Rimowa Vs Away Luggage: Which Is Better?

Rimowa Luggage

Rimowa has been in the luggage market for quite some time now, while Away is still a relatively new brand. They have a lot more suitcases to choose from, so I’m not going to list every single suitcase you can buy from Rimowa – they currently have 16 different bags just in their Original collection, whereas Away’s entire product range consists of 16 suitcases.

Instead, I will tell you about the different Rimowa collections and what each has to offer. The suitcases in the individual collections all have the same features and they mostly differ just in the size.

Also, keep in mind that Rimowa is the brand that made the first polycarbonate suitcase ever. Others followed suit shortly offer, but very few brands can actually compete with the exceptional quality that Rimowa luggage is known for today.

Staple Features

Rimowa makes a lot of luggage. They come with new collections fairly often, and you can even get your hands on some of the bags that they’ve discontinued. Don’t dismiss the older models just yet – they come with an electronic tag, which is a feature that Rimowa discontinued on newer models.

Even with such a wide variety of luggage collections, there are still some staple features that are identical on all of their suitcases. One thing they all have in common is a hard shell. Rimowa doesn’t make softshell suitcases, which makes sense considering they’re the ones who designed the first polycarbonate suitcase. Their luggage is made from either polycarbonate or aluminum – in case you were hoping to snatch a softside bag, Away is your only option.

No matter which bag you buy, you’ll have a TSA-friendly lock to secure its contents.

All Rimowa luggage also features high-quality dual spinner wheels that are smooth, silent, and easy to maneuver. The wheel handle is telescopic and allows for stage-free adjustments, which is very convenient. It will be easy to make the handle fit you perfectly, and you don’t get that with a lot of other luggage.

In addition to that, all Rimowa suitcases have two packing compartments with dividers inside. The type of divider differs from bag to bag – sometimes it’s a simple mesh divider and other times it’s a more versatile Flex divider that has an adjustable height.

What about the warranty? All Rimowa products have a 5-year manufacturer’s guarantee that covers any defects to the luggage. It’s worth noting that you must register your product with Rimowa to activate this warranty. Unregistered products are covered by a 2-year warranty instead.

The Rimowa Collections

Rimowa has six luggage collections at the moment. They update their product range fairly often and they discontinue their older collections eventually (Topas and Flight are long gone), so I’ll do my best to update this review often.

Each collection features the same materials and features across the entire line, with multiple options for the size. Most collections have four or five size options for a suitcase, while their Original collection has 16 different products. In any case, there are lots of suitcases to choose from, so let’s get down to the details about what makes Rimowa the top brand on the market!

Rimowa Original Collection

The Original Collection from Rimowa is the one with the most variety. There are 16 different products in this collection, including some unique options like a Dior x Rimowa suitcase.

All of the luggage in this collection is made from aluminum with polycarbonate wheels. There are two TSA locks on all the suitcases, as well as cotton dividers in both packing compartments. This Rimowa collection features ten different luggage sizes, most of which are available in three colors. There’s everything from an underseat bag to a massive 32” trunk, and you can see all the different options on the link below.

The remaining six bags could be split into two mini-collections, except for the Cabin Camouflage, which is just a unique color scheme for their classic carry-on. There’s the Collaboration mini-collection that features three Original suitcases with branding from Dior or Moncler – apart from the logo (and price), they’re identical to the basic Original suitcases.

The other mini-collection is Original with a Twist, which features two Rimowa Original suitcases with one extra detail – the handles, locks, and seal all feature luxurious leather accents.  The available sizes are a 22” carry-on and a 31” checked suitcase.

Rimowa Classic Collection

The Classic collection features five suitcases. They’re all made from anodized aluminum alloy, with high-gloss aluminum corners and leather handles. The dividers and interior lining are made from polyester, while the wheels are hard plastic on all the luggage in this collection.

The five luggage sizes are what you expect from a standard luggage collection – two 22” carry-ons, 28” and 31” checked suitcases, and a 30” trunk as the largest option.

An obvious question is how does this collection differ from the Rimowa Original? In terms of features and build quality, there aren’t that many differences. The Classic suitcases feature a more square shape, whereas the Original ones have rounded corners. Also, all the Classic suitcases have black wheels and handles, while on the Original luggage those accents match the color of the shell.

Ultimately, it’s about personal preference, and that’s a good thing. Instead of buying a suitcase you need but don’t like, it’s easier to find a bag you need in a design that you love.

Rimowa Essential Collection

Rimowa Essential Collection features six polycarbonate suitcases in beautiful pastel colors. There’s also a seventh suitcase, which is a Rimowa x Chaos collaboration. It features a unique pattern on the shell but is otherwise identical to the basic Essential carry-on. The shell and wheels of the Essential luggage are made from polycarbonate, while the dividers and interior lining are Polyjacquard.

