In this article, we’ll tell you which are the best luggage brands, regardless of your budget. We included affordable brands as well as expensive ones, and we evaluated them based on many factors, such as their durability & materials, warranty policies, features, and more. To determine the average customer ratings, prices, and airline compatibility, we gathered data on 386 popular suitcases from 32 different luggage brands.
CleverJourney’s Best Luggage Brands in 2022
1. Briggs & Riley (81 points | High-End Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 631$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 8.06 lbs (3.66 kg) |
| - Warranty: Lifetime unconditional |
| - Can withstand: Heavy frequent travel |
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If you’re a frequent traveler and you have a high enough budget, then Briggs & Riley is definitely your go-to brand. Similar to Rimowa and Tumi, they make extremely durable luggage, which is targeted at business travelers and airline crews.
The only difference is that their bags come with better packing features, much better warranty terms, and they cost less. Although spending over 500$ for a suitcase might seem like a lot, it actually isn’t. Their luggage can withstand decades of frequent travel, and other similarly-durable suitcases usually cost over 1000$.
But the main reason why so many frequent travelers choose Briggs & Riley is because of their excellent lifetime warranty, which is currently the best one of all the luggage brands we’ve tested. It covers any defect that affects the functionality of the suitcase, regardless of the cause (even transit damage and accidents). You don’t even need the original receipt in order for it to work.
One downside for Briggs & Riley is that their bags are pretty heavy, weighing 15% more than the average weight of other luggage. Another obvious one is their prices, which range between 400-1000$, depending on the model.
Read our full Briggs & Riley luggage review
2. Ricardo Beverly Hills (76 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 167$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.95 lbs (3.15 kg) |
| - Warranty: 1 year unconditional + 10 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Light frequent travel |
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Normally, we’d recommend getting Travelpro, DELSEY Paris, or Samsonite over Ricardo Beverly Hills because their luggage is slightly more durable and often comes with better features. Ricardo scored higher than all three of them because their suitcases are cheaper, and they do a much better job at staying within the airline restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage.
Ricardo Beverly Hills isn’t a particularly popular luggage brand, but they make really well-made suitcases at somewhat affordable prices, which in some aspects, are even better than Samsonite or Travelpro. They’re based in the US, and they specialize in hardside and softside luggage. In terms of durability, you can expect them to last 3-5 years when used frequently and over 10 years when used occasionally.
They’ve also gotten fairly good customer reviews, averaging 4.66 stars from 5 on their most popular models. In fact, from 32 different brands that we collected data on, Ricardo Beverly Hills scored #8 in customer reviews. It’s a slightly worse result than Travelpro (#6) but better than Samsonite (#11) and Delsey (#17).
Ricardo also has pretty good warranty terms. Most medium-class brands have limited warranties, which cover only manufacturing defects. In addition to their 10-year limited warranty, they also offer a 1-year unconditional one, which covers airline damage and defects from normal wear.
Read our full Ricardo Beverly Hills luggage review
3. Travelpro (75 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 219$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.34 lbs (2.88 kg) |
| - Warranty: 1-5 years unconditional + lifetime limited |
| - Can withstand: Moderate frequent travel |
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Travelpro is an American luggage company that focuses on making luggage for frequent travelers, business travelers, and airline crews. They started out by focusing only on airline crews and only later expanded to other passengers. Even today, they supply over 90 airlines with luggage for their employees.
We usually recommend Travelpro as the #1 choice for medium-class luggage. Our reasoning is simple – their suitcases are the most durable ones in the medium price range, they come with really useful features, they offer great warranty terms, and they aren’t too expensive.
Not all of their suitcases are equal, though. For around 100-150$, you’ll get less durable ones (but still really well-made), which are lightweight but offer fewer features. In this price range, they’re great choices for people who travel 3-10 times per year, and you can expect them to last for over 10 years. They also offer suitcases priced between 200-400$, which are much more durable, come with much better features, but also weigh more. They’re aimed at frequent travelers and, even when used frequently, will usually last 5-10 years.
