The 14 Best Hardside Luggage Pieces of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. These durable suitcases are built to last and look good, too. In This Article

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

These durable suitcases are built to last and look good, too.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Whether you're a frequent flier or an occasional jet-setter, you'll always be glad to have sturdy, dependable luggage that safeguards your belongings. With a rigid frame, the hardside variety helps prevent things from breaking or crushing. It can also be easier to wipe clean than a softside design and has a sleek, modern appeal.

If you want the crème de la crème of hardside suitcases, you've come to the right place. But what makes a top-notch model? Besides a high-strength exterior that protects your stuff and withstands wear and tear, it's about maneuverability, capacity, standout features, and — yes — style.

The Travel + Leisure team has tested more than 600 pieces of luggage, including checked bags and carry-ons, to see which ones stack up. During our various luggage tests, we pack the suitcases with clothes, shoes, and toiletries to see how spacious they are; spin them through obstacle courses to test the wheels and handles; and give them a few good whacks with a baseball bat to check durability. We also built an airplane set in our lab to lift carry-on suitcases into overhead bins, place them underneath seats, and roll them down carpeted aisles to see how portable and lightweight they are. These are our favorite hardside suitcases.

The Chatelet Air 2.0 is functional and durable, showing its worth after months of long-term testing across planes, trains, and boats.

It's not expandable, so you'll have to be a strategic packer.

The compact yet spacious design of this stylish carry-on from Delsey features a zippered compartment on one side and compression straps on the other. While it doesn't expand, you can fit a decent amount of stuff inside (it has a generous 44-liter capacity) and have peace of mind knowing everything will stay in place. We like that there are multiple interior pockets, a removable pouch, and a USB port you can hook up to a portable charger. Even when packed full, the zippers open and close smoothly. Lastly, the four dual spinner wheels glided effortlessly across hard flooring, carpet, and even stone pavers.

This suitcase also passed our lab durability test with flying colors, sustaining no visible damage on the light-colored exterior after we hit it with a bat and shoved it off a table. Even better, the bag has held up great during a year of real-world testing. It's clocked thousands of airline miles during trips around the world, including stops in Costa Rica, Italy, Morocco, and Egypt.

"I brought this to Egypt and ended up checking it more than once, and it still looks beautiful and surprisingly clean," says Travel + Leisure editor Taylor Fox. "We carried it on planes, trains, and boats, and it was easy to lift and maneuver throughout every situation."

It features a unique brake system that keeps it from rolling away.

It would be nice to have an expansion feature on the bag.

If you've ever had to chase your bag as it rolls away while you're distracted, you'll love the Aer Carry-on. It has several innovative features, but our favorite is the Hinomoto wheel brake system that prevents the bag from going anywhere. “It's such a unique feature and helpful if on public transport or stopping on an incline with bags since it securely holds the bag in place,” says T+L associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker, who owns the carry-on.

The brake system is complimented by the wheels that roll, spin, and turn smoothly over various surfaces. We also love other smart additions to the bag, like top and side handles for easy carrying and a hidden pocket for a luggage tracker. With a 48-liter capacity, it's pretty spacious for a carry-on. While there is no expansion feature, the various compartments and pockets inside and the Y compression strap really help to keep things compact and organized. The bag did experience some minor scuffing during our durability tests, but it still feels sturdy overall and has otherwise held up well during travel.

This compact bag holds a lot thanks to its compression straps, zippers, and an expansion feature.

The flex feature adds an extra 2.25 inches of space, but it also makes the bag too large for most overhead bins.

This Away bag has a surprising amount of space for a carry-on, with two large interior compartments (one on each side), compression straps, and dividers that keep your clothing from falling out when you open the bag (everything stayed in place even after we threw the bag multiple times off a table). While we were packing the bag during our lab tests, we loved how all of the interior zippers and pockets helped keep everything organized, allowing us to maximize space even without packing cubes. There is also a handy zipper expansion that adds an extra 2.25 inches of space, which is useful, but it does make the bag too large to use as a carry-on on many flights, and you’ll likely be forced to check it. Even when packed full, the zippers all ran smoothly, and we found it easy to maneuver the luggage over concrete tiles, carpet, and around our obstacle course full of bystanders. The wheels rotated smoothly throughout testing, and the bag will even roll on its own without getting stuck if you give it a shove.

This checked suitcase has an enormous capacity, zippered compartments, pockets, and removable pouches for easy packing.

It's durable, but the exterior is prone to scuffing.

