It is not always easy to find a good hardshell suitcase. There are so many different models on the market, from dozens of manufacturers. Honestly, it can get hard to weed out the good ones from the bad ones.
But, at least with Samsonite you know in the majority of cases, you are on to a winner. They are the favorite luggage brand of many and for good reason. They Produce sturdy and durable luggage from the highest quality materials.
But normally, all of that comes at a price. Normally that is. That’s where these three collections affordable come in: The Winfield, Omni and Fiero are all very affordable suitcase lines from Samsonite, and in this comparison, I put them head to head.
I’ll tell you everything you need to know about them – what they have in common and what is unique to each suitcase so that you can quickly easily figure out which one is the best choice for you.
All you have to do is keep reading! :>
I’ll tell you everything you need to know about these three luggage collections from Samsonite in due time.
But before we get into the differences between the suitcases, I want to first give you an overview of the Winfield 2 and 3 suitcases, and what’s different between them. They are very similar, but I want you to know exactly what you are spending your money on, so here we go!
Body Dimensions | 20.0″ x 13.5″ x 9.5″ | 24.0″ x 16.5″ x 11.0″ | 28.0″ x 19.75″ x 12.5″ |
Weight | 6.7 lbs | 9.3 lbs | 11.5 lbs |
Body Dimensions | 18.25″ x 14.0″ x 8.75″ | 24.0″ x 17.0″ x 10.5″ | 27.5″ x 19.5″ x 12.5″ |
Weight | 6.13 lbs | 8.55 lbs | 10.54 lbs |
You would probably think that the Winfield 3 is going to be a new and improved version of the Winfield 2 suitcase. But it’s not. As far as I can tell it’s just an interpretation of the original suitcase designed for a different market.
The Winfield 2 is sold in the US, and the other version is mainly sold in Canada. And that’s probably the biggest difference between the two since everything you loved about the Winfield 2 suitcase is the same on its successor.
Both are made from the same materials, have all the same features, and even look exactly the same on the inside. But, there is one slight difference when it comes to the design of the shell and that’s pretty much the only physical difference between the two suitcases.
The shell of the Winfield 3 suitcase has a slightly different design. It has more protrusions and dents – my best guess is that Samsonite did this to help travelers deal with scratches and scuffs on their luggage. Those are much more visible on a smooth shell than on a bumpy one. Anyway, you can see what I’m talking about in the photos:
Note that neither of the two Winfields has a completely smooth shell. However, the dents on the Canadian version of this luggage surely help to make all the scuffs less visible, and that is probably an upside. But you can only appreciate the upgrade if you’re from Canada, and I think that’s a downside.
Oh and one more thing; the size of the smallest suitcase is something else that isn’t exactly the same in both lines. The smallest suitcase in the Winfield 2 collection is 20”, while the smallest one in the Winfield 3 collection is 18”. That’s not a huge difference and they are both still carry-on sized, but it is something you should be aware of.
I’ll tell you a little bit about what makes each of these suitcases stand out, but first I’m going to tell you about the features that they share. So, everything you are about to read in this section applies to all of these Samsonites.
Polycarbonate is one of the best materials for hardshell suitcases. Not only is it a really sturdy material, but it is also very lightweight, which is exactly why suitcase manufacturers love it.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that all of these Samsonite suitcases are made from the same expensive but durable material. But the design of the shell isn’t exactly the same on all of them, and that is definitely going to impact their performance.
Polycarbonate shells are prone to scratches and scuffs. When a shell on a suitcase is completely smooth, all of those scratches are very visible. So, that’s why you don’t see completely smooth solid-color luggage. Instead, manufacturers will make the shell bumpy or add a texture to it, so that all those scuffs won’t be as visible. But we’ll talk more about that later when we get to the individual features of each suitcase.
TSA agents do random luggage inspections, and if you are lucky enough to have your suitcase chosen, you will want to have a TSA lock. The agents can easily unlock that type of lock, and examine the contents of your luggage without a hitch.
If you don’t have a TSA lock on your suitcase and the agents choose to inspect it, they are going to open it up forcefully. But luckily, that is not something you will have to worry about if you get any one of these Samsonite suitcases.
They all feature the same lock – a 3-digit combination TSA-friendly lock. You set up the combination yourself and insert the zipper pullers into the teeth of the lock to prevent anyone else from having access to your luggage. The original combination is usually either 999 or 000, and instructions on how to set up the lock should arrive with your suitcase.
What is even a suitcase without spinner wheels? Especially a Samsonite one. But fortunately, the Winfields, the Omni, and the Fiero all come equipped with four spinner wheels.
Spinner wheels are the best invention since sliced bread, at least for frequent travelers. Each “spinner” wheel can turn 360 degrees, which means that your suitcase can roll in any direction when it’s standing upright. That in turn means that you don’t have to tilt it to get the wheels rolling like you have to with in-line skate wheels.
The benefit of these wheels is that you won’t be in pain again from dragging a 50lb suitcase behind you all day. And you’ll also have great maneuverability of your luggage, since you can pretty much move it however you won’t.
But, be careful with them. Wheels are usually the first thing to break on a suitcase, so don’t treat them like they are made of steel. You know what that means – no dragging your suitcase up or down the stairs and no sitting on it when it’s upright.
The wheel handle is pretty much the same on all four suitcases – apart from some differences in color. It’s double-barrel with a button on the top that allows you to lock it into position when extended. You can also lock it when it is stored inside the suitcase to avoid falling out in transit.
