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A CHOICE.com.au review of 11 suitcases has found that the most expensive models don’t always deliver on quality.“With summer holidays just around the corner, anyone thinking of giving their luggage an upgrade should avoid the priciest model in store,” says CHOICE.com.au spokesperson Nicky Breen.

“Two of the high end models we tested finished in the bottom half of our results, with the $649 Lojel Cubo narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.”

CHOICE.com.au put the luggage through a range of tests, including repeatedly dropping cases from height, putting them under the shower as well as checking their stability while carrying a heavy load and found some of the expensive models performed badly.

“Despite costing more than $600 – the Lojel was one of three cases which failed the lift and drop test as the base of the suitcase cracked and all four wheels were damaged,” Ms Breen says.

“Only one of the expensive models we tested, the $899 Samsonite Cosmolite 3.0, finished in the top three, but it was outperformed by the Antler Juno 2 which cost a third of the price.

“The mid-range Antler topped our test jointly with the Samsonite 72 hours DLX spinner. Given it sells for just $299, it’s a better value buy for travellers than many of its high end counterparts.

While the expensive brands didn’t live up to their hype, the CHOICE.com.au tests also revealed that cheap luggage was not the answer for people looking for high quality travel gear.

“We sometimes find the budget brands punch above their weight in our reviews, unfortunately with travel luggage this is not the case.

“The cheapest models in our test finished last, with the Jetstream from Big W and the Kmart Active & Co, scoring 43% and 41% respectively.

“However it’s not all bad news for those trying to bag a bargain while suitcase shopping. We found that most of the big brands were frequently on sale and could be picked up in store or online for at least 40% off the retail price.”

To find out more go to choice.com.au/luggage

Tips for buying good quality luggage

1. Ask for a discount – it’s not unusual to find discounts on luggage of around 40%
2. If you’re short on home storage consider a soft case
3. If you’re planning on flying, check any airline restrictions on height and weight