Choosing the right luggage feels like an impossible task. You stand at a crossroads: on one side, there’s the trendy, feature-packed suitcase everyone on social media seems to have. On the other, the timeless, reliable brand your parents have sworn by for decades.
This is the exact dilemma when comparing Béis and Samsonite. It’s a classic battle of the new-school innovator against the old-school titan, leaving travelers wondering where to invest their hard-earned money for trips to come.
The Contenders: A Tale of Two Titans
Understanding the core philosophy of each brand is the first step to solving your luggage problem. They cater to different travelers with distinct priorities, making one a better fit for your specific journey.
Béis: The Chic Influencer Favorite
Launched by actress Shay Mitchell, Béis stormed the travel scene with a focus on aesthetics, smart features, and affordability. It quickly became a favorite among style-conscious millennials and Gen Z travelers who want their luggage to be as photogenic as their destination.
The brand is known for its monochromatic color schemes and thoughtful details designed to solve modern travel annoyances. Features like built-in weight indicators, cushioned handles, and extensive internal organization are hallmarks of Béis.
Samsonite: The Enduring Legacy of Travel
With a history stretching back to 1910, Samsonite is practically synonymous with luggage. The brand has built an ironclad reputation on one primary principle: unmatched durability. For generations, frequent flyers and business travelers have trusted Samsonite to withstand the rigors of constant transit.
While perhaps more traditional in design, Samsonite’s strength lies in its relentless focus on quality materials, rigorous testing, and a vast global warranty and repair network. It’s the workhorse of the luggage world, prioritizing longevity above all else.
Head-to-Head Comparison: The Ultimate Breakdown
Let’s break down how these two brands stack up across the factors that matter most to travelers. This detailed comparison will help you identify which brand’s strengths align with your personal travel needs.
Design and Aesthetics: Style vs. Substance?
Your luggage is a travel accessory, and its look matters. Béis leans heavily into modern, chic designs with a curated palette of trendy colors that stand out on the baggage carousel. Its branding is clean, minimal, and highly appealing to a fashion-forward audience.
Samsonite offers a much broader, more classic range of designs. While some collections are sleek and modern, the overall aesthetic is more conservative and professional. For many, the design is secondary to the brand’s reputation for strength and reliability.
Materials and Durability: Hardside Heroes
Both brands predominantly use polycarbonate for their hardshell suitcases, a material prized for being both lightweight and impact-resistant. However, the perception and reality of their durability differ. Samsonite’s reputation is built on decades of producing cases that last for years, if not decades.
Lab tests and user reviews consistently show that Samsonite shells can withstand significant abuse, from being hit with baseball bats to surviving extreme drops. While Béis uses quality polycarbonate, some users report that its suitcases, particularly in lighter colors, are more prone to scuffs and scratches. This is a common trade-off for the stylish, matte finishes that are popular today. Understanding the difference in hardside luggage construction, such as the 80/20 packing style, can also influence your decision based on how you prefer to organize your belongings.
Features and Innovation: Smart Packing Solutions
This is where Béis truly shines and captures the attention of modern travelers. The brand excels at integrating clever features that address common packing problems. Many Béis checked bags include a built-in weight indicator on the side handle, which turns red if the bag is over 50 pounds, helping you avoid surprise baggage fees.
Other signature Béis features include comfortable cushioned handles, multiple interior pockets for organization, included laundry bags, and a retractable bag strap to hold a smaller tote. In contrast, Samsonite’s features are more traditional and focused on core functionality, such as smooth-gliding wheels, secure TSA locks, and expandable compartments. While some newer Samsonite models include USB ports, the brand’s innovation is centered on perfecting the basics rather than adding novel gadgets.
Wheels and Handles: The Maneuverability Test
A suitcase is only as good as its wheels. Both Béis and Samsonite use 360-degree spinner wheels on most of their models, ensuring smooth movement through airports. Béis uses high-quality Hinomoto wheels, which are known for being durable and reliable.
Samsonite has perfected its wheel systems over many years, and they are consistently praised for their effortless glide across various surfaces. When it comes to telescoping handles, some testers find Samsonite’s to be sturdier with less wobble, a crucial factor for frequent travelers who are constantly navigating busy terminals.
