Best Luggage For Business Travel 2023
When you do a lot of traveling for business, having the right luggage can make your life a lot easier. After all, when you’re traveling for business, you’re also likely to be transporting some important items. This may include work laptops and other expensive electronics, as well as business attire, such as suits and dress pants. The right luggage will be able to accommodate this special cargo and get it to its destination unscathed. And since business travelers often spend a lot of time at airports, the right business luggage is also designed with this in mind—offering features that can take some stress out of regular travel.
Whether you’ve recently accepted a position that requires a fair amount of travel or you’re finding that your current business luggage just isn’t serving you well anymore, there are plenty of great luggage brands out there that specialize in crafting suitcases, briefcases, garment bags, and other luggage items that are designed with the business traveler in mind.
Not sure where to begin when it comes to your search for the best business luggage? Check out our picks for the top business luggage brands below, as well as some top considerations to keep in mind as you shop. From there, you’ll be able to buy with confidence!
Best Luggage For Business Travel
- CHESTER
- Samsonite
- Timbuk2
- Travelers Club
- Crew 11
Reviews of Best Luggage For Business Travel
We’ve created our own list of the top five luggage brands for business travel below. This list is based on each brand’s availability of luggage that’s designed with the needs of business travelers in mind, as well as overall quality and value for the money.
1. CHESTER
All of CHESTER’s luggage is inspired by global travelers who understand the stresses and demands that can come along with regular travel. Offering innovative designs that are as stylish as they are practical, CHESTER has a carry-on and checked baggage options to suit your needs. Their Minima Carry-On is an especially wise choice for the business traveler, as it has a durable polycarbonate hardshell exterior to protect belongings and is sleek enough to conform to most airline’s carry-on size restrictions.
2. Samsonite
Samsonite has been one of the most reputable brands in the industry for many years—and they offer some excellent options for business travelers. Their business bags make for excellent carry-ons, affording plenty of space for laptops and other essentials without sacrificing style or comfort. Their spinner “Mobile Office” bags are also a breeze to maneuver around the airport, as they’re equipped with four spinner wheels and a telescoping handle while maintaining the design of a traditional briefcase.
3. Timbuk2
Another brand that’s worth checking out for business travelers is Timbuk2, which offers a wide range of smart and convenient carry-on designs to make life easier for regular travelers. Their Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag, for example, features a laptop compartment that can be easily unzipped to lie flat when passed through airport security. This saves travelers the hassle of completely removing their laptops from their bags, which can make your regular trips through the security line much less stressful.
4. Travelers Club
Those looking for a budget-friendly business luggage option should check out the many collections offered through Travelers Club. They also offer luggage sets, which typically come with one carry-on and two larger suitcases meant to be used as checked bags. Buying a luggage set can be a great way to get the best value for your money, and Travelers Club also has some of the most stylish designs on the market.
5. Crew 11
The Crew 11 brand of luggage is actually designed specifically for flight crews, but they have adapted some of their designs for regular use as well. They’re particularly known for their expandable spinner suitcases, which include features that any regular traveler will love, such as a built-in USB charging port so you’ll never have to track down a wall outlet at the airport again.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Business Travel Luggage
If you’re looking to buy a luggage set specifically for your business travel needs, there are some potential pros and cons worth keeping in mind that can help you make the right decision.
Advantages of Business Travel Luggage
When you purchase luggage specifically with your business travel needs in mind, you can potentially save yourself a lot of stress and hassle not only when you’re packing for a business trip, but during your travels and after you arrive at your destination as well.
The right business luggage can serve multiple purposes. For example, a bag that you use as a carry-on can house all of your essentials, such as your work laptop and flash drives so that you can work on the plane. Once you arrive at your destination, your carry-on can be used to safely and conveniently take your work with you around town or to a nearby conference without the need for a separate suitcase or bag.
When you choose luggage that’s designed with regular business travel in mind, you’ll also enjoy having the storage you need for your business attire, including suits, dress pants, and other apparel that may otherwise become wrinkled or creased in a traditional suitcase. Many business-traveler suitcases come with built-in garment bags with hangers so you can avoid the need to take your suit to the dry-cleaner or iron your business attire upon your arrival.
Possible Drawbacks of Business Travel Luggage
So long as you take your time researching and choosing the best travel luggage for your needs, there aren’t many drawbacks to purchasing business travel luggage. One potential disadvantage would be the up-front cost that can come along with buying a new luggage set. It is not uncommon to spend a few hundred dollars on quality luggage that will accommodate your needs. However, when you take into consideration all the ways that the right travel luggage will save you time, stress, and hassle, it’s easier to justify the initial expense.
