Credit:
Reviewed / Seamus Bellamy
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Credit:
Reviewed / Seamus Bellamy
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The Travelpro Platinum Elite 29 can hold a ton of clothes, is easy to maneuver through airports and train stations, and doesn’t cost a ton. Read More
The Briggs and Riley Briggs & Riley Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner is a great piece of hard-sided, checked luggage. Read More
This attractive, well-made suitcase will serve you well for years to come. Read More
This well-made, polycarbonate hard-sided case could do with being a little larger. Read More
This hard shell spinner suitcase scratched a little too easily during testing. Read More
For many travelers, a backpack or carry-on suitcase provides enough space to pack everything for a journey. They’re easily manageable, hold a week’s worth of clothing, and can save a trip to the luggage carousel.
However, if your travel plans include long trips, several people sharing a suitcase, or business clothing that needs to stay sharp, you’ll want to consider investing in a full-sized piece of checked luggage.
After weeks of research and testing, we found the Travelpro Platinum Elite 29 (available at Amazon for $450.49) is the best large suitcase for most people. If you prefer hardshell checked luggage to better protect delicate items, we also recommend the Briggs & Riley Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner.
If you need a great piece of checked luggage, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 29 Inch Expandable Spinner is the suitcase to get.
The Briggs & Riley Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner is our favorite hard shell suitcase.
Attractive
Feels well put together
Not as maneuverable as we'd like
Rugged, for a polycarbonate case
Good quality spinner wheels
Low storage capacity compared to others in its class
Stylish design
TSA-approved zipper lock panel
Plastic exterior scratches easily
Attractive design
Impact-resistant
Scratches too easily
Low capacity for a checked suitcase
Compacts for storage
Built-in backpack straps
Frustrating to wheel around
We subjected each suitcase to conditions and situations they would encounter during travel.
Each bag was evaluated based on its build quality, capacity, features, durability, and maneuverability.
To start, each of the full-size suitcases in our test group were stuffed with two weeks' worth of clothes. Aside from underwear, socks, and toiletries, a variety of other garments were also included, like formal wear for a nice dinner out, business attire, a windbreaker, and a sweater for chilly evening excursions. We even threw in several pairs of shoes and sneakers.
By packing each suitcase full of these clothes, we could determine whether each suitcase’s main compartment provides all the space a traveler might need for their belongings. This is an important metric, as some suitcases sacrifice interior space to house their handles or wheels.
Next, we tested each suitcase's maneuverability by wheeling it over a quarter-mile of smooth and not-so-smooth surfaces like concrete and rough asphalt. For every 20 steps taken with each bag, the tester performed a 360-degree turn to ensure that its wheels were still spinning freely.
To simulate navigating an airport check-in line or a busy train station, each suitcase was rolled through an obstacle course made from the other bags in the test. After testing one, we’d swap it out with the next to preserve the overall design of the course. And, since a fully loaded suitcase is much more difficult to pick up than a typical carry-on bag, we tested how easily each one could be carried.
When considering a piece of checked luggage, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. The design, durability, and overall ease-of-use of the suitcase are all important factors to consider when determining whether or not it’s the right fit for your travel needs.
Suitcases with a plastic or aluminum exterior can scuff, dent, or crack when subjected to abuse. Still, they tend to protect their contents from crush damage better than a fabric-sided suitcase can. Fabric-sided suitcases can compress without sustaining any damage, but aren't ideal for protecting delicate items. Before you purchase, think about what you're likely to bring with you when you travel.
If you want your luggage to glide through an airport concourse on wheels, remember that four are better than two. Four-wheeled bags are just as maneuverable whether they're being pushed or pulled. Two-wheeled bags can wobble, topple, and drag, making them far less user-friendly.
The best suitcases have retractable handles that slide out smoothly, lock into place, and are strong enough to help you maneuver the luggage around on its wheels. Good luggage should also come with wide, padded handles to make lifting the bag’s weight easier. The absolute best have handles on multiple sides, making it easy to grab them off of the baggage claim conveyor belt no matter how they're oriented.
Bags that offer an array of interior and exterior pockets along with a single, large interior space are a smart buy. The big main compartment can be used with packing cubes, a garment bag, or packed with loose clothes, while the interior pockets are great for smaller items like toiletries or socks. Outside pockets can be used to stash on-the-go items.
Make sure that any suitcase you buy comes with either a built-in TSA-compliant combination or key lock, or is equipped with zippers that can be used with a TSA-compliant aftermarket lock.
There are generally two kinds of larger checked luggage bags: hardshell and softshell.
Hardshell luggage, as the name suggests, has hard plastic or metal exteriors. In theory, they’ll take the brunt of any blunt force trauma the suitcase receives as it’s bounced and tossed in transit.
Softshell luggage isn’t “soft” per se, just softer than hardshell. Softshell suitcases have rigid designs, but can compress somewhat to absorb blows and abuse. Their plastic/fabric exteriors are usually quite tough.
Both types have their pros and cons.
Hardshell luggage might be better for protecting fragile items. However, their rigid exteriors take a significant amount of abuse, and will likely look scuffed and beaten up after even just one trip. Softshell luggage won’t protect delicate items as well, but will likely survive multiple trips without signs of wear.
Not everyone needs to bring a piece of checked luggage on their travels. However, if you do, it's good to know what to look for when shopping for one.
While a large suitcase may seem like the obvious choice for your next trip, they’re often a lot larger than most people need.
Traveling with lighter luggage is easier on the body. It also prevents you from paying to check a bag—or worse, paying fees for surpassing weight limits. This makes travel more pleasurable in most circumstances. That said, there’ll be instances where taking a large suitcase with you on a trip makes a lot of sense.
If you’re traveling to a cold climate, or your trip requires bulky gear (masks, fins, ski boots, etc), taking a piece of checked luggage with you may be necessary. A large suitcase is a plus if you’re traveling for work and need multiple outfits, or if you’re packing for a week-long getaway for several members of your family.
Séamus Bellamy is a senior editor on Reviewed's Electronics Team. Before coming to Reviewed, his work was featured in The New York Times, The Globe & Mail, BBC World, Macworld and Maximum PC.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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