Travelpro vs. Samsonite: Which is Best in 2024?

Travelpro Overview

Travelpro was the brainchild of a pilot who wasn’t satisfied with lugging around a cumbersome suitcase that fell apart after a few trips anyway. He invented the first version of modern rolling luggage design, with two wheels and an extendable handle. He called it rollaboard luggage. How’s that for innovation?

Travelpro initially catered to flight crews, but the idea quickly caught on, and Travelpro became popular among other travelers who wanted the convenience of this new design. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Targeting those who live out of their suitcases (or at least travel a lot), Travelpro focuses on no-nonsense functionality and durability. Don’t get me wrong, their luggage also looks good, just in a more classic, understated way.

What sets Travelpro apart is their commitment to long-lasting durability. They build their luggage tough, offer a no-nonsense lifetime guarantee, and even sell replacement parts so you can keep your bag on the go and out of the landfill.

In short, Travelpro sells luggage that’s designed to work, and keep working. Their designs may not be at the cutting edge anymore, but they get the job done.

Travelpro Materials & Quality

Staying with the theme of getting the job done, Travelpro doesn’t use many fancy high-tech materials like carbon fiber or thermoplastic composites for their suitcases. They stick with materials that are well-known to be reliable.

For soft-sided luggage, their higher-end lines like the Platinum Elite, use high-density nylon while the cheaper Maxlite 5 line uses polyester. Both are no-frills fabrics that handle wear and tear well. Travelpro adds their signature DuraGuard Coating which keeps the fabrics stain- and water-resistant.

Their hard-shell suitcases are made from polycarbonate, which is the gold standard for durable and lightweight luggage (at least until someone invents something better). Polycarbonate is lightweight, strong, and flexible enough to take an impact without cracking.

The crazy thing is that Travelpro offers their Maxlite Air polycarbonate luggage at a lower price than most of the popular polycarbonate suitcases—like, a lot cheaper. Just compare it to something like Away or Monos and you’ll see the price difference.

I’m not sure how they do it, but it’s cool that you can get the same material as luxury suitcase brands in a more affordable package.

But durability depends on a lot more than the main suitcase material. In my experience, zippers, wheels, and handles are almost always the first things to fail on a suitcase. It doesn’t matter how good the materials are; if these components fail, the bag is worthless.

Travelpro understands this. Every piece of their bags is designed with longevity in mind, and they do extensive durability testing. They run fully-loaded suitcases on a treadmill with bumps to test the wheels. They have machines that jerk the handles and open and close the zippers thousands of times. They even drop loaded suitcases onto concrete after storing them in the freezer for several hours.

Most brands have some form of durability testing, but Travelpro’s is way more intense than most. By purposely trying to break their suitcases, Travelpro designers learned how to make components stronger and more reliable.

Of course, not everything is perfect. The lightweight Maxlite 5 and Maxlite Air collections use single spinner wheels instead of double spinner wheels. There’s nothing wrong with these wheels—they’re very smooth and maneuverable—they just aren’t quite as strong as double spinners.

But even if your wheels do break, Travelpro has a full catalog of replacement parts, including wheels, handles, zipper pulls, screws, locks, and pretty much any other part that’s likely to break. If something goes wrong, they’ll ship you a replacement part.

It’s honestly pretty awesome how much Travelpro is dedicated to keeping your suitcase functional and out of the landfill. Their warranty is solid, they have repair centers around the country, and they even made a series of how-to videos for DIY repairs.

Over years of travel, I’ve learned that with enough time and abuse, even the most durable gear can (and will) break. European cobblestone streets always win in the end. The fact that Travelpro suitcases are designed to be repaired means they will last much, much longer.

And that’s pretty refreshing in an age of cheap, disposable products.

Travelpro Design & Features

While Travelpro suitcases tend to look pretty conservative, that doesn’t mean they are done innovating. Travelpro suitcases are loaded with smart features designed to make traveling that little bit easier.

