Good/Better/Best

Aluminum Suitcases

Good/Better/Best

Aluminum Suitcases

A price and style comparison

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The promise of travel is all about adventure, ease of living and a touch of style. Whether you're jetting off for a long weekend escape or crossing continents for work, the right luggage makes all the difference in your travel experience. And few options blend form and function quite like an aluminum suitcase. Sleek, durable and undeniably handsome, these hard-sided haulers have long been favored by design-minded frequent flyers for decades. At first it was just the German luggage maker Rimowa producing them, then modern brands like Away got into the game and now there are a multitude of options when it comes to the metal suitcases.

While they're often pricier, a tad heavier, and dent more easily when compared to your regular polycarbonate or softsided suitcases, these bags have a rugged, timeless style that makes them a great travel companion. They handle dings and drops with grace and look better the more miles you put on it. Especially when they're smattered with stickers from various destinations. But which one's right for you? Or worth the price? We put a few to the test to bring you the best bags to fit your budget.

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Good

The Affordable
Suitcase

• Made from a textured dent-resistant aluminum alloy

• 34 liter capacity with a 19.5” x 13” interior with a mesh pocket-lined compression board

• The slow release handles are designed to smoothly return to their initial position once you let go

• The ultra smooth RIVA tri-bearing wheels roll smoothly, even when the case is at full capacity

Treva carry-on,
$399 by MVST

Better

The Wired
Suitcase

• Made from U.S.-made aircraft grade aluminum alloy

• 45 liter capacity with a 21” x 14” interior with anti-microbial lining infused with natural silver fibers

• The top and side handles are wrapped in hand-stitched, full-grain leather

• The removable, airline-compliant charger has blazing-fast USB C and USB A ports to juice up a phone or tablet in under 30 minutes

The Frame Max carry-on,
$695 by Arlo Skye

Best

The Iconic
Suitcase

• Made in Germany from smooth, anodized aluminum magnesium alloy with signature grooves

• 35 liter capacity with a 20” x 14.5” interior with an adjustable velcro Flex Divider compression system

• Comes with a leather luggage tag, complimentary sticker and the brand's famous lifetime guarantee

• The wheels roll effortlessly, even when full, thanks to ball-bearing mounted wheels with cushioned axels

Cabin carry-on,
$1,430 by Rimowa

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