This checked suitcase from Beis is one of the larger ones we've we tested. There was easily enough room for double the amount of stuff on our packing list — and that's without the expander, which adds another 2 inches to the depth. Beyond the enormous 112-liter capacity, the internal pockets and removable pouches helped us keep things organized, while the zippered compartment and compression straps ensured everything stayed in place. This suitcase also comes with a laundry bag for keeping your dirty clothes separated while you're away and a retractable strap to make carrying another piece of luggage easier. We did notice over three months of testing that the downside to the large size and helpful organizational features is that it's easy to overpack, leading to overweight luggage fees. However, it does have a unique built-in weight indicator to help with that.

Considering how big this suitcase is, the smooth spinner wheels and padded handle make it comfortable to maneuver. While this bag passed our durability tests without any dents or scratches, it scuffs pretty easily when you check it. However, the darker colors should conceal marks better, and you can wipe down the exterior to remove scuffs as needed.

It weighs under 5 pounds and is extremely durable, if falling unscathed 130,000 feet from space is any indication.

It's a bit pricey compared to some of the carry-ons on this list.

This texturized Samsonite carry-on weighs 4.7 pounds and is one of the lightest suitcases we have ever tested. Despite being so featherlight, no durability was sacrificed. Even after we beat it with a baseball bat and jumped on it repeatedly, the suitcase didn’t even slightly scuff. Samsonite literally dropped it 130,000 feet from space, and it came out virtually unscathed, so withstanding the wear and tear of travel will be a cake walk. The suitcase is expandable, and with the help of packing cubes, we were able to fit a week’s worth of clothing inside. There's also an exterior integrated USB port and TSA-approved locks.

Inside, you’ll find two fully zippered halves. One side has a mesh zippered pocket, while the opposite side has an X-strap. There isn’t any interior compression, but with smart packing you won’t need even it. During our tests, the wheels glided smoothly on different types of surfaces. We found it easy to lift the fully packed suitcase into the overhead compartments on our airplane sit because of how slim it is, even when expanded. At $500, it may be a bit pricey for some budgets, but its space-defying durability and near-negligent weight more than makes up for it.

Weighing in at 5.8 pounds, this is unbelievably lightweight for a large checked bag, helping maximize space without weighing you down.

It’s a large suitcase without many pockets or organizational features, so you may need packing cubes.

Samsonite redesigned its popular Cosmolite suitcase to have a new look and new features, including making it more lightweight than ever before. Weighing under 6 pounds, this checked suitcase is so light that the outer shell feels sort of flexible, and we were worried it wouldn’t survive our baseball bat test — but it actually came through with no scuffs, scratches, or dents, even after we hit the case, the wheels, and the exposed handle multiple times. Despite the size, it didn't feel cumbersome to roll over different types of terrain, and it rolled just as easily on two and four wheels whether we pushed it ahead of us or rolled it behind.

The T-shaped handle is part of Samsonite’s redesign, and we thought it was even more comfortable to hold than a traditional suitcase handle, although it might not hold personal items with trolley pass-throughs as securely as a rounded handle. This suitcase is very roomy, but it doesn’t have many pockets or zippers for organization, so we’d recommend using packing cubes to keep your belongings in place. If you’re a heavy packer, this lightweight suitcase will help keep your checked baggage weight low while still giving you plenty of space to bring ample outfit options without having to scale back.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 5.8 pounds | 29.5 x 20.1 x 12.2 inches | Curv material | 4 spinner wheels

This affordable carry-on is lightweight yet sturdy, with a scratch-resistant exterior and an unexpectedly spacious capacity.

There are limited color options, and it doesn't have any smart features or a TSA lock.

For something a little easier on your wallet, look no further than Amazon. The Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner is one of our favorite budget-friendly suitcases, and we recently retested it in our lab to see if we loved it as much as we did two years ago. We're happy to say it continues to exceed our expectations when it comes to durability and design. This bag has a thick thermoplastic shell that promises to protect your belongings and resist scratches. It also showed no signs of damage from both of our bat hits and drop tests. "Even after whacking it pretty aggressively with a baseball bat, this bag stood up to scuffs and scratches beautifully," says T+L senior editor Jasmine Grant. "The few imperfections that I did notice after the bat test were easily buffed out by rubbing them gently with my finger."

The bag is easy to maneuver, even on carpeted flooring and over bumps. We could fit every last item on our packing list, including shoes, clothes, jackets, and toiletries. There's also an expander that increases the capacity by 25 percent. Although this affordable carry-on suitcase doesn't have smart features or a TSA lock, it really exceeded our expectations. We'd love a few more color options but like the pared-down appearance.

