Travel Luggage Brands: Choosing The Best Companion

When it comes to choosing the best brand of travel luggage, there are several factors to consider. Here are some of the top brands in the market, along with their key features, to help you make an informed decision:

- Samsonite: Samsonite is a popular choice among travellers and experts alike. Their luggage is known for its durability, ease of use, spacious interior, and compact design. Samsonite offers a wide range of options to suit different travel needs, including both hardside and softside suitcases. While the price point is not the lowest, Samsonite provides consistent quality and value.

- Travelpro: Travelpro is renowned for its durability and manoeuvrability. Their suitcases feature sturdy construction, spacious interiors, and smooth-rolling wheels. Travelpro offers a generous 100-day return policy and a limited lifetime warranty, making it a reliable choice.

- Briggs & Riley: Briggs & Riley is a premium luggage brand that emphasises durability and spaciousness. Their suitcases are made with ballistic nylon or shock-absorbing polycarbonate, ensuring your belongings stay safe. Briggs & Riley also offers a lifetime guarantee, making it a worthwhile investment.

- Away: Away luggage stands out for its modern and minimalist aesthetic, coupled with functional design. Away suitcases offer ample packing space, smooth-gliding wheels, and built-in USB charging ports. Their products come with a lifetime warranty, making them a reliable choice.

- Delsey: Delsey is known for its spacious and lightweight suitcases, offering both hardside and softside options. Their products are easy to manoeuvre and feature stylish designs. Delsey provides accessible price points, making it a good option for those seeking value.

- Béis Travel: Béis Travel, founded by actress Shay Mitchell, combines style and functionality. Their suitcases offer trendy designs, thoughtful features like built-in weight indicators, and removable compartments for easy organisation. Béis provides a lifetime warranty, making it a reliable choice.

- Tumi: Tumi is a luxury luggage brand known for its premium quality and innovative features. Their suitcases offer ample packing space, TSA-approved locks, and impact-resistant exteriors. Tumi provides a five-year warranty on luggage, ensuring peace of mind for travellers.

- Amazon Basics: Amazon Basics offers a range of softside and hardside luggage options at affordable price points. Their suitcases are easy to pack and manoeuvre, making them a convenient choice for travellers on a budget. However, the hardside models may show more apparent scratches and scuffs over time.

- July: July luggage stands out for its sleek and colourful designs, smooth wheels, and intuitive features like adjustable telescopic handles. Their suitcases are made with durable polycarbonate and come with a lifetime warranty, offering both style and functionality.

- Hartmann: Hartmann is a luxury brand known for its timeless designs and high-quality materials. Their suitcases offer spacious interiors, smooth manoeuvrability, and sturdy construction. Hartmann luggage may come with a higher price tag, but it is built to last and exudes sophistication.

Durability

Briggs & Riley

Briggs & Riley is known for its durability and offers a lifetime warranty that covers all repairs. Their bags are made with ballistic nylon or shock-absorbing polycarbonate exteriors, which can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Their suitcases also feature innovative designs, such as a unique button expansion system that allows for more packing space. The brand is on the more expensive side, but their products are built to last, with some reviewers saying their luggage lasted a decade or longer.

Travelpro

Travelpro is a popular choice among airline crew members and offers a range of durable luggage options. Their products are made with sturdy and weather-resistant materials and have smooth-rolling wheels that make them easy to maneuver. Travelpro also offers a variety of features such as compression straps, USB ports, and water-resistant toiletry bags. Their luggage is generally well-priced, with some more expensive pieces available as well.

Samsonite

Samsonite has been a leading luggage brand for over 100 years and is known for its focus on durability and innovative design. Their products include a range of hard-sided and soft-sided luggage options, as well as travel accessories. Samsonite luggage is generally lightweight and compact, with spacious interiors and a variety of styles to choose from. Their products are also reasonably priced, with some more expensive pieces available.

Rimowa

Rimowa is a luxury luggage brand known for its durable and lightweight suitcases. Their bags are made with an anodized aluminum exterior and feature a lifetime warranty that covers any damage. Rimowa luggage is on the expensive side, but their products are built to last and offer a smooth ride, with some of the most durable wheels on the market.