Lots of luggage has smooth-rolling spinner wheels these days, but Travelpro takes this a step further. Their Patented MagnaTrac wheels use magnets to self-align and keep the bag rolling straight.

It sounds a bit gimmicky, but when I tried it, it really made a difference. I didn’t have to concentrate on keeping my bag from spinning away from me, and it took a lot less force to keep it rolling in the right direction.

The magnetic wheels only come on higher-end models, though.

All Travelpro suitcases have awesome interior organization with zippered dividers, compression straps, and pockets for smaller items. I hate it when suitcases are basically just big empty spaces because my stuff always turns into a jumbled mess. The dividers and pockets in the Travelpro bags I tested made it easy for me to stay organized.

Most Travelpro suitcases are also expandable. They have an extra wrap-around zipper that gives you up to 2 inches of extra depth. That may not sound like much, but it actually adds up to a lot of space. I personally don’t love expandable suitcases, but I can’t deny that they make a suitcase more adaptable. It’s nice to pack light for a trip but have extra space when I need it.

The higher-end Platinum Elite suitcases have extra features like built-in TSA locks, USB chargers, removable toiletry bags, and even built-in garment folders for some models. If you want an advanced, full-featured suitcase, Platinum Elite is the way to go.

Travelpro’s product range isn’t as broad as Samsonite’s but it’s nice that they have options for different budgets. The high-end bags are stylish and packed with features, while the cheaper ones cut out the extras without compromising the most important stuff.

Travelpro Pros and Cons

TravelPro excels in crafting durable luggage that caters to the needs of frequent travelers, offering a blend of style, functionality, and resilience that’s hard to beat. However, no brand is perfect.

Let’s break it down and see where this brand soars and where it’s a bit off-course.

Samsonite Overview

Samsonite is a titan in the luggage world, and they’ve been at it for over a century Born from humble beginnings in 1910, this brand has journeyed from crafting robust trunks for ocean voyages to pioneering some of the most innovative luggage designs on the market.

Samsonite’s mantra has always been about combining durability with style, ensuring that every traveler finds their perfect travel companion, regardless of destination or duration.

Samsonite’s vast product range promises something for everyone, from the business traveler needing sleek functionality to the wanderlust-driven explorer craving lightweight versatility. They portray themselves as a luggage brand and a travel lifestyle brand, aiming to enhance the journey at every step.

Their target market is as varied as their product line, from the budget-conscious traveler looking for reliable functionality at a lower price point, to the luxury seeker desiring high-end materials and advanced features.

Samsonite’s ability to offer durable luggage that ranges from affordable to premium makes them a versatile contender in the world of travel gear.

Samsonite Materials & Quality

Samsonite has a huge product range, and they use a lot of different materials. As with anything, you typically get what you pay for. Samsonite’s budget suitcases use cheaper fabrics and plastics, but their more expensive models use higher-grade materials like polycarbonate, Cordura nylon, or even high-tech new composite plastics.

For example, the best-selling Freeform and Outline Pro collections have hard shells made of polypropylene. For context, this is the same kind of plastic that’s used in a lot of food packaging like yogurt cups. It’s lightweight and flexible but not very strong.

On the other hand, some models (like the Virtuosa) use sturdier polycarbonate, while Samsonite’s luxury suitcases are made with innovative high-tech materials like the multi-layer Roxkin.

All of this is to say that because there’s such a range of materials, I highly recommend you research the materials and construction of a specific Samsonite suitcase before buying it. If you’re on a budget, polypropylene will do the job, but polycarbonate is going to be sturdier and longer lasting.

The same logic applies to Samsonite’s wheels, handles, zippers, and other components. Their cheap suitcases are built with cheap parts, and their more expensive suitcases are made with high-quality parts.

I owned a cheap pair of Samsonite spinner suitcases during college, and after 6 months in Germany, the cobblestone streets completely destroyed the wheels on both. I’ve also known people with high-quality Samsonite bags that they’ve had for years.