Price and Value: Where Your Money Goes Further
Béis positions itself as an affordable luxury brand, offering stylish and feature-rich luggage at a competitive mid-range price point. It provides significant value for travelers who want modern aesthetics and smart functions without the premium price tag of some competitor brands.
Samsonite’s product line spans a much wider price spectrum. They offer budget-friendly collections made from materials like polypropylene as well as high-end lines that command a premium price. Generally, for a comparable polycarbonate model, Béis may offer more features for the money, but Samsonite’s value proposition is rooted in its proven long-term durability and warranty.
| Feature | Béis | Samsonite |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Style-conscious travelers, vacationers, and digital influencers. | Frequent flyers, business travelers, and families. |
| Key Strengths | Chic design, innovative features (weight indicator), internal organization. | Exceptional durability, reliability, global warranty, brand history. |
| Primary Material | Polycarbonate, with various fabrics for soft goods. | Polycarbonate, polypropylene, ballistic nylon, and other durable materials. |
| Signature Features | Weight limit indicator, cushioned handle, multiple organizational pockets. | Smooth spinner wheels, secure locking systems, durable construction. |
| Price Range | Mid-range ($200 – $400) | Wide range, from budget to premium ($150 – $600+). |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty covering functional defects. | Typically a 10-year global warranty covering manufacturing defects. |
The User Perspective: What Real Travelers Are Saying
Online forums and reviews reveal a consistent narrative. Béis owners rave about the bag’s style and smart features, frequently praising the weight indicator and organizational compartments. However, a common complaint is that the lighter-colored bags scuff easily, and some users have reported mixed experiences with customer service.
Samsonite users, on the other hand, often share stories of their luggage lasting for over a decade. The praise is almost always centered on durability and reliability. The most common criticisms are that the designs can be less exciting and that the handles on some of the lower-end models can feel less sturdy.
Making the Right Choice: Which Luggage is For You?
The best brand for you depends entirely on your travel profile. There is no single “winner,” only the right choice for your specific needs and priorities.
Choose Béis If…
You are a vacation traveler who takes a few trips a year and wants a suitcase that is both functional and a fashion statement. You prioritize smart organization and clever features that make packing simpler. You want a bag that stands out and reflects your personal style. For travelers in this category, it’s also worth exploring other similar brands in the space, as detailed in our Béis vs Away vs Monos showdown.
Choose Samsonite If…
You are a frequent flyer, business traveler, or someone who values longevity above all else. You need a true workhorse suitcase that can withstand years of abuse from baggage handlers. You prioritize a reliable global warranty and the peace of mind that comes from a brand with a century-long track record of quality and durability.
Béis Small Carry-On Roller: The Aesthetic Contender
Enter their newest luggage, the small carry-on roller. Besides their mini roller, this is the smallest roller bag that Béis offers. At the time of filming, the small carry-on bag is priced at $248, and it comes in seven colors. The price does seem fair when you compare it to similar hard shell luggages within that size range by comparable brands. For example, Away’s carry-on, Monos’ carry-on, and July’s carry-on light are all slightly larger than this bag, and they’re all priced at $275.
The Exterior and Build
The exterior dimensions of this bag are 21 x 13 x 9 inches. On its own, without anything inside, this bag weighs 7.16 lbs. It has a polycarbonate shell with a vegan leather trim. This bag doesn’t really have as much give as, say, an Away bigger carry-on, and it actually feels quite sturdy. The design of this luggage includes paneled sections with a beautiful matte finish which really gives it a polished, chic, feminine look.
There is a built-in side-facing TSA combination lock. You can set your own code and it’s great for security. There is a handle at the top and at the side. Having one at the top and one at the side is one of the easiest ways to pick up the bag and put it in the overhead bin. However, there is no handle underneath.
