Product Description:
Do travels call for a roller or a backpack? With hide-away, cool mesh shoulder straps, the answer does not matter with this one-of-a-kind hybrid upright
Product Details:
- Hide-away backpack straps allow for quick and easy shouldering of this carry-on roller
- Wheels face away from body when roller is used as a backpack, allowing for a comfortable, clean carrying experience
- Heat-molded, crush-proof SafeZoneTM compartment protects eyewear, portable electronics and other fragile gear (compartment locks and can be removed for extra cargo room)
- Aluminum hardware and water-resistant fabrics combine to create a lightweight, durable pack/bag/duffel
- Durable exoskeleton and a molded polypropylene back panel absorb the impact of rugged travel
Customer Reviews:
Great for the combination business/adventure traveler who packs light By D. Solberg
Anytime a company makes something that does more than one thing, you're going to find a collection of compromises, and Thule's suitcase is a perfect example. Thule made their Crossover brand of suitcase a combination carry-on rolling suitcase and a backpack. In doing so, they made a very comfortable backpack, but they sacrificed some internal storage to do so.
Before discussing the compromises, let's dig into the overall build quality, which is great. The wheels are big and solid, with sturdy metal axels that should keep it rolling straight. The outside material looks thick and durable, and Thule states that it is water repellent. The zippers look strong and zip without snagging, although they are not water resistant. The backpack straps have metal hardware that should wear well. The suitcase is also properly weighted so that it doesn't easily fall over when you set it down or bump into it (this is a pet peeve of mine). Also, the overall suitcase looks professional, so it would be easy to take on a business trip as well as a vacation.
Okay, now for the compromises to make this thing into a backpack. First, the backpack straps are in a compartment with much more room than they seem to need, which means that there is less room for packing your belongings. This extra room has its advantages, though, because the backpack is VERY comfortable because this area naturally forms into my back (I'm 6'1" and about 165 lbs). The straps pull out easily, too, because of this extra room, and they quickly attach to the sides of the suitcase. The straps are also placed on the opposite side from the wheels, so you won't get your clothes dirty. My only reservation with the straps is that they attach BEFORE the zipper, which means that they will pull on the zipper over time. I'm not sure if this will turn out to be a design flaw, but it's worth stating.
So the primary disadvantage to the suitcase is the room necessary for the backpack and the extra-sturdy wheels. I was easily able to fit three pairs of jeans, three shirts, three t-shirts, four pairs of socks and four boxers into the main compartment. The side compartments could probably hold a couple more pairs of jeans plus toiletries and a book or so. It's not a lot compared to other carry-ons I've used, so if you're looking for a lot of room, this probably won't be your ideal suitcase.
In summary, this is an ideal suitcase for me. I like the sturdy hardware and the little touches that show that someone really thought about how to make a great combination suitcase/backpack. (There's a special inset designed just to hold large goggles for skiing, for example.) This backpack was made for the part-time adventure traveler who likes to pack light and move fast. If this doesn't describe you, then you may not like this suitcase as much as I do.The bag ROCKS only if you travel light. By K. Dubose
UGH-O a cross-over bag that is a carry-on bag with wheels and doubles as a backpack; this can't be good. So I take it out of the box, quality is excellent but I expect nothing less from Thule. The bag is very nice, material made very well and says it's water repellent. Water repellent huh, we'll see about that. Took the bag outside, turned on the hose and let me kids have at it! After 5-10 minutes; YUP its water repellent. The overall functionality is excellent, wheels: perfect, construction of the bag perfect. The bag will not easily tip over. The backpack strap has metal hardware so it should last for a while. Very professional looking and very easy on the eyes so you can use this piece for business and personal.
If you don't know how to pack, this suitcase is not for you. If you're a heavy packer, this suitcase is not for you. This suitcase is perfect for me. I pack light on my business trips so I need something that looks great, maneuvers well, can turn into a backpack when I want, take a beating and can fit in an overhead compartment on a plane.
The bag ROCKS only if you travel light.a little disappointing By sec682
I guess I expected more from a Thule product. First off, even though it is called a carry-on, it may not fit in to the guidelines of several airlines due to its dimensions - it's a little too wide and tall. Second,in my opinion, it has one major design flaw: when you unzip it, there is a slope to it. Basically, one side of the compartment is taller than the other. When it's zipped you don't notice it because the cover is built the same way so overall you get the same size all around, but it makes it difficult to pack. You can't shove things in because there isn't necessarily a side to hold it in. Also, while the dimensions are slightly bigger than another traditionally shaped (21") carry-on that I have, this one actually holds less! This is really only good for a weekend trip, and for that I still think a duffle bag would hold more and take up less space overall. I definitely expected better from this.
Thule Crossover 38-Litre Rolling Carry-On Suit Case (Blue),Thule Crossover 38-Litre Rolling Carry-On Suit Case (Blue) Review, Thule Crossover 38-Litre Rolling Carry-On Suit Case (Blue) Comparison Price, Thule Crossover 38-Litre Rolling Carry-On Suit Case (Blue) Best Offer, Thule Crossover 38-Litre Rolling Carry-On Suit Case (Blue) Best Price