Here’s the key takeaway: Samsonite luggage is well-made overall, but if you want a bag that’ll last a long time, it’s worth investing in one of their nicer models.

Samsonite Design & Features

Because Samsonite has such a huge product range, talking generally about the design and features isn’t easy. Everything is so different! I’ll focus on the most important highlights, and features that are common across the range.

First off, every Samsonite suitcase has good internal organization with zippered pockets and dividers. All of their suitcases have well-designed compression straps that keep things in place and compartments for smaller items. Most even have a transparent waterproof pocket specifically for toiletries and liquids.

The budget Samsonite bags don’t have organization as good as Travelpro, but the high-end and mid-range models have fantastic designs to help you stay organized. I especially love the internal layout of the Outline Pro luggage, which has a large zippered divider on one side and a full-width compression panel on the other that does a fantastic job at keeping clothes securely in place. Both sides have multiple pockets.

I also like that the majority of Samsonite suitcases have double spinner wheels, while Travelpro’s more affordable bags only have single spinner wheels. In my experience, double spinners are stronger, more resistant to wear, and smoother over rough surfaces like cobblestones (where a single wheel might get stuck in a crack).

Samsonite suitcases also come with more bells and whistles like built-in TSA locks and USB ports. With Travelpro, you only get these features on more expensive models, but Samsonite includes them in more of their bags and at lower prices.

For example, the Voltage DLX Carry-On is one of Samsonite’s most affordable hardside carry-ons, but it has the fancy features you’d expect in a higher-end bag.

Samsonite Pros & Cons

Samsonite is a reliable go-to for luggage. Almost every frequent traveler has owned or used a Samsonite suitcase at some point. You can find Samsonite luggage everywhere, and they have something for everyone.

Samsonite has a good reputation for durability, but their record isn’t perfect. Not all Samsonite luggage is created equal.

Travelpro vs. Samsonite: Which Should You Buy?

Let’s cut to the chase. Which luggage brand should you throw your hard-earned cash at? It’s like choosing between pizza and tacos—both are amazing, but your choice depends on your taste… or in this case, your travel style.

Travelpro gear is designed with the practical, no-nonsense traveler in mind. That means consistent durability, functional (if a bit conservative) designs, replaceable parts, and a solid warranty.

If you want a bag that gets the job done one trip after another for years to come (and are okay with more basic styling), Travelpro is the easy choice.

Samsonite, on the other hand, is like the Swiss Army knife of luggage brands. They’ve got something for everyone, from the budget-conscious traveler just looking for a reliable suitcase for that annual vacation to the tech-savvy jet-setter who wants their luggage to charge their devices on the go.

Where Travelpro sticks to tried-and-true materials and designs, Samsonite is more innovative.

Samsonite truly shines for the adventurous traveler and the style-conscious. With their innovative features, like built-in scales and USB ports, and hard-shell designs that turn heads, they’re perfect for those who value both form and function.

Plus, Samsonite’s unique designs are much more likely to stand out in the airport. If you want to make a style statement, you’re more likely to find a suitcase you like from Samsonite.

So, Who’s the Winner?

Choose Travelpro if you’re a frequent traveler, especially for business, who values durability, organization, and practicality above all else. Their luggage is built to withstand the rigors of travel and make your life on the road (or in the air) as smooth as possible.

Go with Samsonite if you want variety, innovation, and style. Whether you’re a casual traveler or a tech-savvy globe-trotter, Samsonite offers luggage that’s not only reliable but also packed with features that cater to a modern traveler’s needs.

Ultimately, the best brand for you depends on your travel habits, priorities, and, yes, even your personality. Both brands offer exceptional luggage options, but the best choice is the one that fits your travel lifestyle like a glove. Or, in this case, like the perfect carry-on that slides effortlessly into the overhead bin.