One downside to Travelpro is that their luggage usually is over the carry-on and checked luggage size restrictions. Another one is that their suitcases are offered only in simple, down-to-earth styles and color options. They’re targeted at business travelers, and they value practicality over style.
Read our full Travelpro luggage review
4. Tumi (74 points| High-End Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 1024$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 8.95 lbs (4.06 kg) |
| - Warranty: 1 year unconditional + 5 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Heavy frequent travel |
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Tumi is by far the most expensive luggage brand on this list. Personally, we think that their suitcases are overpriced by at least 200-500$, depending on the model. In fact, they’re 62% more expensive than Briggs & Riley, which is another high-end luggage brand aimed at frequent travelers.
In addition to the high price, there are a few other features that make their luggage less appealing. On average, Tumi makes the heaviest suitcases out there due to thicker materials, protection elements, and additional packing features. Although their warranty terms are fairly good, for these prices, you’d expect to see an unconditional lifetime warranty, like the one you get from Briggs & Riley. Instead, it’s only a bit better than what you’d get on medium-class brands, like Samsonite and Delsey.
But don’t get us wrong – Tumi luggage by no means isn’t bad. They make some of the most durable suitcases out there. By getting a bag from Tumi, you can be sure that it will last over a decade. They can easily withstand rough abuse because they’re made from premium materials, like ballistic nylon, polycarbonate, and improved polypropylene composites (Tegris).
They’ve scored so high on our list only because their luggage is exceptionally durable and comes with many useful features, it’s compatible in size with most airlines, it’s good-looking, and their warranty terms are better than what you’d see from most other brands.
Read our full Tumi luggage review
5. DELSEY Paris (74 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 206$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 7.68 lbs (3.48 kg) |
| - Warranty: 10 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Light frequent travel |
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Delsey Paris is a really popular luggage manufacturer, ranking in the third place for luggage sales worldwide. They sell a wide variety of suitcases in the medium price range, although some of their models are priced much higher than others. We consider their 250$+ models to be a bit overpriced because, in durability, features, and other aspects, they’re basically identical to their 100-200$ models.
Their suitcases are durable enough to withstand frequent travel, but when used excessively, some problems might arise after a few years. So they aren’t ideal for airline crews, but they’re more than durable enough for most travelers. We consider their hardside suitcases in the 100-200$ price range to be one of the best options in this price range. Their fabric models are also good, but similar ones from Samsonite or Travelpro are usually better.
Delsey Paris ranked so high on our list because they do a good job in most areas. Their suitcases are well-reviewed, built from durable materials, packed with many useful features, and they aren’t too expensive. However, their key strength is the design – Delsey makes some of the most beautiful suitcases out there, as you’d already expect from a French luggage brand. You’ll find a wide range of designs – suitable both for business and leisure travelers.
The only downside to Delsey’s luggage is that it usually is slightly over the carry-on and checked luggage size limits. In addition to that, it’s also somewhat heavy. On average, their suitcases are 16% heavier than Samsonite and 21% heavier than Travelpro.
Read our full DELSEY Paris luggage review
6. Samsonite (71 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 190$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.60 lbs (2.99 kg) |
| - Warranty: 10 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Light frequent travel |
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Samsonite is by far the most popular luggage brand by net sales – you can probably find a Samsonite suitcase dealer within 50 miles of you right now. They’re so popular because they actually make good luggage. Of course, some other brands might be better in other aspects, but in the medium price range, Samsonite is one of the best choices.
Their luggage is durable enough to be used frequently, although it won’t withstand ultra-rough conditions. When used frequently, their suitcases will usually last 2-5 years. But for most people, who use luggage only a few times per year, it should last over a decade. Samsonite usually uses durable materials, like polycarbonate and nylon, but some of their cheaper models are built from a bit weaker ones, like polyester and polypropylene.
