Travelpro's suitcases are roughly 15% more expensive than Samsonite. The only important rule? You can fit a weeks worth of clothes in the Baseline Domestic, including some puffy gear for colder weather. Also, usually, their wheels are rubber-coated, which makes them roll smoother and quieter. One last long-term testing note for this luggage review: Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter founder Brian Lam carried a two-wheeled Baseline while traveling 150,000 miles and farther. The bulk of luggage brands and travelers have moved in this direction as well. But hard-sided cases have a clamshell design that splits in half, opening into two individual compartments, each with its own internal zippers and mesh linings; this means more bits to break or tear. Choose one of two height settings for the telescoping handle with a comfortable patented contour grip. Despite the plastic shielding, the exposed rails on the exterior could use some more protection. Unfortunately, it has been having stock issues, so we have removed its section from this guide. Its retractable and fixes in three various heights. A lifetime warranty also affords you additional peace of mind, while available colors include azure blue, black, dusty rose, mocha, and slate green. We then double-checked the measurable packable space of our top picks against the manufacturers listed volumes, by filling each piece of luggage with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls: 144 Ping-Pong balls weigh exactly half a pound, and each Ping-Pong ball represents (PDF) approximately 2 cubic inches. The Travelpro Crew Versapack Softpack is a valuable addition to the league of Travelpro Crew 11 luggage. As opposed to the fabric Maxlite 5, the hardside option comes with a TSA-approved combination lock, which is nice. The metal gets worn down across the nose from the abrasion and inevitably that single piece will fail, more often than not.. She began writing for TripSavvy in May2018. It always fits.. During testing, every hard-sided piece of luggage weve used has picked up more scuffs and marks in a few trips than some of our soft-sided suitcases have accumulated in years of long-term testing. Built for professional-grade dependability, this collection is the civilian version of the luggage flight c Well keep an eye on how the zippers of newer Away bags perform. Thats because theyve used good-quality bearings inside. The Aways polycarbonate feels similar to that used on more high-end (and significantly pricier) suitcases such as the Rimowa Essential Cabin, which is more than three times as expensive as the Away. You? Also, best built-in suiter I've ever used. Calpak Ambeur Carry-On: We preferred the sturdier polycarbonate shells over Calpaks blended ABS polycarbonate shell. The only real issue is that most of their models are sized larger than the size restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage with 4 Spinner Wheels, Lightweight Suitcase, Men and Women, Black, Checked-Medium 25-Inch A half pound lighter than max lite 4, this lightweight 25 inch spinner maximizes your packing power and is the ideal checked bag for medium to long trips $186.99 Buy On Amazon Sale 8,836 Reviews This carry-on spinner is part of Platinum Elite, Travelpro's sophisticated collection of suitcases. It also has several pockets on the exterior for storing all the items that youll need to access quickly, including a padded laptop pocket. Built similarly to a traditional clamshell suitcase, it's. Not really. Its wheels chattered over every surface except deep carpet. Meanwhile, the self-aligning spinner wheels will glide smoothly through even the busiest airports. The lightweight and maneuverable Maxlite 5 Expandable Spinner comes in first. Briggs & Riley Torq, Sympatico: While both of these Briggs & Riley lines seek to solve a different problem, neither are as impressive as the Baseline series. Travelpro has many types of warranties to cover the products in their lines, so the best way to find information about your suitcases warranty is to look for its specific product family on their website. The seams and corners were protected with reinforced materials, and the wheels and handles were attached with screws, so they could be easily swapped if anything goes wrong. Borrowing some features from the brand's carry-ons, this spinner takes it up a notch with a tip-resistant expansion system that offers up to 2 more inches of packing space; a tie-down system; accessory pockets; and a removable, TSA-approved bag for toiletries. However, after extensive testing and industry improvements in design and materials, we reversed our stance. On average, Travelpros suitcases are rated at 4.67 stars out of 5, which is a really good result. We also participate in other affiliate programs. Click to . On average, their luggage is 1.52 inches over this limit, which isnt a lot, but in the long term, you should expect to sometimes pay oversized baggage fees if you encounter a strict airline employee. Measuring 23 by 13.5 by 9 inches, the Elite carry-on bag (in either wheel configuration) hits the