There’s nothing like the horror of having your hard shell burst open before boarding an Amtrak.
asserted
shell → ’ → Amtrak
What’s worse?
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What → ’ → ?
Knowing the hundreds you spent could have gone to upgrading your ticket.
uncertain
you → know → ticket
Before becoming a shopping reporter, I had traveled the globe (studying in Australia, Spain and then trekking between the West and East Coasts), so I know a thing or two about luggage and what matters.
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what → become → luggage
How easily can it be chucked into a car?
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it → chuck → car
How smoothly does it glide over bumpy surfaces?
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it → glide → surfaces
And, of course, how well can it protect your belongings while being tossed on the airport carousel?
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it → protect → carousel
To find the suitcases that could meet the stresses of New York City, we divided the luggage into three categories: First Class, Direct-to-Consumer Aesthetics and Overpackers Anonymous, testing the features that mattered most to different types of travelers.
uncertain
that → find → travelers
The polished Tumi suitcase impressed us with its durability, gliding smoothly across varied terrain.
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suitcase → impress → terrain
Its expandable design adds valuable extra space when you need it most.
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you → add → it
The Monos Carry-On features a convenient front pocket for essentials and smooth-rolling spinner wheels.
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On → feature → essentials
It earns top marks, even though its exterior sustained a few scuffs during the drop test.
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exterior → earn → test
The Amazon Basics Suitcase won our stair-drop test with remarkably few marks.
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Suitcase → win → marks
A smart interior separator keeps shoes and clothing organized, while the spacious design makes packing easy.
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packing → keep → shoes
For the First-Class category, we focused on suitcases that are truly worth the splurge.
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that → focus → suitcases
These premium luggage brands offer stronger exteriors, more packing space, and intuitive design features.
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brands → offer → exteriors
The lightweight build makes it easier to lift into overhead bins
Molded hard-shell design that is meant to take heavy impact without cracking
USB-C charging port feature
TSA-approved locks
Cons:
The build is quite light, and the wheels are so smooth that it can roll away easily
Limited warranty
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it → make → locks
Commerce Partnerships Associate Brooke Parker was blown away by how lightweight and easy to steer the Tumi suitcase was.
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Parker → blow → suitcase
“Even on the bumpy sidewalks, the suitcase would glide without getting caught on cracks or rocks or rattling my hand as I pulled it (the ultimate last straw when I am already over-scheduled with a travel day),” she shared.
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she → glide → day
When it came to packing, Parker found the simple compartments worked well, though she wasn’t able to fit all of her bulkier items.
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she → come → items
“I feel more comfortable using the expandable feature on the Tumi given its much higher zipper quality and overall stability when expanded,” she added.
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she → feel → quality
For Parker, it was the thoughtful details that made the biggest difference.
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that → make → difference
She highlighted the built-in USB-C charging port, which is useful for travelers prone to forgetting to charge their phones before takeoff.
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which → highlight → takeoff
Its wave-like exterior adds character while maintaining a more practical look than something overtly luxurious.
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exterior → add → something
“It gives a high-quality, clean look without too much flash, which is something I consider important especially when traveling alone and commuting long distances through the city.”
This Carl Friedrik Carry-On glides like a champ, stays quiet over bumps and packs more than expected.
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On → give → more
I was very excited to get my hands on it after hearing so many rave reviews.
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I → get → reviews
It took a bit of a learning curve to figure out how to open it, but once I did, the whole thing felt indestructible.
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thing → take → it
The TSA-approved combination locks are reassuring for frequent travelers.
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locks → approve → travelers
Compression pockets keep items securely in place.
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pockets → keep → place
There’s also a tight pocket for sliding in a laptop, rather than letting it roam freely in the bag — a major plus for anyone traveling with electronics.
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it → ’ → electronics
At nearly 10 pounds, the case is substantially heavier than other suitcases I’ve tried.
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I → try → suitcases
That extra weight does make it feel grounded when navigating turns and bumps, but it can be a downside if you’re trying to minimize luggage weight.
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you → make → weight
The anodized aluminum shell is eye-catching and gives the suitcase a luxurious, premium look — and at almost $1000, it truly should look the part.
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it → catch → 1000
Unfortunately, it showed some signs of damage during testing, showing a few scuffs.
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it → show → scuffs
In our drop test, the case fared even worse, ending up with several visible scratches and dents.
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case → fare → scratches
So, while it’s undeniably pretty, the heavier aluminum build didn’t take concrete particularly well.
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build → ’ → concrete
Multiwheel system for added stability and Stage-free telescopic handle; TSA-approved locks
Flexible divider
Cons:
Relatively heavy
Only two color options
The aluminum shows wear
Not expandable
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aluminum → add → wear
When you see the price tag on the Rimowa Original Cabin, you might think, Whoa, that’s a month’s rent — or a vacation in itself.
uncertain
that → see → itself
But among luggage brands, this is the Hermès or Rolls-Royce of suitcases, and our Editorial Director, Barret Wertz, said it “earned its stripes” for a few reasons.
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it → say → reasons
“The glide was insane,” he pointed out.
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he → point → ?
…and 117 more, not listed.
The Aporia
