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In this report
- Introduction
- Best rolling luggage{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Budget wheeled bags{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Rolling Duffel Bags{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Non-Rolling Carry-On Bags{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}
- Useful Links
- Our Sources
See Also
Luggage: Ratings of Sources
Total of 25 Sources
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
2010 Summer Buyer's Guide: Luggage
by Editors of Outside magazine
by Editors of Outside magazine
Our AssessmentFor six years, Outside magazine editors have been abusing new luggage and picking the best one or two each year. Their 2010 pick is the Osprey Sojourn 25, which earns a Gear of the Year award. Several of their top picks from previous years are still available as well. Editors test 48 bags in all, making Outside magazine a rich source of reviews.
Best Suitcases May Not Be Most Expensive: Abusive Lab Test
by Erin McCarthy
by Erin McCarthy
Our AssessmentTo find out if expensive rolling luggage is more durable and protects contents better than an inexpensive suitcase, Erin McCarthy compares three suitcases ranging in price from $180 to $630. Each suitcase is packed with glass bottles wrapped in towels and then thrown onto a concrete floor 40 times. The luggage is also tested for maneuverability on bumpy terrain as well as hairpin turns. None of the three bags excels in all three tests. However, the most expensive bag, the Titan 360 Four Diamond Edition 22-inch USA Carry-on, proves the most durable and second best at protection, easy to pull,but hard to push.
Choosing a Bag
by Doug Dyment
by Doug Dyment
Our AssessmentTravel expert Doug Dyment runs this site, which is devoted to "the art and science of traveling light." In this article, he discusses factors to consider in choosing a bag when that one bag is all you plan to carry. Other articles under the "What to Pack It In" tab recommend specific pieces of luggage for leisure travel and business travel, as well as dual-purpose luggage that serves both needs well. A long article on why wheeled bags are a bad idea also includes some criticisms of popular luggage.
Toughest Travelers
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our AssessmentEditors at ConsumerReports.org subject a dozen small rolling bags to abuse in a large tumbler to test their durability. Editors also maneuver each bag across hard floors and carpet and up and down stairs. Most bags survive pretty well, but many of the testers don't care for spinner bags. Unlike many products, luggage actually shows some correlation between price and quality; more expensive bags generally (though not always) do well in the ratings.
Luggage Reviews
by James B. Isbell
by James B. Isbell
Our AssessmentThis blog's focus is on one-bag travel. A search on the phrase "full user review" turns up five reviews of travel-related products, including four for luggage. Each review goes into detail about the bag's strong and weak points and what type of traveler will find it most useful. Three of the four bags reviewed -- the Tom Bihn Aeronaut, Tom Bihn Western Flyer and the Red Oxx Air Boss -- are named Top Picks.
We Test 5 Supersized Suitcases
by Jason Kephart
by Jason Kephart
Our AssessmentSmartMoney magazine asks Travel Channel host Samantha Brown to test five big, expensive suitcases. (Prices range from $665 to $995.) She tests their durability by tossing them down a flight of stairs, as well as evaluating their maneuverability, looks and features. The SmartMoney magazine award goes to the $950 Alpha 28-inch Travel & Business Wheeled Expandable, which Brown finds light, durable, stylish and practical.
Field Test: 5 Lightweight Bags
by Charles Passy
by Charles Passy
Our AssessmentCharles Passy tests five lightweight rolling suitcases in a hands-on torture test. Each bag gets an overall grade (ranging from A-minus to D), plus brief evaluations for durability, functionality, features and warranty. The Eagle Creek Tarmac 25 bag gets a much higher overall grade than the other four bags, and it is the only one that carries a lifetime warranty.
Review of Carry-On Luggage
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Our AssessmentThe editors of Good Housekeeping evaluate 24 carry-on suitcases for durability, comfort and performance. The article includes a detailed review of each bag, including a list of pros and cons, and a video demonstrating the features of three recommended pieces. Editors name two Delsey suitcases and one by Burton as the best choices for carry-on luggage.
