Suitcases – the perfect travel companion for any adventure

It may seem that way, but not everything comes from China. China is a major manufacturing hub for suitcases, bags and luggage, but there are still manufacturers who produce in Germany and Europe.

To name a few: 

• Titan is a German brand with production in Germany and, to some extent, internationally•
Travelite is a German brand with production mainly in
Europe• Rimowa is a traditional German suitcase manufacturer that continues to produce some products in Germany and others internationally•
Brands such as Vaude, Deuter and Belmil also have product lines that are manufactured entirely in Europe 

What should you look out for?

• ‘Made in Germany’ is not the same as ‘Designed in Germany’ – being conceived here does not necessarily mean it is made here

Most budget suitcases are now manufactured in Asia, but there are still German and European manufacturers. Particularly in the premium, industrial and specialist suitcase sectors, Germany or Europe as the production location remains a mark of quality. When looking for a durable travel suitcase, it’s worth paying more attention to repairability and the availability of spare parts.

If your suitcase – or parts such as the wheels, handle or zip – are broken, you can still have it repaired even if it’s not under warranty. Many types of damage can be repaired at a reasonable cost.

A simple and convenient solution is the service provided by Dolfi Luggage Service

• which specialises in suitcase repairs and spare parts
• covers damage caused by airlines, general damage and repairs without a warranty
• often offers collection and return delivery
• assesses the damage and provides a personalised quote
• can also replace suitcases if a repair isn’t possible

Many airlines also work with this service to deal with damaged luggage quickly. Repairs are particularly worthwhile for high-quality suitcases, and with Dolfi you have a convenient, all-in-one solution for the vast majority of damage cases.

When packing for a sailing trip, there are four key points to bear in mind. Your luggage should be light, soft, practical and waterproof. Hard-shell suitcases are unwieldy on board and are much more difficult to stow away than soft bags. Space is at a premium on board.

Good luggage options are therefore: 

A duffel bag – ideally with wheels
Waterproof pack sacks to protect against damp
A small rucksack for shore excursions
Laundry bags or packing cubes to keep
things organised A small toiletries bag that can be hung up 

Other important considerations: 

Depending on the season and sailing area, waterproof oilskins are essential
Quick-drying technical clothing
Warm clothing such as jumpers, even in summer Non-slip shoes with light-coloured soles – they should fit securely and provide
protection during manoeuvres Cap / cap / Buff to protect against sun and wind
Swimwear and a microfibre towel
Sun cream and lip balm
Sunglasses with a strap around the neck

Weight and size are crucial. Most airlines allow checked-in luggage with total dimensions of up to 158 cm. This is calculated as the sum of the suitcase’s length, width and height. Alongside weight, this is the most important rule for checked-in luggage.

Furthermore, luggage exceeding these limits is classified as bulky luggage and is subject to additional charges, which, depending on the airline, can be significantly higher than for standard luggage.

A comparison of airlines’ checked-in luggage rules

The rules for checked-in luggage vary from airline to airline. Here is an overview of typical regulations by airline. Dimensions and weight may also vary depending on the fare, route and booking class.

*Rules vary depending on fare, route and booking class.

No, they are not allowed. They may only be carried in hand luggage, where they can be kept under supervision. Because they contain lithium batteries, they can catch fire spontaneously and therefore pose a potential risk. Some airlines impose additional restrictions on the maximum capacity of power banks. In some cases, they are not permitted at all, or may only be carried with the airline’s authorisation.

The simple rule is: anything that could pose a hazard if left unattended in the hold is prohibited. This includes power banks, lithium batteries and e-cigarettes, as they carry a risk of spontaneous combustion. For this reason, they may only be carried in hand luggage, where they can be kept under supervision.

The simple rule is: anything that is dangerous and could injure other passengers is prohibited. This includes obvious items such as knives, tools and scissors, but also sports equipment such as baseball bats and, in some cases, tennis rackets. Liquids in containers larger than 100 millilitres are prohibited, as are explosive or flammable substances.

For safety reasons, there are certain items that must not be carried in either hand luggage or hold luggage. In general, these are all items that pose a fire hazard.