The six suitcases in this collection are two carry-ons, two checked bags (26” and 31”), and two trunks (29” and 32”). The trunks have a more narrow body but are deeper than the traditional suitcases.  Although they’re shorter than the suitcases, they are heavier and have larger capacities.

It’s worth noting that both carry-ons are 22”, and one is just an inch deeper than the other.

Rimowa Essential Lite Collection

The Essential Lite collection is a slightly better version of the Essential collection. All the Lite suitcases are 30% lighter than the Rimowa Essential cases, which is pretty amazing. They’re all still made from polycarbonate (wheels also), with KK metal zippers and Polyjacquard lining and dividers.

So, how come they’re so much lighter than the Essential suitcases, when they’re so similar? Well, one reason for the weight reduction is a different wheel handle. Instead of the dual-barrel handle that most Rimowa cases use, the Essential Lite suitcases have a single-barrel handle. It still offers stage-free adjustment for comfort and easy maneuverability, but it’s just one barrel instead of two.

This collection features five different suitcases – two 22” carry-ons, a 26” checked suitcase, a 31” checked case, and 17” luggage for kids.

Rimowa Essential Sleeve Collection

The Essential Sleeve collection features luggage for the modern business traveler. The collection includes four carry-on suitcases, all of which are made from polycarbonate and feature an external laptop compartment. This luggage is small, lightweight, and non-expandable.

The four suitcases are a 16” underseat bag, two 22” carry-ons, and one 22.1” carry-on that’s also wider and deeper than the other two. It’s worth noting that the Cabin Plus bag is larger than the average carry-on, so it’s not going to be accepted in-cabin on every plane.

If you prefer the organizational capabilities of softside luggage but the durability of hardsides, the Essential Sleeve bags

are worth considering. They’re every bit as good as other Rimowa cases, with the addition of a convenient front pocket for stuff you want easily accessible.

Rimowa Hybrid Collection

The Hybrid Collection is Rimowa’s most modest collection in terms of product variety. There are only four suitcases to choose from, and all of them are made from a mixture of aluminum and polycarbonate. They’re lighter than plain aluminum suitcases, but also much more durable than polycarbonate cases.

There are four suitcases sizes in this collection – two carry-ons, a 26” checked case, and a 31” checked suitcase. The Hybrid luggage is non-expandable, with two TSA-friendly latch locks, flex dividers inside, and classic Rimowa wheels and handles.

Away Luggage

Away is a popular luggage brand known for high-quality suitcases. Their luggage is packed with useful features, it has a clean and simple design, and it’s built with the best materials.

Staple Features

Away luggage can be split into five different collections. Each collection has unique features that you might love or hate. But, some things are identical on every single suitcase Away manufactures, and that’s what I will tell you about in this section.

Let’s start with the wheels – all Away luggage is equipped with double spinner wheels. They’re silent, durable, and roll smoothly enough you’ll never have to think about the wheels of your suitcase. The luggage is maneuvered with a retractable wheel handle that boasts an ergonomic grip and can be locked in both stored and extended positions.

Away luggage also features a convenient grab handle at the top, and all suitcases but one also have another handle at the side. It’s worth noting that the one suitcase that doesn’t have the side handle is a 16” underseat bag, so no surprises there.

Also, all the luggage is equipped with TSA-friendly combination locks. Some have two instead of one, but that’s because they’re zipperless suitcases with latch locks.

If you want to buy a hardside carry-on suitcase, you should know that you’ll be able to choose whether you want an external power bank included with the purchase. The luggage costs the same whether you get the battery or not, so you might as well just get it. It’s a juicy power bank that can hold four charges for modern smartphones, and it conveniently fits into the body of the suitcase.

Those are all the external features that are common on all the bags. The other staple features are things inside the suitcase, and they’re identical on every bag, from that 16” underseater to the 28” aluminum checked bag.

Away suitcases all have an internal compression system that helps you fit more things in your luggage. The compression pad replaces the classic tie-down or cross straps, and it’s much more efficient at keeping the clothes in place. One packing compartment has a convenient compression pad, while the other one features a classic zippered divider.

Finally, all Away luggage comes with a hidden laundry bag inside. It’s great for separating clean and dirty clothes, and it’s even better that you get one of these no matter which Away suitcase you buy.

Another thing worth noting is that all Away luggage has two packing compartments, even the 16” daily carry-on.

On top of that, you get the same warranty regardless of which bag you buy. Away considers the first 100 days after a purchase a trial period – you’re free to try out the bag, and if you don’t like it for whatever reason you can return it, no questions asked. Some accessories are exempt from this rule, as well as personalized luggage that is made to order.

After the trial period expires, Away’s limited lifetime warranty kicks in. The brand pledges to repair or replace any part of your suitcase that gets damaged. The warranty doesn’t apply to normal wear and tear, so things like scuffs and scratches.