Product Reviews -- Household
by Brook Wilkinson
by Brook Wilkinson
Our AssessmentBrook Wilkinson tests four rolling carry-ons from Tumi, Samsonite, Eagle Creek and Victorinox. Each one gets a brief evaluation and a list of what's "wired" and what's "tired." The Eagle Creek Tarmac 22 scores the best, with an overall rating of 7 points out of 10. However, a non-wheeled carry-on reviewed by Mark McClusky -- the Tumi Alpha Classic Garment Bag -- gets a higher rating than any of the wheeled cases, with a score of 9 out of 10. The Samsonite bag earns a score of only 4.
Test Lab: The Best Wheelie Bags
by Brad Tuttle
by Brad Tuttle
Our AssessmentBrad Tuttle and the editors from Budget Travel magazine test five wheeled bags by dragging them over cobblestones and cracked sidewalks in New York City. The main focus of this review is on the bags' rolling performance, with a bit of attention to packing and comfort. These medium-sized bags are too big to meet requirements for carry-on luggage, but the reviewers reason that good wheels are more important on larger, heavier bags. The review provides details about the performance of each bag on fast pulls, cornering, bumpy terrain, curb hopping, stability and maneuvering through a crowd. The Eagle Creek Velocity 25 (now discontinued) is the clear winner.
The Latest Luggage
by Ryan Malkin
by Ryan Malkin
Our AssessmentSmartMoney magazine editors ask David Neeleman, then-CEO of JetBlue, to evaluate five models of carry-on luggage formaneuverability, packing space and overall appeal. The least expensive carry-on, a Delsey model, turns out to be the top pick of both Neeleman and the editors. It's not the very lightest, but it scores highest on all three points.
The Best Lightweight Check-in Luggage
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
Our AssessmentGood Housekeeping tests 11 bags that are too large to carry on board, but light enough to make it easy to meet new airline weight limits. Tests cover maneuverability, capacity, construction and weight. Recommended are the five bags that pass a handle-strength test; the bags that fail aren't specified. Only one of the top picks, the Briggs & Riley Transcend 24-inch Upright, earns perfect scores for water resistance, durability and fabric abrasion, but its expandable handle sometimes sticks.
Rating Carry-On Luggage
by John Flinn
by John Flinn
Our AssessmentTravel editor John Flinn recommends against buying rolling luggage, instead favoring carry-on bags that can convert into backpacks because they're lighter, hold more, are easier to pack and provide better freedom of movement. He recommends several bags based on his personal experience, including the Patagonia MLC, the Rick Steves Convertible Carry-on and the eBags Weekender eTech Convertible.
Test: Freeway-Legal Scooters, Top HD Tuners, Tricked-Out Travel Mugs
by Jen Trolio
by Jen Trolio
Our AssessmentThough this older review's title doesn't mention luggage, it includes three rolling suitcases. Each bag is rated on a 10-point scale, plus a brief summary of its pros and cons. Only two make the cut. Interestingly, the inexpensive L.L.Bean Rolling Adventure Duffle, medium, gets a slightly higher rating than a Tumi bag that costs over seven times more.
Luggage Ratings & Reviews
by Contributors to LuggageOnline.com
by Contributors to LuggageOnline.com
Our AssessmentThis retail site publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of luggage from a great many brands. The lists show the average rating and are easy to narrow down to your specifications. The main luggage page also has a tool for finding the carry-on bags that meet a specific airline's requirements. Though not all specific bags have accumulated enough reviews to give their average ratings much weight, the site lists a few bags that get great marks with lots of reviews. It also shows the average rating for an entire brand. Most luggage brands get average ratings of four on a five-point scale, but Briggs & Riley, Hartmann and Tumi rate slightly higher.
Luggage
by Contributors to REI.com
by Contributors to REI.com
Our AssessmentWe rank the owner-written reviews a bit lower only because fewer brands are sold here. This retailer makes it easy to browse luggage listings, showing not only the average rating for each bag, but the number of owner-written reviews on which it's based. When you click on a bag to read reviews, the main pros and cons are nicely summarized at the top.
