You’re just about to roll your suitcase from the train station to the hotel – and suddenly, a wheel falls off. Or worse: at the airport, socks, t-shirts, and a toiletry bag that looks suspiciously familiar appear on the luggage belt. A stable and durable suitcase is the best insurance against these kinds of travel nightmares. But how can you tell if a suitcase will last for years? The price might indicate quality, but that’s rarely the full story.
That’s why Testfakta commissioned the independent German test lab PZT to evaluate nine medium-sized hard-shell suitcases. When a manufacturer had multiple models, the top model was selected.
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In Testfakta’s comprehensive suitcase test, both great bargains and a few disappointments were identified – although overall quality was good. The top-performing suitcase is the “Regent” from Rusta, also the cheapest alongside the model from Clas Ohlson. The Regent is easy to roll and very durable. The telescopic handle, wheels, carry handles, and shell withstood most of the stress – with a slight deduction for water resistance. It also scores well on price – under 100 Euro. The “Dashpop” model from American Tourister and the premium “Superb” suitcase from North Pioneer also performed very well. Both are highly resistant to rough handling, although North Pioneer lost some points for water resistance.
To simulate long-term use, the suitcases were packed and pulled over 50 km on two wheels over uneven surfaces. The telescopic handles proved to be the weakest point. After just 9 km, a screw came loose on Clas Ohlson’s suitcase, and after 20 km the handle was completely broken. The handle broke on Airbox after 35 km, and on Samsonite after 48 km.
Thorsten Kutzner, test leader at PZT, explains:
– In a previous Testfakta test, the telescopic handle on Samsonite also broke. This seems to be a weak point. While the suitcase can still be used without the telescopic handle, it's much harder to roll it ergonomically.
Several suitcases withstood the durability test with intact wheels – but not all. The wheel attachment on the Airbox broke after 23 km, and after 50 km, Printisso’s wheels were significantly worn. The lab also tested the wheel durability by lifting and dropping a 25 kg suitcase 1,000 times using the upper handle. Clas Ohlson’s suitcase showed notable wear.
To simulate airport baggage handling, a 5 kg weight was dropped from a height of two meters onto the corner of the suitcase.
– This showed clear differences in robustness, says Thorsten Kutzner.
– Good suitcases can withstand strong impacts without breaking. Dents can be pushed out, and the suitcase still looks good afterwards.
No suitcase cracked, but the Airbox was heavily damaged – even after the dents were pushed out.
If you're looking for a waterproof suitcase, you’re likely to be disappointed, regardless of brand. All the tested suitcases let in water when exposed to a 15-minute simulated rain shower. Samsonite, American Tourister, and Epic performed relatively well – they became damp but didn’t have puddles inside, unlike the others. Water primarily entered through the fittings around the telescopic handle, Kutzner explains.
– A good tip if you get caught in heavy rain: lay the suitcase on its side or flat so the telescopic handle doesn’t point upward.
There are major price differences among the suitcases. The cheapest ones from Clas Ohlson and Rusta cost around 90 €, while the Samsonite costs nearly 500 €.
– One reason for the price difference could be the warranty, says Kutzner. A long warranty, like Samsonite’s 10 years, doesn’t come free.
All manufacturers offer some form of warranty, although the length and scope vary. All tested suitcases also have replaceable wheels, handles, and telescopic handles. However, suitcases rarely break when you’re at home – they break during travel, when you need them most.
– That’s why these tests are tough and demanding – we’ve pushed the suitcases to their limits, says Thorsten Kutzner. We’ve recreated the kinds of stress suitcases endure in real life – from long rolling distances to rough handling at airports – to find out which ones really last.
