American Tourister vs. Samsonite: Which is Better?

Why You Can Trust Us

The TravelFreak editorial team has tested dozens of suitcases over the years, and we’ve learned a lot about what separates a quality piece of luggage from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve tested and reviewed budget luggage, luxury suitcases, and everything in between.

We know how hard it is to find the perfect suitcase, and we want to make the process easier for you. So our team of gear junkies and product engineers developed the most comprehensive luggage test methodology possible.

We tested and rated 5 American Tourister suitcases and 15 Samsonite suitcases, including carry-ons and checked bags from both brands.

We evaluated every one of these suitcases on 31 metrics across eight categories. We gave them all the same treatment and rated them on the same standardized scales. This makes it easy for us (and you) to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.

At a Glance

Scores
Average Overall Score	7.7	8.8
Average Build Quality Score	6.6	7.9
Average Ease of Use Score	6.8	8.2
Average Functionality Score	7.3	8.9
Average Water Resistance Score	8.2	8.0
Average Brand Impact Score	4.5	6.2
Average Buying Experience Score	7.1	6.8
Average Warranty Score	5.0	5.0
Average Price-to-Performance Score	10	8.6
Specs
Type	Hardside, Softside	Hardside, Softside
Warranty	10-year	10-year
Returns	Pay for return shipping, 60-day	Pay for return shipping, 90-day
Manufacturing Location(s)	India, China, Vietnam	India, China, Hungary
	Browse American Tourister	Browse Samsonite

American Tourister vs Samsonite: Quick Answers

• Durability: Monos luggage is generally more durable and well-built overall.
• Price: American Tourister is a budget brand with very low prices. Samsonite is more expensive overall and has more premium models.
• Warranty: American Tourister and Samsonite have a virtually identical 10-year limited warranty.
• Sustainability: Samsonite is much better if you prioritize sustainability. They use recycled materials and have programs to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.
• Materials: American Tourister uses cheap materials like ABS on most of their suitcases. Samsonite uses a wide range of materials, including more durable options like polycarbonate.
• Design and Style: American Tourister luggage is colorful and flashy with fun print designs. Samsonite luggage is more understated and professional.
• Interior Organization: American Tourister suitcases are very simple and bare-bones inside, while Samsonite has designs with more internal pockets and organization features.
• Expandability: Both American Tourister and Samsonite have suitcases that can expand.
• Wheels: American Tourister generally uses flimsier single spinner wheels, while many Samsonite models have stronger double spinner wheels.
• Telescopic Handle: Samsonite luggage generally has stronger and more adjustable handles than American Tourister.
• Color Options: American Tourister luggage comes in a huge range of bright colors and designs, while Samsonite’s color choices are more limited.

American Tourister vs Samsonite: Which Should You Buy?

Materials & Quality

American Tourister is solidly a budget brand, and that means you shouldn’t expect the same quality and durability you’d get from a high-end brand like Briggs & Riley (which is one of the best luggage brands out there).

Now, don’t get me wrong. An American Tourister bag will survive long plane rides and bumpy baggage carousels just fine, and if you use it right, it could last for years of travel. But choosing American Tourister over Samsonite does come with some tradeoffs.

Here’s what I mean.

Most American Tourister hardside suitcases are made with ABS plastic. This is one of the most common plastics on the planet; it’s used in everything from LEGOs to vacuum cleaners to your laptop’s keyboard. It’s a decent material all-around, but it’s less than ideal for luggage.

The multi-directional spinner wheels, zippers, and handles are also cheaper and flimsier than the ones Samsonite luggage uses.

Because Samsonite has such a wide range of products, they use a lot of different materials. Their cheaper hardside suitcases are made of polypropylene, which is lightweight and flexible. It’s generally better than ABS, but it is still a budget material, and isn’t particularly sturdy.

For a little more money, you can get a good quality carry-on or checked suitcase made with polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is the gold-standard material for hardside bags right now, and is used by many luxury brands.

