Home Reviews ,,,,, Summer is approaching and when planning a vacation you also have to deal with what you will want to take with you. Whether it's just a weekend or a trip of a few weeks, the suitcase is essential and for this reason we decided to try a set that seemed interesting from the point of view of the quality / price ratio.
There are three Tomshoo suitcases that we have tried in recent weeks, identical in the number of pockets and in the main functions, differing almost only in size. The smallest, 20 '', can load up to 15 kg (empty it weighs 2.4 kg) and is of the right measures to be chosen as hand luggage in case of air travel while the other two, respectively 24 '' (maximum 20 kg, empty weighs 3.3 kg) and 28 '' (maximum load 25 kg, 4.1 kg is the weight of the suitcase alone) are designed to be put in the hold instead.
Differences
There are only two differences and they reside in the smaller version: this being lighter (especially when fully loaded) and manageable, it does not offer the second handle for transport horizontally and, therefore, the feet are missing on one side to be able to place it firmly on the ground. Furthermore, the pull-out handle is characterized by two sections which ensure a wider extension, thus ensuring a more practical transport even for taller people.
Outside views
Except for the size, the suitcases, as we said, are almost the same. The outer shell, in our case blue, is made of ABS, a thermoplastic polymer which, despite its lightness, ensures strength and flexibility . In fact, they are not completely rigid but, especially in the center, they flex slightly with a good pressure, however the robust internal thickenings prevent them from being irreversibly deformed, returning it to its original shape when crushed. They are also soft on the sides and near the hinge while they are impossible to flex at the frames and near the corners.
The outer covering is characterized by a texture composed of a dense series of three-dimensional dots that offer excellent stability when the suitcases are in contact with each other or on a soft surface such as the inside of the car trunk or the rubberized baggage roller at the airport.
On the underside of the suitcases we find four wheels which therefore allow you to push them while also keeping them completely vertical: you are therefore not obliged to tilt the suitcases to drag them behind you (this is still a possible option), but you can also simply push it to your side, much more comfortable especially if you decide to attach a backpack or a second travel bag to the telescopic handle while traveling. We were particularly impressed by the fluidity of the wheels *: on asphalt and uneven ground they flow just as well, but even after collecting some dirt we never noticed blocks, even if only temporary.
Handles and different heights
On the upper side there is a large handle (22 centimeters) half in sturdy plastic, while the lower half is in soft rubber, a choice we appreciated as, with the suitcases loaded, it makes transport easier without injuring or tiring the hands.
From the same side protrudes the telescopic handle which can be extracted simply by pressing a large button positioned in the center: as anticipated, in the smaller suitcase it is composed of two sections (for two different heights, specifically at 75cm or 100cm from the ground) while in the remaining two it is composed of a single section. In the case of the larger suitcase it is possible to lock it at two different heights (90cm and 100cm from the ground) while in the middle one there are three heights available, respectively at 73, 90 and 100cm from the ground.
As mentioned above, the 24 '' and 28 '' suitcases have a second handle on one of the two long sides identical in size and materials to the main one, while on the opposite side there are four large plastic feet (3 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm) to be able to place them in this position ensuring a excellent stability and avoiding contact with the ground.
Combination lock and hinges
The suitcases open perfectly in half and remain closed by means of a zipper . The latter cannot be fully opened: the stroke is in fact blocked on one side by a wide rubber strap (27cm long on the 20 '' suitcase, 33cm on the 24 '' and 40cm on the 28 '') such a fabric system. When closed, the zipper is 0.7 cm thick and externally strengthened by a rubber frame (3.3 x 0.2 cm) that covers it on both sides.
The two zips open and close by pulling two large metal tabs characterized by a hole (0.8 x 0.6 cm) which allows them to be locked inside the combination lock in three digits that we find positioned on the right side of the suitcase.
The lock is not of the TSA type, this means that those traveling to the United States will have to rely on a third-party lock like this or opt for another model of suitcases equipped with this type of closure like these. Otherwise, if the need arises, the security managers could in fact be authorized to break the suitcase to access its contents: therefore, with a lock or a TSA padlock the problem does not arise as the operators are normally equipped with special passe-partout.
A look inside
The inside of the suitcases is entirely lined with a thin layer of foam rubber protected by a tear-proof fabric , which remains stitched around the entire perimeter while it remains mobile in the lower half, below which is the internal structure of the telescopic handle. Here we find X-shaped elastic bands that close in the center through a plastic clip and allow you to keep the clothes stored on this side well folded and tidy: on the other hand there is a double compartment which is created by opening or closing the fabric cover through two internal hinges. The latter is half accompanied by a mesh pocket , which can also be closed by a zip.
Measures
Internally, each half of the 20 '' suitcase measures 48 x 36 x 10cm, half of the 24 '' version measures 60 x 42 x 13cm while the inside dimensions of each half of the larger suitcase are 70 x 49 x 15 centimeters.
Conclusions
Since there are no trips planned in the immediate future, there was no way to try them thoroughly, but we have nevertheless replaced the medium-sized one with the old suitcase that we use every week in our travels. From our point of view we preferred it mainly for the semi-rigid structure that keeps the contents more protected, moreover the possibility of transporting it keeping it completely vertical seemed to us easier on more than one occasion.
The internal compartment is particularly convenient, excellent for storing clothes to be washed on return, for example, keeping them well separated from the rest of the suitcase. The hinges seemed very good from the point of view of robustness: after two weeks, during which we treated it without too much care by throwing it in the trunk of the car or occasionally adding a second suitcase on top of it, they continue to slide well and without hitches.
Retail price
The Tomshoo 3 suitcase set is on sale on Amazon for € 117.99. It is available in blue, green and black.
,,
