We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. Travel totes are your best bets for that weekend escape, and the Travelpro Maxlite 5 tote is one of the best travel totes that youll find. Weve tested the Away Carry-On for six years, traveling with it ourselves across the country and lending several units to testers and frequent travelers to see how they enjoyed using the bag. On the bottom, its fitted with four smooth-rolling, rubber-coated spinner wheels, which roll very quietly. Usually, everyone is really satisfied with their purchase. Thats because their luggage is comparable in quality with premium-class brands, like Tumi, Briggs & Riley, and Away. Genius Pack G3 Carry-On: Its a very specific kind of traveler who will value the hyper-organization and chambered packing system built into the Genius Pack. The cloth handles are reinforced with thick nylon bands, the tubes of the extending handle are wider and stronger, and even the rubber edging along the seams of the bag is thicker. You can further organize your belongings using the interior hold-down straps (all equipped with anti-break buckles) and zippered mesh pocket in the sidewall of the bag. Videos for related products. For example, did this bag appear bulkier and more likely to get a person gate-checked? Travelpro is a luggage brand thats popular among frequent travelers and flight crews mainly because they make luggage that lasts. The 100 percent polyester material is strengthened by a water-repellent coating, which held up beautifully during our waterproof testing. It provides ample space at 22 x 18 x 11.5 incheswith an additional 2 inches if you use the main compartments expansion feature. 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. Travelpros luggage prices vary quite a bit, between 120$-400$, depending on which model you choose. Their average price is so high due to their higher-end models, such as the Travelpro Platinum Elite and the Travelpro Crew Versapack. Our former runner-up pick, the Travelpro Crew 11 21 Expandable Spinner, has been discontinued. Even though this doesnt make the fabric completely waterproof, its usually able to withstand light rain without letting any moisture inside the bag. So I compared a limited-edition professional-grade suitcase, Travelpros Crew Expertwhich the company is now selling to regular peoplewith our top pick for carry-on luggage (as well as an actual flight-crew bag) to see how it stacked up. Plus, its really light, weighing a bit more than 5 pounds. The suitcase is made of polyester fabric and is designed to withstand water spills and stains (though the lighter hues suffered some cosmetic damage). Welcome to FT. Other than wheels, the handle is the component most likely to break on any bag, and looser handles have a little more tolerance to wiggle within their tubes, so they are less likely to bend and get stuck. And at 7.8 pounds when empty, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor. We decided that carry-on bags should be capable of holding enough clothes to last you five days with room to spare for miscellaneous necessities. Its made from military-grade aluminum, thats shaped in a way to improve its rigidness. This is really useful for return flights when youve bought too many souvenirs and snacks to return home. Total packing versatility customized to your individual needs with a variety of optional Travelpro exclusive Zip-In Organizers designed for the way you travel. Pro Tip: If you notice your suitcase is damaged by the airline, report it to the airports luggage center immediately. Meanwhile, the self-aligning spinner wheels will glide smoothly through even the busiest airports. More than 130 hours of researchincluding interviews with numerous luggage experts, frequent-flying friends, family vacationers, and occasional business travelersalong with dozens of hours of testing and tens of thousands of miles of flights went into making these picks. ", Best for Durability: Bold By Travelpro 25-Inch Expandable Rollaboard at Amazon, "Its 100 percent polyester material is water repellent. This isnt a problem with soft-sided luggage because the pockets simply tuck flat when not in use. Away formerly used YKK zippers, outclassing our top pick in that regard (Travelpro moved to Supra zippers in 2015), but as of 2023, the company is sourcing its zippers from a number of suppliers. And if you put your bags through the wringer, a lifetime warranty, and reinforced corners should indicate that the suitcase will live a long life. The polycarbonate that Away uses is both strong and flexible. Top 5 Best travelpro luggage reviews Travelpro lightweight luggage: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage Travelpro spinner luggage : Travelpro Unisex Adults Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Spinner Travelpro luggage carry-on: Travelpro Unisex Adults Crew Versapack Softside Expandable Spinner Travelpro luggage hardside: Organization-driven travelers will want suitcases with loads of pockets, compression straps, and other elements like a removable hanging bag. Their softside cases are made out of high-density nylon or polyester, thats usually finished with a water-repellent finish, known as DuraGuard. Should I get a soft-sided or hard-sided suitcase? Even the cheapest options from Travelpro usually have expandable width zippers that allow the suitcase to expand for additional packing space. We also dragged them up and down two flights of concrete stairs, noting how easy this task was and how much damage the bags sustained. For checked bags, there's an even bigger spread: Samsonite's cheapest starts at $120, while its. Looking them over, I found the two bags to be almost identical except for some minor variations in the pocket layout and some additions to the interior of the limited-edition bag that lend it some amenities most regular travelers will appreciate, such as a built-in garment bag and a clear toiletries bag. And it extends to three heights (38 inches, 40 inches, and 42 inches) to accommodate a variety of body types. One thing that makes Travelpro a great choice is that their luggage is really lightweight. Or you can drop off the bag at one of the many repair centers. Fly anywhere with the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on Expandable Rollaboard, which meets carry-on size restrictions for most international airlines. Among them were: We asked them what they use when traveling, what features they find vital, and what separates the junk from the quality bags theyve used. The Crew