Backed by a lifetime guarantee, this futuristic suitcase is impressively spacious, with a durable aluminum exterior and smooth-rolling wheels.

It's not expandable, and the metallic exterior is prone to scuffs.

When it comes to aluminum luggage, the Rimowa Original Cabin is a worthwhile investment if you can swing the steep price. Though it doesn't expand, this suitcase meets carry-on size limits for most airlines while still offering an impressive amount of interior space. We packed it for a four-day trip and easily fit several outfits, outerwear, and multiple pairs of shoes inside. Not only that, but the dividers help ensure everything stays securely in place.

Thanks to the smooth-gliding spinner wheels, we had no issue rolling this bag over hard floors, carpet, pavement, and even cobblestone. We can't say it's the lightest carry-on, but it's not excessively heavy, either. We could hoist it into an overhead compartment and lift it into a car when packed full. Our favorite thing about this suitcase might be the slick, futuristic design and high-end appearance. It's remarkably durable, too, sustaining zero damage during our in-cabin travel test. The brand backs the suitcase with a lifetime guarantee, but make sure to register your luggage as soon as you pull it out of the packaging.

Most hardside luggage does not have an outer pocket, but this expandable bag features a front zippered pocket that can fit laptops up to 16 inches.

The zippers don't always glide smoothly, and you need to exercise a bit more caution to unzip the front zippered pocket.

We've tested a lot of Monos luggage at T+L, and this expandable version of the popular Carry-on Pro is one of our favorite new pieces. Its crowning feature is its padded, front zippered pocket that boasts three internal pockets: two slip and one zippered. Most hardside luggage does not have an outer pocket, so this is a somewhat unique feature, and this pocket is large enough to fit laptops up to 16 inches, as well as additional essentials like tablets, books, spare cables, and even slimmer toiletry bags.

The suitcase opens evenly like a clamshell, and one side features a large zippered mesh pocket and a smaller, zippered mesh pocket. This side is slightly shallower than the opposite side because the carry-on's front zippered pocket is recessed and eats up some internal space. However, the carry-on's expanding sizes, which give you an extra 1.6 inches of depth, easily remedies the the issue. The opposite half has a removable compression panel and a small, discreet pocket ideal for storing bluetooth tracking devices like Apple AirTags.

The carry-on also comes with a few extra features, including two antimicrobial shoe bags and one laundry bag that are great for separating your dirty clothes and shoes from your clean ones; a vegan leather luggage tag with a privacy cover; and a transparent, jelly-like protective cover that you can stretch over the entire suitcase to ward off scuffs and scratches, although we don't anticipate you needing it. The suitcase's polycarbonate shell feels very sturdy and survived a couple of rounds with our baseball bat without incident. Our main gripe is that the zippers don't always run the smoothest, especially those for the front zippered pocket which are in a groove and need a little more finessing to zip open and closed.

This large trunk has tons of organizational features, like a suite of packing cubes that fit perfectly inside.

You do have to pay extra for the packing cubes, and we wish the handle went a little bit higher.

Travel trunks are known for their high capacity and sturdy construction. The Paravel Aviator Trunk offers both of these features, boasting 95 liters of space and a tough polycarbonate shell. We were able to fit a week's worth of clothing, a few pairs of shoes, and toiletry bags in the deeper side of the 70/30 clamshell shape, leaving the other side open for another packer or souvenirs to bring home. Our only concern about the size is that, like many large suitcases and trunks, it will be a challenge to keep the packed bag under the 50-pound airline weight limit.

We think it's a must to pay the extra cost for the seven packing cubes that are designed specially for the trunk because they fit perfectly in the deeper part of the bag and come with interchangeable labels. This organizational feature was so nice to use while packing and made it easy to be efficient with the space. The trunk also came with a large shoe or laundry bag, and the interior flaps have zippered pockets for even more packing help. "The packing cubes and plenty of additional pockets are a dream for travelers who like to be organized," says T+L associate editor Anna Popp, who owns this trunk.

The wheels rolled smoothly during testing, and we found the bag easy to maneuver despite its massive stature — though we wish the handle was a little taller. The hardside shell also held up well during our durability tests and showed no signs of damage other than a small scuff mark. The organization system of this trunk is amazing, but the overall durability, maneuverability, and stylish look makes it a winner.

This bag comes with an ejectable battery with a USB-C charger, and the telescopic handle features 20 different heights.

It doesn’t have an expander, and we wish there were more internal pockets for additional storage.

