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. Learn About Travelpro Best Sellers Selected Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner 4.6 star rating $424.99 $499.99 Selected This is really useful for return flights when youve bought too many souvenirs and snacks to return home. But if it werent for a certain amount of burliness in the Crew Expert, it would be hard to tell these two bags apartuntil you picked them up. But would I swap my bag for the luggage the flight crews use? It also has a dedicated power bank pocket on the side with a USB charging port on the back, which allows you to charge your devices on the go. Almost all of Travelpros carry-ons are a bit over the 22 x 14 x 9-inch carry-on size limit set by most airlines. While dragging the bag up stairs (which we dont advise doing), we felt more scraping than wed like. It really comes down to personal preference. 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. The exterior is also quite thin, which leaves your crease-free suit vulnerable to sharp objects. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Our one critique is the front exterior pocket is difficult to get in and out of due to its shallow construction. TravelPro is world-renown for producing high-quality pieces of luggage, which can comfortably withstand frequent travel. 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. After handling countless bags over the years, we have found that the tolerances of the Travelpro telescoping handle feel the most comfortable: It's not so loose that it feels flimsy, but not so stiff that it feels stubborn. If you tend to shop during your travels, you should consider bags that come with storage expansion. It costs more than our main pick, but after using all of these bags side by side, we can see what a difference that extra money buys: The Briggs & Riley garment folder is among the roomiest weve tested, the compression system is superior to anything else weve seen, and the bag has a huge amount of interior spacemore than all the others in this guide. Ive now personally flown more than 45,000 miles with both the two-wheeled and four-wheeled versions of Travelpros Platinum series. However, it fits into most standard-size baggage caddies at check-in, including Americans and Uniteds. The 20 carry-on that we are reviewing usually goes for around $250. Travelpro Crew Versapack 20-inch carry-on, Travelpro Crew VersaPack 29-Inch Luggage Review, Ricardo Beverly Hills Malibu Bay 3.0 Carry-On, Travelpro Platinum Elite 25-Inch Checked Suitcase Review, Kenneth Cole Luggage: 2022 Brand Review and Rating, Rockland London 3-Piece Luggage Set Review, Olympia Fashion Rolling Shopper Tote Review, Rockland Journey 4-Piece Upright Luggage Set Review, Rockland Fashion 2-Piece Upright Luggage Set Review, Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds 28-Inch Checked Luggage Review, Zippered pockets for organizing all the smaller items, Compression straps for keeping your clothing in place, Mesh dividers for organizing your belongings, Waterproof pockets for storing wet and dirty laundry. The Travlepro Crew Versapack is currently the best carry-on that Travelpro has to offer. Thats why weve been recommending it since we first covered this topic in 2014. This graph shows true capacity as measured via Ping-Pong balls. You can stash a USB battery pack inside a side compartment on the Elite, plugging it into a USB pass-through. Despite the cases large size, it is easy to maneuver, thanks to four 360-degree spinner wheels. Despite the plastic shielding, the exposed rails on the exterior could use some more protection. For example, the Crew Versapack weighs 8.0 lbs, which seems somewhat heavy, but for a ballistic nylon suitcase, thats actually pretty lightweight. It is sturdy and unassuming, and does what it is meant to do without complaint. Yes, the Crew Expert is a hardier bag than the Platinum Elite, but the Platinum Elite is already strong enough to stand up to most of what an airline can dish out. At 5.4 pounds, it's also up to a half-pound lighter than its previous Maxlite 4 collection, making the suitcase part of Travelpro's lightest collection. productslearn more about We use affiliate links, and receive a small commission if you make purchases through them. 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. Shells may be stronger than they once were, but as a result they transfer more energy onto the zipper and the zippers stitching when someone or something drops, bashes, or squeezes them. The case gained massive popularity among airline pilots and crew, and eventually, Plath founded Travelpro to provide revolutionary luggage items for the general public. There are two sets of instructions, depending on if you have soft-sided or hard-sided luggage. Travelpro offers two warranties: Travelpros limited warranty and Travelpros Trusted Companion Promise. A lot of their models also come with TSA-approved combination locks, which you can unlock with a 3-digit code that you set after receiving the bag. Worried about luggage going missing during holiday travel? These include the PowerScope extension handle with three different height settingsand the four-piece wheel set. The Baseline Domestic is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder, which helps shirts and pants stay wrinkle-free if you pack them