Remember that aluminium suitcases are notoriously prone to dings and scratches. Most people consider this part of the charm; a tale of a life well travelled. Nonetheless, at such a price point, I did wince a little at the thought of my sparkly new case emerging at Hanoi airport with noticeable scuffs (if this is really intolerable to you, see our guide to the best suitcase covers). Remarkably, despite a 12-hour-plus journey in the cargo to Vietnam, it emerged virtually unblemished – coming off the carousel with nary a scratch. I was genuinely surprised – this marks a major plus-point for the material for me. By the time it had come on and off the train, the coach, and the return flight home, it had only a few tiny hairline scratches, none that were visible without real scrutiny.
The interior
Inside, the case offers a clean, open layout designed to maximise usable packing volume across both main compartments. It has a removable compression pad on one side, plus a zipped mesh pocket on the other. For a seven-day itinerary, the 76L capacity hit the sweet spot – accommodating a week’s worth of layers, footwear, my washbag and travel accessories. The compression straps pull tight to keep contents anchored during transit, and they do a good job.
Take note: your packing mileage may vary. If you’re headed off to the beach for two weeks, it may be perfect to use for a caseful of slinky dresses and bikinis. If you’re packing for a longer trip, a winter getaway, or for more outdoorsy endeavours, you may have to pack light, or look elsewhere. I ambitiously packed in some walking boots, a spare raincoat and jumper for hiking in the mountains, and had to sit on it to get it closed after squeezing in a few souvenirs on location. At one point, I resigned myself to the fact that I might not get it shut at all. I did in the end, but it was a struggle. Bear this in mind if you’re gearing up for a two-week getaway – or really like to shop.
The functionality
The case performs beautifully on the move, thanks to Japanese Hinomoto 360-degree spinner wheels, which deliver a near-silent, effortless glide across smooth airport concourses and bumpy street pavements alike. The multi-stage telescopic handle locks securely into place without annoying wobble, and it didn’t get sticky lifting it up and down even when full-to-bursting, which isn’t something I can say about all suitcases I’ve tested.