Traveling—especially for vacation—can be an exciting and enriching experience, and the right luggage can make or break your journey. High-quality suitcases don’t just ensure your belongings stay secure, the right ones can help with organization and make navigating airports and hotels much smoother. With so many luggage brands on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.
I’m a bi-costal blogger and avid traveler who flies between both coasts and beyond often, so I have done my due diligence in luggage research. And as a frequent traveler, I’m no stranger to the brand Rimowa. Known for sleek design, lightweight styles, and smooth-as-butter wheels, the brand has earned a reputation as one of the leaders in luxury luggage.
Rimowa luggage had been on my luxury wish list for a while, and once my trusty Calpak suitcases of nearly 7 years finally started falling apart, I decided to invest in a major travel upgrade. So, I bought myself new Rimowa suitcases. (For the record, I loved my Calpak suitcases. They took me around the world including Bali, London, and France, but I was ready for a change.)
After a month of deliberation, I decided on the Rimowa Essential collection. In this post I’m sharing why I went with the Essential collection over the brand’s famous aluminum suitcase designs, along with my honest thoughts on my Rimowa suitcases now that I’ve had them and used them numerous times over the last year.
Rimowa Luggage Review
About Rimowa
Rimowa luggage is synonymous with durability, innovation, and timeless design. Founded in Germany in 1898, the brand became famous for pioneering high-quality luggage with an emphasis on functionality and aesthetics.
What Is Rimowa Luggage Made Of?
Although you may be most familiar with the brand’s iconic aluminum cases, Rimowa was the first brand to introduce polycarbonate luggage, changing the industry forever.
Rimowa has three core collections, Aluminum, Polycarbonate, and Hybrid:
- Aluminum: Available in two different styles (original and classic), this is the OG, famous Rimowa material. The aluminum frame is unyielding, providing structure and safety to your contents inside.
- Polycarbonate: Also available in two styles (Essential and Essential Lite). These are lightweight, polycarbonate suitcases that provide flexibility when packing.
- Hybrid: As the name suggests, the Hybrid collection is a blend between the aluminum suitcases and the polycarbonate suitcases, utilizing the design features of both. You get the benefit of the sturdy aluminum frame, with a lighter weight body thanks to the polycarbonate shell.
What Is So Special About Rimowa Luggage?
Before I get into the specifics about my Essential suitcases, here are a few standard features of Rimowa bags that I love.
Telescopic Handle
Rimowa suitcases have a telescopic handle that you can slide and adjust based on your height, comfort preference, and how you want to roll your suitcase. Although a seemingly small detail, this customization really does make maneuvering my suitcases easier (especially when I have more than one to move in a single hand). It is my favorite design feature.
Super Smooth Double Wheels
Speaking of maneuverability, let’s take a quick moment for Rimowa’s wheel system. I didn’t think I would be this excited to chat about suitcase wheels, yet here we are. Yes, the ball-bearing wheels allow you to glide your suitcases through the airport as if you’re walking on air, but honestly, it’s been the uneven surfaces of Paris and New York City where I’ve really been able to see the difference in how the wheels make moving these suitcases much smoother than others. (My husband noticed the smooth wheels immediately and promptly put Rimowa suitcases on his holiday wish list—and he never asks for anything.)
Leather Luggage Tag
A fun little perk from Rimowa is that each suitcase comes with a leather luggage tag, and you can slip in a business card or small piece of paper inside with your contact information. Obviously, this doesn’t affect the functionality, but given the price tag of Rimowa luggage, it’s a nice extra. You can get the tag foil-embossed for free at any Rimowa store.
Lifetime Guarantee
Rimowa offers a lifetime warranty on all functional aspects of its suitcases. For me, this adds some peace of mind knowing that if a wheel were to break or get stuck, I don’t have to buy a brand new suitcase.
Rimowa Essential Collection Review: Pros and Cons
Although I originally had my sights set on the aluminum body, I ended up purchasing the Essential collection.
Flexibility
The sales associate at the Rimowa store told me to think about what kind of a packer I was. Given that I like to squeeze every inch out of my suitcase, she recommended the Essential collection due to the flexible case of the polycarbonate shell. The aluminum frame, she said, doesn’t budge, and therefore if someone tends to overpack, they’d need another suitcase or need to cut items. Know thyself. As much as I originally wanted the beautiful silver suitcases, I’m glad she steered me to the right suitcases for my packing habits, not just aesthetic preference. And of course, I love that there’s always space for that one last shirt… just in case.
Zippers and TSA-Approved Locks
Unlike the aluminum and Hybrid bags, my Essential suitcases have zippers. It’s not to say I wouldn’t love the latch locks that are on the others, but there was no learning curve here when upgrading my suitcases.
Packability & Organization
I sprung for three suitcases: Cabin, Check-In M, and Trunk Plus.
All three have dual-sided organization, with a zipper compartment on one side and a flex divider (Rimowa’s patented compression system) on the other.
