Does my dream suitcase exist?

March 17, 2018 1:24 PM

I have a 20" hard case carry-on suitcase that is so space-efficient that I can pack a wardrobe for 4 nights/5 days (and I wear plus-sizes, so my clothes take up more space). But it's getting battered and ugly, and I really wish I had a front pocket for a laptop. Does a suitcase like mine, but better, exist?

This suitcase is almost exactly the same as my current suitcase, except that mine has shoe pockets (and I'd like to keep that feature).

So basically I want this linked suitcase, but with a compartment for a laptop where I can access it without having to open the main body of the suitcase in the middle of the airport.

It doesn't have to be a hard case, but I still want the space and the different compartments of my current suitcase. I've looked at 20" soft case suitcases and they don't seem to have as efficient a use of space compared to the hard case ones.

And my absolute dream suitcase would also be some obnoxiously bright color or pattern in pink or teal or purple (a lot of the designs in the link above would be perfect).

I'm skeptical this exists but I'm hoping you all can prove me wrong!

posted by Neely O'Hara to Shopping (8 answers total)

Response by poster: I should also add that I'd like to keep it below $100 if possible. That might make this even harder.
posted by Neely O'Hara at 1:25 PM on March 17, 2018

This is definitely out of budget and strikes out on the fun colors department, but I've been using an earlier model of one of the Tortuga travel backpacks (and here's the cheaper one) and I've been really impressed. The new ones are even fancier than mine with the zip-flat laptop compartment and hideaway straps and such. They both zip out flat like a suitcase does and have small internal pockets for maybe shoes? But if the pockets in there don't fit your shoes, they also make packing cubes to fit their Outbreaker model.
posted by helloimjennsco at 1:42 PM on March 17, 2018

You're going to sacrifice inner suitcase space for a laptop compartment, but this Delsey is a great price for this type of bag.
posted by essexjan at 2:14 PM on March 17, 2018

I use a Tumi Alpha 2 International carry on and love it for all of its pockets, especially the exterior-access laptop pocket. It doesn't even look like the laptop pocket is there, but it is, and it's better protected than it looks. It's been indestructible, too.

This youtube video review shows you all of the pockets.
SKU:8626103
posted by flyingfork at 2:53 PM on March 17, 2018

What you need is packing cubes. Then any bag has compartments. And you can take them out and put them in the dresser when travelling. (And they’re on sale!!). Seriously, they’re awesome.

We really like the eBags hard-sided spinner bags too, but it doesn’t have your easy-access laptop pocket.
posted by leahwrenn at 9:00 PM on March 17, 2018

Lesportsac makes these, they just relaunched their luggage line, and they have a hard 21" case with a pocket. That said, they are a bit expensive, albeit worth the price in my opinion because they are very high quality. Looks like there's a St Patrick's Day sale at the moment, too. Unfortunately, the external colors are blah, which upsets me because the draw of Lesportsac in general for me, are the prints. But the interiors are nice, and the are organized well inside. They have a pink one, but not in the pocketed version.

I haven't tried their hard cases, but their now discontinued soft luggage was amazing and a great investment for me. I still have it and use it. That said, I can understand dropping that amount of money is excessive, especially for a not-pretty case, so I had another look and found some cheaper options. All of these are hardside/hardshell about 20" with pockets. A lot of the colors are plain, but they have some purple and orange colors. Not many prints though-- I can't find any pocketed hardside bags with a print.

Delsey Hardside 21" with Pocket
Rockland Titan 19" - This is exclusive for Prime members but Ebags has it for a bit more.
Travelcross Boston 21" Hardshell in various colors
Delsey Helium Aero 19"

If you're set on pretty prints with a pocket, your best bet is definitely softside luggage. I agree sometimes the pockets can be weird (a lot of them have 2 small pockets in the front instead of one large one) but they are a lot prettier, such as:

Steve Madden Softside Expandable - for some reason only the purple flower one has the bigger pocket instead of two.
Rockland 20" Spinner
US Traveler's Lanford Set (22")
American Tourister Belle Voyage Spinner 21"


There's more, but I think I'll stop there. Good luck finding your dream suitcase!
posted by Dimes at 12:58 AM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

At the risk of sounding like an advert, I couldn’t possibly love a suitcase more than I do my eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. Bright colors including teal, red, and eggplant are available, and it has an excellent laptop pocket..
posted by ReginaHart at 8:08 AM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

I also deeply love my eBags Motherlode Convertible! Colors, handy laptop pocket, straps inside that you can use to compress your packing cubes and fit an insane amount of clothes in there...

And it looks like they also have a wheeled version.
posted by anotherthink at 10:03 AM on March 18, 2018