Rimowa Essential Cabin vs Rimowa Trunk Plus

Rimowa Essential Cabin vs Rimowa Trunk Plus: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Rimowa Essential Cabin if you want light. Buy the Rimowa Trunk Plus instead if you want big checked.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated November 6, 2026 1 min read

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Buy

Rimowa Essential Cabin

Best for Light Rimowa

Typically $800–$950

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Buy

Rimowa Trunk Plus

Best for Checked aluminum

Typically $1,700–$2,000

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

Feature	Rimowa Essential Cabin	Rimowa Trunk Plus
Verdict	Buy	Buy
Typical price	$800–$950	$1,700–$2,000
Best for	Light Rimowa	Checked aluminum
Key feature	Polycarbonate carry-on	Large checked trunk
Shell	Polycarbonate	Aluminum
Size	55 x 39 x 23 cm	80 x 41 x 40 cm
Weight	3.2 kg	7.4 kg
Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime
Where to buy	Check Price Paid link	Check Price Paid link

Main differences

Shell

Rimowa Essential Cabin: Polycarbonate; Rimowa Trunk Plus: Aluminum.

Size

Rimowa Essential Cabin: 55 x 39 x 23 cm; Rimowa Trunk Plus: 80 x 41 x 40 cm.

Weight

Rimowa Essential Cabin: 3.2 kg; Rimowa Trunk Plus: 7.4 kg.

Warranty

Rimowa Essential Cabin: Lifetime; Rimowa Trunk Plus: Lifetime.

Why buy it

Rimowa Essential Cabin: polycarbonate carry-on; Rimowa Trunk Plus: large checked trunk.

Made for

Rimowa Essential Cabin: light Rimowa; Rimowa Trunk Plus: checked aluminum.

Usual price

Rimowa Essential Cabin: $800–$950; Rimowa Trunk Plus: $1,700–$2,000.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Rimowa Essential Cabin if you

you want light
value light

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Choose the Rimowa Trunk Plus if you

you want big checked
value durable

Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best luxury luggage.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Rimowa · Luxury luggage

Rimowa Original Cabin

Buy it if you want an iconic, long-lasting case.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Aluminum icon
Typical price: $1,450–$1,700

Pros

Iconic
Durable

Cons

Dents

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Rimowa · Luxury luggage

Rimowa Classic Cabin

Buy it if you want classic.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Classic aluminum
Typical price: $1,600–$1,900

Pros

Beautiful
Durable

Cons

Heavy

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Rimowa Essential Cabin or Rimowa Trunk Plus: which should I buy?

Buy the Rimowa Essential Cabin if you want light. Buy the Rimowa Trunk Plus instead if you want big checked.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Rimowa Essential Cabin usually costs $800–$950 and the Rimowa Trunk Plus $1,700–$2,000. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Rimowa Essential Cabin or Rimowa Trunk Plus: the full reasoning

Rimowa Essential Cabin or Rimowa Trunk Plus? Both are strong luxury luggage, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Rimowa Essential Cabin if you want light, and buy the Rimowa Trunk Plus if you want big checked. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Rimowa Essential Cabin wins on polycarbonate carry-on. The Rimowa Trunk Plus answers with large checked trunk. Shell: Polycarbonate on the Rimowa Essential Cabin, Aluminum on the Rimowa Trunk Plus. Size: 55 x 39 x 23 cm on the Rimowa Essential Cabin, 80 x 41 x 40 cm on the Rimowa Trunk Plus. Weight: 3.2 kg on the Rimowa Essential Cabin, 7.4 kg on the Rimowa Trunk Plus. Warranty: Lifetime on the Rimowa Essential Cabin, Lifetime on the Rimowa Trunk Plus.

Reasons to buy the Rimowa Essential Cabin

Light, Fair Rimowa. What to accept: scuffs. Usual price: $800–$950. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Rimowa Essential Cabin review.

Reasons to buy the Rimowa Trunk Plus

Durable. What to accept: heavy. Usual price: $1,700–$2,000. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Rimowa Trunk Plus review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best luxury luggage has every other piece with its own call. Shell: aluminum dents but lasts decades; polycarbonate is lighter and flexes; vulcanized fiberboard is classic but heavy.

Also consider the Rimowa Original Cabin ($1,450–$1,700): grooved aluminum carry-on. Buy it if you want an iconic, long-lasting case.

Also consider the Rimowa Classic Cabin ($1,600–$1,900): leather-handled aluminum. Buy it if you want classic.

Buyer tip

Luxury luggage warranties matter more than looks: register the case with the brand after you buy.

Buying in Europe: European prices include VAT, and many Italian and French makers of sunglasses, gloves and leather goods sell for less at home than in the US. Check the warranty and repair service before buying across borders.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.