This carry-on is appropriately sized to fit in the overhead bin on standard airlines without feeling overly bulky or cumbersome. Though it doesn’t have an expander, it felt like it had a larger capacity than similarly sized carry-ons that we’ve tried. Our favorite thing about this smart suitcase is that it comes with a removable battery so you don’t have to live in fear of your phone dying when you can’t find an open outlet in the airport. While many smart bags have a charger, they don’t always include the battery as well.

The polycarbonate shell feels very durable, with reinforced bumpers that felt like they added an extra layer of protection against our drop tests, in which we threw the fully packed bag off a tall counter from different angles. The wheels rolled smoothly over both concrete and carpet, and the interior Y-strap compression system helped keep all of our belongings in place. We also loved that we could raise the handle to 20 different heights, making it comfortable to walk with no matter how tall or short you are.

This massive trunk has the largest capacity on this list.

The outside shell dented after we hit it with a baseball bat.

This Extra Large Trunk Spinner from Briggs & Riley is one of the largest bags we've ever tested — and by far the largest on this list. This substantial bag has enough space for multiple people to share, making it a great option for families or people taking longer trips. Described as an "absolute monster" during testing, this trunk is also relatively light for its size, weighing just over 10 pounds when empty, though you still have to be careful when packing because the 123.9-liter capacity makes it easy to go over an airline's weight limit. Even when packed full, the wheels rolled smoothly and the handle was comfortable to use.

The 80/20 lid of this bag opens to reveal two deep compartments that can fit large and bulky items, with compression panels and zippered pockets to help you stay organized. It should be noted that the shell did dent when we hit it with a bat during testing, but we still feel like we can trust this bag to keep our things safe while traveling. It's one of the best options you'll find if you want to prioritize packing space.

This stylish aluminum bag is gorgeous, with Tumi’s signature contours on the outside and high-quality details inside.

This compact carry-on is heavy, weighing 11 pounds when empty.

Aluminum suitcases are supreme for their sleek look and durability. Though the Tumi 19 Degree Aluminum International Carry-on is one of the priciest options on this list, we think it’s worth the investment for its elegant appearance and luxurious details, like the contours in the frame and the leather-wrapped handles. Like most aluminum suitcases, this 11-pound bag heavy for such a compact carry-on, but we thought the wheels rolled so smoothly that it was still easy to travel with. The bag held up pretty well when we hit it with a baseball bat, faring a little dent in one corner, but keep in mind that aluminum tends to dent more easily than other materials.

If you’re trying to decide between this and a Rimowa carry-on, T+L associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker feels that the Tumi has better internal organization (including a hanger hook and two interior dividers that you can fully zip shut), while the Rimowa is a little more spacious and has better compression.

This suitcase has a resilient shell, water-repellent zippers, and a customizable colorblock design.

It's somewhat small for checked luggage.

When it comes to durability, the Roam Check-in is tough to beat. The rigid polycarbonate shell looks and feels sturdy, and it sustained exactly zero nicks, scuffs, or dents during our tests. For even more peace of mind, the exterior zippers are water repellent — perfect if you're packing for a trip to London or any potentially rainy location. It's on the smaller side for checked luggage, but the expander gives you an extra couple of inches. While we were able to fit all the essentials for a four-day vacation, we would have appreciated a bit more space.

This midsize suitcase was easy to move around — even on gravel — and the handles come in handy when lifting it. The colorblock design is cool but not over the top and makes for a great way to spot your luggage at baggage claim. One of the most unique features is that you can customize the colors if you're not a fan of the precurated colors or just want something personalized.

We've tested more than 600 pieces of luggage in our New York City lab and on our airplane set to assess durability, capacity, maneuverability, design, and overall value. In line with the size of each bag, we packed them with enough essentials for a multi-day trip, including pants, shirts, underwear, socks, shoes, jackets, and toiletries, paying special attention to organizational features. We threw the bags off tables and hit the with baseball bats to test durability, ran them over different surfaces and through obstacle courses to test maneuverability, and lifted them into overhead bins (and weighed them) to see how lightweight they felt. Following our lab assessments, we continue testing the bags in our real-life travels over a six-month period (and beyond) to see how they perform long-term. Every few months, we test even more suitcases, and we will continue updating this article as we discover new hardside luggage we love.

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

We've tested so many suitcases that these bags did not make our main list of recommendations yet still stood out from the pack. They all had positive attributes, but a few things held them back.

Zero Halliburton Classic Aluminum 3.0 International Carry-on: This is one of the most durable suitcases we’ve ever tested, though it’s pretty similar in size and style to our Tumi pick for best aluminum bag. We ultimately included the Tumi instead because it’s ever-so-slightly larger and can hold more.

