Quince vs. Away Luggage: Which brand should you buy?

Quince offers durable, minimalist luggage at a significantly more affordable price point, focusing on essential features and manufacturing transparency. Away positions itself as a premium travel brand, known for its iconic modern design, trendy colors, and smart features at a higher cost.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right luggage brand for your travels.

Quince: The Affordable Luxury Luggage

Quince is a direct-to-consumer brand built on offering high-quality essentials without the high-end markup. Their luggage collection caters to budget-conscious travelers who want a stylish, functional, and durable piece without spending a fortune. Quince’s philosophy revolves around transparency, using quality materials and simple designs to deliver exceptional value.

• Product mix: A focused selection of hard-shell spinner suitcases, including carry-on and checked sizes designed for function and durability.
• Price point: Quince is the clear winner on price. Carry-on suitcases typically range from $150 to $200, with a lightweight carry-on often priced at just $169.
• Quality & Materials: Luggage is constructed from a lightweight yet durable and impact-resistant polycarbonate hard shell. Features include silent 360-degree spinner wheels, a TSA-approved combination lock, and an interior compression system.
• Style & Aesthetic: The design is minimalist and understated. With clean lines and a core range of neutral colors like black, navy, and grey, Quince luggage has a timeless and versatile look that fits any travel setting.
• Return policy: An exceptionally generous 365-day return policy gives you an entire year to make sure you love your purchase.

Quince is the ideal choice for travelers who prioritize excellent value, a clean design, and a straightforward, reliable piece of luggage.

Shop Quince: quince.com

Away Travel: The Modern, Feature-Packed Luggage

Away established itself as the go-to brand for modern travelers who see their luggage as part of their style. Famous for sleek aesthetics and thoughtful features, Away appeals to frequent flyers and commuters who value innovative design and brand recognition. Their suitcases are positioned in the mid-to-luxury market, blending function with a strong fashion sensibility.

• Product mix: A wide range of suitcases in various sizes, from carry-ons to large checked bags, plus a full line of travel accessories like duffels, backpacks, and packing cubes.
• Price point: Away is priced at a premium. Carry-ons start around $275, with popular models like "The Bigger Carry-On" costing about $295 and larger checked bags exceeding $375.
• Quality & Materials: Built with a durable polycarbonate shell designed to hide scuffs. Key features include smooth 360-degree spinner wheels, heavy-duty zippers, a built-in TSA lock, an interior compression system, and some models feature a removable battery for charging devices.
• Style & Aesthetic: Modern, trendy, and highly recognizable. Away offers a wide array of bold, fashionable colors and frequent limited-edition runs, turning the suitcase into a style accessory.
• Return policy: A 100-day trial period allows you to test the luggage, but returns must be in unused condition.

Away serves the traveler who wants innovative features, a distinct modern look, and is willing to invest in a piece of luggage that makes a statement.

Shop Away: awaytravel.com

Quince vs. Away Comparison

Price Comparison

The price difference is one of the most significant factors separating Quince and Away. A carry-on from Quince costs around $169, while a similar-sized suitcase from Away will set you back $275-$295. This pattern continues across checked bags, with Quince consistently priced at nearly half the cost of its competitor.

Quince offers incredible value by using a direct-to-consumer model focused on essential quality without extra frills, passing the savings on to the customer. Away's higher price point is justified by its stronger brand recognition, trendy designs, robust marketing, and premium features like optional built-in chargers.

For sheer value, Quince is hard to beat. However, if brand prestige and specific features are important, many travelers find Away worth the higher investment.

Quality & Materials

Both brands use high-quality polycarbonate for their hard shells, a material known for its lightweight and impact-resistant properties. Where they differ is in the details. Away’s luggage often features a textured finish designed to minimize the appearance of scuffs and scratches, along with heavy-duty zippers and reinforced corners.

Quince provides a durable, smooth shell, reliable zippers, and silent spinner wheels that perform well for regular travel. For the average traveler, the quality is more than sufficient. For road warriors who travel for work every week, the enhanced durability of an Away suitcase may offer slightly better long-term resilience.

