10 Best Hardside Luggage Options for Dominating Baggage Claim (2024)
GQ RecommendsProtection, durability, and style: What more could you ask for?By Caitlin CarlsonDecember 24, 2024Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.If you’re finally ready to retire your beat-up soft-sided suitcase and upgrade to the best hardside luggage, you’ve come to the right place—and you’re probably making a wise decision. “I love hardsided luggage for the peace of mind it brings,” says Tom Marchant, the co-founder of Black Tomato, a luxury travel company, saying that these bags withstand rough handling better than soft bags. Beyond protection and durability, hardsided luggage is also easier to manage and has better compression and is water resistant for those days when you're traveling in a full-on torrential downpour.Within hardside luggage, there are a ton of options to choose from. The good news? We talked to several travel experts and tested out the best options ourselves—so you don’t have to. Keep reading for the best hardside luggage to invest in today.If you’re finally ready to retire your beat-up soft-sided suitcase and upgrade to the best hardside luggage, you’ve come to the right place—and you’re probably making a wise decision.The Best Hardside Luggage, At a Glance:Best Hardside Luggage Overall: Away The Front Pocket Bigger Carry-OnBest Large Hardside Luggage: Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large CaseBest Affordable Hardside Luggage: Quince Hard-Shell 21" Carry-OnBest Luxury Hardside Luggage: Rimowa Classic CabinMost Stylish Hardside Luggage: Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Medium SpinnerBest Medium Hardside Luggage: Briggs & Riley Medium Expandable SpinnerBest Innovative Hardside Luggage: PROPS® 22” Carry-OnLooking for Something Specific?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronOther Hardside Luggage We LikeHow We Tested Hardside LuggageHow to Choose the Best Hardside LuggageHardside Luggage FAQBest Hardside Luggage Overall: The Bigger Carry-OnCaitlin CarlsonCaitlin CarlsonChevronChevronAwayThe Bigger Carry-On$295 AwayPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsLightweightFront pocket for laptopConsNot expandableDimensions (including wheels): 22.7" x 15.4" x 9.6"Weight: 7.9 lbsCapacity: 47.9 LMaterial: PolycarbonateThis Away bag wins top honors thanks to the fact that a cohort of experts I spoke with cited it as a favorite (I'm also a fan). Experts call out that smaller cases fit inside the larger ones for easy storage for those pressed on space. They’re also durable: “We have had our Away suitcases for years, and they have stood the test of time," Jake Peters, the co-founder & CTO/CPO of Fora, a modern travel agency says.Matthew D. Upchurch, chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, a luxury travel network, too, favors Away luggage in part thanks to how the interior is organized into two compartments: “One compartment is deeper, ideal for shoes and bulkier items, while the other is perfect for folded clothes, featuring very strong compression straps, which allows for efficient use of space, making packing more manageable,” he says. “Between this and my Simon Sinek Optimist’s Bag, I can have everything I need to be on the road for two weeks.”Our Tester’s Take: I actually bought the Bigger Carry-On for my fiance for Christmas two years ago, and then completely commandeered it for myself. I love that the max size still fits in the overhead bin. The interior division and the outside laptop sleeve let me easily access my MacBook before putting it up overhead. It’s accumulated a few scratches over the last couple of years but the wheels are still in great shape and I think I’ll have it for many years to come. And if it does wear out faster than I anticipate? I can make use of the brand’s limited lifetime warranty: David Kolner, the executive vice president of Virtuoso. owns eight hardsided cases from Away, and two have been replaced over the last 10+ years, no questions asked, with speedy swaps sent (including return packaging to recycle the case).Best Large Hardside Luggage: Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large CaseCaitlin CarlsonCaitlin CarlsonCaitlin CarlsonChevronChevronVictorinoxSpectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case$700 VictorinoxPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsLifetime warrantyPersonalizableConsMight go over weight limitWeighs 15 poundsDimensions (including wheels): 29.5 x 12.6 x 20.1Weight: 15lbCapacity: 103L expandable to 143Material: PolycarbonateI have older versions of the Medium and Carry-On versions of this suitcase and can attest to the fact that the brand makes durable, sleek-looking, functional luggage. This large bag opens up to one big compartment with a smaller zippered top compartment. And just in case you go a little overboard shopping on your trip, the bag expands by 40%, meaning you’ll have room for all your purchases. Victorinox also offers a lifetime warranty and the option to customize your bag with your initials or a personal messag
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you’re finally ready to retire your beat-up soft-sided suitcase and upgrade to the best hardside luggage, you’ve come to the right place—and you’re probably making a wise decision. “I love hardsided luggage for the peace of mind it brings,” says Tom Marchant, the co-founder of Black Tomato, a luxury travel company, saying that these bags withstand rough handling better than soft bags. Beyond protection and durability, hardsided luggage is also easier to manage and has better compression and is water resistant for those days when you're traveling in a full-on torrential downpour.
