Hard luggage is typically constrained to one size and shape – so there’s less give when you’re trying to squash that final pair of sandals down the side of your pile of summer dresses. That said, hard suitcases do tend to be significantly more durable, waterproof, easy to wipe clean and lightweight. Hard luggage will also protect your belongings much better. Most of the hard shell suitcases in this edit are made from polycarbonate, which is a durable yet lightweight material first bought to the luggage world by Rimowa in 2000. See, for example, the Rimowa Original Check-In M.
Soft luggage is beneficial if you’re after something that can mould to small spaces, like the overhead carrier of a plane, and they are better for over-packers. Our pick? The Antler Brixham range and, if you need something even smaller, we’ve got more underseat luggage options this way.
What else to consider when shopping for the best luggage?
1. TSA Locks
TSA LOCK® is a global security system which allows passengers to lock their luggage, while permitting security authorities to inspect them without damage. The best suitcases will feature locks which have been TSA-approved.
2. Smooth wheels
Often, the defining feature of an expensive suitcase over something on a budget is the quality and smoothness of the wheels. The best luggage brands will serve up four 360 degree spinner wheels on their suitcases, making it easy to weave in and out of people (in all directions) in an airport terminal.
3. Compression dividers
At the very least, make sure your suitcase has luggage straps which stretch over your clothes and keep the contents of your suitcase in place. If you can, opt for something with full compression dividers which compress your clothes, keep everything safe and make it easier to close your suitcase. Some compression dividers will have additional pockets with zippers on them.
4. Warranty
If you travel a lot, make sure you’re clued up on the luggage brand-in-question’s warranty. Do they cover everything you need them to? “Limited warranty” is ideal, while “limited lifetime warranty” means it’s good for a certain number of years, and “limited to manufacturer’s defects” is what you want to avoid. That basically means the luggage brand will cover nothing and will attribute the damage of your suitcase to you or the airline. Not what you want.
Which brand of luggage is the most durable?
Tumi is the brains behind some of the toughest luggage on the market. Need proof? Their Alpha 3 Suitcase is made from a specially woven ultra durable FXT ballistic nylon. It makes for the toughest and most durable suitcase shell in the brand’s 10-year history and is so strong the brand have (cleverly) patented it. Way to banish any worries of your suitcase being bashed and ruined along a luggage carousel.
At a more reasonable price point, the M&S Vienna range combines style and strength with its tough and bouncy plastic exterior together with a lightweight user friendly makeup. It’s selling out fast in 2023 and customers have described it as “light but strong,” “durable,” “sturdy” and, of particular note, very similar to a recognisable branded one, one buyer remarked.
The best suitcase brands 2023:
Based on overall quality, cost, aesthetics, durability and customer feedback, these are the luggage brands to know this year –
How does the GLAMOUR star rating system work?
1/5 – We’d like to preface this explanation by saying that we’d never include a 1/5 product, as we aim to find you the very best products. But, for context, a 1/5 rating would mean the suitcase fails on value for money, durability, user-friendliness and how travellers reviewed it.
2/5 – Again, not one we’d aim to include in our buying guides, a 2/5 would mean the product is a let down in most spheres, perhaps excelling in one field e.g. aesthetics/colour variations.
3/5 – A 3/5 would mean the product is just about adequate, perhaps a fine pick if you’re on a more modest budget, but leaves room for improvement. For example, this could be a cabin bag that will serve its purpose on a quick train trip, but falls outside of most airlines’ overheard restrictions.
4/5 – A 4/5 would mean the suitcase is near perfect, with faults only small and easy to ignore. For instance, a check-in suitcase that ticks all the boxes, but scratches a little after extended use.
5/5 – A 5/5 rating means the product, website and company are all perfect. We will never give a product a five-star score if it has a single fault that we’ve noticed, so look out for these, they’re rather rare!
How we tested and reviewed the best suitcases
By using product assessments from customers combined with data on what you’ve been searching for on Google, Yahoo (does anyone still use that?) etc. , we curated what we feel are some options of the best suitcases and luggage brands on the market for travelling in 2023. Oh, and we of course checked to see which products feature high-quality versus less durable materials – a must when it comes to luggage.