American Tourister and Samsonite provide 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 by way of each conceivable take a look at. 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 provide 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 complete data-based methodology. We’ve spent years honing our experience within the area and studying what makes the distinction between a great suitcase and an important one.
What you could 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 bought because the extra budget-friendly various to Samsonite, which suggests cheaper supplies, less complicated designs, and fewer high-end choices.
And that’s the important thing distinction. If you happen to’re in search of an honest suitcase on a budget, American Tourister has you coated. If you’re keen to spend a bit extra for higher-quality baggage, Samsonite is healthier.
It’s not essentially so simple as simply choosing a worth level, although. I’ll share my experiences with each manufacturers and provide help to perceive the precise commerce offs you may count on between them.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial workforce has examined dozens of suitcases over time, and we’ve realized rather a lot about what separates a high quality piece of bags from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed price range baggage, luxurious suitcases, and all the things in between.
We all know how arduous it’s to search out the right suitcase, and we need to make the method simpler for you. So our workforce of substances junkies and product engineers developed probably the most complete baggage take a look at methodology attainable.
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 considered 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 simple for us (and also you) to match the benefits and downsides 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 price range model with very low costs. Samsonite is costlier general and has extra premium fashions.
- Guarantee: American Tourister and Samsonite have a nearly equivalent 10-year restricted guarantee.
- Sustainability: Samsonite is significantly better if you happen to prioritize sustainability. They use recycled supplies and have packages to scale back their power 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 Fashion: 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 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 shiny colours and designs, whereas Samsonite’s shade selections are extra restricted.
American Tourister vs Samsonite: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase American Tourister if you happen to…
- are on a good price range.
- 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 if you happen to…
- journey extra often.
- typically journey internationally.
- journey for work.
- need 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 price range model, and which means you shouldn’t count on the identical high quality and sturdiness you’d get from a high-end model like Briggs & Riley (which is likely one of the finest baggage manufacturers on the market).
Now, don’t get me fallacious. An American Tourister bag will survive lengthy airplane rides and bumpy baggage carousels simply nice, and if you happen to use it proper, it might 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 likely one of the most typical plastics on the planet; it’s utilized in all the things from LEGOs to hoover cleaners to your laptop computer’s keyboard. It’s an honest materials all-around, nevertheless it’s lower than perfect 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 numerous totally 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 price range materials, and isn’t notably sturdy.
For a bit of more cash, you will get a great 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 will get a lot higher-quality baggage than American Tourister. Nonetheless, 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 suggest are the Define Professional, a mid-range hardside carry-on, and the Armage II, which is fabricated from sturdy nylon material. Each of those baggage are sturdy and dependable.
If you would like a light-weight suitcase that may take some severe abuse, try the Samsonite C-Lite. It’s made in Europe from an revolutionary 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 median of seven.9 for Construct High quality in comparison with American Tourister’s 6.6.
Design & Options
Truthfully, 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 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 if you happen to’ve obtained a large print of Darth Vader in your suitcase, although. No means you’re going to overlook that.
In fact, not all people likes to be the focus. If you happen to 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 complicated than something from American Tourister, and their higher-end baggage positively don’t seem like 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 price range 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 achieved.
If you happen to like having plenty of pockets and compartments to maintain issues organized, you’ll like Samsonite rather 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 gadgets.
Samsonite baggage additionally has extra bells and whistles. Constructed-in TSA locks, detachable toiletry pouches, garment folders, and USB ports are frequent throughout Samsonite’s product line. I like that these little particulars are included, and so they actually made my touring simpler.
American Tourister solely scored 7.3 for performance, and Samsonite scored a lot larger 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 likely one of 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 count on the standard to be the identical as higher-end manufacturers. If you happen to journey rather a lot, an American Tourister bag may not final very lengthy, and having to switch it type of defeats the aim of saving cash within the first place.
Samsonite suitcases do value extra, however they may also last more.
If you happen to simply want a bag for infrequent journeys, American Tourister shall be nice, however if you happen to 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 equivalent. 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 an honest fame for repairing or changing suitcases on guarantee.
That mentioned, they particularly state that their guarantee doesn’t cowl harm brought on by regular put on and tear or airline baggage handlers, solely manufacturing or materials defects.
In fact, with American Tourister’s low prices, any kind of guarantee is good to have.
Model Affect & Sustainability
If shopping for extra sustainable merchandise is essential to you, the selection is easy. Samsonite is way forward of American Tourister in the case of model affect and sustainability. Samsonite scored 6.2 for sustainability, whereas American Tourister solely scored 4.5.
Samsonite makes use of recycled supplies in its material baggage, stories its carbon footprint, plans to make use of 100% renewable power by 2025, and donates to environmental and social charities.
Remaining Ideas
Though Samsonite and American Tourister are owned by the identical firm, these two baggage manufacturers are very totally different and so they 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 motive to decide on American Tourister.
A type of causes is value. American Tourister baggage is reasonable, and if you happen to be careful for offers, it may be actually low-cost. If you happen to don’t journey often, American Tourister provides you higher bang on your buck.
Another excuse to purchase American Tourister is if you happen to simply really need considered 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 on your personal internal youngster), it’s arduous to beat American Tourister.
So it comes right down to this, are you a extra severe frequent traveler who wants a dependable suitcase, or somebody who travels much less often 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 trials of journey.
How does the guarantee examine between American Tourister and Samsonite?
Samsonite sometimes gives 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 gives higher-end supplies and options, whereas American Tourister focuses on affordability.
Which suitcase model is finest?
It is determined by your wants. Samsonite baggage gives high quality and extra options whereas American Tourister offers extra budget-friendly choices.
Does the burden of the suitcase matter?
Sure, a lighter suitcase means you may pack extra with out going over airline weight limits.