These include:

• flammable liquids such as petrol and solvents
• explosive substances such as fireworks
• pressurised gas containers and gas cartridges
• Acids and reactive chemicals
• spontaneously combustible substances
• and, of course, explosives

These items must not be carried in either checked-in luggage or hand luggage. For most items, this goes without saying.

Duty-free allowances are the quantities of goods permitted for import. These are checked by customs. You can find a list of duty-free allowances for imports into Germany from Europe or elsewhere here: Duty-free allowances within the EU and elsewhere – Customs 2026

TSA locks do not usually come with a key.

• TSA locks have a combination lock with a 3-digit code.
• The small keyhole is for the security authorities (TSA). Staff at the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have a master key which they can use to open and close any suitcase.
• The key is therefore not inside the suitcase and is not supplied with it.

When you get a new suitcase with a TSA lock, the factory-set code is usually 000. Set this, open the lock and change the code following the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you can’t remember the combination later on, the suitcase usually has a reset function – but there’s no key!

Excess baggage (overweight) is checked-in luggage that exceeds the maximum weight permitted by the airline. The limit is usually between 20 and 23 kilos per suitcase. If the weight limit is exceeded, an additional charge applies. This is often significantly more expensive at the airport than if you book it in advance. A suitcase weighing 23 kilograms must not exceed the so-called dimensional limit (height x length x width) of 158 cm. If this limit is exceeded, it is usually classified as bulky luggage.

Oversized luggage refers to items that, due to their size or shape, cannot be transported as standard checked-in luggage. This includes anything that isn’t in the shape of a conventional suitcase, such as sports equipment, pushchairs and bicycles. Particularly large suitcases may also fall into this category. Separate rules apply to bulky luggage. This usually entails additional costs.

There is no standard, legally defined size for hand luggage. The rules are set by the airline and are subject to change from time to time. Hand luggage is generally defined as luggage that you are allowed to take onto the aeroplane. This includes:

• Cabin trolley
  : A small suitcase that fits into the overhead compartment. Approx. 55 × 40 × 20 cm and possibly with a weight limit of 7–10 kg
• Personal item
  : Many airlines allow, in addition to the cabin trolley, a small handbag, laptop bag or rucksack that fits under the seat in front of you.
• Only one piece of hand luggage
  Please note: With many low-cost carriers, a handbag counts towards the size limit for the free ‘small item of luggage’.
• Please note:
  If only one small item of hand luggage is included, a separate handbag combined with a rucksack may count as a second item and be subject to a charge.

As airlines set the rules and are keen to change them, we recommend checking the latest regulations before your flight.

An ‘under-seater’ is a small piece of hand luggage that fits under the seat in front of you. With low-cost carriers, this is often the cheapest option included in the basic fare.

Typical features: 

• the size varies depending on the airline but is roughly 40 × 30 × 20 cm
• it must fit under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead compartment
• weight restrictions vary. Often there is no fixed weight limit, provided you can stow it yourself

With Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, one small piece of hand luggage is currently included in the cheapest fare. (Please check before travelling)

A standard cabin suitcase usually won’t fit under the seat in front and therefore incurs an extra charge.

A musty smell in suitcases is usually caused by damp or mould. Spraying perfume over it merely masks the smell and doesn’t really help.

Here’s how to get rid of it: 

• Wash the inside of the suitcase – a mixture of warm water and vinegar or a mild detergent is recommended. Make sure you only clean the suitcase whilst it’s slightly damp and don’t soak it. Leave it open to dry until it’s completely dry; otherwise, it’ll only get worse
• For a persistent mouldy smell, carefully treat the mould stains with alcohol or a standard mould spray applied to a cloth. Please note: It’s best to test this first on an inconspicuous area to check that the material doesn’t change, e.g. become dull
• Open the suitcase completely and leave it in a dry, well-ventilated place for several days
• Place it in the sun – the UV light and heat help to combat unpleasant odours
• Neutralise the odour – after cleaning, you can place bicarbonate of soda, activated charcoal odour absorbers or coffee grounds inside the closed suitcase. After several days, the odour should have improved.