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Samsonite has been known as the go-to luggage brand for those who want reliability at reasonable prices for decades. But in the past few years, a lot of new brands have risen. This raises the question of whether Samsonite is still the best choice or not.
In this Samsonite luggage review, weāll find out if it lives up to its name. Weāll look at their quality, ratings, warranty, features, prices and compare them to similar alternatives from other brands.
On Clever JourneyāsĀ Best Luggage Brands,Ā Samsonite gained 86 out of 100 points and took 3rd place in the middle-class luggage category, right behindĀ TravelproĀ andĀ Chester.
Although Samsonite isnāt the absolute winner on our leaderboard, they lived up to their name. Samsonite offers the perfect balance of quality, features, design, and prices, which explains how theyāve managed to become so large and stay on the top for so many years.
You can see how the full rating was determined in this graph. Down below, we go in-depth on each category and explain why weāve given them that particular rating.
The Good
- Solid build quality.Ā While Samsonite isnāt the best brand when it comes to build quality, they offer reasonably solid luggage. Their suitcases are made from durable materials and go through rigorous testing to ensure that their quality is top-notch.
- Reliable warranty and support.Ā Samsonite is very well known for its excellent support and warranty. Although they donāt offer a lifetime warranty, they do offer five and ten-year warranties, and the warranty terms themselves are pretty good.
- Excellent reviews.Ā Because Samsonite is so popular, their bags have been tested by thousands of people, and the average rating usually is between 4-4.5 stars out of 5. Most of their buyers are repeat customers whoāve been loyal to the brand for decades.
- Great designs.Ā Even though Samsonite doesnāt have the most extravagant designs you can find on the market, their glossy looks and modest yet minimalistic designs are incredible.
The Bad
- Limited packing features.Ā Most of their affordable suitcases donāt offer packing features that you would get excited about. Some newer brands are doing a much better job at coming up with unique and smart packing features.
- Some models can get expensive.Ā Although you can get a good quality suitcase for about $100, some of their premium models can cost up to $700, and we donāt think they are worth that much.
The Verdict
Samsonite is an excellent option for leisure as well asĀ business travel. Although other brands may offer better durability, warranty, features, or look better, they usually lack in other aspects. Samsonite combines everything in a well-made suitcase that is a solid option for nearly everyone. Whether youāre a businessman, a single mom, or in your mid-20s traveling the world, you really canāt go wrong by choosing Samsonite.
That being said, we still think that Travelpro or Chester is a slightly better choice. Theyāre similarly priced but are more reliable and have better warranty terms. Still, Samsonite is a solid choice for those of you who donāt want the best suitcase in a certain aspect, but a jack of all trades.
Full Review
Key Facts About Samsonite
Samsonite International S.A. was established back in 1910. Right from the get-go, their main focus was manufacturing affordable luggage. Over the years, they ventured into other niches (furniture,Ā for instance), but they werenāt too successful there.
Today,Ā SamsoniteĀ is the most popular luggage brand on the market (three times bigger than the second place, Louis Vuitton.) A high portion of their sales come from Samsonite retail stores, which are available in almost any metropolitan city across the globe.
Over the years, Samsonite acquired several other luggage manufacturers, likeĀ American Tourister, Hartmann,Ā Tumi, eBags, High Sierra, and Lipault. All brands combined are pretty close to having a monopoly status in the market.
Reviews (26/30)
Although weāve seen better reviews in similarly-priced brands, Samsoniteās customer reviews are one of the best ones in the entire luggage industry. Most of their products receive 4.4-4.7 stars on various online stores, which is fairly high. Keep in mind that while itās easy to get 5-star reviews for the first dozen reviews, Samsoniteās luggage has managed to keep these high rankings with thousands of reviews on every product.
Because Samsonite has been around for a long time, a lot of its customers have been using its luggage for decades. Itās not uncommon for people to stay loyal to Samsonite for decades because theyāve always resonated with an excellent warranty, support, and durability. That being said, weāve seen a slight decrease in customer reviews over the last decade. People are saying that their durability isnāt as good as it once was. If a decade ago you could expect their bags to last over ten years, now theyāre closer to seven or eight.
This has caused frequent travelers to search for a new and better alternative at the same price point. While brands like Travelpro and Chester offer just that, and brands likeĀ Briggs & RileyĀ offer more for double the price, Samsoniteās popularity hasnāt decreased. This is especially true nowadays since most luggage brands donāt have enough stock available due to the pandemic, while Samsoniteās most popular suitcases have been fully stocked.
