American Tourister and Samsonite supply distinctive advantages and cater to various kinds of vacationers. However which one fits your journey finest?
As a seasoned traveler who’s lived out of a suitcase for months at a time, I’ve put my baggage via each conceivable check. Over time, I’ve zipped and unzipped, packed and repacked, and rolled dozens of suitcases throughout a number of continents. My hands-on expertise with each American Tourister and Samsonite means I can supply insights not simply from product specs, however from real-world sturdiness and performance.
Plus, in 15 years of testing, the TravelFreak crew has rated over 150 suitcases utilizing our complete data-based methodology. We’ve spent years honing our experience within the discipline and studying what makes the distinction between a great suitcase and an incredible one.
What chances are you’ll not know is that American Tourister is definitely owned by the Samsonite Company. Nonetheless, simply because the 2 manufacturers are made by the identical firm doesn’t imply they’re equal. American Tourister is offered because the extra budget-friendly different to Samsonite, which implies cheaper supplies, easier designs, and fewer high-end choices.
And that’s the important thing distinction. Should you’re searching for a good suitcase on a budget, American Tourister has you coated. If you’re prepared to spend a bit extra for higher-quality baggage, Samsonite is healthier.
It’s not essentially so simple as simply selecting a worth level, although. I’ll share my experiences with each manufacturers and provide help to perceive the precise commerce offs you possibly can anticipate between them.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial crew has examined dozens of suitcases over time, and we’ve realized so much about what separates a high quality piece of bags from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed funds baggage, luxurious suitcases, and the whole lot in between.
We all know how arduous it’s to search out the proper suitcase, and we need to make the method simpler for you. So our crew of substances junkies and product engineers developed essentially the most complete baggage check methodology doable.
We examined and rated 5 American Tourister suitcases and 15 Samsonite suitcases, together with carry-ons and checked luggage from each manufacturers.
We evaluated each one among these suitcases on 31 metrics throughout eight classes. We gave all of them the identical therapy and rated them on the identical standardized scales. This makes it straightforward for us (and also you) to check the benefits and drawbacks of every.
At a Look
American Tourister vs Samsonite: Fast Solutions
- Sturdiness: Monos baggage is usually extra sturdy and well-built general.
- Worth: American Tourister is a funds model with very low costs. Samsonite is costlier general and has extra premium fashions.
- Guarantee: American Tourister and Samsonite have a just about similar 10-year restricted guarantee.
- Sustainability: Samsonite is a lot better if you happen to prioritize sustainability. They use recycled supplies and have applications to scale back their vitality consumption and carbon footprint.
- Supplies: American Tourister makes use of low cost supplies like ABS on most of their suitcases. Samsonite makes use of a variety of supplies, together with extra sturdy choices like polycarbonate.
- Design and Type: American Tourister baggage is colourful and flashy with enjoyable print designs. Samsonite baggage is extra understated {and professional}.
- Inside Group: American Tourister suitcases are quite simple and bare-bones inside, whereas Samsonite has designs with extra inside pockets and group options.
- Expandability: Each American Tourister and Samsonite have suitcases that may increase.
- Wheels: American Tourister usually makes use of flimsier single spinner wheels, whereas many Samsonite fashions have stronger double spinner wheels.
- Telescopic Deal with: Samsonite baggage usually has stronger and extra adjustable handles than American Tourister.
- Shade Choices: American Tourister baggage is available in an enormous vary of vivid colours and designs, whereas Samsonite’s shade decisions are extra restricted.
American Tourister vs Samsonite: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase American Tourister if you happen to…
- are on a decent funds.
- don’t journey steadily.
- primarily take home flights throughout the US.
- want baggage for summer season holidays or cruises.
- are shopping for baggage for a kid or for touring with a household.
Purchase Samsonite if you happen to…
- journey extra steadily.
- typically journey internationally.
- journey for work.
- desire a suitcase that may final for years of journey.
- care about shopping for extra sustainable journey gear.
- want checked baggage for long-haul journeys.
