Hello, from sunny Miami! I took a redeye to the coast last night for a weekend girls trip (a reunion with my college roomies), and whilst packing- I received quite a few questions about my luggage. After a decade of travel, I finally retired my old set last year, which had seen better days. Today, I’m giving you a detailed look at what I replaced it with… all picks from Paravel. I’ve been so happy with it! Last year alone, I took over 40 flights. If you’re looking to invest in a new carry-on, luggage set, or packing cubes for upcoming travel this year- click through for my thoughts and a detailed review on my Paravel luggage… along with some of my essentials & packing tips. I feel like a seasoned pro at this point.
As a frequent traveler, I scoured and researched luggage brands for weeks, because nice sets can be an investment- and I need them to last for another decade. From jungle adventures in Indonesia to sailing French Polynesia, I’m not exactly easy on my luggage- traveling far distances, hopping from trains, planes, boats, and automobiles. Ultimately, I landed on Paravel’s website, perusing their best sellers made of recycled materials. I snagged the Aviator Carry-On Plus and packing cubes, then after sharing- they gifted me the matching Aviator Trunk… which admittedly, I haven’t used much.
Quick Overview
As I mentioned, I have two suitcases from Paravel… the Carry-On Plus and the Trunk. Their Aviator collection comes in many different sizes. If you’re deciding between the two I have, or are looking for a solid set- I wanted to give you an honest review, sharing both! I’m dissecting them each below…
Aviator Carry-On Plus
I primarily travel solely with a carry-on and seldomly check a bag. 90% of the time, I try to squeeze everything into a bigger carry-on, which is why I opted for the Aviator Carry-On Plus. It still meets TSA carry-on requirements and fits into most overhead bins (I’ve only had an issue on a smaller Asian airline), but it’s around 3″ larger than the standard carry-on (1″ width, 1″ depth, and 1″ length). I know that may seem insignificant, but I prefer to travel light, squeezing up to two weeks of capsule clothing inside my bag. The extra space is worth it! Here are the exact size & weight specs…
Length x Height x Width: 14.7″ x 22.7″ x 9.6″
Weight: 8.5lb
Volume: 46.6L
Things I really like about my carry-on? You can fit a LOT into it. It has a great look. As a designer, you know I care about aesthetic… even when it comes to luggage. I grabbed the Safari Green color because I know the lighter colors are prone to showing scuffs, wear, and tear. It has been really durable- as it’s made of recycled polycarbonate. So far, the green has been great at disguising use and travel grime. The interior lining is actually made from 15 recycled plastic bottles (pretty cool!), but it has also been durable. I like the 360° double spinner wheels, as it makes rolling this bag around the airport very smooth… and it has a handle, if you’re unable to roll it (insert cobblestone or adventure locations).
I really appreciate the packing cubes that were designed to fit this EXACT suitcase. It’s a good system that allows me to maximize the interior space… and it even comes with a removable laundry bag, so I was able to donate my old travel laundry bag to Emmett, saving space. Overall, the Aviator suitcase feels like a big upgrade from my previous budget luggage.
Aviator Trunk
While I haven’t used the trunk as much as the carry-on, I do like the odd size for longer trips! Paravel claims it fits 14-16 days worth of clothing, with up to six pairs of shoes. For me, this one feels perfect for 3+ week trips- or adventures that require bulky gear (like scuba fins, ski boots, etc). Here are the exact size & weight specs for this one…
Length x Height x Width: 16.67″ x 31″ x 13.88″
Weight: 12.3b
Volume: 95L
Things I appreciate about the trunk after my most recent trip? Since this is a bag that needs to be checked, I really liked having the TSA-approved lock to secure my stuff… especially since this has become my go-to suitcase for gear, which typically contains more expensive items.
Like the carry-on, I’m thankful to have the smooth spinner wheels, telescopic handle, interior zipper compartment, and the removable laundry bag. I think it’s worth nothing, the trunk also has a set of packing cubes designed to perfectly fit the shell footprint, like you see in the above image.
Paravel Pros & Cons
After having put these to good use for some time now, I’ll wrap up my review with some key takeaways, pros, and cons…
Pros:
- 10-year warranty
- Recycled product / carbon neutral suitcase
- Comes with a dust cover for storage
- Free shipping
- Smart design features (like the packing cubes that fit perfectly)
- Removable laundry bag
- Sized to fit more than the average suitcase
- Smooth spinner wheels
- Telescopic handle
- Aesthetically pleasing (nice colors)
- Sturdy and durable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Price point / cost
- Weight (heavier than my previous luggage)
- Lighter colors are prone to visible scuffing
- The interior compression board feels unnecessary (it can be removed)
10 Organization & Packing Tips
I also wanted to leave you with my best packing tips. I’ve been lucky to travel to 20+ countries… I feel like I’ve got packing down to a science at this point.
