The Best Hardside Luggage of 2025, According to Testing

Samsonite's high-quality luggage has consistently performed well in our tests over the years, particularly 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 noted that the carrying handles are on the smaller side, but they still found the bag 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: The Best Samsonite Luggage Pieces

With more than 38,000 five-star reviews and a 4.4-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 from ABS plastic, which isn't as durable as some other hard materials, but it is lightweight and helps keep the price low. Testers appreciated the luggage's wheel performance, sharing that the bag is easy to maneuver. However, they weren't as impressed with the telescopic handle, explaining that it felt flimsier than other models they had tried. This suitcase comes in three different sizes and is available in two and three-piece sets for an even better value.

Several of our Lab experts have been using luggage from the uber-popular brand Away for years and have found it to stand the test of time. This pick is made of polycarbonate material, which makes it both lightweight and 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 found that the wheels on Away suitcases rolled smoothly and were easy to maneuver, but noted that the telescopic handle isn't as sturdy as some other styles. In our packing tests, we were impressed by the compressive panels designed to keep your belongings in place and by the hidden laundry bag, which allows you 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Away Carry-On

July's Classic hardside luggage has a simple yet sophisticated look, thanks to its 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 features a unique, contoured grip for added 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 their ease of use and smooth-rolling wheels, which barely make a sound as they roll over different surfaces.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: July Luggage

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; however, we did find that 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 noting that they were the "smoothest handle by far" among all the bags tested. 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 select from any of the five available styles.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Calpak Luggage

Monos's 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 it 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 easily the bag maneuvered and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled around twists and turns. Monos offers luggage sets for an even better value, along with a generous 100-day return policy.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Monos Luggage

Known for its luggage made by pilots for pilots and frequent flyers alike, Travelpro primarily offers softside luggage, but the brand does have a few hardside pieces, including the featured Maxlite Spinner. This bag features a spacious luggage compartment with two zippered panels, and it can be expanded by 2 inches, providing extra room for all your souvenirs on the way 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Travelpro Luggage

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, such as 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 significantly more expensive than those of other brands, but they are among the best in our tests, earning high ratings for packing space, durability and maneuverability.

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.