Field Test: 5 lightweight bags

With many airlines adopting new baggage-weight restrictions, luggage manufacturers have shaved pounds off their suitcases. How does that affect durability?

Samsonite Black Label X-Lite Hybrid Upright, $495 (weight: 10.5 pounds)
Samsonite Black Label X-Lite Hybrid Upright, $495 (weight: 10.5 pounds)
Grade: C
Durability: This hybrid bag (it's hard on one side, soft on the other) can get dented with a little banging around.
Functionality: The garment bag is nice, but the case itself doesn't have enough "give" when packing.
Favorite Feature: The peel-off letter decals - a quick way to personalize your bag. Runner-up: the silent rolling wheels.
Warranty: Limited lifetime - bag is not covered for damage caused by airlines.
Bottom Line: It's a plenty sleek suitcase with a James Bond-worthy look. But the dent potential might undo your 007 image.

Eagle Creek

Helium Fusion

Samsonite

Travelpro

Tumi
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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.