Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 18 suitcases, including seven hard and soft shell suitcases with four wheels and four travel bags with two wheels. By far the most expensive model, the Rimowa Essential Trunk Plus, scored best among the hard-shell suitcases with the grade "Good" (2.2). According to the test, however, the selection of "good" products among the soft-shell cases is larger overall. Here the Samsonite X'Blade 4.0 was ahead (grade 1.9). The testers saw the Travelite Crosslite as the price-performance winner (grade 2.5).
Consumers have to spend between 140 and 250 euros for a "good" roll-up travel bag. Biggest disadvantage of these luggages: your owner always has to drag them, which can be tiring.
Two suitcases and a branded travel bag received the rating "poor" because of too many harmful substances.
Shop recommendation for suitcases
Samsonite Neopulse Spinner 4-wheel hand luggage trolley 55 cm – metallic blue
Travelite CrossLITE 4-wheel trolley M 67 cm expandable – black
Samsonite Neopulse Spinner 4-wheel hand luggage trolley 55 cm – metallic black
Capital city suitcase Wedding – hand luggage hard shell apple green matt, TSA, 55 cm, 42 liters
Samsonite Lite-Shock 4-wheel cabin trolley 55 cm – black
Travelite Vector 4-wheel trolley L 77 cm – grey
Samsonite S Cure Spinner 4-wheel hard shell trolley 75 cm – black
Samsonite Base Boost cabin trolley with 2 wheels 55 cm (55x40x20) – black
Check In Berlin 4-wheel trolley 78 cm – green
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Hard shell, soft core: That's how robust the cases are
As soon as you can travel safely again, the suitcase has to endure a lot.
If you value a robust, relatively rainproof and theft-proof case, it is best to use a hard-shell model. However, these suitcases cannot be stowed away as flexibly as soft-shell models or travel bags with wheels. In addition, they are more prone to breakage. This is shown by a study by Stiftung Warentest ("test" issue 4/2021).
For the test, the fully loaded suitcases were dropped from a height of one meter onto a steel plate, namely on all four corners and on the wheels. This endurance test took its toll on the hard-shell cases, only the models from the premium manufacturers came through unscathed. On other models, the housing on all four wheels broke. The soft shell suitcases were at most slightly deformed. The travel bags performed best in the drop test.
In the vibration test, the suitcases were sent over a treadmill with bump bars. With several soft-shell suitcases, the wheels came loose after six kilometers. A little later, the handle on some hard-shell models broke. Duffel bags are easier to pull over bumpy cobblestones.
Repair instead of buying new
However, no case has to be replaced because of a defective wheel or a broken handle: In principle, parts that are particularly stressed can be replaced in almost all cases tested, according to the Stiftung Warentest – sometimes even on your own. Most providers committed themselves to supplying spare parts or repairing the case free of charge during the two-year statutory warranty or in the event of a guarantee.
Test winner: View Samsonite X'Blade 4.0 at Amazon
Shop recommendation for suitcases
Samsonite Neopulse Spinner 4-wheel hand luggage trolley 55 cm – metallic blue
Travelite CrossLITE 4-wheel trolley M 67 cm expandable – black
Samsonite Neopulse Spinner 4-wheel hand luggage trolley 55 cm – metallic black
Capital city suitcase Wedding – hand luggage hard shell apple green matt, TSA, 55 cm, 42 liters
Samsonite Lite-Shock 4-wheel cabin trolley 55 cm – black
Travelite Vector 4-wheel trolley L 77 cm – grey
Samsonite S Cure Spinner 4-wheel hard shell trolley 75 cm – black
Samsonite Base Boost cabin trolley with 2 wheels 55 cm (55x40x20) – black
