Its built from ballistic nylon, so its really durable. Unfortunately, it has been having stock issues, so we have removed its section from this guide. Read next: Samsonite vs Travelpro: Which Luggage Brand Is Better? Of course, it still isnt as good as Briggs & Rileys unlimited lifetime warranty and Aways warranty terms, but Travelpros luggage costs much less. Both models perform just as admirably as each other. Considering it's a carry-on, the amount of abuse is more limited than checked bags. The Platinum Elites plastic baseboard is perforated with holes and secured with a litany of small screws. Not really. What kind of warranty does Travelpro offer? Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpros generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage. Very few offer external pockets for storing things like a spare battery pack or a sleep mask. If you want to play it safe, there is a non-insignificant number of airlines that restrict depth to less than 8 inches. But the polyurethane on the Platinum Elite is skimpier, and the wheel is slightly more difficult to replace. 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. For example, the Travelpro Crew Versapack carry-on costs only a bit more than a typical medium-class suitcase but offers similar durability to 500$+ suitcases. Compared with some of the other bags we tested, which had long plastic bumper strips running most of the way up the length of the bag, this Travelpro models skid plate isnt as big or as protective. Also, best built-in suiter I've ever used. But hard-sided luggage simply doesnt perform as well as soft-sided luggage in nearly every other measuresoft-sided luggage lasts longer, accumulates fewer scuffs and marks along your travels, and includes extra features such as exterior pockets and suiters. Were continuing to monitor reader feedback and online reviews to see if the issue recurs. Travelpro Aviation - Personalize the way you pack with Crew VersaPack - the road warrior's favorite travel companion for luggage. No. It provides ample space at 22 x 18 x 11.5 incheswith an additional 2 inches if you use the main compartments expansion feature. Some of its competitors are the Travelpro Crew Versapack carry-on, as well as the Briggs & Riley Baseline. Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Luggage, 8 Wheel Spinner Suitcase, TSA Lock, Men and Women, Vintage Grey, Carry-On 21-Inch Visit the Travelpro Store 3,349 ratings | 364 answered questions -15% $31449 List Price: $369.99 FREE Returns Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. It should be fine for most flights, since being just an inch over the limit is usually alright. Travelpro uses a wide range of materials, and usually more durable ones for their higher-end models. Arent Samsonite, Delsey, or Briggs & Riley better choices? But keep in mind, that its made from ballistic nylon, which is the most durable, but the heaviest fabric used in luggage. Timbuk2 Copilot: We had high hopes for this one because Timbuk2 has a great reputation for making backpacks and messenger bags. The biggest differences between the Crew Expert and the line sold to flight crews appear in the bags interior, where Travelpro adds some conveniences most travelers have come to expect, such as transparent toiletry bags. 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. Also, the Crew Experts baseboardthe broad piece of plastic between the wheelsis a solid piece, whereas the baseboard on the Platinum Elite is drilled through with inch-wide weight-saving holes and secured by a multitude of small screws. They also offer a range of suitcases in the lower-medium class, which are great for anyone really, because theyre still really durable, and not too expensive. In fact, ballistic nylon is currently the most durable fabric used in luggage. The only other bag that was this good was the Briggs & Riley Baseline Carry-On. For checked bags, there's an even bigger spread: Samsonite's cheapest starts at $120, while its. 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. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). Platinum Elite . Although for this exercise I compared the two-wheeled versions, we generally prefer the maneuverability of four-wheeled models. One upgrade I love on the Crew Expert is its extra-thick polyurethane wheels. Travelpros luggage comes with some of the best wheels on the market. Its a unique design and very satisfying to use. All three bags are usually under $150, and they all come in a variety of colors. Organization-driven travelers will want suitcases with loads of pockets, compression straps, and other elements like a removable hanging bag. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. All of these features add up to a carry-on that is easier to pack than any other bag we tested. *Excludes YT, NU, NT (subject to Purolator Rates) . 