Delsey offers timeless style and excellent durability, while Samsonite loads up on innovative features and modern design. The choice depends on what you prioritize in your luggage.
Delsey and Samsonite are two of the largest and most popular luggage brands in the world, and they both make a wide range of excellent suitcases. Both are excellent, but they definitely cater to different types of travelers.
I tested and rated 32 suitcases from these two brands to help answer the question of which one you should buy. I built this comparison on real-world experience and data-backed research to give you the best information possible.
I was impressed with Delsey’s quality, durability, and attention to detail, especially for the price. Their suitcases are timelessly stylish, and they are intuitive to use. Delsey was definitely the winner for anyone prioritizing craftsmanship and style.
On the other hand, Samsonite really delivered on pure functionality. Their more modern designs have more advanced features that made it easy for me to stay organized while traveling.
So which luggage brand is best? As with so many things in life, the answer is: it depends. Neither is going to be the best for everyone, but there’s a good chance that one of them is better than the other for your specific needs. I’ll guide you through exactly what you need to consider to make that decision.
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 17 Delsey 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.
| Scores |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Average Overall Score★ 9.4 and Above: Best in Class – It is very hard to earn this score. These suitcases perform well across every category, and we recommend them universally. These are the best of the best. ★ 8.9–9.3: Highly Recommended – These are excellent and high-performing bags. Depending on your specific needs, one of these may be a better fit than our best overall picks. ★ 8.3–8.8: Great for the Right Use – We typically recommend these bags for more specific use cases, because their outstanding performance in one area may have other tradeoffs. ★ 7.5–8.2: Good with Some Compromises – These are still good bags that we generally recommend. There are some compromises to be aware of depending on your use case. ★ 7.4 and Under: Not Recommended – We generally don’t review or recommend bags that score this low, except possibly as a budget pick. They typically have significant issues with quality or function. | 8.4 | 8.8 |
★ 9.4 and Above: Best in Class – It is very hard to earn this score. These suitcases perform well across every category, and we recommend them universally. These are the best of the best. ★ 8.9–9.3: Highly Recommended – These are excellent and high-performing bags. Depending on your specific needs, one of these may be a better fit than our best overall picks. ★ 8.3–8.8: Great for the Right Use – We typically recommend these bags for more specific use cases, because their outstanding performance in one area may have other tradeoffs. ★ 7.5–8.2: Good with Some Compromises – These are still good bags that we generally recommend. There are some compromises to be aware of depending on your use case. ★ 7.4 and Under: Not Recommended – We generally don’t review or recommend bags that score this low, except possibly as a budget pick. They typically have significant issues with quality or function. | ||
Average Build Quality ScoreAccounting for 30% of the Overall Score, we believe that Build Quality/durability is the single most important factor when it comes to rating and scoring a piece of luggage. It’s not the end-all-be-all, but we believe it should earn the highest weighting in our calculations. We rate luggage build quality on eight objective and subjective attributes. A backpack gets a 0-10 score for each attribute based on a standardized scale. Then we use a weighted average to calculate an overall Build Quality score. The six attributes we use to calculate the score are:
| 8.8 | 7.9 |
Accounting for 30% of the Overall Score, we believe that Build Quality/durability is the single most important factor when it comes to rating and scoring a piece of luggage. It’s not the end-all-be-all, but we believe it should earn the highest weighting in our calculations. We rate luggage build quality on eight objective and subjective attributes. A backpack gets a 0-10 score for each attribute based on a standardized scale. Then we use a weighted average to calculate an overall Build Quality score. The six attributes we use to calculate the score are:
| ||
Average Ease of Use ScoreAccounting for 20% of the Overall Score, Ease of Use refers to whether or not the suitcase is easy to pack, easy to move and easy to organize. We score Ease of Use based on four categories:
| 7.6 | 8.2 |
Accounting for 20% of the Overall Score, Ease of Use refers to whether or not the suitcase is easy to pack, easy to move and easy to organize. We score Ease of Use based on four categories:
| ||
Average Functionality ScoreAccounting for 20% of the Overall Score, our luggage Functionality rating is a subjective score based on how well the suitcase fulfills our needs during testing. | 8.1 | 8.9 |
Accounting for 20% of the Overall Score, our luggage Functionality rating is a subjective score based on how well the suitcase fulfills our needs during testing. | ||
Average Water Resistance ScoreAccounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we rate Water Resistance based on materials and zippers and how highly each is rated for water resistance. | 7.9 | 8.0 |
Accounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we rate Water Resistance based on materials and zippers and how highly each is rated for water resistance. | ||
