Travelpro
Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Checked Luggage, 28-Inch
About the product
A dependable suitcase that’s designed to last
Founded in 1987 by a commercial airline pilot who needed a durable suitcase, Travelpro has long been synonymous with quality. The brand claims that the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Spinner, with its attractive polycarbonate shell, is as hardworking as it is good-looking. But is it worth the premium price?
The BestReviews Testing Lab decided to find out. We packed up everything we needed — and more — in this stylish expandable spinner and found that its excellent organizational features make it ideal for longer trips. Even better, only minimal damage occurred during our rigorous testing, including pushing the bag down a flight of concrete stairs to simulate real-world baggage handling.
We believe this bag caters to frequent flyers, such as business travelers and long-haul vacationers, who require a reliable suitcase that can withstand the rigors of air travel.
What is the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage?
Product Specifications
Size: 30” L x 18” W x 13.5” D | Capacity: 108 L | Weight: 12.3 lb | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: Yes
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Large Check-in Hardside Spinner offers travelers a luxury look and feel. The bag’s polycarbonate shell features a stylish textured finish that minimizes the appearance of scratches, and the shiny aluminum armor on the corners makes it stand out on the luggage carousel. It has retractable handles on the top and side as well as a four-stop telescoping handle with a contoured grip for comfort. And Travelpro’s MagnaTrac self-aligning wheels ensure that the four double-spinner wheels move in unison and never slow you down.
The bag has two compartments, each with a zippered interior divider panel and adjustable straps to hold everything in place. There are multiple pockets for accessories, as well as a water-resistant pocket for things like swimsuits or toiletries. If you need extra space, this already-spacious 108-liter bag can be expanded by two inches. To keep your belongings safe, there’s a built-in TSA-approved dial lock. As an added bonus, Travelpro offers a 100-day risk-free trial, which means you can try the luggage and return it if you’re not satisfied, no questions asked.
Price and where to buy
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage retails for $469.99 on Amazon.
Why we like it
Impressive durability
Made of strong polycarbonate, the Travelpro Hardside didn’t suffer a single dent after our impact-resistance tests, which included dropping the bag from various heights and tumbling it down concrete stairs. Despite a few minor scratches, the bag looked as good as new thanks to a textured finish that reduces the appearance of scuffs.
Great for organization
We were impressed by how much we could fit in this bag and how easy it was to organize everything. Inside, you’ll find interior zippered divider panels, three accessory pockets (including one that is water-resistant) and adjustable straps on each side to keep everything separated and secured.
100-day risk-free trial and lifetime warranty
If your bag fails to meet any of your expectations, for any reason, you can return it for a full refund within 100 days. Travelpro will even pay the return shipping. Compared to other luggage brands, this is rare. Most of the time you can only return unused luggage. Just make sure you register the bag within 120 days of the delivery date.
The limited lifetime warranty also covers materials, including wheels, zippers, extension handles and carrying handles, for as long as you own the suitcase.
What we don’t like
Uncomfortable carrying handles
We disliked the carrying handles on this bag. They have no cushioning, so picking up the fully packed bag was a struggle. We compared this bag to the Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside bag, which has soft leather handles. There’s even an extra handle on the bottom of the softside bag, so you have more options when lifting it.
Durability and build quality
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Large Check-in Hardside Spinner is constructed with a 100% polycarbonate shell, which flexes on impact to prevent cracking. We conducted drop tests from varying heights and tossed the bag down a flight of concrete stairs, and we were pleased to see zero dents. Though we did find some scratches, we could barely see them because of the textured finish. Plus, the wheels, handles and zippers all still functioned normally.
We loved the look of the aluminum corner guards, but it wasn’t clear during testing if they did much to protect the bag. However, the corner guards did make it a lot easier to locate the suitcase on the baggage carousel.
Design and features
Organizing and accessing our packed items was easy thanks to the bag’s adjustable straps and zippered divider panels, which prevented our items from shifting around even when the bag was upright. The 108-liter capacity easily held two weeks’ worth of belongings, which included 14 outfits. In addition to clothing, we packed shoes, travel essentials and toiletries.
To evaluate the effectiveness of its water-resistant features, we put the suitcase in the shower for five minutes to simulate heavy rain. Based on that test, we found that the bag is about 95% waterproof. We noticed a small amount of moisture on our items after this test, but for the most part everything stayed very dry.
The bag features a two-inch expansion, two internal accessory pockets plus a water-resistant pocket for damp items or toiletries. The zippers work incredibly smoothly and are easy to grip. And there’s a TSA-approved lock built into the bag to make sure it easily passes through security checks.
Maneuverability and travel convenience
The Travelpro Hardside’s wheels really impressed us. This is due to the brand’s PrecisionGlide System, which features eight MagnaTrac self-aligning spinner wheels. It felt
effortless to pull the packed bag over smooth and concrete floors. Though it was slightly more challenging to roll it on cobblestone, dirt and gravel, that is to be expected.
We didn’t love the external carrying handles on the Travelpro Hardside bag, especially when compared to the softside version. We would have preferred more cushioning on the handles and an extra handle on the bottom of the bag to make lifting it easier.
However, we were big fans of the aluminum telescoping handle that can be adjusted to four different heights (36, 38, 40 and 42.5 inches). The handle felt sturdy, and the contoured grip made it comfortable to use.
How does it compare to other luggage we’ve tested?
We compared the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage to eight other suitcases we tested, including its sibling, the Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside. When listening to the sound of the wheels, we found that the Travelpro Hardside’s wheels were noisier than those of its softside counterpart.
When evaluating the comfort and functionality of the handles, we would have preferred more cushioning to make the handles more comfortable to hold. The Travelpro Softside also wins in this category because it has soft leather handles plus a third handle on the bottom of the bag.
When it comes to style, we loved the Travelpro Hardside’s textured finish that really minimizes the appearance of scratches. Our testers found that scratches showed up more on the July Checked Trunk and the Away Carry-On suitcase.
Testing the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage
Capacity and packing efficiency test
To evaluate the packing volume and usefulness of its organizational features, we stuffed the compartments and pockets to capacity with a mix of clothing, shoes, toiletries and travel essentials.
Durability and impact-resistance test
To assess the suitcase's structural integrity, the durability of materials and its resistance to damage from impacts, we conducted drop tests from varying heights, including three and six feet, onto hard surfaces. We also conducted a tumble test down a flight of concrete stairs to simulate rough treatment by baggage handlers.
Water-resistance test
To determine the suitcase's ability to protect the contents from water, we exposed the bag to a shower for about five minutes to simulate heavy rain.
Ease of transport and maneuverability test
To evaluate the smoothness of the wheels, the comfort and functionality of the handles and the overall ease of transport, we took the fully packed suitcase over various surfaces. We walked with it on concrete, cobblestones and carpeting and performed sharp turns and stair hopping and dragged it off curbs.
Should you get the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage?
If you travel regularly and crave a suitcase that will withstand the rigors of air travel while helping you stay organized on the road, we highly recommend the Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside Expandable Check-in Luggage. Although it’s on the pricier side, when you consider the bag’s lifetime warranty, it’s well worth spending a bit more now to save money later.