Samsonite also has a pretty good warranty, although not the best one. It covers only manufacturing defects, and shipping costs to their repair centers aren’t covered.
They offer a wide range of softside and hardside luggage, and most of them are pretty solid choices that have gained a lot of positive reviews. However, they also offer some suitcases in the higher price ranges (over 350$), and we definitely think that they’re overpriced. They come with similar features as their cheaper models and also share similar durability. They only look more luxurious.
The main issue with Samsonite is that almost all of their carry-ons and checked suitcases are over the size limits for most airlines. Of course, being just 1-2 inches over the limit usually doesn’t cause any issues, but it’s still unpleasant to know that occasionally, you might have to pay additional fees for oversized luggage.
Read our full Samsonite luggage review
7. It Luggage (71 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 98$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 5.12 lbs (2.32 kg) |
| - Warranty: 10 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
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It Luggage ranks as the best luggage brand in the affordable class because they’re fairly good in all aspects, especially weight. In fact, they’re the second lightest luggage brand from 32 different luggage brands we collected data on. Their suitcases are a great option for flying with cheap airlines, which usually have strict weight restrictions for hand luggage.
As you’d already expect, because their suitcases are so cheap, they aren’t as durable as the ones from Samsonite, Travelpro, Ricardo, or Delsey. They just won’t cut it for frequent travelers, but they’re still durable enough to be used occasionally. When used a few times per year, their suitcases will usually last at least 3-5 years of use. Because of this, we wouldn’t recommend going with It luggage for checked bags because they get more abuse from baggage handling. In fact, for checked luggage, we wouldn’t recommend going with any affordable brand, except for American Tourister.
It luggage offers hardside and softside luggage, and we think that both of them are good choices for leisure travelers. Their fabric suitcases are usually less durable, but they’re extremely lightweight, so they’re still good choices for hand luggage, where the weight restrictions are stricter, and it isn’t exposed to baggage handling.
The main downside to It Luggage is that their warranty terms for luggage are pretty bad. Only manufacturing defects are covered, and usually, it’s cheaper to get a new bag instead because shipping costs aren’t covered.
Read our full It Luggage luggage review
8. Traveler’s Choice (70 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 151$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 7.62 lbs (3.46 kg) |
| - Warranty: Lifetime limited |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
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Traveler’s Choice is a luggage brand that makes suitcases in the medium class. However, they’re definitely leaning towards the affordable class because they’re much cheaper than Samsonite, Delsey, Travlpro, and even Ricardo. They do a fairly good job from all aspects, which is why they’re a really good choice for people who are looking for something cheap to occasionally use on their vacations.
Although they also offer softside luggage, their hardside range is much better. Most of their hardside cases are made from polycarbonate, polypropylene, or ABS, and if you’re looking to get the longest lifespan of your bag, definitely go with polycarbonate or polypropylene. When taken care of, you can expect their bags to last at least 5-10 years.
Traveler’s Choice offers a limited lifetime warranty for their luggage. However, the warranty actually isn’t that good. The warranty only covers manufacturing defects, and shipping costs aren’t included. Other medium-class brands at least cover the return shipping costs, but with Traveler’s Choice, you’ll have to pay a fee of 29.95$. That said, at least their warranty terms are clearly laid out, and their customers reported that it’s easy to get in touch with their support team.
The main downside to Traveler’s choice is that their luggage isn’t the lightest one out there. On average, it’s 10% heavier than Ricardo, 15% more than Samsonite, and 20% more than Travelpro.
Read our full Traveler’s Choice luggage review
9. American Tourister (69 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 135$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 7.33 lbs (3.32 kg) |
| - Warranty: 10 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
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American Tourister is generally the best affordable luggage brand, even though they’re slightly behind It Luggage in points. That’s because their luggage is more durable, better reviewed, and comes with much better warranty terms. In fact, American Tourister is actually owned by Samsonite, so their support and warranty are nearly identical. Their luggage is also sold by the same Samsonite dealers, which are located in a lot of shopping centers all across the world.
