Worst Luggage Brands: What To Avoid?

I’ve reviewed countless popular luggage brands on this website, and most of them are good. But in the process of weeding out the bad ones, I’ve come across loads of brands that simply don’t deliver what they promise, and those are the brands I’ll be talking about in this guide.

Let’s get one thing straight – none of the “worst luggage brands” are necessarily so bad that the suitcases will fall apart after one trip. It’s just a list of brands that, in the opinion of me and hundreds of unhappy customers, promise better quality and performance than they actually offer. So, here are some luggage brands to avoid, and alternatives to consider instead!

Worst Luggage Brands Based on Customer Experiences

IT Luggage

IT Luggage is a polarizing brand. Some people are perfectly happy with their products, and others are furious because the zippers on the luggage couldn’t even last four months. If you look at the reviews of IT Luggage, you’ll notice that some suitcases have perfect 5-star reviews, while others can’t even break 2 starts.

This brand doesn’t use high-quality materials in the manufacturing process, and the majority of its product range is soft fabric bags. Softshell suitcases are generally not as durable as hardsides, especially when they’re made with poor-quality materials, and if people are using them as checked luggage for air travel, I can definitely understand where the frustrations are coming from.

Another thing worth noting here is that IT luggage is not necessarily cheap. Sure, you can get some suitcases from them for as little as $60, but most of their products are retailing for more than $100, with some suitcases costing as much as $180. That’s a lot of money for a bag of unpredictable quality, especially since you can shop Samsonite or Swiss Gear at that price point.

Rockland Luggage

Rockland luggage is very hit or miss. This is an affordable luggage brand that uses cheap materials to manufacture the majority of its products, so it’s not surprising that they’re on this list. You can realistically expect premium performance from a $50 suitcase, and you definitely can’t compare it to premium brands like Samsonite or Briggs & Riley.

Also, Rockland manufactures nearly all of their suitcases from ABS plastic, and that’s the least durable material for hardside luggage. It’s generally fine for carry-on luggage because it isn’t exposed to the same rough conditions checked luggage is, so if you must buy something from this brand at least make it a carry-on.

You should know that you’re likely to deal with other issues, even if the shell holds up well over the years. The zipper pullers can get broken, the lining will probably get torn, the wheel handle might malfunction, and it’s probable that the wheels will break off if you’re not gentle with the luggage.

Bric’s Luggage

I’m as surprised as you are to include Bric’s luggage on this list. The brand is mostly known for high-quality leather goods, and they’re generally okay if you need purses or handbags. But if you’re buying luggage from this brand you should know that the majority of their suitcases are not manufactured in Italy but in factories in Asia.

There’s nothing wrong with manufacturing in Asia- many popular brands do it and their luggage is of solid quality. But Bric’s advertises itself as a luxury luggage manufacturer and they conveniently leave out the part that most of their suitcases are made in factories in Asia and not in their workshops in Italy.

Because of that, many people are not satisfied with their Bric’s luggage. And I can’t blame them because if I were to spend $800 on a suitcase and the zipper ripped during my first trip, I would be furious too.

US Traveler

US Traveler is another low-budget brand that’s usually not worth the risk. Sure, their luggage could be a good option if you need a cheap suitcase to take on a road trip, but if you want a durable bag that you can use for air travel (more than once), it’s definitely not one of the top brands to consider.

Just like all the other budget luggage brands, US Traveler manufactures luggage from the cheapest materials. The zippers are poor quality, the lining will get ripped fast, and the shell will crack if you aren’t gentle with it.

Their suitcases can be considered for carry-on luggage and car trips because you don’t really need super durable luggage in those scenarios, but I’m pretty sure you would regret buying one of their cases for checked luggage.

Alternative Brands to Consider

SwissGear

SwissGear is not a top-quality luggage brand, let’s get that straight immediately. But they are owned by Victorinox, so you know there’s at least some quality control going on with the products.

