The best checked luggage we tested:
Best checked luggage: Away The Medium
Best budget checked luggage: The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner
Best aluminum checked luggage: MVST Select Trek Medium Aluminum Suitcase
Facing rising fees and busy airports, many air travelers depend on carry-on luggage to get them through every trip. But if you’re going on a long journey or traveling with family, a bigger checked bag is a must. To help you wade through the options, we tested 13 of the most popular checked suitcases for weeks, examining durability, capacity, maneuverability and more, to see which one is truly the best.
We packed and unpacked each suitcase with a typical load, wheeled them around New York City streets and even dropped them down a flight of stairs to simulate the treatment they might get from baggage handlers. After testing, we found three winners that are really worth taking along on your next long trip.
With fantastic internal organization and compression, a durable exterior and comfortable handles, Away’s The Medium suitcase was the most well-rounded bag we tested. It offers a great combination of maneuverability, capacity, durability and style.
The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner checked suitcase rolls super smooth, fits more due to its expandable zippers and is one of the lightest bags we tested.
For not much more money than a polycarbonate suitcase, the lightweight aluminum-magnesium alloy MVST Select Trek Medium Aluminum Suitcase is a great way to get the durable, beautiful look of a metal case without breaking the bank.
Best checked luggage: Away The Medium
From $345 at Away
The Away The Medium suitcase was undoubtedly the most well-rounded piece of luggage we got our hands on, outdoing the other bags in many of our most important tests. It’s solid and durable — with only a few scuffs from its trip down the stairs — has an incredible interior compression system, is easily maneuverable and is even comfortable to carry for when you need to lift it in and out of the car.
One of the biggest reasons the Away suitcase claimed our top spot was its fantastic interior organization and compression system. While most of the luggage we tested utilize the classic X-shaped straps to keep your clothes in place, one side of Away’s The Medium has a panel that you can cinch down to flatten its contents. This panel compresses your items more evenly than straps, which makes closing the two halves and zipping a much easier process. Another bonus of this panel: If you unzip your suitcase and accidentally open it with this side on top, your things won’t come tumbling out onto the floor the way they can with traditional straps. The suitcase’s other half has a simple zippered mesh netting.
Using the two sides, we were able to fit a surprisingly large amount of clothes into the Away The Medium. We packed eight button-up shirts (including a few bulky flannels), six hoodies and sweaters, two bathing suits, one towel, a puffy winter coat, five pairs of jeans, a toiletry bag and three pairs of sneakers. We stuffed our sneakers into what was probably our favorite feature of the suitcase: an included zippered bag that you can use to stash your shoes or dirty clothes while traveling but can pack into itself when not in use.
While a few other suitcases had more capacity than the Away, thanks to expandable zippers or a larger interior, the Away’s organization made it by far our favorite to pack. And if you do want more room, you can opt for Away’s The Large suitcase, which is 29 inches tall to The Medium’s 25 inches. Just be careful to stay under the 50-pound airline limit when packing, as suitcases that big are easy to overstuff.
Aside from its internal features, the Away also did great in our other tests. It got scuffed up after we dropped it down some stairs, but it comes with a scuff eraser, which worked surprisingly well. It came out of the drop with only a couple of lasting scratches, which is better than many of the other bags we tested.
In terms of maneuverability, it wasn’t the absolute best we tested, but it was definitely better than most. The Away The Medium is well balanced, has smooth wheels and rarely tipped over, even when we rolled it over deep cracks in the sidewalk and street outside our Brooklyn apartment. The Rimowa Essential Check-In Medium and the Paravel Aviator Grand had a better overall performance when we wheeled them around, but the Away handled well enough. However, we did have one wheel that rattled around once or twice during testing, and when the bag was fully packed, the handle was a little sticky coming up.
On top of all its technical attributes, the Away suitcase is undoubtedly gorgeous. We ranked it second in terms of looks (again, behind the Paravel), and its sleek, minimalist design is available in six colors as well as the occasional limited-edition color.
So, whenever your next trip might be, if you need a reliable checked bag that’s comfortable to wheel around, easy to pack and can endure through the abuse of any airline, the Away Medium suitcase is the best out there.
