Buy the Best Luggage for International Travel Online

Victorinox Werks Traveler 3.0 27" Deluxe Expandable Wheeled Travel Bag WT-27  

Victorinox Werks Traveler luggage features inline skate wheels (rollerblade wheels), which are the best wheels for luggage.

These lightweight luggage pieces also have a swivel monopole design where the top handle swivels to face parallel to your body as you pull it. You can drop your arm to the side in a natural position to pull the bag, rather than having to twist your arm so that your palm faces forward.

Victorinox Werks luggage comes with a Carry with Confidence Guarantee, a lifetime warranty that also covers common carrier mishandling.

The Victorinox Werks line is a good step up from Samsonite luggage, and the 27-inch is a good bag size for trips lasting a couple of weeks.

More Victorinox Werks Luggage >>

Victorinox Werks Traveler 4.0 WT 24" Expandable Upright

Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 5.0 22" Exp. Carry-On

Victorinox Werks Traveler 4.0 WT 24" Dual-Caster

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Delsey Luggage Helium Fusion Lite 2.0 25 Inch Expandable Upright  

International travelers love this lightweight, expandable luggage from Delsey -- one of the top names in luggage. This rollie bag has a built-in overweight luggage indicator so you can save on airline baggage fees.

Amazon Reviewer DallasRachel says, "I bought this suitcase for a 10-day trip to Italy. I had more than enough room for my clothes, toiletries and 5 pairs of shoes. The bag is light, sturdy and fit well on various trains/cabs. We are purchasing a second Delsey 25" suitcase because we like it so much!"

Amazon Reviewer Jim L. says, "Bought this before going to India, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. It still looks new and held up very nice, even with a two mile walk through Hong Kong."

Get more pieces of this set, available in Black, Blue, and Pink >>

Delsey Helium Fusion 3.0 21" Carry-on Expandable Suiter Trolley
(25% Off)

Delsey Helium Fusion 3.0 25" Expandable Suiter Trolley

Delsey Helium Fusion Lite 2.0 29" Exp. Suiter Trolley
(On Clearance)

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Briggs & Riley Baseline 27 inch Expandable Upright Spinner
(19% Off)

Briggs & Riley Baseline 20" Carry-On Expandable Wide Body

Briggs & Riley Baseline 26" Upright Duffel

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International Traveller Shiny Zebra 28 inch Expandable Upright Hardside Luggage  

Compare prices on Amazon and eBags.com

Four-wheel hardside suitcases are very popular in Europe. This upright rolly bag is easier to maneuver in a crowd or on public transportation than a 2-wheel bag, although you have the option to pull this bag as a two wheel as well.

A 4-wheel bag is also easier for maneuvering heavy loads, because you don't have to drag the weight behind you. One thing to look out for, though, is that hardside luggage is susceptible to scratches and scrapes.

I took my first two trips to Europe with a large internal frame backpack that I took on the plane with me, but now, those types of bags are too tall to meet the new airline carry-on regulations.

I now travel internationally with the Patagonia MLC Wheelie backpack as my carry-on (see review below), so that I get the best of both worlds. I wear it on my back to keep my hands free to deal with my larger luggage, my purse, airline tickets, passport, etc.

Once the large luggage is checked and I'm all checked in for my flight, I take the MLC Wheelie off my back and use the retractable telescoping handle to wheel it around. It stays on wheels until I pick up my checked luggage at my destination. Then it goes back on my back. This backpack is large enough that I can have all essentials with me on the plane, but small enough to meet carry-on regulations.

The International Travel Backpack that I Use

Patagonia MLC Wheelie Bag
eBags.com

Check out Patagonia's popular wheeled backpack. "MLC" stands for "Maximum Legal Carry-on," which means it's the largest size allowable as a carryon bag. The MLC Wheelie holds 3-5 days worth of clothes if you want to use this as your only piece of luggage for your international trip. Otherwise, it's a functional second bag to transport items above and beyond those in your checked luggage.

I love this backpack! I put my laptop inside the top compartment (within its own padded laptop case), along with all the essentials that I need on board with me. It's got a small zippered office organizer compartment on the front to stash your pens and paperwork, or a journal or magazine. It's sturdy, yet lightweight.

