Are you going on a trip? Your comfort while traveling depends largely on the suitcase you choose as your traveling companion.
I agree that a broken wheel, a zipper issue, or lifting your suitcase over every curb and step is not a pleasant experience. Therefore, it is important to choose a travel bag carefully. After all, you generally buy a suitcase not for one or two trips, but for much longer.
So, what should you focus on first? Focus on appearance, durability, compactness, ease of transport, and a reliable locking system. All these characteristics, plus many pockets, capacity, shock resistance, and dirt resistance, matter for a comfortable suitcase.
Hundreds of models sit on store shelves. You can’t test each one in practice. So how do you choose the best one without regretting it? In principle, does an ideal model exist that combines all the necessary characteristics?
To help travelers, we compiled a rating with detailed descriptions of manufacturers, models, and features, based on reviews from people who have already used these suitcases. We hope it helps.
Alezar
This Finnish brand, Alezar, offers a wide range of models. They come in different colors and have prints. They are made of fabric, polycarbonate, and plastic. However, the most famous products are durable nylon fabric suitcases with numerous pockets. They are roomy and well-organized. They suit travelers who don’t carry fragile items, as they lack impact and compression protection.
American Tourister
Samsonite acquired another well-known brand. The new owners, as always, tried to keep all the company’s features. Today, American Tourister offers simple, reliable suitcases at affordable prices.
There are no extra features or expensive materials, but all the basic functions work flawlessly. This was the goal of the brand’s founder, Sol Kofler: to sell high-quality luggage every traveler can afford.
The brand’s products are distinguished by bright colors that lift the mood. Most products have a high-molecular polypropylene body and are designed for long-term use. The brand also offers children’s luggage with cartoon characters.
The main series are the life-affirming Palm Valley, the calm Pasadena, and the fabric Lightway.
Away
“Affordable, comfortable, and beautiful” is the company’s motto, and it launched in 2016. Despite its youth, the two founders’ creations already enjoy buyers’ trust. This is unsurprising because, before developing models, the women conducted many surveys to determine buyers’ needs.
This brand’s suitcases are designed for the modern traveler. They include a power bank that lets you charge up to two devices on the go. Unlike many suitcases, this one has space and three organized compartments for shoes, clothes, and gadgets. There is also a container for used items that need washing. The luggage closes with a secure TSA lock.
One way to make the products more affordable is to eliminate dealers. The company manufactures its products and sells them directly. Buyers can contact the office, share their impressions, and leave wishes about the suitcases. An emotional connection with buyers and feedback are key marketing elements.
Customers will also appreciate the system that lets them exchange an old suitcase for a new one at any company store. If you are unhappy with the new product within three months of purchase, you can return it.
Bric’s
In its 70 years, this Italian manufacturer has mastered both leather and plastic. The company offers luxurious hand-stitched leather goods and elegant high-strength plastic models.
Bric’s keeps up with the times. So, if you want luggage with technological innovations, keep this manufacturer in mind. The company’s specialists test modern materials and innovations that affect functionality, durability, and protection, then offer them to buyers.
Reinforced corners, telescopic handles, and four reliable wheels make luggage easy to move and protect it from unexpected road conditions. The combination of materials and premium design makes Bric suitcases a highlight of the trip.
Briggs & Riley
Many people packing luggage for a trip would dream of owning an invisible expansion spell like the characters in Harry Potter. However, only owners of Briggs & Riley suitcases have such an opportunity. This company’s products can expand by almost a third of their volume during packing. After everything, and even a little more, had fit into the luggage, the special puffs returned it to its normal appearance.
The Outsider handle, which runs the full length of the suitcase’s back, is also a Briggs & Riley idea. Its rigidity prevents the luggage’s back from deforming. Beautiful, elegant zippers and additional outward-opening compartments adorn the brand’s products, creating a unique design. The interior features convenient compartments.
In 2000, seven years after its founding, a competitor acquired the brand. Under its management, it continues to delight fans with technological innovations.