Supplies & High quality
American Tourister is solidly a funds model, and which means you shouldn’t anticipate the identical high quality and sturdiness you’d get from a high-end model like Briggs & Riley (which is among the finest baggage manufacturers on the market).
Now, don’t get me flawed. An American Tourister bag will survive lengthy airplane rides and bumpy baggage carousels simply advantageous, and if you happen to use it proper, it may final for years of journey. However selecting American Tourister over Samsonite does include some tradeoffs.
Right here’s what I imply.
Most American Tourister hardside suitcases are made with ABS plastic. This is among the commonest plastics on the planet; it’s utilized in the whole lot from LEGOs to hoover cleaners to your laptop computer’s keyboard. It’s a good materials all-around, however it’s lower than best for baggage.
The multi-directional spinner wheels, zippers, and handles are additionally cheaper and flimsier than those Samsonite baggage makes use of.
As a result of Samsonite has such a variety of merchandise, they use a number of completely different supplies. Their cheaper hardside suitcases are fabricated from polypropylene, which is light-weight and versatile. It’s usually higher than ABS, however it’s nonetheless a funds materials, and isn’t notably sturdy.
For just a little extra money, you may get a great high quality carry-on or checked suitcase made with polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is the gold-standard materials for hardside luggage proper now, and is utilized by many luxurious manufacturers.
With Samsonite, you may get a lot higher-quality baggage than American Tourister. Nonetheless, as a result of Samsonite merchandise are all so completely different, it’s best to do your analysis into a person suitcase earlier than shopping for it. Just a few fashions I extremely advocate are the Define Professional, a mid-range hardside carry-on, and the Armage II, which is fabricated from sturdy nylon material. Each of those luggage are sturdy and dependable.
In order for you a light-weight suitcase that may take some critical abuse, take a look at the Samsonite C-Lite. It’s made in Europe from an revolutionary woven composite hardshell materials that absorbs impacts higher than another baggage materials I’ve encountered.
If sturdiness is your essential concern, Samsonite is one of the best baggage model of the 2, scoring a mean of seven.9 for Construct High quality in comparison with American Tourister’s 6.6.
Design & Options
Actually, my favourite factor about American Tourister is the enjoyable designs. They’ve obtained youngsters carry-ons with Disney character prints, evening sky patterns, and an enormous checked bag printed with Mickey Mouse pants. Plus, their non-printed baggage comes with fascinating textures and an enormous vary of colours.
This isn’t nearly making a method assertion; it’s sensible, too.
Ever tried recognizing your black bag amongst a sea of comparable ones? It’s not enjoyable. Think about if you happen to’ve obtained a large print of Darth Vader in your suitcase, although. No method you’re going to overlook that.
In fact, not all people likes to be the focus. Should you dislike vivid, eye-catching colours in your baggage, Samsonite’s extra conservative, minimalist designs shall be extra up your alley. Their baggage items are extra dialed-in and complicated than something from American Tourister, and their higher-end luggage positively don’t appear to be low cost merchandise you picked up at Goal.
Functionally, American Tourister suitcases are fairly easy and fundamental, and I truthfully assume that’s a great factor. When funds manufacturers attempt to pack in too many options, you simply find yourself with extra issues to interrupt.
You’ll discover zippered dividers, a couple of inside pockets to maintain issues organized, and adjustable telescoping handles. None of that’s groundbreaking, however it will get the job accomplished.
Should you like having a lot of pockets and compartments to maintain issues organized, you’ll like Samsonite far more than American Tourister. A few of their suitcases are nonetheless fairly easy, however others (just like the Define Professional) have revolutionary designs with a number of dividers and loads of pockets for smaller objects.
Samsonite baggage additionally has extra bells and whistles. Constructed-in TSA locks, detachable toiletry pouches, garment folders, and USB ports are widespread throughout Samsonite’s product line. I really like that these little particulars are included, they usually actually made my touring simpler.
American Tourister solely scored 7.3 for performance, and Samsonite scored a lot greater at 8.9 on common.
