We did a ton of research to find you USA-made luggage for your next trip, whether it’s through the air or on the road. Luggage has been notoriously difficult to find made in the USA these days (especially traditional luggage pieces), but there are some brands still doing it right. Explore our findings below, and happy traveling!
Complete List of Made in the USA Luggage Brands
Cinda b is making some great luggage, handbags, and other accessories, all 100% in the USA out of their Fort Wayne, Indiana headquarters. Their softside roller is one of their most popular options, which is perfect to carry on or stow away if you’re traveling for a few days. It is super easy to roll and has a nice carrying handle on top for going up and down stairs or lifting into the overhead bin. The suitcase material is pretty thick, so we think it should be a durable option. It also has a neat feature that they call “Big-Mouth” – essentially a large opening on both sides of the suitcase that makes it super easy to pack and unpack.
ROAM is based in New York, and they produce customizable hard-sided luggage. They use the language “handcrafted in the USA” because they source just a few raw materials internationally – the wheels, binding, and zippers. Everything else (most major materials like panels and interior) is US-sourced and every piece of luggage is assembled by hand by American workers. It was really tough to find companies that are making hard-side luggage that is 100% made in the USA with all materials sourced here, but ROAM came close, which we’re thrilled about. All of their manufacturing is done in Vidalia, Georgia. Mike has a piece of their customizable hard-sided luggage – it’s his go-to for traveling (YouTube video linked above).
Make sure to use our code ALLAMERICAN to get $50 off your entire order (minimum purchase of $125).
Flowfold is based in Maine and makes great luggage items out of recycled materials. They don’t have any traditional wheeled luggage, but if you need a good duffel bag or backpack for travel, Flowfold is a good made in the USA option.
Tough Traveler handcrafts all of their bags at their headquarters in Schenectady, NY, where they’ve been making bags and other American made luggage since 1970. Their backpacks, in particular, are great travel companions for carry-on items.
NutSac has lots of great soft-side, waxed canvas luggage options for men. Their duffel is incredibly durable and perfect if you want something like that to carry with you on your next trip. Their Rucksac (backpack, Mike’s personal favorite) and Doppsac (toiletry bag) are also great carry-on companions.
DSPTCH is a manufacturer that produces a wide array of bags for the modern traveler. They have everything from carry-on backpacks to small duffels, slings, and other items that are perfect for a short trip away from home.
Alchemy Goods manufactures several bags and luggage items out of recycled bike inner tubes, upcycled denim, and repurposed banners in their Seattle, Washington facility. They pride themselves on being sustainable and practical.
Lifetime Leather is a small company out of Arizona that handmakes some amazing leather goods. For travel, check out their toiletry bag. They are always coming out with new products, so keep an eye out for launches to see what other travel items they come up with.
Red Oxx lives and breathes American made. Designed and handcrafted in Billings, Montana, they got started in 1986 and make a wide variety of durable, soft side luggage that is great for long trips. They sell directly to consumers, so you won’t find their bags in major retailers.
Parrott Canvas makes some beautiful waxed canvas duffels and toiletry bags that are perfect for a weekend getaway. Everything is super durable and will last you for many decades to come.
Kamen Road makes a beautiful weekender bag and other large leather bags that are perfect luggage for a short weekend getaway. Everything is handcrafted and they often to collaborations with other great designers. We did an exclusive interview with their founder as well, which you can check out using the link above.
Bubba Goose Design manufactures technical gear and has a few good duffels in their inventory that are nice travel luggage pieces. They also make packs, totes, and other bags.
Best American Duffel (BAD) was founded in 1990 and makes super durable travel bags, similar to a company like Red Oxx that we mentioned earlier. They have a bunch of size and color options, and they have a few accessories like shoe bags and larger shoulder straps that you can pick up.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Luggage
How To Find Luggage Made in the USA
Aside from listing American made luggage, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to explore and shop more wisely. Let’s take a closer look at the luggage industry—exploring material sources, labeling, and strategies for finding top-tier luggage produced in the USA. First, let’s unravel the true meaning of “made in the USA” and how to navigate it.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates the “made in the USA” label. Companies must adhere to strict guidelines for using the label. To be considered a product that is “made in the USA,” “all or virtually all” of the product must be made in the United States. In other words, all sourcing of the raw materials and the manufacturing of the product must occur in the USA.