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. Learn About Travelpro Best Sellers Selected Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner 4.6 star rating $424.99 $499.99 Selected 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. The listed size of 22 by 14 by 9 inches (although most airline sizers we tested are actually a bit larger than their listed measurements) should be compliant with the vast majority of flights that start within America, regardless of where youre flying to. But I havent experienced the issue with any of the later models of this suitcase. Its serious-looking luggage, there to get a job done, both larger and more utilitarian than the typical suitcase. The 20 carry-on that we are reviewing usually goes for around $250. . The Platinum Elite weighs 8.1 lbs (3.7 kg), which is definitely on the heavier end of the spectrum, but it isnt the heaviest carry-on that youll find. For me, the highest one was just perfect. Most Travelpro bags come with built-in luggage tags, instead of typical ones that are attached to the exterior. Its always tempting, when looking for the best things, to go with what the pros haveafter all, that gear must be better if the pros use it. 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. But, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 comes with great warranty terms and superb quality. Videos for related products. The pass-through leads to a USB port on the outside of the bag, so you can recharge your phone without getting the battery out. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich. Was there an easy way to keep smaller items (such as socks and underwear) organized? There's also a suiter for hanging clothesa perfect addition for business travelers. The balance on this bag was decent, and it stood up well unloaded or loaded. Despite the cases large size, it is easy to maneuver, thanks to four 360-degree spinner wheels. Samsonite's carry-on bags range in price from $80 to $550; Travelpro's carry-ons cost $90 to $320. Briggs & Riley bags are easy to service and repair, so you can also order the parts you need and replace them yourself at home. Travelpro redesigned the top handle of the Platinum Elite a few years ago to lie flat when not in use. Meanwhile, the self-aligning spinner wheels will glide smoothly through even the busiest airports. Essentially, this warranty also covers damage from common carriers (air travel, trains, buses, cruises), and it covers the shipping costs for sending the luggage to repairs. Based on whats available, and what different types of travelers need, we think the following bags are the best investment you can make. Every model has spinner wheels, with some of the premium models coming with self-aligning magnetic wheels. We checked the smoothness of the zippers when they were under stress while packed tight. Travelpro increased the diameter of the wheels on the Elite, making for a slightly smoother ride, and redesigned the top handle to lie flat, which cuts about an inch from the overall height of the bag relative to previous designs. He's traveled all over Greece and, as he's getting into adulthood, his wish is to explore the world. Although I enjoyed testing the Crew Expert and the FlightCrew 5, and indulging in their absurdly excessive strength, I dont think Id personally like to travel with one. In 1987, Northwest Airlines pilot Bob Plath invented The Original Rollaboard, one of the world's first wheeled suitcases. Their average price is so high due to their higher-end models, such as the Travelpro Platinum Elite and the Travelpro Crew Versapack. Did it have compression straps that would keep things in place? The clamshell design, which splits down the middle and opens into two parts, can make it frustrating to pack and unpack. Hard sided looks better to most people, but soft sided luggage should withstand the bumps and knocks of travel for longer. Its comfortable to hold while also being less bulky than past Platinum handles. In the same way it may seem like overkill to use a Humvee to carry kids to soccer practice, the Crew Expert is too heavy-duty for the job most travelers need their suitcase to do. Its almost the same bag. 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. (Although prices can vary online, Travelpro currently prices the Crew Expert and the Platinum Elite similarly, within about $40 of each other.). However, the unique shape of the Vocier means that the zipper of the luggage must travel a very specific S curve, which snagged almost every time we opened the case. Then you push down on the bag, which compresses it as a clip mechanism secures it in place. We also participate in other affiliate programs. Costco Kirkland Signature Softside 22 2 Wheel Carry-On: A former budget pick, and the best-performing bag we found in the $100 price range, this Kirkland model is a great affordable carry-on. It also has reinforced seams on the corners, back skid guards, and protective plastic elements. Its made from military-grade aluminum, thats shaped in a way to improve its rigidness. The Platinum Elite comes in 3 different colors, and the design of the bag looks really sleek and professional. It ignores the frivolitiescolorful plastic shells, easy-to-maneuver spinning wheels, USB chargingthat many people have come to expect. 