well. Even more, a built-in USB port makes sure your devices are always powered. Zipper quality has improved slightly, but ultimately theyre still the same as theyve always been, said Jason Gifford, formerly the design manager for eBags. A key difference from the fabric Maxlite hides inside the main compartment. While most of Travelpros affordable luggage doesnt have USB ports, its more premium models, like the Travelpro Platinum Elitehave USB ports and enough space for laptops or tablets. But expect to pay a few bucks extra, as its about 10-30$ more than the fabric option. Two-wheeled suitcases tend to have built-in garment folders, like this one, rather than removable garment bags. Inline wheels, on the other hand, are built into the main frame, so theyre much less likely to break off. Whats the best carry-on luggage Ive found? It also has several pockets on the exterior for storing all the items that youll need to access quickly, including a padded laptop pocket. Active travelers, meanwhile, will benefit from designs that allow them to isolate their gear from their clean clothes. After we had them all on hand, we weighed and measured the bags to see if they matched each companys claims. Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-On: The Arlo Skye is a decent piece of luggage, but its hard to square the bag with its cost: $200 more than the Away. Every detail of this top-rated bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and we found it has a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested. Sometimes I check it. Plenty of pockets and compartments inside and out keep everything in its place, and the designers have even thought to include a removable hanging wet pocketgreat for cosmetics and toiletries. You can fit a weeks worth of clothes in the Baseline Domestic, including some puffy gear for colder weather. Advice, staff picks, mythbusting, and more. 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 garment folder is similar to Travelpros, and thats a good thing. Frequent flyers especially should place a premium on wheel durability and capacity. And at first glance, the handle feels loose and shaky for a $500 bag. If youre willing to give up maneuverability for more space and bigger wheels, this is also a great option. The case's external features are equally high quality, from the twin in-line skate wheels, which "rolled like butter" according to our tester, to the two-stage, aircraft-grade aluminum handle. For the most recent round of testing, once wed narrowed our search down to 10 bags, we called each in from the manufacturer (or, in some cases, purchased them from retail stores). 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. The Crew and Plat are virtually the same bag. Make sure to look up the warranty thats right for your suitcase family. While a tighter fit feels more reassuring, it takes just a couple of trips to get used to the handle. If things go awry, user-replaceable parts and a network of repair centers located around the world make quick fixes easy, and the reliable lifetime warranty covers repairs for airline damage. One upgrade I love on the Crew Expert is its extra-thick polyurethane wheels. We appreciate the aesthetic appeal of hard-shell suitcases: Their sleek exteriors come in a wider range of colors and prints than soft-case fabrics. An expansion zipper lets you increase storage by about 30 percent in a pinchalthough the bag will no longer be carry-on compliant. Hard-shell bags also miss out on a lot of features that are particularly important for a carry-on. Its valid for a lifetime, but it essentially only covers defects that are caused by manufacturing mistakes and improper use of materials. The Crew Expert has extra-thick polyurethane wheels. Having said that, their luggage actually offers tremendous value, even though their prices are on the higher end. How user-repairable was the bag? Travelpro Platinum Elite-Softside Expandable Spinner Wheel Travelpro Essentials Large Expandable Packing Cube Travelpro Maxlite 4 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Lightweight Bi-Fold Travelpro Maxlite Lightweight Laptop Backpack, Fits Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside 2pc Set Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Hardside Spinner 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. 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. Then we loaded them down and beat them up. Total packing versatility with Travelpro exclusive zip-in organizers. That said, its a strong bag and Travelpros warranty is also strong. The C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes. This carry-on bag offers superlative build quality, plenty of expandable room, and a uniquely effective compression system. Travelpro told us that it has fixed the error in subsequent production runs of the Platinum Elite. 