The 7 Very Best Hard-Side Suitcases

Material: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Capacity: 47.9 L | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Made from thick polycarbonate, I’m impressed with how sturdy yet lightweight Away’s ubiquitous suitcases are. I’m more than comfortable with packing breakables inside of one and am always confident that its handles and wheels will survive the perilous trip from the cargo hold to the luggage carousel. Cute as well as functional, Away suitcases are available in bright colors as well as neutral ones, and any scratches can be touched up with the brand’s eraser, which is included with each purchase. Away’s hard-side luggage is available in a few sizes; I’ve been testing the Bigger Carry-on, which is the most popular. That’s because it has a huge 50-liter capacity, but it still fits inside most overhead bins. (Though on some budget and most European airlines, it’s too big to class as a carry-on — you’d have to opt for the smaller size.)

Design-wise, Away’s definitely not trying to reinvent the wheel. Its luggage has all the features that you’d expect, but each feature has been executed perfectly. The 360-degree spinner wheels, for example, “make light work of the cobbled London street I regularly drag it along,” says Griffiths. And the telescopic handle is remarkably sturdy, which means you can use it to occasionally give up and drag your suitcase up and down stairs.

Numerous Strategist staffers have owned and used Away suitcases for years and years. You can also just look around the airport for proof of durability: The brand switches up its colorways seasonally, but I frequently see long-discontinued shades on the baggage carousel or nestled overhead on flights.

Material: Polycarbonate | Capacity: 40 L | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Quince, the five-year-old start-up that seems to make a little bit of everything, recently added rolling luggage to its growing inventory. I’ve been testing out the brand’s carry-on-size suitcase as well as its larger, checked one, both made from the same durable polycarbonate that Away uses. In terms of weight and feel, Quince’s affordable suitcases are surprisingly similar to Away’s. When I nudged an Away Bigger Carry-on and Quince Carry-on across my apartment floor side by side, their wheels carried them about the same distance, and their retractable handles are almost identical in form and function. Both brands use YKK zippers and TSA-approved combination locks. Inside, the compression compartments and removable laundry bag are also essentially the same. And Quince recently introduced a limited lifetime warranty on its suitcases that offers protection against defects like broken handles and zippers — mimicking Away’s famous replacement guarantee.

Material: ABS hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Capacity: 34 liters | Warranty: Limited warranty

A hard-side suitcase made from ABS rather than polycarbonate will always be the most affordable option. This Amazon Basics case is ideal for budget travelers, Griffiths says: “In my experience, it’s rare to find a case that costs under $100 that can compete with more expensive brands. I was surprised by how thick and sturdy the suitcase feels — it has a nice thud when you knock against the exterior.” As well as being thick, the exterior is also scratch resistant, and the case also has a well-designed handle, smoothly rolling wheels, handles for comfort, and a built-in lock. The warranty is where this bag falls slightly short, though (and may explain the cheaper price tag): It’s only a three-year limited warranty that protects against defects in materials and workmanship.

Material: Aluminum hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Capacity: 35 liters | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Aluminum cases are as durable as a hard-side case gets — they’re less likely to crack and usually use clamps instead of a zip (which can fall apart at the seams, burst, or even be slashed open). Several travelers I chatted with recommended the Rimowa case in aluminum for this reason. However, it costs well over $1,000 and doesn’t really do much beyond what this Away — which is half the price — does. The aluminum Away carry-on is similar to the polycarbonate one in many respects, from its great-quality handles and wheels to its ample storage space. One major difference is the lock, though: It’s still TSA-approved, but has the lock code on more secure clamps rather than a zipper. Travel writer Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, who travels every single week for work, calls it her “work horse.”

Material: ABS hard-shell | Capacity: 31 L | Wheels: 360-degree spinner, removable | Warranty: One-year limited

I first learned about this teeny-tiny hard-side case while researching the best personal-item-size luggage. It came recommended by Jasmine Anderson and Natasha Wilson, travel agents and co-hosts of the podcast Travel Fly Sexy, as well as packing expert Lauren Kelly. They all praise its snap-off spinner wheels that can slide miraculously into the cruelest of budget-airline baggage sizers. (“Frontier lately is charging people for wheels and handles sticking out of the sizers,” says Kelly. “That means $100 extra for each leg of the trip.”) Measuring 18 by 14 by eight inches, the suitcase’s rectangular shape maximizes space and allows you to use packing cubes: “I have put a laptop and a week’s worth of clothes in the Take Off,” says Anderson. Kelly agrees that “it will give you the most packing space if your goal is a weeklong trip where you pack a personal item only.” The suitcase comes with a small bag to put its wheels in while your bag is being sized by airline staff; you can also just stash them in your pockets. And yes, it will slide right under the plane seat in front of you, which means no competing for overhead bin space.