The Best Checked Luggage, According to Textile & Travel Experts

After more than 15 years of evaluating Samsonite luggage, its bags continue to stand out in our Textiles Lab tests. This style in particular is one of our most-loved models, thanks to its lightweight design and easy-to-use features. At 9.6 pounds, it's one of the lightest suitcases we tested, but it's still durable.

The suitcase has a butterfly opening and unzips into two primary packing compartments: one with a stretch compression strap for flexible security and one with a zippered panel to keep all of your belongings in place. You'll also find a small, zippered pocket for additional storage. For even more room to bring home souvenirs on your vacation, the checked bag can be expanded by almost another inch.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: It's a favorite among our consumer testers who said the suitcase has smooth rolling wheels that make it easy to maneuver around corners and turns. When I evaluated the suitcase in the Lab, I was impressed by the sturdy telescopic handle that locks into place at different heights for comfortable pushing and pulling. Our testers said the carrying handles felt a little tight, but they still thought the bag was easy to pick up.

In our drop tests, the hardside polypropylene material performed well without major dents or damages. We were able to fit our entire packing load in the suitcase with room to spare.

With more than tens of thousands of reviews on Amazon, this hardside spinner suitcase from Amazon Basics is solid evidence that you don't need to break the bank to buy a quality piece of luggage. The suitcase is made with ABS plastic, which isn't as durable as polycarbonate material, but it helps keep the cost low. You can even expand the bag for extra packing space.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: In addition to the praise from satisfied online shoppers, this collection of bags also wowed us and our consumer testers. It performed well in our durability assessments, showing some marks in our scratch test but resisting major dents and damage in our drop test.

When our testers rolled the carry-on model through our obstacle course setup, they loved the smooth-rolling wheels, and one tester said the bag was "very easy to move." However, they shared that the telescopic handle felt notably less sturdy than other suitcases they tested. Packing it was a breeze, thanks to its spacious interior with a large zippered compartment, smaller pockets to help with organization and a compression strap to secure your things.

After conducting tests for our Away luggage review, we have to say that the trendy bags are worth the investment. It's currently available in 11 colors, but select colors are currently out of stock. The bag comes with a genuine leather luggage tag to help you identify your suitcase and a removable laundry bag to stash your dirty clothes. You can also customize your bag with your initials for an added fee.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: Its hardshell polycarbonate material proved to be durable in our tests, but it's still lighter than even some of the soft fabric suitcases we reviewed. When we repeatedly dropped the carry-on model from our drop tester, there was no noticeable damage. It even aced our scratch tests with minimal scuffs. The bag unzips into two roomy compartments. One side closes with a zipper, and the other features compression straps that made the packing process simple in our evaluations. Our consumer testers said the telescopic handles could feel sturdier, but they gave the handle high scores for comfort, and they loved the smooth wheels.

We have noticed a rising trend of trunk suitcases, including Away's trunk style, another checked luggage option. It has a narrower design but a deeper main compartment. Regardless of which Away suitcase you choose, the brand offers a generous 100-day trial period, so you can gently test it out at home and return or exchange it if you decide it's not for you.

Travelpro was founded by a pilot who wanted to create luggage for frequent fliers who are rough on their bags, so the brand's suitcases are perfect for regular business travel.

This luxe softside bag comes in six traditional colors like rich espresso brown and Bordeaux red. Although some of our testers said the style was a bit old-fashioned, I appreciate the bag's sophisticated design elements, like chrome zippers and genuine leather carrying handles and trim. Other impressive features include a removable garment bag that's ideal for storing a work suit or dress, a TSA-compliant toiletry bag and plenty of internal and external pockets for organization, as well as a 2-inch zippered expansion that's tapered to help prevent your bag from becoming top-heavy and tipping over.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: When we evaluated the carry-on model, the nylon fabric proved durable in our abrasion tests, resisting wear. In other tests, it showed no major signs of damage after being dropped repeatedly, and the zippers were water-resistant, keeping the contents inside the bag nice and dry. During our packing test, we could fit our standard load and had plenty of room to spare.

Our testers said the cushioned telescopic handle had great grip. Even better, the bag's double spinner wheels are self-aligning to help you roll smoothly through the airport.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Traveloro Platinum Elite Collection

Ideal for someone who prefers a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, this checked bag from popular luggage brand Monos impressed both GH analysts and our consumer testers during our evaluations.