Best Luggage
by Contributors to FlyerTalk.com
by Contributors to FlyerTalk.com
Our AssessmentThis frequent-flyer forum has a thread devoted to the best luggage with more than 300 posts. Seasoned travelers recommend a few brands over and over: Briggs & Riley, Travelpro and Red Oxx. The Red Oxx Safari-Beanos and Air Boss carry-ons are often specifically recommended. Tumi bags have many adherents, but many detractors as well. Posters also discuss brands to avoid, including Pierre Cardin.
Travel Gear
by "Kevin"
by "Kevin"
Our AssessmentThis blogger says he prefers non-wheeled carry-ons for their lighter weight. His reviews are incredibly detailed, with lots of photos. However, he does not actually compare bags or make recommendations. Also, navigating the site can be tricky; you have to click through page after page of entries in reverse chronological order to pick out the useful reviews. However, if you're interested in a specific piece of luggage, it's worth doing a search to see what he has to say about it.
The Best Carry On Bag
by David M. Rowell
by David M. Rowell
Our AssessmentWe'd rank this review much higher if its recommendations were more up-to-date. Most of the top picks are now discontinued, although it's sometimes possible to guess which current models have replaced them. The testing includes measuring the actual bags -- crucial now that airlines are tightening up on size and weight requirements -- and the reviews are detailed, noting drawbacks as well as strengths.
Carry-on Bag Buyer's Guide: Avoid the New Airline Luggage Fees
by Doug Stallings
by Doug Stallings
Our AssessmentThis travel site recommends four carry-ons (a backpack,a rolling duffel and two wheeled suitcases), butnotes that if you only plan to take one or two trips a year, a discount-store carry-on is fine. Though no testing is documented, this is an authoritative source. The review includes useful tips on how to choose a bag to maximize the chances of being able to carry it on.
Brand-New Bags for Flying Light
by Jayne Clark
by Jayne Clark
Our AssessmentJayne Clark recommends five lightweight carry-on bags to help travelers avoid checked-baggage fees. Their sleek designs make it easy to get these bags into overhead compartments. The brief description of each bag includes both pros and cons, evidently based on examination of the luggage. Criticisms are quite minor, but no real testing is documented, and it's not clear how many other luggage brands and models are considered. Readers add useful comments.
Top 9 Carry-On Bags
by James Martin
by James Martin
Our AssessmentOnly four of the nine carry-on bags recommended here have full reviews based on testing, but these tests are quite thorough. A few of the picks have been discontinued. The site also has many tips on packing and European travel. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Luggage Reviews
by Contributors to eBags.com
by Contributors to eBags.com
Our AssessmentMany brands and styles of luggage are sold here, most getting fairly high average ratings -- sometimes from hundreds of owners. One useful feature of the site is its "best of the best" list, which identifies the top-rated bags in each category. You can also sort the reviews of a bag to read the most critical comments. It's a good site for checking owner-written reviews once you've narrowed your choice. Cases made by eBags itself receive the largest number of reviews here; other popular brands include Baggalini and JanSport.
Luggage
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our AssessmentYou'll find thousands of bags for sale here from many brands, but only a few get enough reviews to be meaningful. However, since quite a bit of luggage gets low ratings, it's worth checking this site after you've narrowed your choices to see if any criticisms are important to you.
With These Bags, You Can Carry On
by Ellen Crean
by Ellen Crean
Our AssessmentIn this segment from CBS News' "The Early Show," Real Simple magazine editor Kris Connell names the best carry-on bags from a test of more than 100. Connell names a winner and runner-up in each of four categories: pullmans, duffels, totes and backpacks. The video clip from the show is no longer available, but the list of top bags is provided, with a one-sentence summary for each pick. However, more than half of the recommended bags are no longer available.
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This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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Eagle Creek Travel Gear Tarmac 22 Carry-On
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Delsey Helium Fusion Lite 2.0 Expandable 25" Suiter Trolley
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Tumi Alpha Frequent Traveler 22" Framed Expandable Carry On 22022
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