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Luggage Brands Guide

Luggage Brands: A Comprehensive Guide

With so many options to choose from, picking a new luggage set can be a daunting task. When you’re trusting a brand to carry your belongings on the road or in the sky, you want to be sure of what you’re buying. Here’s a look at some of the top brands broken up by category to help you make an informed decision.

Everyday Brands

Professional Brands

  • Delsey – The Go-To Professional Brand
  • TravelPro – The Frequent Flyer Brand
  • Victorinox (Swiss Army) – The Versatile Brand

Artisan Brands

Fashion Brands

  • Hartmann – The American Heritage Fashion Brand
  • Bric’s Milano – The Italian Fashion Brand
  • Tumi – The Black-on-Black Luxury Brand

Budget Brands

Sporty/Outdoorsy Brands

Everyday Brands

Samsonite

The Go-To Brand

Samsonite is a luggage powerhouse. Founded in 1910, they’re one of the most well-known and reputable suitcase manufacturers around. Though age isn’t everything, their longstanding track record of reliable and rigorously tested products is evident. Their luggage options are definitely crafted with the professional demographic in mind, though they’re great for any use, with muted, greyscale colors and geometric, futuristic ridges and angles. Faux-brushed-metal finishes and metallic sheens on many of the hard shell cases further contribute to this air.

With regard to customer satisfaction, Samsonite is one of the leading brands. They haven’t taken such a large market share without reason! As is industry standard, they offer warranties for manufacturing defects on their suitcases—usually 3 years.

Samsonite offers the expected standard range of luggage options: hard and soft shell suitcases of various sizes, carry-on bags, shoulder bags, duffels, and the like. If you’re looking for a discount, multi-piece sets will fetch you a per-unit price a little lower than if you were to buy them individually. All in all, if you’re looking for quality and durability in any luggage piece, Samsonite is an excellent choice.

American Tourister

The Family Brand

The 1933-founded American Tourister brand offers quality, reliable suitcases at mid-range prices, with a focus on soft shell designs. They’re a slightly less expensive, slightly more fun alternative to the Samsonite brand, owned by the same company.

They have a range of pleasant, mild colors suitable for professional use while also offering some more playful options. There are some selections in bold shades of orange and pink, others with patterns of foliage and stripes, and even a few kids’ suitcases with images of popular characters like R2-D2 or Spider-Man. Their hard shell cases tend to play with texture in the molding, with fun, palpable ridges and waves.

American Tourister is a great brand if you’re looking for a good, reliable suitcase for a little less money—or if you’re just looking for a fun color. Just like any other brand, various sets and individual pieces, including hard and soft shell suitcases, duffel bags, and carry-ons. With such a reputable company you won’t be taking a gamble with any option.

Ricardo Beverly Hills

The Socially Responsible Brand

Social responsibility and West Coast vibes are forefront factors for Ricardo Beverly Hills. Founded in Beverly Hills, California in 1978, this American brand focuses on responsibly sourced materials and modern design. And helping the environment doesn’t have to hurt your wallet; these luggage options are offered at really competitive prices.

Ricardo Beverly Hills’ California-influenced designs typically feature soft color pallets and pleasant heather patterns. A few options sport some fun psychedelic patterns for a more eccentric twist. Vegan leather accents and handles really emphasize a premium look and feel with some of their designs. It’s clear that they’ve got a passion for environmentally-friendly fashion.

With a range of suitcases, duffels, totes, and bags of many sizes, it’s not hard to find a Ricardo Beverly Hills luggage option to fit your needs. With glowing reviews and a high level of customer satisfaction, you’re not taking a gamble with these guys. Your travel concerns and eco-oriented conscience can both rest easy.


Professional Brands

Delsey

The Go-To Professional Brand

Delsey is a popular French brand with a focus on simple, modern design with a professional air. Their Chatelet line is particularly notable for its fabric-coated shell and elegant leather accents. Most of their suitcases wear muted shades like mauve or a soft navy on durable ABS polymer material. A metallic sheen finish on many of their options really drives home a premium look and feel.

