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Tumi Review

Monday, January 13th

2025 Luggage Reviews

Tumi Review 2 Star Rating

Tumi

2 Star Rating
  • Starting at $595
  • About 33 different styles
  • 5-year warranty
  • Unfiltered product reviews
  • In business since 1975

Since 1975, the backbone of Tumi's brand is the durability and craftsmanship they pour into luggage production. Their 5 guiding principles include design excellence, superior quality, technical innovation, functional superiority, and world-class customer service. Tumi has over 125 patents and tries to stay ahead of the curve with traveling needs and trends. Tumi is also the official luggage partner of the PGA Tour, LPGA, McLaren Racing, and Tottenham Hotspur Women.

Extra storage solutions

Tumi has a big inventory of both backpacks and carry-on/checked bags. They're a professional brand that includes storage features in their products that we didn't see anywhere else. For example, some suitcases come with a removable suit section that has a zip pocket on the garment sleeve and a fiberglass rod to keep everything flat and smooth. There are extra zip pockets in most collections, which adds to a traveler's ability to keep belongings organized.

Single sizes

There are about 33 different styles of suitcases here that differ in structure, interior features, and size. Most of the inventory at Tumi are carry-ons, but there is a decent selection of checked bags as well. They have both hardside and softside options that come in colors like black, pink, white, gray, olive, navy, or light blue. Most suitcases come in a single size, so you can't pair together your own set very easily if you want the same design in multiple sizes.

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Really expensive

A glaring difference between Tumi and other brands we've evaluated is that Tumi's luggage is pretty expensive. Carry-ons start at $595 and can easily cost over $1,000. Checked bags start at $795, so if you're buying multiple pieces from this brand, you should expect to spend a couple of thousand dollars at the very least. The exterior material on Tumi's suitcases appears to be really high-quality and some of their interior organization is unique, but many of the other features they outline are similar to what other (much cheaper) brands say they offer, so we can't entirely nail down how they are justifying the high prices.

Rigorous product testing

Tumi boasts that they pioneered many of their own tests to ensure the highest quality for their customers. Bags are tested by tumbling them 125 times to see how they hold up. They use a handle jerk test to make sure the handle is properly installed and completely secure. Their zippers are guaranteed not to tear and they use a mileage cycle test to see how their wheels hold up over long distances.

5-year warranty

In the event that your Tumi luggage needs repairs or replacement, the company gives customers a 5-year warranty. The first year is worry-free, meaning Tumi will cover all expenses (including shipping costs to and from a repair center) for wear and tear related to normal use or airline handling. If a suitcase is beyond repair, they will replace it at no charge. Years 2-5 come with coverage for manufacturing defects and normal wear and tear. You'll be responsible for the cost of sending your luggage to Tumi's repair center and there may be an additional nominal fee involved, but they will quickly repair your bags and ship them back to you for free.

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Lower reviews than expected

If we are going to spend thousands of dollars on luggage, we need to know that it's going to last us a long time (or forever) but Tumi's reviews aren't as high as we would hope. Many of their suitcases are in the 3/5 star range, which is lower than many other brands. We found a lot of buyers who said that the company doesn't honor their warranty, zippers break after only a few uses, it's difficult to contact customer service, orders are canceled unexpectedly, and so much more. It doesn't help that Tumi doesn't have a Better Business Bureau rating either.

Needs some polishing

Tumi does a good job of positioning itself as a high-quality, luxury luggage brand that rigorously tests its products, but they don't live up to their own hype. If they were to make an effort to polish up their customer service efforts, they might have a much happier shopper base, but there are definitely some issues in that department. Because of this and their high prices, we aren't going to turn to Tumi for luggage anytime soon.

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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