Tumi Ducati Due Porte Suitcase

The partnership of a venerable luggage maker with an has us duly impressed. Yup, we swooned for the Euro styling; it drew comments every time we deplaned. But the 9.5-pound beaut stands solid with an intelligent design we loved throughout a 16,000-mile land/sea/air recon in Australia and New Zealand. What’s so smart? The polycarbonate hard-shell bottom hinged to a crushproof collapsible nylon top panel that worked like a lightweight shipping crate. On the ocean leg it withstood piles of stacked bags without squashing. And we like the simplicity—just two roomy compartments (separated by a zippered divider) worth 77 liters that swallowed a month’s clothes and snorkeling gear. The TSA-approved integrated combo lock secures the main zipper access, but you’ll still need an additional lock for the top panel. Bottom line: sure, it’s pricy, but it’s sophisticated, it’s durable, and it features clever engineering that separates it from the pack. 9.5 lbs

DURABILITY: 4.5
PERFORMANCE: 4.5 (OUT OF 5)

Gravis Jetway 40L Suitcase

BEST FOR: Weekending and carry-on travel. THE TEST: A month in Australia and New Zealand didn’t faze the reinforced, thermomolded plastic bottom and skid plate. (Another tester has been abusing an earlier version of this bag for five years with no zipper blowouts or other problems.) But its best feature is inside: a pull-out interior laundry bag keeps stuff like soaked base layers and muddy trail-running shoes from fouling up your entire bag. While the small (2.4 inches in diameter), inline-skate-esque wheels roll fantastically on smooth surfaces, they don’t do as well on cobblestones and dirt. THE VERDICT: As tough as it is sleek. 6.9 lbs

DURABILITY: 3.5
PERFORMANCE: 4

The Gravis and JanSport are carry-on compliant, as is the smaller 22-liter version of the Gregory.

eBags Exo Hardside 24 Spinner Suitcase

BEST FOR: Defensive travelers. THE TEST: Not only is the the most durable and versatile spinner (a bag with four wheels instead of two) we’ve ever tested, it’s also the safest. The protection comes by way of the integrated TSA lock and a pure polycarbonate ribbed shell, which returned dent-free from a 13,000-mile European tour. Inside, the spacious 72 liters separate with a zippered mesh panel, and an adjustable horizontal divider divvies up the bottom compartment. The one (obvious) knock: our testers dug the upright maneuverability on smooth surfaces, but Barcelona’s cobblestone streets were a challenge. THE VERDICT: An agile hauler that protects like Fort Knox—and is priced right. 9.4 lbs

DURABILITY: 5
PERFORMANCE: 4

Helly Hansen 90L Duffel Bag

BEST FOR: Off-road adventures. THE TEST: This isn’t a drybag, but it comes dang close. The zippers aren’t watertight (as they are on your hard shell), but the thick nylon truck-tarp-like fabric is practically impervious to the elements and kept our clothes dry on both splashy raft trips and drizzly walks around town. For longer hauls, you can deploy the hidden padded shoulder straps and carry it backpack-style. “For a backpackable unit without a frame, it’s surprisingly well mannered,” said one tester. “Of course, the more you stuff it, the better it behaves.” And indeed, you can stuff it silly. The exterior webbing constrains the single main compartment like an exoskeleton. THE VERDICT: If you don’t need no stinkin’ wheels, this is your bag. 3.7 lbs

DURABILITY: 4
PERFORMANCE: 4

Jansport Skip Yowell Fort Hays Bag

BEST FOR: Style-conscious retros. THE TEST: This 15-liter works as suitcase, office, carry-on, and road-trip cohort. The keys to its versatility are the hinged top and the accordion sides that expand to hold a laptop and a few days’ clothing or collapse to a compact briefcase. Three separator sleeves and two elastic shoe pockets organize the interior; four exterior pockets are big enough for shirts, shoes, electronics, and such. But while the Fort Hays’s waxed cotton is reasonably water-resistant and the pack is extremely well made, not everyone was smitten with it. Figuring out all the pockets and straps is confusing (some seem to have no discernible function); some, like the comically long shoulder strap, are simply poorly designed. THE VERDICT: Fashionable, spacious, versatile, and a bit unfinished. 4.7 lbs

