With each trip you take, your luggage is put to the ultimate test — first pulling it from the depths of your closet, then stuffing it with your new vacation clothes, throwing it in the trunk, rolling it across the airport conveyor belt and finally shoving it into the carry-on luggage compartment. And who knows what actually happens to your suitcase when you bring checked luggage and leave it at the check-in counter instead? To keep your belongings a little safer while you’re traveling, consider opting for a suitcase with a hard shell suitcase made of durable plastic or metal.
1
Best Overall
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Spinner
Pros
- Durable material performed well in drop tests
- Smooth rolling wheels
- Aced our packing tests
Cons
- Carrying handles are tighter than some others we tested
Samsonite’s high-quality luggage has continued to perform well in our tests over the years, specifically in terms of durability during drop tests and ease of use. The brand’s Freeform hardside suitcase is a favorite of our consumer testers who agree that its wheels roll smoothly and that the bag is easy to maneuver around twists and turns. It also received perfect scores in Lab tests for being a breeze to open and close.
Inside, a zippered panel and an adjustable cross strap keep your belongings in place, and we were able to fit our entire packing load in the bag with room to spare. Our consumer testers pointed out that the carrying handles are on the smaller side, but they still thought the bag was easy to pick up. There are three different sizes to choose from, or you can opt for a set including a carry-on and a checked bag for a cohesive look.
Listed dimensions: 21.25″ x 15.25″ x 10.0″ | Weight: 10 lbs | Material: Polypropylene | Expandable: Yes
2
Best Value
Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner
Pros
- Wheels performed well in tests
- Sets available for an even better value
- High scores for maneuverability
Cons
- Testers found the handle is flimsy
With more than 35,000 five-star reviews and a 4.5-star average rating, Amazon Basics’ hardside luggage is a favorite of real users and GH analysts alike. When we tested this bag in our Textiles Lab, we found it to be spacious, and it received perfect scores for easy packing. Online reviewers agreed, saying that they can fill the suitcase with more than enough clothing and essentials for their trips.
The suitcase is made with ABS plastic, which isn’t as durable as some other hard materials, but it is lightweight and keeps the price low. Testers appreciated the luggage’s wheel performance, sharing that the bag is easy to maneuver, but they weren’t as impressed with the telescopic handle and explained that it felt flimsier than other models they tried. This suitcase comes in three different sizes and is available in two and three-piece sets for an even better value.
Listed dimensions: 13.58″ x 9.45″ x 20.87″ | Weight: 6.83 lbs | Material: ABS plastic | Expandable: Yes
3
Most Popular
Away The Carry-On
Pros
- Lightweight yet durable shell
- 100-day return policy
- Smooth rolling wheels
Cons
- Handle isn’t as sturdy as some other picks
Several of our Lab experts have been using luggage from uber-popular brand Away for years and have found them to stand the test of time. This pick is made of polycarbonate material, which means it’s lightweight yet durable.During Lab evaluations, we put its durability to the test and dropped the suitcase repeatedly from a set 3-foot height, noting no major signs of damage or prominent scuffing.
Our consumer testers thought the wheels on Away suitcases rolled smoothly and said they were easy to maneuver, but the telescopic handle isn’t as sturdy as some other styles. In our packing tests, we were impressed by the compressive panels meant to keep your belongings in place and by the hidden laundry bag you can use to separate your dirty clothes. If you’re unsure about splurging on a carry-on bag, Away offers a 100-day return policy for unused items.
Listed dimensions: 21.7″ x 13.7″ x 9″ | Weight: 7.1 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: No
4
Smoothest Wheels
July Carry On
Pros
- High durability scores
- Elevated aluminum corners and leather details
- Quiet, extremely smooth wheels
Cons
- Scuffed more than others in our tests
July’s Classic hardside luggage has a simple yet sophisticated look, thanks to the smooth polycarbonate material with monochrome aluminum corners and real leather details. While it scuffed more than some other suitcases in our drop tests, the suitcase earned high scores overall for durability. The chic carry-on bag has a butterfly-opening with one zipper-enclosed side and one side with a compression panel and adjustable Y-strap to secure your belongings.
The telescopic handle has a unique contoured grip for comfort, and it locks into place at 20 different heights. One at-home tester commented, “I’ve tested many, many suitcases, but I’ve never used luggage that glided as smoothly as July’s through an airport.” Our in-Lab obstacle course testers agreed, rating July’s bags highly for ease of use and its smooth rolling wheels, which barely make a sound as they roll over different surfaces.
Listed dimensions: 21.5″ x 15″ x 8.5″ | Weight: 7.4 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: No
5
Best Set
Calpak Ambeur Collection 3-Piece Luggage Set
Pros
- Easy to pack
- Favorite of consumer testers
- Sturdy telescopic handle
Cons
- Prone to scuffing
For luggage that’s equally as fashionable as it is functional, Calpak’s Ambeur suitcases are a must-have. The hard shell bags are made with a blend of ABS plastic and polycarbonate that’s both lightweight and durable, but we did find the metallic colors scuffed easily. In Lab evaluations, the luggage was dubbed our “tester favorite” because consumer testers were so wowed by the design and overall ease of use.
