Well, it's another new year so that means that it's time to update the top ten safest zipperless suitcase list. For those of you who have not read our main page where we describe in-depth why you should really consider buying a suitcase that is protected against thieves and smugglers as well as physical damage from the airport baggage handling system we encourage you to visit our main safe suitcase page and see the video evidence. The evidence there makes it very clear that once you hand your suitcase over to the airline, it faces a number is potential dangers.
There is nothing over-the-top or fancy about these cases. They weigh about the same as traditional cloth suitcases and most cost about the same as cloth suitcases. (We prove this on our Hardsided versus Softsided Luggage page) The most noteworthy difference are the materials that they are made out of and the closure mechanisms (how they stay shut). To be sure, there are some very fancy and expensive suitcases available but these are priced out of reach for most of us so we have chosen to focus on only luggage that is roughly the same price, size and weight of conventional softsided luggage.
To answer this question, we need to do a quick review of what we need the case to stand up to.
There are two main threats against all of our checked luggage. The first are criminals that work as baggage handlers and security screening officers. With an unsafe suitcase, they can open it using only a sharp object such as a ballpoint pen and remove anything of value and close it again without leaving any signs of tampering. The second threat caused by the very conveyor system used to transport your baggage around the back of the airport. There are kickers, sharp corners and lots of exposed metal that can tear a cloth suitcase to shreds. You can see a lot more on this on our front page.
So what makes a safe suitcase? It all comes down to construction - what material the bag is made out of and what mechanism is used to keep it closed. The outer shell must be constructed of some type of plastic, PVC, Polypropylene, ABS or even metal.
After the outer shell material, we have to evaluate the closure system. There is no sense having a strong shell that is held closed by a flimsy single coil zipper! As we pointed out above, the typical single coil zipper used widely in the industry is far too easy to breach with a sharp object so we recommend staying away from zippered suitcases. Recently, a new design of zipper has come onto the market. These zippers are "tamper-resistant" but they provide enough trouble to send would-be thieves onto the next bag so we now somewhat reluctantly include them on our site. You can read more about these new zippers on our puncture resistant zippers page. This page also features a selection of suitcases that employ this new technology.
If you look closely, we do not consider all suitcases that look safe - and neither should you. This because the outer shell material may fit the definition and look of other safe suitcase but there are some problems. There are three main groups that we do our best to avoid:
Polycarbonate shells: You'll notice that we do not suggest any Pure Polycarbonate suitcases mainly because this material is very flimsy on its own. Recently, manufacturers have been attaching a layer of ABS plastic to add more strength. Just be careful to choose a "Polycarbonate composite" or "ABS/PC" design. They can do some very neat designs on this material but they just will not last long without some underlying support. After researching this article, we realized that luggage manufactures have figured this out and are taking steps to reinforce their Polycarbonate shell so we have to relax a little on this point.
Metal shells: Most metal shells are made from some type of aluminum alloy. They look very nice and impressive but they have a lot of drawbacks. This material tends to be very soft and will easily lose its shape under a great force. This is especially noticeable around the corners and latches.. Aluminum also get dull over time and dents very easily resulting in a very expensive suitcase that looks shabby.
Vintage style trunk luggage: There are quite a few "old timey" looking vintage trunk style cases on the market these days. They do look safe but often the shell walls are constructed using a thin leather like veneer over cardboard. Yes, not safe at all. Many of this type of case also have decorative straps that either look or actually keep the case from being opened. From what we know about the mechanical perils in the baggage handling system, these straps will not remain attached for very long.
Most of the problems with these three types of luggage are centered around what happens when it is handed over to the baggage handling system. To avoid the damage to the case, you could still use them as a carry-on. That way, those great finishes will last much longer!
We are very proud of being the first site on the Internet to bring the threats to your luggage to the attention of the public. We are slowly seeing major manufacturers reacting to our concerns and building-out alternative safe suitcase lines.
One example of this is that Lojel has added a new "Super Secure" page to their website. Another example is Delsey has started manufacturing suitcases that use double coil zippers. They are marketing these cases under the very snazzy futuristic name: "Ultra-secure ZST zip". These zippers are actually just standard YYK double coil zippers. Delsey claims that they are 41 times stronger than a conventional zipper. We are not sure how they determined that but we would love to see their work.
You can read all about this new zipper technology on our Puncture Resistant Zipper page.
For some unknown reason, luggage manufacturers seem to focus on updating their softsided suitcases while suitcases in their hardsided lines can stay on the market for many, many years without any modifications. This is reflected in our list of "New Safe Suitcases for 2023".
