The Ultimate Showdown: Sterling Pacific vs Rimowa (Tested by a Pilot)

As an international airline pilot, I’ve had the opportunity to sling dozens of different brands of suitcases all over the world. Though I’ve loved certain brands (namely Briggs & Riley and Rimowa), a new competitor has risen to compete with the best and stake its claim: Sterling Pacific.

Sterling Pacific has boldly entered the market of high-end suitcases with a clear message – they want to offer the best luggage money can buy. When you open the box of a new Sterling Pacific travel case and pull off the protective cover, you might just fall back in flabbergastion. It’s in a class of its own. (Yes, I made up that word. It’s that beautiful.)

But in terms of practicality, usability, and quality, how does Sterling Pacific compare to Rimowa? How do these top-grade carryon suitcases compare in feel, durability, and storage? That’s what I set to find out.

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What makes the Sterling Pacific 40L Carryon Travel Case special?

When I first received the original Sterling Pacific 35L Travel Case, I immediately fell in love. So did many of my fellow colleagues, friends, and passengers at work. Not many people were familiar but Sterling Pacific, but they wanted to be.

The newly-released 40L Travel Case, introduced as a 4-wheel spinner, looks nearly identical but somehow proportionally more elegant. The slight increase in width in combination with having 4 small wheels instead of two large ones enhances its sleekness on the outside.

And that’s not to mention the many subtle improvements Sterling Pacific made to the inside of the caswe that drastically increase your quality of life and usability of the case.

How does the Sterling Pacific compare to Rimowa?

I’ll start by saying I’m a big fan of Rimowa, and find their suitcases to have a gorgeous, sleek, and classical look. They also are quite ergonomic, high-quality, and user-friendly. At first glance, Sterling Pacific and Rimowa seem quite similar.

• Both companies offer high-end aluminum carryon and checkin luggage, both in silver and black aluminum
• Both now offer lifetime warranties on their products
  • The Sterling Pacific warranty seems much more comprehensive
  • However, Rimowa has over 120 repair centers around the world
• Rimowa is a much larger company, with a larger variety of options.
  • The popularity of Rimowa means their suitcases are quite common, ordinary, and mainstream, while Sterling Pacific remains exclusive
• Sterling Pacific offers free shipping – Rimowa does not
• Sterling Pacific sources higher quality parts than Rimowa across their entire line of suitcases. For example, the leather Sterling Pacific uses comes from a small town (Chiampo) in Italy, while Rimowa uses plastic

When I made the original test, I already felt that the Sterling Pacific 35L Travel Case outmatched and outclassed Rimowa’s Original Cabin Carryon, though I also felt that, as with the Rimowa (same exact size), 35L was just a little small for my multi-week extended travels. Sterling Pacific’s announcement of a 40L suitcase purported to be the perfect upgrade.

So let’s get to the real fun. How did my experience with the updated Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case compared to Rimowa’s Original Carry-On?

How does the new Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case compared with Rimowa’s Aluminum Carry-On Bag?

	Sterling Pacific Travel 40L Case	Rimowa Aluminum Carryon Luggage
Body	5000 Series Aluminum Body with 1.5mm 5052 Aluminum Corners	“High-end” anodized aluminum
Measurements	57 x 36 x 23 cm	55 x 40 x 23cm
Volume	40L	35L
Handles	Italian Full-Grain Leather Handles from the small town of Chiampo in the Italian region of Veneto	Plastic Handles
Rivets	SAE 304 Stainless Steel Rivets  (Shear strength of 26,000 lbs/sq.in)	No information on rivets
Handle	Retractable Aluminum Trolley & A380 Aluminum Housing	Plastic Telescopic Handle
Locks	Double Combination Metal Latch Locks	Plastic Locks
Colors	Silver, Black	Silver, Green, Black, Titanium, Arctic Blue
Wheels	A380 Aluminum Wheel Housings	Ball-bearing hard plastic mounted wheels with cushioned axles
Weight	12 lbs	9.5 lbs

Having experienced Rimowa’s Aluminum Carry-On, I can tell you that it’s an excellent suitcase, and certainly a worthy upgrade from almost any other bag. That is, unless you’re comparing it to the Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case.

As you can see in the comparison above, the one word you see repeated often under Rimowa is ‘plastic’. If you don’t believe me, feel free to look on their own website at the ‘materials’ section.

At 12 pounds, however, the Sterling Pacific is heavier. But it’s for good reason – your precious cargo is safer. I’m not sure there’s even any plastic anywhere on the Sterling Pacific except maybe the wheels.

With the Rimowa, I’ve experienced a broken telescoping plastic handle and one of the two locks cracking. Rimowa’s aluminum is also noticeably thinner and less attractive than the 5000 series aluminum Sterling Pacific offers, and has been more prone to bending and dents.

The main upside of the Rimowa is that I’m less afraid of getting it scratched and damaged. Rimowa offers pretty travel stickers which can be used to cover scratches and make your suitcase stand out. The Sterling Pacific is a bit too beautiful, frankly, and I am tempted to keep the protective cover on while I travel (honestly). 

The biggest previous (and now rectified) downside of the 35L Sterling Pacific compared to the Rimowa carry-on was storage. Rimowa’s excellent flex divider is a great way to maximize packing, and I wished that the 35L had something similar. However, Sterling Pacific’s 40L case completely resolves this, as it now includes straps on one side and a compression pocket on the other.

So although Rimowa makes an excellent carryon suitcase, the 40L Travel Case Sterling Pacific offers is in another league. Rimowa doesn’t even come close to the quality and beauty of Sterling Pacific.

Conclusion

In the name of lifetime warranties, ultimate quality, and exclusivity, Rimowa has reigned for many years. But Sterling Pacific walked through the front door, and it has completed upended the market.

Looking for other useful guides from an airline pilot?

5 Suitcases Airline Pilots Use: Why You Need One
Ultimate Packing Guide You Need for Your Next Trip
The Ultimate Guide to Staying Fit and Healthy While Traveling (by a Pilot)

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