A good suitcase doesn’t just provide you with essential storage for your belongings. It is an important part of making a trip free of hassle, frustrations, and unwanted accidents, too. We’ve all been scarred by luggage that’s not quite up to scratch: dragging a suitcase with faulty wheels across cobblestone streets or the embarrassment of seeing a strap on our weekend bag break in half as we’re trying to catch a flight. These are not memories we’d like to relive anytime soon, if we can help it.
To truly travel like a pro, you need high-quality, durable travel accessories that promise to never let you down. Hard-shell suitcases that can withstand months-long journeys with multiple changes in accommodation. Carryall bags with iron-clad reinforcements that won’t buckle under extra weight. Backpacks outfitted in weatherproof fabrics and strong zippers. While you’re more likely to find these items from fancier brands, there are also plenty of affordable options (yes, we’re talking about Amazon luggage).
Ahead, we have rounded up the most durable luggage across different price points and travel needs. With these travel heavy-hitters, your next trip will be a real tour de force.
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Not only does this Aussie travel brand create incredibly cute suitcases, tons of consideration has gone into the construction, too. The polypropylene shell, engineered in Germany, is supported by an aluminum frame with no rivets, making the whole thing all the more indestructible. A shiny finish ensures that no scratches and scruff marks appear on the shell. The snap closures also makes opening and closing the suitcase a less laborious task. The brand offers lifetime warranty as a show of its confidence in its product quality. There is currently a Memorial Day Weekend sale going, and you can snap this beauty up at 15% off.
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July Checked Expandable, $, available at July
Leave it to Samsonite, one of our favorite legacy travel brands, to crack the code on the most durable hard-shell construction for suitcases. First of all, this carry-on comes in a 100% polypropylene exterior, the sturdiest plastic material out there. The fluted surface isn’t just for aesthetic purposes; it also provides additional resilience and quickly bounces back whenever it gets banged up. You can barely hear the smooth-rolling dual spinner wheels. Throw in the pretty periwinkle color and the limited-time 30% off deal, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
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Samsonite Voltage DLX Carry-On Spinner, $, available at Samsonite
We have sung plenty of praises about Away luggage before: It produces some of the lightest and sturdiest polycarbonate suitcases on the market, and the wheels are pretty much legendary for its maneuverability. However, you shouldn’t sleep on its array of travel bags either. The Everywhere Backpack has impressed us with its artfully placed features, such as a separate 15-inch laptop pocket incorporated within the padded pack panel, without taking up valuable packing space in the main compartment. There are tons of zip pockets and mesh panels to house every type of travel essential imaginable. For how compact the backpack looks, you’d be pleasantly surprised with how much you can cram in.
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Away The Everywhere Zip Backpack, $, available at Away
As someone who has sworn by her massive Delsey suitcase for almost a decade, I can confidently vouch for the French luggage brand’s durable materials. Despite taking a crazy amount of beating, the softside material on my suitcase still looks relatively new, while managing to conceal any signs of wear and tear. For someone who is always on the go, I recommend this expandable carry-on from its Helium collection. The abrasion-proof fabric will give you many years of use, while the two exterior pockets give you generous room for any last-minute souvenir buys.
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DELSEY Paris Helium DLX Softside Expandable Luggage, $, available at Amazon
Our readers just can’t seem to get enough of this TikTok-viral suitcase — it has remained at the top of our list of best luggage brands. With a nifty collapsible shelf design that turns into a hanging closet organizer, this carry-on closet will make a fantastic purchase for anyone who dreads packing and unpacking. As mentioned in my Solgaard review, do note that you need to leave the individual compartments about 80% full, to allow space for compression and fitting everything back into the suitcase. If you hate packing or travel frequently, you can’t go wrong with this purchase.
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Solgaard Carry-On Closet, $, available at Solgaard
This expandable hard-shell suitcase tops our list for luggage that can withstand all manners of excursions — without breaking the budget. Over 10,000 reviewers have taken it all across the world (literally) — from a long-haul trip through Southeast Asia to bus rides across the U.K. — and they all touted how remarkably well the suitcase held up. The ABS hard-shell plastic material is scratch-resistant, so you’ll only be dealing with minor scruff marks after logging tons of mileage with this travel essential.
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Coolife Expandable 28-Inch Suitcase, $, available at Amazon
If you need to cram a lot of stuff into your carry-on travel bag, this hearty soft-side luggage will do the job. Reviewers have commented on the robust zippers and the fact that it allows you to stow the maximum amount of stuff allowed for hand luggage, thanks to a hefty, tapered build and a smaller set of wheels. You can even extend it for up to two inches to absolutely get the most out of your packing space.
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Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage, $, available at Amazon
This one is a highly personal pick: I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve never traveled anywhere without this duffel bag. In the nine years I’ve owned it, this carryall has helped me many times over — when souvenirs are spilling out of my suitcase or when I needed to quickly pack an overnight bag. It weighs next to nothing, and the bag still looks as good as the first day I got it. I usually keep this baby folded up in the front pocket of my carry-on suitcase, in case I need to whip out an extra handheld item, but the nylon fabric also holds up incredibly well as checked baggage. The double-sided zippers makes closing the bag easier when you have bulky items inside, and it comes with a handy sleeve to fit over your suitcase handles. I’m such a stan that I’ve also gifted one of these to my parents.
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TUMI Just In Case Tote, $, available at Amazon
Can’t decide between hard-side and soft-side luggage? This Calpak luggage gives you the best of both worlds. The soft-side front compartment, made from recycled polyester fabric, comes with oodles of pockets and the flexibility we all love about soft-side suitcases, but it’s also laminated with waterproof coating. The rest of the case is made in hard-shell and can be expanded up to two inches. There is an option to open the suitcase from the top, which gives you the ability to store taller items compared to most hard shells that only split open in the middle.
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Calpak Terra 45L Carry-On Luggage, $, available at Calpak
It goes without saying that any Rimowa luggage will last you many years (or even decades) to come, which does somewhat justify the high price tag. If you travel a lot for work, this sleek carry-on suitcase will make you look so much more put-together on your next trip. In addition to the durable polycarbonate case and state-of-the-art multiwheel system trademarked by the brand, this cabin luggage also features an external laptop sleeve that can fit devices up to 16 inches. This will fit everything you need for a one- or two-night getaway. Have we mentioned that you also get a free Rimowa leather luggage tag and a sticker?
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Rimowa Essential Sleeve Cabin, $, available at Rimowa
With a soft-side exterior made of ballistic nylon — a lightweight but “impossible to destroy” type of material in luggage speak — this unyielding suitcase is definitely made to last. Corner guards are added to boost stability, and reviewers have also remarked on the rock-solid (but delicate-sounding) wheels. What we particularly want to shout out is the brand’s special Outsider handle design, where the entire carry-handle system lives outside of the case. You get an entirely smooth bottom surface on the inside, allowing you to pack to your heart’s content.
Shop Nordstrom
Briggs & Riley 26-Inch Expandable Spinner Suitcase, $, available at Nordstrom
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