Our top tried and tested picks:
Top travel bag brands include Samsonite, Away, Monos, and Away for general luggage, known for durability and style, while Travelpro and Osprey excel in carry-ons and backpacks, favored by professionals for features like smooth wheels and organization; for luxury, Tumi is a staple, while budget options like American Tourister and Amazon Basics offer great value.
Tumi is generally considered a higher-end, more durable, and premium brand with superior materials (like ballistic nylon) and design for frequent, rough travel, often featuring excellent warranties, while Samsonite offers excellent value as a strong mid-range option, known for sturdiness and affordability, though potentially less refined than Tumi. Your choice depends on travel frequency and budget: Tumi for luxury and longevity, Samsonite for reliability at a lower price point, with both providing solid performance, but Tumi excels in extreme conditions.
Samsonite and Swiss Gear are both reputable luggage brands, with Samsonite often praised for its durability, sleek design, and value in hardside luggage, while Swiss Gear is known for ruggedness, spacious softside options with great organization, and practical features, though sometimes at a higher price. Samsonite excels in lightweight polycarbonate shells with scratch resistance, while Swiss Gear offers extensive pockets and smooth rolling for everyday travel.
Different Types of Travel Bags
The top bag brands consistently include luxury powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès for iconic status and resale, alongside others like Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Fendi, known for design and value. For investment, brands like The Row are gaining traction, while classics like Balenciaga and Chloé see surprising comebacks, showing top brands blend enduring appeal with emerging trends, says this article from The RealReal, Rebag, Vestiaire Collective, and Fashionphile.
The best bags to avoid pickpockets are anti-theft bags from brands like Travelon and Pacsafe, featuring slash-resistant material, lockable zippers, and hidden pockets, often in crossbody or sling styles that keep valuables secure and in front of you, combined with smart habits like securing straps to objects or wearing them close. Look for features like RFID blocking and wire-reinforced straps to deter thieves.
When buying luggage, avoid heavy, poorly constructed bags with flimsy handles, wobbly wheels, or weak zippers; prioritize lightweight yet durable materials like nylon or polycarbonate, check for strong stitching and good organization (compartments, compression straps), ensure it meets airline size/weight rules, and test features like wheels and handles before buying. Don't sacrifice functionality for style or buy from unverified sellers to avoid counterfeits and voided warranties.
There isn't one single "number one" brand, but Samsonite consistently ranks as a top, reliable choice for overall quality, value, and widespread trust among travelers and experts, while brands like Away, Briggs & Riley, and Travelpro are highly rated for specific features, offering durability, innovative designs, and strong warranties for different travel needs.
Yes, Samsonite is generally considered better than American Tourister for overall quality, durability, and features, as Samsonite is its premium parent brand, while American Tourister offers more budget-friendly, stylish options; choose Samsonite for frequent travel and reliability, and American Tourister for occasional trips where cost is a bigger concern.
Neither Rimowa nor Tumi is definitively "better"; they cater to different priorities, with Rimowa excelling in iconic design, lightweight luxury (especially aluminum), and smooth wheels, while Tumi leads in organization, durability, business functionality, and a more practical, feature-rich experience, often at a slightly lower price. Choose Rimowa for a style statement and lightweight travel; choose Tumi for maximum organization and robust, business-focused features.
Yes, Tumi is owned by Samsonite; Samsonite acquired the luxury luggage brand in an all-cash deal worth $1.8 billion, which was announced in March 2016 and closed later that year, giving Samsonite a stronger foothold in the premium travel market.
Airlines don't have a preference for hard or soft luggage; they only care about size and weight limits, but many travelers prefer hard-shell for checked bags (better protection) and soft-shell (more flexible/lighter) for carry-ons, with soft-sided often being lighter and offering expandable pockets for international travel convenience, while hard-shell protects delicate items but can be heavier and less forgiving in tight spaces, according to this source from a travel blog and Reddit discussions.
On average, a decent suitcase can range from $150 to $200. It's important to consider your travel needs and budget when selecting the right suitcase for you.
Neither hard shell nor soft shell luggage is universally better; the best choice depends on your travel style, with hard shells offering superior protection for fragile items and easier cleaning, while soft shells provide flexibility, external pockets for quick access, and often expandability, though they offer less impact resistance and can be harder to clean.
After years of luggage testing, Samsonite has risen to the top as our favorite overall luggage brand for its wide variety of styles and designs for every price point. Samsonite luggage is generally lightweight and compact on the outside, with spacious interiors to maximize packing.
Neither Delsey nor Samsonite is definitively "better"; they cater to slightly different needs, with Delsey often winning on style, lighter weight, and better material in budget options (like 100% Polycarbonate), while Samsonite is known for overall durability and wide variety across price points, though sometimes using cheaper ABS in lower-end models, making Delsey a great choice for style/value and Samsonite for robust travel, depending on the specific line.
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on
As a flight attendant she uses it daily, and heavier lift trips where she's gone for six months, and during international flights. If you travel less than a flight attendant, you may likely have your Travelpro carry-on even longer. Curious about other Travelpro suitcases?
What colour suitcases should I avoid using? Budget Irish airline Ryanair issued a statement in 2024 identifying black, navy and grey suitcases as those that are most often lost due to being so common, making it difficult for passengers and airport crew alike to identify specific bags.
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
The most confiscated items at airports are usually everyday items people forget about, primarily oversized liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs), along with knives, sharp objects (like scissors, multi-tools), and lighters, due to carry-on restrictions, with firearms also frequently found in checked bags despite strict rules. Batteries (especially lithium) are also common, needing to be in carry-ons, and even items like protein powder can be flagged for extra screening.
There's no single "best" Australian bag brand, as it depends on your style and budget, but top contenders include Oroton for classic luxury, St. Agni for minimalist fashion, Status Anxiety for quality leather, and Poppy Lissiman for vibrant, vegan options, with other popular choices like Sans Beast (vegan), State of Escape (totes/active), and emerging labels like Im Me Studios gaining traction.
You can wear a crossbody bag on a plane, but it often counts as your personal item (or even a second carry-on on budget airlines), and safety rules usually require it to be stowed under the seat or in the overhead bin for takeoff and landing, not worn across your body, to ensure a clear escape path in an emergency and to comply with federal regulations for bag storage. The main issue isn't wearing it, but its size and compliance with the airline's strict personal item dimensions, especially for budget carriers like Ryanair or EasyJet.