DURABILITY: 3.5
PERFORMANCE: 3

Gregory Cache 28L Pack

BEST FOR: Slinging it on your back. THE TEST: The has a secret weapon: a single shoulder strap that affixes to the exterior, soft side of the pack. It’s a smart design, especially if you only occasionally need to shoulder your bag: the well-padded strap is surprisingly comfy and adds virtually no weight. The 77-liter roller’s other unique feature is its extra-wide handle, which allows you to roll it beside you. And because the handle’s -aluminum posts run down the sides of the bag, as opposed to right down the middle, you can lay shirts flat and pack more efficiently. The only problem: the handle doesn’t lock in place as well as others and has an annoying tendency to collapse when you lean on it or, say, try to push it (instead of roll it). THE VERDICT: A smart, if imperfect, take on a convertible roller. 10.2 lbs

DURABILITY: 4.5
PERFORMANCE: 4

Should the need arise, a hide-away shoulder strap on Gregory’s Cache allows you to quickly sling it across your back.

Eagle Creek Flashpoint ORV Super Trunk 36 Suitcase

BEST FOR: Gear-intensive excursions. THE TEST: A cavernous 140-liter compartment swallows gear up to 34 inches long, like the trekking poles and tripod we packed for rainy Peru. Then came the real test: the chicken bus to Puno, our final destination. After several bumpy, muddy transfers, the polyurethane-coated and puncture-proof fabric emerged scuffed and muddy—but intact, with contents dry. And being an Eagle Creek bag, it excels at keeping you organized: there’s a roomy sealed (and seam-taped) external -compartment for mucky gear, and plenty of pockets for quick-grabs like maps, guidebooks, and electronic gizmos. THE VERDICT: Keeps everything orderly and safe—even on multi-week trips. 11.7 lbs

DURABILITY: 4.5
PERFORMANCE: 4.5

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THE SELL: An 18-wheeler that’s easy to pack—and clean. THE TEST: Like the Osprey (opposite), the ORV is a monster. At just under 100 liters, the main compartment is big enough to swallow trekking poles, tents, tripods, you name it. Beefy compression straps tame it all down, and a removable internal divider helps keep things organized. But we especially liked the external stash sleeve with its durable recycled-nylon liner and drain holes. On several trips, we threw in muddy boots and clothes, zipped it shut, and relaxed (then hosed everything off when we got home). THE VERDICT: It’s a pound heavier and a touch smaller than the Osprey but just as rugged and user-friendly.
Durability: 5
Performance: 4.5

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THE SELL: A featherweight roller-backpack carry-on. THE TEST: At 5.4 pounds, the 38-liter TraveLite does indeed weigh roughly two pounds less than similarly sized rollers we tested. The trade-off? Not much. Opened like a book, the main compartment has an internal divider to separate items from the zippered sleeve section. On-the-go articles like passports and shades stash easily in twin external sleeves. And the hideaway backpack straps are perfectly comfortable for short humps. Our only gripe: the smallish wheels couldn’t handle rough terrain. But that’s what the backpack straps are for, right? THE VERDICT: Perfect for short trips or quick weekend adventures.
Durability: 4
Performance: 5

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THE SELL: A gossamer duffel-backpack hybrid that’s essentially waterproof. THE TEST: The 60-liter Black Hole isn’t completely impervious to moisture—the seams aren’t taped, and the zippers aren’t waterproof—but it’s highly water-resistant. On a three-day raft trip down the Arkansas River, its DWR-coated and punctureproof polyester fabric (“like a truck tarp,” noted one tester) fended off repeated doses of splashy rapids and light rain. Attaching the padded adjustable shoulder straps is a cinch, and they were surprisingly comfy for quick schleps to the campsite. One tester even wore it on short hikes. THE VERDICT: An extremely versatile and practically indestructible gear hauler at a great price.
Durability: 5
Performance: 4.5

