And although the wheels dont snap into alignment, they are exceptionally smooth rolling and easy to maneuver. The interior is cleverly designed with a built-in wet pocket, a side mesh pocket for smaller items, and a fold-out suit bag to protect your precious garments. This isnt a problem with soft-sided luggage because the pockets simply tuck flat when not in use. Expandable Width and TSA-Approved Locks Personalize the way you pack with the Crew VersaPack - the road warrior's favorite travel companion, giving you total packing versatility with a variety of optional Travelpro exclusive Zip-in organizers (sold separately). The story of Travelpro begins more than three decades ago, in 1987. . The Travelpro Maxlite 5 25-Inch Expandable Spinner is one of Travelpros most popular checked casesand for good reason. How user-repairable was the bag? The metal gets worn down across the nose from the abrasion and inevitably that single piece will fail, more often than not.. our process. This is a pretty basic warranty though, so it wont cover airline damage, accidents, and normal wear and tear. The wheels still had that cheap ball-bearing rhythmic chatter to them. It packs five days worth of clothes into standard US carry-on dimensions1 and has premium build-quality touches youd expect from a $600 bag at about half the price. 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. The rest of the categories were calculated by ourselves and are a bit more subjective, based on various other factors. And when we compare it to its competitors it might not be the cheapest, but its the best value for money luggage you can get. Need help deciding which of the brand's luggage items will best suit your needs? It carries so much, Lam said. It really comes down to personal preference. With the collected intelligence from these luggage reviewers, builders, and professional travelers, we zeroed in on some top brands. With the MagnaTrac wheels, the Platinum Elite is easier to maneuver than the other spinner models we tested. We still think its a great option if you can find it. Size: 23 x 14.5 x 9.75 inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds | Expandable: Yes, Sectioned interior might not be ideal for everyones packing style. Did the wheels have sealed bearings? Total packing versatility customized to your individual needs with a variety of optional Travelpro exclusive Zip-In Organizers designed for the way you travel. Once I opened up the two bagsremoving the interior linings and taking apart their basesthe reason for the extra weight became clear. Another thing thats included is a TSA-approved toiletry pouch, which means that you wont need to find a new Ziploc before every flight. AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner: This AmazonBasics bag is a surprisingly good carry-on for costing just over $100. Frequent flyers especially should place a premium on wheel durability and capacity. Sometimes I carry it. Opening the bag reveals two mesh compartments that you then have to open in turn just to begin packing. Many customers have said that the bag has very durable zippers, and they also praised the durability of the main shoulder strap. Ricardo gained a better score only because they do a fairly good job from all aspects, and Travelpro got fairly low scores in airline compatibility and design. Due to the larger dimensions, Maxlite can also carry more volume. www.cleverjourney.com all rights reserved 2023 | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms of service. Simply drop-off your defective luggage at one of authorized repair centers for prompt assessment and handling. Their luggage is made for professionals and frequent flyers, with quality being the number one priority. The small tracking assistance makes a large difference when youre navigating the Elite through a crowded airport or down a busy street. While we would love to provide you with one, there is unfortunately no standard for what that means. The one scenario in which we can get it to tip easily is by intentionally packing all the heaviest items near the top (when its lying flat) of the baglaptops are a common culprit here. Every model has spinner wheels, with some of the premium models coming with self-aligning magnetic wheels. The only large checked bag from Travelpro that is within 62 linear inches is the Travelpro Bold 28-inch checked bag, which measures 59.5 linear inches. Heres how to choose the right one for your travel needs. That said, their hardside models definitely have a bit more style, and look a bit more modern, like the Maxlite 5 or the Platinum Elite collections. After weighing each piece of luggage three times to establish an average empty weight, we filled the bags as full as we could with Ping-Pong balls and measured the change in weight. Away makes a similar model of suitcase with an expandable zipper, The Carry-On Flex. But are they still one of the most durable brands today? We like the battery pocket, but the built-in cable itself, which routes from the pocket to a USB port less than 6 inches away, is an unnecessary item, which at best adds a potential point of failure to the bagUSB cables do not last forever. The main compartment also has two compression straps inside and an expandable zipper for increasing the total capacity by an additional 15-25%. That said, it really depends on which model you choose. Though the Platinum Elite rolled pretty well in general, we are still a bit concerned when dragging the carry-on bag up stairs. www.cleverjourney.