PRODUCT: COOLIFE Suitcase Carry On
PRICE: £59.99
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
MODEL NUMBER: UK13
INTERIOR: Hard-shell with soft interior that has polyester lining and mesh pocket
SIZE: Small 56 x 39 x 23cm (All Parts). Capacity: 38L.
WEIGHT: 6.3lbs.
RATING: ****
FEATURES
This little Amazon choice suitcase which you can take on the plane as hand luggage has a hard shell and is lightweight and scratch resistant.
It comes with a TSA lock and 4 spinner wheels. The inside of the suitcase is covered with two layers of materials.
These being polyester fabric with a thin layer of foam, to increase elastic buffer. Inside is a mesh zip pocket which is elasticated. It has a squared full capacity design.
If you decide to go for a bigger suitcase then the sizes are: medium: 67 x 46 x 26cm (all parts), capacity: 60L, weight: 7.9lbs; large: 77 x 52.5 x 30cm (all parts), capacity: 93L, weight: 10lbs.
GOOD
If you buy it in green or yellow it is very easy to spot on the airport carousel. I found mine durable after a couple of trips, and perfect to take on a plane. It has got a hard shell so it protects any fragile stuff with its soft fabric and mesh inside.
I found the lock easy to open and close. The aluminium handle is bearable and the case generally feels quite lightweight.
The wheels roll easy but I would be a bit wary dragging it along cobbled stones as I would be afraid they could be damaged. The best bit is that the locks are Travel Security Approved, which means transport security officers can use an official master key to unlock it without any damage.
Only thing I would say is that the design may benefit from corner protection plates, as it did encounter some scratches, probably in transit. However, for such a cheap price, this water resistant suitcase is a happy purchase and I’d definitely buy it again.
BAD
If I had any gripes about this suitcase it would be that the handle can be a bit temperamental and sometimes doesn’t go down. Sometimes I felt that travelling on the right hand side of me felt rather better than the left.
It seemed to drag a little on the left side. I saw quite a lot of these cases at the airport so I would advise anyone buying one to customise it to make it stand out. If you are worried that your suitcase might get damaged, or indeed its contents, put a fragile sticker on the suitcase and buy a bag protector for the contents inside your suitcase, plus cover your suitcase with a bag protector that fits and make cut outs in the appropriate places.
This will stop it from getting scratched in the rough and tumble of the carousel and when it is being transported onto a plane. Most airports also offers you a service where they can encase your luggage in plastic clingfilm to prevent it getting scratched or dirty.
if the price is too high, there are obviously cheaper alternatives that you may wish to consider. A slightly smaller suitcase such as the Flight Knight comes at around £20 cheaper. The more economical suitcase is also small enough to be accepted by most airlines on board as a cabin case.
CONCLUSION
On the whole I would rate the Coolife at four stars. The only thing letting it down being the slight drag, but on the whole it is quite a nifty suitcase that is easy to get on and off the plane. Just make sure you customise it. I have a small Union Jack sticker on mine, or put a colourful strap to make it look different.
Should you be going to a place like Italy where there are lots of cobbled stones, it might be worth your while taking a suitcase which does not have wheels. In order for it not being to heavy, it might have to be one that is a big canvas bag. For the quality of this suitcase offered, it is definitely a good buy. Check with your airline but this small suitcase might be a bit too big as a under seat bag. For most under seat cabin bags, the maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including handles and wheels), but check with your airline.