Best of all, it's convertible. I can wheel it when I need to, and carry it on my back when I need to, without hurting my back. A teacher who reviewed this bag on eBags sums it up nicely:

"This bag is one tough number. I have hauled it aboard carts and trucks in Nepal, India and Pakistan, where it has been off-loaded not so gently into the mud and dirt. Brush it off, and its ready to go. The zippers are heavy duty and even with grit and dirt in them, they still have a smooth action. The wheels are sturdy and seemingly bomb proof, and the optional backpack is absolutely necessary for the kind of rough travel I do. Since it fits in airlines overhead compartments, I never have to worry about lost luggage or the baggage claim hassle."

Note: You can't stuff extra things into the backpack or wedge items into corners the way you can with a regular suitcase. Whatever fits, fits, and the rest has to go into your checked luggage. It's not built for extended backpack wear, because it has no internal frame. But you'll be thankful for the backpack functionality when you have to climb a flight of stairs or catch the subway.

Made of 100% recycled 1200-denier polyester, so it's eco-friendly. Available in gray (pictured) or black.

High Sierra A.T. GO 32" Drop-Bottom Expandable Duffel, Model AT559
Ebags.com  

The wheeled duffel bag is a type of convertible luggage, which means you can carry it a couple different ways, depending on the situation. Wheeled duffles are nice because they have a large capacity and can either be wheeled by the telescoping handle or carried by the duffle handles, or.even worn as a backpack, as in the case of this High Sierra duffel. This bag has padded backpack straps that tuck away into a zippered compartment when not in use.

Just because it's a duffle bag doesn't mean there's no organization. This rugged but lightweight High Sierra A.T. GO duffel has a movable divider that allows the large main compartment to be sectioned off, and there's a zippered mesh pocket to organize belongings in. The top compartment expands 2.5 inches, which is perfect for fitting in those gifts or souvenirs you'll pick up on your trip.

There's a drop-bottom lower compartment as well, so you can put clothes in the top compartment, and shoes in the bottom, for example. But you can also combine the upper and lower compartments into one if you need a larger space.

Comes with a 5 year limited warranty.

Keep your belongings safe with these slashproof, reinforced travel bags from PacSafe.

Pacsafe MetroSafe 400 Convertible Carry-on Bag

Pacsafe Toursafe Sling Backpack

Pacsafe MetroSafe 250 Shoulder Bag

Pacsafe MetroSafe 200 Shoulder Bag

Briggs & Riley >>

Delsey >>

Eagle Creek >>

International Traveller >>

Samsonite >>

Victorinox >>

Luggage Price

Don't automatically assume you need a fancy matching luggage set. You'd be better off buying individual pieces that meet your needs. For your checked luggage, buy the most durable bag you can afford so that it can withstand rough airline baggage handling. Go for something lightweight, functional, and affordable for your carry on luggage, which won't be subject to airline damage. (Don't go too cheap, though, because you might be forced to check your carry-on if the overhead compartments are full or for other reasons you didn't anticipate, and you'll want your carry on to be able to survive the trip.)

The amount you spend on international luggage should be determined by how much use you want to get out of it. If it's luggage for a lifetime (and with a lifetime warranty), it'll cost more. If you plan to take frequent international trips, it's worth investing in something that will last. If you're not going to use the luggage often, then you don't need to spend as much money on it. On the other hand, if a cheap, busted open bag would ruin your trip of a lifetime, then spend a little more for something of higher quality.

Luggage Appearance

Depending on where you're going, you may not want to have luggage that screams "designer." If you're headed to Monaco, though, that might be precisely what you want.

Luggage Size

Travel experts say to pack the same amount, whether your trip is for just a few days or for a few weeks. You want something that's not so large that it can't be easily loaded into taxis, placed on train luggage racks, put in a train station locker, or taken onto public transportation. The rule of thumb is to only take what you can carry yourself. And if you want to be absolutely sure that your bag arrives in a foreign land with you, then you need a 22" bag (or smaller) that meets airline carry-on restrictions so you can take it on the plane with you.

Luggage Durability

Look for ballistic nylon,a high-quality, durable material. Polyester and polyester/nylon blends are cheaper, but don't hold up as well. Leather luggage is not particularly durable, either.

Other Luggage Factors

Other factors to consider when choosing the best luggage for international travel are the level of mobility and flexibility you desire, and the luggage warranty. Keep reading to see the pros and cons of different types of bags and to see how luggage manufacturer warranties stack up.