You’re probably thinking that luggage is just luggage, and if it gets your items from A to B with little fuss then all good. But, as you should know, there are many different types of luggage to choose from, whether it be a small carry-on for a short trip abroad, a weekender bag for a night in the city or, of course, a fully-fledged suitcase.
Making sure you’ve got the right bag for your travels is an absolutely essential part of preparing for any trip but, with an increasingly vast and saturated market, it can be hard to know exactly what to look for. Lucky for you, we’ve pulled together this comprehensive guide to the best brands in the business.
Read on to see how we determine whether a brand is worth your hard-earned cash, why you should trust our opinion over the hundreds of voices out there online and — most importantly — walk you through our favourite luggage brands and where to buy them.
What We’re Looking For
To understand our reviews and rankings you need to understand the criteria against which we’re rating these luggage brands. Here are the main things we’re looking out for when reviewing any suitcase worth its salt:
- Look & Feel: There’s no vanity in admitting that your luggage is ultimately an essential travel accessory. As such, you want it to look as good as you do, complementing your own energy and aesthetic as you move through the airport, city, and sky.
- Quality & Durability: Not only does your carry-on need to hold up for the duration of your journey — being able to withstand the many unavoidable knocks endured at the hands of baggage handlers and turbulent planes — it also needs the durability to go through this pain again and again, year after year.
- Capacity & Features: It’s important to understand how much can these suitcases actually hold and what kind of trip are they suited for: an overnight stay, a long weekend, or more. Additionally, what special features do they offer that make your pacing and travelling experience that little bit easier?
- Price Point: How much all of this going to set you back is a central consideration before any purchase. If it’s pricier than a competitor, what are the benefits you’re actually getting for the additional spend? If it’s cheaper than an alternative, are you missing out on anything? Is the brand skimping on essential features? Or have they simply found the Golden Ratio…
Why Trust Us
Put simply, we’ve been reviewing airlines, luggage, and every aspect of the travel industry we can find for over a decade…
Our founder Luc Wiesman has been a committed world traveller for as long as he can remember and our resident Travel Editor Finlay Mead is quickly racking up a long list of business class and economy cabins, hotels, and destinations that he’s experienced and dissected for your pleasure and information.
Most important, however, is that we actually bought and tested a number of these bags ourselves and gave them a hands-on test, taking them with us on our various travels to see how they measure up against the rest.
Firm believers in trying before we buy so that consumers can make quick, easy, and savvy purchases, these are our honest, unbiased, and unfiltered views on how these brands perform.
July
1/17
Pros
- Super secure attache-style locks.
- Stylish exterior with colourful flair.
- Heavy-duty, scuff-resistant design.
- Seamless, silent wheels.
Cons
- Heavy, so maybe better on Qantas then Jetstar
- Pricey… but worth it.
Since entering the fray in 2018, Australian luggage brand July has sought to give the luggage sector — long dominated by legacy behemoths like Samsonite and Rimowa — a much-needed design-centric overhaul.
A classic ‘challenger brand’ if there ever was one, the team at July boasts of reading over 4,000 reviews of their competitor’s products to identify every flaw and less-than-perfect element they could find in order to bring to life a line of suitcases that foresee, forestall, and surpass their predecessors, raising the bar across the industry.
It’s no small task, especially when a central part of their mission was to offer all of this at a more affordable price point than their aforementioned peers, whose products often cost thousands of dollars a piece and, so far as July is concerned, peddle “over-price goods with a short product lifespan”.
If you have the budget, the Carry-On Trunk is our favourite travel product of the year. Sexy, sturdy, and secure it ticks all the boxes when it comes to finding a case that’s perfect for a few days away, whatever your plans or passions.
Quick Facts: July Carry-On Trunk
Price: From A$495
Origin: Australia
Dimensions/Capacity: 55cm x 38cm x 22cm / 42L
Weight: 4kg
Hard Or Soft Shell: Hard
Warranty: 5 years
RELATED: July Luggage Review: Are These Australia’s Best Carry-On Bags?
Paravel
2/17
All about sustainability, Paravel is set to soar as environmental concerns move to the forefront of consumers’ minds. Not only do they focus on using recycled materials from healthy supply chains wherever possible but — the part that so many self-proclaimed sustainable businesses seem to forget — they’re also committed to making cases that last for years if not decades at a time, doing away with built-in obsolescence.
