In the perfectly curated social media world where travel is breathtakingly, seamlessly beautiful, and luxury luggage matches with 6 of the same brand all piled up waiting for a trip, some of us find we don’t fit that mold. I am ‘some of us’. We have mismatched luggage (l’horeur!) of different brands, colors, and materials. It’s not aesthetically pleasing, and while it gets the job done, I have thoughts on our own luggage.
With summer travel still happening for some of us and travel items being a year-round necessity, it was time to share something that actually makes me quite sad. Our Rimowa suitcase has been a significant letdown.
Why Luggage Isn’t My Focus
Most see Rimowa, a German brand founded in 1898 and known for its high-quality luggage and suitcases, as the holy grail of luxury travel items. In fact, it is a signal as much as a designer bag. The classic Aluminum line is a flex, as are all the other recognizable Rimowa icons.
While I am obviously a designer bag lover, I’ve never fully transferred that obsession to luggage. I suppose it is because I see how luggage is treated as it is haplessly tossed on and off planes and banged up, dinged, and sometimes mysteriously not able to be found. Plus, it’s not as much a part of me and my outfit as it is a very practical carrier of all my stuff.
We just returned from a month in Europe and somehow managed that trip with only 2 large suitcases (for me, Vlad, and our two kids). One of our larger suitcases is from Tumi; we’ve had it for about 13 years. It has held up really well, meaning it has no breaking.
The Rimowa Problem
The other is a Rimowa Original Trunk suitcase, and we’ve owned it for about half the time compared to the other suitcase, and it keeps having problems. First, a wheel full-on broke off and rolled away, never to be seen again. Of course, this happened mid-trip when the suitcase was needed, leaving us having to hobble this oversized, heavy suitcase around (and by us, I mean Vlad).
The next thing that broke was the zipper inside the suitcase, separating the two areas. It’s not that it just popped off; the zipper track no longer worked, thus proving itself non-functional. And a suitcase needs to be functional. Plus, a suitcase only has about 3 significant jobs: 1) Fit items inside, 2) Zip up, 3) Roll from location to location.
At this point, our Rimowa had failed us on two of the three jobs I needed it to be good at. So we returned the suitcase to the store where we purchased it, and it was sent out to be fixed.
We had to pay for it to be fixed. I forget the price we paid, but after having paid for what I consider an expensive suitcase, I don’t love having to pay for a suitcase with issues.
We received it back and went on our next trip. The wheels worked, but bam, on the way home, I realized the zipper had the same issue again. The zipper track on the inside was defunct, again rendering one of the main jobs useless. Packing our suitcase to come home was annoying, and we had a quick trip planned after – our summer trip to Europe.
I wish I had taken a picture because it was actually ridiculous. However, after packing all the items in our Rimowa (we still needed to use it, and I didn’t want to go buy another suitcase), we needed to close the zipper area with zip ties. Yep, zip ties. A bunch of zip ties were used to close the bag up. We even packed additional zip ties in a little baggie we used for the flight back home.
Of course, this single piece of luggage has given me a problem. For all I know, I got a dud of a suitcase, and most other people do not face this issue. I am also very pragmatic and expect suitcases to show wear and not last forever. But I expected more from this suitcase.
Yet still, I like Rimowa
And the silliest thing is, even with all this being said, I keep seeing pictures of complete Rimowa luggage collections when people travel. I stop and think, ‘hum, I love how that looks! I should probably buy a matching luggage set from Rimowa, too.’
There lies the problem. Sometimes, we want something not because it makes the most sense but because we like how it looks and the brand’s perception. I do plan to purchase a smaller Rimowa suitcase at some point and see if I merely had terrible luck, as I am a sucker and don’t learn from my own reality.
featured image via @rimowa
I bought a Rimowa aluminium carry-on and another in polycarbonate pre-LVMH. They held up well in my many years of traveling and business trips, but a corner of the polycarbonate one broke, possibly due to mishandling by the airline, and my aluminium one needed wheel replacement as it pretty much deteriorated.
