CALPAK vs. Samsonite: We Tested Both to Find Out Which is Better

CALPAK vs Samsonite: Quick Answers

• Durability: Samsonite makes more durable luggage, but their budget models aren’t as good as CALPAK luggage.
• Price: Samsonite offers both budget-friendly and high-priced premium options, while CALPAK is solidly mid-range on price.
• Warranty: Most Samsonite luggage has a 10-year warranty, while CALPAK only has a 2-year warranty.
• Sustainability: Samsonite uses recycled materials and has programs to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. CALPAK doesn’t have any sustainability initiatives.
• Materials: CALPAK uses durable polycarbonate across the board. Some Samsonite suitcases use cheaper plastics and some use cutting-edge materials that are extremely durable and impact-resistant.
• Design and Style: CALPAK luggage is modern, minimalist, and very stylish. Samsonite has more variety, but none of their designs are as sleek or refined.
• Interior Organization: Samsonite offers much more choice for interior organization, while all CALPAK suitcases are pretty much the same.
• Expandability: Both CALPAK and Samsonite sell expandable suitcases.
• Wheels: Both brands use similar double spinner wheels that are smooth-rolling and durable.
• Handle: The handles on CALPAK luggage are a bit sturdier than similarly-priced Samsonite models.
• Color Options: CALPAK has more color and style options than Samsonite.

Browse CALPAK Luggage   Browse Samsonite Luggage

CALPAK vs Samsonite: Which Should You Buy?

Materials & Quality

CALPAK uses 100% polycarbonate for their hardshell suitcases—just like pricier brands like Monos and Away. If you’ve been eyeing these uber-trendy suitcases, but can’t quite justify the spend, CALPAK may be a great option for you.

Samsonite uses a wide range of materials for their suitcases. Budget models are made with ABS or polypropylene, both of which are weaker than polycarbonate. The high-end Samsonite models use fancy high-tech materials that are even stronger than polycarbonate.

CALPAK uses double spinner wheels, which are stronger than single spinners. Samsonite also uses double spinner wheels on everything except a few of their cheapest models.

That is pretty much the pattern you’ll see across the board when comparing CALPAK and Samsonite. Samsonite’s low-end models are cheaper and less durable than CALPAK, but Samsonite’s higher-priced models are stronger and use better components.

Samsonite scored 7.9 on average for Build Quality—a bit higher than CALPAK’s 7.5 Build Quality score. Remember, though, that is an average from every suitcase we tested from each brand.

Browse CALPAK Luggage   Browse Samsonite Luggage

Design & Features

If you care about style, CALPAK is a pretty clear winner. Their suitcases are sleek, minimalist, and on-trend. I especially love the super dialed-back look of the Hue Carry-On and vintage-style TRNK. 

Each piece has some personality built in, whether you prefer flashy or understated. Plus, they’re all available in a wide range of fun colors. This type of chic hardside luggage design has become really popular in recent years as a bunch of new luggage startups like Away, Monos, and July hit the scene. CALPAK keeps up with the best of them.

Honestly, style is one of the main reasons to choose CALPAK over Samsonite.

Not that Samsonite cases look bad, they just don’t have quite the same dialed-in, Instagram-ready look. Samsonite’s style tends to lean either toward professional or techy. If you’re headed on a business trip, something like their Elevation Plus Carry-On may fit in better than a colorful CALPAK bag.

Once you get past the surface, all CALPAK suitcases are pretty much identical. Inside they have a zippered divider with a few mesh pockets on one side and a set of elastic compression straps on the other. It’s nothing fancy, but it works. I would probably recommend buying a few quality packing cubes to stay organized, though.

There are only a few models that diverge from this basic design. Their front pocket carry-ons (available for the Hue or Ambeur styles) include an external zippered pocket that’s perfect for a laptop or tablet and has a few smaller pockets inside for things like a passport, phone, boarding pass, and notebook. Their softside models (like the Terra 45L) also have more pockets to keep smaller things tidy.

In general, though, if you prefer more pockets and organization, you’ll be happier with Samsonite’s Outline Pro than with anything from CALPAK. Our Samsonite luggage review revealed a surprisingly wide range of clever, functional features, and it seems like their designers are always coming up with new innovative features, like built-in packing cubes and a wireless charging pocket on the Just Right Carry-On or the included folding garment storage in the Samsonite Pro. There’s even a model that has built-in LED lights to keep you visible at night on city streets.

Basically, if you want a certain feature, Samsonite probably has it.

Samsonite is more practical, and the organization features make it easier to pack. Samsonite scored 8.9 for Ease of Use, where CALPAK only scored 7.5. Samsonite also scored slightly higher for functionality.

Even though CALPAK focuses on style and didn’t score as high in our ratings, their suitcases work well during real-world travel. Still, if style isn’t the most important thing, and you want more advanced features, Samsonite has more to offer.

Browse CALPAK Luggage   Browse Samsonite Luggage

Value for Your Money

Both CALPAK and Samsonite scored very well in our Price-to-Performance category: 8.7 for CALPAK and 8.6 for Samsonite. If you want to get a great bang for your buck, either brand is an excellent choice.

CALPAK really shines in terms of the sheer value and quality you get for the money. Their luggage is pretty comparable to brands like Monos and July—you get the same polycarbonate shell material and sleek aesthetic—but it costs significantly less.

If you like the modern, trendy polycarbonate suitcase designs, CALPAK offers pretty much the most affordable luggage options out there.

That said, if you’re on a really tight budget, Samsonite does have cheaper models than CALPAK, especially if you find them on sale, which is common.

Warranty and Buying Experience

CALPAK’s warranty is not great compared to the competition. They only have a two-year limited warranty, whereas many similar brands have lifetime warranties. I think this is one of the places where CALPAK is cutting costs to sell their suitcases for cheaper. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, you just have to decide if saving money or having a great warranty is more important.

Samsonite does better, with a 10-year warranty on most models. They also have a pretty good reputation for replacing or repairing suitcases under warranty, so if you want that peace of mind, Samsonite is probably the better choice.

Browse CALPAK Luggage   Browse Samsonite Luggage

Brand Impact & Sustainability

If you care about buying sustainable products and reducing your impact on the environment, you’ll want to choose Samsonite over CALPAK. Neither brand is outstanding when it comes to sustainability, but Samsonite scored significantly higher for our Brand Impact category: 6.2. CALPAK only scored 4.5.

Samsonite uses recycled materials for most of their suitcases, and their Essens and Maxsum Eco models use 70% recycled material for the hard shell. Samsonite also has programs to reduce carbon footprint, use more sustainable energy, and support fair working rights. The brand still has a long way to go, but those are steps in the right direction.

CALPAK doesn’t use recycled materials and has virtually no sustainability initiatives in place. Their focus is making good products at an affordable price rather than making those products good for the environment.