With over sixty years of experience, Delsey makes some of the industry’s most high-quality luggage options, and this is glowingly reflected in a high level of customer satisfaction. These pieces are well worth their mid-range price point. As would be expected, Delsey offers a wide range of suitcases, duffel bags, carry-on rollers, underseaters, backpacks, garment bags, and the like. If you’re looking to save some money, you can buy a full set at once instead of individual pieces. If you’re looking for an elegant bag backed by a reputable brand, Delsey is the way to go.

TravelPro

The Frequent Flyer Brand

If you’re looking for some of the most sophisticated and durable bags on the market, TravelPro is the brand for you. The company was founded in 1987 by Robert Plath, a commercial airline pilot who sought to craft high-end bags that could withstand the constant abuse required by traveling professionals like himself. The result of these decades of focused experience is premium, robust baggage that oozes professionalism.

TravelPro’s most popular bags are constructed with stain-resistant ballistic nylon dyed in hushed, pleasant shades, with some options beautifully accented with genuine leather. Many of their lines feature some great quality-of-life conveniences, such as built-in TSA-compliant locks for extra security or fold-out suiters to keep your dress clothes wrinkle-free. The features on some of their luggage options go above and beyond what most offer, such as removable wet pockets for toiletries or power bank pockets with external USB ports for charging your electronic devices.

Peace of mind when traveling is one of TravelPro’s primary goals. To underscore how durable their bags are, many of their options come with extensive lifetime warranties. Not only will TravelPro repair any manufacturing defects over the entire period you own the bag, but if you also register select bags online, they’ll cover the shipping and repair cost of any damage caused by airline carriers over its lifetime. To find a lifetime warranty for manufacturing faults is rare enough, but to find a lifetime warranty that offers full coverage for damage caused by airline carriers at this price point is unheard of. Impeccable craftsmanship, glowing reviews, and unparalleled peace of mind makes TravelPro’s luggage options one of the best investments for the professional traveler.

Victorinox (Swiss Army)

The Versatile Brand

Say hello to the Swiss Army knife’s cousin, the Swiss Army suitcase. Victorinox, the Switzerland-based, 1884-founded, world-renowned brand behind the Swiss Army knife, also offers a similarly versatile line of luggage options. These premium suitcases are produced with the durability and quality one would expect of such a premier brand.

Most of Victorinox’s suitcases sport fairly minimalist designs and pleasant color pallets—primarily black, gray, navy, and that iconic Swiss Army red. Their soft shell cases are crafted with industry-standard polycarbonate frames and ballistic nylon exteriors. Hard cases are equipped with durable polycarbonate shells and a matte finish. In true Swiss Army fashion, their suitcases and duffels come with a variety of dividers, compression straps, removable suiters, built-in TSA-approved locks, and other features to improve functionality.

Victorinox makes durable, versatile suitcases that fetch a high level of customer satisfaction. Many options offer warranties—up to 10 years—highlighting the level quality that has come to be expected of the Swiss Army brand. If you’re looking for a durable, no-nonsense suitcase with a slew of practical features, Victorinox is for you.


Artisan Brands

Briggs & Riley

The Buy-it-for-Life Brand

The New York-based luggage company Briggs & Riley is one of the most reputable high-end brands on the market. Their luggage options fetch a premium price at first glance, but their craftsmanship, design, and lifetime warranty are well worth it. The fashionable design inside and out is sleek, minimalist, and timeless. Most of their suitcases are crafted with lightweight fiberglass frames, ballistic nylon exteriors, and aircraft-grade aluminum handles. Dark, professional grays and blacks are their most popular colors, but they also offer pleasant shades of olive, maroon, and navy.

What Briggs & Riley is best known for is their unconditional lifetime guarantee, which covers repair for all functional aspects of their bags at no charge. No matter the cause of damage, they’ll repair any functional aspect of the bag without any registration or proof of purchase. They claim to be the only luggage company that offers this level of coverage at no charge, and you’d be hard pressed to challenge that. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, they have a selection of wheel, zipper, and handle repair kits that they offer for free—you just pay shipping and handling.

