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Travelpro MaxLite 5 Review: This Should Be Your Go-to Suitcase

October 2, 2021
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Review 25 inch luggage

The Travelpro MaxLite 5 is One of the Best Suitcases Around

If you are in the market for new luggage, I can’t speak highly enough about Travelpro. Founded more than 30 years ago by a commercial airline pilot who was looking for an easier way to lug a suitcase across the globe, Travelpro checks all the boxes when it comes to quality, style, price, roominess and warranty. 

My favorite is the Maxlite 5 soft sided spinner collection. While using a hard-sided case is a bit more trendy, I feel like a soft-sided suitcase allows you to squeeze just a bit more in if you need to. Further, you don’t need to lay a soft-sided bag completely spread open on a flat surface to find something; it’s much easier to search through a bag that zips open on top when needed. But if you are a fan of hard-sided cases because they are undoubtedly more durable, Travelpro offers a variety of Maxlite options for you as well.

Believe it or not, my family still has four Travelpro 26” bags that were purchased in the early 2000s for a trip to Alaska which included a cruise as well as train ride to Denali Park — necessitating an array of clothing options from formalwear to rustic lodge attire. Suitcase weight wasn’t really an issue in those days, so the fact that the suitcase alone weighed 16 pounds didn’t seem to matter. Other than replacing the metal pull tags, they are still in perfect condition. 

Travelpro Maxlite 5 suitcase 25 inch

I upgraded to the Maxlite 5 a few years ago and I couldn’t be more pleased. It’s the same Travelpro quality but it’s shocking how much lighter these bags are! In fact, today’s 25” bag, comparable to our old one, only weighs 7.3 pounds — less than half of what I hauled around Europe and the U.S. for the past 20 years!  Also new is the spinner capability which allows you to roll it at two different heights alongside of you rather than having to pull the bag behind you like a rollaboard. 

We chose black, admittedly pedestrian, but the Travelpro Maxlite 5 comes in eight different distinctive colors including imperial purple, slate green, azure blue, midnight blue, sapphire blue, dusty rose, brushed champagne, and of course, black. In retrospect, I wish I had chosen something more adventurous so that my bag would stand out at baggage claim when hundreds of tired travelers are also looking for a black bag. Props to Travelpro for offering so many colorful options for this collection.

Compare sales prices for the Travelpro Maxlite 5 on Travelpro | Amazon | Bloomingdales | JCPenny

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Travelpro Maxlite 5 Features

Patented Contour Grip

The grip was designed with rubberized touch points that make the suitcase more comfortable to hold and easier to maneuver. Frankly, this isn’t something that I would notice without reading the product description, but I’m glad that Travelpro has made a point of making sure the grip is comfortable. 

PowerScope Lite Handle

The suitcase handle locks in two positions (38” and 42.5”) which accommodates travelers who might both maneuver the suitcase and are different heights. This might not seem like an important feature, but if you’re dragging a suitcase along cobblestone or from the airport parking lot to the terminal, it’s really important that there is an adjustable fit that suits your body. 

360° 4-Wheel Spinners or Rollaboard

While the majority of the Maxlite 5 suitcases have 4-wheel spinners, there are softside options in the rollaboard style for the international, 22”, and 26” sizes. What’s the difference in these features? There are two rollaboard wheels and they are built into the suitcase whereas the spinners rotate 360 degrees and are constructed with four wheels sticking out of the suitcase.

There is much more maneuverability with the spinners as the wheels roll smoothly in any direction, but some people prefer the simplicity of the rollaboard even though they require more effort to pull or push along. And the suitcases with rollaboard wheels are actually an inch larger because the spinners accommodate for the space to have the wheels. 

Duraguard Coating

The soft-side Maxlite 5 is made of polyester fabric with a Duraguard coating that resists water, abrasions, and stains. I’m not a fabric expert, but the coating material that the Travelpro brand uses clearly does the job and does it incredibly well. 

2” Expansion Capability + Multiple Pockets

The suitcase can expand up to 2 inches which maximizes packing capacity and helps to keep it from tipping over. There is a large front pocket; if you have any reservations about the durability of the softside luggage, you can throw your soft sweatshirts and jackets in that front pockets which should provide an added layer of cushion and hopefully bring some more peace of mind. Also included in the luggage are a full-length interior lid pocket, side accessory pocket and adjustable hold-down straps in the interior.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 25 inch suitcase interior

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Dimensions

Let’s discuss the dimensions of both the spinner and rollaboard styles and answer perhaps the most vital question of all…how much does the Travelpro Maxlite 5 weigh?