While the compression panels do work, I don’t think they’re particularly groundbreaking in saving tons more space in my suitcases. They save you a little space, but I still love and use packing cubes.
My favorite Rimowa bag is the Trunk Plus because it seems to fit everything I’ve ever needed, including multiple coats for a trip to London and Paris in November. It wasn’t always love at first sight because Trunk Plus isn’t split 50/50 like a traditional hard suitcase. The bottom portion is larger than the top, so it took me a few trips to get the hang of packing it. However, now that I’ve figured out my method, it’s now the suitcase I use the most. It is the perfect suitcase that works if you are someone who has a lot of shoes, frequently requires outerwear for your travels, or if you’re taking a long trip and want to take a single suitcase.
Weight
Rimowa’s polycarbonate suitcases are lighter than the aluminum and hybrid versions. My Calpak suitcases felt heavy even when empty, and although my Rimowa Original Cabin and Check-In M suitcases are slightly smaller in size, they both feel significantly lighter than their Calpak equivalents. Even in the case of my Trunk Plus, I’ve now rolled, pushed, and lifted it on and off multiple scales and trains between London and Paris. (More on this below.)
Protection
At first, I must admit that the super flexible polycarbonate cases made me nervous. However, don’t underestimate flexibility for flimsiness. In just under one year, I’ve taken about 20 flights including several international flights, four trains, and dozens of cab rides, and other than minor scratches from normal wear and tear, have not had any issues with denting.
Shop My Suitcases
Essential Trunk Plus
Essential Cabin
Essential Check-In M
What Is the Best Rimowa Luggage?
Rimowa Essential Cabin
A good carry-on bag is an essential piece for any traveler. The Rimowa Essential Cabin is lightweight polycarbonate carry-on luggage that fits in most overhead bins. It’s easy to lift into into an overhead bin and perfect for a weekend trip or smaller items.
Rimowa Essential Trunk Plus
The Trunk Plus is designed for extended travel or cold-weather trips with bulky items. It’s a spacious suitcase that although was hard for me to pack at first, has become my favorite Rimowa bag. I went to Paris for an entire month and fit everything for my trip into this suitcase, the Essential Cabin carry-on, and my travel backpack.
If you pack this bag full, it will be a heavier bag than most large suitcases, but given the smooth wheels and telescopic handle, I don’t find it a hard bag to maneuver whatsoever. I have flown several times with my Trunk Plus, and the bag has never been tagged as oversized luggage in terms of dimensions. I have also packed this to the brim, and personally have not been charged for going over the weight limit. The suitcase on its own is 11.9 lbs, leaving you with 38.1 lbs to pack shoes, clothes, toiletries, and jackets for a domestic flight, where the limit is typically 50 lbs. That’s a LOT of space!
Rimowa Essential Check-In M
If you purchase the Trunk Plus, I don’t think you also need the Check-In L. At first I thought I maybe should have purchased this, but over time I found myself using the Trunk Plus so often that I realized I didn’t need two suitcases that were relatively the same size. The Rimowa website states that the Check-In L is big enough for 14 or 15 days of travel, while Trunk Plus is ideal for 2 weeks or more of travel. Overall, the size difference between these two suitcases is negligible, and you may as well go for a little extra space with the Trunk Plus. Instead, the Check-In M provides a nice middle ground for a shorter, 5–7-day trip depending on where you’re going or what you’re packing.
Is It Worth to Buy Rimowa Luggage?
Rimowa is a luxury luggage brand and a significant investment. For those who travel often, it can be well worth the price tag. The bottom line is that with any status symbol product, you are, at some point, paying for the name. However, I have really loved my Rimowa suitcases and have found that the telescopic handle and smooth wheels aren’t just thoughtful features, they elevate my travel experience, especially when navigating uneven streets and pavement. These have made moving my suitcases so much easier and less cumbersome.
As a frequent flyer, I was looking to invest in high-quality luggage that I’d have for years to come instead of replacing my suitcases every several years. Rimowa’s lifetime guarantee has also given me added peace of mind in justifying the price point for my travels.
While I genuinely like all of my Rimowa suitcases, the Trunk Plus is my top recommendation, especially if you’re looking for large capacity luggage. Rimowa suitcases aren’t inexpensive, so if you’re only going to buy one, I would prioritize purchasing the Trunk Plus given that suitcases and trunks in this size aren’t super common. Despite my initial learning curve packing the Trunk Plus, I did quickly figure out a method that works for me and it’s now my favorite and most used suitcase. It’s practically a large suitcase and a half, and I am SO happy I own it.
If you’re someone who frequently travels and want a suitcase with a stylish look that lasts for years, Rimowa is a great option. However, if you’re an occasional traveler, these may not be for you. While Rimowa suitcases come at a high price point, the effortless handling really does it for me, and its why I love these suitcases so much. They have definitely been worth the investment for me.
