Differences in Preferences for Travel Luggage Appearance Across Different Age Groups
Nov 29, 2025
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Differences in Preferences for Travel Luggage Appearance Across Different Age Groups
I. Children and Adolescents (Ages 6-18): Priority on Fun and Adaptability
(1) Size Selection: Lightweight and Small Sizes are Mainstream
Primary School Students (Ages 6-12): With heights between 1.2-1.5 meters and limited arm strength, over 60% of families choose cases under 24 inches, with the 20 inch suitcase accounting for 75% of choices. This size (height 50-55cm, capacity 30-40 liters) can easily accommodate two sets of clothes, stationery, and small toys; the total weight is controlled within 5 kg, allowing children to drag it with one hand, making it suitable for family weekend trips and short visits to relatives. When extra rain gear or cotton coats are needed for rainy southern weather or northern winters, the 24-inch travel luggage bag becomes a supplementary choice (capacity 40-60 liters), accounting for about 25%.
Middle School Students (Ages 12-18): As independence increases and travel scenarios expand to summer camps and study tours, 24inch luggage becomes the mainstream choice (accounting for 68%). This size fits on high-speed train luggage racks and can hold a week's worth of clothes, electronic devices, and reference books; with a total weight of 8-10 kg, it fits the towing needs of students 1.5-1.7 meters tall. For new boarding students who need to carry bulky items like bedding, 28-inch cases (capacity 60-80 liters) are an alternative option accounting for 22%, but attention must be paid to the risk of overweight airline baggage (economy class free limit is 20 kg).
(2) Color and Style: Emphasis on Personalization and Fun
Primary school students prefer bright, vivid colors (such as cherry blossom pink, mint green, bright yellow) and cartoon IP co-branded designs. A 2025 survey by Taobao Clothing Network shows that sales of fun styles with animated figures and reflective strips account for 82%, with "photogenic" and "unique" becoming secondary purchasing considerations for parents.
Middle school students gradually tend toward fresh color schemes (Macaron colors, Morandi colors) and simple Korean designs, rejecting excessive childishness; 35% of respondents stated that "aesthetics matching classmates" is more important than function. Hard-shell cases account for 70% due to being crash-resistant, wear-resistant, and easy to clean, with matte textures and simple lines being the most popular styles.
(3) Structural Details: Humanized Design Adapted to Usage Scenarios
Cases for primary school students need anti-tipping wheel sets and height-adjustable pull rods (adapting to different heights); 85% of best-selling models are equipped with wide universal wheels and silent designs to avoid bumps or noise interference during towing.
Middle school students focus on internal partition design; 63% prefer models with independent digital accessory compartments, shoe bags, and clothing storage grids, and some products add expandable zippers (temporarily increasing capacity by 20%) to meet diverse storage needs for stationery and sports equipment.
II.Young Adult Group (Ages 19-35): Fusion of Personalization and Scenarios
(1) Size Selection: Balance of Flexible Combination and Portability
College Students (Ages 19-22): With a high frequency of independent travel, the 28 inch hard shell luggage is the mainstream choice (accounting for 58%), with a capacity of 60-80 liters to accommodate four seasons of clothing, professional equipment, and souvenirs; the total weight is 12-15 kg, suitable for long-distance travel and studying away from home. At the same time, it is paired with a 20 inch carry on luggage (accounting for 42%) as a carry-on bag to store valuables, forming a "Check-in + Boarding" combination mode that fits international flights and high-speed rail connections.
Workforce Youth (Ages 23-35): The 25-34 age group accounts for 45% of the consumer group for travel luggage, purchasing an average of 1.2 items per year, mainly choosing 24-inch (all-around) and 20-inch (short-distance) sizes. For business commuting, they prefer 20-inch cases (accounting for 37%) which are light, portable, and can be boarded directly; for leisure vacations, they choose 24-inch cases (accounting for 53%) to balance capacity and portability, suitable for 3-7 day trips.
(2) Color and Style: Manifestation of Fashion and Individuality
The young group has a wide acceptance of colors; besides basic black, white, and gray (accounting for 40%), Morandi colors and low-saturation contrasting colors (such as haze blue + beige) account for 35%, and personalized customization needs (such as engraving and pattern printing) are prominent.
In terms of style, there is a trend of fusing "Urban Outdoor Style." Hard-shell cases like the TraveRE (China best travel bag brands) ROXANNE series, featuring camouflage patterns and simple lines, are highly favored. These designs meet the low-key texture requirements of business scenarios while adapting to the casual needs of outdoor leisure, achieving a smooth "City-Outdoor" transition.
(3) Structural Details: Balancing Intelligence and Aesthetics
72% of respondents pay attention to the smoothness of universal wheels and the stability of pull rods, with silent airplane wheels and lockable wheel sets becoming basic configurations. The preference for a smart travel suitcase with features like GPS tracking and USB charging interfaces accounts for 53%, enhancing travel convenience and safety.