We are seeing more and more suitcases being made from Carbon Fiber. This material used to be reserved for the ultra rich but in recent years, Chinese manufacturers have streamlined the manufacturing process and brought suitcases made from this material into the price range of most consumers. Learn what to look for in Carbon Fiber luggage on our Carbon Fiber suitcase page.
In the past year, we have seen some new additions to the world of safe suitcases. Unfortunately for Americans, most of the advances have been made in Europe and have been slow in making their way to North America. Some of the new additions that are hard to find in the USA are products like the Lojel Voja series and the Samsonite Terma Young.
The other big change has been the unfortunate ending of production of many classic hard side suitcases. For example, the Heys Crown Edition M Elite, Lojel Kozmos, Rando and the Delsey Paris Honore. Many of these are still available on sites like Amazon but stocks will not last forever.
For the purposes of our top ten list, we decided to compare only medium sized cases in the 24 inch to 28 inch (75 liter) category. In the past year, many suitcases have become unavailable so we have removed them from the competition.
We have considered a number of factors in our rating system these include:
Here is how we allot our scores:
Shell Material:
3 points - PVC, ABS plastic, Polypropylene
2 points - Polycarbonate
1 point - Metal
Closure System:
2 points - three latch system or internal sliders
1 point - two latch system
Weight:
2 points - Under 8 lbs
1 point - over 8 lbs
Cost:
3 points - Under $150
2 points - Under $299
1 point - over $300
Availability:
Available - Included in list
Not Available - Not included in list
Here we go... We have reviewed the shrinking field of hard sided, non-zippered suitcases and boiled the results down to these top 10 candidates. The selection is getting smaller and smaller each year. If you recall, we based our analysis on five main indicators:
Click here to see our Top 10 list of zippered suitcases that use the latest "safer" puncture resistant zipper technology.
Model | Material | Closure | Weight | Cost | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Samsonite F'lite | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
#2 | Samsonite S'Cure | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
#3 | Delsey Belfort Plus | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
#4 | Roncato UNO | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
#5 | American Tourister Tribus | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
#6 | Samsonite Cruisair DLX | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
#7 | Andiamo Aluminum Frame | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
#8 | Samsonite Fortifi | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
#9 | Enkloze Blade X | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
#10 | Clothink Aluminum Frame | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
The Samsonite F'Lite beats out all of the competition in all categories. It has been on the market for many years but is no longer found on the Samsonite website so I would buy one (or two) before they disappear forever.
The outer shell is constructed with a very strong polypropylene material with rubber gaskets to keep water out. It employs three latches (including the TSA locking latch) to keep the lid securely closed. It weighs less than 10 pounds and as it reaches its end of life, the prices are very affordable. We have seen them selling for just over $120 on Amazon.
As with all Samsonite hardsided suitcases, many of the parts are replaceable if they are ever damaged. It is covered by the standard 3-year Samsonite warranty. The interior finish is quite simple. There is a clip-in cloth panel with a zippered pouch that divides the main area from the lid. High performance wheels and protective kick plate; durable on rough terrain 42-liter volume; strong aluminum mono tube handle.
One small contrary feature is that this cases is no square - it is an odd shape that requires a little fiddling with while packing. I own two of these and it is not a major issue.
More details about the Samsonite F'lite:
A solid and secure choice. This case only ranked second because it is a little more expensive than our number one pick. Their specifications are very similar as far as materials, closures and weight go. It is a much more current product and it may even be a direct replacement for the F'Lite.
Even though the S'Cure is still in production, the prices are still very affordable. This is another example of a simple but effective safe suitcase. It is nothing fancy but it gets the job of keeping your belongings safe done.
As with all Samsonite hardsided suitcases, many of the parts are replaceable if they are ever damaged. It is covered by the standard 3-year Samsonite warranty. Just like the F'Lite line, the interior finish is quite simple. There is a clip-in cloth panel with a zippered pouch that divides the main area from the lid.
There are no real drawbacks to this suitcase. It was only marginally squeezed out for our number spot by the Samsonite F'Lite because it is a little more expense - but still very affordable for what you are getting. Honestly, who could put a price on security of their belongings anyway.
One big improvement over the F'Lite is the square design. It just seems to make packing a little easier.
More details about the Samsonite S'Cure:
Our number three pick comes from Delsey Paris. This is a European company that is rapidly becoming a leader in safe suitcases. With their adoption of the double coil zipper, even some of their softsided suitcases are now welcome on our website!
This is a gorgeous suitcase! Delsey Paris has checked all the boxes. The shell is made from rugged 100% polypropylene and features a three point closure system. It comes in four sizes and four colors (but not all sizes offer all four colors). It comes equipped with a dual tube telescoping handle for extra stability and control. It also utilizes dual-hub wheels for effortless and silent movement.