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THE SELL: A stylish and resilient hard-shelled carry-on. THE TEST: The exterior of the 29-liter Trolley is made from Lexan, a lightweight but über-tough composite. (The same material is used in bullet-resistant windows and helmets.) We packed camera gear and a laptop—and then proceeded to confidently cram the bag in overhead bins. But the Trolley is more than a brute. Testers loved the removable garment sleeve and TSA-approved lock (see below), a nice improvement over the wimpy padlocks you find on most rollers. Details like the curve of the telescoping handle, giving you a little more clearance between the bag and your feet, also won us over. THE VERDICT: Excels as a carry-on, especially if you’re toting delicate equipment.
Durability: 4.5
Performance: 4.5

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THE SELL: A lightweight behemoth for big trips. THE TEST: A large drop-door design gives you full access to all 110 liters of cargo space, while two exterior compression straps cinch sloppy loads into a compact bundle. And thanks to extra-large polyurethane wheels, it’s impressively nimble for such a big guy. Smart: a hideaway loop lets you piggyback just about any carry-on bag, while D-rings are designed specifically to mate with Osprey’s Daylite pack (sold separately; $49), a sweet little bag in its own right. All this, plus it’s reinforced in the right places and still weighs under nine pounds—one of the lightest big rollers we tested. THE VERDICT: Start planning your dream multisport vacation.
Durability: 4
Performance: 5

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THE SELL: A backpack that’s equally at home in the city and the backcountry. THE TEST: With dual aluminum stays and a fully adjustable suspension system, the 85-liter Grand Tour is a serious backpack. On a three-day hut route in Austria, one tester dialed in the perfect fit “like you can with the best technical backpacks on the market.” He was just as impressed back in civilization. The Grand Tour comes with a travel bag that cocoons all its straps into a tidy bundle for worry-free rides on the airport’s conveyor belts (and doubles as a rain fly once you’ve landed). And the 15-liter detachable daypack is handy, too, with an internal neoprene laptop sleeve and organizational pockets for maps, gadgets, and documents. THE VERDICT: This is the pack we wish we had in college when we were studying abroad.
Durability: 4.5
Performance: 4.5

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The flagship piece of Thule’s new line of luggage is impressive. After we intentionally mistreated it on a monthlong African safari circuit, the 60L’s weather-shedding nylon-fabric hide looked practically brand-new, while the oversize polyurethane wheels spun as effortlessly as ever. Inside the main compartment, two mesh side sleeves divvy up the little things, and we loved the crushproof, lockable, and removable top compartment: it’s just big enough for a few gadgets and your shades. But it was the detachable 11-liter daypack that sealed the deal. Its minimalist shoulder and lumbar pads are surprisingly comfy, even with a bulky DSLR and 400mm lens along for the ride. For a new player in a crowded field—bravo!               Durability: 5 (out of 5)
Performance: 5

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Leave it to messenger monarch Timbuk2 to devise an ingenious shoulder-bag-cum-suitcase. I toted this 1,521-cube carry-on for a month in the Philippines, where it functioned as my ad
hoc office while holding backup clothing in case my checked luggage went missing. Three organizational compartments have various zippered sleeves, pockets, and compression straps to divvy up and secure clothing and essentials, and a removable laptop cozy houses up to a 17-inch machine and sports pockets and dividers to organize mobile devices, flash drives, documents, maps, Swiss chocolate …

BonusThe shoulder strap detaches so you can use it to carry the laptop case solo. 4.9 lbs;

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Long, trim, well-built, and without an ounce of excess flab, the Swerve manages large loads elegantly. Inside is 5,800 cubic inches of uninterrupted space, which was more than enough to cram all my dive gear, clothing, and personals for a month in the Philippines. Exterior compression straps ratcheted the 50-pound-plus load down, centering the weight like a pillar
so it stood faithfully at attention during immigration checks. The fore and aft grips were indispensable when tossing the bag into boats, where the stiff, waterproof Bi-Tech bottom fended off salty bilge. When it was time to roll, the big, treaded wheels and dual trolley handle made for a stable ride. 8 lbs;

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