In terms of quality, their bags aren’t really meant for frequent traveling. But they’re still durable enough for leisure travelers, who only travel occasionally. Their suitcases are usually built from cheaper and less-durable materials, such as ABS and polyester. However, some of their hardside models are built from polycarbonate/ABS mixes or virgin polycarbonate, which both are much more crack-resistant materials.
When taken care of, their luggage should last anywhere between 5-10 years. It’s also acceptable to use American Tourister as checked luggage, which gets more abuse from baggage handling because their bags are usually a bit beefier and heavier compared to other affordable luggage brands.
The main drawbacks to American Tourister are that even though they’re an affordable luggage brand, they’re leaning towards the middle class and that most of their suitcases aren’t compatible with the size restrictions for a lot of airlines. Their bags are also somewhat heavy, being 5% over the average weight between all luggage brands and 11% heavier than Samsonite.
Read our full American Tourister luggage review
10. Coolife (67 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 112$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.36 lbs (2.88 kg) |
| - Warranty: 2 years limited (but isn't reliable) |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
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Coolife is essentially a Chinese luggage brand that sells its luggage only on Amazon. That said, some of their bags are actually pretty good, at last when compared to other competitors in the same price range.
They only offer hardside luggage, and most of it is offered in luggage sets. They use a mix of polycarbonate and ABS, which means that their suitcases are a bit more resistant to cracks than ones made with pure ABS, which is what most affordable brands use. You shouldn’t expect their luggage to last a long time, but when used occasionally on vacations, it provides enough durability to last 2-5 years. And when you take into account how cheap their luggage is (especially when bought in sets), it ends up being a really good deal because you can just buy a new bag when it breaks.
Their suitcases have also gotten pretty good customer reviews. Although there are some reviews that mention durability issues, the vast majority of their reviews are really decent. In addition to that, their bags are also lightweight, weighing 9% below the average weight of other brands, and they’re good at staying within the airline restrictions for hand and checked luggage.
The largest issue with Coolife is that their warranty is pretty much non-existent. So if you notice any defects, you have to notify Amazon within 30 days to get a refund.
Read our full Coolife luggage review
11. Swiss Gear (66 points | Medium Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 145$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.86 lbs (3.11 kg) |
| - Warranty: 5 years limited |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
| SHOP NOW |
Swiss Gear is a brand that’s under the same parent company as Wenger and Victorinox. They started out by inventing and selling the iconic Swiss Army Knife, and now all three of these companies have merged and started selling other stuff as well, including travel luggage. Swiss Gear specifically is best known for selling somewhat durable backpacks, but they also sell a wide variety of suitcases in the lower middle class.
Although they market their luggage to be really durable, it actually isn’t that well-made. Most of their hardside and softside suitcases are made from ABS and polyester, but some are built from more durable matrials, like polycarbonate and ABS/polycarbonate composites. Their backpacks actually are somewhat durable, but their suitcases are not meant for frequent travel. Still, when used occasionally, they’ll last about 3-5 years.
Swiss Gear’s luggage isn’t sold exclusively online – you’ll find them in most large luggage retailers, which means that you can test them out in real life. Although they offer a 5-year warranty for suitcases, it covers only basic manufacturing defects, and shipping costs aren’t covered. Some customers also reported that their support is slow to answer and often unhelpful.
Other drawbacks of Swiss Gear include lack of useful features, failure to comply with most size regulations for hand and checked luggage when measured with wheels and handles, and bad reviews on a few specific models.
Read our full Swiss Gear luggage review
12. Rockland (66 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 82$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.33 lbs (2.87 kg) |
| - Warranty: Lifetime limited (but isn't reliable) |
| - Can withstand: Occasional travel |
| SHOP NOW |
Rockland is another affordable luggage brand with a large sales presence online and in other major retailers, like Walmart and Target. From 32 different luggage brands we collected data on, their luggage is the second cheapest, right behind Showkoo. For less than 100$, you can often get a 2-4 piece luggage set from Rockland.