Because of this unparalleled lifetime warranty, buying Briggs & Riley means there’s a good chance you’ll never need to buy another bag to replace it. It’s not uncommon to hear an owner tout that they’ve had their Briggs & Riley bag for over a decade with only one or two complimentary repairs required, if any at all. The price tag might seem steep at first glance, but it may very well be the last suitcase you ever buy.

Cenzo

The Artisan Leather Brand

If artisan leather is what you look for in your luggage, take a look at Cenzo, an American-based brand specializing in imported Italian leather bags. Their selections may seem pricey at first glance, but in reality, they’re a steal for what’s being offered. These hand-finished, vegetable-tanned Italian calfskin bags are incredibly durable, and they only improve with age. Continued use brings out subtle variations in the grain of the leather and distinguishing characteristics in the finish. While a new bag looks impeccable, a well-used bag looks like an enviable piece from a James Bond movie.

What is vegetable tanning, anyway? Most leather on the market is produced with chrome tanning, a process which uses chromium salts stabilize raw animal hide. This process is much quicker, cheaper, and easier than vegetable tanning. Opponents of chromium salts argue that they are hazardous to health and harmful to the environment. Some even argue that chrome-tanned leather is no longer an entirely natural product.

Vegetable tanning, on the other hand, uses the natural tannic acids in the leaves, bark, and branches of certain plants to stabilize the leather over a much longer period of time—usually 3 months. This traditional method of tanning takes a significant amount of skill and precision, and is preferred by artisans of the craft. When you carry a Cenzo bag, you can rest assured you’re holding an entirely natural product.

Cenzo offers primarily duffels and briefcases, but they do have some rolling suitcases as well. As would be expected with such a high level of craftsmanship, reviews for this brand echo recommendations. With most selections sporting cotton duck canvas lining and brass finishes to complement the artisan leather, you’ll be hard pressed to find a higher quality leather bag at this price range.


Fashion Brands

Hartmann

The American Heritage Fashion Brand

Hartmann is a high-end, fashion-oriented luggage brand with a knack for a vintage American style. And this brand is no poseur: the American-based company has been crafting some of the most iconic and stylish suitcases since 1877. In the 1954 novel Live and Let Die, agent James Bond even totes a Hartmann Skymate suitcase on his travels. This brand has held fast to that heritage and champions it as one of their core tenants.

A balanced dance of tweed, brass, and vegetable-tanned leather make up some of Hartmann’s most popular and iconic suitcases. They’ve taken the beautiful, nostalgic designs of yesteryear and blended them seamlessly with modern minimalism, never compromising their robust standards of quality. For those simply looking for tried and true craftsmanship, Hartmann also offers many luggage options without the vintage flair. Satisfyingly textured polycarbonate shells and twill polyester fabrics offered in pleasant, fashionable color schemes flesh out a well-rounded catalog.

To underscore the durability and quality of their suitcases, Hartmann also offers an impressive set of warranties. Most bags come with a 10 year warranty, and some go above and beyond with a lifetime warranty. The perfect blend of fashionable craftsmanship, elegant durability, and long-lasting customer support makes this historical American brand one of the travel industry’s top contenders.

Bric’s Milano

The Italian Fashion Brand

Style, durability, and an artisan’s attention to detail are core tenants for the 1952-establish North Italian brand Bric’s Milano. Fashionable shades of olive, navy, and black beautifully accented with amber-hued leather permeate their catalog. It’s evident that this brand takes pride in the artistry of its Italian family heritage.

Bric’s Milano offers hard and soft shell suitcases with polycarbonate shells and PVC-coated, water-resistance polyamide fabrics, respectively. These are industry standard, but where this brand really raises the bar is in its leather. In contrast to chrome tanning, which uses harsh chromium salts, their artisan vegetable tanning process uses the natural tannins from mimosa, quebracho, and chestnut tree components. Their drum-dying and finishing processes imbue the leather with a rich, warm shade of color and long-lasting durability.