- Make a list. I always begin the process by creating an itemized packing list.
- Pack capsule clothing. Choose garments that can be mixed & matched, worn multiple times, and are easy to layer. This extends the number of outfits you can wear, which is a space saver!
- Use & label packing cubes. Packing cubes make traveling so much easier… be sure to label them if they don’t include labels.
- Roll your clothing. Rolling your clothing makes your packing cube space go further… it also prevents wrinkling.
- Pack travel size toiletries. Invest in refillable toiletry sized containers. I never pack full size cosmetics.
- Limit the amount of shoes you pack. Shoes take up a ton of space- my rule is generally three pairs of shoes (max) per trip… the ones on my feet and two in the carry-on.
- Don’t skip the laundry bag. You’ll need an empty (non leaking) bag for dirty clothing or damp garments (like a swimsuit). Similarly, I’ll use shower caps for the bottoms of my shoes to keep my bag interior clean & dry.
- Don’t overstuff your bag. We always lay out our clothes, then keep editing… removing around 30% of what we start with. Plus, this leaves space to bring something home!
- Keep essentials in your personal item. For me, my personal item is a tote bag or small backpack. I’ll pack the following, there: medications, ID or passport, cash & cards, noise cancelling headphones, phone & charger, hand sanitizer, a book, snacks, water bottle, etc.
- Drop in an air tag. Each bag gets an AirTag, so I can track my luggage at any time. Some airlines have even adopted this policy for locating lost items.
My Top Travel Essentials
These are my most used travel essentials for flights, road trips, and even weekend travel. If I had to narrow it down, these come along on every trip with me…
Click on each image within the collage to be directed to the source!
Whether you have a checked bag or a carry-on, these travel accessories and smaller items always come in handy. To call out a few… noise cancelling headphones with a bluetooth adapter (for cord-free in-flight listening) and my white noise once we arrive at the hotel are absolute musts for me. What are some of your can’t leave home without essentials?
Q&A
I opted for Safari Green in the luggage and Scuba Navy in the packing cubes. That felt like a timeless combination that would easily hide wear and tear.
Even though it’s a larger carry-on, I’ve only had one issue (on a smaller Asian airline). This is almost identical sizing to carry-on bags I’ve owned in the past. They do make a standard size carry-on though… if you’re worried about the plus.
I don’t! I would love to invest in one of their weekender bags that is designed to fit on top of the carry-on, but my current tote does the trick, so I’ve been sticking with that to save money.
I’ve done large backpacks or duffles in the past, but I’ve found them difficult (awkward, heavy, or digging into my shoulders) while navigating airports or train stations. I’d much rather use a roller bag, then rely on the handle on cobblestone. I’ve actually found the Aviator carry-on to work pretty well in those situations… just keep the weight of the bag in the handle, and less on the wheels to hop around.
I think so! I tend to avoid the compression cubes anyway because they wrinkle my clothing and cause me to overstuff my bag. Usually we jump from hotel to hotel, only staying a max of 2-3 nights. Since we move around often when traveling, I never fully unpack my bag… which makes the compression cubes a pain.
Related
Looking for more travel related posts? I’m going to drop some of my favorites below… aside from home & interiors, travel is my passion. I very much enjoy sharing our adventures and travel journals!
- My Best Travel Tips for Good Deals & Upgrades
- Our Quick Italian Getaway : Amalfi Coast
- Our Quick Italian Getaway : Florence
- Our Quick Italian Getaway : Venice
- A Weekend Skiing in Jackson Hole
- Sailing & Exploring French Polynesia
- 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai (+ Our Time In Thailand)
- Party Favor Ideas for Any Bachelorette Party, Vacation, or Getaway (from my last girls trip)
- Diving & Jungle Adventures in Indonesia
- Hotel Peter and Paul New Orleans
I hope you enjoyed this post and it’s helpful if you’ve been considering new luggage. I’m optimistic these pieces will last me for years to come. As soon as I’m home from Miami, I’m knocking out a few days of work, then Emmett & I are off to Italy to ski the Dolomites! Of course, we found inexpensive flights and jumped at the opportunity. I’m very much looking forward to a change of scenery and a new adventure before we dive into renovation projects for the year ahead. Until then, I’m soaking up some Florida sunshine with my gals! Everyone, have a fabulous weekend ahead.
The post My Go To Carry-On & Luggage Set: Paravel Review appeared first on Room For Tuesday.