Muji luggage is now my travel buddy of many years. They have a brake button where you just press and you’re handsfree while in the train, etc. You can’t beat the price either!
Good to hear your thoughts on Muji!! I will check it out too!
Unless you buy the original aluminum line (and you are okay with scratches), Rimowa is not better than mid-range luggage like Victorinox (which I think is the best bank for your buck when it comes to price and quality). Rimowa prices have skyrocketed since LVMH bought the brand and the quality is overall subpar for the price tag. It’s basically another spending power flex.
Yes, I for sure believe that a lot of the Rimowa hype is simply the brand flex. I am ok with that, as many bags that I love fall into the same category, but it’s a bummer because it’s not cheap and I expect it to hold up well!
Hi there I have been using remote luggage for the last 20 years. I have probably six pieces different sizes including two foot lockers. I do not use the Foot Lockers very often but my regular remote was changed my life traveling they almost real themselves. I looked forward to traveling just because these bags were so easy to pack and handle. I have had three of them cracked by the airlines …wheels broken off, smashed handle ,smashed and cracked you name it.
The only unfortunate piece being Rimowa does not have the same repair policy it had before it’s new owners.
Still enjoy the way my remoa wheels and handle handles. I always travel with two of the largest size original bags. It is just really unfortunate When Things fall off or break that the airlines don’t want to give you replacement value and the company will not repair it without charges and a long wait time.
I literally go to Nordstrom Rack before a trip and pick a bag. Seeing how airlines treat the bags its not worth it. My Samsonite for $89 does the trick…I don’t need designer luggage that will be checked.
I agree with how the airlines treat checked bags we would never spend a ton. Besides, never had a problem with regular luggage brands. We had Swiss checked for about 15 years but then we realized they had suitcases with 4 wheels so we decided to “upgrade “ since it is hard to lug. We went for a Tucci and a T0scano hard side checked bags and they’re still perfect.
Ended up with the hard sided carry ons which came with the personal item bag that can attach when Covid travel became difficult and now that’s mostly what we use now. Holding up great. I have huge fomo so we travel a lot and they get well used.
Wow. That’s the opposite of sustainability…
You think Rimowa is sustainable? Do you know how much waste the company produces? The fancy stores alone… you wanna be sustainable? Use old potato sacks.
I get that! It’s why we haven’t spent a ton on luggage or opted for full matching luggage collections. But once we bought this, I did expect more!
Trust me my response is after lessons learned. I had a Tumi that I thought should have held up better.
We have an XL Tumi suitcase that’s held up surprisingly well despite regularly weighing over 60 lbs and being overstuffed to the gills.
First of all, did that wheel damage happen due to airline handling? In my experience, if something even feels a bit off after receiving my luggage via baggage claim, I speak with the luggage team ASAP and they’re pretty good with compensating me for any repairs at all with Rimowa. One time Delta caused the hinge to be slightly bent out, so it wouldn’t properly close by like, maybe 2mm, it doesn’t look like a big deal far away, yet they covered the repair.
Second, I was apprehensive about buying the polycarbonate ones and opted for aluminum because of this. The polycarbonate didn’t feel substantial when I was testing it out in store. I have a lot of coworkers and friends who have either tested and used the Original vs Essentials and ALL of them told me to always stick with the aluminum. Some of them had more problems with the essentials, especially for Check-In sizes.
Truth be told, I am not 100% sure how the wheel damage happened. Vlad tends to think it was a weak wheel because it happened fairly early on, and of course, an airline will handle a bag and not gingerly, but I can’t be sure.
I would definitely go with the aluminum next time if I do because I think it is far more sturdy!
Victorinox all the way. I have had mine for a decade handled tons of abuse and still looks mostly new. Super light too!
I will check it out!
