Having a good suitcase is vital to making your best vacation as easy as possible. It should be roomy enough to include everything you need. Light and portable enough make carrying it simple, and sturdy enough to withstand the rigours of travel. The Textiles Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluates various types of luggage. We put each case through its paces by testing its durability, ease of use, abrasion and scratch resistance. In this article we will explore about best travel luggage.
In order to compare compartments we also pack each one with a typical load. After that, we employ laypeople to evaluate the luggage on a course of challenges.
Samsonite has the best luggage
Samsonite achieves our top rank as the finest luggage manufacturer because it offers a wide selection for all tastes, from business travellers to vacationers, and has consistently outperformed the competition in our tests over the years. It stands out in particular for its functionality and dependability.
The cases have been easy to open and close, and packing them has been simple thanks to the useful divisions that make the most of the available space. While direct-to-consumer baggage brand costs have surged, Samsonite’s have remained relatively stable. It’s undoubtedly not cheap.
The brand’s hardside and softside models performed admirably in our tests. Each size, including carry-ons, checked bags, and underseat luggage, has also impressed us. Some of our favourite models are the Stryde Glyder checked bag, which makes the case wide instead of long so it’s less likely to topple over, the Freeform hardside carry-on, the Solyte DLX softside carry-on, and the Stryde Freeform carry-on.
American Vacationer
American Tourister offers reasonable prices and a wide selection. Just keep in mind that American Tourister frequently uses ABS plastic, which is more reasonably priced but more prone to scratches. However, internet reviewers give it good marks and mention how surprise spacious the bags are.
Best Handbags for Travel
One of the most well-known brands of luggage available is Away, and our testing demonstrates that it is indeed price-worthy. Despite the brand’s extensive selection of products, we particularly adore the hardside carry-on. In our tests, its 100% polycarbonate construction showed itself to be strong and light.
even lighter than some test cloth bags. In our assessment, it also accommodated a full packing load and was surprisingly roomy. If you’re unsatisfied with it for any reason, you may return it for a refund even after you’ve used it thanks to the company’s 100-day no-questions-asked return policy.
Best Bags for Regular Travellers
Although this luxury brand is pricy, its classic designs, including those in tweed and hardside, never go out of style. In actuality, the brand’s marketing and design greatly emphasise its history. Thanks to its roomy inside, which is simple to pack, and its wheels and handles, which make it easy to move around, it has excelled in our testing.
The Vigour, which is offered in three sizes, is one of our most well-tested Hartmann models. It outperformed even more expensive versions and received top ratings across the board, particularly distinguishing out for being scratch-resistant, light, and spacious, so you know you’re getting a good value for your money.
Calpak’s Best Fashion Luggage
Since baggage is an accessory, style is undoubtedly important, but you shouldn’t compromise on quality and practicality. The cases created by Calpak are well-built and have original designs. Calpak has a smaller selection of models than some of the major brands, but it still offers a wide selection of materials, such as ripstop polyester, printed ABS/polycarbonate mixes, and elegant hardside polycarbonate.
In a recent review, consumers praised the Ambeur carry-on from Calpak as one of their favourites, praising the user-friendly telescopic handle in particular. We also liked its metallic colour and found it to be simple to pack. It held up to dents and damage from our durability drop test, even if it wasn’t as scratch-resistant as some of the others we examined (which is expected for ABS composites).
Best Luggage Under $100
Although nice baggage under $100 is difficult to come by, Amazon’s selection does not let customers down. There are softside and hardside designs available, in addition to garment bags, duffels, and other items. Although it might not be the exact greatest quality available, Amazon also boasts comprehensive testing to ensure it will hold up, and the price is unbeatable.
International Travel Baggage: Best Choices
A carry-on Briggs & Riley bag can cost over $600, but the company offers a lifetime warranty that will pay for any repairs needed if the luggage is ever broken or damaged. They also have cutting-edge features, like the compression packing technology that is unique to the brand.
This feature allows bags to expand while you pack and then contract once they are full. In fact, one of our testers reported that she was able to fit a week’s worth of summer clothing for two people into a small carry-on that could fit in the overhead compartment of an aeroplane.
Most Practical Bags for Adventure Travel
Eagle Creek offers you the comfort and durability you need in a bag, whether you’re travelling abroad or exploring a national park. Some bags feature backpack straps if you need to be hands-free, while others offer multiple sections so you can stay organised (or store shoes and dirty laundry separately).
For shorter excursions, we especially prefer the Cargo Hauler Duffel because it’s inexpensive, roomy, lightweight, and folds up into a little pouch for convenience. The Migrate Wheeled Duffel is larger, has two wheels, and a telescoping handle for longer excursions. Additionally, the large opening makes it simple to retrieve the contents.
Most Practical Bags for Adventure Travel
Eagle Creek offers you the comfort and durability you need in a bag, whether you’re travelling abroad or exploring a national park. Some bags feature backpack straps if you need to be hands-free, while others offer multiple sections so you can stay organised (or store shoes and dirty laundry separately).
