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Samsonite Review

Wednesday, December 4th

2024 Luggage Reviews

Samsonite Review 3 Star Rating

Samsonite

3 Star Rating
  • Starting at $97.51
  • 25 suitcase choices
  • 3, 5, or 10-year limited warranty
  • Tens of thousands of customer reviews
  • In business since 1910

Samsonite is a leader in the lifestyle bag industry and is one of the most widely-known travel luggage companies in the world. They were founded in 1910 and have committed themselves to building a timeless, multi-generational future built on innovation and research. Samsonite owns a number of brands including American Tourister, eBags, Hartmann, High Sierra, Kamiliant, Lipault, and Tumi.

Good color variety

Samsonite sells hardside and softside luggage for checked bags and carry-ons. Their suitcases come in solid colors and only vary a bit in exterior design, with some of them having different types of lines and ridges along the front. They do have quite a few colors to choose from like amethyst purple, black, pink rose, tangerine, lilac, navy, gray, mint green, white, and others. Most of them zip all the way around and have 360-degree spinner wheels, but some are zipperless, which people are excited to find. Some have TSA locks or extra garment pockets, so where they differ is in the interior features like storage solutions, making it disappointing when we found that not all suitcases featured photos of the inside.

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Few suitcase types

There were 9 suitcases in the hardside category, 5 in the softside, and 11 in the carry-on category from Samsonite. There might even be a little overlap between these, which means that outside of color diversity, there aren't a ton of different suitcase types that they sell at any given time. Overall it seemed that most Samsonite suitcases we viewed were carry-ons.

Not the cheapest brand

Prices on luggage at Samsonite start at $97.51 for a black 20” carry-on with spinner wheels. This is on the low end and most suitcases cost closer to $170 or so for a large 28” bag. Samsonite's prices aren't too much higher than what we saw elsewhere, but they are by a bit. At most, for a single suitcase you'll pay $237.99 for a large 28” spinner. Since they don't have as many large suitcases here as we found from some other brands, it's hard to say for sure that Samsonite is "expensive” - but given the plain appearance of most suitcases here, they definitely aren't the cheapest or most interesting choice.

3, 5, or 10-year warranty

Depending on the suitcase you purchase from Samsonite, it will either have a 3, 5, or 10 year limited warranty to cover manufacturing defects in workmanship or material. At their own discretion they will either fix or replace your suitcase. Pay attention to what warranty your suitcase comes with, since they aren't all covered for the same time period.

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Sturdy and easy to handle

Based on a failure to respond to 2 complaints filed against the business, Samsonite has a "B” rating from the Better Business Bureau. This isn't going to be enough information to base a purchase off of, so we recommend paying close attention to product reviews from retailers that have them. From what we found, some suitcases had over 10,000 reviews and most of them had between a 4.3 and 4.7 out of 5-star rating average. This is decently high considering how many people are leaving feedback on Samsonite's quality. People agree that the luggage is sturdy, lightweight, and easy to haul around. Of course every so often there do seem to be issues with zippers breaking, exterior scratching, or faulty wheels. These seem to be the biggest weak points of any type of suitcase, so the key is relying on a good customer service team to take care of the issue when applicable.

Nothing stands out

Samsonite definitely has a big place in the luggage market simply because they own multiple brands and have been around such a long time. However, their selection compared to other brands didn't really stand out to us. They don't have unusually appealing designs and aside from there being quite a few color choices, we weren't thrilled with what they had to offer.

What is the Best Brand of Luggage?

Whether you're a world traveler and you frequent the airport, or you're just taking a weekend trip a few cities away, you need something to keep all your belongings organized. At some point in life, everyone will need to have a good set of luggage and there's really no way around it. It's something that you might only buy once in your life if you get a high-quality set and it will serve you over and over again.

The key is to own the right sizes and, of course, colors and design that fit your style. You may never have put much thought into all the different features you could find in different sets of luggage, but as you start shopping online you'll soon realize that there are a lot of things to consider.