Calpak Luggage
The company Calpak offers luggage made of hard and fabric materials. The products stand out with stylish coloring. Marble, mother-of-pearl, pearl, and massive suitcases with black trim will appeal to the fairer sex, and, as a special edition, travel pillows and cosmetic bags in the luggage tone will be available. For men, the brand offers a line of stylish dark-colored bags with retractable handles.
Crash Baggage
It is almost impossible not to notice this brand’s suitcase. The material has attractive artistic dents and looks very stylish. Even with rough handling at the airport, a couple of extra dents will blend in perfectly with the existing ones.
The durable, brightly colored polycarbonate is excellent. The two halves of the suitcase are fastened with a zipper. Inside, the lining has mesh pockets. Movable, multi-directional wheels, a retractable handle, and a lock for close inspection of luggage complement the model.
Delsey Luggage
Perhaps no one approached suitcase production as responsibly as Delsey. Preparatory work lasted for 20 years. But the result exceeded all expectations. Every year, the company sells about 3 million products worldwide.
Buyers appreciate the suitcases for their lightness and original design. Each series adds helpful features that make traveling easier. For example, an indicator allows you to determine whether the weight limit has been exceeded, and each suitcase has a unique serial number. Pluggage line suitcases are even considered smart devices. They are equipped with a scale, a beacon, a locking device, a charger, and a speaker. A smartphone can control this entire arsenal.
The brand name combines the initial parts of the two owners’ last names. They still approach luggage design with meticulous care. Before choosing a combination lock for the range, it is tested for 15,000 openings, and the wheels can withstand 64 kilometers of cross-country travel. Four hundred employees work on each product.
The Delsey factory is located in the Paris suburbs. The products are shipped to 100 countries worldwide, where they enjoy enduring popularity.
Dielle
This Italian brand offers suitcases with elegant shapes and streamlined lines. Leather inserts protect the corners from impact and abrasion. Inside, additional dividers and tightening straps keep contents secure. Models are equipped with combination locks and four wheels.
Eagle Creek
When Steve and Nona Barker started production, their main goal was to create comfortable and multifunctional luggage for tourists. As a result, this brand’s suitcases include many additional details and features travelers will appreciate.
The suitcases include various organizers, extra compartments, a backpack-to-bag conversion, multi-directional wheels with treads and covers, mounts for hanging extra luggage, and numerous handles, zippers, and carabiners. Take time to review all purchase options.
Thoughtful details make traveling with Eagle Creek products convenient and easy. Secure gadget compartments and reflective elements help protect belongings and keep the hiker safe.
Buyers receive a lifetime warranty and repair service at service centers, which is a major bonus. An additional plus is the products’ environmental friendliness. They don’t contain toxic polymers that pollute the environment, so disposing of them at the end of their service life poses no harm.
Globe-Trotter
Globe-Trotter luggage belongs to the luxury class. It has a unique style, reminiscent of vintage suitcases, with modern details. It has old-fashioned crocodile clasps that open with a key, a side handle, a strictly rectangular shape, and unchanged clasp straps that encircle the piece. A restored 19th-century valise seems to come to life. However, the wheels and retractable handle indicate it is modern.
The company’s suitcases are distinguished by an unusual manufacturing material: vulcanized plates made from several layers of wood fibers. The raw material resembles cellulose mass, from which cardboard and paper are subsequently made. The pulp is processed and solidified into plates. The material resists abrasion and moisture.
All product corners are reinforced with metal and leather overlays with rivets. Leather is used for additional straps and top handles. Every detail is handmade. The model can be monogrammed with the customer’s initials upon request.
Overall, the suitcases look incredibly stylish in a classic, noble way. No wonder many famous British travelers, including members of the royal family, prefer Globe-Trotter luggage. The first examples of the collection accompanied their owners to Everest and Antarctica.
Hartmann
The company’s founder’s passion for creating the perfect luggage remains Hartmann’s main strategy.
Starting in the 19th century with fashionable chests, the company gradually moved to producing elegant suitcases made of natural and artificial leather. The brand’s trademark is luxurious leather goods. One product starts at 600 dollars. However, a Hartmann suitcase will be a source of pride on any trip.
The brand is focused on business travelers. Each product has a special removable compartment for transporting suits. The brand makes sets of bags in different sizes, all in the same style.