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Quince Expandable Carry-on Hard Shell Suitcase: We loved this suitcase's minimalist yet sleek design and expandable sides, but we weren't overly impressed with its handle. While it was quite ergonomic, it only had two height settings and didn't lock into place as seamlessly as other suitcases we've tested.

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 28-inch Lightweight Durable Hardshell: This is a stylish, spacious suitcase at a fantastic price. The only thing that kept it from the winners list here is that it did not roll as well on gravel as some others.

Béis The Carry-on Roller: We love the organizational features and sophisticated look of this bag. If it rolled just a tiny bit better it would be up on our winners list.

Bric’s Positano 27-inch Spinner: Inspired by the colors of the Italian coast, the Positano Spinner comes in different shades of blue and green. We tested the 27-inch style, which is a great option for a midsize checked bag, though we wish it had more organizational features inside. It's still a great option if you're looking for a checked bag that's not overly large.

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Hardside luggage is about more than a sleek, modern appearance — though this is a welcome bonus. Suitcases with rigid shells are typically made of polycarbonate, a high-strength thermoplastic, though you can also find them in other materials like aluminum (also very durable). This helps protect your belongings from impact, whether your belongings include a formal suit, a robust makeup collection, wine bottles, or camera equipment. In addition to preventing things from crushing or breaking, hardside luggage is also easy to wipe clean. Having said that, lighter colors and matte finishes are sometimes prone to scuffing.

When browsing options, don't overlook the interior. A suitcase should ideally have a spacious capacity, even if it's a relatively compact carry-on. Organizational features can make packing and accessing everything much easier, too, in addition to using packing cubes. This might include dual main compartments, dividers, zippered sections, a compression panel, various pockets, a shoe separator, a laptop sleeve, a garment sleeve, or a removable laundry bag.

We also recommend looking for lightweight luggage, especially when carrying on. Note the empty weight before buying a hardside suitcase, as heavier models can make it harder to lift and roll when packed full. In terms of maneuverability, four spinner wheels are ideal. A locking telescoping handle will make pushing and pulling a jam-packed suitcase more comfortable, and grab handles will make it easier to lift into an overhead bin.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Every luggage company has a different warranty, so it's usually best practice to read your brand's policy ahead of traveling to address any defects or concerns before it's too late. Sometimes the warranties are only valid if you purchase directly through the luggage company instead of through third-party sellers like a department store, and you will likely need to show proof of purchase so keep your receipt.

Brands like Samsonite and Monos have lifetime warranties that are actually limited in practice. While they cover manufacturing defects, most companies won't cover damages due to misuse, cosmetic damages (including scuffs, dents, and stains), or if your suitcase breaks while traveling with it (that's what travel insurance is for). We recommend lightly testing your suitcase's wheels, zippers, and other special features at home prior to your trip to ensure that they're functional and suit your needs.

Hardside suitcases are the gold standard for many travelers. Besides the contemporary appearance, lots of folks appreciate how they protect what's inside. However, after testing more than 600 total pieces of luggage, we can tell you that a rigid shell doesn't always point to superior durability. Softside models are often just as resilient, and they tend to be more flexible if you need to stuff more items inside. While textile exteriors can be difficult to keep clean, they typically don't scuff as easily, though you may run the risk of them getting caught on something and ripping at baggage claim.

As noted, rigid suitcases can scuff, especially lighter colors and matte finishes. But they're generally very easy to clean. You can gently polish a suitcase with mild soap and water or a luggage-specific cleaning spray. If you're on the go or short on time, you can wipe it down with a pre-moistened disinfectant wipe or even a window-cleaning towelette.

Suitcase linings are sometimes removable and machine washable. If not, you can likely wipe it down just as you would the outside, then leave it open so it can air-dry thoroughly. When in doubt, check the brand's care instructions.

It depends on the quality of the material and luggage brand, but most hardside suitcases are made from sturdy polycarbonate that may scuff but shouldn't crack. Some hardside luggage pieces — especially those made from less expensive materials — can crack over time, but durable bags should stand up to your travels. We personally haven't experienced it with any of the bags on this list after traveling with them for more than six months. If you're worried about cracks, we recommend an aluminum suitcase for premium strength.

T+L contributor Theresa Holland is a commerce writer specializing in travel essentials, apparel, recreation, and trip planning. For this story, she sorted through our extensive in-house testing insights, then combed through product manuals to craft a comprehensive roundup of today's best hardside luggage. T+L editors will continue to update the article as we test more hardside suitcases that perform well.

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The 14 Best Hardside Luggage Pieces of 2024, Tested and Reviewed