Not only are their Aviator bags made from sustainable materials and incredibly good looking — combining old-school detailing with new-age design — but they also boast smooth, 360° double spinner wheels with carbon steel bearings, an interior compression board, a scuff-hiding textured finish, smart interior pockets, and a removable laundry bag.
Price: From A$425
Origin: New York, USA
Rimowa
3/17
German brand Rimowa is to luggage what Rolls Royce is to engine manufacturing, and they have been providing the world with outstanding luggage solutions since 1898.
Rimowa has luggage in cabin, check-in, and extra-large trunk sizes, so no matter what kind of trip you’re planning, Rimowa will have the best luggage option for you. Each piece of luggage is individually inspected, comes with a 5-year warranty, and features a TSA-approved lock. Best of all, Rimowa luggage is known for being incredibly durable, so you can be sure whatever you put inside will be kept extra safe. If you’re after luggage with high-tech functionality, Rimowa is the only way to go.
Be sure to check out the new colours available within the Essential range: Lavande and Citron, two pastel shades that can be found on both cabin and check-in luggage options.
DMARGE founder, Luc Wiesman has three Rimowa cases and they’ve lasted well over 10-years. Can’t recommend them enough.
Price: From $625
Origin: Cologne, Germany
Arlo Skye
4/17
Founded by alumni from some heavy-hitting names in the luxury design industry — including Louis Vuitton and Tumi — Arlo Skye considers travel to be a kind of superpower when it comes to self-betterment and, as a result, is committed to creating luggage that brings joy and self-assurance to that self-improvement process.
With a focus on joyful design crafted from high-quality and precision-engineered materials, their Frame carry-on may be more expensive than some of its counterparts but the heavy-duty, seamlessly stylish design with highly-secure locking systems make it all worthwhile.
Price: From A$570
Origin: USA
Horizn Studios
5/17
Founded by Stefan Hoslwe and Jan Roosen in 2015, Horizn Studios is all about making travel feel effortless through innovatively designed luggage.
The owners of this luggage brand search the globe to find the best materials and then teams up with some of the best design experts; all to create some of the best luggage that is perfectly engineered and designed to join you on your travels. All of Horizn Studios’ luggage, which comes in multiple colours, features an aerospace-grade polycarbonate hard-shell to make them extra-durable, a TSA-approved combination lock, premium water-resistant lining, and 360° Japanese spinner wheels.
Horizn Studios makes the ordering process incredibly simple too, helping it to be one of the best luggage brands out there.
Price: From $395
Origin: Berlin, Germany
Away
6/17
Away is a relatively new luggage company that was born in New York. They launched in 2015 with the aim of producing high-quality travel solutions for much lower prices. How? By just snipping out the middleman and forwarding the savings onto their customers.
While Away has a fantastic range of luggage, one of their most popular and best creations is The Medium, which comes in 6 colours as well as an aluminium version. It features 360° spinner wheels, an interior compression system and dual TSA approved combination locks. The Medium can hold up to 64.6 litres and weighs just 6kg.
Of course, if you need something a bit bigger for a longer trip, or even smaller for a quick weekend away, Away has luggage options for everyone.
Away could just be one of the best luggage brands on the planet right now.
Price: From $245
Origin: New York City
ROAM
7/17
Great design and standout colours would be the best words to describe the luggage that the American brand, ROAM, creates.
ROAM’s luggage feature a dual compression board system that increases capacity while holding everything in place, allowing you to maximize the efficiency of both packing compartments, as well as a TSA-approved lock.
The best thing about ROAM’s luggage though is that you can create your own custom design by choosing the colours for every part of the suitcase. Looking for the best, personalised luggage? Look no further.
Price: From $550
Origin: New York City
Nomatic
8/17
Utah-based luggage brand Nomatic was founded by two cousins, who found success through Kickstarter for a new wallet they designed. The commitment to providing innovative everyday carry items eventually expanded into luggage, which includes both carry-on and check-in options.
Nomatic’s luggage is virtually indestructible thanks to its use of 100 per cent Makrolon polycarbonate and it employs clever design by way of a compression panel, that can have its level of compression varied, based on however much you have packed in. An expansion zip gives you an extra 12-litres of luggage space, should you need it, and Hinomoto wheels will let you glide through the terminal with ease.
For our money, Nomatic luggage is some of the best-looking you can find.
Price: From $400
Origin: Salt Lake City, Utah
FPM Milano
9/17
FPM Milano has been creating handmade luggage for over 90 years in Italy and has a reputation for using only the best materials on the market in their innovative designs.
