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. In the past, we were explicit in our recommendation of two-wheeled models over four-wheeled spinner luggage based on feedback from frequent flyers and interviews with luggage designers. But most people would never notice the small trade-offs in toughness that make the Platinum Elite lighter and more maneuverableand ultimately more enjoyable to travel with. But I havent experienced the issue with any of the later models of this suitcase. 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. But expect to pay a few bucks extra, as its about 10-30$ more than the fabric option. It also has several pockets on the exterior for storing all the items that youll need to access quickly, including a padded laptop pocket. Pack your neatly folded shirts into the full-size lid compartment and keep track of your smaller items in the zippered side mesh pocket. Check us out! On the bottom, its fitted with four smooth-rolling, rubber-coated spinner wheels, which roll very quietly. Travelpro Aviation - Personalize the way you pack with Crew VersaPack. When you open up the Maxlite 5 hardside, it divides into two equal parts, as opposed to one large main compartment that comes with the fabric option. He created the first luggage with wheels and a vertical handle, which quickly became the standard for all other brands. Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold). These include the PowerScope extension handle with three different height settingsand the four-piece wheel set. They also have a wide range of affordable models, which are great for anyone, not only professionals. Thats not to say that the wheels on the Platinum Elite are bad; theyre more than enough for most peoples needs. However, that added toughness. However, the Baseline series handle has held up well over nine years now with no jams. This carry-on spinner is part of Platinum Elite, Travelpro's sophisticated collection of suitcases. After comparing the Crew Expert with our top carry-on pick, the Travelpro Platinum Elite, I can say that the Crew Expert is the stronger of the two bags. In 2018, Travelpro added a USB pass-through cable to the Platinum Elite, as a way to compete with smart bags. It seems to be the only significant change, beyond aesthetic, to the Elite from the previous Platinum Magna model, and we arent all that impressed. So long as you pack heavy things first (boots, camera lenses, souvenir wine bottles)closer to the handleyou should be fine. Well keep an eye on how the zippers of newer Away bags perform. From the exterior, its fitted with hand-carry handles on top, side, bottom, and front, so its really easy to lift up to overhead compartments or carry like a duffel. What kind of warranty does Travelpro offer? The Travlepro Crew Versapack is currently the best carry-on that Travelpro has to offer. For hard-sided luggage care, Phillips suggests rubbing a solution of mild or gentle soap and water on the affected area with a soft cloth. 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. However, that added toughness comes at a cost: extra weight and the loss of a few features we like on the Platinum Elite. How big were the wheels? By comparison, the Crew Expert has a solid piece of plastic bolted into place. Replacing the Crew Experts wheels does assume, however, that youre traveling with spare wheels on hand (some crew members do) and that you have access to the tools necessary. The tubing throughout the Crew Experts frame is twice as wide and much heavier than that of the Platinum Elite. 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. By Alexios Georgakopoulos | Last Updated September 29, 2022. We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. There is also an accordian pocket on the front, for magazines and electronic tablets. That being said, few suitcases can match the durability and shear quality of the Versapack. How comprehensive was the warranty? The C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes. 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. However, after extensive testing and industry improvements in design and materials, we reversed our stance. Weighing 9.5 pounds by our measure, the Crew Expert is nearly 2 pounds heavier than a similar-size Platinum Elite. We measured the external dimensions of the bag, but we also measured the internal dimensions, so that we could see which bag has the most usable packing space for the bags overall size. In order to find the nearest repair facility to you, please visit www.travelpro.com/repair-center or contact Customer Service at (866) 325-0660 (option #3). Its outer fabric is made of a nylon material that seems to be of a tighter weave than that used on the other bags weve tested. The most ingenious part of the Baseline Domestic bag is its CX expansion and compression system. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Its a bag that you can rely on for life, even if its damaged by airlinesa rarity at any price. Unlike other expansion systems, which are either open or closed, this one locks into incremental positions. The suitcase is made from high-density nylon, with Travelpros signature DuraGuard coating, so that the inside of the bag doesnt get wet. 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. 