The Kenneth Cole Reaction tops this list of poor performers, as every feature of the case seemed dubious in quality upon first look: unimpressive single caster wheels, a jiggly roller handle, cheap-feeling interior fabric, and small, unsubstantial zippers. But durability points were docked from its score based on this uncertainty. Only two gripes emerged in testing. We also considered each bag's weight, overall dimensions, airline compatibility, the strength of materials, and the variety of color options available). In general, four-wheeled bags are easier to roll through a crowded airport or tight airplane aisle. You'll find most other cases in the clamshell style cannot compete, with cheap fabric liners and simple cross-straps that provide no strength or true option to tighten for compression, limiting their value in practice. And finally, our drop tests left deep visible scratches on the exterior of the case. AmazonBasics was created by Amazon when they saw opportunities in certain categories being sold on their website. The second test is just a ramped-up version of the first, this time including bulkier, oddly shaped, or even fragile items along the lines of what one might take with them for a ski vacation or a climbing trip. And if that's not enough space, use the included SmartLink strap to easily attach a purse or laptop bag to the top of your case as well. We dont see this much in the luggage space so its very encouraging to support a brand with a mission like that. Werks Traveler The Werks has not been around as long as a lot of our top picks from other brands, but you will fall in love with their new premier Werks line. It is made of thick polycarbonate with luxurious leather details. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. 9 Things I Love about the Swissgear 5358 USB ScanSmart Backpack Her work has appeared in. 2-inch zip-around expansion for added packing space. View on Amazon. You may have seen the AmazonBasics brand before in a different iteration. It was founded in 1910 in Denver, Colorado, by Jesse Schweder. The one bag that doesn't seem to have this problem is the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential, since the pocket configuration and innovative CX compression design are meant to help prevent you from such levels of overstuffing. Travelers Choice offers one of the most unique things weve seen in the luggage industry: custom print suitcases. This lifetime repair guarantee covers the life of a bag for all functional aspects, and many customers think that spending more for these high-quality bags is worth that peace of mind. Got feedback? It's versatile and durable, with 360-degree wheels and a 2-inch zip expansion. For budget-conscious travelers, the affordable Samsonite Omni PC delivers a strong performance for a simple yet well-designed, hard-sided case, as does the SwissGear Sion among the soft-sided contenders. We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Take our top performers in nearly every other metric across the board, the Travelpro Platinum Elite and Briggs & Riley. The short answer is that Victorinox is the overall, parent company. Founded: 1995Headquarters: Commerce, CACarry on price range: $70-$180. Made from a durable 1680 denier material. The only "negative" is that the 20 spinner does not expand, but you may not need it to. Wenger has since shifted its focus to offering watches, luggage, backpacks and bags while Victorinox continues to produce the iconic Swiss Army knives. Below, shop our top picks of SwissTech bags. No sponsored content. Comparison Table: Swiss Gear 1900 vs. Swiss Gear 1923 Backpack. Both brands of luggage are of high quality and last a long time. Rather, you may have seen it on a pocketknife. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. We rolled bags over all kinds of uncomfortable terrain (like stairs and gravel) and stuffed them with all sorts of weird stuff (like rock climbing gear and ski helmets) to test each one to its limits. For our purposes, this packing list included such things as a harness, helmet, rope, quickdraws, and a selection of clothing, toiletries, books, and shoes. The Travelpro Platinum Elite and Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential were standouts for their user-friendliness. Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) 24/7 support when you need it. One of the first things we noticed was just how easy it was to pack, zip, and roll, whether we were hauling a week-long summer adventure wardrobe or a climbing trip's worth of bulky gear. For trips that require larger items or gear in unconventional shapes like a winter jacket, a ski helmet, or a pair of size 13 shoes the simpler layout of a flip-lid suitcase may be a preferable choice. Weve heard that noteveryone is a fan of the looks of the Torq, as it looks a little boxy and rugged, but we think it looks great. 