Travelpro Maxlite 5 SPINNERS

Maxlite 5 International Expandable Carry-On Spinner

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 21.75 in. W: 15.75 in. D: 7.75 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 19 in. W: 15 in. D: 7.75 in.
  • Weight: 5.3 Ibs.
  • Volume: 39 L

Maxlite 5 21″ Expandable Carry-On Spinner

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 23 in. W: 14.5 in. D: 9 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 21 in. W: 14 in. D: 9 in.
  • Weight: 5.4 Ibs.
  • Volume: 46 L

Maxlite 5 25″ Expandable Spinner

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 27 in. W: 18.5 in. D: 11.5 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 25 in. W: 18 in. D: 11 in.
  • Weight: 7.3 Ibs.
  • Volume: 91 L

Maxlite 5 29″ Expandable Spinner

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 31 in. W: 21 in. D: 13 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 29 in. W: 20.5 in. D: 8.5 in.
  • Weight: 8.5 Ibs.
  • Volume: 142 L

Travelpro Maxlite 5 ROLLABOARDS

Maxlite 5 International Expandable Carry-On Rollaboard

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 21.75 in. W: 15.75 in. D: 7.75 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 20 in. W: 15 in. D: 7.75 in.
  • Weight: 5.4 Ibs.
  • Volume: 45 L

Maxlite 5 22″ Expandable Carry-On Rollaboard

  • Overall: H: 23 in. W: 14.5 in. D:9 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 21 in. W: 14 in. D: 9 in.
  • Weight: 5.4 Ibs.
  • Volume: 52 L

Maxlite 5 26″ Expandable Rollaboard

  • Overall Dimensions: H: 28 in. W: 19 in. D: 11 in.
  • Case Dimensions: H: 26 in. W: 18.5 in. D: 11 in.
  • Weight: 7.1 Ibs.
  • Volume: 100 L

How to Clean your Travelpro Maxlite 5

Cleaning your Travelpro Maxlite 5 is fairly easy. The company recommends that you do not use soap as it will damage the Duraguard water-resistancy. If you find a spill or stain on the interior, Travelpro says to use a mixture of denatured alcohol and water applied with a damp towel or sponge without soaking it. Leave the bag open to dry. If a stain occurs when traveling, use a disinfectant or baby wipe in the interim until you have a chance to do the alcohol cleaning. For the exterior, Traveprol also suggests using a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and water and gently rub the area with a soft cloth. 

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Pricepoint

Is Travelpro worth the money? Absolutely! And I cannot stress that enough. It would be worth it to pay full price, but luckily there are often sales on the entire Maxlite 5 line. Keep a lookout on Travelpro’s direct site as well as Amazon, Bloomingdales, and JCPenny. 

Compare sales prices for the Travelpro Maxlite 5 on Travelpro | Amazon | Bloomingdales | JCPenny

Travelpro Maxlite 5 suitcase Review

Are there any downsides to the Travelpro Maxlite 5? 

The Maxlite 5 is so light and durable, it really is the most practical suitcase for travel. But, I wish it had a few additional features. I love having dedicated shoe storage organizers in my luggage so I can separate my shoes from the rest of my belongings. Travel shoe bags do this too and I use them regardless, but it’s nice to have a separate pouch as well. Also, I wish all the checked baggage came one size smaller. For example, I would prefer the 25” spinner to be 24 inches. I personally would never use a 29″ but it is massive, and I think 28″ would suit anyone looking for maximum storage just fine. Since the Maxlite 5 is so light, these aren’t significant issues.

Travelpro Warranty

While Travelpro has a limited warranty, I’m a bit skeptical that the company will hand over a new suitcase if something happens to yours, thanks to the word “limited. You will need to register your bag with Travelpro within 120 days of purchase. It seems as if the warranty only really covers defects in the manufacturing of the product rather than damage caused by airlines. According to the Travelpro website: 

“This limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship that negatively impact the functional performance of the product, including wheels, zippers, extension handles, carrying handles. Register your product with Travelpro® within 120 days of purchase (or original date of gift receipt), and you will receive the below noted additional benefits for the first (1st) year of your Limited Warranty coverage: (1) Covering shipping cost for product that needs to be shipped to one of our repair facilities for warranty repair or replacement. (2) Covering the cost of repair for damage caused by an airline or other common carrier.”

Have you purchased a Travelpro Maxlite suitcase before? What has been your experience with the Travelpro brand? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out these other posts on WOAW!

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