Check out our labeling guide if you would like to learn more about FTC regulations and how to find products made in the USA.
Materials
The materials used to make luggage will give you an idea of where a product comes from. Research where a company sources its raw materials before purchasing a product.
We have broken down the most common materials used to make luggage into two categories: soft-side luggage materials and hard-side luggage materials.
Soft-Side Luggage
It is much easier to find soft-side luggage made in the USA than hard-side luggage.
Ballistic Nylon
Ballistic nylon is a thick synthetic nylon fabric used initially in the United States for bulletproof vests in World War II. The material originated in the USA, so many major companies producing ballistic nylon are based in the States. Most notably, DuPont, MMI Textiles, and Invista are significant players in the ballistic nylon industry.
Cordura
Also a nylon fabric but softer, Cordura fabric is used for soft-side luggage and even military gear due to its durability. Although most companies produce Cordua abroad, Invista, in Kansas, is a major producer of Cordura fabric. So, the chances that a piece of luggage made out of Cordura fabric is genuinely “made in the USA” products is quite high.
Polyester
Polyester is a great budget-friendly luggage material. China is the world’s largest polyester producer and exporter. On the other hand, the United States does not produce nearly as much as China does, but you can still find some massive polyester producers based in the U.S., such as William Barnet & Son and the Eastman Chemical Company.
Hard-Side Luggage
Hard-side luggage “made in the USA” is much harder to find. All of the following materials are produced predominately in China.
Aluminum
Aluminum luggage is a popular choice as it is lightweight and durable. China produces the most aluminum in the world by far. However, the USA produces its own aluminum. But production in the USA is not to the same extent as the biggest producers of this material. So, when looking for luggage made with aluminum, double-check the raw material source.
ABS
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene is a thermoplastic often used in luggage as it is scratch-resistant. The USA makes up only 3% of the total production of ABS plastic. South Korea, China, and Malaysia make up 50% of the total output.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that is often used in hard-side luggage. It is a good material for those looking for a lightweight but hardy suitcase. The United States is one of the primary producers of this material, producing around 11% of the world’s polycarbonates.
Handles and Wheels
When looking at the material of the luggage, you should also pay attention to the handles and wheels. Most companies manufacture their plastic handles and wheels found on luggage from polyurethane. Germany is the largest producer and exporter of the material. However, it is still possible to find polyurethane made in the USA.
Labeling
After researching the raw materials of the luggage, you will need to look at the labeling. In particular, you should look for the label: “made in the USA.”
By law, companies must label their products and state where they are made. For a product to earn the “made in the USA” label, “all or virtually all” of the source materials and the manufacturing of the product must take place in the United States. However, the FTC does not police the use of the labels as they should, nor is there a pre-approval process. So, in the end, it is up to the customers to do their own proper research to determine whether or not a product is genuinely American-made.
Another thing to look out for is labels that say “made in America” or “assembled/handcrafted in the USA.” The first label means that the product may not have been made in the USA; instead, it may have been made in Mexico or Canada. And products that are “assembled” or “handcrafted” in the USA could include non-US materials.
Other Tips
You can do more than research materials and read labels to check if a product is genuinely “made in the USA.” Here are some additional tips you can use.
Contact the Business
If you are unsure where a product is made, contact the business and ask them where their materials are sourced and where the product is manufactured. Most companies will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Look at Their Website
Take a look at the company’s website. Specifically, check out their “About Us” or “Our Story” pages or look at the product page. If their product is truly made in the USA, the company will likely advertise it loudly on its website because it is a great selling point.
It is worth noting that although labeling is required for the physical product, online, there is no legal need to state where a product is made. So, if you can’t find information regarding where a particular piece of luggage is made, it is likely not made in the USA.
If you like some of the leather and canvas options above, check out our research on leather bags made in the USA and fanny packs made in the USA.
Luggage Not Made in the USA
Here is a list of luggage brands we found that are not made in the USA. We’ll keep this list updated as we do more research.
- Away – made in China
- Eagle Creek – ceased operations at the end of 2021, but was previously made overseas
- Revo Luggage – made overseas
- Samsonite – production spread across India, Europe, China, and other countries
- Tumi – made in China
- Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage – made in China
- Portland Leather Goods – made in Mexico
