GoKawiilAluminum won’t crack like a polycarbonate shell. You can stomp on these bags and stand on them. Don’t tell airport security, but my daughter and I have been known to race aluminum carry-on bags through airport terminals, like real-life Mario Kart. When frequent travelers buy luggage, they want this structural integrity and reliability. Rigid shells with metal frames and strong latch closures offer better protection for your belongings and should last a lifetime.
Metal rivets, high-quality wheels, robust handles, and better components also mean that all-metal luggage is easier to repair. Well-established brands typically offer generous warranties and repair services, especially on premium cases. Clamshell, zipperless closures are also harder to force open; there's no zipper fabric that you can sneakily slash through with a pen knife. As with all good-quality luggage brands, the majority now use TSA-approved combination locks, which are not only far more elegant than a clunky old zipper, but add to the confidence these cases afford.
A Greener Choice
The irony of making a more sustainable purchase while also burning through aviation fuel is not lost on us, but there’s no denying the eco-friendly advantages of aluminum. Recycling aluminum uses up to 95 percent less energy than producing it from raw materials, and it can be easily recycled without any loss of quality.
The longevity of a well-made aluminum case will also mean fewer replacements over time, potentially keeping harder-to-recycle polycarbonate cases out of landfill. Even if you don't end up buying it for life, aluminum cases also hold their value. Just check eBay.
Weight a Minute!
They’re sexy, desirable, eco-friendly, and long lasting, but aluminum is significantly heavier than the latest polycarbonate equivalent. Most aluminum carry-on bags (standard 22 x 14 x 9 inches as a rule) weigh between 9 and 11 pounds. Of WIRED’s current favorite carry-on luggage, the Rimowa is the second heaviest, behind a 9.7-pound ballistic nylon option from Briggs & Riley.
Photograph: Adrienne So
In comparison, the Samsonite C-Lite Spinner ($500) weighs just 4.5 pounds, and the Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 ($195) weighs just 6.4 pounds. At 9.5 pounds, the Rimowa is the lightest aluminum carry-on we’ve found.
This is fine if your airline doesn’t have an official weight limit, but many do, especially budget ones. Flying short-haul in Europe, I’ve become accustomed to my overweight Sterling Pacific case being whisked away to the hold. Carry-on weight limits start from just 15 pounds (Etihad, Emirates, Air New Zealand). After taking into account the bag’s weight, that leaves you with 5 pounds of luggage to pack.
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