Suitcase shopping isn’t fun. What size is right? Should you get a hard shell or a soft shell suitcase. And then finally… which brand should you buy?
Over the years, I’ve found myself in the market for a few new suitcases… both large and small. Whichever size I needed, I always ended up choosing Travelpro. The Travelpro’s Maxlite 5 series is the best suitcase on the market for a few reason. Travelpro is reliable and sells good quality and long lasting suitcases.
I now own the Travelpro Maxlite 5 29″ (the largest size in the series) and Travelpro Maxlite 5 20″ (their rollaboard carryon). Despite a few issues with the larger size, I couldn’t be happier with the brand would recommend it to anyone looking for a new suitcase.
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Series
The Travelpro Maxlite Series is made up of 10 different products. They offer carryon suitcases, checked luggage, and under seat suitcases and backpacks. The suitcase sizes range from 16″ all the way to 29″, including an under-the-seat option.
On top of the different suitcase size options, they also make two types of suitcases: rollaboard and spinners. Rollaboard suitcases will only have two wheels (which is what I prefer and so few companies still make these). Spinners are the popular 4 wheel ‘spinner’ suitcases.
With so many options they definitely have what you’re looking for in the Maxlite 5 series.
I own both the Travelpro Maxlite 5 20″ carryon rollaboard and the Travelpro Maxlite 5 29″.
Buy The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Series On Amazon
Why I Choose Travelpro Maxlite 5 Suitcases
There are a few things I look for when buying a new suitcase and Travelpro checked all of those boxes.
The three most important things I’m looking at when I’m buying a suitcase is the warranty it comes with, if its good quality at a reasonable price, and if it’s lightweight.
Related
Travelpro Believes In Their Products: Offers Lifetime Warranty
A lifetime warranty is a must-have when buying a suitcase. The warranty the company offers shows you how much they believe in their product. Essentially, the quality of the warranty equals the quality of the suitcase.
When looking for a new suitcase, almost all of the companies sell their suitcases with a warranty. But very few come with lifetime warranties. It was a lot more common to see anywhere between 2-5 years. Which is fine, but not as trustworthy as lifetime warranties.
Travelpro offers a worry-free warranty on all their products. The Maxlite 5 series is a limited lifetime warranty. It is still limited, so it’ll only cover defects on materials and workmanship (so not regular wear and tear). All you have to do is register your product online.
I’m happy to say that I’ve also never had to use the lifetime warranty either, but you can read more about Travelpro’s lifetime warranty.
Travelpro Suitcases Are Amazing Quality At A Very Reasonable Price
Suitcases are expensive! They can range anywhere from $100 to way over $500. It’s an art to find luggage that won’t break the bank, but also won’t fall a part after one time use.
The Maxlite 5 series will only range from $100 to $250 depending on the size you’re looking for. That’s so reasonable it’s unbelievable! Some luggage companies only start their line at $300 (and you aren’t even necessarily paying for quality, more for looks, the name, and useless gadgets).
My family has always bought Travelpro. We have some that are probably 20 years old at this point and we still use those suitcases today! I can only imagine how much better the Maxlite 5 series is going to be.
Maxlite 5 Is The Most Lightweight Series Yet!
Maxlite 5 is Travelpro’s lightest suitcases yet.
Why is the weight of the suitcase so important? It’s a lot easier to drag behind you for long hauls, but it also means you can also pack more (a.k.a. less suitcase weight means more clothes!).
The maxlite 5 series has hard shell and soft shell options. I’m always a fan of soft shell suitcases because they tend to have several pockets for better organization. I like being able to separate my belongings a little bit. And the hard shell suitcases are typically on the heavier side.
Buy Travelpro Maxlite 5 Series On Amazon
Bright Interior Fabric Makes It Easy To See Everything
This might sound like a silly thing to look for in a suitcase but it can make a huge difference. The colour of the material inside each suitcase is a light blue pattern. Having a light colour interior makes it really easy to see everything you packed even if you don’t have the best lighting.