Appearance details pursue texture; matte anti-scratch materials (accounting for 65%), hidden zippers, and simple logo designs have become mainstream. The personalized need to avoid "clashing cases" drives the growth of customization services like 3D printing and modular splicing.
III.Middle-Aged Group (Ages 36-55): Practicality and Durability as Core
(1) Size Selection: Priority on Large Capacity and Stability
The 35-44 age group accounts for 30% of the total consumer group, purchasing an average of 0.8 items per year, mainly for family trips and business travel. 28-inch hard-shell cases account for 62%, with a capacity of 60-80 liters meeting the storage needs for multiple people's clothing and gifts; some choose a 32 inch suitcase (capacity over 100 liters) for long-distance family travel.
In business scenarios, 24-inch simple styles account for 38%, focusing on box regularity and stackability to fit airport check-in and hotel storage spaces, avoiding the inconvenience of moving excessively large sizes.
(2) Color and Style: Low-key Stability and Quality Sense
Colors are mainly neutral, with black, dark gray, and navy blue accounting for over 85%. Classic business series from brands like Samsonite are the most popular travel suitcase choices, offering a low-key texture that fits a professional image while being dirt-resistant and easy to maintain.
The style preference is simple and atmospheric, rejecting complex decorations. Hard-shell cases account for 78%, emphasizing material texture (such as aviation aluminum, high-quality PC) and craftsmanship details (such as reinforced corners, precision zippers), with durability being the core consideration factor.
(3) Structural Details: Equal Emphasis on Functionality and Security
80% of respondents list "reasonable partitioning" and "anti-theft design" as key points. Internal independent business compartments (adapted for laptops) and TSA customs locks have become standard equipment, while some products add anti-scratch coatings and anti-collision frames to extend service life.
Pull rod materials prefer aluminum alloy (accounting for 67%), requiring strong load-bearing and smooth extension; wheel sets focus on wear resistance and stability to avoid damage to items caused by box shaking during family travel.
IV.Elderly Group (Ages 55+): Usability and Comfort Dominance
(1) Size Selection: Balance of Medium-Large Capacity and Lightness
This group accounts for 15% of the total consumer group, purchasing an average of 0.5 items per year, mainly 24-inch and 28-inch sizes (accounting for 45% and 40% respectively). The 24-inch is suitable for short-term visits (3-5 days) with total weight controlled within 8 kg for labor-saving towing; the 28-inch is used for long-distance family tours, with capacity for multiple sets of clothes and gifts. They prioritize a lightweight luggage case (such as PC composite fabric) to reduce the burden of carrying.
(2) Color and Style: Classic Versatility and Easy Recognition
Colors prefer dark tones (black, dark brown, navy blue), accounting for 70%, which are dirt-resistant and visually steady. Some choose styles with obvious markings (such as side reflective strips, unique pull rod colors) to facilitate identification during airport baggage claim.
The style pursues simplicity and practicality, rejecting flashy designs. Soft-shell cases account for a slightly higher proportion than in other age groups (reaching 42%) due to strong flexibility and squeezable storage, adapting to scenarios with limited home storage space.
(3) Structural Details: Humanized and Safety Design
Core needs focus on "usability"; 85% of preferred models are equipped with wide anti-slip handles and high-elasticity pull rods (multi-gear adjustment), while wheel sets require large diameters (≥8cm) and high load-bearing capacity to reduce physical exertion during towing.
Safety design is valued; TSA combination locks, reinforced corners, and tear-resistant fabrics are essential, and some products add built-in storage bags (for storing medicine, reading glasses) to adapt to the needs of elderly travel scenarios.
V. Essence of Differences and Industry Implications
(1) Core Drivers of Differences
The differences in appearance preferences among different age groups are essentially a comprehensive reflection of physiological characteristics, travel scenarios, and consumption concepts: Teenagers are limited by height and strength, preferring small sizes and fun designs; young groups pursue self-expression, focusing on personalization and scenario adaptation; middle-aged groups focus on practicality and quality, adapting to dual family and business scenarios; the elderly group takes usability as the core, emphasizing comfort and safety.
(2) Industry Development Implications
Precise targeting of niche needs: Launch IP co-branded models and lightweight designs for teenagers; strengthen personalized customization and smart functions for young groups; and optimize humanized details (such as large wheels, wide handles) for middle-aged and elderly groups.
Balancing Function and Aesthetics: Young groups need to balance fashion sense with practicality, while middle-aged and elderly groups need to improve quality and texture based on usability, avoiding "heavy function light aesthetics" or vice versa.
Scenario Adaptation Innovation: With the diversification of travel scenarios, develop combination products such as "Business + Leisure" and "Check-in + Boarding" to meet the multi-scenario usage needs of different age groups.
In the future, with the advancement of an aging society and consumption upgrades, the humanized design needs of the elderly group (expected to increase consumption share to 20% by 2030) and the personalized, intelligent needs of the young group will become the core of industry innovation, driving the appearance design of travel luggage towards "Precision Fit" and "Full Life Cycle Friendliness".