Because their luggage is so cheap, you definitely shouldn’t expect it to last. It will most likely last only a few uses before some issues start to appear. They only use the cheapest materials for their hardside and softside luggage, such as ABS and polyester. If they break, you also shouldn’t expect their warranty to do any repairs. To submit a claim, you won’t even be able to use email – they can only be contacted by mail. Not that it matters, because it’s cheaper to buy a new case anyway than paying for the shipping costs to and from their repair centers.
But other than that, Rockland does a really good job at staying within the airline restrictions for luggage, and they do offer quite a few suitcases that come in really interesting colors and prints, which is mainly why they’ve scored so high on our list.
Read our full Rockland luggage review
13. Lucas (65 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 114$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.70 lbs (3.04 kg) |
| - Warranty: 5 years limited (but isn't reliable) |
| - Can withstand: Moderate travel |
| SHOP NOW |
Lucas is an affordable luggage brand that isn’t the best one out there, but it also isn’t the worst. Realistically, you’d be better off by going with American Tourister, It Luggage, or Coolife if you’re looking for something affordable.
But if you do decide to go with Lucas, it isn’t a really bad choice because their suitcases are durable enough to withstand occasional traveling for vacations. They’re made from polyester or a polycarbonate/ABS composite, which aren’t the most durable materials but aren’t the worst either. Their customers reported a few issues, but not too much, except for a few less-popular models that have gotten fairly bad reviews due to poorly manufactured wheels, handles, and zippers.
Lucas suitcases are usually just within the size restrictions for hand and checked luggage, and they also come with a 5-year warranty. That said, the warranty isn’t really too great because it only covers manufacturing defects, and it’s very hard to get in touch with their support.
Their main drawbacks are poor durability and lack of features. Their luggage usually doesn’t come with TSA-approved locks, expansion zippers, or any advanced packing features. Instead, they’re kitted only with the most essential necessities.
Read our full Lucas luggage review
14. Merax (65 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 85$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 6.13 lbs (2.78 kg) |
| - Warranty: Lifetime limited (but isn't reliable) |
| - Can withstand: Occasional travel |
| SHOP NOW |
Similar to Coolife, Merax also is a Chinese luggage brand that sells only on Amazon. Specifically, they specialize in hardside and softside luggage sets. It will be hard to find a cheaper luggage set than what Merax offers because their prices are incredibly low. You can get a full luggage set cheaper than what you’d pay for a single Samsonite suitcase, which is why they’re so popular on Amazon.
That said, you shouldn’t expect their suitcases to last. They can only be used as short-term alternatives before you save up for something more durable. You could also go with Merax if you travel somewhat rarely, but even then, you shouldn’t be surprised when it breaks. In terms of materials, their luggage is made from ABS and polyester, which both are the cheapest and least-durable materials for luggage.
If you’re looking for a cheap luggage set to be used rarely, then Merax is actually a pretty good choice. Their suitcases have garnered mainly positive customer reviews, they’re usually within the airline restrictions for hand and checked luggage, and they aren’t too heavy. They also look pretty good and are offered in many different colors and prints.
Although theoretically, Merax offers a lifetime warranty, it’s pretty much useless. It’s basically impossible to get in touch with them if any issues arise. Their suitcases also don’t come with too many features.
Read our full Merax luggage review
15. Mia Toro (47 points | Affordable Class)
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| - Average suitcase price: 124$ |
| - Average carry-on weight: 8.43 lbs (3.82 kg) |
| - Warranty: None |
| - Can withstand: Occasional travel |
| SHOP NOW |
Mia Toro is an Italian luggage brand, which we’d recommend staying away from. They’ve even tried to reach out to us to remove our negative opinions of them, but we haven’t given in. The people behind Mia Toro are the ones that started Planet Traveler – a group funding project which ended up ghosting their customers and not delivering on their promises.