The carry handles are also very much alike. You get one on the side and one on the top, and that layout is the same on all of these Samsonites. There are some slight differences in their design, but nothing noteworthy.
Just like with pretty much any other hardshell suitcases, all of these Samsonites have two packing compartments. And the packing compartments are fully lined in all of the suitcases.
There are some slight differences in the number of pockets you get inside each one, and I’m going to talk about that a little bit later since it greatly impacts the organization possibilities. But one other thing they all have in common is a divider in one compartment and elastic straps in the other one.
Additionally, the capacity of all the suitcases can be expanded by additional 2 inches. That is one of my all time favorite luggage features, since I still have issues with over packing. And if you do too, you’ll be fine with any one of these Samsonite suitcases.
The Winfield suitcases (both the 2 and the 3) are the only Samsonites in this comparison that actually have pockets on the divider. In my experience, that often means that you’ll be able to organize your belongings better, rather than just stuff everything in the same compartment.
On the other hand, they don’t have a pocket inside the bottom compartment, which is something the other Samsonites do have. But the divider pocket is large enough to make up for that.
One other thing to note about the Winfields is their shell. Even though it is not exactly the same on Winfield 2 and Winfield 3, it is smooth on both versions of the suitcase. And even with all the dents and protrusions, scuffs will be much more visible on a smooth shell than they would be on a texturized one.
One more thing about the Winfield 2 – the 24”and 28” suitcasesare the heaviest out of them all. However, that downside was improved in the Winfield 3 collection.
And there is not much else to say about these Samsonites. They have the best organization features out of the bunch and that’s about it. So, if you were mainly worried about staying organized while you travel, the Winfield luggage is your best option.
The Omni luggage stands out for a few reasons. First, check out the basic specs of the suitcases below:
Body Dimensions | 19.0″ x 14.5″ x 9.5″ | 24.0″ x 17.5″ x 11.5 | 28.5″ x 20.5″ x 13.5″ |
Weight | 6.8 lbs | 8.3 lbs | 10.35 lbs |
These are the lightest suitcases in this comparison, and that certainly puts them in the lead. My general rule with luggage is the lighter the better, since that generally allows you to bring more stuff on the trip, but still stay within the airlines’ weight limits for both in-cabin and checked baggage.
Another thing to note about the Omni luggage is that they have a micro-diamond texturized shell. So, it’s not as smooth as on the Winfields, which means that it won’t get scratched as easily. And even if it does get a little bit damaged, the scratches will barely be visible.
In terms of organization, the Omni luggage has a single pocket in the bottom compartment and that’s it. You better use that pocket wisely!
One more thing – this suitcase is also the winner when it comes to color variety. It is available in at least 10 different colors, and everyone will be able to pick out one they love. And while that certainly isn’t as important as a TSA lock or spinner wheels, it’s still a benefit when you can get luggage in a color you actually like.
The Fiero luggage certainly has the most attractive name, but does it stand out when it comes to things that actually matter? You’ll find out, after you see some basic information about the suitcases:
Body Dimensions | 9.5″ x 14.5″ x 9.0″ | 24.0″ x 17.5″ x 10.75″ | 28.0″ x 20.0″ x 13.0″ |
Weight | 7.5 lbs | 9.2 lbs | 11.3 lbs |
I think that the Fiero has the best shell out of all the Samsonites in this comparison. It features the same micro-diamond texture that the shell of the Omni has, but the one on the Fiero features vertical dents. And I think that those look sleeker than the horizontal ones on the Omni.
In terms of organization, it has pretty much the same features as the Omni – one pocket in the bottom compartment, and no pockets on the divider. Nothing special about it.
And unfortunately, the Fiero stands out because of its weight, but in a bad way. The 20” Fiero is heavier than all other 20” Samsonites, which is a downside. But at least the larger two suitcases are still lighter than the Winfield ones.
When it comes to the important features, all of these suitcases are very much alike. It is really going to come down to what you are looking for in a suitcase. Do you want to get the one that has the best organization features or the one that is the most scratch-resistant?
The Omni is the best choice for you if you are looking to get the lightest Samsonite possible. The texturized, scratch-resistant shell is a bonus you’ll certainly love, and which will keep your suitcases looking new even after dozens of trips. And the myriad of different colors is just icing on the cake. Wait, did I mention it’s also the most affordable luggage out of the bunch? That certainly sounds attractive to me!
Oh and by the way, the Omni suitcase is currently sold out on Samsonite.com, and you can only get it on Amazon.
If you are looking to stay organized as much as you can while you travel, then consider getting a Winfield suitcase. They are the only ones that have pockets on the divider so they definitely stand out in the aspect. Oh and they (Winfield 2) are currently on sale on Amazon, so you can get them for a pretty good price – only the largest suitcase costs more than $100.
I would say that the Fiero has the best shell out of the bunch. The micro-diamond texture really helps make the suitcase as scratch-resistant as it can be, which is pretty important. No one likes spending a lot of money on new luggage, only to have it look worn out after just one trip! And, even if your Fiero does get scuffed, the vertical dents on the shell will help hide those scuffs.
That’s it guys! I hope you figured out which suitcase is the best choice for you. If you did, go find it on Amazon. You can check out the prices there, and you will pay less for the suitcases than on Samsonite’s official website!
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!