63. All in all, Samsonite and Tumi really are the best luggage brands. Wenger and Swiss Gear are good brands if you have a moderate budget. Even when fully packed, we found it notably easy to lift, roll, and haul across curbs, up stairwells, and into overhead bins. Trademarks SWISS TECH of WALMART INC. Is SwissTech a trademark of Walmart? Reproduction without permission is prohibited. For those with a budget for premium products, look no further than the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner. Softshell bags are where it's at when it comes to external organizational assets, as most hardshells offer virtually nothing in the way of outside features except perhaps a security lock or an ID sleeve. Luggage Luggage Sets Handbags High Tech Backpacks All Brands. From treks through Sierra Nevada peaks to business meetings among the cobbled city streets of the Andes and cross-continental road trips back here at home, our testing team is built of practiced packers who know how to appreciate a great piece of luggage and can recognize the signs when a case sometimes falls short. One of the most important characteristics of a piece of carry-on luggage is how easy it is to use. A review of the Swiss Gear 1900 Scansmart for travelers with a lot of electronics.Swiss Gear Scansmart 1900 https://amzn.to/2L8ZRusAlso mentioned:Wenger Sy. Swissgear : Luggage : Target But in reality, both cases stand out from the crowd quite significantly in other highly valuable ways: demonstrating significant durability in materials, sophisticated aesthetics, and many smart extra features that raise them both well to the top of the list for this metric, despite the deficiencies noted upfront. This added a degree of annoyance while packing that left us questioning the bag's core strength and long-term functionality. SWISSGEAR 86 $99.99 When purchased online SWISSGEAR Energie PolyCarb Hardside Large Checked Spinner Suitcase - Black SWISSGEAR 39 $209.99 When purchased online SWISSGEAR Checklite Softside Large Checked Suitcase SWISSGEAR 36 $199.99 When purchased online Add to cart Vera Bradley Women's Hardside Large Spinner Luggage Vera Bradley 76 +4 options American Tourister is not the same quality as Samsonite, but you will find it to be slightly cheaper in price than Samsonite- making it a great pick for our best luggage brands list. 11 Best Luggage Brands (2023 Reviews) | The Luggage List Tumi is widely considered to be a luxury luggage brand, which is why its listed on our top luxury luggage brands article. As always, we buy all our gear at retail price and test it rigorously, side-by-side, for a truly unbiased and comprehensive review. The similarly designed Rockland Melbourne 20 produced only marginally better results, and both bags scored poorly enough to end up among our least favorites to grab and go. Small in stature but surprisingly big on storage space and low in price, the tough micro-diamond polycarbonate Samsonite Omni PC Spinner is built to haul with stability and ease and comes in a broad range of eye-catching colors to suit both bold and subdued tastes. Delsey luggage designs feature clean lines, vintage selections, and urban inspirations. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. The overall design of Sion 21 is well built by Swissgear, let me tell you why. A detached suit/dress organizer, four interior pockets, a removable TSA-compliant toiletry case, a discreet power bank pocket with a USB port, and a hidden ID tag are among the handy extras any seasoned traveler will appreciate. Urban Trek 20" Carry On - SwissTechUSA And all points considered, the respectable Omni PC still easily emerged as the best value option among hardshell carry-ons. The Rockland and Amazon Basics models each produced similar results, with some minor scratching (both), a rip to the interior fabric (Rockland), and a detached hubcap (Amazon) after drop testing. Meanwhile, one of the smallest and the lightest bags we tested, the Kenneth Cole, had a different problem. But generally speaking, it's no surprise to see all four of the soft-sided cases representing well for this metric with a variety of exterior pockets and outside features scattered among them. Despite the exterior's tough micro-diamond polycarbonate construction, sizeable zippers, and thick interior mesh paneling, vulnerabilities within its design materialized during drop testing. Learn more. Although they only started making luggage in 1999, they have quickly caught up to some of the giants in the luggage industry. Tasmania Maybe were partial to luggage named after places in and around Australia, but like the Melbourne, the Tasmania is an excellent option if youre looking for reasonably priced hard-sided luggage. Not many suitcases are offered in inline since most people think that they prefer the 4 spinner wheel setup, however anyone who has ever experienced a broken spinner wheel would be happy to learn that inline wheels are much more durable. The brand has pieces and lines that focus on different traveling needs ranging from bags with innovative technology to modern smart backpacks. Victorinox is one of the best luggage brands that offers a healthy mix of hard-sided and soft-sided luggage as well as duffels, backpacks, and various totes. We particularly appreciate the SwissGear Sion and the Travelpro Maxlite 5 which come with several exterior and interior pockets, expansion options, and functional compression straps. Founded: 1993Headquarters: Hauppauge, NYCarry on price range: $300-$700. In a famously successful business pivot, they were able to adapt to the changing world to make travelling cases and suitcases. