When looking for the ideal piece(s) of luggage for your needs, one of the top considerations is durability. This refers to the solid, lasting construction of a bag, and its ability to withstand the abuse that can come with travel and handling. If you plan to subject your luggage to the rigors of airplane travel, or frequent travel of any kind for that matter, then you’ll surely want something highly durable that will keep your belongings safe and secure after repeated use. So, what is the most durable luggage?
Characteristics of Long-Lasting Luggage
Hardsided, softsided, large, small, upright or duffle bag style, you can find luggage with superior durability in an array of designs and sizes from a number of the best luggage brands. And perhaps surprisingly, even across multiple price ranges – durable pieces exist among cheap luggage brands and among very expensive ones. The main things to look for is overall solid construction. The best luggage brands pay special attention to endurance of the materials used, security of seams, solidity of zippers, and stability of handles, wheels, and other peripherals.
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Durable Hard Shell Luggage
Many of the newer hard sided luggage options are made of a variety of high-tech composite materials that are specifically designed to be ultra durable, while also being incredibly lightweight. The advantage with these is that even in the rare event that they sustain some dents, these can often be pushed back out to original shape without any cracks or permanent damage.
The Delsey Luggage Helium line is very highly rated and reviewed based on its durability, style, and overall functionality. These expandable spinner trolleys are made of 100% polycarbonate, making them extremely durable and lightweight. Double spinner wheels add strength and durability, and provide greater ease of maneuverability with no stress on your arm or hand.
The large easy access main compartment has several pockets for organized storage, including a padded protective sleeve for a laptop computer. And an integrated combination lock add security to your belongings. These bags sport a sleek, modern design with a glossy metallic finish in several color options such as titanium, charcoal, blue, red, navy, or black. Choose from multiple sizes, from 29 inch large bag to small 19 inch carry on luggage.
The Merax Travelhouse Luggage 3 Piece Expandable Spinner Set is an economical pick in this category that is highly rated by actual users. This hard side luggage set costs less than $200 for all three pieces, including a 20 inch carry on, a 24 inch mid-size, and a 28 inch large upright.
Made of maximum strength ABS material, they each feature four silent multi-directional spinner wheels, expandable increased capacity, built in combination lock, and extremely durable composition that absorbs impact when under stress. Choose from purple, black, red or orange.
If you’re looking to pack something that needs much more protection than just clothing, such as electronics, photo gear, or other precious cargo, then you’ll want to consider a Pelican Case. 
Pelican cases aren’t your ordinary luggage pieces. These are very heavy-duty cases that are crushproof, waterproof, and dustproof, with customizable foam for keeping all of your valuable items from moving around. With an emphasis on function, not fashion, Pelican Cases provide the ultimate in durability. They are available in multiple sizes, from small carry-on for easy transport on a plane to extra large for hauling in the back of a truck.
Durable Soft Sided Luggage
Some soft side suitcases are equally durable, constructed with strong multi-layered materials that are resistant to cuts and tears, and have the ability to compress when stacked or squished into a fixed space.
If price is no object, then you definitely want to have a look at the stellar Briggs and Riley Baseline Upright Duffle Bag. This bag consistently appears at the top of reviewers’ lists as one of THE highest quality and most durable bags available. Ultra-solid construction including ballistic quality nylon, thick leather handles, double reinforced stitching, and ultra strong v-groove handle tubes, along with a feature-rich interior, all go to making these bags last and last.
And perhaps best of all, it’s backed by Briggs & Riley’s infamous lifetime warranty, the most comprehensive across all of the luggage industry. Choose from black or distinctive olive color. Whether for business or vacation, this bag continues to be among the most highly sought after by serious travelers around the globe.
An particularly cost-conscious pick is the Travel Select Amsterdam 4-Piece Softshell Deluxe Luggage Set. Rated among the most durable in cheap luggage sets, each piece is made of highly reinforced 2-tone 1200D polyester with PVC backing on top panels, and two closely integrated inline skates for minimal chances of damage. Plus they’re expandable for adjustable capacity and flexibility.
Travel Select also provides a 5-year limited warranty. Choose from red, blue, black or orange. This set, which includes a 29 inch, 25 inch, and 21 inch wheeled carry-on, plus a handy matching 15 inch tote, is a steal at under $100 for all four pieces.
Minimizing Vulnerabilities in Any Luggage
Typically the most vulnerable areas to be aware of in luggage are found in the wheels, handles, and zippers.
Wheels – With wheeled suitcases, the wheels stick out from the main body. This is especially true with spinner luggage, those with four wheels that each turn 360 degrees. While this design provides great ease in maneuverability, the wheels can get caught up during airline or other rugged travel, resulting in loss or damage to a wheel. Luckily, there are replacement wheels for luggage of all type, and many brands even include access to replacement wheels as part of their warranties.
Handles – The most vulnerable handle is the telescoping handle on wheeled luggage. Those handles are meant to withstand being pulled and pushed, but many people also mistakenly use this handle to actually lift the bag. Since luggage can get pretty heavy when filled, lifting a bag up by the telescoping handle for even just a few steps or over curbs can really take its toll. Even solid sewn on handles that are intended for carrying the bag should be used with care. It’s always best to use two of these handles whenever lifting bags. Doing so distributes the weight and puts less strain on any single handle, keeping the stitching and material in place much longer.
Zippers – Just as with clothing, zippers can break when stretched too greatly or pulled too vigorously. This is especially true in bags that are overpacked with “just one more pair of shoes”. The zipper itself can usually handle it, but the stress is often too much for the stitching that holds it in place.
When making your final decision on what is the most durable luggage for you, think about the type and amount of use your bag will be subjected to. Then choose the item above which best fits your needs. And as with all things, the best way to prolong the life of any luggage no matter how durable its construction is to handle it with care when transporting and stowing.