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It might be laborious for 2 baggage manufacturers to be extra completely different than CALPAK and Samsonite. They’ve very completely different designs and approaches to constructing baggage, so to decide on between them, you’ll want to determine what your priorities are.
CALPAK is understood for its hanging designs and clear aesthetic. These suitcases aren’t nearly carrying your stuff, they’re meant to make a press release.
However, Samsonite baggage is probably not as stylish as CALPAK, nevertheless it’s dependable (and you’ll find it in every single place). Samsonite has been round for over a century, they usually’re essentially the most well-known model within the enterprise. They promote an enormous vary of baggage, particularly in comparison with CALPAK’s restricted providing.
Our crew has examined over 150 suitcases over the previous 15 years, and I’ve put each CALPAK and Samsonite to the take a look at by myself travels. It’s straightforward to learn product pages and advertising information, however a lot more durable to judge how a suitcase works in the true world.
I’ll delve into the CALPAK versus Samsonite debate, masking all the things from the standard of supplies to key design options. I’ll share insights from utilizing baggage from each manufacturers on journeys across the globe. I purpose that can assist you make an knowledgeable determination that fits your journey type and wishes.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial crew has examined dozens of suitcases over time, and we’ve realized loads about what separates a high quality piece of baggage from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed finances baggage, luxurious suitcases, and all the things in between.
We all know how laborious it’s to search out the proper suitcase, and we need to make the method simpler for you. So we obtained our crew of drugs junkies and former product engineers collectively to develop essentially the most complete baggage take a look at methodology potential.
We examined and rated 6 CALPAK suitcases and 15 Samsonite suitcases, together with carry-ons and checked luggage, hardshells and softshells from each manufacturers.
We evaluated each considered one of these suitcases on 31 metrics throughout eight classes. We gave all of them the identical remedy and rated them on the identical standardized scales. This makes it straightforward for us (and also you) to check the benefits and drawbacks of every.
At a Look
| Scores |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Common General Rating | 8.4 | 8.8 |
| Common Construct High quality Rating | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Common Ease of Use Rating | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| Common Performance Rating | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| Common Water Resistance Rating | 8.3 | 8.0 |
| Common Model Influence Rating | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Common Shopping for Expertise Rating | 5.0 | 6.8 |
| Common Guarantee Rating | 6.9 | 5.0 |
| Common Value-to-Efficiency Rating | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Specs | ||
| Kind | Hardside, Softside | Hardside, Softside |
| Guarantee | 2-year | 10-year |
| Returns | Pay for return transport, 30-day | Pay for return transport, 90-day |
| Manufacturing Location(s) | China | India, China, Hungary |
| Browse CALPAK | Browse Samsonite |
CALPAK vs Samsonite: Fast Solutions
- Sturdiness: Samsonite makes extra sturdy baggage, however their finances fashions aren’t pretty much as good as CALPAK baggage.
- Value: Samsonite gives each budget-friendly and high-priced premium choices, whereas CALPAK is solidly mid-range on value.
- Guarantee: Most Samsonite baggage has a 10-year guarantee, whereas CALPAK solely has a 2-year guarantee.
- Sustainability: Samsonite makes use of recycled supplies and has packages to scale back vitality consumption and carbon footprint. CALPAK doesn’t have any sustainability initiatives.
- Supplies: CALPAK makes use of sturdy polycarbonate throughout the board. Some Samsonite suitcases use cheaper plastics and a few use cutting-edge supplies which are extraordinarily sturdy and impact-resistant.
- Design and Model: CALPAK baggage is trendy, minimalist, and really fashionable. Samsonite has extra selection, however none of their designs are as modern or refined.
- Inside Group: Samsonite gives rather more selection for inside group, whereas all CALPAK suitcases are just about the identical.
- Expandability: Each CALPAK and Samsonite promote expandable suitcases.
- Wheels: Each manufacturers use related double spinner wheels which are smooth-rolling and sturdy.
- Deal with: The handles on CALPAK baggage are a bit sturdier than similarly-priced Samsonite fashions.