Despite the artisan quality and robust durability, most of Bric’s Milano’s luggage options sit at a surprisingly affordable mid-range price point. Though not as mainstream as other brands like Samsonite, the suitcases, duffels, and bags offered by this family brand are of fantastic quality and review really well. When you buy this brand, you’re buying a little piece of Italian family history.

Tumi

The Black-on-Black Luxury Brand

The New Jersey-based luxury brand Tumi offers some stunning luggage options—both in style and in quality. While a glance at their catalog is impressive, a closer look illuminates a whole slew of exclusive patents and inventions that make their bags not only among the most fashionable, but also among the most versatile.

First, the design. Tumi primarily uses ballistic nylon, aluminum, and leather in the premium construction of their suitcases and bags. Though attractive blacks and dark grays constitute the majority of their color spectrum, a few of their bags offer options in other pleasant colors such as navy, maroon, and eggshell white. Their designs strike a balance between functionalist and minimalist, with never a compromise in design or utility.

Perhaps one of the most notable features of their luggage is the company’s Tumi Tracer system. Each bag features a metal plate with a unique 20-digit registration code used to register it online with purchaser’s contact information. After doing so, if the bag ever gets lost, the code inside can be used to look up that information and help reunite the two. This level of customer service is nigh unmatched, and the feature is completely complementary.

Tumi’s somewhat premium price range is warranted for the level of build quality boasted by their bags. In order to uphold this high standard, each design undergoes at least 30 test, including abrasion resistance, seam strength, zipper durability, water repellency, and more. They even provide a 5-year warranty, with the first year including additional coverage beyond what most brands offer, such as airline handling damage. The exemplary customer service and product quality in this brand’s suitcases, duffels, backpacks, and bags are evident their sky-high reviews. If you’re looking for a high-end luggage option with impeccable quality, Tumi has you covered.


Budget Brands

Traveler’s Choice

The Budget-Friendly Brand

Traveler’s Choice is a super popular budget-friendly luggage brand. This California-based company focuses on accessible, low-cost suitcases and bags without any compromise in durability and quality. Their designs tend to be simple, pleasing, and functional, with more variety in color options than most brands offer. They’re like the vanilla ice cream of luggage brands—not out of the ordinary, but hard not to like. They also offer smart luggage with integrated USB ports at surprisingly low cost, maintaining their value-centric brand identity.

Reviews for Traveler’s Choice bags are bountiful and overwhelmingly positive. They offer a range of suitcases, duffel bags, carry-ons, underseaters, and the like in shockingly affordable sets and individual pieces. If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible while still ensuring you’re getting durable, quality luggage, then Traveler’s Choice may be the brand for you. These suitcases are seriously inexpensive!

Olympia USA

The Variety Brand

Olympia USA is another extremely popular luggage brand with an incredible variety of suitcases, duffels, backpacks, and the like. Most of their luggage lines are in the low- to mid-tier price range, although a few of their hard shell suitcases do sneak up solidly into the mid-tier range. They have many, many different styles with no restrictive design guidelines, so there’s bound to be something for everyone. Polycarbonate, polyester, ballistic, black, blue, pink, two wheels, four wheels, no wheels—you name it. With such a wide range of options, it shouldn’t be hard to find something you’ll like.

If you’re not really sure what you want, perusing Olympia USA’s vast catalog may help you make a decision. They offer suitcases, duffel bags, carry-ons, underseaters, backpacks, overnighters, and pretty much any other type of luggage item in individual pieces and discounted sets and in many, many different designs. With competitive, value-focused prices, you’ll get some serious bang for your buck with almost any option.

