TRIED & TESTED LUGGAGE

TUMI Latitude Short Trip Packing Case

BACKGROUND

With much fanfare (including a brand ambassador in the shape of Hollywood actor Alexander Skarsgård) Tumi launched its Latitude collection earlier this year. Hyped as the brand’s lightest luggage collection to date, the hard-shell collection claims to “defy durability and engineering standards” with its signature ballistic nylon material.

Included in the collection are the International Carry-On Case, a Short Trip Packing Case and an Extended Trip Packing Case, available in black, navy and silver.

STYLE

Tumi has managed to keep the look sleek and stylish. A ridged wave effect covering the surface offers a distinctive design feature, which is further enhanced by a more discreet textured square pattern.

As usual, Tumi has steered clear of obvious logo placement, opting instead for a subtle brand name embossed on the handles and beneath the leather tag. The overall impression is a case that is professional and versatile, meaning it wouldn’t look out of place with either business or casual attire.

DIMENSIONS

The Short Trip Packing Case is the medium-sized luggage in the collection, measuring 68 x 45 x 28cm (26.75 x 17.75 x 11in). As a reference, IATA guidelines for cabin-sized luggage are

55 x 35 x 20cm (21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5in), so this particular variant will need to be checked in.

In terms of weight, Tumi has been true to its word, with the case weighing just 3.7kg. This provides ample additional allowance for the actual contents of your luggage before you hit the standard 23kg check-in limit of most airlines.

QUALITY

Tumi uses its self-reinforced polypropylene material (SRPP BallisticTM) for the Latitude collection, a highly durable material that is both lightweight and robust. To test just how resilient the case was I handled it roughly, gave it some deliberate hard knocks and eventually stood on top of it – with all 88kg of my weight pressing down – but didn’t manage to create a single dent.

The eight corners also have hard plastic coverings to give these more damageprone areas extra protection from the rigours of the baggage carousel.

If you were to scratch the outside of the case, the ridged design and pattern would likely obscure most blemishes.

INTERIOR

Each case in the Latitude collection is secured using a single zip and opens up in a clamshell style to reveal two similarly sized halves with a grey interior. On one side, there are two mini compartments that are perfect for storing smaller items such as a nail clipper or international charger. The extendable handle did take up some of the space inside the case, though it wasn’t intrusive.

On the other half of the suitcase there is a zipped separator, which also comes with an outside pocket suitable for storing accessories such as ties or belts. This side doesn’t feature any additional pockets or pouches, meaning you have the full volume at your disposal in which to pack your bulkier items. There’s also a hanger bracket on the inside allowing you to better secure suits inside the case to prevent creasing.

DETAILS

Overall, the case is smooth to pull along, both on all four sets of wheels, or just tilted on two. The case moves in a straight line without veering off to one side and has excellent balance.

A plastic handle is located on the top of the case, accompanied by a second on the side. The telescopic handle has four preset stages, giving a reasonable degree of flexibility. The case also comes with a luggage tag that’s attached directly to the case on the same side as the security lock.

SECURITY

The TSA lock is easy to set and unlock and the luggage also comes with a Tumi Tracer bar and QR code located on the bottom of the case. This unique 20-digit individual product number can help to recover lost or stolen luggage.

VERDICT

The durability of Tumi’s Latitude luggage is impressive, offering a great deal of peace of mind, while its noticeably low impact on the scales means you can pack more inside before you hit your check-in limit. Valerian Ho