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Madison Alcedo is a lifestyle writer who covers products that fall under the categories of home, travel, fashion, beauty, health, tech, and food. Urban Trek 20" Carry On. The built-in fabric handle on the top AND the side accompany the telescoping handle making it a breeze to carry any which way you prefer. Make sure you have a high-resolution version of the image that you fully own the rights to. Outside, large easy-roll double-spinner wheels, three sturdy handles (two loading and one telescoping), and an embedded TSA-approved lock come standard. Instead, you will find the basics: a standard open-layout clamshell design with simple cross-straps, a strong mesh panel enclosure, and a single small hanging accessory pocket. LF Brand Travelpro Eagle Creek Hartmann Briggs & Riley. Inside, each half of the clamshell features a restraint system. From a cost and real durability standpoint, they make our best luggage brands list. So none of the abuse ever detracted from each bag's polished aesthetic. Its tough to find an entire luggage line that is actually made in the U.S. We consider Tumi to be one of the best luggage brands if you have the money to spend. For one, the price point is virtually impossible to beat for the quality that you are getting. Made from durable, scuff-resistant polyester, the SwissGear Sion held up relatively well throughout testing, developing just a few minor scratches, some rattling in the handle, and a clicking noise within one wheel well (which interestingly self-corrected shortly thereafter). While the hard-sided Away Carry-On received the highest marks given out in the hardshell subcategory, due to its solid polycarbonate exterior, thick mesh interior materials, substantial wheel housings, carefully engineered handles, and hefty nested zippers. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner, Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Spinner, SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable 21-inch, Travelpro Maxlite 5 21-inch Softside Expandable Spinner, Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Spinner 20-inch, Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 20-inch Hardside Spinner, SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable 21 review, Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Spinner 20 review, Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner review, Best Bang for the Buck Softshell Carry-On, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Sophisticated design, innovative compression, stable and durable, Wheels magnetically align, excellent organization, deceptively large capacity, stable and durable, Polished, modern design, thoughtful organizational tools, easy to lift and maneuver, Many useful extras, impressive capacity, accessible price, Ultra lightweight, durable, good capacity, Smooth and stable, impressive capacity, variety of colors, lightweight, Spacious, easy to use, budget-friendly, lots of colors, Budget-friendly, numerous color choices, lightweight, Dimensions exceed airline standards, heavy, Prone to tipping, scuffs easily, expensive, Heavy, exceeds airline size requirements, frontside bulk, Wobbles occasionally when full, few extra features, Durability concerns, minimal organizational features, Durability concerns, rattly roller handle, finicky zippers, heavy, Durability issues, rattly roller handle, finicky zippers, lower-quality interior materials, A high-end, super durable bag with plenty of smart features and a surprising amount of space with a premium price tag to match, A super versatile and functional bag that is durably built and makes travel easy, A minimalists dream bag with a sleek modern appearance and commendable performance across all metrics, An accessible price point and a slew of useful features make this carry-on a good option for those who want a solid performer without breaking the bank, A super lightweight and functional carry-on that doesnt compromise on useful features or comfort in use, A simple, lightweight yet solid hardshell spinner that outshines other bags at a similar price point, An affordable roller with enough utility to suit light packers and infrequent travelers and plenty of colors to keep it fun, A well-priced and reasonably spacious hardshell carry-on with limited organizational features and dubious long-term viability, An inexpensive roller of dubious durability but enough utility to suit light packers and infrequent travelers and plenty of colors to keep it fun, 56.1cm x 36.3cm x 23.1cm | 22.1" x 14.3" x 9.1", 59.7cm x 36.3cm x 22.9cm | 23.5" x 14.3" x 9", 55.1cm