American Tourister and Samsonite supply distinctive advantages and cater to several types 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 by way of each conceivable check. Through the years, 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 workforce has rated over 150 suitcases utilizing our comprehensive data-based methodology. We’ve spent years honing our experience within the subject and studying what makes the distinction between a very good suitcase and a terrific one.
What it’s possible you’ll not know is that American Tourister is definitely owned by the Samsonite Company. Nevertheless, 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 various to Samsonite, which suggests cheaper supplies, easier designs, and fewer high-end choices.
And that’s the important thing distinction. In the event you’re searching for an honest suitcase on a budget, American Tourister has you lined. 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 make it easier to perceive the precise commerce offs you possibly can anticipate between them.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial workforce has examined dozens of suitcases through the years, and we’ve discovered so much about what separates a high quality piece of bags from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed finances baggage, luxurious suitcases, and every little thing in between.
We all know how arduous it’s to search out the proper suitcase, and we wish to make the method simpler for you. So our workforce of drugs junkies and product engineers developed essentially the most complete luggage test methodology potential.
We examined and rated 5 American Tourister suitcases and 15 Samsonite suitcases, together with carry-ons and checked baggage from each manufacturers.
We evaluated each certainly one of these suitcases on 31 metrics throughout eight classes. We gave all of them the identical remedy 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 finances model with very low costs. Samsonite is costlier general and has extra premium fashions.
- Guarantee: American Tourister and Samsonite have a just about an identical 10-year restricted guarantee.
- Sustainability: Samsonite is significantly better should you 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 inner pockets and group options.
- Expandability: Each American Tourister and Samsonite have suitcases that may broaden.
- Wheels: American Tourister typically makes use of flimsier single spinner wheels, whereas many Samsonite fashions have stronger double spinner wheels.
- Telescopic Deal with: Samsonite baggage typically has stronger and extra adjustable handles than American Tourister.
- Shade Choices: American Tourister baggage is available in an enormous vary of shiny colours and designs, whereas Samsonite’s colour selections are extra restricted.
American Tourister vs Samsonite: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase American Tourister should you…
- are on a good finances.
- don’t journey often.
- primarily take home flights inside 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 should you…
- journey extra often.
- usually journey internationally.
- journey for work.
- desire a suitcase that can 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 finances model, and meaning 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 best luggage brands on the market).
Now, don’t get me flawed. An American Tourister bag will survive lengthy airplane rides and bumpy baggage carousels simply wonderful, and should you 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 most typical plastics on the planet; it’s utilized in every little thing from LEGOs to hoover cleaners to your laptop computer’s keyboard. It’s an honest materials all-around, nevertheless it’s lower than ultimate 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 quite a lot of totally different supplies. Their cheaper hardside suitcases are made from polypropylene, which is light-weight and versatile. It’s typically higher than ABS, however it’s nonetheless a finances materials, and isn’t significantly sturdy.
For a bit extra money, you may get a very good high quality carry-on or checked suitcase made with polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is the gold-standard materials for hardside baggage proper now, and is utilized by many luxurious manufacturers.
With Samsonite, you may get a lot higher-quality baggage than American Tourister. Nevertheless, as a result of Samsonite merchandise are all so totally different, you must do your analysis into a person suitcase earlier than shopping for it. A couple of fashions I extremely advocate are the Outline Pro, a mid-range hardside carry-on, and the Armage II, which is made from sturdy nylon cloth. Each of those baggage are sturdy and dependable.
If you would like 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 modern woven composite hardshell materials that absorbs impacts higher than some other baggage materials I’ve encountered.
If sturdiness is your predominant concern, Samsonite is the perfect 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 received kids carry-ons with Disney character prints, night sky patterns, and an enormous checked bag printed with Mickey Mouse pants. Plus, their non-printed baggage comes with attention-grabbing 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 should you’ve received a large print of Darth Vader in your suitcase, although. No approach you’re going to overlook that.
In fact, not all people likes to be the focus. In the event you dislike shiny, 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 complex than something from American Tourister, and their higher-end baggage undoubtedly don’t appear like low-cost merchandise you picked up at Goal.
Functionally, American Tourister suitcases are fairly easy and fundamental, and I truthfully suppose that’s a very good factor. When finances manufacturers attempt to pack in too many options, you simply find yourself with extra issues to interrupt.
You’ll discover zippered dividers, a number of inner pockets to maintain issues organized, and adjustable telescoping handles. None of that’s groundbreaking, nevertheless it will get the job performed.
In the event you like having a number of pockets and compartments to maintain issues organized, you’ll like Samsonite way more than American Tourister. A few of their suitcases are nonetheless fairly easy, however others (just like the Outline Pro) have modern designs with a number of dividers and loads of pockets for smaller gadgets.
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 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 increased 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 among 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. In the event you journey so much, an American Tourister bag won’t final very lengthy, and having to interchange it form of defeats the aim of saving cash within the first place.
Samsonite suitcases do value extra, however they will even last more.
In the event you simply want a bag for infrequent journeys, American Tourister shall be wonderful, however should you journey extra often, you’ll lower your expenses 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 an identical. They even have the identical wording on their guarantee pages.
Most American Tourister and Samsonite suitcases include a restricted 10-year guarantee. This undoubtedly doesn’t compete with manufacturers with full lifetime warranties like Travelpro or Briggs & Riley, however each American Tourister and Samsonite have an honest popularity for repairing or changing suitcases on guarantee.
That mentioned, they particularly state that their guarantee doesn’t cowl harm 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 form of guarantee is good to have.
Model Impression & Sustainability
If shopping for extra sustainable merchandise is essential to you, the selection is straightforward. Samsonite is much forward of American Tourister in terms of model impression and sustainability. Samsonite scored 6.2 for sustainability, whereas American Tourister solely scored 4.5.
Samsonite makes use of recycled supplies in its cloth baggage, experiences its carbon footprint, plans to make use of 100% renewable vitality by 2025, and donates to environmental and social charities.
Last Ideas
Though Samsonite and American Tourister are owned by the identical firm, these two baggage manufacturers are very totally different they usually cater to several types of vacationers.
Samsonite scored higher than American Tourister in nearly all of our testing metrics, and I feel 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 motive to decide on American Tourister.
A type of causes is value. American Tourister baggage is affordable, and should you be careful for offers, it may be actually low-cost. In the event you don’t journey often, American Tourister provides you higher bang to your buck.
Another excuse to purchase American Tourister is should you simply really need certainly one of 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 to your personal internal youngster), it’s arduous to beat American Tourister.
So it comes all the way down to this, are you a extra critical frequent traveler who wants a dependable suitcase, or somebody who travels much less often and simply desires 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 trials of journey.
How does the guarantee examine between American Tourister and Samsonite?
Samsonite usually affords longer and extra complete warranties, protecting numerous defects and damages.
Are there any eco-friendly baggage choices from these manufacturers?
Samsonite has launched collections emphasizing environmental duty with out compromising high quality or sturdiness.
Is American Tourister the identical high quality as Samsonite?
No, Samsonite affords higher-end supplies and options, whereas American Tourister focuses on affordability.
Which suitcase model is finest?
It is dependent upon your wants. Samsonite baggage affords high quality and extra options whereas American Tourister gives extra budget-friendly choices.
Does the burden of the suitcase matter?
Sure, a lighter suitcase means you possibly can pack extra with out going over airline weight limits.