Hereās a really cool video that shows whatās going on behind before a suitcase is mass-produced and sold to the public.
Quality (17/20)
In terms of durability, Samsonite does a pretty good job. Most of their suitcases are made from reliable materials, such as polycarbonate and nylon. Cheaper brands usually choose ABS or polyester, because of cheaper production costs but not Samsonite. They even offer a few aluminum suitcases, which people reported to be especially durable.
Samsoniteās suitcases are outsourced in third-world countries, which is how they keep their production costs somewhat low. So theoretically, their suitcases donāt differentiate much from lesser-known brands. But you have to understand that nowadays, everything is outsourced. What sets Samsonite apart is that they only work with reliable manufacturers, and they have much higher quality standards.
Our market research revealed that most people were happy with their purchases. On suitcases, the first things that tend to break are the zippers, the wheels, the handles, the seams (for fabric suitcases), and the hard shells get cracks. Samsonite does a pretty good job at this because only a few people complained about these problems. Instead, most people said that the retractable handle on their suitcases feels rigid, the zippers wonāt get stuck or broken, the seams are well-stitched, and that they havenāt had any serious issues even from frequent travel.
That said, a few people complained about broken spinner wheels and faulty handles. Usually, the retractable handle would get stuck or one of the spinner wheels would break off. But overall, most people didnāt have any of these issues ā only a small percentage. Some people also mentioned that the durability has slightly declined over the years. For example, when two versions of the same Samsonite model are compared side by side, usually, the newer version feels slightly more flimsy but lighter.
In this video, you can see how a Samsonite carry-on looks after 10 years of use (Still reasonably new, aside from slightly torn-up fabric).
Features (13/15)
Because Samsonite has a huge budget, they can afford to spend a lot on R&D (Research and development.) Many of their high-end suitcases come with new features that you rarely find in luggage from other brands.
Innovative Cable TSA Locks for Some Fabric Suitcases
On most Samsoniteās hardside suitcases, you will find integrated TSA-approved combination locks, which is nice, especially when youāre paying over $100 for a hardside bag. But this is somewhat common because most manufacturers offer TSA locks only for hardside bags.
However, Samsonite has also managed to add TSA locks to fabric bags. On some of their softside luggage, youāll find a cable that pulls through all the exterior zippers and connects with a TSA lock. This way, all of the outer pockets are locked instead of just the main compartment.
Built-In USB Ports on Premium Models
On some premium models, youāll find integrated USB ports. Theyāre helpful for charging your electronics in airports, trains, and while commuting. Basically, you can keep your power bank inside a dedicated pocket and connect your mobile phone to the power bank through the USB port. While not everyone is a fan of these, some travelers canāt go on a trip without a power bank, so being able to attach it to their luggage is pretty handy.
Right-Height Retractable Handle System
On some of their most recent models, like theĀ Silhouette XV carry-on, Samsonite has implemented what they call the āRight Heightā handle system. Essentially, itās a fancy way of naming a retractable handle with more-than-average fixed heights. Usually, you get two to four fixed heights, while in Samsoniteās system, you get eight, which can benefit some people.
Durable Spinner Wheels
Most of Samsoniteās suitcases come with spinner wheels, which is nice. Based on other customer reviews, we didnāt see many issues with faulty spinner wheels, which is a common issue for most brands.
On some of their newer models, instead of regular spinner wheels, youāll get double wheels with the āTru Tracā technology. Essentially, this system improves steering and the ability to roll the suitcase in a straight line. But, itās mostly there for marketing reasons, as almost every other similarly-priced brand offers similar wheels. That being said, we can safely say that Samsoniteās wheels are superior to most other brands.
Water-Resistant Coatings on Fabric Suitcases
Almost all of Samsoniteās fabric bags offer water resistance to some degree. Some are coated with the āSamGuardā water-resistant coating, and some are made from naturally water-resistant materials, like ballistic nylon.
This doesnāt mean that you can go swimming with them. It just means that in light rain, the contents of your bag wonāt get soaked.
Expandable Zippers on Most Models
Weāre glad to see that this feature isnāt an extra and is included in most of their suitcases, both hardside and softside. The expandable zipper allows the bag to expand by 1.5-2 inches, resulting in an extra 15-25% packing volume. Itās convenient for checked bags when youāre short on space.
Design (13/15)
Although Samsoniteās low-end fabric suitcases look a bit generic, we think that their hard shell bags look stunning, and theĀ Winfield 2 hardsideĀ looks especially sleek. But above all, we like that Samsonite is consistent with their style.
