Aluminium Luggage Singapore: A Buyer's Guide

Disclosure: Vox Journey makes the VOX Magnesium Aluminium Voyage Box, one of the cases compared on this page. Every figure here is what each brand publishes on its own Singapore site, and a dash in the table means that figure is not published on that product page.

Full aluminium shell vs aluminium frame

Two very different cases get called “aluminium”, and the difference decides almost everything about how they behave and what they cost.

• Full aluminium-alloy shell. The case body itself is metal. This is the premium, hardware-tool kind of case: it dents rather than cracks, it feels dense and solid, and it ages into a patina. It is also the heaviest and most expensive construction. VOX’s case uses a magnesium-aluminium alloy with a fine-groove design and reinforced corners; IUIGA and Tumi sell full-aluminium cases too, at the value and luxury ends.
• Aluminium frame. Here the shell is polycarbonate or ABS, and the aluminium is only the frame the two halves close onto, plus trim. These cases are lighter and cheaper, and they give the look of metal without the metal’s weight. They are a different product from a full-aluminium shell, so it is worth knowing which one a listing is describing before you compare prices.

One more thing to check: not every case called “aluminium” has an aluminium shell at all. Some lines sold under an “aluminium” name describe their body, in their own product FAQs, as a polycarbonate and ABS blend with aluminium styling. Read the shell material, not the product name.

What aluminium is good at, and what it isn’t

It dents instead of cracking. A hard knock that might crack a polycarbonate shell leaves a dent in aluminium, and the case keeps working. The trade-off is that the dents stay. Our own warranty page says it plainly: “Scuffs, scratches and dents are what a check-in bag is for — an aluminium shell is meant to wear.” Those marks are treated as airline handling wear to raise with your carrier, not as a manufacturing fault — on the VOX case the 5-year warranty covers faults in the shell and wheels, not handling scuffs.

It is heavier. Our own two 28-inch cases show it like for like: the VOX magnesium-aluminium case is 5.75 kg empty and the moulded VOX RPET case is 5.15 kg. At the heavy end of aluminium, Tumi’s 19 Degree Aluminum Large Checked is 7.3 kg (IUIGA does not list a weight on its product page). Every kilo of case is a kilo you cannot pack, so it is a real trade for the toughness.

It costs more. A metal shell and frame are dearer to make than a moulded plastic one, which is why a full-aluminium case in Singapore starts at S$299.90 (IUIGA’s smallest size) while budget plastic cases sit around S$80–200.

Aluminium vs polycarbonate

If you are choosing between materials rather than brands:

• Polycarbonate is lighter, cheaper and flexes under impact then springs back. It is the default for most travellers and the bulk of the mid-market — see our wider best luggage in Singapore guide for that field.
• Aluminium takes corner knocks as dents rather than cracks and feels premium, at the cost of weight and price.

VOX does not make a polycarbonate case. Its non-metal option is the VOX RPET 28-inch, a moulded recycled-PET case that is 5.15 kg and expands 5 cm — lighter than the aluminium case and able to grow on the way home. If you are weighing the two VOX cases against each other, we compare them in aluminium or recycled RPET: which 28-inch case to buy.

Aluminium cases sold in Singapore, compared

Prices checked 2 October 2026. Non-VOX figures are read from each brand’s own Singapore website on that date; a dash means the figure is not published on that product page. IUIGA’s product page lists no dimensions in centimetres and no empty weight; its flap-compartment case is S$499.90 at 28 inches (S$349.90 at 20). Tumi’s Large Checked is S$2,350 or S$2,450 depending on finish. VOX figures are from the product page and our published policies.

The three cases bracket the aluminium market here. IUIGA is the value end: a Singapore full-aluminium case from S$299.90 in its smallest size, S$499.90 at 28 inches, with a 2-year limited warranty and free next-day delivery over S$88. Tumi’s 19 Degree Aluminum is the luxury end at S$2,350–2,450 for the Large Checked, aircraft-grade aluminium and heavier at 7.3 kg. The VOX Magnesium Aluminium 28-inch sits between them at S$590 founders’ / S$690 retail, with a 5-year warranty on the shell and wheels and free delivery in Singapore in 1–3 business days. The other famous full-aluminium name, Rimowa’s Original, is the status pick; we have not quoted a price for it here; we look at whether the badge is worth it in is Rimowa worth it, or are you paying for the badge.

Frequently asked questions

Are aluminium suitcases worth it?

It depends on what you want from a case. Aluminium earns its price if you value a shell that dents instead of cracks, a premium metal feel, and a case that wears its travels rather than hiding them. It is the wrong choice if low weight or lowest price matters most, because the metal adds both over polycarbonate. For many Singapore travellers a mid-priced case such as the VOX Magnesium Aluminium 28-inch (S$590 founders’ / S$690 retail) balances the two; a full-luxury aluminium case such as the Tumi 19 Degree Aluminum runs past S$2,000.

Does aluminium luggage dent?

Yes, and that is the trade-off. Aluminium absorbs a knock as a dent where a plastic shell might crack, and the dents stay. Vox Journey’s own warranty page puts it plainly: “Scuffs, scratches and dents are what a check-in bag is for — an aluminium shell is meant to wear.” Those marks are treated as airline handling wear to raise with your carrier, not a manufacturing fault.

Is aluminium luggage heavy?

Heavier than plastic, yes. Like for like, the VOX magnesium-aluminium 28-inch is 5.75 kg empty and the moulded VOX RPET 28-inch is 5.15 kg; Tumi’s 19 Degree Aluminum Large Checked is 7.3 kg (IUIGA does not list a weight on its product page). Every kilo of case is a kilo you cannot pack, so weigh it against the durability you get.

Aluminium or polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate is lighter, cheaper and flexes then springs back, which suits travellers who prize low weight and a lower price. Aluminium takes corner knocks as dents rather than cracks and feels premium, at the cost of weight and price. If you want a non-metal VOX case, the RPET 28-inch is 5.15 kg and expands 5 cm, though it is a moulded recycled-PET case rather than polycarbonate.

Can I see the VOX case before buying?

Yes. Email hello@voxjourney.com first and we will arrange a time. VOX is based at a working unit at 67 Ubi Crescent, #01-06 Techniques Centre, Singapore 408560. It is a light-industrial address rather than a shop, and opening hours are not published, so please email before coming down.

See the VOX cases

• VOX Magnesium Aluminium 28-inch — the magnesium-aluminium alloy case in this comparison
• VOX RPET 28-inch — the recycled-PET case that expands 5 cm
• See both 28-inch cases in the shop