The Best Travel Gear for the Man on the Go

Whether you're carrying on, checking, or doing the whole wheelie thing, this luggage makes practical, stylish sense

To Carry
Bags made of buttery soft leather are great in theory. But for those of us who live in the real world of dog-eat-dog airports and freak rainstorms, it's wiser to invest in a light-weight, durable nylon bag. This Coach "gear bag" is scratch-resistant, waterproof, and, if you're not up for abandoning luxury altogether, trimmed with leather.
Top: Nylon weekend bag ($398) by Coach.

To Wheel
Easy on your arms, light in your stride. Practically speaking, the wheeled suitcase is a no-brainer. But there is the small matter of pride, that itching notion that a real man carries his bag, so if you must wheel, do it with some what-are-you-looking-at style. With, say, a Louis Vuitton Darnier case in cool, masculine graphite and black.
Bottom left: Leather-and-canvas Darnier trolley bag ($2,230) by Louis Vuitton.

To Check
Ever see luggage loaded into the belly of a plane? Sides of beef get more respect than your precious cargo. Tumi's signature ballistic-nylon exterior can handle whatever Bernie that baggage handler can dish out, and this 24-inch wheeled case — just big enough for a week or so away — is expandable by up to two and a half inches in width.
Bottom right: Ballistic-nylon suitcase ($750) by Tumi.