In 2012, the company was acquired by Samsonite, which continued to produce elite luggage.
Heys
Each Heys suitcase features a stylish design. Famous artists and designers work on the suitcases’ appearance. As a result, the brand’s products immediately catch the eye on the luggage carousel. These aren’t just bright colors and curved materials, but real paintings and prints. To date, more than 30 image variants have been developed.
The second major advantage is the use of impact-resistant materials that retain their shape. Polycarbonates with reinforcing additives are mainly used. The suitcase’s ribbed shape also contributes to its durability. Japanese specialists created an ideal design. The manufacturer purchases the highest-quality polyurethane wheels from abroad.
The overall construction ensures many years of use without cracks, chips, or dents.
Each product has a three-dimensional grid. The product’s volume can be adjusted by opening the waterproof material extensions.
There are currently two separate Heys companies. One is based in America, and the other in Canada. They are run by two brothers who split the original company.
Louis Vuitton
The company founded by the suitcase inventor still produces luggage. However, it produces in small batches and only to order. No more than 300 suitcases are produced per year. As a result, Louis Vuitton products are expensive and exclusive.
The brand’s signature elements include unique prints with alternating patterns, plaid patterns, and LV monograms. The rigid frame is made of wood and covered with fabric. Some suitcases are made of polypropylene composite, and soft luggage is made of leather. Each model is covered with a protective layer that prevents water penetration, fading, and scratches.
Most lines include a suitcase and a small bag for miscellaneous items.
Ookonn
Although Ookonn suitcases have a vintage hatbox shape, they’re modern and functional. They have a combination lock, a polycarbonate body, and a telescopic handle, all of which make traveling more comfortable. Inside, there are small pockets and holders for things. The suitcase resembles a larger, wheeled version of a lady’s handbag.
Paravel
The range includes interesting fabric suitcases and hard-shell luggage. The former is not suitable for checked luggage but is lightweight and breathable. The fabric is waterproof and practically tear-proof. With proper care, these products can last for many years.
The second option is virtually indestructible and is highly environmentally friendly, as it is made from recycled materials. Large rubberized wheels with carbon steel bearings are comfortable, and the reinforced body is impact-resistant. The internal organization is pleasantly surprising: a dense compression board with tightening carabiner straps on one side, a special removable zippered pocket for documents or a laptop on the other.
Piquadro
The company started producing leather suitcases and bags in 1998, ten years after its founding. Before that, interesting ideas and technologies were sold to other companies. However, as soon as Marco Palmieri decided to use his inventions himself, the company immediately gained fans and loyal customers. In 20 years, 1500 brand stores, boutiques, and outlets have been opened worldwide.
The product range is made from Tuscan leather and treated to increase durability. Piquadro has patented special cutting and duplicating technologies. Perfectly even and durable patches are supplied for sewing. Each product is given a personalized number. This shows the company takes full responsibility for product quality.
Piquadro gives preference to functionality. The suitcase design is strict and businesslike, without excessive ornamentation or unnecessary details. As a result, it suits most looks and styles.
Ricardo
Seven thousand stores worldwide offer products from the American company Ricardo. Since its creation in 1978, more than 20 million bags and suitcases have been sold. A team of specialists heads the company, with 60 years of experience in travel accessories.
One unique feature is a special Nano-Tex fabric that resists dirt and moisture. As a result, the luggage always looks neat. Things are packed in the suitcase on two levels, separated by a partition. A nice feature is the built-in scale, which helps you prepare for boarding.
The company has a quality control department to ensure all parts are hard-wearing and work properly. Thanks to its production facilities in China, it offers excellent value.
Rimowa
Every traveler is familiar with the ribbed surface of aluminum and plastic suitcases. This patented feature is a hallmark of the German brand’s products. This approach adds lightness and improves resistance to compression. Another company hit is its waterproof models. These products are indispensable when transporting gadgets, equipment, and appliances.
Each suitcase is created through a painstaking process that involves up to 90 stages. That is why the brand’s prices correspond to about $1,500 per piece. This aligns with the spirit of the elite LVMH group, which the Morshekov family company joined in 2016, thereby transferring the controlling stake to the new owners.
