The Best Checked Luggage of 2023, Tested by Experts

After more than 15 years of evaluating Samsonite luggage, its bags continue to stand out in our Lab tests. This style in particular is one of our favorite models, thanks to its lightweight design and easy-to-use features. At just 10.5 pounds, it's one of the lightest of our picks, but it's still durable: In our abrasion tests, the polyester material showed no signs of wear.

When we evaluated other models from the SoLyte collection, their wheels received high scores for gliding smoothly through our obstacle course, navigating twists and turns and tackling different surfaces. Our testers who've tried Samsonite luggage have shared that the telescopic handles feel flimsy, but they appreciate that the handles are adjustable and can be locked into place at different heights.

Inside the bag is one large open space to pack your things, and there are plenty of pockets, including mesh and zippered pockets for organization. Easily accessible outer pockets are ideal for storing your travel essentials. For even more room to bring home souvenirs on your vacation, the checked bag can be expanded by almost another inch.

Available at one of the lowest price points of all the luggage we recently evaluated, this hardside suitcase from Open Story at Target doesn't skimp on quality. The carry-on size of this pick received the highest scores in our tests, beating out other well-known, pricier bags. The polycarbonate shell proved durable, impressing us after withstanding repeated drops without major dents or damage, but we did notice some scuffs and wear in our scratch test. You can choose among four trendy colors that our testers said had a "cute, modern" look, and they loved the sleek design.

When testers rolled the smaller size through our obstacle course setup, they gave the bag high scores for being easy to maneuver, sharing that the wheels moved smoothly around cones and over curbs. The interior is spacious and easy to pack, with two primary zippered compartments that have built-in mesh storage pockets, plus compression straps to keep belongings securely in place. Another nice bonus: It comes with a removable zippered laundry bag to store your dirty clothes.

With more than 40,000 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.6 stars, this hardside spinner suitcase from Amazon Basics is solid evidence that you don't need to break the bank to buy a quality piece of luggage.

In addition to impressing tens of thousands of online reviewers, this collection of bags also wowed us and our consumer testers. The suitcase is made with ABS plastic, which isn't as durable as polycarbonate material but helps keep the cost low — less than $130 for a 30-inch bag. Plus, it performed well in our durability assessments, showing some marks in our scratch test but resisting major dents and damage in our drop test.

When our testers rolled the carry-on-size model through our obstacle course setup, they loved the smooth-rolling wheels, with one tester saying the bag was "very easy to move." However, they shared that the telescopic handle felt notably less sturdy than other suitcases they tested. Packing it was a breeze, thanks to its spacious interior with a large zippered compartment, smaller pockets to help with organization and a compression strap to secure your things. You can even expand the bag for extra packing space.

Travelpro was founded by a pilot who wanted to create luggage for frequent fliers who are rough on their bags, so the brand's suitcases are perfect for regular business travel.

This luxe softside bag comes in six traditional colors, and although some of our testers said the style was a bit old-fashioned, we appreciate the bag's sophisticated design elements, like chrome zippers and genuine leather carrying handles and trim. Other impressive features include a removable garment bag that's ideal for storing a suit or dress, a TSA-compliant toiletry bag and plenty of internal and external pockets for organization, as well as a two-inch zippered expansion that's actually tapered to help prevent your bag from becoming top-heavy and tipping over.

When we evaluated the carry-on model of this suitcase, the nylon fabric proved durable in our abrasion tests, resisting wear. Plus, in other tests, it showed no major signs of damage after being dropped repeatedly, and the zippers were water-resistant, keeping the contents inside the bag nice and dry. During our packing test, we could fit our standard load inside with ease and had plenty of room to spare. Our testers said the cushioned telescopic handle had great grip. Even better, the bag's double spinner wheels are self-aligning to help you roll smoothly through the airport.

After conducting tests for our Away luggage review, we have to say that the trendy bags are worth investing in.

Its hard-shell polycarbonate material proved to be durable in our tests but is still lighter than even some of the soft fabric suitcases we reviewed. When we repeatedly dropped the carry-on model from our drop tester, there were no dents and no noticeable damage. It even aced our scratch tests with minimal scuffs. The bag unzips into two roomy compartments: One side closes with a zipper, and the other features compression straps that made the packing process simple in our evaluations. Our consumer testers said the telescopic handles could feel sturdier, but they gave the handle high scores for comfort, and they loved the smooth wheels.

What's more, the bag comes with a genuine leather luggage tag to help you identify your suitcase and a removable laundry bag for your dirty clothes. In addition to basic black, there are six popular colors to choose from, including a petal pink and an emerald green, and there's even an option to customize your bag with your initials for an added fee. If committing to purchasing an expensive checked bag makes you nervous, know that Away offers a generous 100-day trial period, so you can test it out and return or exchange it if you need to, even if it's been used.

Weighing in at just 10.2 pounds, this checked bag from Delsey is the lightest of our picks, but just because the bag is light doesn't mean it isn't durable or spacious.

In our durability tests, the carry-on model of the same bag held up well to repeated dropping without major dents or damages, and the polyester-and-nylon-blend material withstood rubbing from our abrasion machine. During consumer evaluations, our testers said the bag wasn't as easy to maneuver as others they tried, but they gave it good scores overall during use and rated the handle highly for feeling comfortable and sturdy.