NYTimes Wirecutter is not a fan of Rimowa. We travel a lot, multiple domestic and international trips a year for business and pleasure, and IMO (and according to NYT Wirecutter) you cannot beat TravelPro Platinum Elite, the top of their line. Yeah it’s boring black, but it withstands baggage handling abuse and is very functional and durable with an excellent lifetime warranty. I have a beautiful Tumi Missoni limited edition hard-side that will never be checked because it would get destroyed.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-checked-luggage/
Black is not just boring, it is dangerous. As almost ALL baggage on the carousel is black you have good chance of your baggage being appropriated by an idiot who does not recognize his/her bag. Choose a distinctive color, and put a contrasting belt around it too!
I have a new travelpro that Turkish air destroyed one wheel on by making it crooked so it is like rolling a grocery cart with a bum wheel. Travelpro would fix it but I have to get it back to country of purchase ( US in this case) and am currently in Vietnam w 3 more weeks to go before going home. I will dump it here and get a generic bag which is cheap here. Would have to agree that spending $$$$ on luggage is not wise if it is to be checked w airlines
Thanks for sharing!! I will check out the list from WireCutter 🙂
I have owned and abused my Rimowa pieces for the more than a decade. My first and most loved has outer pockets. I got another cabin one that is a touch larger and 2 that I can check. They have some scratches, but no cracks or dents, no issues with zippers.
May I recommend the clasp poly from Roncato? I’ve had it for 20 years best thing ever made. No zipper so rain proof, bug proof and light compared to other brands. The handles are made for pushing/pulling two cases back to back with one hand. Only available in Europe though. Best Italian made suitcase imo. No I’m not an influencer. I just feel the pain until I found these. And the size is so well designed that whatever fits in them never goes overweight, I mean unless you’re packing rocks.
I’ve had my Rimowa Hybrid Check-In M since 2018. It was an old stock from a luggage store that sold other brands, so I’m very sure it was made pre-LVMH takeover. Still looks great and I haven’t had any problems with it, although I’ve only taken it around Europe and Asia. My other Rimowa is a Classic Cabin S I bought during the pandemic, and I don’t really check it in, so it hasn’t been tossed around and probably that’s the reason why it still looks brand new.
I am trying to remember exactly when we bought this suitcase to see if this was pre LVMH or post LVMH purchase!
The year your Rimowa was manufactured is actually on the side of your case. This won’t tell you when you purchased it, but you can assume you purchased it no later than a year after.
There are a set of numbers etched on the side of your case. It can be found on the side opposite to where the grab handles are. There are two digits that represent year it was made. So 21 means 2021, etc.
2018 and prior – Last 2 digits
2018 and up = Somewhere in the middle.
If you call a Rimowa repair center they will be able to tell you.
That red set is gorgeous — I can see why it brought you back to the brand. I have a Tumi duffel bag, a smaller Tumi suitcase and a larger Briggs & Riley suitcase. My Briggs & Riley is about to go through the crucible, a 2.5-week trip in Europe and multiple countries, changing hotels every 3-4 days. I know my Tumi duffel bag can take it — it has been through many trips, usually checked, and is no worse for wear.
The red set lives in my head rent-free, as the kids say, haha! I had to save that picture and keep thinking about it!
I am such a Briggs & Riley fan – it holds up beautifully!!
Hated mine, gave it away, and bought Away luggage. No problems with it!
My Away carry on has been so great!!
I like my Rimowa but I discovered another German brand which is great – a fairly new one but check it out – Floyd luggage
Thanks for the tip – I will check it out!
The top of the line is fantastic and a real classic. Unfortunately, I can’t deal with scratches and marks on the aluminum: it would drive me crazy. And as a frequent flyer, I need something that can be banged up without traumatizing me. I looked at their other “cheaper” lines and honestly I wasn’t impressed. It just feels and looks like middle of the road luggage you can pick up at any basic luggage brand. But with an inflated price tag! I think you can get equivalent luggage for a fraction of the price.
Yes, that is what I’ve realized! Truly, my Tumi is so much more durable.