Away

Away is a popular luggage brand that offers durable and lightweight suitcases made with high-performing materials. Their products include both hard-sided and soft-sided options, as well as a range of travel accessories. Away luggage is known for its functional details, such as double buckle compression pads and color-matched luggage tags. Their products are generally well-priced, with some more expensive pieces available.

Tumi

Tumi is an iconic luggage brand that offers high-end suitcases, bags, and travel accessories. Their products are made with high-performance and quality materials and feature innovative designs and organisational features such as ample pockets, removable garment bags, and USB ports. Tumi luggage is on the expensive side, but their products are built to last and offer a smooth ride.

Style

Paravel: Paravel luggage has a sophisticated appeal with a classic mid-century flair. The brand uses recycled materials and offers a variety of organisational features, including dual compartments, pockets, dividers, and removable laundry bags. The Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus is a stylish and spacious option with a compression board and laundry bag, while the Paravel Mini Fold-up Backpack is a foldable and portable choice that can even fit a tablet.

July: July luggage comes in a range of delightful shades, including blues, greens, pink, red, shadow lavender, sand, and more. The brand's suitcases are durable and easy to manoeuvre, with a telescopic handle that can be adjusted to 20 different heights. The July Carry On, July Checked Plus, and July Checked Plus Light are some top options to consider.

Away: Away luggage has a minimalist-modern aesthetic and a practical appeal. The Away Bigger Carry-On is a durable and lightweight choice with a roomy interior, while The Everywhere Bag is perfect for overnight trips and quick weekend getaways. Away luggage is easy to wipe clean and comes in a variety of sizes, so you can find the best design for your needs.

Delsey: Delsey luggage has stylish looks and a functional appeal. The Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-on Spinner is a compact and lightweight option with organisational features, while the Delsey Dune Large Expandable Spinner offers impressive capacity and smooth-rolling wheels. Delsey suitcases are generally lightweight and easy to lift into overhead bins.

Tumi: Tumi luggage is a splurge-worthy choice with a range of smart and security features. The Alpha International Expandable 4-wheeled Carry-on has a built-in garment bag, ample pockets, a laptop sleeve, a USB port, and a TSA-approved lock. Tumi luggage is durable and easy to manoeuvre, but some suitcases are quite heavy, so keep that in mind.

Travelpro: Travelpro luggage has a sleek and stylish look. The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Expandable Hardside Spinner has a textured handle for a comfortable grip and smooth-rolling wheels, while the Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Large Check-In Trunk Spinner is a stylish and durable investment piece. Travelpro suitcases are easy to manoeuvre and offer spacious interiors, with some models featuring self-aligning spinner wheels.

Samsonite: Samsonite luggage comes in a wide variety of designs and price points. The Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Carry-on is a lightweight and compact option with a spacious interior, while the Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside is a durable and stylish choice. Samsonite suitcases are generally easy to manoeuvre and offer ample packing space, with some models featuring built-in garment folders.

Calpak: Calpak luggage is compact yet spacious, with a puffy exterior and smooth-rolling wheels. The Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage is a great underseat bag option with a separate laptop compartment, while the Calpak Luka Duffel features a separate shoe compartment. Calpak suitcases are easy to manoeuvre and offer flexible designs, making them ideal for various travel scenarios.

Béis: Béis luggage has a chic and stylish aesthetic. The Béis Carry-on Roller is a durable and lightweight choice with a hardshell exterior and an expandable body, while the Béis Weekender is a spacious tote that can be used as a personal item on longer trips. Béis suitcases have durable wheels and built-in luggage weight indicators, making them ideal for frequent travellers.

Briggs & Riley: Briggs & Riley luggage is known for its durability and long-lasting quality. The Briggs & Riley 22-inch Spinner has a unique button expansion system and a durable ballistic nylon exterior, while the Briggs & Riley Extra Large Trunk Spinner offers ample packing space and a shock-absorbing polycarbonate shell. Briggs & Riley suitcases are easy to manoeuvre and feature a lifetime guarantee, so they're built to last.