Of course, traveling with more business luggage may also result in additional baggage fees, depending on the baggage allowances that are included with your fare. If you purchase a garment bag to keep your suit free of wrinkles while you travel, for example, you may end up having to pay extra to carry your garment bag aboard the plane. Still, there’s a good chance that the amount you pay to bring your garment bag aboard will still be less than what you’d pay to dry-clean/press your suit once you arrive or rent a suit at your destination.
How to Choose the Best Luggage For Business Travel
Now that you have a better idea of the potential pros and cons of purchasing business luggage, as well as the top brands to consider, hopefully you’re feeling a little more confident as you move forward. Still, there are some specific considerations and questions you may want to ask yourself as you begin shopping for business travel luggage that can help you make a more informed and confident purchase. You can also check our guide for the best luggage for European travel and best luggage for international travel.
Checked or Carry-On?
Start by thinking about whether you’re looking specifically for checked baggage or luggage that you can carry aboard the plane with you. This will make a huge difference in the size of the luggage that you end up purchasing, especially when you consider that individual airlines have strict size restrictions in place for most standard carry-on baggage. Luggage size limitations may also be in place for checked baggage, but restrictions tend to be tighter with carry-ons.
If you tend to take shorter business trips that are just a couple of days long, you may want to invest in some quality carry-on luggage that will allow you to avoid checking any bags while still bringing along all your essentials. This can save you money on checked baggage fees and help you avoid that dreaded wait at the baggage carousel following your flight’s landing.
If you tend to go on longer business trips or trips that require you to pack a lot of items, then checked luggage will likely be your best bet. You can still benefit from having a quality carry-on bag for your electronics and other essentials, however, so you may want to consider buying a business travel luggage set to get the best value for your money.
Ability to Hang Business Attire
If you need to dress professionally for an important meeting or conference, then you’ll most likely be traveling with a suit or other items that you don’t want to get wrinkled or creased. This is where finding business luggage that comes with a built-in garment bag can really come in handy. These bags are typically designed to be carried aboard your flight and can be hung up to prevent creasing or wrinkling. Many airlines offer limited closet space for garment bags precisely for this purpose, so be sure to inquire with your airline before you travel.
Choosing luggage that is specifically designed to hold suits and other important pieces of clothing can be a great way to avoid needing to make a trip to the dry-cleaner or spend time ironing your attire once you arrive.
Quality of Materials
It’s important to look at the purchase of business travel luggage as an investment. When you purchase a quality piece of business luggage, it should easily last you for several years or more before needing to be replaced again. With this in mind, you’ll want to make sure that the materials used in the construction of your luggage are durable and high quality.
For example, you might want to look for hard-sided materials (especially for any checked baggage). Polycarbonate is a great option to consider here because not only is it lightweight, but it’s also extremely durable and easy to clean. This will make it a breeze to keep your belongings protected from the elements, giving you added peace of mind when you travel.
Ease of Transport
When you travel a lot for business, having luggage that’s easy to maneuver around crowded airport terminals and other public spaces is a must. When shopping for business luggage, then, be sure to look for features that will make transport easier.
For suitcases, look for wheels and telescoping handles so you can easily drag your heavy suitcase behind you rather than carrying it outright. And when it comes to suitcase wheels, remember that they’re not all created equal. Specifically, look for spinner wheels that will allow for maximum maneuverability.
For backpacks and briefcases, look for padded shoulder straps that will not dig in during wear. Some business briefcases even come with their own sets of spinner wheels and telescoping handles so you can drag them behind or along-side of you instead of carrying them.
Warranty or Guarantee
Any reputable luggage company should stand behind their products, so be sure to read reviews of any company whose business luggage you’re considering. You may also want to see what kind of warranty or guarantee they have to offer on their products. For example, CHESTER offers a 100-day trial with free returns so that you can make your purchase with no risk.
Additional Features
If you’ll be spending a lot of time at the airport, then features to make your life easier, such as built-in USB charging ports, can also come in handy as a business traveler. Some business luggage will also come equipped with TSA locks, which can be great if you’ll be traveling with any valuables. Even if your business luggage set doesn’t come with TSA locks, however, you can always purchase them individually to use as needed.
Overall Value
While you obviously don’t want to overspend on your business luggage, you’ll also want to avoid defaulting to the cheapest luggage set just to save money. The idea is to find the best value for your money so that you can end up with a luggage set that will meet your unique business travel needs while being durable enough to hold up to regular use for at least a few years. So while it may mean spending a few extra bucks, having a quality-made piece of luggage will pay off many times over in the long run.