Essentially, their luggage isn’t durable, it’s poorly reviewed, it’s heavy, doesn’t come with many useful features, and they don’t offer any warranty. Since we started reporting on them, they’ve even taken down their website, and now they’re offered only on Amazon and a few other retailers. Their products usually don’t last long, and before they’ve gotten too many negative reviews, they publish another listing of a new, similar model in another print.
One thing that has improved over time is that now their luggage is offered at somewhat affordable prices. Before they used to sell it for over 300$, but now, it’s really cheap.
Read our full Mia Toro luggage review
Tips on Buying Luggage
- Hardside vs softside luggage. Hardside luggage is better at protecting fragile items, but it’s heavier. Softside suitcases are usually more durable than plastic ones because when put under high pressure (for instance, when checked-in), plastic luggage can develop cracks in its hard shell. Aluminum is resistant to cracks, but it’s much heavier than plastics or fabrics. If you’re looking for the lightest and most durable option, get a durable softside bag.
- Spinner vs inline wheels. Suitcases with 4 spinner wheels don’t need to be tilted, so it’s much easier to move them around on smooth surfaces. However, spinner wheels are much more likely to break off from your bag because they “stick out”. Spinner luggage also weighs 23% more, and it has less packing space because wheels are included in luggage measurements. So only go with spinner luggage if you have back problems or you don’t care about the weight too much.
- What materials it’s made from? For hardside luggage, the strongest material is aluminum, but it’s very heavy, which is why often plastics are used instead. Polycarbonate (PC) is the most durable one because it’s much less likely to crack than other ones, followed by PolyPropylene, ABS/PC composites, and finally, ABS, which is the least durable plastic. For fabric luggage, the most durable fabric is Ballistic or Cordura Nylon, but it’s very heavy and only used in expensive suitcases. The second most durable one is regular nylon, and the least durable one is polyester. That said, a well-built polyester suitcase from a good brand can be more durable than a nylon counterpart from a less reliable brand because both of these materials are somewhat similar.
- Is it within the size requirements for airlines? For carry-on luggage, the most common size requirement is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), but it differs from airline to airline. Checked luggage usually needs to be under 62 linear inches (157 cm), which is the sum of its width, height, and depth. Personal items, other called underseat luggage, usually need to be under 16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm). It’s important to note that wheels and handles need to be included in these measurements. Being just 1-2 inches over usually doesn’t cause any issues unless you encounter a very strict airline employee.
- How heavy is it? The lighter the luggage, the better. Especially if you’ll be flying with budget airlines that have strict weight requirements for hand and checked luggage because you’ll be able to pack more inside. However, ultra-lightweight luggage usually isn’t too durable, so it’s probably a better idea to choose something light, but not too light.
- Limited vs unconditional warranty. The most common warranty type for luggage is limited, which covers only manufacturing defects. This warranty would cover a seam that’s coming loose, a faulty zipper, a stuck wheel, and any other defect caused by improper manufacturing. It doesn’t cover transportation damage (by air, trail, road, or water), accidents, misuse, and normal wear and tear, which are the most likely defects that could happen. Only a few brands offer unconditional warranties, which also cover defects like this.
- Is it made by a reliable brand? Some reliable brands include Briggs & Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, Victorinox, Travelpro, Delsey, Samsonite, Osprey, Pelican, Thule, Eagle Creek, Away, Red Oxx, and Patagonia.
- What packing features does it come with? If you’re a fan of packing cubes, having a large, spacious main compartment without any additional features might actually be a good thing. But if you don’t want to spend additional money on them, then you should make sure that the main compartment has enough pockets, tie-down straps or panels, dirty laundry bags, toiletry pouches, shoe pockets, and maybe even a dedicated suiter compartment.
