8 Best Hardside Luggage of 2026, According to Testing

Several of our Lab experts, including myself, have been using luggage from the uber-popular brand Away for years and have found it to stand the test of time. This pick is made of polycarbonate material, which makes it both lightweight and durable. During Lab evaluations, we put its durability to the test and dropped the suitcase repeatedly from a set 3-foot height, noting no major signs of damage or prominent scuffing.

In our packing tests, we were impressed by the compressive panels designed to keep your belongings in place and by the hidden laundry bag, allowing you to separate dirty clothes. If you're unsure about splurging on a carry-on bag, Away offers a 100-day return policy for unused items and, according to testers, has excellent customer service.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: Our consumer testers found that the wheels on Away suitcases rolled smoothly and were easy to maneuver. When I rolled the bag through our luggage obstacle course, I was wowed by how easy it was to navigate around turns. The suitcase rolled right along with me, rather than dragging behind.

Testers noted that the telescopic handle isn't as sturdy as some other styles, but they liked the bottom grab handle for lifting into overhead bins. One tester shared, "It rolled really easily and was light enough to pop in and out of the overhead bin. I liked the basic design as well."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW:Away Carry-On

July's Classic hardside luggage has a simple yet sophisticated look, thanks to its smooth polycarbonate material with monochrome aluminum corners and real leather details. While it scuffed more than some other suitcases in our drop tests, the suitcase earned high scores overall for durability and was relatively easy to wipe clean.

These carry-ons are some of my favorites because of their chic look and insanely smooth wheels. The carry-on has a butterfly opening with one zipper-enclosed side and one side with a compression panel and adjustable Y-strap to secure your belongings. The telescopic handle features a unique, contoured grip for added comfort, and it locks into place at 20 different heights.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: One at-home tester commented, "I've tested many, many suitcases, but I've never used luggage that glided as smoothly as July's through an airport." Our in-Lab obstacle course testers agreed and rated July's bags highly for their ease of use and smooth-rolling wheels, which barely make a sound as they rolled over different surfaces.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW:July Luggage

For luggage that's equally as fashionable as it is functional, Calpak's Ambeur suitcases are a must-have. The hard-shell bags are made with a blend of ABS plastic and polycarbonate that's both lightweight and durable; however, we did find that the metallic colors scuffed easily. In Lab evaluations, the luggage was dubbed our "tester favorite" because consumer testers were so wowed by the metallic colors, clean design, and overall ease of use.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: The telescopic handle aced our tests for being easy to raise and lower and for its sturdiness, with one tester noting that it was the "smoothest handle by far" among all the bags we evaluated. Other testers agreed, explaining that the monochromatic padded handles were comfortable to lift, pull, and push.

Plus, the Ambeur luggage earned high scores in our packing tests. The bag has a traditional butterfly opening with one zipped panel with zippered pockets and one side that features a compression strap, along with a removable toiletries bag. A tester shared, "I really loved the organizational features of this luggage" and added that she was easily able to separate and access her belongings on her trip.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW:Calpak Luggage

Rimowa has been around for more than a century, but it stays on the cutting edge. Known for producing only hardside luggage and accessories, the brand is an expert in the category and is especially known for its aluminum designs, though there are some made of leather and polycarbonate (the brand is considered to be the first to introduce polycarbonate material in luggage).

We continue to be impressed by Rimowa's suitcases with each test but are partial to the Original line, including the Original Cabin. Made with aluminum, the classic carry-on is more durable than other hard materials like ABS plastics or polycarbonates, but it is on the heavier end of carry-on weight. It features the brand's iconic distinct grooved look and a zipperless closure—using TSA-approved lockable latches instead. The suitcase has a butterfly opening, unfolding to reveal two large packing compartments with adjustable compression panels.

Though the suitcases are very expensive, the brand has begun offering a lifetime guarantee that covers functional damages, not just manufacturers defects, so we think they're worth the investment.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: Our testers often compared other hardside luggage to pieces from Rimowa, using the brand as the benchmark for quality suitcases. When we've evaluated the suitcases in our Textiles Lab, we've ranked them highly for their durability, ease of use, and smooth wheels. Testers appreciated that the luggage is easy to maneuver through a busy airport or around the cones in our luggage obstacle course.

Monos's less-is-more approach to design results in a sleek, timeless look that our testers loved. The durable polycarbonate luggage may have a simple appearance, but it doesn't skimp on quality or useful packing features. Inside, you'll find two spacious compartments: one zipper-enclosed compartment and one with an adjustable compression panel. There are also additional zippered pockets inside for even more organized storage space.

The bag aced durability tests, resisting major dents and damage after being dropped repeatedly from a 3-foot height, but it did show some signs of wear in scratch tests—more than other brands I've tested. I had some difficulty removing the scuffs, even with the included melamine sponge.

Monos offers luggage sets for an even better value, along with a generous 100-day return policy.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: When testers tried it in our luggage obstacle course, they were impressed by how easily the bag maneuvered and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled around our cones. A tester shared, "I cannot say enough good things about this luggage!" further adding, "I was able to hold a weeks worth of clothes in it without even using the expanders. I also loved the organization of it and how there were extra pockets."

READ OUR FULL REVIEW:Monos Luggage

This innovative suitcase from Briggs & Riley is full of features to make packing for an international trip easier. On the outside of the hardside suitcase is an easy-access pocket for your phone and ID. The bag unzips into one large packing space—comparable to most softside luggage—that's fully lined and contains three internal zip pockets for easy organization.

The bag utilizes Briggs & Riley's unique expansion system, which allows you to expand the bag for additional packing space and then compress it to its standard size once the bag has been filled, with just the push of a button.

WHAT TESTERS SAY: When we tested Briggs & Riley's hardside suitcases in the Textiles Lab, they performed well overall, receiving high scores for durability, water resistance, and ease of use. I've personally taken this suitcase on trips to five European countries and to Mexico and have been impressed by the wheels and the taller height of the telescopic handle. Testers also shared that the brand's bags were easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and said the telescopic handles were sturdy.

Our testers have tried both the softside and hardside version of this carry-on, and were blown away by how much they could fit inside each, sharing that there was way more room than expected. I'm a big over-packer, so the one issue I encountered with this suitcase was the expansion system popping back out once I compressed it down because I filled my bags just a little too close to the brim.