The Different Away Collections

Away luggage can be split into five distinct collections. I’ll tell you about the features that are unique to each collection, as well as something about all the different cases in the range.

The Basic Collection

Away’s Basic Collection features four sturdy polycarbonate suitcases with luxurious leather details.

The Carry-On

The Carry-On is a small hardside suitcase perfect for trips that are between 2 and 5 days. If you want a polycarbonate carry-on, this is the best luggage for you.

The Bigger Carry-On

Go with the Bigger Carry-On if you often fly with airlines that aren’t very strict about the size of in-cabin luggage. It’s great for trips up to a week thanks to the larger capacity.

The Medium

The Medium is the smaller of the two polycarbonate checked bags. It’s a great suitcase to buy if you want a large but not the largest hardside suitcase.

The Large

The Large is Away’s largest hardside suitcase. With a capacity of 99 liters, this is the bag to buy if you often go on longer trips. It’s worth noting that even though it’s a 29” suitcase, it’s still under 62” linear, which is what most airlines accept as checked baggage.

The Tiny Luggage

Away doesn’t actually call it the Tiny Luggage – I came up with that. But only because this is a collection of Away’s two smallest suitcases – an underseat bag and kids’ luggage.

The Daily Carry-On With Pocket

If you want a mini suitcase that fits under the seat, get the Daily Carry-On With Pocket. It has two packing compartments, spinner wheels, and a telescopic wheel handle, so it’s just as good as any carry-on. And it will fit under most airplane seats!

The Kids' Carry-On

The Kids’ Carry-On is the best small suitcase you can find. It’s an 18” case with all the features you get on adult luggage. The only reason why this is not a good fit for adults is height – with the handle extended, the total height of the case is 31”.

The Expandable Softshells

If you want to get a softshell suitcase, this is the best luggage collection for you. These Away suitcases are all made from nylon and they’re very similar to their basic collection.

The bags don’t have power banks, but all the other features are identical to those of the hardshell luggage, even the shell design! These bags have a couple of extra features, like expandable capacity and an external front pocket.

The Expandable Carry-On

The Expandable Carry-On is an excellent softshell suitcase. It’s small but the expandable capacity makes it more flexible, allowing you to use it for trips that are up to a week long. It’s also lightweight, easy to maneuver, and lets you keep certain items easily accessible in the front pocket.

The Expandable Bigger Carry-On

The Expandable Bigger Carry-On is only a little larger than the basic carry-on but offers up to 10 liters more capacity. Not all airlines will accept it inside the cabin though, especially not if you leave it fully expanded.

The Expandable Medium

The Expandable Medium is the smaller of the two softshell checked suitcases. But it’s not small by any means – with a maximum capacity of 80 liters, this luggage can get you through a month of traveling.

The Expandable Large

The Expandable Large is the absolute biggest suitcase Away makes, at least in terms of capacity. If that’s what you are looking for, this is the best luggage for you. Keep in mind that you could incur oversized baggage fees if you check this bag fully expanded.

The Hybrid Carry-Ons

The Hybrid Carry-Ons collection features two suitcases. They’re both carry-ons with a polycarbonate shell and a softshell pocket on the front panel. You can choose between nylon and leather for the pocket. If you like the durability of hardshells but prefer the organizational capabilities of softshells, this is the best luggage for you!

The Carry-On with Pocket

The Carry-On with Pocket is just the Carry-On from the basic collection with a leather/nylon pocket on the front panel. It offers the best of both worlds, and it’s small enough that almost every airline will accept it as a carry-on.

The Bigger Carry-On with Pocket

The Bigger Carry-On with Pocket is exactly what the name says – a 23” hardside carry-on with a softside pocket on the front panel. Get this bag if you like the durability of hardshells, organizational features of softshells, and you often travel with airlines that allow 23” luggage inside the cabin.

The Aluminum Luggage

The Aluminum Luggage is exactly that – Away suitcases that are made from Aluminum. The collection features four suitcases, all of which have double TSA locks, zipperless closure, and corner guards.

The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

If you often travel with airlines that don’t weigh carry-ons, this is a great option. The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition is the most secure Away suitcase that is still small enough to pass as a carry-on with most airlines.

The Bigger Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

The Bigger Carry-On in aluminum is a great suitcase if you often travel with airlines that allow 23” luggage on board. It’s durable, secure, and fits enough clothes for trips up to a week.

The Medium: Aluminum Edition

The Medium: Aluminum Edition is a 26” checked suitcase. If you want secure and durable luggage but still prefer smaller checked luggage, this is an excellent option for you.

The Large: Aluminum Edition

The Large in aluminum is Away’s heaviest and largest suitcase. The 29” checked case is great for very long trips thanks to its large capacity. If you want to get Away’s largest and most secure luggage, this is it.