Samsonite Lift Spinner 21 Inch Expandable Wheeled Luggage, Charcoal, One Size

I bought this luggage in the charcoal color after doing extensive research on different models, and after using it for over a year, I'm convinced I chose well. Here are 6 reasons why this luggage is awesome:1. Lightweight - It seems like airlines just keep reducing their carry-on weight limits. Hence the need for the lightest carry-on luggage possible so I can pack more stuff without exceeding the weight limit. This piece is around 7 lbs when it’s empty, so it’s not the absolute lightest luggage on the market (the International Traveler IT-O-2 is about 3 lbs lighter), but it was the lightest one that met all my other criteria.2. Easily maneuvered - I was initially skeptical of the spinner wheels, because they looked like they would break off easily, jutting out like that. I had only ever used luggage with recessed in-line wheels before, which I thought would always be more durable. But after a year of using this luggage, the wheels are still perfectly intact and I don’t think I could go back to using non-spinner luggage. Since it spins 360 degrees, it is just so easy to get the luggage to go where you want it to go, which is crucial when you have to swiftly squeeze into a crowded rush-hour train on the way to the airport and the only floor space left for your luggage is at a really awkward angle. It’s also much easier to get this through the center aisles of airplanes since you can roll it sideways.3. Durable - I generally trust Samsonite to make good quality luggage that doesn’t fall apart. It may not have a Tumi warranty, but this one has held up for over a year of use and looks like it could go for at least 10 more. Zippers have never caught and have always moved smoothly. I particularly love the side grip handles which are built into the luggage itself, sewn into the corners. These handles aren’t coming off anytime soon! The luggage has a handle on the bottom end, too (3 handles in total: top, right, and bottom), so if you’re lifting the luggage to face up you can hold the luggage with both hands, which leads to less wear and tear on the top handle.4. Color - I decided that I was never going to buy black luggage because it’s just too hard for me to spot it on a luggage carousel among all the millions of other black luggage at 2am, when my eyes are still bleary from jetlag. And even if I could, there’s no telling how many other jetlagged travelers might mistake it for their bag and bring it home with them. My dad used to tie these brightly colored ribbons on the handles of our old black luggage to make it easier to spot on the carousel...a good workaround if you have no other option but black luggage, but I find it so much easier to just not buy black luggage in the first place. I picked the charcoal color because I wanted it to look classy and not too girly, so my husband doesn’t mind being seen with it. I think this backfired on me though because now he likes to use my luggage more than his black one! Oh, and for those of you concerned about non-black luggage looking dirty, fear not---after much traveling I’ve only ever gotten a few small black smudges on it, and they were really easy to wipe off.5. Beauty - This luggage definitely looks prettier than the IT-O-2 made by International Traveler, mainly because the exterior material of the IT-O-2 was wrinkly (like duffel bag material stretched over a luggage frame). I also didn’t like that the telescoping handle of the IT-O-2 was so wide (basically as wide as the luggage itself). I like securing some bags on top of my luggage by looping the strap (or the built-in luggage pass-through) around the telescoping handle, and I won’t be able to do that if the telescoping handle is too wide. The handle on this Samsonite is perfect.6. Nesting Design - I have the matching 25" version of this luggage. This 21” nests inside the 25" one if you slip it in upside down (with the wheels of the 21" facing in the opposite direction of the wheels of the 25"). I like to wrap the 21" in a large plastic bag before nesting it so that any dirt on its wheels won't get inside my 25". This nesting feature is great when you have VERY limited storage space!A quirk of this luggage is that the telescoping handle tends to stop midway while pulling it out or sliding it back in. It actually seems to lock into that position until you press the button and pull again to extend the handle farther. The handle has never gotten permanently stuck in that midway position, so I think the handle may have actually been designed that way. It’s a convenient level for your hand to be at when you’re pulling the luggage along on your side (using all four spinner wheels), since you don’t want your hand too high while doing so. This was surprising to me at first and I even thought it was a defect, because my old Delsey always slid out smoothly. But I’ve grown to like it.I do have to say though that with regards to size, this luggage is on the larger end for a carry-on. As some other reviewers have pointed out, it can be difficult to fit this into an overhead cabin in a small plane if you’re putting it in wheels first--you may have to put the luggage in sideways (if there’s room), or have the flight attendant put it in the special closet up front if there really is no overhead space left. I’ve only encountered this once or twice, though, so it’s never really bothered me too much.Other reviewers have complained that this bag tips over all the time. I personally have never had that problem. Perhaps Samsonite has fixed whatever was the issue.Final word: BUY IT! You won’t be sorry. Buy the 25”, too.

I have only taken it on a road trip so far and it worked great and had plenty of room for everything I needed to bring with me. I'm taking it on a my vacation next month so I also bought the 25" since I figure I'll need more room for return trip. I've looked at other luggage and saw that this one is much better made. I do worry how the wheels will hold up to the baggage handlers.... I'm hoping that they survive. Otherwise the luggage seems very sturdy and is lightweight which I think is a big plus. My Mom liked mine so much that she bought a 25" one for herself. Its easy to push around on hard surfaces... on carpets though you need to tip it since it doesn't move as well, but thats to be expected.I've noticed several people complained about them falling over .. even when empty.. I didn't have any problems like that with mine (so far). Both my 25 and 21 model are empty and standing upright now. I haven't packed and used the 25" one yet... so I'm really hoping thats not an issue, but the 21" I've used once and didn't have any issues with it falling/tipping over. Maybe they fixed the problem with the "later" models.

Love this luggage. It is super lightweight, however, the sides are soft and not as sturdy as my last bag (which is likely why it weighs less). This hasn't posed a problem yet as the material seems strong and durable. I like that it has a handle on the top and the side. The side handle makes it easier to load into the trunk of the car and the overhead bin. It has traveled with me on at least 20 trips and it doesn't show any wear yet.It's a little bit larger than I think is allowed for a carryon, but it has fit fine in every overhead bin as long as I put it in with the wheels facing the back. If you check it, realize that half of the people on most flights will have a similar bag so if you get it in black, make sure you put something on it to easily distinguish it from all of the other bags. Otherwise people will constantly pick it up to check and see if it is theirs if you don't get to it first--I'm not a big fan of people picking up and dropping my luggage back onto the carousel or trying to walk away with it.

Love love love it. Started out with the largest one, then have bought the medium, and now the small. So lightweight, good prices, spinner action is super smooth, stable, doesn't tip (pack heaviest items on bottom), good expansion capability, fabric wears well, nice dark blue (okay, purple, but really blue) which is unique and stands out well on the baggage carousel. Have been all over the country and abroad with these, and no complaints whatsoever. It is one of the most lightweight styles on the market. If that's a priority for you, then this is your bag. Paid much more for our last set and they turned out to be no more durable (handle got torn off) and weighed a ton in comparison. This also comes in grey, if you prefer. Airlines have lost our bags two times (both recovered eventually), and handle ripped off another. If I ever have to replace, I will buy this set again. Wonderful. I'd even give them 10/10.

Item has advertised size of 20.5" x 15" which is the allowed carry-on size for most airlines. BUT that does not include the wheels -- by adding the wheels the size is 23.5". Otherwise the bag appears to be of good quality and convenience. The bag is being returned and a Travelpro Luggage Maxlite 2 20" Expandable Spinner ordered.