upper margins of actual carry-on size limits and could get you gate-checked by an overzealous agent. Originally, spinner models tended to use weaker wheels that were mounted to a basic inner and outer housing at the base of the bag, said Jason Gifford, who was the design manager for eBags when I spoke to him in 2018. A slightly smaller option is the Bold By Travelpro 25-Inch Expandable Rollaboard, which comes in black with stylish navy blue or purple accents. Its almost the same bag. The Travelpro Maxlite collection has been around for a while since the early 2000s. Travelpro Platinum Elite 22 Expandable Carry-On Rollaboard A bit more capacity and extra wheel durability This two-wheeled carry-on bag isn't as maneuverable but offers slightly more space,. It can increase by another 2 inches in size, courtesy of its expansion option, if you do some shopping while traveling. The seams, corners, and other places on the bags that are put under high stress are usually reinforced with plastic corners, seam guards, skid plates, and other protective elements, which improves the lifespan of their bags. The Travelpro Crew Versapack is offered in 20 and 21-inch sizes, and if youre planning of traveling internationally, definitely go with the smaller 20-inch carry-on, as its just below the most common carry-on size requirement 22 x 14 x 9 inches. But this comes at the cost of a large amount of packing space for a small amount of convenience. Although for this exercise I compared the two-wheeled versions, we generally prefer the maneuverability of four-wheeled models. Once packed, was the bag easy to tip over? She covers an array of hotels, products, and destinations for TripSavvy. Which Way is Luxury Hotel Pricing Going in 2023? ", Best Set: Platinum Elite Carry-on / Medium Check-in Hardside Luggage Set at Travelpro, "This set has taken everything a traveler needs into consideration.". Sometimes I check it. Its one of the best carry-on luggage options available today. Its fitted with two zippered pockets and another water-resistant one for storing dirty laundry. Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion. Other features include dual self-aligning spinner wheels, expandable zippers for an additional 25% packing space, and a USB port for charging all of your devices. How much room was left over? Theyve also included two pockets for organizing all the smaller items and a water-resistant one for packing your dirty clothes. Spinner wheels have become more robust since they first appeared, but if for whatever reason your wheels do break, you can swap them out yourself with Travelpros replacements. Although Briggs & Riley handles warranty-covered repairs at no extra cost, it does require you to pay to ship the bag to the company to carry out any repairs; it will ship your bag back to you for free. The Crew Versapack and Platinum Elite also have built-in suiter compartments, which keep the suits wrinkle-free. $375.99 $940.00 60% OFF Add to Compare 6 Color Flanking it are four outside buckle straps that block the zipper, which makes it difficult to get things in and out of the bag. However, the biggest problem with this bag was the abundance of zippers and internal compartments. Full review: Travelpro Platinum Elite 25-Inch Checked Suitcase Review. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. The Crew Expert has extra-thick polyurethane wheels. Conversations with these experts helped us understand things such as the function behind nylon and polyester, the difference in wheel-bearing designs, why alloys in telescoping handles matter, and more. Its comfortable to hold while also being less bulky than past Platinum handles. If youre often flying with fragile items, like small musical instruments, glassware, or wine bottles, it might be a better idea to get the Maxlite 5 hardside, as your items will be much better protected. Soft-sided suitcases tend to be great for over-packers, as they offer additional give and the exterior pockets allow you to pack last-minute essentials with ease. We asked all of that and more. The case gained massive popularity among airline pilots and crew, and eventually, Plath founded Travelpro to provide revolutionary luggage items for the general public. In size, its 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 in (58 x 37 x 24 cm), which means that its a bit over most carry-on size restrictions from airlines. If youd ask me, thats pretty advanced for a suitcase that costs a bit more than a hundred bucks. Their hardside models are built from polycarbonate, which is the most durable plastic used in luggage. Heres how we put each new bag through its paces. Well look at their suitcases durability, features, warranty terms, airline size compatibility, and more. This great-looking and relatively resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line componentsincluding wheels as smooth-rolling as any weve tested. Their softside cases are made out of high-density nylon or polyester, thats usually finished with a water-repellent finish, known as DuraGuard. 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