and Plat are virtually the same bag. Inline wheels, on the other hand, are built into the main frame, so theyre much less likely to break off. The handles of both Elite models are sturdy without feeling too rigid. Travelpro Crew Versapack,407186301 , MAX SIZE Full review: Travelpro Bold 21-Inch Carry-on Review. Then you push down on the bag, which compresses it as a clip mechanism secures it in place. It always fits.. Four wheels or spinners are easier to maneuver down tight airplane aisles, but two wheel bags will always be more durable. You can fit a weeks worth of clothes in the Baseline Domestic, including some puffy gear for colder weather. It also has only two wheels instead of four to improve its durability. Weve tested 47 bags over the past nine years and are convinced that the Travelpro Platinum Elite is the best carry-on luggage for most travelers. This means that you can pack your suitcase full and then compress it to keep everything from moving around inside the bag. Please note the measurements before ordering. Then it was time to see how each bag worked. It carries so much. Usually, theyre offered in several different, down-to-earth colors, such as black, dark blue, light blue, light brown, and gray. When you compare the weight to similar ballistic nylon carry-ons, like the Briggs & Riley Baseline (8.36 lbs), or the Tumi Alpha 3 (11.7 lbs), its actually much lighter. It all started with Bob Plath, a Northwest Airlines pilot. The sole other company weve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose bags start at the $450 level. A lot of people said that their suitcases feel rigid, well-made, lightweight, and really spacious. 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,. Travelpro is a great choice for someone who is looking for luggage that will last whether youre looking for something to accompany you on frequent business trips or youre traveling really often. Aways carry-on also comes in a wider variety of colors than our soft-sided luggage picks. Samsonite's carry-on bags range in price from $80 to $550; Travelpro's carry-ons cost $90 to $320. Platinum Elite Women's Backpack 299.99 CAD 254.99 CAD Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Slim Backpack 32 Reviews 300.00 CAD 255.00 CAD Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Women's Convertible Tote 300.00 CAD 255.00 CAD Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Convertible Backpack 300.00 CAD 255.00 CAD Maxlite 5 Laptop Backpack 149.99 CAD 127.49 CAD Sale The interior is split into two equal parts, and both of them are secured with fabric dividers. After we had them all on hand, we weighed and measured the bags to see if they matched each companys claims. How good were the pockets? Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion. Was it a good-looking bag, or an eyesore? The retractable handles are one of the first things that usually break on luggage, so its nice that theyre using high-quality ones. warranty for return, repair, and replacement, Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 21-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner, Travelpro Platinum Elite International Carry-On Expandable Spinner, eBags Mother Lode Carry-On Rolling Duffel, Wirecutters 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022, Elaine Tannous, flight attendant at the time for Virgin America, Mark Davis, then product design manager at Eagle Creek, Georgene Rada, vice president of product design at Briggs & Riley, Sean Harris, former flight attendant at Virgin America, and at that time in Virgins corporate communications department, Kate Siber, writer and reviewer for Outside, Stephanie Pearson, writer for Outside and National Geographic, Jason Gifford, then design manager for eBags, Joseph Guerrieri, suit enthusiast and sales manager for Klein Epstein & Parker, Juan Phillips, vice president, product design & innovation for Travelpro, Cristian Arenas, then the quality control director for Travelpro. And although the wheels dont snap into alignment, they are exceptionally smooth rolling and easy to maneuver. When packed full, this luggage is often assessed the overweight fee by airlines. While we would love to provide you with one, there is unfortunately no standard for what that means. I have a 22" Travelpro Plat that I bought in January. Travelpro uses a self-repairing nylon coil along with Supra zipper heads throughout its bag, instead of zippers made by YKK. If you travel mostly internationally, within Europe, or within America, its worth looking for specialty luggage sizes. Even more, a built-in USB port makes sure your devices are always powered. 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. Frequent flyers especially should place a premium on wheel durability and capacity. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. I love this bag. These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in September 2022. The beautifully designed suitcases in this set have taken everything a traveler needs into consideration: Theres a medium-sized checked bag and a carry-on, so you have your bases covered when it comes to trip length. Its built from ballistic nylon, so its really durable. Also, the limited-edition Crew Expert comes as a two-wheeled model only, while the Platinum Elite offers the option of a two- or four-wheeled model. Its a pleasant surprise when you open the new Elite to find the same large 1,856-cubic-inch interior of the older Platinum Magna 2which we estimated and measured using hundreds of Ping-Pong balls.3 Thats about 65 percent out of a total theoretical space limit of 2,772 cubic inches, based on its external dimensions. But we think most people who travel fewer than, say, six times a year will have an easier time navigating crowded terminals and narrow airplane aisles with a spinner suitcase. Hard-sided luggage also doesnt age as well as soft-sided luggage. The Travelpro Platinum Elite is their top-of-the-line model. Were continuing to monitor reader feedback and online reviews to see if the issue recurs. We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight. Or an eyesore carry-on Expandable Rollaboard at Amazon, `` its 100 percent polyester is. Worth of clothes in the Baseline Domestic, including some puffy gear for colder weather a. Both strong and flexible, within Europe, or within America, its worth looking for specialty luggage.! Continuing to monitor reader feedback and online reviews to see if they matched each companys.. 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