Just like many other hardsided suitcases from other manufacturers, many of the parts are replaceable if they are ever damaged. The Delsey Paris Belfort Plus suitcase is covered by a generous 5-year Delsey Paris world-wide warranty.
One very nice detail is the fully lined interior to keep your clothes clean while in transit. We cannot overstate this enough - the lining is wonderful! The lining is attached using snap fittings so it can be easily removed for cleaning and is made from polyester 150D so it is very easy to clean. The top section has a zippered access.
We highly recommend this suitcase.
More details about the Belfort Plus:
Our number four pick is manufactured by Valigeria Roncato. This is a European company has been around since the 1970's and have a nice long-lived range of safe suitcases. Roncato is another manufacturer who has recognized the need for better security for our luggage and they have embraced the newly updated double coil zipper. They call it a "High Tech security zip" but we suspect that is a standard YKK zip. Either way, we have to give them credit where credit is due. Not many other manufacturers have recognized the problem made the switch to more modern dual coil zippers.
Be careful! This case is available in a zippered and non-zippered format so you must be very careful when ordering to make sure that you buy the correct version. The zippered version does use double coil zippers that are much safer than traditional single coil zippers so this case is still a viable option from a security perspective.
This case is made in Italy and the Italian design style is very noticeable in this application. Roncato has checked all the boxes. The shell is made from rugged 100% europea polycarbonate and features a three point latch closure system. It comes in five sizes and four colors. It comes equipped with a dual tube telescoping handle for extra stability and control. It also utilizes dual-hub wheels for effortless and silent movement.
Just like many other hardsided suitcases from other manufacturers, many of the parts are replaceable if they are ever damaged. All Roncato UNO ZSL suitcases is covered by an extra generous 10-year world-wide warranty.
The Italian design styling really shines when it comes to the interior. The interior is fully lined keeping your clothes clean and dry. The lining is attached using snap fittings so it can be easily removed for washing. The fully lined interior to keep your clothes clean while in transit. The both the top and bottom sections are divided by their own zippered access.
More details about the Roncato UNO ZSL:
Our number five pick is manufactured by American Tourister - a trusted name in luggage since 1933. We were very happy to see American Tourister finally get back to their roots with the new hardsided, clamshell, zipperless Tribus line of suitcases.
American Tourister started out in 1933 as a small luggage manufacturer called American Luggage Works. They were located in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally started by two brothers Sol and Irving Koffler, the company was sold to Samsonite in 2009.
The Tribus takes American Tourister away from their traditional metal alloy frame design and into the world of rigid formed plastic shells. The influence of their sibling company Samsonite is easy to recognize in this case but at a slightly less expensive price tag.
This is a rugged suitcase that will keep your belongings safe and will last you for a long time.
The inside of this case is fully lined with easy to clean polyester fabric. It gives the suitcase a very finished look and feel.
American Tourister Tribus Details:
Cool in-frame locking system! This case ranked quite low down the list for technical reasons but we really like it. It reminds us of the old American Tourister suitcases with the hidden sliding locking mechanism built into the aluminum frame. Price wise, it is still a very affordable suitcase. Once again, we are a little concerned about the shells being constructed from 100% Polycarbonate but Samsonite seems to put a lot of faith in their aluminum frame system.
Even at the very affordable price, Samsonite has included many nice features that you would normally only see in a much more expensive suitcase. It is an impressive looking case that will keep your belongings safe while it is out of your sight.
Some of the most notable features is the fully lined interior. I know that we go on and on about interior linings but until you pack your clothes in a case that is lined, you have no idea how pleasurable it is. There is something lacking about placing your belongings into a bare plastic shell. The aluminum frame with the built-in locking mechanism is a very unique feature for this suitcase.
As with all Samsonite hardsided suitcases, many of the parts are replaceable if they are ever damaged. It is covered by the standard 3-year Samsonite warranty. Just like the F'Lite line, the interior finish is quite simple. There is a clip-in cloth panel with a zippered pouch that divides the main area from the lid.
Much like the Samsonite S'Cure, we are pleased to see Samsonite moving back towards more squarely shaped shells. It just seems to make packing a little easier.
More details about the Samsonite Cruisair DLX:
Great value from a quality manufacturer! This is a smart looking suitcase. We had never heard of it before but after looking into it, it looks like a very nice suitcase and is definitely worthy of inclusion in this top ten list. This case is a very affordable suitcase packed with features. It site nicely in the middle of pricing for comparable suitcases. Once again, we are a little concerned about the shells being constructed from 100% polycarbonate but these new aluminum frame systems seem to add plenty of strength.
Even at the very affordable price, Andiamo Elegante has included many nice features that you would normally only see in a much more expensive suitcase. It is an impressive looking case that will keep your belongings safe while it is out of your sight.