Theyāre made for business professionals, frequent travelers, and people who appreciate discrete and sleek looks over flashy ones. When you check out their products, all of them are made in this professional style, which is good because it keeps their brand at their core values.
Warranty (9/10)
Samsonite is well known for its outstanding warranty and friendly support. Thatās why theyāve got loyal clients who remain loyal for decades. All of Samsoniteās suitcases are covered by either a limited global warranty, a limited 3-year warranty, or a limited 10-year warranty.
Unfortunately, their warranty doesnāt cover normal wear and tear, transportation damages, or any damages caused by improper use. Basically, they only cover manufacturing defects and defects from the use of improper materials.
It may not sound like much, but weāve seen countless cases where their clients got free warranty repairs when it clearly wasnāt covered by the warranty policy. They go above and beyond to keep their customers loyal, so taking minor losses to keep their customers happy is essential.
Whenever their products have to be repaired, Samsonite offers these two options:
- The customer can ship the item to the warranty repair center at his own cost.
- The customer can go to the nearest Samsoniteās shop, and the dealer will ship it to the Samsoniteās repair center for a small fee of $10-$15, depending on how large the briefcase is.
We like the second option better because Samsoniteās stores are available in almost all large cities worldwide, and the fee is minimal.
Samsonite has a reputable and dependable warranty compared to its competitors, which is why weāve given themĀ 9 out of 10 points.
Price (8/10)
Although Samsoniteās suitcases may seem on the higher end, they actually arenāt. Yes, they do offer some premium suitcases that cost up to $700; however, they have a wide variety of affordable bags that cost around $100-150$. Taking everything into account, their affordable options in the $100-$200 price range offer the most value.
Samsoniteās premium models that cost around $300-$400 donāt make much sense and are overpriced. We think that youād be much better off withĀ TumiĀ or Briggs & Riley at that price point. That being said, itās safe to say that youāre getting what youāre paying for, despite Samsoniteās luggage being a bit more expensive than other medium-class luggage brands.
How Does Samsonite Compare to Other Luggage Brands?
Thereās no doubt that Samsonite is the most popular luggage brand out there. Compared to every other brand weāve reviewed, Samsonite offers the best balance, meaning that itās not the best brand on individual aspects, but it ranks highly on each aspect. That being said, letās look at how Samsonite ranks against other similarly-priced brands, as is shown in ourĀ Best Luggage BrandsĀ list.
Starting out with Samsoniteās reviews, the brand ranks higher than most other medium-class brands. BothĀ Ricardo Beverly HillsĀ andĀ Travelerās ChoiceĀ have received worse reviews than Samsonite, withĀ DelseyĀ ranking similarly. Chester and Travelpro are in a league of their own, with both brands receiving much better reviews than Samsonite. The same can be said about the brandsā warranty, even though in this case, Samsonite ranks closer to Chester and Travelpro, all three of which have excellent warranties.
When it comes to Samsoniteās luggage design, the brand still ranks highly compared to other medium-class brands. While Travelproās designs arenāt great, the rest of the brands rank very similarly, withĀ DelseyĀ andĀ Mia Toro ITALYĀ ranking higher than them.
Samsonite offers great quality luggage, ranking just below Travelpro and Chester, with the rest of the brands ranking below these three luggage brands. When it comes to their price, all the luggage brands rank similarly, with Travelerās Choice ranking above them all, followed by Ricardo Beverly Hills. Samsonite sits tightly alongside Chester and Travelpro. The features that Samsonite offers are similar to the other brands when it comes to their usability, with Travelpro and Travelerās Choice offering the most features for their respective prices.
Overall, Samsonite offers a bit of everything. This makes it theĀ ājack of all tradesā of the luggage industry.
Individual Samsonite Suitcase Reviews
Best Hardside Carry-On: Samsonite Omni 2 20-Inch Carry-On
Between all the Samsonite hardside carry-ons, the Omni 2 carry-on is undoubtedly the best. Itās the successor of the famousĀ Samsonite Omni 1 collection, and it came out in early 2021. The suitcase comes in four vibrant colors ā black, silver, teal, and purple, with its design featuring ridges on the front and the back.
The outer shell of the suitcase is made from lightweight polycarbonate, which is to be expected at this price range. Alongside the durable polycarbonate shell are four pairs of spinner wheels, a retractable handle. According to recent customer reviews, the wheels and the retractable handle are reasonably durable. If they are anything like the Omni 1, then theyāll last for a very long time. On the carry-on model, thereās no TSA-lock, unlike the medium and large checked counterparts.