For shorter excursions, we especially prefer the Cargo Hauler Duffel because it’s inexpensive, roomy, lightweight, and folds up into a little pouch for convenience. The Migrate Wheeled Duffel is larger, has two wheels, and a telescoping handle for longer excursions. Additionally, the large opening makes it simple to retrieve the contents.
The ideal luggage for airline crews
This business, which manufactures luggage exclusively for airline employees who fly for a living, was created by a pilot. However, it still serves the same purpose for both business and pleasure travellers. Though it does provide some hardside alternatives, the brand predominantly sells softside luggage. Abrasion-resistant nylon fabric, self-aligning wheels that enable you roll the luggage in any direction, and exceptional attention to detail all contribute to making regular travel easier.
In our lab tests, the Platinum Elite softside baggage in particular stood out. It was not just incredibly strong but also very roomy, holding our whole load with room to spare. The drawback was that it was heavier than other options, but it was a reasonable trade-off for the best features.
Best Hardside Luggage at a Budget
This Target-exclusive brand sells high-performing polycarbonate luggage for less money than its rivals, despite the fact that 100% polycarbonate hardside cases can cost several hundred dollars. In our assessment, we found the carry-on size to be lightweight, roomy, and equipped with many sections to help you stay organised. It costs only $170. Even a separate wash bag and a USB connector are included with this smart luggage in case you want to add a battery.
These luggage received good marks for being simple to use from testers who also enjoyed using them. The telescopic handle’s lack of comfort was the only drawback they pointed up, yet it still outperformed hundreds of models in our performance testing.
Classic Hardside Luggage at its Best
Since the invention of the first polycarbonate suitcase in 2000, Rimowa has been at the forefront of luggage material innovation. Only hardside luggage is produced, but there are numerous collections to choose from, starting with the Essential Lite, which is the lightest and least expensive, and going all the way up to the Original, which is constructed of sturdy aluminium and features nifty packing compartments.
The brand’s polycarbonate spinner was among the best in our test based on its weight, packing space, durability, and manoeuvrability, despite the fact that the lowest case costs over $600. Prior to purchasing, take careful to inspect the case’s handles to make sure they meet your needs. Some of the lightest choices feature a T-shaped handle, which is less convenient to pull for extended periods of time.
Best Luggage for Minimalism
According to Monos, its design ethos is “less is more,” which means the bags are created to be high quality, ageless, and simple in order to avoid passing trends. While some of its hardside bags blend polycarbonate and aluminium for added durability, the majority of them are made entirely of polycarbonate.
GH’s 2023 Family Travel Awards recognised The Check-In Large as a winner for its incredibly roomy interior and manoeuvrability. The smooth appearance and ease of rolling were also praised by testers. It’s also important to note that the company offers a 100-day return policy, allowing you to get a refund if the product isn’t right for you.
Most effective luggage
This brand ups the entertainment value and makes it simpler to find your bags amid a sea of solid hues. There are lovely animal luggage sets for children as well as animal patterns for adults. Additionally, there are alternatives for authorised teams and artwork, turning your suitcase into a colourful yet useful accessory.
The majority of Heys luggage is comprised of hardside polycarbonate and ABS composite materials. This indicates that it is mostly made of ABS plastic with a polycarbonate outside coating for enhanced protection. Despite not being the most durable brand in our tests, it received top marks for usability.
How we examine bags
In the Textiles Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute, we test luggage using a combination of our own proprietary test procedures, specialised machinery, and a consumer tester obstacle course. We inspect each piece of luggage for the following things:
Size, weight, and packing convenience
The case is weighed empty (It doesn’t always match the reported weight in the internet description! ), and then we make sure that it complies with standard airline measurement requirements.
packing power
We rate the cases based on how much they can contain using a usual load, such as clothing, accessories, and toiletries for a three-day, two-night trip with carry-on luggage.
Additional characteristics
We check the luggage for any additional features that make it noteworthy, such as side handles that make it simple to lower and lift, built-in locks, a telescopic handle with numerous height settings, and more.
Consumer surveys
Our evaluators give feedback on features including ease of use, sturdiness, wheel performance, and manoeuvrability after filling each case with a standard weight and putting up an obstacle course that demands lifting and rolling around cones, in and out of doorways, over uneven surfaces, and more. They comment on appearance and general pleasure as well.
More shopping advice for luggage
In addition to the content, take into account your travel style, duration, and any particular requirements while thinking about these aspects:
Size: Do you need a checked luggage that can accommodate more of your load or a carry-on size that you can bring onboard an aeroplane? Even after selecting one of these categories, there can be more than one size offered in each. Even if there is more room within a larger luggage, it will weigh more and require more storage.
Weight: Although extra components like wheels and handles might add weight, hardside luggage isn’t usually heavier than softside luggage. A bigger bag can add to the difficulty of carrying while travelling in addition to airline weight restrictions.
Why do you believe Good Housekeeping?
The Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute is directed by Lexie Sachs. Emma Seymour, a senior textile analyst, oversaw the most recent luggage trials. She conducted practical assessments and organised customer feedback for both our obstacle course trials and actual travel trials. Along with testing and writing about various travel accessories, Emma also reviews packing cubes, travel dresses, and travel backpacks.