When you choose luggage from Rimowa, you get a lightweight, waterproof case, a special electronic tag that facilitates check-in, smooth-running mechanisms, unique styling, and a five-year warranty. The main lines are Original, Off-White, and Hybrid.
Roncato
Roncato is a family-owned company named after its founder. Its owners have extensive knowledge of luggage manufacturing, having been involved in it since childhood. At the beginning of its activity, the company specialized in producing elite attaché cases and, in the 1980s, launched lines for all travelers.
Each of the manufacturer’s collections features patented innovations: flat, monolithic, retractable handles; coded clasps; additional locking elements at the bottom; four different-sized wheels; two enclosed, uniquely shaped tie-down straps; and more. All these features make the company’s suitcases distinctive and set them apart from other products in this segment.
Samsonite
If you want to buy a suitcase that will last a lifetime, Samsonite is the manufacturer to choose. The words “reliability and durability” have long been associated with this manufacturer. It’s no coincidence that the company’s name comes from the biblical hero Samson, who had extraordinary strength.
For more than 100 years, the company has emphasized the reliability of suitcase construction. In its first advertising campaign, company founder Jesse Schwider, his three brothers, and his father stood on the suitcase to demonstrate its unprecedented strength.
Since then, the manufacturer has stuck to that approach. When you buy the product, you can repeat the creator’s actions: stand on the suitcase and jump. You can find this opportunity in every branded store. The company is 100% confident in its quality and provides a lifetime warranty on some models.
As a Samsonite buyer, you can count on innovation and continuous improvement. The company has invented many popular features. The Schwider brothers developed combination locks, suitcase and bag sets, rubber seals, four-wheel systems that move in any direction, plastic cases, and many other innovations.
The best-known lines are the lightweight frameless Qyster, the plastic Silhouette, and the ribbed Cosmolite.
Thule
The Swedish manufacturer is focused on travelers. In Thule stores, you can buy car seats, trailers, car mounts for sports equipment, and much more. Suitcases are one segment of the extensive range, added in 2010.
The Thule logo on the products guarantees durability and reliability. Each product undergoes up to 100 tests before hitting the shelves and comes with a five-year warranty, even under active use.
The manufacturer’s suitcases consist of a plastic base or an aluminum frame covered with strong, thick, waterproof nylon that resists tears, stretching, and scratches. Steel bushings on the wheels increase the luggage’s durability when in motion. A telescopic handle complements the luggage.
Nice and thoughtful features include:
- Interior compartments.
- Impact-resistant compartments for gear and gadgets.
- Adjustable straps that transform the entire piece of luggage into a compact unit.
Titan
The brand does not produce titanium suitcases. The name suggests product reliability and the manufacturer’s scale. However, the color and material can be chosen to suit any taste.
Bright shades and stylish relief images on plastic make the brand popular among young people. The flagship model, Titan Xenon, is known for its durability. Its features make it suitable for all kinds of travel. Reinforced side guards protect against impacts, and the large, sturdy wheels withstand off-road use.
Quality luggage from this German brand will not cost a lot. The products are affordable for any budget.
TravelPro
Travelers owe the retractable handle on suitcases to TravelPro’s founder, an integral part of any travel bag. Robert Plath modernized a small suitcase by adding wheels and a handle. This product became the prototype for modern luggage used by flight attendants and pilots when boarding airplanes.
As orders from fellow pilots poured in, Robert realized it was time to start his own company and optimize production. Since the company’s inception, the inventor’s know-how has benefited some 500,000 pilots.
TravelPro models are designed for frequent travel and are known for their durability. The main advantages include balanced luggage, smooth operation, and flawless mechanisms. The company has patented special systems that ensure smooth running (PrecisionGlide).
The company offers compact carry-on luggage that fits in an airplane cabin and holds the essentials. The main basic model is the Rollaboard.
Trunki
These children’s toy suitcases, made of fabulous animals, immediately attract attention. The little owner can roll his luggage and ride on it. Four sturdy wheels, a seat recess on top, a nose-shaped clasp, and funny horns to hold onto are painted and decorated to resemble the chosen character, vehicle, or ship. The interior is organized like any other suitcase.