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 . You sacrifice some features and comforts in this tougher version of the bag, as well. Which suitcase will work best for you depends on your taste and needs. Soft-sided carry-ons last the longest and show the least wear, but if you prefer the look of a hard-sided bag, the Away Carry-On is our choice. The only real issue is that most of their models are sized larger than the size restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage. (It has also, apparently, been discontinued.). The Away has a modern and minimalist look and also comes in more colors than our soft-sided picks, but the sleek style comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks. Despite the cases large size, it is easy to maneuver, thanks to four 360-degree spinner wheels. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It weighs a pound less than the Platinum Elite, and it has a similar amount of packing space. But now that companies have started building injection-molded pans for their wheel mounts, thickened the overall supports, and increased the diameter of the wheel spindles, the failure rate has reduced considerably. The garment folder is similar to Travelpros, and thats a good thing. It weighs so much because it comes with a lot of features, and its built from durable materials. "Hard-sided luggage is typically made with 'split construction,' meaning the bag zips down the middle and opens into two shallower main compartments, like a clamshell., If you're basing your decision on durability, you can't go wrong with either. We independently review everything we recommend. The suitcases in those days didnt have wheels, so people had to always carry them when they were traveling. These bags are stronger than most civilian bags, over-engineered to withstand the rigors of constant daily use aboard airplanes and going through airports. Its a trifold system, and each of the folds has a bit of padding that helps to keep a suit from pinching onto itself and creasing, though much of that depends on how well you pack. Welcome to FT. Put enough pressure on that zipper, and it could fail, possibly catastrophically. 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. This means that you can pack your suitcase full and then compress it to keep everything from moving around inside the bag. Free standard shipping On the Crew Expert, Travelpro takes a similar design to another level of durability and strength. For every half-pound increase in weight we estimated 288 cubic inches of packable space. This is better because theyre pretty much impossible to break off, even if the bag is checked in, so your contact information will always stay on your bag in case it gets lost. 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. It really comes down to personal preference. 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. From all 31 luggage brands that we collected data on, Travelpro scored #8, which is a really good result considering that their luggage is also durable. These include: TheCrew Versapack and Platinum Elite also have built-in suiter compartments, which keep the suits wrinkle-free. Size: 26 x 16.5 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 8.2 pounds | Expandable: Yes, Once expanded, dimensions can size it out of airline restrictions. Weve been unable to replicate that phenomenon in our own testing. If anyone has experience, or has chosen Travelpro and researched the differences, I'd be very interested in why you made the choice you did, and if you have any other opinion on which would be the best choice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our wide selection is eligible for free shipping and free returns. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Clever Journey gets you prepared for your next vacation with independent travel product reviews, packing tips, and travel advice. Platinum Elite Platinum Elite Hardside; Maxlite Crew Versapack Bold by Travelpro . Aways suitcases arent actually that much expensive as Travelpros higher-end ones, so its really a matter of preference when it comes to choosing which brand to get. As a pilot, Bob was almost always on an airplane. Of course, it still isnt as good as Briggs & Rileys unlimited lifetime warranty and Aways warranty terms, but Travelpros luggage costs much less. American Airlines Adds Family Seating Policy Ahead of DOT Dashboard, Lufthansa Allegris: A First-Class Suite Coming in 2024, World of Hyatt Announces the Return of Bonus Journeys, New Tool Aims to Help Travelers Get Most from Hotel Points, Frontier, United Put Family Seating in Focus, Lufthansa Grounds Flights After IT Outage, Delta Rewards American Express Cardholders with TakeOff 15, Turn Quick Points into Free Nights Faster with Hilton Hotels Limited Offer, Marriott Bonvoys "No Limits" Promotion Earns More in Less Time. This two-wheeled carry-on bag isnt as maneuverable but offers slightly more space, a garment folder, and larger, more durable wheels. Built similarly to a traditional clamshell suitcase, it's. Today, Travelpro remains synonymous with quality and innovation. We noticed, however, that even with this feature the handle sometimes requires gentle guiding to retract all the way. Their average price is so high due to their higher-end models, such as the Travelpro Platinum Elite and the Travelpro Crew Versapack. All to find out whether theyre the right choice for frequent travelers. Travelpro Platinum Elite - Rollaboard extensible de 22 pulgadas, negro sombra, Platinum Elite Softside - Equipaje vertical expandible. We asked all of that and more. Above all, Travelpro values quality and durability. Hard sided looks better to most people, but soft sided luggage should withstand the bumps and knocks of travel for longer. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Its valid for a lifetime, but it essentially only covers defects that are caused by manufacturing mistakes and improper use of materials.