The suitcase we evaluated from this collection aced our packing tests, receiving perfect scores for being easy to fill and for holding our standard load. It's important to note that we did have some difficulty opening and closing the zippers while packing the carry-on-size bag, but our testers appreciated all of the zippered compartments for organization, with one enthusing, "I love the pockets." The suitcase unzips into one large opening, complete with compression straps to secure your belongings, a large mesh zippered pocket and a removable bifold toiletry bag.

Plus, there are two outer pockets for easy access to your travel necessities, and the suitcase can be expanded by up to two inches for more room. The inner lining is fully removable, which makes it simple to clean, since you can just take it out and throw it in the washing machine.

A favorite of our testers, Calpak's Ambeur collection of luggage is the ideal combination of fashion and function. Fittingly, it's available in four trendy metallic shades. This high-quality checked bag is made of polycarbonate and ABS composite material that's lightweight and durable, holding up well during repeated dropping in our tests and avoiding large dents. It did show some signs of wear in our scratch test, but that's common with ABS composites.

When our testers rolled the carry-on model through our obstacle course, they were blown away by its easy-to-use telescopic handle, with one describing it as "the smoothest handle by far" when compared with the other luggage that was being tested. Other testers said the padded handles were comfy to hold and easy to steer with and lift. The interior of the bag is also impressive. Inside, there are two large areas for packing larger belongings, complete with a compression strap and a zippered panel, as well as two additional zippered pockets and a removable toiletry bag. You can even expand the spacious bag by two additional inches to bring souvenirs back with you on your trip home.

What sets this bag from Briggs & Riley apart is its innovative design that simplifies packing for longer trips.

When you unzip the bag, it exposes one large, lined compartment to store your belongings and two mesh zippered pockets for smaller items and accessories. Hidden inside the lid of the suitcase is a built-in trifold garment folder with a hook for hangers that's perfect to store your more formal attire. Our testers who tried a smaller model of this bag were impressed by how much they could fit inside, sharing that there was way more space than they expected — ideal for a long trip abroad. Plus, a unique push-button expansion system allows you to easily expand the bag for extra packing space and then compress it down to its standard size once it's been filled.

For a softside bag, it's on the heavier side, weighing in at 15.6 pounds, but it's made with high-quality materials and reinforced at the corners to protect your belongings. When we put the nylon material to the test using our abrasion machine, we were impressed that it showed no signs of wear. And it was the top performer in our most recent round of drop testing; after being loaded into our drop tester and released repeatedly, there were no major dents or damage. Testers said the bag was easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and rated the telescopic handle as sturdy too.

Ideal for someone who prefers a sleeker, more minimalist aesthetic, this checked bag from Monos wowed both GH analysts and our consumer testers, making it a winner in Good Housekeeping's 2023 Family Travel Awards.

The durable polycarbonate luggage follows the brand's "less is more" design philosophy but isn't lacking in space or organization. We rated it highly for being easy to pack, with a roomy interior that's divided into two compartments: One is zipper-enclosed, and another has an adjustable compression panel to keep contents secure. Plus, there are three spacious mesh zippered pockets for additional organization.

When testers rolled the suitcase through our obstacle course, they were wowed by how easy it was to maneuver and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled. "I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this bag was to travel with," shared one tester who took the bag on a trip. "I didn't have to roll it behind me; I could roll it next to me." In our durability assessments, the suitcase managed to hold up to repeated drops without suffering major dents, but the shell did show some marks and scuffs in our scratch test.

Monos also offers a 100-day trial period, which means you can test the bag out and use it for up to 100 days before committing, so you have plenty of time to decide if it's right for you and your travels.

Rimowa is a brand that only produces hardside luggage, and it has become a master of its craft. So if you're willing to splurge, the durable suitcases are worth the price.

This traditional ridged suitcase is made of aluminum, and after years of analyzing dozens of suitcase models, we've found aluminum to be the most durable material for hardside luggage. Although we haven't evaluated this particular model, we have put other bags from Rimowa to the test, and they stood out across the board, ranking highly in our maneuverability, durability and packing tests.

Unlike other suitcases we've tested, this one doesn't have a zipper. Instead, there are two secure, easy-open, TSA-approved locks that lift up to reveal two interior storage compartments. Although seemingly simple inside, each compartment contains a divider panel with adjustable straps that can be tightened to compress your things, and the brand says the compression system can help you fit up to 10 days' worth of belongings. As if all those features aren't enough, each compression panel features a large zippered mesh pocket for more organization.

Unfortunately, Rimowa doesn't offer a trial period, so you can return the suitcase only within the 30-day window, and only if it's unused and in its original packaging. If possible, we recommend trying out the bag in a Rimowa store before committing, since the brand's luggage is pricier than other picks on our list.

Large checked luggage is meant to hold more of your belongings for longer trips, but as a result, it can take up a significant amount of space in your home when it's not in use. Herschel's new large hardside bag has a narrower design than our other picks, so it's ideal for someone who doesn't have much room for storage. But there's still plenty of room inside the suitcase for packing — the suitcase features an elastic strap to secure your belongings and mesh zippered compartments to store accessories and help you stay organized.

The polycarbonate material performed well in our drop tests without denting, but there were some noticeable scuffs and small scratches. The suitcase's adjustable telescopic handle didn't feel as sturdy as some others as we pulled the bag through our Lab, but we found it to be easy to maneuver around twists and turns and loved the smooth-rolling wheels. Herschel's generous 100-day trial period gives you time to test out the bag for yourself before committing, and if you're a fan of the brand, you can add to your travel gear with its Novel duffel, our pick for best value duffel bag.