Stop overthinking your luggage. Seriously. Most people spend weeks scrolling through individual carry-on reviews or agonising over whether a medium-sized bag is "too big" for a weekend away, when the answer has been sitting right there in a nested bundle the whole time.
Buying a suitcase set of 3 isn't just about saving a few bucks at checkout, though the math usually works out in your favor. It's about ecosystem compatibility. You've probably been there: trying to stack a random duffel onto a hardshell spinner only for it to slide off in the middle of a crowded terminal in O'Hare or Heathrow. It sucks. When you have a matched set, the proportions actually work together. The telescoping handles are often designed at heights that allow for easier stacking, and honestly, there’s a weird psychological peace that comes with having a uniform "look" when you’re sprinting for a connection.
The math behind the three-piece logic
Let's talk about the 20-24-28 split. That is the industry standard for a suitcase set of 3. You get the 20-inch carry-on, the 24-inch "medium" checked bag, and the 28-inch "I'm moving to Europe or bringing back half of a Tokyo duty-free shop" monster.
If you buy these separately? You’re getting hosed. Brands like Samsonite, Delsey, or even the budget-friendly Amazon Basics line heavily discount the bundle because it's easier for them to ship one box than three. It’s basic logistics. By nesting them like Russian Matryoshka dolls, the manufacturer saves on warehouse space, and they pass that down. You might pay $300 for a set that would cost you $500 if you picked them up piece by piece over two years.
But it’s not just the money. It’s the storage. Living in a city apartment means space is a luxury you don't have. If you own three random suitcases, they take up an entire closet. If you own a suitcase set of 3, they take up the footprint of the largest bag. One bag. That’s it. You tuck the 20 into the 24, the 24 into the 28, and slide the whole thing under the bed. Done.
Why the "Medium" bag is the unsung hero
Everyone talks about the carry-on. The "one bag" travel movement has made us all obsessed with fitting our entire lives into a 22x14x9 inch box. It's a cult. And look, I love skipping the luggage carousel as much as the next person, but sometimes you need a checked bag.
The 24-inch bag in your suitcase set of 3 is the sweet spot. It's often ignored. People think it’s too big for a weekend but too small for a month. They're wrong. The 24-inch bag is the perfect "10-day" vessel. It’s light enough that you won't hit the 50lb (23kg) airline limit unless you're packing lead bricks, but it’s large enough to hold a suit or three pairs of shoes without a struggle.
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Hard shell versus soft side: The eternal debate
You have to choose a side. In a suitcase set of 3, this choice is amplified because you’re committing to the material for the next decade.
Polycarbonate is the gold standard. If you see a set made of ABS plastic, be careful. ABS is cheaper and lighter, but it's brittle. In cold weather, baggage handlers throwing an ABS bag can cause it to crack like an eggshell. Polycarbonate flexes. It takes the hit and pops back out. Brands like Away or Monos have built empires on this stuff.
Then there’s the soft-side crew. Usually ballistic nylon or polyester. If you’re the kind of person who always tries to squeeze in "one more thing," soft-side is your best friend. The fabric gives. Hardshells don't. If the zipper closes on a hardshell, you're good; if it doesn't, you're removing a sweater. Soft-side bags also usually feature those external pockets which are lifesavers for last-minute items like a charging cable or a damp swimsuit.
The wheel situation (Don't skip this)
Check the wheels. If your suitcase set of 3 doesn't have 360-degree double spinner wheels, walk away. Single wheels are prone to snapping. Double wheels—those are the ones where each corner has two wheels side-by-side—distribute the weight better.
Test them. They should glide. If it feels like you're dragging a shopping cart with a bad alignment, that feeling will only get worse when the bag is stuffed with 40 pounds of gear.
Real world stress tests and what to look for
Luggage expert Doug Dyment of OneBag.com has long advocated for the technical specs of bags, and while he’s a proponent of carry-on only, the principles of durability apply to sets. Look at the zippers. YKK zippers are the industry benchmark. If the manufacturer doesn't brag about the zipper brand, it’s probably a generic one that will split the first time a TSA agent gets aggressive with it.