With Samsonite, you can get much higher-quality luggage than American Tourister. However, because Samsonite products are all so different, you should do your research into an individual suitcase before buying it. A few models I highly recommend are the Outline Pro, a mid-range hardside carry-on, and the Armage II, which is made of durable nylon fabric. Both of these bags are sturdy and reliable.

If you want a lightweight suitcase that can take some serious abuse, check out the Samsonite C-Lite. It is made in Europe from an innovative woven composite hardshell material that absorbs impacts better than any other luggage material I’ve encountered.

If durability is your main concern, Samsonite is the best luggage brand of the two, scoring an average of 7.9 for Build Quality compared to American Tourister’s 6.6.

Design & Features

Honestly, my favorite thing about American Tourister is the fun designs. They’ve got kids carry-ons with Disney character prints, night sky patterns, and a huge checked bag printed with Mickey Mouse pants. Plus, their non-printed luggage comes with interesting textures and a huge range of colors.

This is not just about making a style statement; it’s practical, too.

Ever tried spotting your black bag among a sea of similar ones? It’s not fun. Imagine if you’ve got a giant print of Darth Vader on your suitcase, though. No way you’re going to miss that.

Of course, not everybody loves to be the center of attention. If you dislike bright, eye-catching colors on your luggage, Samsonite’s more conservative, minimalist designs will be more up your alley. Their luggage pieces are more dialed-in and sophisticated than anything from American Tourister, and their higher-end bags definitely don’t look like cheap products you picked up at Target.

Functionally, American Tourister suitcases are pretty simple and basic, and I honestly think that’s a good thing. When budget brands try to pack in too many features, you just end up with more things to break.

You’ll find zippered dividers, a few internal pockets to keep things organized, and adjustable telescoping handles. None of that is groundbreaking, but it gets the job done.

If you like having lots of pockets and compartments to keep things organized, you’ll like Samsonite much more than American Tourister. Some of their suitcases are still pretty simple, but others (like the Outline Pro) have innovative designs with multiple dividers and plenty of pockets for smaller items.

Samsonite luggage also has more bells and whistles. Built-in TSA locks, removable toiletry pouches, garment folders, and USB ports are common across Samsonite’s product line. I love that these little details are included, and they really made my traveling easier.

American Tourister only scored 7.3 for functionality, and Samsonite scored much higher at 8.9 on average.

Value for Your Money

If you are strapped for cash and saving every penny for air travel, American Tourister sells some of the least expensive luggage on the market. They scored 10/10 for our Price-to-Performance category. Samsonite scored lower at 8.6.

American Tourister is one of the best luggage brands for ultra-cheap luggage, which makes it easier for you to buy your carry-on suitcase, pay for airfare, and still have some cash left over for travel accessories.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect the quality to be the same as higher-end brands. If you travel a lot, an American Tourister bag might not last very long, and having to replace it kind of defeats the purpose of saving money in the first place.

Samsonite suitcases do cost more, but they will also last longer.

If you just need a bag for occasional trips, American Tourister will be fine, but if you travel more frequently, you’ll save money in the long run by going with Samsonite.

Warranty and Buying Experience

Since both brands are owned by the same company, their warranties are pretty much identical. They even have the same wording on their warranty pages.

Most American Tourister and Samsonite suitcases come with a limited 10-year warranty. This definitely doesn’t compete with brands with full lifetime warranties like Travelpro or Briggs & Riley, but both American Tourister and Samsonite have a decent reputation for repairing or replacing suitcases on warranty.

That said, they specifically state that their warranty does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear or airline baggage handlers, only manufacturing or material defects.

Of course, with American Tourister’s low costs, any sort of warranty is nice to have.

Brand Impact & Sustainability

If buying more sustainable products is important to you, the choice is simple. Samsonite is far ahead of American Tourister when it comes to brand impact and sustainability. Samsonite scored 6.2 for sustainability, while American Tourister only scored 4.5.

Samsonite uses recycled materials in its fabric bags, reports its carbon footprint, plans to use 100% renewable energy by 2025, and donates to environmental and social charities.