Tumi
Everything Tumi produces is worthy of the gods’ attention. The company was named after the Peruvian knife used to prepare offerings for the gods. The best materials, thoughtful details, and patented innovations make the manufacturer’s products luxurious. The company’s clients include famous artists and politicians such as Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt.
The company’s first successful step, founded in 1975, was to cover suitcases with ballistic nylon, a material competitors did not use. Padded suitcases, like bags, were in high demand. Now, this nylon has been perfected. FXT is known for maximum durability and is highly regarded in the travel accessory market.
The main advantages of Tumi products include maneuverable, silent wheels; locking handle clips that keep the piece in place; a convenient zipper-replacement system; an electronic tag for luggage tracking; and metal-threaded material in pouches for money and gadgets. Together, these features make the company’s suitcases practical and convenient.
The main collections are Alpha Bravo for young and active, Alpha for business and representative, and T-tech for extravagant and dreamy.
Victorinox (Luggage & Suitcases)
One hundred fifty years ago, the company was a successful knife manufacturer; now it makes bags. At the same time, excellent Swiss quality distinguishes both directions. The brand is named after the founder’s mother, Victoria, and the stainless steel (INOX) used to make the knife blades.
Victorinox suitcases offer many advantages of modern luggage. They feature a special compartment for documents and laptops, expandable interior space, telescopic handles, and plastic corners that protect the luggage from scratches and deformation.
Cast silicone wheels deserve a special mention. This accessory offers greater durability, quieter operation, and better traction. The wheels help you move luggage over rough terrain without shaking or breaking.
Suitcase fabric surfaces are treated to resist moisture, and polycarbonate is strengthened. So, even in bad weather and with heavy loads, your luggage stays safe and doesn’t lose its neat appearance.
Wenger
Before producing travel bags, the company changed its business direction several times. It changed its name four times before Theo Wenger named the company after himself and focused on army knives. The manufacturer quickly became associated with Swiss quality and received 50% of the army contracts.
Since 2005, Wenger has merged with its main knife-manufacturing competitor, Victorinox. After the merger, the brand’s steel products ceased to exist, but it still offers watches and luggage. The luggage is made of fabrics, plastics, and polycarbonate. The luggage’s main feature is its lightness. A large volume bag (up to 100 liters) weighs no more than 11 pounds.
Travelers note that the luggage remains undamaged even when airport employees handle it roughly. Cracks, chips, and scratches are not formed. The products have a modern design, with all the usual suitcase features: wheels, retractable handles, and additional side legs.
The Wenger brand marks the company’s products manufactured in America. For European consumers, the manufacturer uses the Swissgear brand.
Xiaomi
Want your suitcase to follow you on its own? With Xiaomi, it’s possible. The company turns everything it touches into a “smart” gadget, and luggage is no exception. Most Xiaomi products come with useful accessories that make life easier for a modern traveler.
The robotic luggage has a built-in camera and several sensors to follow the owner. As a result, the product determines the owner’s direction and speed. The device requires charging to work. In addition to powering movement, the suitcase can charge the owner’s gadgets in the future. One charge provides 20 kilometers of travel.
The suitcase is made from the latest materials. Its three-layer composite shell with a honeycomb structure resists shocks, scratches, and temperature changes. The paint stays bright in sunlight, and fire can’t reach the interior compartments.
The rubber wheels rotate 360 degrees and are virtually silent. The anodized aluminum handle withstands heavy loads without sagging, letting you fit extra luggage. TSA locks make it easy to get through customs. Zippered dividers divide the interior into two zones. Each zone includes additional gadget pockets, keeping items centered and protected from shaking and bumps.
Each suitcase is available in several sizes and colors.
Other Brands
Many fashion houses and car manufacturers also produce luggage. Their models are worth a look and are of decent quality. Designer models from Michael Kors, Audi, Vivienne Westwood, BMW, and Guess stand out for their individuality. Their shapes and colors draw attention. Car brands prefer the latest materials to ensure suitcases are highly durable.