RIMOWA vs SPRITZ Bourdain: Is the Aluminium Worth Half the Price? (2026)

If you have been eyeing a RIMOWA aluminium cabin and flinching at the price, this is the comparison you actually want: RIMOWA against the SPRITZ Bourdain, both full aluminium, one at roughly half the price of the other. The short version: RIMOWA gives you the heritage icon, the resale value and a lifetime guarantee. The Bourdain gives you the same full aluminium build, the zipperless frame and the airport-proof feel, for about half. Here is where each one earns its keep.

In this article

• RIMOWA vs Bourdain: the short answer
• What you actually pay for with RIMOWA
• Where the Bourdain matches it
• Where RIMOWA still wins
• Which one should you buy?
• FAQ

RIMOWA vs Bourdain: the short answer

Both are genuine aluminium cases, which already puts them in a different class from the polycarbonate cases dressed up with metal trim. The difference is price and pedigree. A RIMOWA aluminium cabin sits around $2,000 to $2,300 AUD and comes with decades of heritage and a lifetime guarantee. The Bourdain carry-on is $1,124 AUD, with free worldwide shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want the icon and the resale, pay for RIMOWA. If you want the aluminium build and feel without the icon tax, the Bourdain is built for you.

Carry-on, AUD	SPRITZ Bourdain	RIMOWA Original / Classic
Shell	Full aluminium-magnesium alloy	Full anodised aluminium
Price (approx)	$1,124	~$2,000 to $2,300
Closure	Aluminium frame, zipperless	Aluminium frame, zipperless
Lock	Built-in TSA lock	Built-in TSA lock
Wheels	360 double spinners	360 spinners
Warranty	30-day money-back	Lifetime guarantee
Resale value	Low, it is a newer brand	Strong, holds value well
Shipping	Free worldwide	Varies by region

Prices shown in AUD and are approximate. Check current pricing on each brand's site before buying.

What you actually pay for with RIMOWA

RIMOWA earns a lot of its price honestly. The anodised aluminium shell, the grooved design and the lifetime guarantee are real, and the brand has decades of proof that these cases last. But it is worth understanding what has happened to the number. Since LVMH acquired RIMOWA in 2017, prices have risen sharply, by roughly 40 to 60 percent across the range and, on some models, more. A Classic Cabin now runs around $2,225 AUD in-store, and the most iconic silver configurations often sit on waitlists.

So when you buy a RIMOWA today, you are paying for two things: an excellent aluminium suitcase, and a luxury brand. The suitcase part is genuinely good. The brand part is where the Bourdain asks a simple question: do you need the logo, or do you need the case?

Where the Bourdain matches it

On the things that make an aluminium case an aluminium case, the Bourdain goes toe to toe. It uses a rigid aluminium-magnesium alloy shell rated to hold 100kg, closed with an aluminium frame rather than a zipper. That zipperless construction matters, because the zipper is the most common failure point on a hard case, and a sealed frame closes tighter and more securely. You also get a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, quiet double 360 spinner wheels, and a 7-series aluminium telescopic handle. Pick it up, roll it, close it, and it does what a good aluminium case is supposed to do.

The price gap is the headline. At $1,124 AUD for the carry-on, the Bourdain is roughly half a comparable RIMOWA aluminium cabin. It ships free worldwide and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can put it through an actual trip and send it back if it does not hold up. It was designed by our founder Ash, who spent years as a TV producer living out of a suitcase across different countries, which is the exact kind of use it was built to survive.

Where RIMOWA still wins

This is where honesty matters, because RIMOWA does keep some genuine advantages. First, the warranty: RIMOWA backs its cases with a lifetime guarantee, where the Bourdain offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you keep luggage for a decade or more, that long-term cover is a real point in RIMOWA's favour. Second, resale and heritage: a RIMOWA holds its value on the secondhand market and carries a status the Bourdain, as a newer brand, simply does not yet. Third, track record: RIMOWA has decades of proven durability behind it. The Bourdain is built to the same material standard, but it has not been on the market for thirty years, and that history has value to some buyers.

If those three things, lifetime warranty, resale value and heritage, are what you are buying, RIMOWA is worth the premium and you should get one. The Bourdain is not trying to convince you otherwise. It is for the buyer who wants the aluminium case, not the collector's item.

Which one should you buy?

Buy RIMOWA if you want the icon, the lifetime guarantee and the resale value, and the price is not a barrier. It is a superb case and a genuine status object, and there is nothing wrong with wanting that. Buy the SPRITZ Bourdain if what you actually want is a full aluminium carry-on, the zipperless frame, the solid feel, the airport-proof shell, without paying roughly double for a logo. Same material class, half the price, free shipping, and 30 days to change your mind.

Want the wider view? We put both of these up against July, the polished polycarbonate option, in our three-way aluminium carry-on comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cheaper alternative to RIMOWA that is still real aluminium?

Yes. The SPRITZ Bourdain is a full aluminium-magnesium alloy case with a zipperless frame and built-in TSA lock at $1,124 AUD for the carry-on, roughly half a comparable RIMOWA aluminium cabin. Unlike many cheaper options, it is genuinely aluminium, not polycarbonate with metal trim.

Is RIMOWA worth the price?

If you value heritage, resale value and a lifetime guarantee, yes. RIMOWA's aluminium build is excellent and holds its value. Just know that since LVMH acquired the brand in 2017, prices have risen 40 to 60 percent or more, so a large share of the cost is now brand cachet rather than pure engineering.

Does the SPRITZ Bourdain hold up like a RIMOWA?

It is built to the same material standard, a rigid aluminium-magnesium shell rated to hold 100kg with a zipperless frame. What it does not have is RIMOWA's decades-long track record or lifetime warranty. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee instead, so you can test it on a real trip before committing.

Does RIMOWA have better resale value?

Yes. RIMOWA holds its value strongly on the secondhand market and its collaborations can trade well above retail. A newer brand like SPRITZ does not carry that resale premium, so if reselling later matters to you, that favours RIMOWA.

Is aluminium or polycarbonate better for a carry-on?

Aluminium is more rigid, feels more premium and uses a secure zipperless frame, but it weighs more and shows scratches over time. Polycarbonate is lighter and cheaper and hides wear. Both the Bourdain and RIMOWA are aluminium, so this comes down to price and brand rather than material.