The 8 Very Best Hard-Side Suitcases

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: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Capacity: 39 L | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Two-year limited warranty

Calpak’s Hue cases are constructed from durable polycarbonate, as with the Away and Quince options above. But inside, things look a bit different. As well as the two main compartments (one of which has thick compression straps to hold down your packing cubes full of clothes), there’s an additional separator sleeve with four zippered sections in which you can store smaller items and dirty laundry. The suitcase can also expands an additional two inches by use of a second zipper, which means it can function as both a budget airline-sized carry-on as well as a standard one. I’ve been testing out this suitcase over the past month and enjoy how the extra compartments help me feel more organized — it’s a bit like using the suitcase version of a Cotopaxi Allpa. The Hue’s handle and spinners feel solid, although the wheels are slightly less recessed than those on the Away and Quince suitcases, which means they’re less protected from bumps. Calpak offers a two-year limited warranty, which is definitely not as generous as a lifetime one — if you know you’ll be traveling frequently, that’ll become more relevant.

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: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Capacity: 36 L | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Five-year manufacturer’s guarantee

The Rimowa Essential line of suitcases was a very close second to Away — more than ten people mentioned the brand in our survey of the best rolling luggage — but it lost out on the top spot due to its price. This suitcase is less durable than the classic aluminum version, but it shares a long history: Rimowa was the first brand to release a polycarbonate suitcase in 2000, so it has had more than 20 years to perfect its design. And it’s a great mix of durability and weight: This carry-on is more than a pound lighter than Away’s Bigger Carry-On.

Owners we spoke with say the wheels glide through the airport like a dream. There’s a manufacturer’s guarantee of five years if you remember to register your product when purchasing it (otherwise, it only lasts for two). Even in those five years, the warranty only applies “if the usability of the product is considerably adversely affected by a material or manufacturing fault already present at the time of hand-over (defect),” the brand says. Breaks caused by “abrasion, improper use, faulty operation, or externally occurring forces” like cracks, breaks, and scratches caused in flight are not covered. There’s a lot of fine print with Rimowa, so I suggest looking into it before you purchase.

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.