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The joys of travel can be interrupted by unforeseen curves in the road, but how your luggage holds up doesn’t have to be one of them. A reliable suitcase that performs well in every type of travel situation is the stuff of legend. Whether you're packing for a road trip, multi-leg airport journey, or a leisurely cruise, bringing the right luggage can make the experience even more rewarding (and a touch less stressful).
With countless suitcase options on the market, we’ve enlisted the help of industry professionals and frequent travelers to help you wade through the selections—and share a bit of their own luggage strategy. Veteran Delta Air Lines flight attendant Andrea Davis has logged countless trips around the globe, and the biggest suitcase advice she has is to bring a hard-shell option because it “usually receives less damage, and the maneuverability with four wheels is unbeatable.”
From sturdy checked bags to flexible carry-ons, these tried-and-tested pieces of luggage have gotten our experts through their travels with ease, functionality, and in most cases, style. Let’s dig through their picks for the best luggage brands.
This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler’s first-ever Luggage Week, for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors.
Briggs & Riley
“I am in love with my Briggs & Riley Baseline spinner. The CX compression and expansion allows me to adjust to my travel needs. It’s lightweight for a bag of its size, plus I love the colors—my bright blue allows me to spot my suitcase quickly amongst the sea of black bags. For a carry-on, I love my It Luggage replicating cabin roller bag. It’s sleek, light, and very reasonably priced.” —Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Rimowa
“I often have to cart my suitcase around to meetings; my Rimowa is sleek enough to sit in boardrooms, durable enough to get banged around, and lightweight so that lugging it isn’t a chore.” —Tom Marchant, owner and co-founder, Black Tomato
SteamLine Luggage
“Airports can be a bleak setting, but seeing my SteamLine luggage is a reminder of romantic travel days past. It always brings a smile to my face. Travel is amazing, but the process of getting places can be stressful. With SteamLine Luggage, I can take a bit of that control back and add some beauty to the process of getting away.” —Leora Novick, founder of Persephone Social, a hospitality-focused social media agency
Paravel
“Paravel has a wide selection and a core focus on producing sustainable, carbon-neutral luggage. I particularly like the Aviator collection, which is made from recycled materials yet feels luxurious and timeless. Paravel offsets all emissions in the production process from sourcing to delivery, so I like knowing that I’m contributing to a good cause when buying its products.” —Joan Roca, CEO and co-founder of Essentialist, a members-only travel service
Thule
“Within the last month I was in Santa Fe, New Mexico, biking in Norway, and now in route to Dallas, Texas,” says Myron “Mylo” Fowler, a National Geographic photographer, mountain biker, and an activist for Navajo Nation. “The Thule Aion allows me to pack gear, clothes, laptops, battery banks, and my water bottle much more efficiently with the layout of the bag, and it is incredibly comfortable. From the heat, rain, or the travel shuffle, the Thule Aion is my favorite travel bag for various assignments. And, the materials it is made of are absolutely durable.” Another perk: Thule's Aion collection is Bluesign certified and made from 100 percent recycled materials.
Samsonite
“For smaller items, I really like Tumi. My backpack and carry-on trolleys are all Tumi. For larger suitcases, you can’t go wrong with a Samsonite lightweight hard-top. Their customer service is exceptional—they replaced my two-year-old suitcase recently because the airline ripped off one of the wheels, no questions asked. Checked-in bags get pounded and beaten up and I would not want to spend a lot of money on an item that has to be replaced after a few years (if you travel frequently).” —Gary Portuesi, president and owner, Authentic Italy
Victorinox
“I always like Victorinox,” says Navin Sawhney, CEO, Americas at Ponant. The company's hard-sided luggage is especially sturdy, not to mention sleek: Pieces in the Lexicon collection, for example, feature polycarbonate shells, puncture-resistant zippers, and a combination lock.
The North Face
“I don’t have just one [kind of bag]. My Patagonia roller duffel is handy. I almost always have my North Face duffel, since you can make it big or small with straps, and reduce it to a carry-on. We recommend unusual colors so that you can find your bag easily. Having one that’s waterproof is super handy, since we can go from plane to boat to kayak. And with active travel, it’s nice to have two bags—one for more formal, clean stuff, and the other for shoes or gear or dirty clothes. It’s very important to have good bag tags so that on arrival, staff can make sure that the right bags get into the right room. Always helpful to have a lock as well!” —Cari Gray, founder, Gray & Co.
Away
“My pick goes to Away, though of course I’d love a Globe-Trotter suitcase—they’re so chic,” says Martin Brudnizki, founder of the eponymous design studio. The New York–based luggage brand's high-profile collaborations, which have featured the likes of tennis player Serena Williams and photographer Gray Malin, keep its inventory feeling fresh and covetable.
Eagle Creek
“My current bag has survived more than 200 safaris,” says Nicky Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of Kenya's Angama Mara. Bonus: The sustainably-minded company also touts its own in-house repair center to help keep your gear in tip-top shape—and out of a landfill.
Lipault
“I love my tiny, lightweight carry-on from Lipault. It has wheels, is soft-sided, and can squeeze into most overhead compartments.” —Mary Celeste Beall, owner, Blackberry Farm
Métier London
“You can’t beat Rimowa for checked-in suitcases. I also like Métier London for travel and day bags and pouches.” —Jannes Soerensen, general manager, The Beaumont
Arc’teryx
“I’m a fan of Arc’teryx, especially its rolling duffel,” says Landed co-founder John Montgomery. Founded in Canada, the sporting goods company's slick gear, from anoraks and insulated jackets to backpacks and harnesses, is smart and tough.
Delsey
“Delsey’s suitcases are inexpensive, lightweight, and have great wheels. They’re also French—and all that implies.” —Richard Bruce Turen, owner and managing director, Churchill & Turen LTD
Tumi
“I love the Tumi carry-on, the largest model—it expands or shrinks, depending. There’s also the Rimowa aluminum, which I love. It’s the trunk suitcase on wheels.” —Mary Jean Tully, founder and CEO, Tully Luxury Travel
Ghurka
“I love Ghurka luggage, which is made in the US. Beautiful, simple, and by now, part of me.” —Francis Ford Coppola, director and hotelier
Baggallini
“I think it’s important while traveling to blend in and not call attention with jewelry, dress, or accessories—so I stick with basic suitcases like Travelpro. I’m also a fan of Baggallini; my go-to travel tote, backpack, and purse are all Baggallini. I also always have my passport in a RFID-blocking passport holder.” —Linda Allen-Speer, owner, Cruises by Linda
Head
“I love my Head travel bags. They are huge and fit a lot of stuff—not just my tennis racquets—in special compartments for my long trips.” —Taylor Fritz, top-ranked US men’s tennis player
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.