Best budget checked luggage: Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner
$230 $180 at Amazon or $240 $180 at Samsonite
The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner performed quite well in our tests, especially when taking into account that the other bags that performed as well cost closer to $300. The Freeform’s wheels are smoother than the ones on the Away suitcase, and with an expandable zipper on the outside, it can fit more than our overall winner while weighing nearly a pound less.
The Freeform doesn’t have a compression panel like the Away, but you will find the traditional X-shaped straps that do the job on one side and a zippered compartment on the other side features an additional thin pocket to stash any odds and ends. While the organization and compression isn’t as good as the Away suitcase, this Samsonite roller makes up for it in size. The internal space feels a touch bigger than the Away The Medium, and when you expand the bag by unzipping the outer zippers you can definitely fit more than our overall pick.
But even though it fits more, the Freeform weighs less than the Away, coming in at exactly 9 pounds on our scale (the company’s site lists it at 8.48 pounds). That’s 0.8 pounds lighter than the Away at 9.8 pounds, which means carrying the same load up and down flights of stairs felt a bit better with the Freeform. However, its handles aren’t as comfortable as the Away’s since they’re thin and not super cushioned.
While the Freeform was one of the better bags to maneuver around both in our apartment building and outside it, one downside was its telescopic handle. It’s flimsier than a lot of the others we tested, which means there’s a lot of give when you’re trying to change directions, especially when the bag is packed full. It also didn’t come out of the drop test the cleanest, with a solid number of scuffs and scratches; however, there was no real structural damage like dents or cracks.
The Samsonite Freeform Medium Spinner is a lot cheaper than the Away The Medium, and it has more internal capacity without sacrificing on weight. So, if you’re looking for a suitcase that’s light and easy to roll around, but you don’t need it to be the sturdiest, the Samsonite Freeform is definitely the bag we’d recommend.
Best aluminum checked luggage: MVST Select Trek Medium Aluminum Suitcase
From $395 at MVST Select
For those who enjoy the aesthetics and stability of an aluminum suitcase but don’t want to pay many hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars for a higher-end option, the MVST Select Trek Medium Aluminum Suitcase makes a lot of sense. It’s rugged, light, stable and looks great after being banged around (arguably even better), so at not much more upfront than a quality polycarbonate case, it’s a good way to get into the material.
Right out of the box, the sleek, high-end look of the MVST Trek really separates it from the polycarbonate options I tested. The shiny metal finish not only provide a pleasing aesthetic but makes the case easy to pick out of a crowded baggage carousel. It’s important to mention that this metal shell is actually an aluminum-magnesium alloy, so apart from the all-aluminum corner guards, it doesn’t have that rock-solid feel you might expect. This alloy construction does allow it to maintain a 10.7 pound weight, though, and we were surprised at how comfortable it was to lift and carry during testing.
The MVST aluminum material accumulated a few scuffs and scratches during our abrasion and drop tests, but unlike polycarbonate cases, the cosmetic wear and tear wasn’t really noticeable and didn’t make the case look beat-up. Rather, it resulted in more of a worn-in, “well-traveled” patina, like a oft-used watch or tool (which is part of the draw of aluminum luggage).
My favorite feature of metal luggage pieces like this one is their latched locking systems. The heavy-duty, TSA-friendly latches of this case eliminate the hassle of stuck or popped zippers, and they provide the peace of mind that your suitcase is securely closed and locked. The MVST Trek also features briefcase-style, soft-close handles on the top and side, which automatically fold out of the way as soon as you let go. The side-mounted handle is particularly comfortable to use, compared to zippered checked luggage that flexes and stretches when carried this way.
Inside, twin compression dividers and zippered pockets provide plenty of storage options. Although the wheels have a smooth feel to them and maneuvering the MVST is a simple feat, the telescoping handle is a little flimsier than we’d like, and the hard plastic grip isn’t as comfortable as other models we tested. The 62-liter capacity of this “medium” size is on the lower end of checked bag sizes, so if it’s not as roomy as you’d like, MVST also offers a larger, 97-liter option.
How we tested
We got our hands on nine check-in-sized suitcases and tested them for weeks, taking note of their packing capabilities, durability, maneuverability and more. Like the best carry-on luggage, checked bags these days are meant to be wheeled around easily, so all the suitcases we tested have four 360-degree wheels and a hard-shell exterior. We tested medium-sized bags whenever possible, which are typically about 25 inches tall. This is because while you can fit much more in the larger sizes — which are normally around 29 inches tall — it’s easy to overpack and exceed an airline’s weight limit.