If you pack using packing cubes, it becomes a bit less of an issue as the cubes are usually large. But not everything fits in a cube all the time. If the interior is a black fabric is makes everything darker, and can make things harder to see and find. Imagine trying to find something you packed in a black hole? Almost impossible!
The Chosen Brand By Flight Crew
Now I’m not sure how credible this stat is, but I still think it’s very interesting. When I suitcase shopping I went to my local luggage store where the shop owner told me that Travelpro was the chosen brand for flight crew.
If that doesn’t say a lot about this brands quality I don’t know what does! I mean, it’s the chosen brand for people in the travel industry. They probably use their suitcase the most out of anyone and they’re choosing to buy Travelpro. There has to be a reason for that!
You might also be interested in…
My digital and printable packing guide on Etsy. Filled with packing planning prompts for your next trip!
P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE!
Bonus! Travelpro Maxlite 5 Comes In Fun Colours
You want your suitcase to stand out, especially if you’re travelling by plane, to spot your suitcase from a mile away. I mean, you part with your suitcase so many times while flying. You leave it at security, you might be checking it, or even if it’s a carryon you might have to store it further on the plane from where you’re sitting. The point is you want a bright and different colour to be able to easily identify and spot your suitcase!
There are way too many black suitcases out there. Travelpro Maxlite 5 comes in an array of colours you can choose from. They sell it in blue, pink, and khaki green, but don’t worry it also comes in black if you aren’t ready for the change.
Which Travelpro Maxlite 5 Suitcase Is For You?
As I mentioned, there are several different suitcases to choose from in the Maxlite 5 series. The one you choose will definitely depend on what you need the suitcase for.
Looking for a carryon suitcase? Skip ahead to why I LOVE my Travelpro carryon suitcase.
The Tote & Under Seat Luggage For Shorter Getaways
If you’re looking for a small suitcase for short getaways you’ll want to look at their travel soft tote and the rolling tote.
The soft travel tote is ideal for short trips and car travel. It’s lightweight, and easy to pack in (with a separate shoe compartment!). It also make a great add on suitcase to any trip, with a rear strap to attach it to extended luggage handles. It’s sold on Amazon, you can see Travelpro colour options.
The rolling tote is really ideal if you’re planning on using it on the plane – it’s small enough to fit under your seat but you don’t have to carry it throughout the airport – which can be quite tiring. It’s sold on Amazon, you can see prices for Travelpro’s Rolling Tote.
Travelpro Carryon Suitcases
There are two Maxlite 5 carryon suitcases you can choose from: the 19″ spinner or Travelpro Maxlite 5 20″ rollaboard.
I LOVE my Travelpro Maxlite 5 20″ carryon suitcase!
Travelpro Makes One Of The Only Expandable Suitcases
My old carryon suitcases, were all expandable. We didn’t have one that wasn’t. Needless to say that having an expandable is another necessity for me. It means I have a bit more wiggle room incase I can’t pack as tightly on the way home, or I buy a ton of souvenirs (which is more likely than not!).
When I was shopping around for a new suitcase, I was shocked by my lack of expandable options. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 carryon suitcase doesn’t expand as much as my old carryons from them did, but at least it expands a bit.
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Only Carryon With 2 Wheels!
Not only is it one of the limited expandable carryons, it’s also one of the only 2-wheeled carryons. I like 2 wheel ‘rollaboard’ over 4 wheel ‘spinners’ for several reasons. Mainly, they’re just more durable!
The spinner is constructed with the wheels sticking out of the suitcase. This makes them more susceptible to break off during travel. It’s also sneaky, but you end up with more packing space with rollaboards vs. spinners.
The spinners are typically smaller to accommodate for the space to have the wheels. Rollaboard wheels are built into the luggage, I find you end up with more packing space in these. Both options are sold on Amazon. See the 19″ Spinner and the 20″ Rollaboard.
Comparing Travelpro Carryon Suitcase With Level8 Suitcase
I compared the Travelpro Maxlite 5 carryon with a popular brand, Level8 carry ons – it’s a no brainer which one is better in my mind.
Notice how a hard shell suitcase is heavier, and taller (to accommodate the wheels) and you have less volume/ capacity.