Within hardside luggage, there are a ton of options to choose from. The good news? We talked to several travel experts and tested out the best options ourselves—so you don’t have to. Keep reading for the best hardside luggage to invest in today.
If you’re finally ready to retire your beat-up soft-sided suitcase and upgrade to the best hardside luggage, you’ve come to the right place—and you’re probably making a wise decision.
The Best Hardside Luggage, At a Glance:
- Best Hardside Luggage Overall: Away The Front Pocket Bigger Carry-On
- Best Large Hardside Luggage: Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case
- Best Affordable Hardside Luggage: Quince Hard-Shell 21" Carry-On
- Best Luxury Hardside Luggage: Rimowa Classic Cabin
- Most Stylish Hardside Luggage: Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Medium Spinner
- Best Medium Hardside Luggage: Briggs & Riley Medium Expandable Spinner
- Best Innovative Hardside Luggage: PROPS® 22” Carry-On
Best Hardside Luggage Overall: The Bigger Carry-On
- Caitlin Carlson
- Caitlin Carlson
This Away bag wins top honors thanks to the fact that a cohort of experts I spoke with cited it as a favorite (I'm also a fan). Experts call out that smaller cases fit inside the larger ones for easy storage for those pressed on space. They’re also durable: “We have had our Away suitcases for years, and they have stood the test of time," Jake Peters, the co-founder & CTO/CPO of Fora, a modern travel agency says.
Matthew D. Upchurch, chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, a luxury travel network, too, favors Away luggage in part thanks to how the interior is organized into two compartments: “One compartment is deeper, ideal for shoes and bulkier items, while the other is perfect for folded clothes, featuring very strong compression straps, which allows for efficient use of space, making packing more manageable,” he says. “Between this and my Simon Sinek Optimist’s Bag, I can have everything I need to be on the road for two weeks.”
Our Tester’s Take: I actually bought the Bigger Carry-On for my fiance for Christmas two years ago, and then completely commandeered it for myself. I love that the max size still fits in the overhead bin. The interior division and the outside laptop sleeve let me easily access my MacBook before putting it up overhead. It’s accumulated a few scratches over the last couple of years but the wheels are still in great shape and I think I’ll have it for many years to come. And if it does wear out faster than I anticipate? I can make use of the brand’s limited lifetime warranty: David Kolner, the executive vice president of Virtuoso. owns eight hardsided cases from Away, and two have been replaced over the last 10+ years, no questions asked, with speedy swaps sent (including return packaging to recycle the case).
Best Large Hardside Luggage: Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case
- Caitlin Carlson
- Caitlin Carlson
- Caitlin Carlson
I have older versions of the Medium and Carry-On versions of this suitcase and can attest to the fact that the brand makes durable, sleek-looking, functional luggage. This large bag opens up to one big compartment with a smaller zippered top compartment. And just in case you go a little overboard shopping on your trip, the bag expands by 40%, meaning you’ll have room for all your purchases. Victorinox also offers a lifetime warranty and the option to customize your bag with your initials or a personal message. (Pro tip: Personalized luggage sounds like an amazing gift idea!)
Our Tester’s Take: I took this bag for a spin on a recent trip from Newark, New Jersey to Tampa, Florida, and loved how it glided through the parking garage and airport easily—I can definitely attest to the wheels being super functional. Even though it’s a large bag, it never felt too big to handle, even when putting it on the scale to be weighed and getting it off the baggage belt after my flight.
Best Affordable Hardside Luggage: Quince Hard-Shell 21" Carry-On
- Caitlin Carlson
This popular Away “dupe” is almost a full pound lighter than its counterpart and less expensive, too. That said, while the bags are remarkably similar, the inner material of the Quince model feels a little less high-end than Away’s, which makes sense considering the price point. We also can’t attest to its durability as we can for Away, although Quince does offer a limited lifetime warranty. The bag expands by one inch in case you need a little more space on your return journey, and it comes in six colorways, including a really nice dark green.
