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We Took Travelpro Carry-On Luggage on Four Flights—and It Didn’t Obtain Any Scuffs
Updated Aug. 26, 2024
Finding a piece of quality luggage is the best way to ensure your trip gets off to a great start. Having spent years testing dozens of suitcases from Amazon luggage to internet-famous brands like Monos and Away, it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about luggage sets. And whether we’re checking out the best underseat luggage, carry-on bags or soft-sided luggage, there’s one brand that frequently earns a top spot on our lists: Travelpro.
Travelpro carry-on luggage has proven to be a consistently high performer during testing, earning high marks for durability and functionality. We took the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner for a spin in our Testing Lab and sent it on a five-day excursion with a tester in order to see if it holds up as well as other models we’ve tested from the brand. Now that we’ve wrapped up our testing, we put all of our findings into this helpful Travelpro carry-on review so you can shop with confidence.
What is the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner?
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner is a soft-sided suitcase that measures 21 inches tall by 14 inches wide by 9 inches deep. It holds 46 liters and features an expander that offers up to 2 inches of additional packing capacity. The exterior is made of premium nylon while the interior is made of post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Genuine leather handles on the top and side of the bag are as smart looking as they are functional. Our testers describe this bag as “very cute and stylish with flashy hardware.”
But this Travelpro carry-on luggage is more than just a pretty face. It’s packed with loads of extra features, including a removable garment bag, toiletry bag, tag holder and USB port and cord. It also has an ergonomic telescopic handle with four adjustable heights and four dual 360-degree, self-aligning wheels that gently snap into place for easier mobility.
For this Travelpro carry-on review, we only tested the carry-on bag but it’s worth pointing out that the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner can be purchased by itself or as part of a set with the larger 25-inch suitcase.
VIA MERCHANT
Editor's Pick
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
This carry-on luggage has all the bells and whistles, like four dual 360-degree wheels, that make traveling a breeze.
How we tested it
Since the brand has been a consistently high performer in our Testing Lab, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on this carry-on. “I had high hopes for this suitcase after loving the Travelpro underseater so much, and this superstar delivered—and then some. The flashy hardware and attractive yet durable heathered fabric of the exterior is matched in quality by the ingenious (and cute!) organizational system on the inside. Five stars all around,” raves Annamarie Higley, product testing manager on our Product Testing Team.
In the Testing Lab, Higley and Dylan Fischer, associate product tester, prepared for testing by stuffing this suitcase with two thick moving blankets to add weight and bulk. Then, they took it for a spin on various types of terrain and assessed its turn radius through an obstacle course of hairpin turns. Our testers were impressed by the bag’s controlled turn radius and by how well it performed across multiple surfaces, including low-pile carpet, concrete, asphalt, grass, gravel and cobblestone. “For the solid surfaces, it was able to be moved at any angle and direction. It went over numerous lips and cracks and took them like a champ, regardless of which angle it was being pushed or pulled at,” explains the testers. They did note that the suitcase had to be pulled instead of pushed on grass and gravel, though they found that to be the case with most of the luggage they tested.
While outside, our testers dragged this suitcase around on the blacktop of the parking lot. They also dropped it from roughly 4 feet high and tossed it over a barrier to mimic the treatment it might receive at the airport while being loaded into the lower deck of the plane or thrown onto the carousel should travelers opt to check it. Much to their dismay, our testers found a number of scuffs and scratches that couldn’t be buffed out. “All things considered, it held up well, but it didn’t take long to create this permanent damage,” says the Product Testing Team. “It’s one thing to see damage on the bumpers, but it’s a bit of a bummer to already see some visual deterioration on things like the emblem and the zippers after one short little test. We’ve all seen how our luggage gets thrown around at the airport. It’s gonna happen.” Fortunately, our long-term tester had a much different experience.
With the lab testing complete, we sent the Travelpro carry-on luggage off for a five-day cross-country excursion with Higley. This suitcase was subjected to two car rides and four different flights. During her trip, Higley found no additional scuffs or markings. “Granted, I had this bag with me the whole time,” she says. “At no point was it checked and in the hands of airport staff.”
Because Higley planned to keep this suitcase with her rather than check it, she opted not to use the expander. “I am a little wary of using expanders when I plan to carry on my bag because I want it to get through all the checkpoints and fit in the overhead compartment,” she explains. That said, she was able to fit five days’ worth of summer clothing, including three pairs of shoes, into this bag. However, she found the built-in organization to be more hindering than helpful. “I’m used to hard-sided suitcases, and I typically pack my shoes in the ‘top’ and my clothes in the ‘bottom,'” she explains. “I had to pack everything all together, and honestly, all the extra doodads and compartments felt a little inhibiting.” She disliked not having any extra room for extras like purses, toiletries or hair tools. “With a carry-on, I don’t expect to be able to pack all of these extras, but it is nice when I have room for a couple of purses or my blow dryer,” she says.
Fortunately, this suitcase’s performance more than made up for Higley’s packing woes. She was impressed by how easy it was to transport, thanks to its high-quality wheels, handles and zippers. “The wheels on this bag are unmatched,” she raves. “Even my dad noted their stellar performance when unloading my bag from the car.” Additionally, Higley loved the ergonomic telescoping handle and the extra side and bottom handles. “I had to employ the handle on the bottom of this suitcase more often than I thought I would when pulling it out of overhead compartments, lifting it off luggage racks, etc. It’s such a handy feature that I can attest many suitcases do not have,” she explains.
Overall, Higley recommends this Travelpro carry-on luggage due to all of its bells and whistles and solid construction. “If you’re wanting a soft-sided carry-on, I can’t imagine it getting much better than this. It’s attractive, high quality, high-performing and, all in all, pretty roomy,” she says. The only thing she doesn’t love is the price tag. At $430, Higley argues that it’s very steep. Luckily, it goes on sale—a lot! “As far as I can tell, the suitcase is virtually always on sale for a little more than $350,” notes Higley.
Pros
- Sturdy and easy to maneuver
- Great turn radius
- Built-in organization
- Leather handles on the sides and bottom
- Includes removable garment and toiletry bags
- Ergonomic telescopic handle
- Four dual 360-degree, self-aligning wheels
Cons
- Scratched and scuffed easily in our Testing Lab
- Steep price tag
Why you should trust us
Whether we’re traveling for a weekend or jet-setting for weeks at a time, we understand the value of luggage that’s lightweight, easy to maneuver and tough enough to withstand whatever gets tossed our way. We have years of personal experience with all sorts of luggage, including travel backpacks and anti-theft bags. At Reader’s Digest, our team is made up of a diverse mix of frequent fliers, road trippers, parents and pet owners, so we have a range of perspectives and experiences.
For this story, our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent hours in our Testing Lab getting up close and personal with the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner. We also sent this Travelpro carry-on luggage on a five-day long cross-country trip with our product testing manager to see how it holds up to real-life travel. Then, we compiled all of our findings into this helpful Travelpro carry-on review so that you’ll feel confident when making your purchase.
VIA MERCHANT
Editor's Pick
Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
This expandable carry-on offers up to 2 inches of additional packing capacity and holds up to 46 liters of clothes, toiletries and other essentials.
Originally Published: August 26, 2024
