If you’ve followed Road Trip Reviews for a while (or simply known me for any length of time), you know I’ve always been a bit of a pragmatist when it comes to luggage. I used to think it was ludicrous to spend a premium on a cabin bag, purely because of the absolute punishment I subject mine to.
But then I looked at the maths. My original Samsonite Octolite survived over 500 flights and countless road trips. At an initial cost of roughly $250–$300 AUD, that bag cost me about 60 cents per flight. When Samsonite sent me their new Paralux 55cm cabin suitcase last year as a loan to review, I was keen to see if a more “premium” offering could truly handle my lifestyle.
Fifty flights and several international expeditions later, the results are in…and Samsonite won’t be getting their suitcase back…
The Ultimate “Everyday Adventure” Test
Since receiving the Paralux in September, it hasn’t had a moment’s rest with weekly flights to Sydney and Melbourne. Plus my cabin suitcases have never been a simple carry-on, they’ve been more of an “everyday adventure companion.” Here is just a snapshot of where it’s been:
- The Deep Freeze: Filming in the -35c cold and snow of Inner Mongolia in December.
- The Auto Show Circuit: 10-hour days being wheeled through the massive convention halls and city streets of Tokyo (Japan Motor Show) and Guangzhou (Canton Exhibition).
- The Dirt: Two return road trips from Melbourne to Brisbane, where it sat in the dirt and vegetation for rolling camera shots.
- The “Drop” Test: Heading off to Chengdu this January to film my Geely EX2 review, I actually threw the Paralux off my first-floor balcony at home to save myself a trip back upstairs while carrying my other Octolite Neo suitcases down.
Performance: The “Lexus” of Wheels
The standout feature is, without doubt, the wheels. I thought my Octolite and Oc2Lite sets wheeled smoothly, but the Paralux is on another level—it’s like the Lexus of suitcase wheels.
Bizarrely, they actually seem to get easier to wheel the more weight you add. Even when packed beyond airline allowances and logical limits, the telescopic handle remains smooth and dependable, never sticking like you find on cheaper alternatives or even similarly priced competitors.
Smart Design Tweaks
The Paralux introduced a few features that changed how I travel:
- The Front Flap: The lockable front zippered section took a bit of getting used to for a “basic” guy like me, but it’s been a lifesaver for carrying a second laptop and better dividing my gear.
- The Expansion Zipper: This has saved many a Daniel’s Donuts 6-pack at Melbourne Airport from being squashed!
- Integrated TSA Lock: Having one unit that locks two independent sections is brilliant engineering.
- The Bag Hook: I use the hook behind the suitcase almost every trip to carry small gift bags for the cabin crew.
One minor miss: I do miss the middle pocket in the inner lining (over the hinge) that my Octolite had for AirTags (mainly because I just kept it in the original box), though the Paralux does come with a dedicated AirTag holder if you remove the tag from the box like a normal person.
Style vs. Substance
I buy for function, not fashion, but I’ve been surprised by how many compliments I get on this suitcase. I went with the Stone Grey colour-way to break up the sea of bland black suitcases at the airport. It’s remarkably resistant to marks, and when it does get a scuff from the dirt or a balcony drop, it wipes clean with ease.
The Verdict
After 50 flights, I couldn’t recommend the Samsonite Paralux more for someone wanting a premium, fashionable, and incredibly tough suitcase.
However, I have to point out that the Octolite Neo 55cm remains an undervalued, extremely dependable workhorse if you’re on a tighter budget or don’t get as much out of your suitcases as me. Other brands might have trending partnerships and gimmicky features, but for pure reliability and dependability, Samsonite still has my heart.