Walk into any luggage shop today and you’ll find an abundance of choices: ballistic nylon garment bags, colorful mod-style hard-shell carry-ons, high-end monogrammed duffels and sleek leather trolleys—a far cry from the bulky trunks used centuries ago.
Travel containers have a long history. As far back as the Crusades, soldiers used wooden boxes for weapons and armor, and traveling trunks became essential for carrying personal effects on extended journeys.
By the mid- to late-1800s, long-distance travel by steamship and train popularized the steamer trunk. The most iconic steamer trunk was large and rectangular with a flat top, prized for durability and for being stowed vertically or horizontally. These trunks were often covered in leather, canvas or patterned paper and secured with brass or iron fittings.
Two notable French trunk makers, Goyard and Louis Vuitton, rose to prominence in the mid-1800s by crafting trunks for royalty and wealthy travelers. To make trunks lighter and more water-resistant, they used canvas and added distinctive patterns—Goyard’s geometric designs and Louis Vuitton’s famous LV monogram—to deter imitators.
Steamer trunks remained popular through the early 20th century but gradually gave way to more compact suitcases as air travel took off.
In 1920, the Shwayder Bros. Trunk Manufacturing Co. of Denver introduced an affordable coordinated luggage line and in 1941 developed Samsonite Streamlite suitcases made from a revolutionary vulcanized material with tapered corners. The company promoted the luggage as exceptionally strong, and soon adopted the Samsonite name, inspired by the biblical figure Samson.
As commercial air travel grew, demand for more convenient baggage solutions increased. Surprisingly, wheels did not appear on luggage until 1970, when Bernard Sadow created a suitcase with four casters and a pulling rope after struggling with heavy bags. His “Luggage that Glides!” reached Macy’s that October, but it wasn’t until 1987 that the modern vertically oriented rollaboard, with two wheels and a telescoping handle, was introduced by pilot Bob Plath.
Plath initially sold his Rollaboard to flight crews, who demonstrated how efficiently it moved through airports. Travelers quickly adopted the design, and two-wheeled rollaboards became standard. Airlines adjusted overhead bin dimensions to accommodate the popular 22-inch carry-ons, which encouraged lighter packing. Plath later founded Travelpro, which remains a leading supplier to airline crews.
U.S. consumers spent an estimated $25.5 billion on travel goods in 2012, reflecting continued demand for luggage that is lighter, more durable and better suited to modern travel. Today’s options often include TSA-friendly compartments, compression systems and advanced wheel technology.
Carry-ons are now the preferred choice for many business and leisure travelers due to stricter airline baggage rules. Manufacturers have responded with innovations aimed at making travel easier and more efficient. Compressible luggage, for example, expands or contracts to match what’s packed, reducing shifting during transit and allowing the same bag to serve for short trips or longer excursions.
Briggs & Riley’s Baseline CX line is a leader in compression systems, enabling travelers to pack up to 34 percent more while staying within carry-on limits. The bag’s mechanism compresses contents without unzipping, so once packed the suitcase returns to its most compact state.
While two-wheeled luggage dominated for years, four-wheeled spinners have grown in popularity. Spinner models rotate 360 degrees, glide easily through aisles and reduce strain on the arms and shoulders by rolling upright. Samsonite’s Silhouette Sphere collection, for instance, pairs lightweight frames with four smooth spinner wheels.
Travelpro’s Platinum Magna collection won industry recognition for innovation by combining multiple advanced features, including an eight-wheel spinner system with removable, self-aligning magnetic wheels. The magnetic system helps prevent spinners from veering off course, keeping the bag rolling straight.
Hard-sided luggage has also experienced a resurgence. Known for durability and lighter weights—some models are just over 4 pounds—hard-shell suitcases protect contents from temperature changes and moisture. Modern designs often blend hard and soft features, adding exterior pockets and organized interiors for convenience.
Briggs & Riley introduced its first hard-sided line, TORQ, after three years of development. TORQ features a crack-resistant Makrolon polycarbonate shell, an outside lockable hinged pocket for quick access, an 80/20 lid opening for easier packing, a flat packing surface and wide, robust spinner wheels.
Genius Packer © Genius Pack
Manufacturers continue to target frequent travelers with practical, tech-friendly solutions. Examples include hard-shell spinners with integrated tablet docks for hands-free use and highly organized systems like the Genius Packer, which features labeled compartments, a portable charger and a compression pocket for separating dirty laundry from clean clothes.
While the classic steamer trunk is unlikely to return as mainstream luggage, the demand for versatile, specialized bags remains strong. As travelers’ needs evolve, the luggage industry continues to innovate—offering smarter, more convenient solutions that help people move through the world with less hassle.