The Most Durable Luggage
Traveling is rough on luggage, and the best suitcases for travel should be durable enough to withstand bumps, drops, and baggage-handling crushes. This is especially true for carry-ons, which have to hold up on crowded airplanes and luggage carousels.
Look for a hard-shell suitcase with a clamshell opening that can be stabilized with an interior strap or middle divider. Also, check the wheels for durability: double-density or spinner wheels are more durable than single wheels.
Hard-Sided
Encased in a sleek shell, hard-sided luggage is typically sturdier and more protective than pink luggage soft-sided suitcases. They may scuff and ding from rough airport baggage handling and in-flight turbulence, but high-quality bags made from premium materials like polycarbonate are built to last. Budget-friendly models that use more durable but less expensive plastics like ABS and polypropylene are also good choices.
Hard-shell luggage usually opens via a clamshell design that requires a little rummaging to access your belongings, but they’re often easier to maneuver on rolling wheels than soft-sided suitcases. They also tend to be lighter, which saves you money on checked baggage fees and makes them less likely to exceed airline luggage weight allowances.
Most hard-shell luggage has four 360-degree spinner wheels for easy maneuvering in busy airport terminals and hotel lobby hallways. They’re also easy to stow in the overhead bins on planes, provided they don’t exceed the airlines’ carry-on size restrictions. Some hard-shell bags are built with TSA-approved locks that allow airport security staff to open and inspect your bag without damaging it. That’s particularly helpful if you book travel experiences that require or restrict the use of hard-shell cases, such as some cruises and safaris. In addition to being sturdy, hard-shell luggage is typically waterproof and stain resistant. It’s also often easier to clean than fabric bags, which can collect dust and grime while you’re on the road.
Soft-Sided
In our luggage tests, soft-sided suitcases tend to get less damaged than hard-sided ones. The reason is that they’re able to flex and compress, fitting into tight spaces like the overhead bin on an airplane. However, the material could rip if it’s not high-quality or properly designed.
The best soft-sided luggage is made with a durable fabric that’s also lightweight and easy to clean. Polycarbonate is an excellent option; it feels almost indestructible and has a long lifespan. It’s also a smart choice for carry-on luggage because it’s lighter than some other materials and can still conform to most airlines’ dimensions.
Other good choices for soft-sided luggage include cordura nylon (which has backpack vendors a sleek woven texture and is abrasion-resistant), ballistic nylon (which offers greater tear strength), or ripstop nylon. The polyester luggage found in most low-priced bags is also durable and affordable, but it doesn’t take dye as well as nylon and is susceptible to UV light.
If you want a soft-sided suitcase that’s both functional and durable, try our pick for the most durable luggage: the Briggs & Riley Baseline Softside CX. It’s built with an innovative interior expansion system that allows you to pack 25% more stuff and then shrink it back down to its original size. The sturdy, comfortable telescoping handle, smart TSA-approved lock, and spacious interior are other highlights.
Two-Wheel or Four-Wheel
The best luggage for frequent flyers is usually made of polycarbonate, which holds up well to abrasions and bumps on the road. It’s also lightweight and can roll smoothly over a variety of surfaces. For this reason, it’s a favorite of business travelers. One of the best suitcases in this category is the Delsey Paris Titanium Hardside 29″, which is durable enough to withstand rough handling through security and at the gate, plus it comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Other good choices include the Away Large Expandable Spinner and the Rimowa Essential Lite Cabin U, both of which offer plenty of room and come in gloss or matte colors. Both are priced in the mid-range. Away recently entered the luggage game in 2015, and they’re already making a big impact with their bags. They’re crafted from a high-grade polycarbonate and have an elegant design that will last for years.
Another top choice is the Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Expandable Spinner, which is designed to hold a range of outdoor gear and other equipment for rigorous adventure travel. It features a straitjacket compression system, massive sealed-bearing wheels, and a compartmentalized interior that’s shaped and organized like a backpacking pack for easier transport by porter or baggage handler. This two-wheel bag uses ballistic nylon, which resists abrasions and tears better than polyester. It also takes dye more easily, which gives it a wide array of color options.
Fabrics
When looking for the most durable luggage, it’s important to consider the materials the suitcase is made from. Hard-sided luggage is available in a wide variety of fabrics, and each fabric has different strengths and weaknesses. Polycarbonate, for example, is one of the strongest and lightest hard-sided materials available, which makes it popular in bags like the Delsey Helium Aero. Aluminum suitcases are another good choice, but they are heavier and more expensive than polycarbonate.
Soft-sided luggage is also made from a variety of fabrics. The most durable of these are polyester, nylon, and Cordura nylon. Ballistic nylon, which has thicker threads than standard nylon, is the most durable of these materials and is often used in backpacks and duffel bags. Cordura nylon is also extremely durable but weighs slightly less than ballistic nylon, and it takes dye more easily, so it can be made in a wide range of colors.
Canvas is a woven material that’s occasionally used in bags, but it’s more commonly found in backpacks and duffel bags. It’s stronger than polyester but not as strong as nylon, and it can deteriorate quickly if exposed to water or sun. It’s also not as weatherproof as nylon or polyester blends.