The durable polycarbonate luggage follows the brand's "less is more" design philosophy, but it isn't lacking in space or organization. We rated it highly for being easy to pack, with a roomy interior that's divided into two compartments: One is zipper-enclosed and the other has an adjustable compression panel to keep contents secure. Plus, there are three spacious mesh zippered pockets for additional organization, and you'll also receive a laundry bag and two shoe bags.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: When testers rolled the suitcase through our obstacle course, they were wowed by how easy it was to maneuver and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled. "I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this bag was to travel with," shared one tester who took the bag on a trip. "I didn't have to roll it behind me; I could roll it next to me."

In our durability assessments, the suitcase managed to hold up to repeated drops without suffering major dents, but the shell did show some marks and scuffs in our scratch test. The brand sends an "eco-friendly eraser sponge" to clean more stubborn marks.

For $110 more, you can opt for Monos' Hybrid Trunk, which reimagines a timeless piece of luggage. Monos also offers a 100-day trial period, which means you can test the bag at home for up to 100 days before committing.

Weighing in at just 10.2 pounds, this checked bag from Delsey Paris is one of our lightest picks, but just because the bag is light doesn't mean it isn't durable or spacious. Plus, there are two outer pockets, and the suitcase can be expanded by up to 2 inches for more room. The inner lining is fully removable, which makes it simple to clean, since you can just take it out and put it in the washing machine.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: In our durability tests, the carry-on model held up well to repeated dropping without major dents or damages, and the polyester-and-nylon-blend material withstood rubbing from our abrasion machine. During consumer evaluations, our testers said the bag wasn't as easy to maneuver as others they tried, but they gave it good scores overall during use and rated the handle highly for feeling comfortable and sturdy.

The suitcase we evaluated aced our packing tests, receiving perfect scores for being easy to fill and for holding our standard load of belongings for a long trip. We did have some difficulty opening and closing the zippers while packing the carry-on-size bag, and I personally find Delsey's zippers to be stubborn, but our testers appreciated all of the zippered compartments for organization, with one sharing, "I love the pockets." The suitcase unzips into one large opening, complete with compression straps to secure your belongings, a large mesh zippered pocket and a removable bifold toiletry bag.

What sets this bag from Briggs & Riley apart is its innovative design that simplifies packing for longer trips.

When you unzip the bag, it exposes one large, lined compartment to store your belongings and two zippered mesh pockets for smaller items and accessories. Hidden inside the lid of the suitcase is a built-in trifold garment folder with a hook for hangers that's perfect for storing formal attire. Plus, a unique push-button expansion system allows you to easily expand the bag for extra packing space and then compress it down to its standard size once it's been filled.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: Our testers who tried a smaller model of this bag were impressed by how much they could fit inside, sharing that there was way more space than they expected. For a softside bag, it's on the heavier side, weighing 15.6 pounds, but it's made with high-quality materials and is reinforced at the corners to protect your valuables. When I put the nylon material to the test with our abrasion machine, it showed no major signs of wear or scratches.

It was the top performer in our most recent round of drop testing; I found no major dents or damage after loading it into our drop tester and releasing it repeatedly. Our testers said the bag was easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and rated the telescopic handle as sturdy too.

A favorite of our testers, Calpak's Ambeur collection of luggage is the ideal combination of fashion and function. It's available in four trendy metallics: silver, gold, black and rose gold, along with three limited colors. Note that select colors are currently out of stock, but you can sign up on Calpak's website to be notified when your preferred color is back in stock.

✔️ TESTING NOTES: The high-quality checked bag is made of polycarbonate and ABS composite material that's lightweight and held up well to repeated drops in our tests. It did show some signs of wear in our scratch test, but that's common with ABS composites.

When our testers rolled the carry-on model through our obstacle course, they were happy with its easy-to-use telescopic handle, with one describing it as "the smoothest handle by far," compared to other luggage being tested. Other testers said the padded handles were comfy to hold and easy to steer and lift with.

The interior of the bag is also impressive, and I find it easy to pack full of everything I need for a two-week trip. Inside, there are two large areas for storing larger belongings, complete with a compression strap and a zippered panel, as well as two additional zippered pockets and a handy removable toiletries bag. You can even expand the spacious bag by 2 inches to bring souvenirs back with you on your trip home, but there's so much packing space already that you may not even need the extra room.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Calpak Luggage