Average Brand Impact ScoreIt is important to us to recommend brands that we believe are doing good in the world. Cheap and unethical mass production of consumer goods has created innumerable problems globally, and we don’t want to be part of the problem by promoting mass-produced goods. Because of that, we rate every brand we review based on their global impact. This score accounts for 5% of the Overall Score and incorporates:
| 6.5 | 6.2 |
It is important to us to recommend brands that we believe are doing good in the world. Cheap and unethical mass production of consumer goods has created innumerable problems globally, and we don’t want to be part of the problem by promoting mass-produced goods. Because of that, we rate every brand we review based on their global impact. This score accounts for 5% of the Overall Score and incorporates:
| ||
Average Buying Experience ScoreAccounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we value companies that implement specific policies to reduce the stress and risk of buying a product. We give higher ratings to companies with free shipping and no-nonsense satisfaction policies. This score is made of the following four attributes:
| 6.8 | 6.8 |
Accounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we value companies that implement specific policies to reduce the stress and risk of buying a product. We give higher ratings to companies with free shipping and no-nonsense satisfaction policies. This score is made of the following four attributes:
| ||
Average Warranty ScoreIt’s always a good idea to buy from companies that stand behind their products with solid lifetime warranties. The Warranty score is an objective metric based on the brand’s warranty policy which accounts for 5% of the Overall Score. | 7.0 | 5.0 |
It’s always a good idea to buy from companies that stand behind their products with solid lifetime warranties. The Warranty score is an objective metric based on the brand’s warranty policy which accounts for 5% of the Overall Score. | ||
Average Price-to-Performance ScoreWe rate products based on the bang for your buck they provide. We measure that using a Cost-to-Performance ratio, which enables us to evaluate whether a higher-end product is really worth the extra cost or whether it’s better to save some cash. We calculate the Cost-to-Performance ratio by comparing the MSRP to the testing and scoring of all the previous categories. A product that performs well at a lower cost has a higher Cost-to-Performance ratio. This is an important data piece to look at if you are on a budget but still want the best quality and design possible. | 8.2 | 8.6 |
We rate products based on the bang for your buck they provide. We measure that using a Cost-to-Performance ratio, which enables us to evaluate whether a higher-end product is really worth the extra cost or whether it’s better to save some cash. We calculate the Cost-to-Performance ratio by comparing the MSRP to the testing and scoring of all the previous categories. A product that performs well at a lower cost has a higher Cost-to-Performance ratio. This is an important data piece to look at if you are on a budget but still want the best quality and design possible. | ||
| Specs | ||
| Type | Hardside, Softside | Hardside, Softside |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | 10-year |
| Returns | Pay for return shipping, 30-day | Pay for return shipping, 90-day |
| Manufacturing Location(s) | Undisclosed | India, China, Hungary |
| Browse Delsey | Browse Samsonite | |
Buy Delsey if you…
Buy Samsonite if you…
Durability is possibly the most important consideration when you’re shopping for new luggage. A suitcase can be stylish, functional, and packed with features, but if it falls apart after a few trips, it’s no good.
Delsey is the winner here, scoring 8.8 for Build Quality, where Samsonite only scores 7.9.
Delsey’s build quality starts with the materials they use.
Their hardside luggage is all made of 100% polycarbonate, which is the gold-standard material for hardside luggage right now. This material is incredibly lightweight and still strong and impact-resistant. In contrast, Samsonite’s lower-price luggage often uses cheaper ABS or polypropylene.
Delsey’s iconic Chatelet Air suitcases have extra reinforcement in the corners, which is where they take the most impact. They also use an innovative double-layer zipper that is much stronger and more secure than standard zippers. I’ve found that zippers are often the first thing to break on a suitcase, so it’s great to see the extra strength here.
Samsonite luggage is well-built overall, I just wish they would move away from using cheaper materials. C’mon, Samsonite. Delsey can make an affordable polycarbonate suitcase, you should be able to too.
Also, where every Delsey suitcase I’ve tested uses double spinner wheels, some of Samsonite’s cheaper models only have single spinner wheels. I’ve broken a few of those on cobblestones in Europe, so I’d stay away from single spinners.
Oh, and Delsey also has a whole line of Jeep suitcases. Those have to be tough, right? I don’t think I recommend taking them rock crawling through.
Delsey bags are elegant, refined, and stylish. They’re designed in France, and the aesthetics are inspired by Parisian architecture. I love how Delsey blends vintage design with a bit of modern flair. Even their inexpensive soft-sided bags like the Sky Max 2.0 look great.
If you want to add some sophistication to your travel setup, Delsey is a great choice.
Samsonite suitcases definitely have a different vibe—much more modern, with geometric patterns and minimalist designs.
Functionally, Delsey bags are pretty simple and straightforward. Most have a large zippered compartment on one side and a set of compression straps on the other. There are a few zippered pockets inside the main compartment, but no Delsey bag I’ve tested has very much beyond that in the way of organization.