- Shade Choices: CALPAK has extra coloration and elegance choices than Samsonite.
CALPAK vs Samsonite: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase CALPAK should you…
- want baggage for holidays, cruises, or getaways.
- you prioritize type in your journey gear.
- typically take city-hopping journeys.
- desire a carry-on for shorter weekend journeys.
- you desire a mid-range piece of baggage.
Purchase Samsonite should you…
- journey for work.
- are a frequent traveler.
- you principally care about performance.
- desire a checked bag for prolonged stays.
- are on a decent finances, OR
- are prepared to spend extra on a premium suitcase.
Supplies & High quality
CALPAK makes use of 100% polycarbonate for his or her hardshell suitcases—similar to pricier manufacturers like Monos and Away. If you happen to’ve been eyeing these uber-trendy suitcases, however can’t fairly justify the spend, CALPAK could also be an excellent possibility for you.
Samsonite makes use of a variety of supplies for his or her suitcases. Price range fashions are made with ABS or polypropylene, each of that are weaker than polycarbonate. The high-end Samsonite fashions use fancy high-tech supplies which are even stronger than polycarbonate.
CALPAK makes use of double spinner wheels, that are stronger than single spinners. Samsonite additionally makes use of double spinner wheels on all the things besides just a few of their most cost-effective fashions.
That’s just about the sample you’ll see throughout the board when evaluating CALPAK and Samsonite. Samsonite’s low-end fashions are cheaper and fewer sturdy than CALPAK, however Samsonite’s higher-priced fashions are stronger and use higher parts.
Samsonite scored 7.9 on common for Construct High quality—a bit larger than CALPAK’s 7.5 Construct High quality rating. Keep in mind, although, that’s an common from each suitcase we examined from every model.
Design & Options
If you happen to care about type, CALPAK is a fairly clear winner. Their suitcases are modern, minimalist, and on-trend. I particularly love the tremendous dialed-back look of the Hue Carry-On. Such a stylish hardside baggage design has grow to be actually fashionable in recent times as a bunch of latest baggage startups like Away, Monos, and July hit the scene. CALPAK retains up with the most effective of them.
From the minimal Hue to the vintage-style TRNK, every bit has some persona inbuilt, whether or not you favor flashy or understated. Plus, they’re all out there in a variety of enjoyable colours.
Actually, type is without doubt one of the major causes to decide on CALPAK over Samsonite.
Not that Samsonite circumstances look dangerous, they only don’t have fairly the identical dialed-in, Instagram-ready look. Samsonite’s type tends to lean both towards skilled or techy. If you happen to’re headed on a enterprise journey, one thing like their Elevation Plus Carry-On might slot in higher than a colourful CALPAK bag.
When you get previous the floor, all CALPAK suitcases are just about an identical. Inside they’ve a zippered divider with just a few mesh pockets on one aspect and a set of elastic compression straps on the opposite. It’s nothing fancy, nevertheless it works. I’d in all probability advocate shopping for just a few packing cubes to remain organized, although.
There are only some fashions that diverge from this fundamental design. Their entrance pocket carry-ons (out there for the Hue or Ambeur types) embrace an exterior zippered pocket that’s excellent for a laptop computer or pill and has just a few smaller pockets inside for issues like a passport, telephone, boarding cross, and pocket book. Their softside fashions (just like the Terra 45L) even have extra pockets to maintain smaller issues tidy.
Usually, although, should you favor extra pockets and group, you’ll be happier with Samsonite’s Define Professional than with something from CALPAK. For a similar value as a CALPAK suitcase, you may get a way more organized and useful design.
Samsonite has an enormous vary of merchandise with very completely different designs, and it looks as if their designers are at all times developing with new revolutionary options, like built-in packing cubes and wi-fi charging pocket on the Simply Proper Carry-On or the included folding garment storage within the Samsonite Professional. There’s even a mannequin that has built-in LED lights to maintain you seen at evening on metropolis streets.
Mainly, if you need a sure function, Samsonite in all probability has it.