- Does it have a TSA-approved lock? If a suitcase has a regular, non-TSA-approved lock, then the TSA agents are authorized to break the lock if they want to see what’s inside your suitcase while it’s checked in. TSA-approved just means that it’s fitted with a secret key that only the TSA agents have.
- Does it have good wheels, handles, and zippers? The wheels, handles, and zippers are usually the first things that break on a suitcase, so you should read through the reviews to make sure that not a lot of people are having issues with them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luggage Brands
Which Luggage Brand Is the Lightest?
The lightest luggage brands are Lipault (#1), It Luggage (#2), Eagle Creek (#3), and Osprey (#4). To determine this, we gathered data from 32 different luggage brands. We compared the average weight of their most popular carry-ons. The average result from all of them was 6.93 lbs, and the lightest brands weighed between 4.77 – 6 lbs. Other popular brands that are somewhat lightweight are Travelpro (#8) and Samsonite (#11).
The lightest carry-on that we found during our research was the It Luggage World's Lightest Los Angeles carry-on, which weighs just 3.75 lb (1.7 kg). For something a bit more durable but still extremely lightweight, you could go with the Samsonite Base Boost carry-on, which weighs only 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg).
From all the brands we collected data on, the heaviest ones were Tumi (#32), Away (#31), Rimowa (#30), and Briggs & Riley (#29). It’s also worth noting that the heaviest brands are also often the most durable ones because they use thicker, more durable materials.
Which Are the Most Reliable Luggage Brands?
The most reliable luggage brands include Briggs & Riley, Tumi, Rimowa, Travelpro, Pelican, Away, and Thule. Other brands that are also really reliable, but not so much to be called “the most reliable”, include DELSEY Paris, Samsonite, Victorinox, Osprey, Eagle Creek, and Ricardo Beverly Hills.
By going with either of these brands, you can be sure that you won’t buy something that will break in the near future. That said, not all models from each brand are identically durable – some are more durable than others.
If you have the budget, then we would recommend getting the Briggs & Riley Baseline, as it’s one of the most durable suitcases out there with a not too ridiculous price tag. For something reliable in the medium price range, you could go with Travelpro Crew Versapack. If you’re looking for something affordable that can withstand light, frequent travel, you should go with the Travelpro Maxlite 5.
Which Luggage Brands Offer a Lifetime Warranty?
A lot of luggage brands offer a lifetime warranty, even affordable ones. But only a few offer unconditional lifetime warranties, which also cover airline damage, accidents, or other defects that make the suitcase unusable. Some brands that do offer unconditional lifetime warranties include Briggs & Riley, Away, Eagle Creek, Patagonia, Osprey, and Red Oxx.
Which Are the Best-Rated Luggage Brands?
Out of 32 luggage brands that we collected data on, the best-rated ones were Away (4.9 stars out of 5), Monos (4.88), American Tourister (4.70), Wenger (4.70), and Swiss Gear (4.68). To determine this, we gathered data for each brand’s most popular suitcases from major retailers like Amazon. Then we calculated the average rating from all of their customer reviews.
The worst-rated luggage brands are Mia Toro (average rating of 3.6 stars out of 5), Hartmann (4.06), Skyway (4.24), Tumi (4.29), and Rimowa (4.30). We should note that although Tumi and Rimowa have received fairly poor reviews, they still make really good luggage. The only problem is that both of them are overpriced and offer poor warranty terms, which is why a lot of people aren’t satisfied.
What Is the Best Luggage Brand for Softside Luggage?
For softside luggage, the best luggage brand is Briggs & Riley. There’s a lot that goes into making a brand a good option for softside luggage, but the main important factors are durability, price, and weight. If you’re looking for the most durable option, definitely go with something from Briggs & Riley, such as the Briggs & Riley Baseline.
Other good options for softside luggage that are cheaper include Travelpro, Samsonite, and Ricardo Beverly Hills. Two really great ones that stand out are the Samsonite Base Boost, which is one of the lightest softside suitcases out there, and the Travelpro Crew Versapack, which offers extreme durability at somewhat affordable prices.
