Why Is Rimowa So Expensive? (Are They Worth It?)

Wondering what’s the deal with Rimowa and their incredibly high luggage prices? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed guide covers all the reasons behind the four-digit prices of Rimowa luggage!

Let’s get one thing straight right now – Rimowa is a luxury luggage brand and that’s the main reason why they’re so expensive. Just like Hermes bags cost an arm and a leg even though the manufacturing costs are only a small fraction of the entire price tag, Rimowa suitcases are absolutely luxury and aimed at people who can afford to drop more than $1,500 on a suitcase without batting an eye.

History of Rimowa

Rimowa was founded in the late 19th century in Germany. It’s one of the oldest luggage manufacturers that are still operating today, and they’re the brand that designed and produced the first aluminum suitcase ever in 1930. The company had burned all their other materials and opted to use only aluminum to manufacture their cases. The rest, as they say, is history.

And it gets even better. In 2010, Rimowa decided to manufacture luggage from polycarbonate – a lightweight and extremely flexible plastic composite. Polycarbonate luggage is practically everywhere nowadays since the material is currently being used by brands that manufacture luggage in all price ranges.

In many ways, Rimowa is a true leader in the luggage market. They set standards for quality and durable luggage, so it’s a bit easier to justify the high prices of their luggage.

Where Is Rimowa Manufactured?

Rimowa has factories in three countries –

• Germany
• Canada
• Czech Republic

The company was founded in Germany and that was the first factory that the brand ever established. Over the decades, they’ve expanded to cover a more international market, and nowadays you can find Rimowa luggage in practically every corner of the world.

Why Is Rimowa So Expensive?

Well-Established Brand

Rimowa luggage is synonymous with quality, durability, and status. After all, the brand has been around for more than 120 years – they’re absolutely well-established and known around the world for the amazing quality of their bags.

For many people, it’s about the status that comes with owning a Rimowa bag. They’re very noticeable and it says something about you when you’re casually wheeling around luggage with four digits on its price tag.

Premium Quality & Durable Materials

One of the main reasons for Rimowa’s high prices is that they only use high-quality materials. After all, they’re the brand that invented both aluminum and polycarbonate suitcases, hard sides that are considered the most durable luggage you can own.

Aluminum luggage is exceptional in terms of quality. The cases are practically indestructible, and if any damage does happen to the suitcase, it’s going to be something like broken handles or torn-off wheels.

Polycarbonate is also a very durable material. Rimowa came up with this when they noticed that there was a need for lightweight luggage – although aluminum is remarkably durable, it’s also quite heavy and not the best option if you have to keep your suitcase under a certain weight limit.

Makrolon polycarbonate is a lot lighter than aluminum, and it can even compete when it comes to durability. Although it doesn’t have the impact resistance of the metal, polycarbonate is highly flexible. This means that, when your PC luggage gets thrown around and lands badly on the shell, the luggage shell will usually just get dented. It won’t break, and you can usually just pop it back into place.

Rimowa doesn’t cut any costs when it comes to other luggage materials either. They use premium materials to manufacture the handles and the wheels, and more often than not, their cases are adorned with premium leather accents. None of these materials are cheap, to begin with, and they account for a good chunk of Rimowa’s prices.

Innovative Features

Rimowa will occasionally come out with a collaboration with another famous brand, and that luggage usually sells out super fast. That’s because they often include unique and innovative features in the limited edition luggage, which is super appealing to travelers with deeper pockets.

Their collab with Adidas was one of my favorites when they presented us with a hard side case that has straps just like a backpack. It’s innovations and features like these that manage to set Rimowa apart from its competitors and offer some justification for the high prices.

However, it’s important to note that most of the classic Rimowa suitcases are equipped with just the basic features. You get the wheels, handles, TSA locks, dividers, and a couple of pockets and that’s it.

That being said, the brand does have a few special luggage designs that you can’t really get elsewhere. This includes trunks that are designed for the transport of specific items. They’re absolutely great for their intended purpose, but also very expensive.

Extensive Product Testing

All Rimowa bags are extensively tested during the manufacturing process. Each bag is individually inspected by hand before it is shipped off to stores and customers, so the chances of receiving a defective product are truly minimal. And in case it does happen (and you have better chances of winning the lottery than receiving a faulty Rimowa bag), they will immediately replace it for you.

Warranty

Since July 2022, Rimowa has started to offer a lifetime guarantee on all their luggage. This includes all the functional parts of the suitcase, and it really is a lifetime guarantee. You need to register your suitcase online to be eligible for warranty repairs and keep in mind that they only cover certain types of damages.

