Plus, the suitcase has everything else you want out of any suitcase – two spacious packing compartments, a TSA lock, expandable capacity, and a full zippered divider inside. The clamshell design offers substantial storage for large loads, including a couple of bonus organizational extras: two mesh pockets inlaid into one half-clam panel area and a smaller accessory pocket hung on the opposing side. The way I see it, this suitcase has two major downsides – it does not have a TSA lock or any lock for that matter. To test these suitcases, we traveled across the West, from California's Yosemite and Eastern Sierra to Central Oregon, Utah, and Colorado, with plenty of stops in between.

But, these are all pretty easy to fix – you can repair the damage yourself, or you can ask a professional to do it for you.This wide mouth can swallow an entire 75-liter backpack and still have room for everything else you plan to take to base camp.

While its composition appears less durable than most of the other options, it still works well, especially if you'll only be traveling occasionally. But not in a big-brother is watching kind of way; there is a serial code on the suitcase which is tied to your personal information so that they can contact you in case airline personnel reports a lost Tumi suitcase.This minimalist suitcase emulates the design of old-fashioned trunks, but it certainly doesn’t lack any of the mod-cons. All of the suitcases have a zipper closure and a TSA lock – and the external zippers are actually very sturdy. Its lighter-weight cousin, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT, is built of similarly strong Helix Poly Twill and TPU-covered poly. This luggage also has an expandable capacity, plenty of internal pockets, and a TSA-approved lock on the top.