I have been using a carry-on Rimowa and a check-in one, both are from the polycarbonate line, not the aluminum, which is simply too heavy. The carry-on is 12/13 years old. Yes, it’s scratched, but I travel every week, so this is only to be expected. I haven’t had any problem with anything, be it wheels or zippers. And I don’t handle my luggage very carefully – it get’s pulled up the curb, I don’t always lift it. I have to admit, it does get banged around a lot. I didn’t actually think that it would last this long, my other carry-ons only latest 5 years maximum, so I’m pretty happy with my Rimowa. If my carry-on is finally end of life, I would buy the same model from Rimowa again.
That’s wonderful to hear – I may just need to try a different line from the brand!
I have 3 Rimowa ( 2 check in L in Alum and Poly, 1 Carry on Plus in Alum ), been using it in many trip since 2021 with scratches and dent but imo its very durable. The more scratch or dent the more story behind the travel.
I don’t mind scratches and or dents – it is part of travel. I do care about it breaking though! Glad to hear yours have been working well for you!
I really wanted Rimowa luggage after falling for all the marketing around the brand history. Because I travel a lot, I went for the poly collection and I regretted it instantly. I bought three large pieces and they are all bad quality. One even broke during its second trip and Delta gave me some compensation but it wasn’t near the cost of the bag. I can’t speak for the aluminum collection but I am never wasting my money again on the more affordable options.
Ugh, I am so sorry – what a bummer. And I just haven’t been impressed with the one we have either. I haven’t tried the entire offering from the brand, so I could be missing something better!
My Rimowa polycarbonate cabin suitcase cracked, and I brought it back, they replaced it with a new, updated color on the spot, no questions asked, in less than 10 minutes. I couldn’t have been happier!
I would be happier with a bag that doesn’t crack to begin with.
I used Tumi ballistic nylon for years and it’s very durable but a heavy suitcase and I like my clothes to be the weight and not the suitcase. I decided to give Rimowa a try since I had a lot of friends who loved theirs. First up was the Rimowa Check in L but found the clamshell design a challenge to unpack since both sides were so large and truth be told, it was still a little heavy. About 6 years ago my husband convinced me to try the Essential trunk in polycarbonate and I absolutely love it!
I now have the Trunk and the Trunk Plus depending on the length of the trip and the location (cold weather clothes take up a lot of space). The polycarbonate allows me to push some boundaries on filling the suitcase especially on the way home if I’ve done any shopping along the way as it has some give to it vs the hard cases. Though there are limits…and on one trip I completely overstuffed it. The zipper held but the area on the corner where the zipper is sewn to the bag was starting to open. It was on the trip home so not a major issue. I dropped it off at Rimowa and they fixed it free of charge. I don’t blame this issue on Rimowa as it was all me.
I bought the July carry on with removable sleeve for laptops/ipads. It has a lot of bells and whistles but didn’t feel like it carried enough. Since then I purchased the Essential Sleeve which is great for for shorter trips or even as a carry on for my handbags on longer trips.
I feel like the hybrid line is the best of both worlds. The same closure as the original line so you don’t have to deal with the zipper issue, but much lighter than aluminum and no dents. They don’t come in all the fun colors but my Hybrids have been through it and held up well. Good luck!
I bought the original aluminum line, and it is so hard to close and the handle gets stuck when trying to pull it up. It’s been in the shop 2x in less than a year and still having problems. It is the most unreliable suitcase I’ve ever owned.
This is the problem I have w/ my set (Alum Original), as well. You need to be really strategic about packing, or they won’t close at all. The perimeters need to be completely cleared, which means that, in my estimation, you essentially get to pack about 15% less than what similar-size suitcases would allow.
Also, very frequently, they seem to get stuck and I need to wiggle/hit them a few times. One of the handles gets stuck for no apparent reason, too…
I live w/in walking distance of a Rimowa store and they DO repair for free, but it has been a HUGE waste of time—and repairs often take time. So, I have a backup set standing by… Not what I expected of a $6,000+ set.