Samsonite is extra sensible, and the group options make it simpler to pack. Samsonite scored 8.9 for Ease of Use, the place CALPAK solely scored 7.5. Samsonite additionally scored barely larger for performance.
Although CALPAK focuses on type and didn’t rating as excessive in our scores, their suitcases work properly throughout real-world journey. Nonetheless, if type isn’t an important factor, and also you need extra superior options, Samsonite has extra to supply.
Worth for Your Cash
Each CALPAK and Samsonite scored very properly in our Value-to-Efficiency class: 8.7 for CALPAK and eight.6 for Samsonite. If you wish to get an excellent bang to your buck, both model is a superb selection.
CALPAK actually shines when it comes to the sheer worth and high quality you get for the cash. Their baggage is fairly similar to manufacturers like Monos or July—you get the identical polycarbonate shell materials and modern aesthetic—nevertheless it prices considerably much less.
If you happen to like the fashionable, stylish polycarbonate suitcase designs, CALPAK is just about the lowest-priced possibility on the market.
That stated, should you’re on a extremely tight finances, Samsonite does have cheaper fashions than CALPAK, particularly should you discover them on sale, which is frequent.
Guarantee and Shopping for Expertise
CALPAK’s guarantee will not be nice in comparison with the competitors. They solely have a 2-year restricted guarantee, the place many related manufacturers have lifetime warranties. I believe this is without doubt one of the locations the place CALPAK is slicing prices to promote their suitcases for cheaper. That’s not essentially a foul factor, you simply must determine if saving cash or having an excellent guarantee is extra necessary.
Samsonite does higher, with a 10-year guarantee on most fashions. Additionally they have a fairly good repute for changing or repairing suitcases beneath guarantee, so if you need that peace of thoughts, Samsonite might be the higher selection.
Model Influence & Sustainability
If you happen to care about shopping for sustainable merchandise and lowering your influence on the setting, you’ll need to select Samsonite over CALPAK. Neither model is excellent in terms of sustainability, however Samsonite scored considerably larger for our Model Influence class: 6.2. CALPAK solely scored 4.5.
Samsonite makes use of recycled supplies for many of their suitcases, and their Essens and Maxsum Eco fashions use 70% recycled materials for the laborious shell. Samsonite additionally has packages to scale back carbon footprint, use extra sustainable vitality, and assist truthful working rights. The model nonetheless has an extended option to go, however these are steps in the precise course.
CALPAK doesn’t use recycled supplies and has nearly no sustainability initiatives in place. Their focus is making good merchandise at an reasonably priced value quite than making these merchandise good for the setting.
Ultimate Ideas
The talk between CALPAK and Samsonite in the end comes all the way down to this: do you prioritize type or practicality extra?
CALPAK is the most affordable model promoting stylish, well-built polycarbonate baggage proper now. The principle draw is the dialed-in type, so if aesthetics are necessary to you, you’ll in all probability be happier with CALPAK. Their baggage can also be well-built and well-designed, so that you received’t be sacrificing on perform.
Samsonite suitcases are only a bit extra sensible, although. They’re sturdier, have extra pockets and options, and include a greater guarantee. If you happen to journey for work (or simply journey loads), you’ll in all probability favor Samsonite’s reliability.
Right here’s one final query that will provide help to determine: what are the percentages you’ll be taking pictures together with your baggage in your subsequent journey?
CALPAK vs Samsonite FAQs
Is CALPAK or Samsonite Higher?
Is CALPAK baggage an excellent model?
Sure, CALPAK is famend for its fashionable, useful baggage (together with keep on baggage) with revolutionary options like 360-degree spinner wheels. They provide nice worth and sturdiness.
Is a CALPAK carry-on too massive?
CALPAK carry-ons are designed to fulfill most airline dimension restrictions.
Is Samsonite the most effective baggage?
Samsonite is very regarded for its high quality, revolutionary baggage options, and world guarantee, making it a best choice amongst frequent vacationers.
Which model of baggage is essentially the most sturdy?
Samsonite‘s use of polycarbonate and ballistic nylon supplies typically provides it an edge in longevity.