x 34.3cm x 21.6cm | 21.7" x 13.5" x 8.5", 58.4cm x 35.8cm x 25.4cm | 23" x 14.1" x 10", 59.7cm x 35.6cm x 22.9cm | 23.5" x 14" x 9", 54.6cm x 35.6cm x 24.1cm | 21.5" x 14" x 9.5", 58.4cm x 35.6cm x 22.9cm | 23" x 14" x 9", 55.9cm x 37.6cm x 25.4cm | 22" x 14.8" x 10", 53.6cm x 37.1cm x 21.6cm | 21.1" x 14.6" x 8.5", Main compartment zipper has a loop for a lock but does not come with lock, Polycarbonate hardshell with leather details, 7 - vintage gray, shadow black, bordeaux, coastal blue, intrigue black, rich espresso, true navy, 9 - black, navy, ocean, green, asphalt, petal, white, sand, lavender, 8 - black, blue, burgandy, dark gray, navy lime, pewter, purple, teal, 8 - azure blue, black, burgandy, imperial purple, mocha, sapphire blue, slate green, dusty rose, 11 - black, carribean blue, red, white, silver, teal, navy, purple, bronze, burnt orange, radiant pink, 26 - black, blue, brown, champagne, charcoal, gray, green, lime, magenta, navy, orange, pink, purple, quilt, red, silver, turquoise, two tone blue, two tone green, two tone navy, black wave, gold wave, mint, carbon, two tone magenta (with 3 additional colors available as part of a 2 piece set), 15 - charcoal, cobalt blue, kelly green, light silver, magenta, black, navy, rose gold, smokey purple, teal, barn red, deep purple, naval, white, purple. They dont have the same vast offering as Samsonite, but with the models they do sell, you cant really go wrong for the price. This backpack is a genuine tech-friendly product, allowing a lot of gazettes inside this. Maxlite If you want something traditional and affordable, go with the famously well-reviewed Maxlite line offered by Travelpro. SwissGear 5977 ScanSmart Laptop Backpack. SwissTechUSA Our Favorite Product Executive 21" Carry On $69 Made from a durable 1680 denier material Integrated TSA lock for added security Oversized 8-wheel 360-degree spinners for ease of movement 2-inch zip-around expansion for added packing space 4 multi-functional pockets that are great for small accessories The lifespan of the Rockland, in particular, was called into question even before we got started, as exterior evidence pointed to a potential failure along one seam of the zipper expansion feature (the sticky glue used to attach the zipper expansion panel to the outer edge seemed to be detaching, allowing the seam to come apart). Wenger vs Victorinox vs Swiss Gear - What's the difference Luckily it seemed to work itself out and disappeared, but we had to call it out as damage all the same. Travelpro has received many accolades over the past twenty years. You may have seen Victorinoxs logo before, but not on a suitcase. Tumi suitcases are a step above Samsonite when it comes to overall quality, but also price which may put them out of reach for the average luggage shopper. He started Travelpro International, and the brand has been a leader in the travel industry. Youll be pleased to know that that is not the case with their affordable luggage line. The brand does a great job at responding to up-and-coming backpack trends by releasing their own similar designs. We've loved everything we've reviewed from Vessel and hope they continue making new and exciting products, further solidifying themselves as one of the best luggage brands. . All hardshell suitcases in our test group open in half, like a clamshell, split wide down the middle along a midline hinge. And each one comes with a USB port where you can add in your own portable charging device, a must-have when traveling. Next, a tri-fold garment envelope is incorporated discreetly into the bag's opening lid, creating the perfect tool for laying out a suit or dress to minimize wrinkles in transit. Read more: SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable 21 review. Sophisticated in its styling and immensely versatile, for those who can afford it, this is a high-end carry-on bag set to carry you through your adventures in style. The Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential is our favorite option for overpacking and really cannot be topped when it comes to capacity. This 17" Swissgear 5977 backpack was made with their signature ScanSmart Technology. We have many luggage reviews from the best suitcase and best travel backpacks to top-tier duffel bags and our favorite backpacks. The price is also quite fair as well, you can usually find a Helium Aero carry on very close to the $100 price point that a lot of people prefer to stick to. Amazon.com: SwissGear Unisex-Adult 5358 USB ScanSmart Laptop Backpack The hardsided material is quite light and the spinner wheels are some of the smoothest weve ever seen, making it a breeze to roll around the airport. 10 SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable Roller Luggage, Black, Checked-Large 29-Inch Samsonite Advena Softside Expandable Upright Luggage, Black, Carry-On 21-Inch Price $139.99 Price not available Price $139.99 Price not available Shell Material 600D Polyester 600D Polyester Wheels 4 Multi-directional 8 Multi-directional Dimensions 30" x 18.5" x 12.5"