A unique feature of Béis luggages is that there is a weight indicator on the side. It’s a clear window that will turn red once the bag hits 50 lbs. Another unique feature that Béis luggage has is the retractable bag attachment strap. This works very similarly to the J hooks that professional flight crew usually have on their bags. You pull the strap out, place whatever bag you have on top, close it back, and there you have it. This is a great feature, especially if your bag doesn’t have a trolley sleeve.
The Handle and Wheels
There is an extendable trolley handle at the top. It has to be one of the smoothest, most satisfying handle slides ever experienced. One of the favorite things about this handle is that it is cushioned at the bottom. It is so soft and comfortable. When measured, the trolley handle at its maximum length is around 23 inches.
There are four 360° spin wheels which are good for easy maneuvering in any direction. The wheels are Japanese Hinomoto Silent Run wheels. Apparently, they’re known for having higher quality durability, and for being really quiet and smooth.
Inside the Béis
This bag does come with two reusable bags; one is a larger dirt bag and the other is a smaller bag. There is a clamshell opening, so it opens flat, which makes it really easy to pack. On one side, you have an open space with two compression straps. On this same side, you have a removable compression flap. It snaps onto the sides here and you can easily take it out if you don’t plan on using it.
This one has a U-zip compartment on this side and on the other side is a mesh pocket. In these pockets, you can keep thinner items like a fanny pack or reusable bags. Towards the middle of the bag, you have a small zippered pocket. In this pocket, you could put small items like a lint roller or a hairbrush. Next to that is an even smaller pocket, and this is meant for an AirTag or a tracker. On the other side of the suitcase are two zippered pockets; one is more clear, so you could sort of make out what’s inside.
Béis Pros and Cons
One disadvantage found with the Béis small carry-on roller is the size. It is smaller, so space is limited. As someone who tends to pack light to begin with, when you use this bag, you don’t tend to have a ton of space left over. Another disadvantage is that there’s no outer pocket. Also, unlike any of the other carry-on rollers that they have, this one does not expand. However, an advantage to this bag is the design and the unique features. The dedicated AirTag pockets, the soft cushion handles, the smooth extension of the handle, and the quiet wheels are details travelers appreciate.
The Samsonite Freeform: The Reliable Standard
Moving over to the Samsonite Freeform Carry-On, the outside of this thing is pretty simple in terms of branding. We have a little strip here of silver that says Samsonite on it. Overall it’s pretty simple; there’s not really a ton going on.
The Shell and Durability
This is a hard shell design that’s made with a polypropylene shell which is plastic. It definitely feels like plastic; it feels sturdy and it has a little bit of flex to it so that it can move with your gear as you pack this thing out. Because of the hard exterior, it seems like it would hold up and feels like this could last a good long time to take some beating.
However, after testing, you can see that it has a fair amount of scuffing and scraping all around. This happened because it was gate checked one time. It went into the cargo hold and so it got scraped up a little bit, but overall not too shabby and nothing is really broken.
Security and Exterior Features
In terms of security, we have a TSA-approved lock which is super easy. The zippers are unbranded, but there haven’t been any issues with them. The zippers are recessed inside the suitcase which helps keep it a little more durable, but then also if you have fat fingers that’s just a little bit harder to grab.
On the back side, there is an ID tracker thing that’s nice but also kind of hard to find. If somebody were to find this luggage, you wouldn’t necessarily think to open this, so with your name being on here it doesn’t seem super functional.
Handles and Maneuverability
We have this telescoping handle here which feels nice and secure and just slides out nice and easy. The handle doesn’t feel like it’s gonna come off, which has been a problem before. At full extension, it seems a little flimsier, but it feels like you could really run with it through the airport.
We have four wheels on the bottom, two on each of the wheels, so it rolls nice and easy. The wheels themselves are nice and smooth, with no issues with them catching or with the bag falling over. It swivels all the way around really easily so you could definitely move quickly with it.
Inside the Samsonite
Getting into this main compartment is a little bit tedious. This opens just right in the dead center and opens like a traditional suitcase that you would expect. On the inside, we have a really nice big bucket shape on one side and then on the other side is a zippered compartment.
