Samsonite Freeform 2-Piece Luggage Set - Carry-On & Large Checked Luggage with Dual Spinner Wheels - Durable Polypropylene Hardshell - TSA Lock, Airline-Approved - Expandable Hard Shell – Black

Why it's worth it

The Samsonite Freeform bundles a carry-on and a large checked spinner in a polypropylene shell that resists scratches better than the glossy polycarbonate on pricier sets. A 10-year warranty backs both pieces.

Polypropylene is the quiet advantage here. Consumer Reports rated the Freeform's shell Very Good for impact resistance, and unlike glossy polycarbonate it doesn't telegraph every scuff. If you hate the idea of a suitcase looking secondhand after one trip, this shell hides wear well. It's also flexible, so it absorbs a knock and springs back instead of cracking.

You get real capacity for the money. The carry-on packs to roughly 20.5 by 14.5 by 10 inches inside, and the large checked piece runs 27.6 by 20 by 13 inches. Both expand. The interior has elastic straps, a divider, and a zip pouch, which is more organization than budget hardside sets usually bother with. For a household outfitting itself from scratch, this covers a weekend trip and a two-week vacation with the same purchase.

From our review of 6 luggage sets

What we like

• +Polypropylene is the quiet advantage here
• +You get real capacity for the money
• +The carry-on weighs in at a level that leaves room in your allowance, and that matters more on the checked piece
• +Samsonite's 10-year warranty isn't lifetime, but it's long, and it comes from a company that will still be around to honor it

What to know

• –The wheels are the weak spot
• –It's a two-piece set, so there's no medium checked bag in between
• –Black glossy hardside is easy to lose on a carousel and easy to scuff at the corners, where the shell finish is thinnest