitcases. Nowadays, suitcases and carry cases are often considered to be almost the same thing.

There are two main types of suitcase casters: 4-wheeled and 2-wheeled. If you subdivide them, there are also double casters, which have two tires on one caster, but here we will introduce the characteristics of 4-wheel and 2-wheel casters.

4 wheel type

A suitcase with 4 wheel casters has tires attached to the 4 corners, allowing it to stand on its 4 wheels. It has a mechanism that uses four tires to move it while keeping it upright, which has the advantage of making it easy to store even heavy items. Even if the contents are heavy, you can push or pull the suitcase without tipping it.

Typically, a suitcase has casters attached to it that look like legs growing out of it, and is designed to rotate 360 ​​degrees. Therefore, it has the advantage of being able to turn around easily and making it easier to move in narrow spaces.

If it has four wheels, it is highly stable and there is little worry of it falling over, and depending on the type, the tires have a locking function and can be fixed to prevent them from moving. Suitcases with four casters without locks can be difficult to secure when riding on a train or bus. If you have a lock, you won't have to worry about supporting and securing your suitcase, so it will be easier to use.

However, the disadvantage of 4-wheel casters is that the tires protrude from the suitcase, so there is a risk of damage from contact. When choosing a suitcase, be aware that there is a high risk of it becoming unusable due to physical damage.

All suitcases handled by moln are of the 4-wheel type. We use HINOMOTO casters manufactured by Hinomoto Locksmith, a Japanese company known for padlocks and other locks.

*moln suitcase, Large terracotta

2 wheel type

A suitcase with two wheels has only two wheels attached. They are attached to either the long or short ends of the suitcase and allow you to move the suitcase by rolling it diagonally. Suitcases are often designed so that when held upright, the body of the suitcase touches the ground, so if you stand it upright, it will not roll off on its own.

In order to ground the suitcase body, it is common for more than half of the tires themselves to be embedded in the suitcase. As a result, another benefit is that there is less risk of damage to the casters due to contact with the outside. However, since it is embedded, the direction of the tire is fixed, and the disadvantage is that it is difficult to turn around.

It may take some time to get used to it when moving. The advantage of two-wheeled casters is that they are easy to move even on uneven roads. However, compared to four wheels, there are fewer points of contact with the ground, so you can respond flexibly and move stably. The lack of contact points puts a lot of stress on the tires, and if you continue to use them on rough roads, the casters often break. Also, be aware that having to tilt the suitcase diagonally puts a lot of stress on your arms.

Choose the one that suits your style

Originally, suitcases did not have casters. However, attention has been paid to the fact that it is more convenient to have casters to carry heavy luggage when traveling or on business trips, and suitcases with various types of casters have been developed. In actual use, rather than considering detailed specifications, it is recommended to first consider whether to use 4 wheels or 2 wheels.

This is because there is a big difference in usability when transporting suitcases between 4 wheels and 2 wheels. Four-wheeled vehicles are suitable for people who want to carry heavy items in a suitcase or those who travel long distances. It is also recommended for people who need to move on narrow roads because it allows them to turn around in a small space.

Suitcases with two wheels are suitable for people who carry a small amount of luggage and do not travel very far. Regarding the durability of suitcases, there is a big difference depending on how you use them, in that 4-wheeled wheels have a high risk of physical breakage due to contact with the casters, while 2-wheeled ones have a large load on each tire and are more likely to wear out. I am.

Neither 4-wheeled nor 2-wheeled is better than the other, so it is important to choose the one that best suits your usage. There are also products with ingenious features such as double casters and stoppers, so be sure to consider them.

About moln

moln is a brand that helps each person create their own journey. We help make your travels around the world more enjoyable, including suitcases with attention to detail.

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