Shopping Secondhand for Chic Travel Gear

Holiday travel season is here, and if your current luggage is looking a bit worse for wear, it may be time to think about upgrading it. That said, new suitcases, tote bags, and accessories can be expensive, so why not go the secondhand route rather than buying something from the department store? 

Explore Sustainable Travel Style, with Style

We’ll share what to keep in mind while shopping for runway worthy preloved travel accessories.

Search for Suitcases

When it comes to secondhand suitcases, the selection can be hit or miss. Thrift stores receive an ample amount of suitcases as oftentimes, those are what people use to drop off their donations! I’ve had some excellent luck myself purchasing suitcases secondhand—earlier this year, I snagged an oversized Bric’s suitcase for under $20 (compared to $300+ online!). This was a brand I’d known and admired for years, so I was super excited about this find. 

Find quality and high-end suitcase at a fraction of the retail price with estate sales and online auctions such as this Louis Vuitton Monogram Pegase 70 Rolling Case, can be found online.

That said, many of the other suitcases I’ve come across at the thrift store are mediocre—they don’t roll nicely and/or some of the zippers are broken. Therefore, always recommend examining a suitcase closely and taking it for a quick spin around the store. If you can’t comfortably walk with it for a couple of aisles, you’re not going to enjoy lugging it around a crowded airport!

Look for Accessories

It’s never a bad idea to keep some extra luggage ties, packing cubes, and the like on hand. I scored a great pack of Calpack packing cubes at Goodwill earlier this year and have appreciated having them handy, particularly when filling up my suitcase for a long trip. If you’re going on an overseas trip and anticipate doing some secondhand shopping there, it’s never a bad idea to pack an extra luggage tag with you in the event that you acquire another suitcase to carry your treasures home. 

Of course, you may not find your preferred colors or styles at the thrift store, but if you don’t care about your packing cubes perfectly complementing your suitcase or are ok turning a luggage tag insert over to scribble down your name and address, you’re golden. 

Rethink Your Personal Item 

If you’ve been using the same worn tote as a personal item for years on end, you may be due for an upgrade. Keep an eye out for quality secondhand bags at thrift stores and estate sales. There’s something for everyone depending on your needs and style preferences, whether you’re drawn to duffel bags, backpacks, zip-top totes, etc. 

There’s something for everyone depending on your needs and style preferences, whether you’re drawn to duffel bags, backpacks, zip-top totes, etc. Find them here.

Again, you will want to closely examine any bags before buying them and carry them around for a minute or so to get a sense of whether the straps are an appropriate size for your body, are in sturdy condition, and the like.

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

December 9, 2024     Updated 12:01 PM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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