As we take a closer look inside, weāre presented with a standard interior. Thereās one spacious main compartment and a zipper mesh divider. The main compartment features a pair of elastic straps thatāll keep all of your luggage in place, but itās not extremely durable, especially when the bag is overfilled. Another neat feature that can be found on the Omni 2 is a USB port so that you can charge your phone or laptop while youāre flying.
Overall, the Omni 2 carry-on is one of the best hardside carry-ons on the market. However, itās slightly worse than theĀ Maxlite 5 hardside carry-onĀ by Travelpro. Still, both suitcases are an excellent choice for frequent travelers.
Best Softside Carry-On: Samsonite Solyte DLX 20-Inch Carry-On
The Solyte DLX softside carry-on has been one of Samsoniteās best sellers for many years. Itās easily the best softside carry-on that Samsonite has to offer. The design of this suitcase is pretty generic, and it looks like something that came out of the 2000s (thatās because it did come out in the late 2000s). It only comes in three colors ā black, blue, and gray. This might make it difficult to find it on the conveyor belt.
The suitcase is made from durable polyester with some waterproof properties. You shouldnāt expect that pouring a gallon of water on the suitcase wonāt make it wet, but a light drizzle will be no problem for your luggage. This bag has no TSA-approved lock, which is disappointing, but the retractable handle and double spinner wheels are very durable. Just like most softside carry-ons, there are a couple of pockets on the front where you can keep anything you might need during the flight. Thereās also a āSmart Sleeveā on the back of the suitcase, which allows it to be put on top of the medium and large checked counterparts.
On the inside, thereās nothing too special. The bag features a main compartment, which is pretty compact, as well as two zippered mesh pockets. Thereās also a USB port so that you can charge up your phone while youāre in the air. The main compartment has some durable straps that will keep all your luggage nice and tight.
Overall, the Solyte DLX is a great softside carry-on. But, when compared to similarly-priced carry-ons like theĀ Maxlite 5 softside carry-on, it seems like itās lacking in features and packing space.
Best Luggage Set: Samsonite Winfield 2 3-Piece Luggage Set
We think that the Winfield 2 3-piece luggage set is the best one that Samsonite has to offer. In fact, we believe that this is one of the best luggage sets on the market.
The set comes in 20, 24, and 28-inch suitcases. All three pieces nicely fit inside each other, so they donāt take too much space when stored in the attic. The brushed finish is available in several different colors, including charcoal, deep blue, brushed anthracite, orange, and purple.
All three pieces are made from polycarbonate, which is more durable than ABS. The two largest pieces are fitted with expandable zippers, which allows the cases to expand by an additional 1.5 inches in width. Other than that, all three pieces are fitted with TSA-approved combination locks and four spinner wheels.
Inside, you get two separate compartments in each bag, both divided by a fabric sheet. Thereās also a large zippered pocket for smaller items and an X-shaped compression strap to keep your contents in place.
However, all three bags are said to be easily scratched. Some colors will make those scratches stand out, but we found that even the more matte colors like the brushed anthracite still have visible scratches after a couple of flights. The carry-on also lacks some features compared to the other two checked suitcases, like the side handle and the expandability.
But, overall, we like how affordable, durable, and good-looking the Winfield 2 luggage set is and that itās backed by a 10-year Samsonite warranty. If youāre looking for a similar luggage set, then you should check out theĀ Traveler’s Choice Sedona 3-piece luggage set.
Best-Looking: Samsonite Freeform Hardside 21-Inch Carry-On
We think that the Samsonite Freeform 21-inch hardside is the best-looking suitcase that Samsonite has to offer, especially in the white color, and itās also one of their cheapest hardside options. Its design is relatively simple, but itās very elegant and stylish, and it comes in black, navy, sage green, tangerine, and white.
The outer shell is made from polycarbonate (which is stronger than ABS) and feels sturdy. When compared to the Winfield 2 or Omni PC, the Freeform is also more lightweight. Although this case doesnāt have a patterned finish for hiding the scratches, we can definitely say that the scratches are nearly invisible, including the one that comes in white.
From the outside, the Freeform is fitted with double spinner wheels for smooth moveability, top and side handles, and a retractable handle on top. Although you donāt get any exterior pockets, the main compartment is locked with a TSA-approved combination lock.
