Rimowa Review: Aluminium Cases, Polycarbonate and Cabin Luggage

What Rimowa sells

Rimowa sells premium suitcases in two material families: aluminium, in the Original line with its signature grooved shell, and polycarbonate, in lines including Essential, which uses the same grooved design in a lighter, less expensive material. Sizes run from cabin cases through medium and large checked cases to trunks, plus backpacks, duffels and small accessories in matching designs. Colours include classic silver aluminium, black and a rotating set of colours and limited editions, with collaborations with fashion and design brands that produce collectible versions.

Rimowa is a German company founded in Cologne in 1898, and it is majority-owned by LVMH, the luxury group, which acquired it in 2016. That ownership explains the positioning: Rimowa is sold as a luxury design object in its own shops and premium department stores, not as a functional commodity, and its marketing leans on design, travel culture and celebrity use. The grooved shell, originally an aircraft-inspired design from the 1950s, is the brand's signature and its main selling point.

Aluminium versus polycarbonate, dents and weight

Aluminium Rimowa cases use a magnesium-aluminium alloy shell that is rigid, durable in structure, and prone to dents and scratches — the shell will mark with baggage handling, and owners divide between those who see that as character and those who see it as damage. Polycarbonate lines are lighter, more flexible, and less prone to visible denting, though they scratch as well, and they cost substantially less than aluminium while keeping the grooved look. Both families use spinner wheels, telescopic handles and divided interiors, with a zippered section and a compression section on most cases.

Weight is the practical check: an aluminium cabin case can weigh several kilograms empty, which eats into a strict cabin allowance, while a polycarbonate case leaves more allowance for packing. Cabin size also needs checking against the airlines flown, since Rimowa's cabin cases vary slightly by line, and wheels and handles count toward the limit. The lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects under its terms, with a repair service through Rimowa shops, but cosmetic dents from use are not a defect.

Who it is for

Rimowa suits a design-conscious frequent flyer who wants a recognisable, premium case and accepts denting and weight, and it suits a buyer who values lifetime warranty and a global repair network. It suits someone who travels with a cabin case as a statement piece, and it suits a collector drawn to limited editions and collaborations.

Who should skip it

Skip Rimowa if budget matters, since mass-market polycarbonate cases cost a fraction of the price, and skip aluminium if pristine appearance matters, since dents are inevitable. Skip it if weight is critical — a strict cabin allowance favours a light polycarbonate case — and skip limited editions unless the premium is worth it for collectibility rather than function. Check the warranty terms for cosmetic damage before buying.

How to choose before you buy

Choose material first, because it determines price, weight and denting. Polycarbonate gives the grooved look at a lower price and weight, and it is the rational choice for most buyers; aluminium is the choice only if the original material and its prestige matter enough to accept dents and weight.

Then choose size against the airlines actually flown, including wheels, and compare the empty weight against the baggage allowance. If design prestige and lifetime service justify a large premium, Rimowa earns it; if they do not, a mass-market grooved or plain polycarbonate case will carry the same luggage for far less.

Frequently asked questions