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. It also has an aluminum retractable handle, which lets you use it like any other rolling suitcase. Not really. We also tried to look at subjective and less-quantifiable factors. However, they offer a cheaper model called Maxlite 5, and it's a bit less expensive than most similar alternatives from Samsonite. This graph shows true capacity as measured via Ping-Pong balls. It is constructed out of high-density nylon. How to Earn Airline Miles While Sheltering in Place, We Called and Asked: These European & Middle East Airlines Are Retaining Status, By logging into your account, you agree to our. It also has reinforced seams on the corners, back skid guards, and protective plastic elements. Full review: Travelpro Platinum Elite 25-Inch Checked Suitcase Review. Even though Ricardo gained a slightly better score on our list of the best luggage brands (76 versus Travelpros 75), we would recommend getting Travlepro instead, just because of their durability. 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. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Travelpros Platinum line of luggage has held our top pick for almost every iteration of this carry-on luggage review because it addresses the concerns of most travelers at an affordable price: It features smooth-rolling, user-replaceable wheels; solid and comfortable, telescoping handles; and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis, all backed by a lifetime warranty that covers airline damage and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase, which is easy to do on any smartphone), along with a full catalog of other user-replaceable parts. Is it a feature? For our finalists, we repeated the torture test along a second, even rougher route. If you want something durable to accompany you on your weekend getaways, you should consider getting the Maxlite 5 tote, as its really durable and it comes with the limited lifetime warranty that every Travelpro bag has. Its not a full locking position. Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpros generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage. While the Platinum Elite is more expensive than the Versapack, it has a longer period of Travelpros Trusted Companion Promise (lifetime versus 5 years for the Versapack collection), which is definitely worth the extra money. The Crew Expert is available in two sizes: a more carry-oncompliant 19-inch-tall model and a limit-pushing 21-inch model, which has a suiter inside. If you are particularly abusive to your luggage, or travel more than 20 times a year, or relish knowing that your luggage is the toughest on the plane, the Crew Expert could be for you. You? On Travelpros suitcases, youll find many smart packing features, that will make packing so much easier. Pull upward on two plastic handles inside the bag, and you can extend its depth a full 2 inches. Rather than folding garments in on themselves to fit in the bag, it bends the suit around the outside of the luggage frame in a U shape. Travelpro Luggage Platinum Elite-Business Plus Softside Expandable. 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. Above all, Travelpro values quality and durability. For the majority of travelers who fly less than 10 times a year, the Travelpro Platinum Elite offers the best balance of features, durability, and price, while still providing some elements missing from similar bags costing around $300, such as durable sealed-bearing wheels and a lifetime warranty that covers repairs (or replacement, at the companys discretion) even in the case of airline damage. Although Incase makes decent laptop sleeves, its hard to see how an exterior made of 60 percent cotton, 30 percent polyester, and 10 percent thermoplastic rubber will be as tough as a dense woven nylon. Timbuk2 Copilot: We had high hopes for this one because Timbuk2 has a great reputation for making backpacks and messenger bags. He knew that suitcases could be improved, especially when it came to carrying them around. But after six years of testing multiple models, our testers have found that the Away is capable of enduring most of the trials of travel with fewer scratches than the other polycarbonate models weve tested. Its still true that two-wheeled luggage models have more internal space. Platinum Elite: First Class - Luggage Set 849.98 CAD 679.98 CAD Sale Maxlite 5 Rolling Underseat Bag 36 Reviews 169.99 CAD 144.49 CAD Sale Platinum Elite Tri-Fold Carry-On Garment bag Starting at 215.99 CAD Sale Maxlite 5: Floating On Air - Luggage Set 679.97 CAD 543.97 CAD Sale Maxlite 5 Breakaway - Luggage Set 9 Reviews 469.98 CAD TSA-approved just means that the TSA agents are able to unlock it with special keys in case they need to perform additional inspections while its checked in. If it came with a fabric storage bag, be sure to use it for maximum protection against dings and scratches. If you like to stay connected when you travel, models that boast USB ports, internal batteries, and padded sleeves for your electronics are essential. But this comes at the cost of a large amount of packing space for a small amount of convenience. If you tend to shop during your travels, you should consider bags that come with storage expansion. 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