One of the most notable features is the fully lined interior. The entire case is lined with a "Plush Signature Jacquard" lining. It sounds very luxurious. I know that we go on and on about interior linings but until you pack your clothes in a case that is lined, you have no idea how pleasurable it is. There is something lacking about placing your belongings into a bare plastic shell.
The rubber gasket seal is another nice touch. This will prevent water from entering the interior compartment and keep your clothes and belongings bone dry.
Andiamo Elegante covers this suitcase with a standard 5-year.
More details about the Andiamo Elegante Aluminum Frame:
Last year, Samsonite released this brand new hard sided suitcase. From what we can see, it looks pretty nice too. This case is on the higher end of the price scale but it also offers many cool features that are worth the extra money. The only worry that we have is that the shell is made from 100% Polycarbonate with most of the strength being provided by the a frame system - Samsonite does not provide any details about the frame. On the upside, this case is a little lighter than the average hard sided luggage (the 25" is 8.49 pounds compared to the average 10.48 we found in our hard sided versus soft sided luggage comparison).
The Samsonite Fortifi features a new must-have accessory that is not very common on even the latest suitcases and not at all available on traditional soft sided models - 2 USB charging ports. This feature is only available on the carry-on size. (makes sense)
Typical for their higher end cases, Samsonite has also spent more time and effort on the interior finish of this case. For all three bag sizes, Samsonite has integrated a WetPak™ pocket that will contain any liquids that may leak inside the bag. They have also added removable tri-fold suit bag with roller bars to prevent wrinkling (only available in 25" and 28"). There is also the standard top zipper divider to provide separation within the bag on all bag sizes.
Along with all of this comes the quality and support that Samsonite is famous for. One of our favorite features with any Samsonite hard sided luggage is that if any parts break or wear, they are easily replaced - often for free under warranty.
More details about the Samsonite Fortifi:
A new kid on the block... Enkloze is a recent addition to the growing list of safe suitcase manufacturers. They operate in the United States with two repairs centers located in Long Beach, CA and Long Island City, NY. The only major issue is that they currently only ship to the US (excluding Hawaii and Alaska). Hopefully, this will be expanded overtime because the Enkloze Blade X is a solid product.
The Enkloze Blade X looks very similar to several much more expensive cases like the Zero Haliburton Classic Aluminum and Rimowa Topaz Aluminum. The exterior shell is made from one-piece molded 100% Aluminum alloy. It is an impressive looking case that will keep your belongings safe while it is out of your sight. Although a little expensive, this case has all of the bells and whistles that you would expect to see in luggage twice the price.
One of the most notable features is the bright orange fully lined interior top and bottom. The entire case is lined with a bright orange lining that can be removed for washing. The interior comes equipped with plenty if well thought-out organizing features like double sided partition divider, two X-bands and Mesh Pockets.
I know that we go on and on about interior linings but until you pack your clothes in a case that is lined, you have no idea how pleasurable it is. There is something lacking about placing your belongings into a bare plastic shell.
The rubber gasket seal is another nice touch. This will prevent water from entering the interior compartment and keep your clothes and belongings bone dry.
Enkloze covers this suitcase with a standard limited 5-year.
More details about the Enkloze Blade X Aluminum Suitcase:
Another new kid on the block... Clothink is another recent addition to the growing list of safe suitcase manufacturers. They They seem to sell exclusively through Amazon. These suitcases are very affordable and their specifications easily satisfy our definition of a safe suitcase.
The Clothink Aluminum Frame Luggage looks very similar to several much more expensive cases but it comes at a much cheaper price. The exterior shell is made from a five layer 100% Polycarbonate exterior an is supported by an aluminum frame. They seem to be aware of concerns surrounding polycarbonate shells because they go into great detail describing the outer shell layer construction:One of the most notable features is the level of the interior finish. This case has a fully lined interior top and bottom. The entire case is lined with a bright orange lining that can be removed for washing. The interior comes equipped with plenty if well thought-out organizing features like double sided partition divider, two flexible intermediate floors with mesh pockets and carrying bags.
I know that we go on and on about interior linings but until you pack your clothes in a case that is lined, you have no idea how pleasurable it is. There is something lacking about placing your belongings into a bare plastic shell.
More details about the Clothink Aluminum Frame Suitcase:
So that's it... the top ten safest suitcases for 2023. The list is very similar to last year's round-up with the exceptions where we had to drop cases due to waning availability.
As you can see, Samsonite has dominated this year's list. This is largely due to their commitment to safety as well as their large manufacturing capabilities.
We were hoping that as luggage manufacturers began to understand the obvious security issues concerning our checked bagged, they would be react by building-out their product lines to include more secure suitcases but unfortunately this did not happen this year.
Happy travels!
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