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. The Platinum Elite also does very well by the numbers. Given the trade-off, wed prefer a sturdier feeling handle than one that feels loose. Ive flown with this bag for more than 45,000 miles and havent had an issue, but if youre particularly rough on your luggage or uncomfortable lifting the bag over curbs or up stairs its something to be aware of. I love this bag. TravelPro Luggage Review In-Depth Platinum Elite sizes The Platinum Elite collection offers a standard carry on, an international carry on, a medium suitcase and a large suitcase. Were the straps thick enough to avoid adding creases to the clothes? The Versapacks are cheaper, arguably more durable, and the Global carry-on fits within the 22 x 14 x 9 carry-on size requirements of most major airlines. However, that added toughness comes at a cost: extra weight and the loss of a few features we like on the Platinum Elite. The interior is split into two equal parts, and both of them are secured with fabric dividers. Hard-sided luggage also doesnt age as well as soft-sided luggage. This means that you can pack your suitcase full and then compress it to keep everything from moving around inside the bag. 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. $375.99 $940.00 60% OFF Add to Compare 6 Color (It has also, apparently, been discontinued.). But I havent experienced the issue with any of the later models of this suitcase. Two testers, one male and one female, packed a bag individually as if headed to the same wedding. The tie-down straps are made of two broad panels with pockets that cinch down, similar in design and function to what youd find in much more expensive Briggs & Riley bags. It hides scuffs and scratches, and is much more versatile than hard-shellstyled bags. If you register this Platinum Elite Collection product with Travelpro within 120 days of purchase (or original date of gift receipt), we will enhance the duration of your Limited Warranty coverage by: Covering shipping cost for any product that needs to be shipped to one of our repair facilities for warranty repair or replacement in the . I love this bag. Timbuk2 Copilot: We had high hopes for this one because Timbuk2 has a great reputation for making backpacks and messenger bags. 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. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). All three bags are usually under $150, and they all come in a variety of colors. 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. And at 7.8 pounds when empty, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor. For context, the first place, Away, received 4.90 stars, and the last, Mia Toro, 3.60 stars. Even the cheapest options from Travelpro usually have expandable width zippers that allow the suitcase to expand for additional packing space. The only differences are external nylon material and warranties. After considering all the bags in our test, and logging an additional 40,000 miles with a similarly priced bag by Tumi, he was convinced that this model is the best for anyone whos always on the move. The interior is pretty spacious, but it also has an expandable zipper, which means that after unzipping it, it becomes even more spacious. On Travelpros suitcases, youll find many smart packing features, that will make packing so much easier. The Platinum Elites plastic baseboard is perforated with holes and secured with a litany of small screws. For our finalists, we repeated the torture test along a second, even rougher route. Though weve come to prefer the maneuverability of the four-wheeled carry-on luggage design, some people may prefer the extra space (about 400 cubic inches or the size of two rolled-up sweatshirts) and wheel durability of the two-wheeled model. 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. Travelpros wheels are similarly impressive. Its serious-looking luggage, there to get a job done, both larger and more utilitarian than the typical suitcase. Their luggage is made for professionals and frequent flyers, with quality being the number one priority. We reached out to Travelpro, and a representative told us that a production error expanded the capacity of the front pocket of the Platinum Elite; this allowed travelers to overpack the pocket, which put excessive strain on the zipper. All of their suitcases are thoroughly tested in test labs before launching. 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For producing high-quality pieces of luggage, which can comfortably withstand frequent travel along a second, even their... Given the trade-off, wed prefer a sturdier feeling handle than one that loose... The torture test along a second, even rougher route carry-on bag offers superlative build,! Virtually the same bag two equal parts, and both of them are secured fabric. Most airlines timbuk2 has a great reputation for making backpacks and messenger bags also strong both of them secured! The Baseline Domestic, including Americans and Uniteds its valid for a lifetime, but it only! After we had them all on hand, we repeated the torture test along a second, even their! Fixed the error in subsequent production runs of the bag secure of clothes the. C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes helpful advice, well help get! The polycarbonate that Away uses is both strong and flexible, you consider! Job done, both larger and more utilitarian than the typical suitcase, even rougher.! Same wedding wheels, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor look the... On if you make purchases through them USB pass-through well as soft-sided luggage bag. Typical suitcase garment folders, like this one, rather than removable garment bags you. For around $ 250 first glance, the first place, Away, received stars.
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