I have the hybrid which I purchased during the pandemic and it’s holding up just fine. The essentials didn’t look that secure as do any with a zipper since I can just cut those open
Yep, that is the problem I’ve run into!
I bought my Rimowa in 2011 — a medium sized “hybrid” bag with the soft pockets on the outside. Definitely too big for carryon but perfect for short trips when traveling by train. It cost only 350 euros and has held up extremely well. However, I refuse to check it for airline travel. Too risky. Instead, I have a beat-up Samsonite soft side roller that baggage handlers can toss about as they like. Two benefits: first, I don’t worry about it getting marked or dinged and second, it’s far less likely to get stolen from baggage claim.
BTW, if you pass the Rimowa boutique at Le Bon Marché in Paris, you’ll see they proudly display a badly damaged classic aluminum suitcase. The dings, dents and scuffs are shown as badges of honor 🙂
I need to get back to Paris! I love to see a bag worn and used and holding up. It tells the story!
I just don’t want it breaking and falling apart!!
I love designer handbags but very much feel the same way about luggage. I bought a Burton suitcase 14 years ago and had the same wheel issue after 4 years (while traveling through China so not ideal), brought it back to them when I got home and they replaced the entire suitcase on the spot and it’s still going strong now 10 years later and I travel often. It might not be designer luggage but the quality is impeccable.
We have been traveling with the same set of Briggs and Riley luggage for the last 10+ years without kids and with kids (our kiddos are the same age as yours!). We have two sets of each for check in: baseline rolling duffle and polycarbonate spinners. They have rolled over cobblestones of Europe and up and down subways of Asia. We don’t baby them and don’t care if they scratch and have never had anything break. We bought them on clearance at Nordstrom Rack for 75% on a fluke but it comes with a lifetime warranty that also includes airline damage. If we were to buy them full price now, I would. I also have an aluminum rimowa carry on and really just use it as my “pretty” luggage when I travel alone – it includes the warranty post-lvmh but I would choose B&R over it for sure. Is it pretty? Not as much, but definitely worth it (especially if you have kids!). We see it as things we can pass down to them.
I have No experience with the current Rimowa quality, but do own a very battered charming aluminium Rimowa without wheels from the 60 ies. It has never let me down and in my opinion gains character with each new dent.
Is that an original? Or a very old model? Cause the Rimowa check-in models don’t have zippers like that inside at all, nor they come with that pattern for the fabric. There is a hard panel with a small compartment, but the one in your picture has a completely different shape from a current one, and it’s also missing the Rimowa handle at the end of the zipper head. As for the wheels, Rimowa has shops anywhere in the world and in selected 5-star hotels, if you were travelling for one month in Europe you should have crossed for sure a location where they could have fixed that in a couple working days. Since 2022 they offer a lifetime warranty, so you wouldn’t even pay for the wheel replacement.
As an airline pilot I started off with Tumi which I later on replaced with Rimowa which has now been replaced with Briggs and Riley.
TUMI I had a Alpha Bravo carry on altogether a well designed bag the telescopic handle just couldn’t handle the rigours of my regular travels and kept coming off regularly. The ballstic nylon that they use is still good and hold up well but the hardware is of a sub par quality at that price point. The bag lasted with me for like 4 yrs
RIMOWA I got this to replace my TUMI and I specifically bought the pilot case pre LVMH. I assumed it would hold up well since it was specifically meant for pilots, but boy I was so wrong. The aluminium case holds up well and ages well too but the telescopic handle is super flimsy and the 4 wheels and super annoying they need to have an option for a 2 wheeled carry on luggage. This tin can lasted with me for 5 yrs. Exceptionally beautiful luggage especially the original aluminium but polycarbonate not so much.
They are good for Instagram posts but for rigours of regular travel not so much.
Briggs and Riley I have had this for 2 yrs now set of 2 bags both are 2 wheeled which I prefer for carry on bags. Build quality is excellent telescopic handles are nothing like TUMI or Rimowa, well built and not flimsy. The bag looks smart nothing fancy but extremely practical and built to last.