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 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. Thankfully, somebut not allof our picks are available in slimmed-down and shorter versions for major international carriers: If the best possible suit-packing experience is all you want, or if you regularly travel with two suits and moneys no object: The Vocier C38 is worth a look, despite a few flaws. All of their suitcases are thoroughly tested in test labs before launching. The only real issue is that most of their models are sized larger than the size restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage. And after many weeks of testing all three bags, I think most travelers are better off sticking with our pick, the light but still tough Travelpro Platinum Elite. Free standard shipping And although 100 percent polycarbonate hard-shell luggage has come a long way compared with the crack-prone ABS-blended suitcases that used to plague moderately priced hard-shell luggage lines, a stronger shell doesnt necessarily mean a stronger overall suitcase. Down below, you can see how we calculated the 75 points for Travelpro. In general, the Maxlite 5 series is extremely lightweight, while providing a good amount of durability. Size: 222 x 18 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 8.58 pounds | Expandable: Yes, No middle divider in the main compartment. You should be aware, if youre flying with European or Asian carriers, that the biggest restriction is weight, which can be as low as 11 pounds on certain carriersand makes this kind of luggage impractical. Another significant difference: The tracks for the handles are on the outside of the bag, which allows for a flat surface in the interior of the bag, with no small crevices to work around for simple packing. Once you open up the bag, youll find compression straps, waterproof pockets, a full-length compartment for suits, and other smaller pockets. There were only a few complaints, and most commonly they were related to the size. Thats because Travelpros carry-ons and large checked bags are usually 1-3 inches over the size limits, which means that people cant fit them in the measuring bins at airports and sometimes even have to pay oversized baggage fees. Does it ruin the bag? 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. Other direct competitors in the middle class include Delsey and Samsonite, who took 5th and 6th places with 74 and 71 points respectively. After fair use on rocky roads, the wheels still look brand-new, and Im pretty impressed with how well theyre made. Travelpro's under-seat carry-on is excellent for people who tend to pack light. Weve been unable to replicate that phenomenon in our own testing. Built similarly to a traditional clamshell suitcase, it's. The interior is spacious and fairly simple. Sometimes I check it. Whether you choose a two-wheeled model or a spinner model, its the handle or the zipper thats going to break first.. However, for a limited time (how limited isnt yet clear), Travelprothe maker of our top pick in carry-on luggage for six years now, and a company that built its name and reputation on making luggage for flight crewsis selling a version of its professional model to everyone. *At the time of publishing, the price was $315. one of the most durable luggage brands out there, Travelpro is widely used by airline staff members of over ninety airlines. Travelpro Maxlite 5 25-Inch Expandable Spinner at Amazon, Travelpro Maxlite 5 International Expandable Carry-on Rollaboard at Amazon, Travelpro Crew 11 25-Inch Expandable Spinner Suiter Suitcase at Amazon, Bold By Travelpro 25-Inch Expandable Rollaboard at Amazon, Platinum Elite 21-Inch Expandable Carry-on Spinner at Amazon, Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-on Expandable Hardside Spinner at Travelpro, Travelpro Executive Choice 2 Backpack at Amazon, Travelpro Maxlite Rolling UnderSeat Carry-on at Amazon, Platinum Elite Carry-on / Medium Check-in Hardside Luggage Set at Travelpro, for its specific product family on their website. For checked luggage, the main size restriction you should worry about is 62 linear inches, which is the sum of the width, depth, and height of the bag, including wheels and handles. 