Samsonite’s basic suitcases are similarly simple, but they also have more advanced designs with more features than any Delsey suitcase. For example, the Outline Pro Carry-On is great for staying organized. It has several interior pockets and a removable compression panel that works really well for keeping things securely in place. The Armage II is a high-end softside luggage that has a removable toiletry bag and garment holder and tons of internal compartments to sort smaller items.
Samsonite also has more suitcases that are designed specifically to fit in the overhead bin on international flights with tighter carry-on size limits. If you’re planning to fly on budget international airlines, a smaller Samsonite suitcase might be the better choice.
Delsey bags are intuitive, but Samsonite packs in more functionality. Samsonite 8.9 for functionality, and Delsey scored a bit lower at 8.2.
One exception to this is Delsey’s Turenne 2.0 Carry-On, which is a hardside carry-on with an external zippered pocket for a laptop. It fits larger laptops than similar Samsonite models, and it works really well for traveling with a laptop.
Delsey and Samsonite both have a huge range of products, from budget-friendly to premium.
Samsonite scored slightly higher on average for Price-to-Performance, mainly because Delsey has more mid-to-high-end suitcases in their lineup. That doesn’t mean you can’t get great bang for your buck from Delsey, though.
Delsey recently released their NOW! Hardside Carry-On, which is designed to be affordable and accessible while still delivering on style and quality. This minimalist suitcase is cheaper than most Samsonite bags, and it is surprisingly well-made. If you’re on a tight budget, this is definitely one of the best suitcase options out there.
Samsonite and Delsey have pretty similar warranty policies overall, but Delsey’s is a bit better. Delsey scored 7.0 for Warranty in our rating system, while Samsonite only scored 5.0.
Most Samsonite suitcases have a 10-year warranty that covers manufacturing or materials defects.
Delsey luggage comes with either a 2-year, 5-year, 10-year, or lifetime warranty, depending on the product. This warranty covers functional defects to the wheels, handles, shell, and zippers.
Neither brand will cover damage caused by airline baggage handlers. If that’s something you want, you should look into Travelpro or Briggs & Riley.
One advantage of Delsey is that they offer replacement parts. For something simple like a broken wheel or handle, it’s usually easier to repair it yourself at home rather than ship your bag away to be fixed. Not many luggage brands have this option, but it is a more economical and sustainable way to keep suitcases working longer.
Ultimately, you can get a durable bag from either brand, and the warranty just gives you some peace of mind in case something goes wrong.
Both of these brands are progressing on their journey toward sustainability, but they both still have a ways to go. Both use recycled materials and have programs in place to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Delsey scored slightly higher for Brand Impact in our testing: 6.5 vs Samsonite’s 6.2 sustainability score.
The difference ultimately comes down to the fact that Delsey has a more concrete roadmap for how they will improve their impact. They plan to use 100% recycled materials by 2028, market more repairable products by 2026, and transition to more rail and maritime transportation (as opposed to more energy-intensive methods like trucking and air shipment). They also conduct an annual carbon assessment and sustainability audit of their supply chain.
If you care about buying sustainable products, Delsey isn’t perfect, but I definitely recommend it as the better choice over Samsonite.
Delsey and Samsonite have a lot in common. They both are massive global brands. They both sell suitcases ranging from affordable to premium. They both prioritize delivering high quality, functional suitcases at accessible prices.
Ultimately, the difference lies in their approach to building a good suitcase.
Delsey focuses on crafting classic designs that are enjoyable to use and built to last. That means they focus less on revolutionary designs and more on refining things that already work. That makes Delsey suitcases timeless, simple, and reliable.
Samsonite leans more toward innovation. Their designs are forward-thinking and offer features you won’t find anywhere else. If you want a suitcase that goes above and beyond, you’ll love Samsonite’s designs.
The choice is yours. Whatever you pick, don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
Delsey luggage combines sophisticated design with easy usability, while Samsonite is more modern and has more advanced features.
Delsey is a mid-range luggage brand that aims to make premium style and build quality more accessible.
Delsey scored higher than Samsonite for Build Quality in our testing.
Samsonite carry-on and checked luggage is popular because it is affordable, durable, and available everywhere.
Samsonite luggage is made in India, China, and Hungary.
We hold ourselves to a rigorous standard. Financial incentives don’t sway our recommendations — real-world field tests, thousands of travel hours, and authentic wanderlust do.
As a Manchester City fan, he made it his mission to catch matches at legendary stadiums from Camp Nou to the Etihad. But Nick's travels go beyond football. He's explored 20+ countries across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, always chasing authentic experiences over tourist traps. Nick lives by a simple rule: the best stories come from saying yes to the unexpected. And TravelFreak is his biggest yes yet.
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