FPM Milano’s luggage is handmade with traditional workmanship and is renowned for featuring the quietest wheels in the luggage game. If you’re after some seriously sleek-looking luggage that might just get you bumped up to first-class, FPM Milano is one of the best brands for you.
Price: From $1,944
Origin: Lombardia, Italy
Bric’s
10/17
Handcrafting wonderfully luxurious accessories since 1952, the craftsmen at Italian brand Bric’s bring big doses of class to everything that leaves their workshops, which includes luggage.
The proof is in their large range of classic suitcases and luggage, perfect for those who require more sophistication from their check-in bags and even carry-on luggage. All of Bric’s luggage features polycarbonate exteriors that are made to look older in appearance with classy leather trims. They also all feature Hinomoto wheels, which are the best luggage wheels money can buy.
Price: From $235
Origin: Como, Italy
Crash Baggage
11/17
Now, here’s an idea from the Italian team at Crash Baggage. Sick of seeing their designer luggage slowly become battered over time, from over-eager airport staff with zero respect for people’s valuables, they have designed pre-damaged luggage! While all of Crash Baggage’s luggage collection looks slightly pre-worn and dented, there is something strangely cool about it.
The brand only uses high-tech, highly durable materials for each piece, including ABS plastic and polycarbonate. Available in a few different styles and colours, the added bonus of Crash Baggage’s luggage is that they will probably look even better over time and yet remain fully functional long after.
Price: From $261
Origin: Venice, Italy
Floyd
12/17
One of the new kids on the luggage block, German brand Floyd, takes their inspiration from 70s skate culture. If you don’t see it at first, just check the polyurethane wheels with genuine skate bearings that ensure a smooth and speedy roll.
The exterior case of all Floyd luggage is made from high-end Makrolon polycarbonate to protect everything on the inside from the perils of the outside. They also feature zippered dividers to help compress your clothing and arrange things easier and are incredibly lightweight.
Price: From $496
Origin: Munich, Germany
Tumi
13/17
Charlie Clifford founded Tumi in New Jersey back in 1975, with the intention of producing a wide range of high-end luggage and travel bags. Today, it has become one of the best-known luggage brands on the planet. All Tumi luggage products go through stringent tests, 30 in total, before they are allowed to leave the factory including tear strength, oil resistance, and a drop test.
With luggage options for whatever trip you’re planning, and with everything being premium, practical and durable, Tumi is some of the best luggage you can buy.
Price: From $895
Origin: Edison, New Jersey
Globe-Trotter
14/17
Mayfair is an area of London where it is literally impossible to avoid luxury items and high-end fashion, and it’s where luggage brand Globe-Trotter have called home since 1897.
They specialise in some of the best-designed luggage that is both practical and eye-catching, and the processes of handcrafting each piece are largely the same as they were when the brand was founded in the 1800s. Lightweight, durable, and incredibly sophisticated; what more could you want in terms of luggage?
Price: From $1,865
Origin: Dresden, Saxony
Zero Halliburton
15/17
Born in 1938 by Erle Halliburton, Zero Halliburton has gone on to earn itself a strong reputation in the luggage world. They were the first to introduce aluminium luggage and the company was even selected to produce a case for the Apollo 11 mission, to safely bring back lunar rock material from the moon. If that doesn’t tell you how durable this luggage is, nothing will.
Zero Halliburton has a huge range of carry-on, travel luggage, and portable trunks all of which are available in multiple colour choices and have been artfully designed for durability.
Price: From $455
Origin: Southern California
Carl Friedrik
16/17
Brothers Niklas and Mattis Oppermann started Carl Friedrik in 2012. The idea was to create quality leather products for the modern man using some of the world’s best artisan producers.
Carl Friedrik’s luggage is backed by a lifetime warranty, and all luggage options feature a lightweight polycarbonate shell, an aluminium frame, TSA-approved locks, and silent 360° Japanese spinner wheels. The company’s leather expertise comes through in the form of leather detailing around the outside of the luggage shell, elevating the look to appear more premium.
Price: From $445
Origin: Tuscany, Italy
LEVEL8
17/17
LEVEL8 has a huge range of luggage including carry-on and check-in. All feature a TSA-approved lock, ergonomic handle grips, and ultra-quiet 360° wheels. Available in a few different styles and colours, any piece from LEVEL8’s luggage range is sleek, durable, and will last you for many trips to come.
Price: From $160
Origin: New York City