The telescopic handles aced our tests, with one tester sharing that it was the “smoothest handle by far” out of all of the bags available for testing. Other testers agreed, explaining that the padded handles were comfortable to lift, pull and push. Plus, the Ambeur luggage earned high scores in our packing tests.
If you don’t need a set of three bags, you can opt for a two-piece set or choose from any of the five styles available.
Listed dimensions: Large: 29.5″ x 19 “x 12.5″; Medium: 25″ x 16″ x 11″: Carry-on: 21″ x 14″ x 9” | Weight: Large: 10.3 lbs; Medium: 8.6 lbs; Carry-on: 6 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate and ABS composite | Expandable: Yes
6
Best Minimalist
Monos Carry-On
Pros
- High scores for maneuverability
- Durable material
- Sleek appearance
Cons
- Showed some marks in scratch tests
Monos’ less-is-more approach to design results in a sleek, timeless look that our testers loved. The durable polycarbonate luggage may have a simple appearance but doesn’t skimp on quality or useful packing features. Inside, you’ll find two spacious compartments: one zipper-enclosed compartment and one with an adjustable compression panel. There are also additional zippered pockets inside for even more organized storage space.
The bag aced durability tests, resisting major dents and damages after being dropped repeatedly from a 3-foot height, but it did show some signs of wear in our scratch tests. When testers tried it in our luggage obstacle course, they were impressed by how easy the bag was to maneuver and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled around twists and turns. Monos offers luggage sets for an even better value and a generous 100-day return policy.
Listed dimensions: 22″ × 14″ × 9″ | Weight: 7.01 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: No
7
Best Expandable
Travelpro Maxlite Air Hardside Expandable Luggage
Pros
- Expands for 2 inches of additional space
- Brand’s bags scored highly for durability
- Telescopic handle locks at two heights
Cons
- Carrying handles are tight
Known for its luggage made by pilots for pilots and frequent flyers alike, Travelpro primarily offers soft fabric luggage, but the brand does have a few hardside pieces including the featured Maxlite Spinner. This bag has a roomy luggage compartment with two zippered panels, and it can be expanded by 2 inches, lending you extra room for all of your souvenirs on the trip home.
In our Lab tests, Travelpro bags were easy to fill with a full load of clothing and travel gear like toiletries and shoes. They also performed well and earned high durability ratings. Testers loved the cushioned telescopic handles which lock at two different heights. We did find the carrying handles to be on the tighter side, which can make the bag difficult to lift into an overhead bin.
Listed dimensions: 19.75″ x 13.75″ x 9.5″ | Weight: 6.3 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: Yes
8
Best Classic
Rimowa Cabin S Carry-On
Pros
- Durable aluminum material
- Adjustable dividers
- Zipper-free closure
Cons
- More expensive than other brands
Rimowa only makes hardside luggage, and it’s a cutting-edge brand that continues to impress our Textiles Lab experts. The Original line is made with aluminum, which is more durable than other hard materials like ABS plastic and polycarbonate. This style of suitcase features the brand’s iconic grooved design and has a zipperless closure, opting for locking latches instead — TSA-approved, of course.
The bag unfolds to reveal two primary spacious packing compartments and two adjustable compression panels to keep everything securely in place. Rimowa’s suitcases are much more expensive than other brands, but they are among the best in our tests with high ratings for packing space, durability and maneuverability.
Listed dimensions: 15.7″ x 9.1″ x 21.6″ | Weight: 9.46 lbs | Material: Aluminum | Expandable: No
9
Best for International Travel
Briggs & Riley Global 21″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner
Pros
- Unique push-button expansion
- Brand’s bags received high scores for maneuverability
- Outer pocket for phone and ID
Cons
- Some reviewers have experienced zippers breaking
This innovative suitcase from Briggs & Riley is full of features to make packing for an international trip easier. On the outside of the hardside suitcase is an easy-access pocket for your phone and ID. The bag unzips into one large packing space that’s fully lined and contains three zip pockets for easy organization.
The bag utilizes Briggs & Riley’s unique expansion system, which allows you to expand the bag for additional packing space and then compress it to its standard size once the bag has been filled — with just the push of a button. Our testers recently tried a softside bag from the brand with the same system and were blown away by how much they could fit inside, sharing that there was way more room than expected.
When we tested Briggs & Riley’s hardside suitcases in the Textiles Lab, they performed well, receiving high scores for durability, water resistance and ease of use. Testers also shared that the brand’s bags were easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and said the telescopic handles were sturdy. Although we didn’t experience this issue, some online reviewers have shared that the zipper pulls are prone to breaking with regular use.
Listed dimensions: 14″ x 9″ x 21″ | Weight: 8.6 lbs | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: Yes