What Is the Best Luggage Brand for Hardside Luggage?
If you’re getting hardside luggage and you have the budget, then the best option to go for is Briggs & Riley. Specifically, the Briggs & Riley Sympatico, which is incredibly durable, is backed up by an unconditional lifetime warranty, and isn’t overpriced. If you’re looking to get Aluminum luggage, then you could go with Rimowa (although they’re really overpriced), Tumi, or Away.
In the medium price range, the best luggage brands for hardside luggage are Samsonite, Travelpro, and Delsey. You’ll find a wide variety of hardside suitcases from each brand, but the ones that stand out from each one are the Samsonite Omni PC, the Travelpro Maxlite 5, and the Delsey Helium Aero, which all are really solid options.
Are There Any Good Cheap Luggage Brands?
The best luggage brands in the affordable class are American Tourister, It Luggage, and Coolife. Although all cheap luggage brands struggle with durability, American Tourister is definitely the most durable affordable luggage brand since it’s owned by Samsonite and has similar production standards. From American Tourister, the best option for hardside luggage is the Stratum XLT, and for softside luggage, it’s the Belle Voyage
It Luggage is the lightest of these three brands, and in fact, our research revealed that it’s the #2 lightest luggage brand from all 32 brands we collected data on. Coolife is a Chinese brand, but their luggage is incredibly cheap and actually somewhat durable.
Which Are the Worst Luggage Brands That You Should Avoid?
Some luggage brands that we would definitely recommend avoiding are Mia Toro and Planet Traveler, which both are owned by the same people. Planet Traveler is essentially a failed crowdfunding campaign that failed to deliver on its promises. Mia Toro is a legit brand, but their warranty is unreliable, their suitcases aren’t durable, they’re very heavy, and they’re overpriced.
Other brands that aren’t necessarily “the worst” luggage brands but are less than ideal choices include Rockland, Lucas, Tumi, Brics, Rimowa, and Hartmann. Rockland and Lucas both struggle with durability and have pretty much non-existent warranties. Although their luggage isn’t necessarily bad, Tumi, Brics, Rimowa, and Hartmann are all extremely overpriced.
Which Luggage Brands Are Made in the USA?
There are a lot of USA-based luggage brands, such as Ricardo Beverly Hills, Travelpro, Tumi, Briggs & Riley, Samsonite, and American Tourister. However, all of them manufacture their luggage overseas to keep their costs competitive.
Some brands that manufacture their luggage 100% in the USA include ROAM, inUSA, and Red OXX. Unfortunately, all of them are much less popular and more expensive compared to most brands mentioned on our list because the production costs are very high for American-made products.
Which Luggage Brands Are Similar to Samsonite?
Some luggage brands that are very similar in durability, features, and price to Samsonite are Travelpro, Delsey, and Ricardo Beverly Hills. Out of all of them, Travelpro is the most durable one, even more than Samsonite. That’s why we usually recommend Travelpro’s suitcases as the top choices in the medium class, such as the Travelpro Maxlite 5.
However, Samsonite, Delsey, and Ricardo Beverly Hills are also really solid options, although a bit less durable. Delsey is the only luggage brand that keeps up with Samsonite in terms of popularity. It’s the #3 most popular luggage brand worldwide, and Samsonite is #1. Their luggage is very similar and sometimes even cheaper. We usually recommend Delsey Helium Aero as one of the best options for an affordable hardside suitcase.
Ricardo Beverly Hills is a much less popular brand than Samsonite, but their luggage is cheaper, better-reviewed, more compatible with airline size restrictions, and has better warranty terms. In durability and the choice of materials, they’re very similar to Samsonite. The Ricardo Beverly Hills Mojave offers everything that Samsonite’s hardside suitcases do, only for a much cheaper price.
Final Words
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