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Internal organization also matters. A good suitcase set of 3 will have:
- A mesh divider on one side.
- Compression straps that actually pull tight (not those flimsy elastic ones).
- A small "wet pocket" for toiletries.
I’ve seen high-end sets from brands like Tumi that cost more than a used car, and while the "prestige" is there, the utility often plateaus after the $600 mark. You're paying for the warranty and the badge. For most travelers, a mid-range set from Travelpro—the brand actually used by most flight crews—is the smarter play. Their "Crew VersaPack" or "Platinum Elite" lines are legendary for a reason. They aren't pretty, but they're tanks.
What people get wrong about the "Big" bag
The 28-inch bag is a trap.
It’s easy to overpack it. Because it’s so cavernous, you’ll find yourself throwing in "just in case" items. Before you know it, you’re at the check-in counter, the scale hits 55 pounds, and you're suddenly wearing three jackets and stuffing socks into your pockets to avoid a $100 overweight fee.
Use the big bag for bulky items, not heavy ones. It’s for ski gear, puffy winter coats, or linens. If you fill a 28-inch suitcase with books or denim, you’re going to have a bad time.
The "Hidden" benefit of matching luggage
Security.
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It sounds counterintuitive, but having a distinctive suitcase set of 3 makes it much harder for someone to accidentally (or "accidentally") walk off with your bag at the carousel. If you have a bright cobalt blue set, and you see someone grabbing your medium bag while you’re holding the carry-on, you know immediately. It’s a visual anchor.
Longevity and the "Spare Parts" reality
Cheap sets are disposable. That’s the hard truth. If you buy a $90 suitcase set of 3 from a big-box store, you're basically renting it for three trips. One wheel will melt or a handle will jam.
Invest in a set that offers replaceable parts. This is where brands like Briggs & Riley shine—they have a "simple as that" lifetime warranty that even covers airline damage. Most people don't want to spend $1,000 on luggage, but if you're traveling four or five times a year, the cost-per-trip over ten years is negligible compared to buying a new cheap set every eighteen months.
How to actually pack the set
When you’re heading out, think about the "Matryoshka Strategy."
If you're going on a shopping trip to New York or Paris, pack your 20-inch carry-on as your main bag. Put it inside the 24-inch bag. Check the 24-inch bag. It’s light, it protects your smaller bag, and now you have an entire empty suitcase ready for whatever you buy. If you really go crazy, put both inside the 28-inch. You leave with one bag, you come back with three. It's a pro move that only works if you have a nested set.
Actionable steps for your next purchase
Don't just click "buy" on the first shiny set you see on Instagram. Do this instead:
- Check the weight of the empty bags. A hardshell large bag shouldn't weigh more than 10-11 lbs empty. If it’s 14 lbs, you’ve already lost 30% of your weight allowance to the bag itself.
- Verify the "Expansion" feature. A good suitcase set of 3 usually has a wraparound zipper that adds 2 inches of depth. Ensure this is on all three bags, not just the largest one.
- Look for the "Grab Handles." You need a handle on the top AND the side. Trying to pull a 50lb bag off a carousel with only a top handle is a recipe for a strained wrist.
- Color Choice. Black is invisible. It’s also what 90% of other people have. Go with a deep forest green, a navy, or even a textured grey. Something that stands out but doesn't look like a neon sign.
- Warranty check. If the warranty doesn't cover "carrier damage" (what the airlines do to it), the warranty is basically useless for the two larger bags.
Buying a set is a commitment to a specific way of moving through the world. It’s about admitting that sometimes you’re a light traveler, and sometimes you’re bringing the whole kitchen sink. Having the right tool for both—and the one in between—just makes the airport a lot less stressful. Stop mixing and matching. Get the set, nest them in your closet, and stop worrying about luggage for the next decade.