The Not-So-Great Victorinox Carry-On: Why You Might Want to Skip This Bag

Victorinox makes great luggage, and the expandable spinner is my favorite for international trips. This carry-on is in the same series, and it just didn't work quite as well.

Don't you love all those articles about how to travel for two weeks with a carry-on? There are lovely photos of “all” the person's items they manage to get into the tiny suitcase. And, they seem to have many dress options and shoes. This review is not that.

As an avid traveler, I have tried for years to pack correctly in the regular check-in suitcase, never mind the carry-on. I have not encountered anyone in the real world who can do that with any success, but I guess there's always hope.

I am anxious when I fly; I'm not too fond of the process of traveling, airports, too many people, long lines, and knowing I'm going to have to sit in that tiny seat for ten hours. I realized that if I can get the things I can control right, then it's bearable. Getting my carry-on right is a big part of that. I tried this Victorinox Spectra carry-on on my last trip and was not a fan.

HSP Approved

PROS

Stylish | Cool Factor
Lightweight and glides smoothly

CONS

When packed the door will not open properly while standing, you have to lay it down
Can't find anything | Expensive

Victorinox Spectra 2.0 Dual-Access Extra Capacity

I travel with one carry-on and one check-in suitcase. The carry-on must fit under the seat in front of you; otherwise, it will make you feel even more cramped than you already do. I don't like to put my bag in the overhead storage; I prefer it within reach for easy access.

I bought the Victorinox Luggage Spectra 2.0 Dual-Access Extra Capacity Carry-On because I thought the design was genius. I love Victorinox products; they usually have a minimalist, sleek, modern profile.

The right bag is worth every penny if you travel a lot, even at $369. I also bought the Victorinox Spectra 2.0 Large Expandable Spinner, which I love, during a sale for $345, but it's regularly $420. You can find that review HERE.

The carry-on is ultra-light at 7.0 lbs. and large; its size is deceiving due to its wide body. It has an excellent sturdy handle and wheels along smoothly; you barely touch it. You can fit a lot into the main body of the bag and store your electronics in the top section.

The front part has many little pockets to work well for work travel. In theory, it looks like a well-thought-out design.

My carry-on usually contains a MacBook Air 13″, chargers, Bose headphones, passports, booking confirmations if my phone goes down, medications, snacks, toiletries, wipes, and anything I'm bringing that might break in the check-in suitcase.

I don't bring an extra set of clothes which is probably a good idea, but I prefer to carry as little as possible on the plane. Thankfully I have never had any problems with my luggage missing while traveling.

After about two hours of using the carry-on during a domestic US flight and hating it, the concept of this carry-on is excellent; in practical terms, it was below par. It rolled along like a dream, so I had high hopes in the beginning.

I breezed through security and onto the plane. It's so easy to wheel it doesn't feel like you have anything with you.

The clamshell opening was odd; you could not open the access door while standing because it would hang from the weight of whatever was on that side. Therefore, you must lay the case down to open it, which didn't work well in the confines of a plane.

Good luck finding anything in the main compartment via the clamshell opening. It fitted comfortably in the overhead bin but didn't work very well if you put it under the seat in front of you because of that access door, it was hard to access anything.

By the end of the trip, I disliked this expensive carry-on. Nothing worked how I thought it would, so I would not recommend purchasing this bag.

My go-to carry-on bag, which I love, is Dagne Dover's Landon Carry-All. It sits under the seat in front of me easily (medium size), you can see everything when you open it, and it's incredibly lightweight. The review for that bag is HERE.

I love the larger check-in version in the Victorinox Spectra 2.0 Large Expandable Spinner; you can find that review HERE.

Share this Post

HSP Review is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This enables us to have an ad-free website. Learn more on our disclosure page.