Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My back isn’t what it used to be and after a recent trip through Europe I decided it was time to replace my very sturdy Eagle Creek two-wheeled luggage with something four-wheeled. My Eagle Creek luggage was a significant investment for me and remains in near perfect shape after several years but this time around I was looking for something less utilitarian. I purchased the espresso color and it is a deep, rich brown but not quite as dark as espresso, which usually strikes me as almost black. I was delighted with this suitcase right out of the box. It’s light, even lighter than my Eagle Creek, which was a huge improvement over other luggage at the time. The large pocket on the front of the bag opens up folder style just as it should, since I typically rummage through it while I’m standing at the airport or hotel lobby. It spins and moves like a dream, if that isn’t obvious. The hardware is well integrated into the design; with the deep color and leather trim, this is a formal looking suitcase. The interior is both thoughtful and attractive. This is a bag I will check. I’m not short (5’6”) but I personally would not want work to shove this into a crowded overhead compartment in economy; nor would it have been allowed as a carry-on on my recent trip to London on New Zealand Air, it weighs too much. I’ve got a smaller 16-inch spinner for carry-on and short trips. I’m a light packer, this is the bag I will use for five- to seven-day trips, longer with laundry access. I won’t be using the charging port. I can see it being useful for international flights where you are not sure you will find an outlet to fit your charger. Frequent flyers using economy with tight connections might find it valuable; that is a situation where outlet access can be limited. The pocket is in a handy location on the top side panel of the bag so I’ll definitely find a use for it. The attached toiletries bag is really nice but I’m not sure how practical it is as you have to fully unzip the bag to get at it, which means it needs to be on the table or floor. Where will I do this? In a fast moving security line? As I approach the conveyor belt? I’d be more likely to keep mine in the front pocket until after security and then stow it in the bag when I have access to a table or bench. The interior doesn’t fit my existing packing cubes, which I believe to be standard. The 17-inch large won’t zip into the pocket on the top inside of the bag and the medium to small cubes don’t seem to fit well. I don’t normally use the large bag outside of lengthy trips so I can work around it. My garment folder fits perfectly and is what I use most for work trips. I’ll figure out organizing with the smaller bags as I go along. The small mesh pockets on the top of the tie down may seem a little oddly sized (small and thin) but I always travel with some odds and ends that can’t all be tossed into one bag/cube so they are going to be very useful to me. All in all, different than the layout I’m used to but it’s going to be a wonderful travel companion.