Worth for Your Cash
If you’re strapped for money and saving each penny for air journey, American Tourister sells a number of the least costly baggage available on the market. They scored 10/10 for our Worth-to-Efficiency class. Samsonite scored decrease at 8.6.
American Tourister is among the finest baggage manufacturers for ultra-cheap baggage, which makes it simpler so that you can purchase your carry-on suitcase, pay for airfare, and nonetheless have some money left over for journey equipment.
In fact, you shouldn’t anticipate the standard to be the identical as higher-end manufacturers. Should you journey so much, an American Tourister bag may not final very lengthy, and having to exchange it form of defeats the aim of saving cash within the first place.
Samsonite suitcases do value extra, however they may even last more.
Should you simply want a bag for infrequent journeys, American Tourister shall be advantageous, however if you happen to journey extra steadily, you’ll get monetary savings in the long term by going with Samsonite.
Guarantee and Shopping for Expertise
Since each manufacturers are owned by the identical firm, their warranties are just about similar. They even have the identical wording on their guarantee pages.
Most American Tourister and Samsonite suitcases include a restricted 10-year guarantee. This positively doesn’t compete with manufacturers with full lifetime warranties like Travelpro or Briggs & Riley, however each American Tourister and Samsonite have a good fame for repairing or changing suitcases on guarantee.
That mentioned, they particularly state that their guarantee doesn’t cowl injury attributable to regular put on and tear or airline baggage handlers, solely manufacturing or materials defects.
In fact, with American Tourister’s low prices, any type of guarantee is sweet to have.
Model Affect & Sustainability
If shopping for extra sustainable merchandise is vital to you, the selection is straightforward. Samsonite is way forward of American Tourister on the subject of model influence and sustainability. Samsonite scored 6.2 for sustainability, whereas American Tourister solely scored 4.5.
Samsonite makes use of recycled supplies in its material luggage, stories its carbon footprint, plans to make use of 100% renewable vitality by 2025, and donates to environmental and social charities.
Last Ideas
Although Samsonite and American Tourister are owned by the identical firm, these two baggage manufacturers are very completely different they usually cater to various kinds of vacationers.
Samsonite scored higher than American Tourister in nearly all of our testing metrics, and I believe it’s fairly clear that they make higher baggage general. Samsonite model suitcases are extra sturdy and have extra sensible options and designs. For many vacationers, Samsonite would be the better option.
However that doesn’t imply there’s no cause to decide on American Tourister.
A kind of causes is value. American Tourister baggage is reasonable, and if you happen to be careful for offers, it may be actually low cost. Should you don’t journey steadily, American Tourister provides you higher bang in your buck.
Another excuse to purchase American Tourister is if you happen to simply actually need one among their enjoyable print designs. I imply, it’s arduous to say no to a Monster’s Inc. carry-on. If you’re shopping for baggage for a kid (or simply in your personal interior baby), it’s arduous to beat American Tourister.
So it comes right down to this, are you a extra critical frequent traveler who wants a dependable suitcase, or somebody who travels much less steadily and simply needs a enjoyable bag for these occasional getaway journeys?
American Tourister vs. Samsonite FAQs
Can American Tourister baggage be used for frequent journey?
Sure, American Tourister baggage is designed to face up to the pains of journey.
How does the guarantee evaluate between American Tourister and Samsonite?
Samsonite sometimes gives longer and extra complete warranties, overlaying numerous defects and damages.
Are there any eco-friendly baggage choices from these manufacturers?
Samsonite has launched collections emphasizing environmental accountability with out compromising high quality or sturdiness.
Is American Tourister the identical high quality as Samsonite?
No, Samsonite gives higher-end supplies and options, whereas American Tourister focuses on affordability.
Which suitcase model is finest?
It is dependent upon your wants. Samsonite baggage gives high quality and extra options whereas American Tourister supplies extra budget-friendly choices.
Does the load of the suitcase matter?
Sure, a lighter suitcase means you possibly can pack extra with out going over airline weight limits.