Price

• Samsonite: Samsonite offers a wide range of luggage designs and price points. The Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Carry-on, for example, typically costs around $200, while the Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside is available for about $150.
• Travelpro: Travelpro luggage is generally priced between $100 and $500. The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Expandable Hardside Spinner, one of their more expensive options, usually costs around $300.
• Briggs & Riley: Briggs & Riley is a premium luggage brand, with prices ranging from $700 to $950 for their Baseline Medium Expandable Spinner and Baseline Extra Large Expandable Spinner, respectively.
• Away: Away luggage is known for its modern aesthetic and typically costs a few hundred dollars. The Away Bigger Carry-On, for instance, retails for around $250.
• Delsey: Delsey offers a range of luggage options, with prices varying depending on the collection and size. The Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-on Spinner, part of their softside collection, usually costs around $300, while the Delsey Paris Cruise 3.0 Soft Large Expandable Spinner is priced at approximately $350.
• Tumi: Tumi is a luxury luggage brand, with prices to match. Their Alpha International Expandable 4-wheeled Carry-on, for example, typically costs over $600.
• Paravel: Paravel luggage pieces are priced between $200 and $400. The Paravel Aviator Carry-on Plus, one of their larger suitcases, usually retails for around $350.
• July: July offers a range of luggage options, with prices varying depending on the collection and size. The July Carry On, which includes a portable charger, typically costs around $250, while the July Checked Plus, their largest suitcase, is priced at approximately $350.
• Béis: Béis luggage pieces range in price from around $200 to $400. The Béis Carry-on Roller, one of their hardshell suitcases, usually costs about $300.
• Calpak: Calpak luggage is known for its compact yet spacious designs, with prices generally ranging from $150 to $300. The Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage, a popular underseat bag, typically costs around $150.

Size

For trips of a week or less, a carry-on suitcase is usually sufficient. If you're planning on bringing items that can't be carried on, a larger checked suitcase is a good option. It's important to check the size restrictions of the airline you're flying with, as these can vary. International carriers tend to have stricter requirements, so it's always best to check before you travel.

If you're looking for a compact carry-on bag, the Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner is a great option. It's slightly smaller than average, making it ideal for short weekend getaways. For something a little larger, the Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner is a good choice. It has a generous capacity and can easily fit a week's worth of clothing.

If you need something even bigger, there are plenty of spacious checked luggage options available. The Briggs & Riley Baseline Extra Large Expandable Spinner is perfect for those who need a lot of space. With its unique compression system, it can fit an additional week's worth of clothing in the same amount of space as other bags. The Travelpro Platinum Elite 29" Expandable Spinner is another excellent choice, with a capacity of 117 litres.

For those who want the maximum allowable space, the Away The Large suitcase is a great option. It's the largest bag Away makes and offers plenty of room for all your travel needs.

If you're looking for something in between, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 25" Expandable Spinner is a good middle ground. It offers plenty of room without being too bulky.

When choosing luggage, it's also important to consider the weight of the bag itself. Heavier bags can eat into your luggage weight allowance, so it's worth looking for something lightweight, especially if you plan on packing a lot of heavy items.

Weight

• Size and Weight: When choosing luggage, it's important to consider the size and weight restrictions of your airline. For domestic carry-on luggage, the weight limit is typically around 35 pounds, while for international flights, the limit is often stricter, at around 22 pounds. For checked luggage, the standard weight limit is 50 pounds, but you may be able to pack up to 70 pounds for an additional fee. To avoid excess weight, opt for lightweight materials such as nylon or polyester for softside luggage, or polycarbonate, polypropylene, or ABS for hardside luggage.
• Ease of Transport: Luggage with spinner wheels tends to be easier to manoeuvre than two-wheeled options, especially in busy airports or crowded spaces. Look for luggage with smooth-rolling wheels and a sturdy, adjustable telescoping handle to make navigating a breeze.
• Capacity: Consider the length of your trip and how much you typically pack. If you're an overpacker, look for luggage with expansion capabilities or a flexible softside design. For shorter trips or those who pack light, a compact carry-on or weekender bag may be sufficient.
• Durability: To ensure your luggage can withstand the rigours of travel, opt for durable materials such as ballistic nylon or polycarbonate. Look for luggage with a sturdy exterior, well-constructed wheels, and robust zippers. Reading reviews and comparing warranties can also give you an idea of a product's durability.

Frequently asked questions