Style & Aesthetic

Your choice here comes down to personal taste. Quince champions a clean, minimalist design with a limited palette of classic, neutral colors. It's sophisticated, understated, and versatile enough for a business trip or a casual vacation.

Away leans into contemporary style. Its iconic design is instantly recognizable and available in a wide spectrum of trendy colors, including frequent limited edition collaborations. For shoppers who want their luggage to be a fashionable accessory that stands out at the baggage claim, Away takes the lead.

Sizing & Capacity

Both brands offer carry-on and checked sizes that comply with most airline regulations, ensuring you can find a suitcase for any trip length. Their interior compartments are also similar, with zippered dividers, compression pads, and laundry bags to help organize your packing.

Away has a slightly broader range of size options, including its popular "Bigger Carry-On," designed to maximize capacity while still fitting in most overhead bins. If you're an expert packer looking to make use of every last inch, Away's varied sizes could be a deciding factor for you.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both Quince and Away are committed to improving their environmental impact. Quince places a strong emphasis on supply chain transparency, ensuring its factories provide fair wages and a safe working environment. They utilize eco-friendly materials and packaging wherever possible.

Away has also taken steps toward sustainability by incorporating recycled materials into its products and packaging and partnering with organizations to offset carbon emissions. However, Quince's business model is more deeply rooted in material and manufacturing transparency.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right luggage depends entirely on your travel habits, budget, and personal style. Both brands offer excellent products, but they are built for different consumer priorities.

Choose Quince if:

• You're on a budget but refuse to compromise on core quality and durability.
• You prefer a timeless, minimalist aesthetic over trendy designs.
• An ultra-generous 365-day return policy gives you complete peace of mind.
• Shopping a brand with exceptional manufacturing transparency is important to you.

Choose Away if:

• You're a frequent traveler and view the higher cost as an investment in premium durability or you travel for business on a regular basis.
• You want your luggage to be a modern style statement and love having trendy color choices.
• Smart features, like the textured shell that hides scratches or the built-in charger, are a top priority for you.
• You value brand recognition and are drawn to its cult-like following among modern nomads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quince or Away luggage cheaper?

Quince is significantly cheaper. A Quince carry-on costs about $169, while a similar bag from Away is priced around $295. This dramatic price difference of about 50% makes Quince the better option for consumers who do not want to spend too much money on luggage.

Which brand has better quality, Quince or Away?

Both offer good quality with durable polycarbonate shells. Away has a slight advantage for very frequent flyers, thanks to details like a textured finish, heavy-duty zippers, and reinforced corners, but for the average traveler, the quality provided by Quince is more than adequate.

Are Quince and Away carry-ons approved for most airlines?

Yes, the standard carry-on sizes for both Quince and Away are designed to meet the cabin baggage regulations of nearly all major airlines. However, it is always recommended to check your airline's specific regulations before your flight.

Which company offers a better return policy?

Quince boasts an outstanding return policy. They give customers a generous 365 days to return any purchases from their e-commerce store, while Away provides customers with a 100-day trial period, but returns are only accepted if the product has not been used before.

Does Quince Luggage have similar features like the ones provided by Away?

While both have TSA-approved locks, 360-degree wheels, and interior compression systems, a removable battery for your device, offered by Away, is not among Quince's features.

Which luggage brand is considered more stylish?

This is entirely dependent on individual preferences. Quince offers a sleek and understated, minimalist aesthetic, whereas Away produces items with bold and trendy colors that serve as a fashion statement for young adults and their need for attention.

Is Away Luggage worth the price tag?

For frequent flyers and people who prioritize modern aesthetics and features, yes. The extra cost pays for some additional features and a very modern aesthetic, but it is not an unavoidable choice.

Are Quince and Away sustainable and responsible corporations?

Both corporations have commitments in place for the environment, and Quince's business model is deeply rooted in material and manufacturing transparency.