Also, SwissGear offers a wide range of products that include everything from cheap to pricey bags. If you want to gamble on their affordable ABS plastic suitcase you can do so, or you can choose to pay extra for their polycarbonate case that’s without a doubt more durable.

Travelpro

Travelpro is one of the best luggage brands and they’re always a good option. This is one of the pricier brands, but you can still get plenty of Travelpro suitcases for less than $200, which I think is a fair price for a high-quality suitcase that you can hand to luggage handlers without worrying it will show up at baggage claim in pieces.

Tralvepro luggage is made from durable materials, it’s equipped with all the features that are considered staples in premium suitcases, and the bags usually have innovative features. The brand manufactures cases from the best materials available and offers a great warranty on all its products.

RELATED POST: TRAVELPRO VS SAMSONITE

Delsey Paris

Delsey Paris is a mid-range luggage brand with some pricy options, but also some surprisingly affordable options. They’re in the same league as Samsonite but many of their products are cheaper, so they’re a great brand if you want a high-quality suitcase but you don’t want to spend a lot of money on luggage.

Delsey luggage is manufactured with high-quality materials, it’s always equipped with features you expect in premium luggage, and, more often than not, it includes extra and special features.

It’s also easy to find and often discounted on Amazon: at the moment of writing this you can get their Helium Aero carry-on for less than $85, which is an excellent deal for a durable polycarbonate suitcase that’s possibly the best luggage for international travel.

Samsonite & American Tourister

Samsonite has long been a leader in the luggage market, and the vast majority of the cheaper brands are just trying to copy their designs without even coming close to the quality. You can never go wrong with Samsonite luggage, and they’re always a safe bet. The brand offers luggage in everyone’s price range, with suitcases that start at a little more than $100 and go up to $600+.

I also have to mention American Tourister here because they’re owned by Samsonite. This is the cheaper version of Samsonite; you’re not getting the premium quality of the more expensive brand, but you’re getting decent luggage for the price.

Tips to Avoid Buying Low-Quality Luggage Brands

Don’t look for cheap luggage. It is possible to get great deals on high-quality luggage, but these deals are rare and usually happen around the time when big sales happen. If a brand is consistently pricing luggage in the $30-80 range, they use the cheapest materials and the cases are poor quality.

If you must buy cheap luggage, buy carry-on luggage. Brands will usually price their luggage so that the largest checked bag is less than $100 more expensive than the smallest carry-on, so most of us think it’s better to buy the bigger bag to get better value for money. But that’s not the case with cheap luggage because the biggest suitcases will fall apart more easily because they’re subject to heavier loads and rougher conditions, especially during air travel.

Always read the warranty details. Companies that manufacture quality items will back their products with a solid warranty, usually 5-10 years. If you see that a piece of luggage is covered by a 1-year warranty, it’s probably no good.

Read the negative reviews. You might find a seemingly good suitcase with mixed reviews. It’s always a good idea to read the negative reviews to see what people are complaining about. Sometimes it’s just people who didn’t read the product description properly and were expecting different items, but if you see that most negative reviews are complaining about the same thing, it’s likely that the luggage is poor quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest-lasting luggage brand?

The longest-lasting luggage brand would have to be Rimowa because nearly all of its luggage is manufactured from aluminum. This is also one of the best luggage brands by a mile, as well as the inventor of the first aluminum and polycarbonate suitcases.

Which luggage brand provides the greatest durability?

The most durable luggage brands are Rimowa, Tumi, Samsonite, Delsey, Away, Briggs & Riley, and a few others, all of which use premium materials in the manufacturing process. Aluminum hard shell luggage offers the greatest durability, but it’s usually very expensive. Polycarbonate is the second-best material and can be found for relatively little money.

Which type of luggage do airlines prefer, hard or soft luggage?

Airlines generally don’t care about the type of luggage passengers bring. I always recommend hard-sided luggage options for checked bags because they’re more durable, and then you’re free to choose between hard-sided and soft-sided luggage for carry-ons because they’re going in the overhead bin and won’t get thrown around by baggage handlers.