The Paravel Aviator Grand and the Samsonite Maxsum Eco are the only bags we tested that are larger than 25 inches, coming in at 28 inches and 29 inches respectively. Many of the other suitcases we tested do have larger sizes available, though, so if you want the extra room, you can opt for those.
Here’s a breakdown of the tests we ran:
Durability
- Impact: After fully packing each suitcase, we pushed it down a tall flight of stairs. We then took note of how scuffed and scratched it was, and we looked for any dents.
Usability
- Capacity test: We packed the Away The Medium suitcase to the brim and set the contents as our standard amount. We then packed each suitcase to see how well it fit that standard amount, taking note if everything fit, if it was harder to zip up the suitcase or if there was extra room.
- General maneuverability: We wheeled each packed suitcase around our apartment building and on the sidewalk and streets. We purposely went over cracks and rough terrain to see how easily each suitcase would tilt and tip. We also wove the suitcase around to see how hard it was to change directions.
- Wheel maneuverability: We paid attention to any rattling or stiffness we felt in the wheels while rolling each suitcase around, and while outside, we made sure to notice if the wheels got stuck on cracks.
- Carrying experience: We carried each packed suitcase up and down several flights of stairs to see how comfortable the handles were and how comfortable each was to carry, simulating an on-the-go travel experience.
- Handle: We took note of how sturdy the handle was, how comfortable it was to hold and pull, how many height settings it had and if it was easy to pull in and out, especially when the bag was fully packed.
- Zippers: We zipped and unzipped each packed bag several times to see if the zippers would snag. We also took note of how smooth each zipper felt.
- Interior features: We noted each suitcase’s interior organization system.
- Exterior features: We looked for any exterior features on each suitcase. The only extra features on the outside were expandable zippers to help you pack more.
- Locking capability: We looked to see if each suitcase had a lock and if it’s a TSA-approved lock.
Design and build quality
- Unpacked weight: We weighed each suitcase on a scale while empty.
- Color and design options: We counted the color and design options on each luggage brand’s website and noted if the suitcase had a larger size.
- Warranty: We took note of how long each suitcase’s warranty lasts and what it covers.
- Design: We examined each suitcase and ranked them in order of which ones we thought looked the best.
Other checked luggage we tested
Briggs & Riley Torq Medium Hardside Trunk Spinner
$669 $599 at Amazon or $669 at Briggs & Riley
The unique design of this Briggs & Riley piece combines the cavernous space of a trunk with the light weight and maneuverability of a 360-degree spinner suitcase. Unlike typical checked bags that have a flatter, narrower profile, the squared-off shape is more convenient (at least for us) to fit into car trunks or slide into the back of an SUV and is much less likely to tip over when rolling around. I also loved the asymmetrical interior compartments, with one large section and another smaller one that acts as the “lid.” This is not only convenient for storing bulky or odd-shaped items, but is also much more comfortable to open than center-aligned zippers that require you to flop open a heavy top section.
The trunk shape is less comfortable to carry by the top or side handle when fully packed than some of our other picks, however, and although the zipper seams appear sturdy, the amount of flexion in the polycarbonate shell makes for a more unbalanced feel. Like other Briggs & Riley cases, it makes sense if you’re looking for a very high-quality trunk with a low-profile design and don’t mind paying a bit more for the features and materials.
July Checked Suitcase
$325 at July
July’s colorful luggage pieces are ideal for those looking for a unique piece that’s easy to spot on the luggage carousel, and (assuming there aren’t a lot of people on your flight with similar taste) unlikely for anyone else to take by mistake. The robust July Checked Suitcase offers comfortable maneuverability and a telescoping handle that can be set to any height you wish, unlike most that give you two or three height options.
The interior provides ample storage opportunities, featuring zippered dividers with twin pockets, compression straps and a stainproof laundry bag. I did find the tiny zipper pulls on the interior a little frustrating to use and personally preferred the larger pulls of the Away models.
