* A digital luggage scale is a must for any traveler, particularly those who check baggage or tend to overpack. * Between its tare function, highly accurate sensors, and an affordable price tag, the $11 Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale stands out among the rest. A luggage scale is a handy item to bring along on your travels, especially if you tend to overpack or you're facing restrictive airline policies. As many travelers find, a few extra items here and there can add up quickly. This is especially true if you can't return from a trip without getting souvenirs for your loved ones at home. Most digital luggage scales provide fast and accurate readings, and they're generally compact and portable enough to slip into a piece of carry-on luggage. In most cases, all you need is a battery or two for operation. Most luggage scales fall within the range of $9 to $20. Many travelers agree that's a small price to pay, especially when you could end up paying $50 or more if your bag is deemed overweight by an airline. There isn't a lot of variation when it comes to the best luggage scales, but subtle differences can help steer you in the direction of one particular scale. For example, some scales automatically shut off to conserve battery life. A handful of scales are equipped with a low battery indicator. If you know you overpack, you may want to consider a scale with an overweight warning, which is typically generated in the form of an audible beep. The majority of digital luggage scales have a weight limit of 110 pounds or 50 kilograms. Most also provide readings in both pounds and kilograms, which particularly comes in handy for international travel. Another factor to consider is the overall comfort and strength of the handle. Heavier bags tend to be tougher to lift and can strain both the handle and hook of the scale, especially if you often pack your bags to the brim. HERE ARE THE BEST LUGGAGE SCALES OF 2019: * Best luggage scale overall: Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale * Best multifunction luggage scale: Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank * Best luggage scale for overpackers: Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale * Best battery-free luggage scale: Ellessi Luggage Scale * Best luggage scale for frequent flyers: Tarriss Jetsetter Digital Luggage Scale _Updated 10/2/19 by Jada Wong: Updated copy and formatting, and wrote a personal review of the Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale._ THE BEST LUGGAGE SCALE OVERALL Amazon THE ETEKCITY DIGITAL HANGING LUGGAGE SCALE IS JUST UNDER FIVE-OUNCES BUT CAN WEIGH BAGS AND SUITCASES UP TO 110 POUNDS. I've had my Etekcity scale for more than three years now and I've used it on more than 10 international trips to Greece, Iceland, Amsterdam, the Maldives, and more. It's honestly one of the best purchases I've made. I always overpack no matter where I'm going, so having a luggage scale really helps me streamline and prioritize the essentials. It also helps me avoid the embarrassment and time wasted trying to unload things in front of everyone at the airport, and most importantly, exorbitant overweight baggage fees. But don't let the $11 price fool you — it's durable, dependable, and accurate. It fits into your pocket and weighs just under five ounces, but can weigh items up to 110 pounds. To use this luggage scale, just loop it around the handle of you bag or suitcase and lift. The weight will pop up on the digital screen either as pounds or kilograms. I set it to the unit of measurement that my destination uses (usually kilograms) so I don't have to do convert it m yself. I really just use this to weigh my packed suitcases, but there's also a tare and memory function to track the weight of empty luggage, and a temperature function to make sure your bags aren't in extreme heat or cold. I haven't used either of these features personally, but Amazon reviewers say they've come in handy. The scale comes with a CR2032 lithium battery, and it hasn't died on me in the last three years I've had it. Granted, I use it only a few times a year on long trips, but even if I had to buy a replacement battery, it wouldn't be the worst thing to happen. Etekcity's scale has a 4.5-star rating with more than 5,000 Amazon reviews. You can read my full review of the scale over here. —_ Jada Wong _ PROS: Accurate sensors, low-battery indicator, required battery included, automatic shutoff CONS: Small handle can make it tricky to balance larger bags for accurate readings, battery life could be better, display difficult to read in sunlight THE BEST MULTIFUNCTION LUGGAGE SCALE Amazon THE URBO 3-IN-1 LUGGAGE SCALE WITH BUILT-IN POWERBANK IS LIKE PACKING THREE TRAVEL-FRIENDLY TOOLS IN ONE. When preparing for travel, it's always best to pack smartly. Sure, a luggage scale is handy, but what if said luggage scale could also double as a portable battery and a flashlight? That's the thinking behind the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank. As a digital luggage scale, the gadget has a maximum weight capacity of 110 pounds or 50 kilograms. It also has an overweight warning, tare, hold, power saver, and low-battery alert functions. The non-slip grip allows for comfortable weighing. A small display indicates weight in either metric or imperial. While most luggage scales are either left at home before a trip or in the luggage at the hotel, the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank is meant to tag along with you. Stuff it inside a backpack or purse, and you'll have a 6,000mAh battery for recharging phones (at least twice), tablets, ebooks, cameras, etc. And for safety, the scale has a built-in 60-lumen LED flashlight for navigating in dark environments. The strap, used for weighing luggage, can be removed. Because there is a battery, the Urbo 3-in-1 Luggage Scale with Built-In Powerbank is heavier than other luggage scales. Despite the high price, it offers a lot of value — you're getting three products, after all. Good Housekeeping UK said it is "worth investing in" and it loves "its innovative design." The publication noted that it's great for campers, too, but it didn't like its accuracy with heavier luggage. On Amazon's customer reviews, 84% gave it 5 stars, with an overall average of 4.5 stars. Most customers applaud the product, although some reportedly received defective units. PROS: Built-in rechargeable battery and flashlight, comfortable grip CONS: Big and heavy THE BEST LUGGAGE SCALE FOR OVERPACKERS Conair EVERY BIT OF WEIGHT COUNTS WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING, WHICH IS WHERE THE TRAVEL SMART BY CONAIR COMPACT DIGITAL LUGGAGE SCALE'S AUDIBLE ALERT REALLY COMES IN HANDY. This compact digital travel luggage scale is an easy choice if you suffer from a severe case of overpacking. If your bag exceeds the weight limit, it will beep to warn you. Unlike many other luggage scales, which generally hold up to 110 pounds, this scale has an 80-pound capacity. Of course, if you exceed the general weight limit for most airlines (50 pounds), it won't really matter. There is a digital display that shows weight in either pound or kilogram, and the blue color helps it stand out from the rest. The simplicity in its operation makes it foolproof. Amazon reviewers found the scale to be small and lightweight. However, while most customers found it to be accurate, a couple didn't. One reviewer recommended adding 1-to-2 pounds as a buffer. Another Amazon reviewer said the Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale was not only useful for international flights but a necessity. "Inter-continent flights have different luggage limits and this allowed us to accurately know what we had and shift things around as needed. Bonus - being able to switch to kilogram right on the scale rather than trying to convert to US pounds in our heads." The Travel Smart by Conair Compact Digital Luggage Scale is made out of plastic, like most luggage scales. One Amazon customer said the scale felt like it's melting after some use. Overall, 65% of buyers gave it 5 stars, for an average of 4.4 stars. A big complaint is pricing, so if you don't need audible alerts, there are more affordable options. PROS: Audible overweight alert, pound/kilogram conversion CONS: Smaller weight capacity, a bit pricey SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * The best snowshoes you can buy * The best sleds you can buy for winter fun * This $11 luggage scale has saved me hundreds of dollars in overweight bag fees — I’ve been using it for more than 3 years
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