There’s not just one best type of travel suitcase. They vary based on your travel need, airline regulation and personal preference. To help you determine what’s best for you, here are some options and the Top 10 travel suitcase brands in 2021.
When planning to travel, make sure to take time deciding the best suitcase for travel. Don’t leave anything to chance. After booking your tickets and finalizing your itinerary, it’s time to pack and you need the most appropriate luggage for your travel stuff.
Below, know the Top 10 travel suitcase brands in 2021 and check out what fits your budget. Also, learn some tips on easy packing and the best type of suitcase to use.
Best Travel Suitcase Brands in 2021
Luggage type: Duffel bags
Purpose: Long, non-business trip
Brand: L.L.Bean Luggage
When on a personal, non-business trip for weeks, it is best to use a roomy duffel bag. You can stuff everything you need, as the sides expand to give you more packing space.
L.L.Bean specializes in duffels that come with or without wheels and in different sizes. Also, duffel bags are so flexible you can easily store them under your bed or use as pillow. They’re perfect when going on a summer camp, a picnic or family holiday in nature.
Duffel bags typically come in durable, water-resistant nylon fabric to last no matter where your travels take you.
Type of luggage: Hardside
Purpose: Long business trips, frequent flyers
Brand: Open Story, Hartmann Luggage
Top-quality hardside suitcases made by Open Story are lightweight, spacious and have lots of compartments to keep you organised, making them perfect for carry-on. Some varieties even have a detachable laundry bag and a USB port if you want to charge your battery on the go.
Hardside luggage are also perfect when going on an adventure. They are waterproof and very sturdy. This type of suitcase is usually made with polycarbonate shells and come in different colours. 100% polycarbonate bags are very durable while remaining light. They are also extremely flexible and resilient, which is why they are very popular nowadays.
Meanwhile, Hartmann Luggage is a luxury brand that is on the pricey side. They are known for their timeless designs and durable materials. Their bags have been a constant top performer, with spacious interiors that are easy to pack and with wheels and handles that make it smooth and comfortable to maneuver. They’re definitely your money’s worth.
Type of luggage: Softside luggage
Purpose: When overpacking
Brand: Travelpro
If you are known to overpack, you might want to consider softside luggage, as they have exterior compartments to stash away those last-minute items. There are also those with expandable features to cram in all your clothes and other must-haves. Travelpro is a popular brand that produces the best softside suitcases, mostly made of nylon or polyester.
Softside suitcases made of ballistic nylon are highly durable and abrasion-resistant. On the other hand, those made with polyester are lightweight and resilient and are considered first-class. As with any other bag varieties, the best type of suitcase that are softside are those that feature water-repellent coating to keep your clothes nice and dry.
Type of luggage: Carry-on luggage
Purpose: Carry-on
Brand: Tumi, Globe-Trotter
Carry-ons are bags that meet the proper dimensions to take on the plane with you. Tumi is well-known for their handbags, backpacks, crossbodies and personalised suitcases that are perfect for carrying around.
Carry-ons include small rolling suitcases, backpacks, duffel bags and travel totes. These easily fit in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you. Travel totes give you more space for your items and travel necessities. You can use them instead of a handbag, where you can place your ticket, laptop, neck pillow, makeup and more.
Before you go, don’t forget to check with your airline for their carry-on and under-seat luggage regulations.
Type of luggage: Rolling spinner
Purpose: Easy transit in airports
Brand: American Tourister, Victorinox
A rolling spinner suitcase allows you to get on the move more easily as its wheels go in any direction. All four wheels turn in multiple directions to easily navigate corners and changes in route. This is a very popular and convenient way to move around, especially when hopping from airport to airport. They also roll easily on an incline.
Rolling spinner suitcases come in both hardside and softside styles
Type of luggage: Business
Purpose: Business
Brand: Samsonite
Samsonite is probably one of the most popular brands out there, and they are best known for their business suitcases. Samsonite’s products are known to be high quality, comfortable, durable and very easy to handle.
Business cases should be easy to pack, open and close, and with several compartments for essential items when going to meetings or important conferences. Samsonite’s business luggage are equipped with functional compartments, making them perfect for someone who is constantly on the go.
Some business bags turn on the side so it’s wide, not tall. This variety is called Stryde Glider. They are more stable and less likely to tip if you stack another bag on top.
Type of luggage: Adventure
Purpose: Travel adventure
Brand: Eagle Creek Luggage
When backpacking through foreign countries or exploring a national park, adventure bags provide both the convenience and durability you need in a bag, and Eagle Creek is known for this.
When going on an adventure, you need a bag with various compartments so you can stay organised (or store dirty laundry separately). It is also important to have straps, like a backpack, so you can carry them hands-free while doing many other things, such as taking a picture or looking at a map.
Eagle Creek’s adventure bags, especially the Cargo Hauler Duffel, are spacious, lightweight and fold up into a small pouch for easy storage.
Duffel bags allow you to carry all your essentials in multiple compartments, for easier transport.
Type of luggage: Printed luggage
Purpose: Fun, children, fashion
Brand: Heys Luggage
Printed bags increase the fun factor when travelling. Get one if you want to turn people’s heads. Also, they can encourage children to be responsible with their own bags.
Printed suitcases make it easier for you to spot your luggage in a sea of dark, solid colours. You will find this very helpful when standing in front of a crowded conveyor belt and you just can’t see which bag is yours.
Heys Luggage comes with adorable animal sets for young kids, fashionable marble designs for adults, and even a printed world map so you can keep track of your travels.
Helpful luggage and packing tips before you go
1. Know your airline’s baggage-fee policy.
Airlines differ in many ways, including baggage fees and what you are allowed to bring as carry-on. Figuring this out before you go will significantly affect your budget, packing strategy and type of bags. While most airline companies will allow you to check at least one bag on international flights, several carriers charge big money for bags checked on domestic flights. Some even charge as much as $100 just for your carry-on bags.
It wouldn’t hurt to check your airlines’ website or give them a call. This also applies when traveling on a cruise or taking a long train or bus ride.
2. Make a packing list.
You can only bring with you what fits inside your luggage. Plan well by making a list and seeing to it that you don’t carry what you don’t really need. Also, don’t procrastinate. You could encounter so many stressors when travelling and it could start when you don’t pack on time or wisely. Start your packing process early, even days or weeks ahead of your departure date. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that your luggage is sufficient and you never forget to bring something important.
3. Keep your travel purpose in mind.
Determining the best suitcase for travel and what to pack depends on where you are going and the purpose of your trip. You would need a suitcase that suits your needs. It has to be spacious enough to hold all your stuff, light enough to carry around and durable enough to last year after year (if you travel a lot).
When travelling for a longer period of time, you might need one or two large bags and one carry-on. On the other hand, if you’re travelling on business, make sure to use a hard-shell suitcase for your laptop and other work gadgets. Lastly, when travelling on leisure or holiday, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring dual-purpose items, such as pants that turn into shorts or a jacket that turns into a travel pillow.
Also, when on a non-business trip, you shouldn’t mind getting your clothes or pieces of garments get wrinkled a bit (or a lot) along the way. If so, remember to roll your clothing, not fold. Many travel experts, including backpackers agree that rolling is superior to folding. When tightly rolling clothes, you could actually stuff months’ worth of clothing into a regular-size suitcase.
The best type of suitcase for you is the one that allows you to travel in style, comfort, convenience and confidence. Your luggage is your travel companion. In most cases, it is your life-saver as inside are your passport, wallet, laptop and other very important stuff that you can’t do without. Your suitcase should be the least of your problems when travelling, so choose and prepare your trip wisely.
