One verdict per bag. We buy them, we use them, we say which one to skip.
Gear Verdicts exists because most luggage articles refuse to finish a sentence. Every piece here ends with a verdict: buy it, buy the other one, or skip the category. If we can't say that, we don't publish.
Latest verdicts
Warranty Claim Walkthrough: The Minimalist Version
File the airline damage claim at the airport, not at home, since checked-bag windows can be as short as 24 hours and require photos, a report number, and an unsigned acknowledgment form.
Travel Mode · Tessa Morrow
Level8 vs Samsonite: Luggage Sets
The Level8 Grace set wins for most families, offering a padded front pocket for grabbing a tablet or charger without unzipping the main compartment, at around $140 versus Samsonite's roughly…
Luggage · Tessa Morrow
Level8 vs Rimowa: Carry-On for People Who Fly Every Week
Level8 wins on price and interior organization, costing roughly a fifth of a Rimowa Essential while offering multiple zip pockets, compression straps, and a front-opening laptop compartment.
Luggage · Ray Okonkwo
Best Softside Luggage Without Overpaying
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On 21" is the best softside luggage without overpaying, at around $180, with a light weight, a wobble-free telescoping handle, and quiet-rolling wheels.
Luggage · Ray Okonkwo
Best Luggage For Family Trips Without Overpaying
The Grace Luggage Set from Level8 is the best pick for outfitting a family without overspending, running around $180 for a 20-inch carry-on plus a checked piece, with color-coded bags that…
Luggage · Tessa Morrow
Best Duffel Bags With Wheels: Picks That Actually Hold Up
The Checked Trunk 28" holds up best for wheeled duffels, surviving two checked flights with sturdy wheel housing built for real weight. It's checked-only, so it won't work as a gate-checked…
Luggage · Tessa Morrow
Samsonite Omni PC Set Review
The Samsonite Omni PC carry-on is the piece worth buying, staying quiet, handling gate-checking well, and never jamming across four round-trips. The medium case cracked along one corner…
Luggage · Ray Okonkwo
Best Luggage For Photographers: Picks That Actually Hold Up
The Briggs & Riley Carry-On is the best luggage pick for photographers, with front-opening access and real structure to the shell and no sizing controversy. At around $449 it costs more than…
Luggage · Ray Okonkwo
First-Time Flyer's Guide to Traveling With Sports Equipment
For sports equipment, a hard-shell case wins over soft for skis, boards, and clubs because it protects against drops and being stacked under heavier bags. Choose wheeled models with recessed…
Travel Mode · Tessa Morrow
Aluminum Look Showdown
Travelpro's Platinum Elite wins this comparison, backed by its limited lifetime warranty and a handle that locks at height without wobble, making it the pick for travelers who check bags…
Luggage · Hana Vance
Airport Lounge Access Options for Travelers Who Value Their Time
Capital One Venture X is the best pick for travelers making 2-3 domestic hub trips a month, at roughly $395 a year, since it bundles Priority Pass Select with its own growing lounge network.
Travel Mode · Tessa Morrow
Best Luggage Sets for People Who Fly Every Week
Briggs & Riley Baseline wins for people who fly every week, since its complaint volume stays low and concentrated on price rather than actual failures, which matters most for weekly wear.
Luggage · Tessa Morrow