If you discover a manufacturing defect in your luggage, Rimowa will repair it free of charge. But they don’t cover cosmetic damage with their warranty (scuffs, scratches, etc.), and they do not cover any damage that could have occurred due to normal wear and tear or in transport, especially because of airline mishandling.

So, if a baggage handler is responsible for a missing wheel on your Rimowa luggage, the warranty won’t do anything for you. But if that wheel starts to malfunction on its own, they will gladly replace it for you.

Prior to July 2022, Rimowa offered a 5-year warranty on all their suitcases. They also offer a warranty on their other bags, but it’s a standard 2-year warranty.

Customer Service

Rimowa’s customer service is absolutely top-notch, as it should be. If I’m going to spend more than $1,000 on a suitcase, I expect amazing customer service. And Rimowa will fulfill those expectations with agents that are available at all times, are very nice and helpful, and always do the best they can to ensure a satisfying customer service experience.

How Much Does A Rimowa Luggage Cost?

Rimowa luggage starts at just over $600 for their polycarbonate luggage and goes up to $2,000+ for aluminum suitcases. The plastic polycarbonate cases are naturally much more affordable, especially the smaller sizes like the carry-on bags.

Aluminum Rimowa bags start at more than $1,300 and can cost several thousands of dollars. Rimowa even has a suitcase that retails for $9,900, but that’s a special case designed to safely transport 12 bottles of wine. In terms of basic aluminum suitcases, expect to spend between $1,500 and $2,000 on a Rimowa suitcase, depending on the size.

Comparison With Other Luggage Brands

Rimowa vs Samsonite

Samsonite is a great mid-range alternative to Rimowa luggage. It’s one of the most popular luggage brands in the world, mostly because of its affordable prices and excellent quality. If you want a good polycarbonate suitcase, you can never go wrong with a Samsonite, plus they cost only a fraction of their Rimowa counterparts.

It’s worth noting that Samsonite manufactures both softshell and hardshell luggage, but you won’t find suitcases made from aluminum in their product range.

Rimowa vs Away

Away luggage is a really good option if you’re specifically looking for aluminum suitcases. This brand manufactures mostly polycarbonate luggage, but they’ve also got four aluminum cases in their product range. You can choose from three different colors from the aluminum luggage, and it’s worth noting that it’s (more than) half the price of Rimowa cases!

Rimowa vs Tumi

Tumi is the closest luggage brand to Rimowa, in terms of both quality and pricing. Both are luxury luggage brands known for outstanding quality, unique features, and expensive luggage. Unlike Rimowa, Tumi also manufactures softshell luggage, and they use proprietary materials in the manufacturing of their hardsides.

Tumi’s product range also includes aluminum luggage, and it’s a decent alternative to Rimowa. The most expensive aluminum suitcase from Tumi costs less than Rimowa’s cheapest, and the quality and performance are absolutely comparable.

Rimowa vs TravelPro

TravelPro is a decent mid-range alternative to Rimowa. They’re known for manufacturing durable suitcases aimed at professionals in the airline industry, with select lines that are sold exclusively to cabin crew. TravelPro luggage is durable, manufactured from high-quality materials, and often includes great organizational features.

Unlike Rimowa, TravelPro’s product range mostly includes softside luggage with only a few hardsides. They do not have any aluminum luggage in their product range.

Are Rimowa Suitcases Worth Buying?

If you can afford Rimowa luggage without bankrupting yourself, I’d say it’s worth it. Sure, you’re paying a lot of money just for the brand name, but the quality of this luggage is undeniably exceptional. The cases will most likely last you for decades, especially with the excellent lifetime warranty.

Even with everyday wear and tear and damage incurred by baggage handlers, it will be cheaper to pay for a wheel repair on a Rimowa suitcase, than to purchase a completely new bag.

On the other hand, if Rimowa is out of your price range and you’re considering saving up money to be able to afford one, I’d say they’re not worth it. There are many other bands that can compete with the quality of Rimowa, especially if we’re talking about their polycarbonate suitcases. You can even get amazing aluminum luggage for half the price of a Rimowa, and it will perform equally great.

There’s no need to spend more than $1,000 on a suitcase, especially if you can’t really afford it. Go with Samsonite, Away, Victorinox, Briggs & Riley, or even Tumi – all these brands are famous for luggage of exceptional quality, and they’re generally much more affordable than Rimowa!

Frequently Asked Questions