On the interior, the bag is split into two parts. Inside, you will find two pockets for storing your smaller items and an X-shaped compression strap, so you can keep all of your clothes pushed down to the frame. If you would ever run out of space, this bag is fitted with an expandable zipper for an additional two inches in width.
Although this carry-on is slightly oversized for the most common 22 x 14 x 9 size limit, most of their customers have successfully fitted the bag inside the airlinesā measuring boxes (evenĀ though itās a tight fit). That being said, the wheels are not as durable as other Samsonite suitcases. Despite us not having any problem with them, the main complaint of other customers is that the wheels break easily.
Overall, the Freeform carry-on comes with many features that you wouldnāt expect on a suitcase at this price. But the main reason why weāre so excited about this case is its looks, especially in the white finish. An equally-beautiful bag is theĀ Delsey Chatelet checked hardside suitcase, but itās much more expensive.
Best Medium Hardside: Samsonite Centric 24-Inch Checked
The Samsonite Centric medium checked suitcase is an excellent option if you want the best medium hardside suitcase. Its design is really unique compared to everything else that Samsonite offers, and it comes in a wide array of vibrant colors, including Caribbean Blue, Burnt Orange, and Purple.
This bag is made from polycarbonate, which is very durable compared to ABS. When we tested out the bag, it wasnāt as rigid as we expected, but it still held up great during the trips we took it on. That being said, concerning the rigidity of this one, if youāre unlucky and it gets handled poorly, it might end up with a chip or a dent. Still, the suitcase comes with a retractable handle, alongside a top and side handle and a TSA lock. Its wheels are below-par, as they are single spinners instead of double spinners on most of Samsoniteās luggage.
On the inside, we were a little bit disappointed. While the main compartment is similar to just about every other hardside bag, the divider is made out of mesh. While it looks really cool, it isnāt durable, and you might end up mixing all your clothes together. The same goes for the X-shaped strap that holds everything together. But, the main problem with this suitcase is its price point. Most of Samsoniteās bags are closer to $150, while this one is more towards $250 if itās not on sale.
But, overall, we have to say that the Samsonite Centric medium checked bag is very durable. If you manage to find it on sale, itās a very good purchase. A cheaper alternative to it is theĀ Traveler’s Choice Pagosa medium checked suitcase.
Best Large Hardside: Samsonite Omni PC 28-Inch Checked
The Samsonite Omni large checked suitcase is one of the best large bags on the market for the past decade. This suitcase is highly-praised by the luggage community, and itās one of the best sellers on Amazon. It features a different design to the Omni 2 that we mentioned above, but it comes in various colors, including red, white, pink, and many more.
Like most Samsonite suitcases, the Omni is made from lightweight polycarbonate and has a scratch-resistant finish. This makes it extremely durable compared to other bags, as well as 100% water-resistant, and unlike softside suitcases, this one can go through puddles, and your belongings will stay nice and dry. We donāt like that the wheels are single spinners, which tend to be less easy to maneuver around, but we had no issue moving the bag. It also comes with a TSA lock and handles on the top and the side.
The interior is fully lined and features the main compartment where you can fit all your clothes and keep them in place with the X-shaped straps, a zippered mesh pocket that can fit a couple of shirts, and a pocket for any toiletries you have. As with every suitcase, the zippers are the most fragile part, especially since the Samsonite Omni is expandable.
Speaking of that, the bag is slightly bigger than what most airlines allow. We didnāt have any issue with that, but you might have to spend extra when youāre checking the suitcase.
Overall, the Samsonite Omni is a solid choice if youāre looking for a large suitcase, despite being on the heavier side. Another great choice is theĀ Traveler’s Choice Maxporter II large checked suitcase.
Best Underseater: Samsonite Underseat Spinner with USB Port
The Samsonite Underseat Spinner is an excellent choice if you want to maximize your personal itemās capacity. The design is pretty simplistic and a bit outdated compared to what other brands offer, but it looks professional. It also comes in just three colors ā Jet Black, Ocean, and Purple.
The Samsonite Underseat Spinner is made from 1680D polyester, which is relatively durable. It also gives this underseater some water-resistant properties. Its wheels are single spinners which arenāt the most durable ones out there, but they do their job, and it also has a retractable handle for you to roll the bag around.
This underseater has three pockets ā the main compartment, the one on the front of the bag, and the one on the side. You can fit your essential electronics inside, including a laptop and headphones. It also has a USB port, where you could charge your phone or laptop while youāre flying.
Overall, the Samsonite Underseat Spinner is the best underseater that Samsonite has to offer.