I’ve tried quite a few inexpensive luggage sets over the years, and many times I walk away thinking, “Okay… this works, but I can feel why it’s cheaper.”

With the Apelila 4-Piece Luggage Set, that feeling never came.

From the moment I unboxed the set—which comes in 16, 20, 24, and 28-inch sizes with a telescopic handle, TSA lock, expandable main compartment, and smart interior design—I realized it punches way above its weight in its price range. The style is stylish, the materials seem solid, and the extra accessories make it feel like a complete travel solution rather than just a set of empty shells.

After a couple of real trips on domestic flights, rolling it over uneven pavements, hotel lobbies, and stuffing it into overhead bins here is my full report.

Apelila 4 Piece Luggage Sets for Travel, Hardshell Suitcase with Spinner Wheels (18/20/24/28 Inch), Lightweight Carry On & Checked Luggage for Family Vacation (Shiny Black)

4.3 / 5 ((1,721))

Design & First Impressions

Vertical stripe pattern. You notice it right off. And it’s not just for looks – though I’ll admit, the sleek ribbed design makes the luggage look far more premium than you might expect for the price.

That subtle pattern serves a practical purpose too.

On flat-surface ABS luggage, hard dents show up quickly. The ribbed design spreads impact over a larger area, so there are fewer stress points. After some rough handling with the 20-inch carry-on (yes, I do this to all the budget luggage), I found it had no visible damage.

I tested the gunmetal grey variant, but the more colorful light pink, rose gold, wave black color options are real crowd-pleasers too based on user reviews.

One more detail I like: the corners have special reinforced plates, which gives it a much more “travel-ready” look while also protecting against weak-point damage.

Build Quality & Materials

Apelila used a hybrid ABS + PC hardshell. In the entry-level category, that is a welcome surprise. Pure ABS can be brittle, and while PC gives a bit of give and impact protection.

Taken together, the shell feels:

Rigidity: More rigid than the typical ABS suitcase
Flexibility: A little pliable when squeezed, but no obvious weak points
Scratch resistance: The ribbed pattern seems to deflect scratches, which is unexpected
Water resistance: I took the full set out on a rainy day, and water literally rolled right off the bags. They are not waterproof at the zipper line, but otherwise are highly water-resistant.

I also put the 20-inch cabin bag under a fully loaded backpack to see how it would hold up. No deformation, the grooves help maintain structural integrity even under pressure.

Capacity & Packing

The 4-piece set seems to cover every scenario:

16-inch underseat: Daily essentials, work items, even a toddler’s bag
20-inch cabin bag: Weekend trips
24-inch checked: 4–7 day holidays
28-inch checked: Long trips or family packing

The thing that impressed me most is how much the rounded corners and extra vertical depth add to usable capacity.

Inside, each suitcase has:

Zippered divider on one side
Elastic cross-straps
Zippered middle divider, which helps keep toiletries and delicates in place
A couple of smaller pockets for accessories
Smooth interior lining

One Amazon user mentioned the middle divider helped clothes from shifting, and I found the same. It also made the packing experience itself feel more organized because items stay upright even when the lid is opened.

In my own packing test, I was able to fit:

1 week of clothing
2 pairs of shoes
Toiletry bag
1 packing cube of tech cables
Light jacket

…all into the 24-inch suitcase with room to spare.

Mobility & Wheels

Rolling performance is key to me because this is where most budget luggage fail.

Apelila surprised me.

The bag has 360° silent spinner wheels with a recessed design. Meaning the wheels sit slightly inside the frame, which protects them from being battered by baggage handlers and carousel scuffs.

Rolling Test Results:

Smoothness: Very smooth rolling on tile and airport floors
Noise: Almost silent
Rough surfaces: Pretty stable and smooth even on bumpy pavement
Durability: After multiple bumps and drops, the wheels never wobbled or loosened

One older user review mentioned a wheel that came a little stiff. But after a bit of WD-40 it rolled just fine. My set did not have that issue.

The telescopic handle extends smoothly, with a comfortable grip. Lateral twisting is kept to a minimum for a budget set, and the handle height lock points did not wobble.