Starting with the bucket shape, we have these two elastic tie-down straps. The straps buckle in the center and keep everything nice and secure. This is where you can put mostly packing cubes. There is also a zippered pocket where you can put a lot of really tiny things. However, once all your stuff was inside, this just got hidden or you’d have to leave it on top of everything else, so it wasn’t super functional.
On the other side, we have a zippered pocket. There is no expandability within the divider itself. If this main compartment is packed out too much, it can cut into this space. When you flip this shut when it was too full, it all just kind of butted up really awkwardly.
One of the main things noticed with this was that in the gaps in these back corners, it’s really easy for stuff to get lost and to lose out on packing space. Even with a larger packing cube, it still has a little bit of a gap on all the sides, so it is not a super convenient packing experience.
Expansion and Size
This bag does have an expansion zipper which gives you one extra inch of space all around. When that’s all said and done, it works perfectly fine. However, in terms of the actual size of this thing, it is one inch too tall, wide, and deep to fit within the Delta carry-on restrictions, for example.
You can definitely take more than enough advantage of that extra expansion and pack even a few more things in here if you check it. But if you are asked to check this at the gate, it could be a hundred plus dollars depending on the airline.
Comparison: Functionality and Value
Design and Aesthetics
The Béis has paneled sections with a beautiful matte finish which gives it a polished look. It is a hard shell luggage with a vegan leather trim. The Samsonite is sleek, but it is not the sleekest thing ever seen; in terms of aesthetics, it is basic enough that it looks nice. The Béis comes in seven colors, while the Samsonite is often seen in standard tones.
Packing Capabilities
The Samsonite offers tons of space inside and really good compartments. The top half fits a lot more than you might expect. However, the Béis, being the “small” carry-on, is strictly for those who pack light. The Samsonite has an expansion feature, whereas the Béis small carry-on does not expand. If you are a Béis lover, unlike any of the other carry-on rollers that they have, this one does not expand.
The Samsonite has a bucket shape that makes it easy to stuff, but the gaps in the corners can be annoying. The Béis has a clamshell opening that opens flat, and the compression flap can be used to compress everything together down in the suitcase. The Béis also includes specific pockets for an AirTag and a wet bag, utilizing every nook and cranny to make the most of the smaller space.
Ergonomics
The Béis handle is cushioned at the bottom, making it soft and comfortable. It has one of the smoothest, most satisfying handle slides. The Samsonite handle feels secure, but at full extension, it seems a little flimsier. The Béis has handles on the top and side, but no handle underneath. The Samsonite has simple carry handles that pull out when you grab them and tuck against the side.
Both feature four 360-degree spin wheels. The Béis uses Japanese Hinomoto Silent Run wheels, which are known for being really quiet. The Samsonite wheels are also nice and smooth, pivoting well.
Price and Value
At the time of filming, the Béis small carry-on is priced at $248. The price seems fair when you compare it to similar hard shell luggages. The Samsonite Freeform is often a go-to for durability, but the Béis offers extra features like the weight indicator and the retractable bag attachment strap.
The Final Verdict
If you are looking for a bag specifically for international travel, the Béis is a strong contender. Béis’s response to size complaints was to make a carry-on luggage that was smaller and more suitable for international travel. It is compliant with most international airlines and their standards. However, it is a tad bit on the smaller side. If you are naturally an overpacker, this is something to consider.
On the other hand, the Samsonite Freeform is a very high-durability suitcase. It feels like this could last a good long time. It is lightweight and offers a lot of room on the inside. However, it is slightly larger than some strict carry-on limits, which might lead to gate-checking anxiety.
For those who want extra features, Béis wins. A unique feature is the weight indicator on the side, and the retractable bag attachment strap is really cool. For those who just want to stuff their bag and go, Samsonite is effective. It gives you all the space that it is encompassing and tries to keep everything else out of the way.
Ultimately, Béis has designed a beautiful, functional luggage with thoughtful details like the cushioned handle and AirTag pocket. Samsonite provides a sturdy, reliable vessel that rolls nice and easy but lacks some of the modern bells and whistles. If you pack light and want style, the Béis is ideal. If you need maximum space and expandability, the Samsonite might be the better choice, provided you are willing to risk the size restrictions.