TravelproCrew Classic Small Carry-on Expandable Spinner

I really wanted to like this carry-on!

My last carry-on broke and it was time to replace it. After watching the steady stream of travelers at Detroit Metro I spotted this TravelPro soft-sided carry-on and was interested in giving it a try. Between the brand reputation and the online reviews it seemed like a great choice. When it arrived I knew immediately that I wanted to like it. The spinner wheels were incredibly smooth, the padded handle, the quality outer fabric and the outed pockets were all a recipe that made me think I had found my bag. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way. I had also ordered a Samsonite hard-shell for comparison since this was the type of carry-on I was used to. Its also an attractive bag but in its modern minimalism it lacks the texture and flourishes that make the TravelPro stand out. However, I had to choose one or the other so I conducted an experiment. I basically packed a sample/real-world wardrobe for a seven day spring trip that consisted of a pair of shoes, socks, underwear, sleepwear, two pairs of pants, three long-sleeved button down shirts, two quarter-zip pullovers, and a light soft-shell windbreaker jacket along with a small toiletries kit. This is a pretty standard packing list for myself for a weeklong trip. With clothing rolled and ready to pack, I started with the familiar hard-shell and to no surprise, everything fit perfectly without need to expand the case and I still had room to easily add workout clothes if I wanted. Next up I tried to pack the same clothing into the TravelPro. First of all this was a different experience since I am used tot he two sides of a clamshell hard-shell case as opposed to the almost duffle bag like approach of the TravelPro which essentially is one deep compartment with a cover. I tired to pack everything in and found that while I could do it, my packing was more squished and definitely did not have the breathing room that the hard-shell afforded me. I was stumped. That's when I took the measurements of both bags; while the external dimensions are basically identical, its the internal dimensions that tell the story, the TravelPro is smaller, and when calculating packing volume it turns out it is roughly 5 liters smaller. That's significant. Think about that, that's like two plus 2 liter bottles of soda. that equates to at least a couple pairs of pants or a couple of shirts. That volume difference was enough to make a real difference. It's that difference that let me down. It's that volume difference that led me to returning it and keeping the Samsonite. When I'm traveling space is at a premium and as a one bag, carry-on, kind of passenger I have to maximize capacity. Don't get me wrong, I really would like to travel with the TravelPro, so much so that I would still be tempted to buy it the price was right. I see all the benefits of the external pockets, and I genuinely like the navy and tan exterior, it's just that I don't have the budget for two carry-ons. So, TravelPro, if you're reading, I'd love to try traveling with this bag someday and perhaps be proven wrong. But for now, as much as I like this bag, the reduced capacity is a hurdle.