London Fog luggage is a licensed brand name, not an in house luggage maker. Iconix Brand Group owns the trademark. It licenses London Fog for luggage the same way it licenses London Fog outerwear, which is why collections at Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nordstrom and Dillard’s can look so different from one line to the next.
That licensing structure explains what shoppers actually get. A department store softside set is not built to the same standard as a premium hardside spinner, even though both wear the same nameplate. Some Macy’s listings, like the Regent collection, are labelled created for Macy’s, a sign the store partner commissioned that specific line.
London Fog also sells outerwear and apparel under the same license structure, which is why its luggage sits next to jackets and umbrellas in a Macy’s directory rather than in a standalone luggage aisle. Knowing that up front helps explain the inconsistent build quality across collections.
What London Fog luggage actually is
London Fog started as an outerwear brand in 1923. It expanded into luggage, home goods and accessories much later, under Iconix’s licensing model. The London Fog you buy today is manufactured and sold under license, with US distribution centered on department stores and the brand’s own site.
The lineup spans a wide range because of that. There are softside sets in classic plaid or houndstooth patterns, hardside spinners in solid colors, small underseat bags, and holdall style travel bags. Some buyers want the plaid softside look department stores are known for.
That buyer should expect a different fit and finish than the sleeker hardside pieces. Those hardside lines are aimed at size conscious, budget conscious travelers instead.
Sizes, materials and what reviews repeatedly say
Hardside pieces use ABS or polycarbonate blend shells, the same family of materials used across the budget hardside category. Softside models run in the 600 to 1200 denier polyester range. That spread covers everything from thin, occasional use fabric up to a heavier weave built for frequent trips.
Owner reviews on spinner wheels are mixed in a specific way. Reviewers consistently praise how smoothly the wheels glide across polished airport floors. Performance drops on rough sidewalks and cobblestone.
Quality control also looks inconsistent. Some owners report years of use with no issue. Others describe a wheel failing within a dozen flights.
Zippers draw a similar split. Coil zippers on London Fog bags generally resist snagging and full failure. The small plastic zipper pulls are a common weak point and tend to snap off with regular use.
Replacing a pull is cheap, but it is a recurring complaint worth knowing before you buy. Telescoping handles vary by collection too.
Metal handles on the higher end lines outlast the plastic handles on entry level sets. Metal does add a bit of weight. Reviewers describe plastic handles as working fine for a while, then failing suddenly instead of wearing down gradually.
Warranty and what it does not cover
Warranty terms differ by collection rather than applying the same way across the brand. Some higher end London Fog lines carry a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Budget collections typically carry a one to three year limited warranty instead.
Every version excludes airline damage, normal wear and misuse. Filing a claim generally means locating the model number first, and it is usually printed on an interior tag or the original packaging rather than embossed on the bag itself.
Register the product and keep your purchase receipt on hand. Confirm the current terms on the brand’s own site before you buy if warranty length matters to your decision.
Who London Fog luggage suits
Some shoppers want a recognizable department store name and a classic plaid or houndstooth look. Others want a set they can grab on sale at Macy’s or Kohl’s without hunting online. Both groups are the core audience for London Fog luggage.
That also includes travelers who mostly roll a bag across smooth terminal floors rather than fly every week. Frequent flyers who are hard on wheels and zippers may be better served elsewhere. So might buyers who want one warranty that reads the same across every collection.
For a similar plaid softside look with a strong reputation on frequent trips, compare the Delsey Paris Sky Max 2.0 21 inch softside carry-on spinner at a similar mid price point.
Travelers who fly often and want a proven lightweight option can look at the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21 inch softside carry-on spinner. Buyers shopping strictly by price have the Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds 20 inch, a budget hardside pick that is an inch shorter than most so it clears strict sizers.
Before checking any bag, confirm it fits your airline’s box with our carry on size checker. Department store softside sets often expand past the listed dimensions once the front pocket is packed.
If you are comparing brands more broadly, our luggage brand directory covers how London Fog stacks up against the rest of the department store field. Packing a softside set well also matters more here than on a hardside bag, so our guide to packing cubes versus compression bags is worth a look before your next trip.
London Fog compared with two Amazon listed alternatives
| Bag | Class | What reviews say | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Fog softside set | Softside, department store | Glides well on smooth floors, zipper pulls a known weak point, warranty varies by line | Classic plaid look, occasional flyers |
| Delsey Paris Sky Max 2.0 21 inch | Softside carry on spinner | Front laptop pocket, reviewers like the give of fabric over hardside | Buyers who want softside without the premium price |
| Travelpro Maxlite 5 21 inch | Softside carry on spinner | Reviewers buy it for weight capped airlines, expansion zip can push it over sizers | Frequent flyers watching bag weight |
| Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds 20 inch | Hardside carry on | Long running budget model, an inch shorter than most so it clears strict sizers | Budget buyers who fly on strict size airlines |
The bottom line
London Fog luggage is best understood as a licensed department store brand, not a specialty luggage maker. That shapes both its strengths and its weak points. You get a familiar name and pricing that regularly shows up on sale, paired with wheels and zipper pulls that reviewers call good enough rather than exceptional.
Confirm the warranty terms for your specific collection before you buy. Coverage ranges from one year to limited lifetime depending on the line.
If durability under frequent use matters more than the department store name, check our bag finder tool or the Amazon listed alternatives above before you decide.
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