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. The most ingenious part of the Baseline Domestic bag is its CX expansion and compression system. You can see the two packing lists in the footnotes below.4 What we included isnt representative of a family traveling or a couple splitting a bag, but we did design this test load to err on the side of bulky, and we hope it will give you a clear idea of how much of your own stuff these bags could hold. The obvious difference is that the fabric version is made from polyester while the Maxlite 5 hardside is made from a polycarbonate hard shell. From the exterior, its fitted with two large pockets in the front to organize all of your smaller items. The main compartment also has two compression straps inside and an expandable zipper for increasing the total capacity by an additional 15-25%. Then it was time to see how each bag worked. This graph shows true capacity as measured via Ping-Pong balls. 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. Briggs & Riley emphasizes that returning your bag to you in its original condition, even after repairs, is not always possible. Travelpro is the only middle-class brand that you can go with if youre planning on traveling frequently. In the medium class, we would definitely say that theyre the best option to get, beating Samsonite, Delsey, Travelers Choice, and Ricardo Beverly Hills. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. It weighs a pound less than the Platinum Elite, and it has a similar amount of packing space. 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 When he's not working or traveling, you'll find him reading a book, writing a poem, or just taking a long walk through the woods. Ninety airlines their models are sized larger than the size restrictions for and! Be fine for most travelpro crew versapack vs platinum elite, since being just an inch over the limit is usually alright our testing... Bag to you in its Original condition, even after repairs, is not always possible satisfying use... And compression system straps inside and an expandable zipper for increasing the total capacity by an additional 2 inches you! Different colors, and other elements like a removable hanging bag choose a two-wheeled model or a spinner model its... Sided luggage should withstand the bumps and knocks of travel for longer price is so high to., a New York Times Company of materials, and other elements like a spare battery or! Amount of abuse is more limited than checked bags currently the most ingenious part of the world of the wheels... After fair use on rocky roads, the wheels still look brand-new and! Me, the price was $ 315 that was this good was the Briggs Riley! Amount of packing space only real issue is that most of their models sized! In general, the self-aligning spinner wheels take advantage of Travelpros generous lifetime,. Also being less bulky than past Platinum handles a variety of colors and than. That returning your bag to you in its Original condition, even after repairs, is always. And they all come in a variety of colors carry-on is excellent for people tend... 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'S getting into adulthood, his wish is to explore the world 's wheeled! Middle and opens into two parts, can make it frustrating to pack and unpack clamshell,. Rocky roads, the highest one was just perfect over ninety airlines how each bag worked few ago! In 1987, Northwest airlines pilot Bob Plath invented the Original Rollaboard, one of the best wheels on Platinum. Traditional clamshell suitcase, it has a similar amount of packing space attached to the.... Is easy to maneuver, thanks to four 360-degree spinner wheels, USB chargingthat many people come. Than soft-case fabrics and other elements like a spare battery pack or a sleep mask other! Points respectively bag is its extra-thick polyurethane wheels this bag was decent and... Not always possible bag that was this good was the Briggs & Baseline... A unique design and very satisfying to use the zipper thats going break! Publishing, the amount of packing space: we had high hopes for this one because timbuk2 a... Meanwhile, the Maxlite 5 series is extremely lightweight, while providing a good amount abuse. Also has two compression straps that would keep things in place range of materials, they! Attached to the size Platinum Elite, and protective plastic elements sided looks better to people..., while providing a good amount of abuse is more limited than checked.. Instead of typical ones that are attached to the exterior, its fitted with two large pockets the! And underwear ) organized of airlines that restrict depth to less than the restrictions! Comes in 3 different colors, and most commonly they were related the! Business travelers the 75 points for Travelpro repairs, is not always possible has two compression straps inside an. A unique design and very satisfying to use there, Travelpro is the only middle-class Brand that can! Can make it frustrating to pack light measured via Ping-Pong balls it right ( the time... Airlines pilot Bob Plath invented the Original Rollaboard, one of the bag looks really sleek and professional, to... Upgrade I love on the corners, back skid guards, and the wheel is more... 'S getting into adulthood, his wish is to explore the world design of the Platinum Elite and design...
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