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Luggage FAQ

Not necessarily. Every company has to start somewhere, and a new brand might be the next big hit. However, sticking with luggage brands that have lots of customer reviews and a track record of honoring warranties is always a safer bet.
Definitely not. Some brands have limited lifetime coverage of manufacturer defects, while others only extend that protection in the first few years that you own your luggage. A very small number of luggage brands protect you against wear and tear, even airline mishandling, but the majority will only replace or repair your suitcase if something malfunctions (like a zipper breaks).
Unused? Yes, usually. Check the policy of the luggage brand you're considering if you think this is a real possibility.
In our experience, not usually. You're paying for the prestige and the look, but luxury luggage brands rarely match their more affordable counterparts with respect to durability and function. Even the ones that supposedly offer a "lifetime warranty” often fall down when it comes to honoring that promise. You're usually better off going with luggage that mixes form and function: what good is a fancy name if your suitcase busts open the first time it's thrown on an airport conveyor belt?
Very few. Even iconic brands like American Tourister and Samsonite are usually made in China.
Your features wish list depends on the kind of travel you anticipate doing. Adventurous, outdoorsy types might like duffel bags with compartments to separate muddy and wet clothing from dry, clean items. Business travelers or the tech savvy might appreciate a carry-on with a built-in USB port. Other commonly-sought features include spinner wheels, TSA-compatible locks, zippers to expand the packing capacity, and external handles that maximize interior packing space.
No. While most luggage brands do their best to designate their carry-ons as domestic- or international-sized, there are no guarantees. Helpful hint: read through the customer reviews on any piece you're considering and see if any mention your frequently-flown airlines.
That's like asking "Coke or Pepsi”. Soft-sided tends to weigh a little less and be more forgiving of cramming in that one last must-have item. Hard-sided is, well, harder. It can offer greater protection if you tend to travel with fragile belongings, but it also tends to get scuffed up quickly. It's really more a matter of personal preference than anything.
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Continued from above...

For example, do you want hard or soft luggage? Do you want wheels that glide straight? Or ones that can swivel around in all directions? Do you want it to have a lock with the zipper in case it gets into the wrong hands? How about pockets on the outside or the ability to expand? See? There are many more things to decide on than you may have originally anticipated.

When you're off from place to place or sprinting to your airport terminal, the last thing you want is a busted wheel or handle. You might have to spend a tad bit more money, but having a high-quality luggage set is totally worth it. Another helpful hint when shopping is to buy something that's easily identifiable in case your luggage gets mixed in with other people's or you want to quickly grab your suitcase from the luggage carousel at the baggage claim. All of your essentials are in that important travel bag, so you'll always want to be able to pick it out in a crowd.

There are many companies that sell luggage online, but which ones will last you years to come? Some brands have really basic options while others get a lot more technical and fancy, so we've done the research to lay it all out for you so you can buy from a company that will best fit your traveling lifestyle. Here are some major things to take into account when weighing your options for luggage brands:

  • Selection. Does the company have a lot of sizes to choose from? Do they have luggage with more basic features that come at a lower cost as well as those with fancy wheels, extra pockets, and high-quality materials to keep them in good shape while getting shuffled around? Find a brand that gives you plenty of options and allows you to pick your very favorite.
  • Price. Luggage can vary quite a bit in price. If you're getting a high-end suitcase with extra compartments, accessories, top-shelf materials, and a unique design, chances are that you're going to be spending a bit more. Make sure that customer reviews live up to the hype and price of the luggage brand so you know you're getting your money's worth. If you hardly ever travel and just need something to function as a large compartment for your clothes and nothing more, look for a good deal.
  • Warranty policy. If your luggage arrives and isn't what you pictured or it arrives damaged, what is the warranty like? If you use it a few times and the zipper breaks or a wheel falls off, will the company repair or replace it at no charge? How long will the warranty last?
  • Reputation. We prefer shopping at stores that let customers leave honest feedback about their items. Pay attention to what people say about the durability, glide, material quality, and customer service of a certain brand and its unique products. Taking the brand's Better Business Bureau rating into account can also set you on the right track.

The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the best luggage brands you can buy from online. We hope you are able to find a great luggage set to accompany you on all your big adventures that lie ahead!

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