14 Best Luggage Brands 2022 for Every Type of Traveler

If you don’t use luggage regularly — i.e. it doesn’t need to be the most durable and you don’t need all the bells and whistles —American Tourister offers good value and a good variety to choose from. There are lots of options if you prefer bright colors and fun prints, plus there are cases for the entire family, including a Disney collection. Ideal especially for vacationers, the models are fun and functional between the designs and versatile offerings.

Samsonite is another brand that has proven high quality as we’ve tested it over the years, including both hard and soft styles. It has specifically stood out for durability and ease of use: There’s been no struggling to open and close the cases, and packing them has been a breeze thanks to the functional compartments, making them perfect for someone who is constantly on the go.

Whether you’re backpacking through different countries or exploring a national park, Eagle Creek gives you both the convenience and durability you need in a bag. Some have various compartments so you can stay organized (or store dirty laundry separately), and some bags have backpack straps if you need to be hands-free. We especially love the Cargo Hauler Duffel: It’s affordable, spacious, lightweight and folds up into a small pouch for easy storage.

This company was founded by a pilot, and it makes luggage specifically for airline personnel who travel for a living. It’s primarily soft fabric luggage (though it does have some hardside options available). There’s excellent attention to detail that makes frequent flying easier, like cushioning around the handles, self-aligning wheels that let you roll the luggage in any direction and abrasion-resistant nylon fabric. These features help the cases stand out in our consumer tests, earning rave reviews as users pull it through an obstacle course.

If you’re willing to splurge, Bric’s luggage is both high quality and super chic. The Italian brand is best known for its leather, which it even uses as trim on non-leather suitcases. The Bellagio spinner was a top performer in our test: It was lightweight yet held a lot inside and proved to be durable. And if you’re on a budget, check out the brand’s sale section — it has some of its bestselling styles in last season’s colors.

Rimowa has always been at the cutting edge of luggage materials and made the first polycarbonate suitcase in 2000. It only makes hardside luggage but has several different collections ranging from the Essential Lite, which is the lightest and least expensive, to the Original, which is made of durable aluminum and clever packing compartments. It’s expensive — the cheapest case is over $500! – but its polycarbonate spinner was among the best in our test based on its weight, packing space, durability and maneuverability.

This brand increases the fun factor and makes it easier to spot your luggage in a sea of dark, solid colors. It has adorable animal sets for young kids, animal prints for adults and more. There are also options for licensed teams and art, making your suitcase a fun yet functional accessory.

Rolling TUMI luggage through the airport is like a status symbol; the brand is highly recognized for its luxury products for both business and leisure travelers. In addition to its luggage, it makes accessories like briefcases and backpacks and has components that make traveling easier, like an anti-slip strap on carrying bags and an extra hook on rolling bags so you can wheel multiple items at once. On top of that, the brand stands out for its unique service offerings, like repairs and luggage registration to help you find lost bags.

Our luggage evaluations are conducted in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab and combine proprietary test methods using specialized equipment with an obstacle course for consumers testers. Each piece of luggage is reviewed for the following factors:

• Size and weight: The case is weighed while empty (and it doesn’t always match the claimed weight in the online listing!) then we check to make sure it meets measurement restrictions for common airlines.
• Ease of packing: We rate how easy it is to open and close the zippers, along with accessibility and convenience of the packing compartments.
• Packing capacity: Using a standard load — for instance, carry-on luggage gets clothing, accessories and toiletries for a three-day, two-night trip — we score the cases based on how much they are able to hold.
• Extra features: We inspect whether there are any additional components that make the luggage noteworthy, such as handles on the side that make it easy to lower and lift, whether it has built-in locks, if the telescopic handle has multiple height options and more.
• Drop test: Our specialized machine drops luggage from a three-foot height and analysts check for signs of damage. The luggage is filled with a standard weight and repeatedly dropped from different angles to mimic real use.
• Abrasion and scratch tests: To check the durability of the outer surface, we perform scratch tests on hardside luggage and abrasion tests on softside luggage using lab equipment.
• Water resistance: Using blotting paper on the inside of the zipper, we pour on water and measure how much seeps through to the inside.
• Consumer tests: After filling each case with a standard weight and setting up an obstacle course that requires lifting and rolling around cones, in and out of doorways, over different surfaces and more, our reviewers provide feedback on aspects like ease of use, sturdiness, wheel performance and maneuverability. They also share their feedback on appearance and overall satisfaction.