Samsonite, Rimowa, American Tourister, Tumi

BACKGROUND

Samsonite’s Evoa collection launched in 2017. There are three colours available: silver, copper and black, all with a brushed finish.

DESIGN

The case has a minimalist style with a textured brushed effect that gives a sleek metallic aesthetic (the case itself is made of plastic, though it does feature metal corner protectors).

There are three sizes available – mine was the smallest 55cm/20inch variety, suitable for carry-on. At 3.4kg the case doesn’t eat into the standard 7kg carryon allowance too greatly. The finish of the product is excellent and the case is sturdy, though I would expect the plastic exterior to get scratched over time. The

Evoa zips open into two equal halves, though only one side has a full divider, which zips closed. The top half of this divider is a plastic mesh, while the bottom is a translucent pocket that’s good for storing documents. One noticeable feature is that the handle mechanism doesn’t intrude too much into the interior space so you don’t lose too much volume.

HANDLING

The Aero-Trac suspension wheel system is designed to reduce noise and vibrations while in motion. Indeed, the Evoa is smooth, quiet and easily manoeuvrable. However, when I was pulling the case behind me on just two sets of wheels, the Evoa lost some of its smoothness – particularly as the wheels have to swing round when switching direction, which felt rather clunky. One feature that is definitely useful is the adjustable height of the handle – the Evoa has multiple settings, though the mechanism can get a little stuck on the way down.

SECURITY

The Evoa uses a TSA Recessed Combo lock (so travellers shouldn’t need to worry about it being broken during security checks). The case itself is fastened using zips that clip into place and remain secured while the bag is locked, and the zips themselves are dual layered, providing added security.

VERDICT

It may not have too many bells and whistles, but the Evoa is a solid, straightforward carry-on suitcase that is comfortable and easy to use. Craig Bright

DIMENSIONS55x39x21cmVOLUME36 litresWEIGHT3.4kgCOLOURSBrushed silver, copper or blackWHEELSEightWARRANTYTen years limitedPRICEHK$3,150 (US$401)CONTACTsamsonite.com