Apelila 4 Piece Luggage Sets for Travel, Hardshell Suitcase with Spinner Wheels (18/20/24/28 Inch), Lightweight Carry On & Checked Luggage for Family Vacation (Shiny Black)

4.3 / 5 ((1,721))

TSA Locks

All 4 pieces have built-in TSA approved combination locks. I tested the reset function, and it is simple and quick (took me less than 10 seconds to set a new 4-digit code)

The zippers lock into each other firmly, and compared to cheaper luggage where the zipper heads feel flimsy, these locks are much more solid.

Built-in security is especially useful for:

Solo travelers who value peace of mind
Students traveling for college
Families checking bags
Hotel stays where you leave bags unattended
If you usually buy external locks, you’ll appreciate that the built-in solution eliminates that extra hassle completely.

Airline Compatibility

This is clearly a set designed for real-world airline use.

If you compare to standard airline size rules:

16-inch underseat will fit under most seats
20-inch meets almost all airline cabin limits
24-inch and 28-inch are typical checked sizes

I put the 20-inch in the overhead bin of a low-cost airline and it slid in without needing to rotate or compress it.

Bonus note: The underseat bag was a lifesaver for flights with strict personal-item sizing rules.

Durability In The Real World

After two trips and several deliberate “stress tests”, here is what I noticed:

What held up surprisingly well:

Shell did not dent or crack
Wheels stayed smooth
Handles never loosened
Locks work reliably
Zipper heads feel solid
No scratches beyond normal tiny scuffs

Areas to monitor over time:

The 24” and 28” suitcases are heavy duty, but like any ABS/PC luggage, the corners will show scuffs over time.
The zippers are good but not top-tier YKK – still, they never jammed on me during tests
Ratings for durability are up to typical budget luggage and on par with some mid-range brands.

Customer Reviews Highlights

I scanned through dozens of real user reviews, and the sentiment overall is overwhelmingly positive.

Here are some of the best points from verified buyers:

Color Matches: The color is exactly like the picture and very sturdy.
Capacity: What usually takes 3 bags to pack, I got into the bigger suitcase.
Durability: LOVE this luggage!!! I have had it for a couple years now. Very durable and sturdy.
Checked Baggage: Didn’t get scuffed or scratched at all after 4 flights.
Accessory Surprise: Many buyers reported extra hanging bags or packing organizers included at no extra cost, which was a delight

Lowest complaints I saw:

One stiff wheel (easy fix)
Shipping cost for 1 buyer
But no consistent chronic quality issues that repeated often.

Compare To Similar Luggage Sets

For those who have tested or browsed entry-level luggage sets, you’ll notice many cheaper options lean on pure ABS, lower-quality wheels, and missing TSA locks. Compared to those sets:

Apelila offers better materials (ABS+PC)

More usable interior space
Better wheel design
Longer-term customer satisfaction

It is not trying to compete with high-end Samsonite or Delsey, but against its own price point, it is easily among the better choices.

Ideal For

To keep things real—this set is ideal for:

Budget-conscious travelers – Want a set that looks a lot nicer than it costs.
College students – Light pink and rose gold are especially popular, plus it has good durability = great for repeated dorm moves
Families – Having different sizes can help split items among kids, parents, or travel types
Occasional travelers – If you only take 1–4 trips per year, this set will last you a long time
Gift buyers – Style and color options make it easy, yet impressive as a present

Not Ideal For

Frequent business travelers flying weekly
Travelers who prefer the convenience of expandable fabric luggage
Those wanting ultra-premium wheels (like Hinomoto)

This is a well-built set, but it is in the accessible price range, so match your expectations to that.

The Verdict

I gave the Apelila 4-Piece Luggage Set a thorough test and I can confidently say:

It is one of the best-value luggage sets you can buy online right now.

Mixing excellent design, high quality ABS+PC shell, smooth spinner wheels, TSA locks, and smart interior layout, it truly feels several steps above most typical budget luggage sets.

If you are looking for a stylish, functional, and durable luggage set without having to pay mid-range prices, the Apelila set will pleasantly surprise you.