Long-haul case: a long-haul case should have a hard shell in order to protect your belongings, especially fragile items such as camera equipment. The fashion now is for sleek, silver aluminium cases, but polycarbonate cases offer just as much protection and are a little lighter and more flexible. Look out for sturdy 360-degree wheels that can handle the rough and tumble of city streets and kerbs. A decent security system such as a combination lock or strong padlock are a must if you have expensive items. Use Travel Sentry Approved locks so that if your luggage needs to be physically inspected, a TSA master key can be used to open it instead of it being broken open. On the inside, look for sections and straps that will keep items separate from one another, held in place and protected. Some large cases come with detachable laundry bags, which can be useful for long trips.