Our Tester’s Take: When I unzipped this bag for the first time, I was struck by how similar it is to the Away version, but I did notice the polyester material felt flimsier and less luxe. However, the Quince bag held everything I needed for a long weekend—two pairs of shoes, toiletries, a couple of outfits, and a few workout options. It spins and wheels easily and otherwise performs well.
Best Luxury Hardside Luggage: Rimowa Classic Cabin
- Caitlin Carlson
- Caitlin Carlson
Rimowa is a celeb- and expert-fave brand for a reason: These aluminum bags are instantly identifiable, making them a total status symbol. Yes, you’ll shell out a lot of cash for one, but with the brand’s lifetime guarantee, maybe it’s worth it. There are also several luxe touches, like the leather handles and complimentary leather luggage tag, for example. The “stageless” handle allows you to adjust it to your height, which I think is a smart feature, and it comes in silver or grey. At 9.5 pounds, it’s a bit heavier than its polycarbonate counterparts, but worth considering if you’re interested in maximizing weight allotments (although this likely won’t be as big of a factor with a carry-on as it would be for a larger bag).
Our Tester’s Take: “The Rimowa Classic Cabin is made from durable aluminum, which has held up so well during many of my trips over the years,” says Marchant, who says that since he’s a light packer, he uses this for all of his travels. “It’s sleek, sturdy, and incredibly lightweight, allowing me to move effortlessly from place to place. I’ve had it for many years, and it’s held up through many adventures.”
Most Stylish Hardside Luggage: Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Medium Spinner
- Caitlin Carlson
This bag gets top reviews on Amazon: It’s sitting at 4.4 stars with over 800 reviews as of this writing. It’s a nice medium size and only weighs just over nine pounds on its own, so we don’t think grossing out would be likely to happen before you fill it up. If you’re not a fan of the white (which likely would start to show its age and use sooner), the bag also comes in navy, black, and pink. One slightly alarming finding was a notice on the brand's page that this product can expose you to chemicals including DEHP.
- Sales (Style)15 Last-Chance Watch Deals Resolutely Ticking On
Our Tester’s Take: My first impression when this bag arrived was that it almost gives old-school Louis Vuitton trunk-style luggage vibes—almost. It’s definitely the most distinct-looking luggage of the bunch, which could make it easier to spot on the baggage belt. The variety of inside zippered compartments offer lots of organization potential and overall the bag feels sturdy and like a good choice for a trip of up to a week.
Best Medium Hardside Luggage: Briggs & Riley Medium Expandable Spinner
- Caitlin Carlson
- Caitlin Carlson
This brand comes with Kolner’s blessing (he likes that the bags have a lifetime warranty) and we like this medium spinner that’s expandable, in particular. It comes in three colors: green, navy, and black—and there’s the option to add your monogram to this case. The brand claims its compression system allows you to pack up to 20% more and it’s also expandable by 25%, meaning this bag is pretty versatile. It is slightly heavier than the Delsey, which is also a “medium” bag.
Our Tester’s Take: I was able to fit a week’s worth of stuff in this bag—and that was before I compressed it and expanded it. I also was immediately impressed with the quality feel of the zipper hardware and internal lining. The wheels glide easily on both hard and carpeted surfaces, and I liked that the handle has multiple stop heights, a feature I really appreciate (it comes in handy when you’re rolling two bags through an airport together).
PROPS® 22” Carry-On With Legs
If you don’t love manhandling your bags onto a luggage holder in your hotel room, or maybe you’re visiting friends and don’t have one of those, this Props suitcase can seriously come in handy: It includes legs that pop out of the back of the bag, allowing you to prop it up for easy access to your stuff. It is a bit heavier than other carry-ons (probably due to this added feature) but that’s not a deal-breaker for us. Another slight downside (compared to some of our other picks) is that the warranty is for up to five years. On the plus side, it comes in four sleek colors and has a three-stage handle for height customization.
Our Tester’s Take: “I have a Rimowa that I love, but I always end up reaching for my Props,” says Zach Honig is the head of product and operations for Chase Travel. “I'm not an ‘unpacker,’ and I love the built-in ‘props’ that elevate the bag in a hotel room,” he says. “My bag has also doubled as a desk in a pinch.”