Going A Bit Bigger: Travelpro Maxlite 5 25″ & 26″
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 25″ and 26″ suitcases are ideal for your checked luggage. The difference in size is whether you prefer a rollaboard (2 wheels) or a spinner (4 wheels) suitcase.
The 26″ rollaboard is larger simply because the wheels take up less space outside the suitcase so they’re able to make it larger.
As I said, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 25″ and 26″ suitcases are the ideal size for checked luggage. It’s perfect if you need more space for longer trips. Both sizes are sold on Amazon. You can see the prices for the Maxlite 5 25″ Spinner suitcase and the Maxlite 5 26″ Rollaboard suitcase.
What About The Travelpro Maxlite 5 29″?
The largest suitcase in the Maxlite 5 series is the 29″ Spinner suitcase. I wouldn’t recommend buying the 29″ suitcase at all! I have a few issues with the 29″ spinner suitcase, but mainly it comes down to that IT’S JUST TOO BIG!
The 29″ doesn’t have a rollaboard equivalent, I have a suspicion it’s because it can’t be turned on an angle it’s so big and heavy.
I bought the 29″ spinner suitcase (well, 2..) for my four months abroad in Europe with my partner. We’re not the type to live out of a backpack and I didn’t want to be stuck doing laundry every other day, plus I love souvenirs… all that being said, I needed a large suitcase. So the Maxlite 5 29″ seemed like the ultimate size. I didn’t think twice about buying it… until the day we left!
You might also be interested in…
My digital and printable packing guide on Etsy. Filled with packing planning prompts for your next trip!
P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE!
Travelpro Maxlite 5 29″ Spinner Review: Too Big To Fly With
At first glance, the 29″ is AMAZING when you think about how much you can fit. I packed two weeks worth of fall clothing in one suitcase (including several jackets, and a lot of shoes) EASILY. But, then you realize that you can’t actually fit that much…
If you’re checking your bag, remember the first thing you do when you get to the airpot? Yup, you check in AND weigh your luggage! So although you can fit a lot in terms of space, you can’t actually in terms of weight. I ended up having a lot of extra space in my 29″ suitcase, but I had no extra weight. We were also nervous traveling on most airlines about it being oversized.
If we followed the guidelines provided online for each airline, it was in fact always oversized luggage. But in this regard, we were lucky and were never charged because it looked like a normal-shaped suitcase.They only make you bring it to oversize luggage if it’s an odd shape.
The other downside is that it’s soft shelled. I’m typically a fan of soft shell suitcases over hard shell, but the rule of thumb is to tightly pack your belongings in soft suitcases. If you don’t, you risk your suitcase getting damaged en route and your belongings inside getting thrown around EVERYWHERE. Because I didn’t have any more weight, I couldn’t tightly pack this suitcase at all, it ended up getting a bit destroyed on the flights.
What About Using It For Road Trips?
The reality is that these don’t even fit that easily in a normal size car. In fact, it was a struggle getting them to the airport at home, and into every car after that. We didn’t run into this issue when we first bought them because we ordered them online. We had to start ordering Uber X (the largest size) just to make sure they would fit.
We also tried to pack together in one suitcase on our road trip to Prince Edward Island. It took up our entire trunk and it’s a HUGE hassle to bring it into your hotel room. I’d make sure that every hotel you’re staying at has an elevator otherwise you’re in for a real treat.
My partner was stuck carrying this massive load up a narrow staircase. By the end of the trip, we ended up taking out our clothes we needed for that night and packing it in our extra duffel bag, leaving the suitcase in the car.
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The Maxlite 5 29″ Has Been Great For Storage…
After all the struggles traveling with this suitcase I’ve decided that the only thing the MAxlite 5 29″ is good for is storage. But I have to admit, it AMAZING at storage – if you have a place to fit the large suitcase.
Right now I easily store away all my off season clothing and all my travel gear in them. I can even fit extra blankets, or towels … etc.
Where To Buy Travelpro Maxlite 5
Shop Travelpro in the U.S.
Shop Travelpro.com
Shop Amazon.com
Shop Travelpro in Canada
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Shop Amazon.ca
Buy Travelpro Maxlite 5 Series On Amazon
More Travel Tips!
