10 Most Durable Suitcases 2023 For All Budgets And Sizes

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I’ve spent 5 hours researching the most durable suitcases on the market. Whether you’re looking for lightweight yet tough polycarbonate or heavy aluminium suitcase built to dent but not crack, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect suitcase for you here.

What makes a durable suitcase?

There are several features that will help keep your suitcase in pristine condition I look out for:

Shell material: soft shell and hard shell have their pros and cons.
- Contrary to believe, soft shells can be made from tough materials which are often lighter than hard shells.
- Not all hard shells are created equally either, cheaper hard shell materials can crack. Polypropylene and ABS tend to be lighter than polycarbonate, but polycarbonate is stronger and more durable. There are polycarbonate shells which are scratch-resistant too.
- Aluminium suitcases are a premium material, but are made to dent and are heavier than soft and other hard shells.
Aluminium frame: Helps keep the body of the suitcase from twisting and improves rigidity on impact.
Corner guards: Protects (you guessed it) the corners on impact.
Zipperless: Zips can break (especially if you’re prone on over packing and applying extra pressure closing your suitcase). There are luggage with no zip, instead using a clasp mechanism to secure and also provide moisture protection.
Warranty: There are some brands who offer lifetime warranties should your suitcase need to be fixed which is great peace of mind.

Best durable suitcases

Victorinox Airox Frequent Flyer

Victorinox may be more widely known for making quality knives and watches, but they also have a luggage range that’s just as robust.

I’ve chosen the Victorinox Airox Frequent Flyer which is made from 100% pure virgin polycarbonate. Victorinox claim it’s super robust during rigorous testing to the highest industry standards. It’s also ultra lightweight – the carry-on weighs just 2.3 kg.

Victorinox offers an 11 year warranty which includes includes manufacturing defects, normal wear and tear, airline handling and transit damage.

£275 at Victorinox

$325 at Victorinox

Monos Hybrid

Monos Hybrid is a combination of their popular aluminium and polycarbonate range.

Monos claim their Hybrid model is virtually unbreakable. It features an aluminium frame, anodized aluminium corner guards, zipperless clamp locking system and Aerospace-grade, water-resistant polycarbonate hard shell made from partially recycled materials. Monos also offer a 100 day trial and lifetime warranty. Available in 5 sizes, the Monos Hybrid is one of the best value suitcases on this list.

£403 at Monos

$325 at Monos US

July Carry On Trunk

For the price, the July Trunk is one of the my favourite durable suitcases in terms of value for money. It’s zipperless and features a crush-proof German polycarbonate shell coupled with aluminium frame. I recommend purchasing a limited edition model while stocks last as it has a scuff-proof matte finish too.

July also offer Lifetime warranty, 100-day returns and 2 sizes – carry-on and checked.

£395-£495 On July UK

$445-$545 On July US

Horizn Studios H5

I own the Horizn Sutdios M5 and can attest to the hard wearing quality shell they use for their suitcases. The H5 model uses partially recycled aerospace-grade German polycarbonate.

£370 On Horizn Studios

$420 On Horizn Studios

Level8 Gibraltar

Aluminium suitcases aren’t cheap due to the material (Rimowa’s are over £/$1,000 for example). This Level8 Gibraltar is the cheapest I can recommend on the market. It has over 200+ 5 star reviews on Amazon (we all know Amazon are the harshest of critics) and is made from 6-series aluminium-magnesium alloy which is aviation level.

It’s zipperless, has corner guards and has a lifetime warranty too. I have the Level8 Voyageur and can attest to the build quality. The one downside is it’s available in carry-on size only. Consider purchasing the Away Aluminium instead, which is available in more sizes below.

£403 at Amazon UK

$430 at Level8 US

Away Aluminium

A slightly more expensive alternative to the Level8 Gibraltar, the Away Aluminium does provide a few more extras for the spend such as interior compression, laundry bag and leather details, including a leather luggage tag. The Away Aluminium is also available in more sizes: carry-on, slightly larger carry-on, medium and large. Away also offer a lifetime warranty.

£500-£600 On Away UK

£625-£745 On Away US

Rimowa Classic

If the Level8 and Away aluminium suitcases were too heavy, consider the Rimowa Classic which weighs less than both. Another reason to justify the price increase is Rimowa use high-end anodised aluminium alloy. Rimowa offer a lifetime guarentee and it’s also available in 5 sizes : cabin, slightly larger cabin, medium, large and trunk.

£1,130-£1,690 at Rimowa

$1,450-$2,250 at Rimowa

Samsonite Lite-Shock

The Samsonite Lite-Shock uses the brand’s patented CURV technology to create a tough shell while the ridges absorb impact. It’s also one of the best lightweight checked luggage on the market.

Sale

LEVEL8 Luminous

The cheapest most durable suitcase I can recommend (I also own the carry-on and checked versions). It uses 3-Layer 100% Germany BAYER polycarbonate which helps keep it flexible while the micro-diamond textured design minimises scratches.

Globe-Trotter Centenary

One of the most beautiful luggage on the the market, the Globe-Trotter Centenary is also extremely durable. It’s made form a Vulcanised Fibreboard, 14 layers of recycled paper bonded with zinc which makes it tougher than leather and lighter than aluminium. The locks are made from carbon steel for extra security.

£1,624 at Matches Fashion

$1,995 at Matches Fashion

Do hard suitcases crack easily?

Not all hard suitcases crack easily. Hard shell suitcases are available in three types of material – polypropylene, polycarbonate and aluminium. Polypropylene tends to be cheaper and lighter in weight, but is the weakest of the three and is more prone to cracking. Aluminium tends to dent rather than crack, but is the heaviest and most expensive suitcase material. Polycarbonate is both lightweight and strong.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? See the rest of our best luggage buying guides