Other Hardside Luggage We Like
Like the Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case, this case is also covered by Victorinox’s lifetime warranty. And at 6.4 pounds, this puppy is lightweight yet super functional—and makes a great pair with the larger version.
One of our testers immediately said “this is so cool,” as soon as this case was unboxed. And it is—the aluminum material gives it Rimowa vibes but at a fraction of the price ($625), although it does clock in at 10.1 pounds, making it slightly heavier.
If you’re looking to pull a hat trick and purchase a carry-on, medium, and large case altogether, might we suggest this package deal? They’re all made with lightweight polycarbonate and the bags come with a 100-day trial period.
How We Tested Hardside Luggage
We talked to five travel experts and frequent fliers to find out the most important factors to consider when selecting hardside luggage. They also provided some of their personal favorites. From there, we extensively researched available options on the market and tested the finalists ourselves.
How to Choose the Best Hardside Luggage
Consider the following aspects when choosing hardside luggage, according to the experts.
Material
“Consider luggage with durable materials, such as polycarbonate or aluminum, which look sharp and can handle wear and tear,” says Marchant. “While I have always loved the look of an aluminum suitcase that develops a nice patina of dents and dings through use, all the hardsided luggage I own is polycarbonate so I can use the weight allotment to stuff more wine and cheese in my suitcase,” says Peters.
Weight/size
The material will play a role in how heavy a case is before you even start packing. But another consideration is the size of the case itself—whether it’s a carry-on, medium-sized, or large. “Bigger is wonderful, but you may not necessarily need the biggest size,” says Kolner. “Half of mine are the largest version Away sells, and, to use an air cargo term, I frequently ‘gross out’ before ‘I cube out,’ meaning they’re so large that I hit the max weight for checking before I completely fill the case,” he says. That said, if you have the self-control to pack no more than 50 pounds in a large case, that may give you more room to stay organized on the road (versus stuffing everything in a smaller case as tightly as possible).
Wheels
“Wheels also matter a lot—ball-bearing mounted wheels (or smooth double-spinner wheels) are great for maneuvering smoothly through airports,” Marchant says. Look for terms like “360-degree spinner wheels,” “ball-bearing mounted wheels,” and “dual-spinner wheels.”
Interior
Marchant says that a well-organized interior is also worth considering. Some bags have double-sided packability whereas others have one big “hole” in which you fill and close the “lid.” One isn't really better than the other; it’s personal preference.
Price
“Price is always a factor, of course, but a high-quality hardsided suitcase can last for decades, especially if you're able to replace broken zippers and wheels, which can become less agile over time,” says Honig. Marchant agrees: “It’s worth investing a bit more for quality; good luggage is something you want to last through countless adventures.”
Warranty and/or trial period
“Some companies may let you try the luggage for a few weeks and return it if it doesn’t meet your needs,” Marchant says. You also should check the warranty: “Look for brands that offer extended warranties or even lifetime guarantees, which can cover repairs for normal wear and tear or damage that might happen during travel,” says Marchant. “Some brands even provide complimentary cleaning or maintenance services, keeping your luggage in top shape over the years.”
Hardside Luggage FAQ
How can you optimize packing with hardside luggage?
Marchant likes to use packing cubes. “They keep everything compact and make the most of the hardshell’s space,” he says, adding that since hardshells are structured, it’s easy to stack cubes and make use of every inch without the bag bulging out. Peters advises making use of “awkward spaces” around the handle ridges. “Roll up socks and gym shorts to fill those spaces to make a flat bottom before layering in other clothes,” he suggests. Honig adds that, even though hardside luggage offers more protection than a softside counterpart, “if I made any fragile gift purchases on my trip, I like to roll them up in clothes, keeping them extra secure for the journey home.”
With so many similar-looking bags, how can you make yours easy to identify?
“Everyone has the same suitcases these days, especially in common colors, so I recommend adorning your bag with a visible identifier, like a brightly-colored luggage tag or a nicely cut piece of blue masking tape on the bottom with your name,” says Peters.
About the Experts: Tom Marchant is the co-founder of Black Tomato, a luxury travel company. Jake Peters is the co-founder & CTO/CPO of Fora, a modern travel agency. Zach Honig is the head of product and operations for Chase Travel. Matthew D. Upchurch is the chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, a luxury travel network. David Kolner is the executive vice president of Virtuoso.