- How To Pack Your Suitcase Like A Pro
- What I Look For When Buying A Durable Suitcase That Will Last
- How I Pack In A Carryon For Up To A 2 Week Vacation (Without Doing Laundry!)
Share My Travelpro Maxlite 5 Review With Others
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Bronia Ciarniello
Sunday 26th of March 2023
Great informative article! I have used the TravelPro Maxlite 2 20" Rollaboard for the past 10 years and am looking to upgrade to the Maxlite 5 Rollaboard 20" international carry on (as per TravelPro website). Although their description says the dimensions are tested for overhead bins on most Canadian airlines - the actual measurements are 1/4" bigger on both height and width from the Air Canada requirements (length is 1 1/4" less though). Should this be a concern? Thanks!
Meghan
Monday 27th of March 2023
Hi Bronia,
Thanks so much! I will say this, I have never had an issue fitting in the overhead bin with my Travel Pro carryon on any AirCanada flight, but with all the new regulations airlines have started to crackdown on testing your carryon before even getting on the plane - now I have noticed that they make those sizers quite a bit smaller than the actual space you have on the plane.
I did have an issue a few years ago where it was fully expanded and it didn't fit the sizer for an AirTransat flight - despite flying down on the same aircraft a week before and it fitting perfectly in the overhead bin... anyway, I had to check my bag but it was free of charge. They have issues when too many people have a carryon bag.
Although it was a bit frustrating at the time, it only happened once in the last 7 years of travelling with it. I also haven't checked if it does in fact fit if it isn't expanded in one of those sizers - that will be my next mission!
Josefina
Sunday 12th of February 2023
Hi I bought the Maxlite 5 19” international carry on, also bought the soft travel tote and now I bought on sale the Maxlite 5laptop backpack. I’m going on a 10 Europe trip. Should I bring the tote or the backpack. I don’t travel with a laptop but like how roomy the backpack is. What do you think? I travel light.
Meghan
Monday 13th of February 2023
Hi Josefina,
Unfortunately I'm not familiar with either of those products, I've only ever used their suitcases. But, personally, I like traveling with a backpack over a tote because it's just better and easier to carry on my back rather than on one shoulder. And if you say it's roomier, even if you don't use the room right away, it might be better so you have room for any goodies you want to bring back.
QQ
Monday 8th of August 2022
I wish I had read your article before buying two 29 Travelpro luggage, and it's too late to return them now. I just realized they are oversized, and as you said, it can be damaged easily as it's still empty after filling 50 lb of stuff.
Meghan
Wednesday 10th of August 2022
Oh no! Sometimes stores are more open to an exchange than a return? If not, the 29s have come in handy a lot for moving - I've even lent them to friends and family to help! And they're great for storage :P
Dave M
Monday 14th of March 2022
I've been a frequent traveler for 30 years. I've owned all the major luggage brands. Travelpro is still the best bang for the buck. I bought a Maxlite 5 rollaboard for international flights because of the light weight. My checked bags are always black because baggage claim gets brightly colored bags so dirty. For roadtrips we prefer Tumi 26" bags with spinners. Life is short - treat yourself once in a while. They're horribly expensive, but look for the rare 40% off closeout sales. After owning more than a couple dozen laptop bags, I discovered the holy grail. The Nomad Lane Bento bag! Outstanding design. I will never own a different laptop bag. Safe travels.
Meghan
Monday 14th of March 2022
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your comment and glad you agree with the Travel Pro :D That's a good point about the dark coloured for checked bags, our bright blue were pretty destroyed afterwards and that probably wouldn't have shown if they were black.
I'll have to check out your other recommendations, I've only heard good things about Tumi but haven't been able to afford the hefty price tag yet - maybe one day!
Ummi Nadrah
Sunday 24th of January 2021
I've never owned a suitcase, so this is all new information to me. Didn't know about soft shells and hard shells before. Very useful knowledge for when I need to buy one.
Meghan
Monday 25th of January 2021
Glad to hear that! What do you use instead of a suitcase?