Travelers don’t have to spend a fortune for quality luggage. Consumer Reports conducted extensive testing to find budget-friendly options that stand up to the rigors of travel. The tests replicated the airport experience and showed that a higher price doesn’t always guarantee better quality. “We pull, drop, and drag these bags to simulate what a traveler would feel like with a piece of luggage,” said Consumer Reports’ Tanya Christian. The bags were wrapped in fabric to simulate clothing, then dragged 30 miles along a conveyor belt with obstacles. To test the strength of the handles, a machine lifted the weighted bags 5,000 times, applying 220 pounds of pressure to the top and sides. A simulated rainstorm tested how much moisture could pass through the zippers and seams. Maneuverability was also assessed by using people of different sizes to roll the bags over curbs, stairs, and sidewalks. For quality construction, Consumer Reports recommends Samsonite, which outperformed other models that cost hundreds of dollars more. It has an adjustable handle that extends to six different positions. The Amazon Basics hard-shell suitcase also made the cut at half the price. For carry-ons, Travelpro was the top pick for its durability and construction. “If you check a bag frequently, it can be nice to have the peace of mind of having a tracking device on your bag. This helps you locate it in case you lose it,” Christian said. Hard-shell luggage is ideal for packing fragile items, while soft-sided luggage is lighter and more flexible for tight spaces.
Travelers don't need to spend a fortune on quality luggage.
Consumer Reports conducted extensive testing to find budget-friendly options that stand up to the rigors of travel.
Tests replicated the airport experience and showed that a higher price does not always guarantee better quality.
“We drag, drop and pull these bags to simulate what it would be like if someone were traveling with luggage,” said Tanya Christian of Consumer Reports.
The luggage was stuffed with fabric to simulate clothing, then dragged 30 miles along a conveyor belt with obstacles.
To test the strength of the handles, a machine lifted the weighted bags 5,000 times, applying 220 pounds of pressure to the top and sides.
A simulated downpour tested how much moisture seeped through zippers and seams.
Maneuverability was also assessed using people of different sizes to roll the luggage over curbs, stairs, and sidewalks.
For quality construction, Consumer Reports recommends Samsonite, which outperformed other models costing hundreds of dollars more. It has an adjustable handle that extends to six different positions.
The Amazon Basics hard-shell suitcase also performed well at half price.
For carry-on luggage, Travelpro was the top choice for its resilience and construction.
“If you check your bag often, it may be worth the peace of mind of having a tracking device installed on your bag. This allows you to locate it in case you lose it,” Christian said.
Hard-shell luggage is ideal for packing fragile items, while soft-sided luggage is lighter and more flexible for tight spaces.