Rockland

The Eccentric Brand

Easy on the wallet and a whole lot of fun, Rockland is a go-to luggage brand for the lower end of the price spectrum. They have a knack for wacky, eye-catching designs geared toward outgoing types—a look through their catalog reveals imaginative variations of cheetah print, polka dots, and zig-zags, just to name a few. They like to have fun with physical design, too. Most hard shell suitcases feature pleasant divots and ridges, though some of experiment with bold, wavy crests and folds, or palpable checkerboard patterns. They’re all buttoned up with a varying range of finishes, from matte to glossy to textured. Though the majority of their offerings comprise bold, bright colors, their best sellers typically sport more muted, soothing colors. (Not all of us are brave enough to tote around pink and teal leopard print!)

Consumer consensus on Rockland suitcases is generally positive. Despite the focus on really budget-friendly options, travelers report a really high level of satisfaction in their durability and quality. Just be aware of exactly what model you’re buying. Some styles, such as their Melbourne series, can come in a variety of dimensions and expandability options, which can complicate air travel if you’ve unintentionally purchased something two inches too wide for the overhead bin.

Rockland offers hard and soft suitcases of varying sizes, traditional and rolling duffel bags, backpacks, and cosmetics bags. At this lower price range, these bags can be a great option if you need an inexpensive family set for an upcoming road trip or if you’re just looking for something that’s a little more identifiable at the airport. Have fun with it!


Sporty and Outdoorsy Brands

Athalon

The Go-To Sporty Brand

Athalon is a popular sporting gear brand founded in 1973. Right up front, these bags are not traditional travel suitcases or duffels. Because Athalon’s products are geared for the sporty, athletic type, these bags are typically made with lightweight—but incredibly sturdy—polyester and nylon fabrics. Most of their options have an adventurous hiker vibe to them, which outdoorsy types may prefer over traditional baggage design. Most of their bags come in pleasant greens, grays, and blues evocative of nature, with extra buckles and straps to ensure everything stays secure. They also have a few options that look slightly more minimalist and professional while maintaining that lightweight polyester build.

If you’re a sporty or outdoorsy type looking for a lightweight bag, Athalon may be the brand for you. Their bags sit in an expected mid-tier price range and come in a variety of sets and individual pieces. And they offer much more than just backpacks! Whether you’re looking for a roller, duffel, carry-on, or backpack, Athalon has some great options for you.

Osprey

The Traveling Hiker Brand

Osprey is a Colorado-based baggage company that keys in on the hiker crowd. Though they’re best known for their top-of-the-line hiking packs, they also offer a variety of rolling suitcases and duffels. Most of their suitcases also double as backpacks! As these bags are crafted primarily with durable, lightweight nylon, they’re ideal for someone looking for some lighter baggage.

Though their luggage is great, Osprey’s backpacks is where the company really shines. Most of their packs are fitted with a 3D suspension mesh that helps to more evenly distribute weight across the shoulders and back. To account for varying body types, almost all of their backpacks also come in a variety of sizes, with instructions on how to measure your torso length to find the perfect size. They even have women-specific fits, which alter the contours and strap locations of the bag to better fit the female frame.

Their bags come with their All Mighty Guarantee, which promises that they’ll repair any functional damage or defect, even replacing the bag if need be. This is a lifetime warranty, which really makes their mid- to high-end price range a steal. Whether you’re looking for a hiking pack, carry-on bag, or rolling duffel, Osprey has a lightweight, lifetime-guaranteed solution for you.

Eagle Creek

The Fashionable Sport Brand

Eagle Creek, a California-based luggage manufacturer founded in 1975, produces high-end sporty luggage with stylish design. If your eye is bothered by tangles of buckles and straps, the functional minimalism and outdoorsy utility of their bags might just be for you. They’re best known for their hiking and travel backpacks, but they also have a wide range of rolling suitcases and duffels perfect for wherever the road takes you.

Your mind can rest easy with a fairly hefty warranty as well—Eagle Creek offers a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects. Although it’s important to note that excessive wear and tear may indicate the end of a bag’s life, they will still offer to repair functional aspect of the bag for a fee. This can be a lifesaver for frequent travelers who don’t want to be forced to buy an entirely new bag when theirs starts to wear out. You’ll have peace of mind with your piece of fashionable, lightweight luggage.