The textured finish of the polycarbonate shell really seems to help minimize cosmetic damage, and scuffs and scratches blend in well with the rest of the exterior. This is not the case with the aluminum corner bumper’s, though, and while I’m sure they add durability, the paint scuffs off pretty easily, revealing the stark contrast of the silver aluminum underneath.
Away The Large
From $375 at Away
The Away The Large is a beefed-up version of our top pick, the Away The Medium. It provides 99.2 liters of space to the The Medium’s 68.8 liters — room for significantly more stuff. The durable shell held up well during our drop and abrasion tests, suffering a few scuffs and scrapes but exhibiting no worse damage than any other model. Plus, the included Magic Eraser-type sponge makes it easy to clean up minor marks without much hassle.
You’re also getting the same interior compression system we love on other Away luggage, with a large mesh pocket and heavy-duty straps for maximum stability during transit. The large size of this case requires a little more effort to maneuver and change directions, but I didn’t find it to be any more likely to tip over than smaller models. The telescopic handle is nice and sturdy too, and I really appreciated how large the zipper pulls were, inside and out.
If you want even more room, then consider the Away The Large Flex, which offers an optional 1.75 inches of space, as well as an underside grab handle for easier lifting.
Paravel Aviator Grand
$475 at Paravel
The Paravel Aviator Grand is a fantastic suitcase, almost grabbing a top spot in our testing. It holds a ton, has a super-smooth roll, is the most sustainable bag we tested and, in our opinion, looks the best. However, it was the second biggest bag we tested and weighed the most. At 12 pounds (the company’s site lists it at 11.8 pounds), it was more than 2 pounds heavier than the Away The Medium and 3 pounds heavier than the Freeform. When you’re trying to stay under the dreaded 50-pound limit at the airport, those extra ounces really count. If you don’t mind packing strategically and want a stylish suitcase that’s surprisingly maneuverable and durable, the Paravel Aviator Grand is still a great pick.
Rimowa Essential Check-In Large
$950 at Rimowa
The Rimowa Essential Check-In Large was one of our favorites to roll around, with the smoothest wheels, sturdiest handle and best overall maneuverability of any suitcase we tested. However, the handle got extremely hard to pull in and out when it was packed full, and it didn’t excel in our drop tests either. While it is an incredibly nice piece of luggage, we just don’t think it’s worth the high price tag.
Delsey Paris Helium Aero 25-Inch Suitcase
$190 From $138 at Amazon or $190 $142 at Delsey
The Delsey Paris Helium Aero 25-Inch Suitcase was another solid contender, with decently smooth wheels and some of the most comfortable handles we tested, making it easy to carry up and down stairs. It performed very similarly to the Samsonite Freeform, so if you’re interested in that bag but don’t like the look or want a different color, the Delsey (when it’s on sale) is a great pick.
Samsonite Maxsum Eco Large Spinner
$300 at Samsonite
The Samsonite Maxsum Eco Large Spinner was another solid suitcase, and it performed pretty well in many of our tests. In fact, it came out of the drop tests with the least damage of all the suitcases we tested. It’s also very light for its size, coming in at 29 inches tall but only 9.4 pounds. However, the suitcase has a latching system instead of a zipper, which we found harder to open and close.
Calpak Ambeur Medium Luggage
$245 at Calpak
The Calpak Ambeur Medium suitcase looks great and has very comfortable handles and a decently smooth roll, making it a serious contender for our budget pick spot. However, it’s a bit pricier than the Samsonite Freeform. Still, it’s another solid option, along with the Freeform and the Delsey Paris Helium Aero, if you’re looking for a cheaper suitcase but still want top-notch performance.
Calpak Hue Medium Luggage
$245 at Calpak
The Calpak Hue Medium has a nice minimalist design, similar to the Away The Medium. It features an expandable zipper, comfortable handles and wheels that are smooth enough for most travel. However, during its trip down the stairs, it did get a big dent in one of its corners, the worst damage sustained by any of the suitcases we tested.
American Tourister Upland Spinner
$150 $96 at American Tourister
The American Tourister Upland Spinner suitcase did well in our drop tests, picking up only a couple of scuffs and a small number of scratches. Where it fell short, however, was with its wheels. They were the smallest wheels we tested and got stuck on cracks much more easily than nearly all the other suitcases. And with its middling performance in our other tests, we don’t think this suitcase is worth it.