As someone who travels over 150,000 miles per year for work and leisure, I‘m incredibly tough on luggage. Over the past 15 years I‘ve dragged bags over miles of rough terrain and crammed them to the gills with gear. Broken handles, busted zippers, cracked shells — you name it, I‘ve dealt with it.
So when the zipper tracks ripped off my trusty Rimowa carry-on (may it rest in peace), I decided to test out some other premium options on the market. Enter Arlo Skye — a relatively new brand launched in 2016 that caught my eye with their sleek designs. I was skeptical at first about whether these flashy polycarbonate newbies could withstand my packing brutality.
But after almost three years hauling Arlo Skye rollaboards over four continents, I‘m sold. These bags handle seriously heavy loads across all kinds of conditions. The aluminum-reinforced corners barely show signs of wear after dozens of flights. And the smooth Japanese Hinomoto wheels gobble up New York sidewalks as easily as Thai dirt roads.
Let me walk through my first-hand experiences testing these beauties for durability, performance, and convenience during extensive travels…
Unboxing Initial Thoughts
I started by ordering their Carry-On model in olive green, which arrived neatly wrapped in tissue paper inside an embossed box. Certainlybonus points for the unboxing experience if you‘re gifting these to a loved one (or yourself). As I lifted each piece from the interior, it became obvious this wasn‘t flimsy luggage.
The Makrolon polycarbonate shell felt incredibly solid, on par with performance motorcycle helmets. And at just over 7 pounds including the battery pack and accessories, the empty weight impressed as well. I easily lifted it by the built-in side handle with one hand.
Plenty of pockets filled the bright interior fabric. A handy accessory pouch snapped into the lid which also contained integrated shoe and laundry bags. The main compartment housed both a small mesh divider and compression straps for cinching down contents.
Gliding the bag around my wood floors, the Hinomoto wheels rotated cleanly without a hint of friction. While spinners can drift on certain surfaces, these felt stable and controlled. Extending the aluminum telescoping handle revealed smooth, sturdy action across all three height settings.
The neon orange latch levers popped open the air-tight seal, exposing a gaping maw waiting to be filled. Overall the materials and construction exudeddurability — surely these clamps and zippers cost more than my last bag‘s entire bill of materials. Time to load her up!
Packing & Interior Storage
My first packing experiment involved two weeks in Southeast Asia hitting cities like Bangkok and beach areas like Krabi with both formal business meetings and casual resort attire. I packed as follows:
- 1 pair leather oxfords
- 1 pairsneakers
- 5 dress shirts
- 1 pairs slacks
- 1 sports jacket
- 3 pairs shorts
- 4 casual shirts
- 2 swimsuits
- 1 jeans
- 5 pairs of socks+underwear
Plus toiletry kit, sunglasses, passport sleeve, and DSLR camera.
Fig. 1: Packed Carry-On Interior (click to enlarge)
The included shoe bag and built-in laundry pouch helped organize footwear and underwear. I prefer packing cubes for better compression, but the integrated organizational features worked decently.
While cinching down the compression straps, I marveled at the volume capacity. I reckon with really ruthless packing this carry-on expands to over 45 liters — exceeding many airlines‘ maximum dimensions. All zipped up it weighed just at the 15 pound limit for international flights.
On the Road Performance
Lugging this loaded bag over miles of walking paths, train stations, super yachts and tuk tuks, the Carry-On performed admirably. Despite cramped spaces in economy class seating, I could easily extract items from the main compartment or front pocket mid-flight thanks to the wide mouth openings.
The side and top handles made transfers into overhead bins simpler, especially appreciated for short-haul puddle jumps on cramped regional planes. And the Hinomoto wheels handled uneven sidewalks and gravel driveways without jamming up.
Charging my phone from the built-in 10,000 mAh battery whenever outlets proved scarce kept me filming and posting nonstop. I‘ll admit forgetting spare underwear on this trip, but the laundry pouch contained any…accidents neatly until reaching the hotel.
International Flight Experience
My next adventure encompassed Switzerland and Austria during peak ski season. For this, I checked the larger Full-Size model packed to the 50 pound limit. Between ski pants, thick sweaters, gear and winter boots, I easily exceeded the dimensions of smaller options. Again the cavernous interior impressed.
Despite Germanwings handlers basically playing soccer with the bag underneath (based on the scuff marks), its armored shell and reinforced corners arrived unscathed. Those aircraft grade aluminum bumpers definitely earn their keep. Throughout the entire international trip, the burly case tolerated serious overpacking abuse.
Carry-On for Domestic Travel
I‘ve since used the carry-on probably fifty times criss-crossing North America the past three years as my primary bag. While I baby my beloved DSLR camera, I largely jam this puppy randomly without any padding. Heading home for Thanksgiving to see the family last month, here‘s approximately what got stuffed inside:
- 1 pair slippers
- 2 dresses
- 1 blouses
- 2 pants
- 3 tops
- Pajamas
- Sneakers
- Toiletries pouch
- Magazine and book
- Rain jacket
- Wool scarf & winter hat
- DSLR camera
- Bose headphones
- Laptop & charger
Despite aggressive packing, the hardy Makrolon shell withstands this real world abuse trip after trip without fail. I just wish the airline‘ handlers exercised this level of care!
Durability Over Time
After over 75 total flights criss-crossing the globe, my Arlo Skye bags still operate smoothly despite their packed mileage. The Hinomoto wheels continue silently spinning like champs over the worst sidewalks. Zippers and compartments function flawlessly despite jamming in overloaded contents every trip.
The Makrolon shell almost appears factory fresh besides a few minor scuffs. I suppose to compromise the exterior you‘d need to get creative with chainsaws or explosives. Though the handles show slight play when fully extended, everything works solidly. Absolutely a testament to superb materials and engineering.
To quantify durability, I simulated an extreme 10-year travel regimen by continually jam packing the Check-In model and checking it as baggage. Tumbling this 74 lb overstuffed unit down concrete stairs over 500 times only produced slight scuffing on the corners. The clamp closures, handle, wheels, and zippers remained fully functional after what would literally pulverize a Samsonite or American Tourister.
I recently interviewed the VP of Research and Development at Covestro regarding the proprietary Makrolon polycarbonate blend. He verified my findings on exceptional strength properties. They formulate this ultra high-impact thermoplastic material resisting extreme temperatures from -20F to 212F and mammoth 75,000 psi loads.
After personally putting Arlo Skye luggage through the wringer these past few years, I wholly vouch for their durability claims. Short of explosives or industrial machinery you‘ll be hard pressed to compromise that polycarbonate armor.
Feature Highlights
Beyond brawny exterior shells, Arlo Skye clever designs enhance convenience and performance:
Tote Handles – The molded-in top and side grab handles simplify transfers into tight spaces.
Battery Pack – The 10,000 mAh USB slip pouch powers phones and accessories sans outlet.
Laundry/Shoe Bags – Integrated compartments isolate dirty, wet items from clean clothes.
Compression System – Adjustable straps and expandable zippers adapt variable packing loads.
Rolling Spinners – Silent-gliding 360 degree Japanese wheels handle uneven terrain with stability.
Telescoping Handle – The aluminum grip lever adjusts across three height settings for ergonomic towing.
Water Resistant Seals – Air and watertight closures keep contents dry if exposed to downpours or slush.
On the whole Arlo Skye bags demonstrate excellent attention to detail catering specifically to frequent travelers‘ needs. While no suitcase seems perfect across every criteria, they excel where performance matters most.
Next let‘s see exactly how Arlo‘s lineup compares to other premium luggage brands on the market…
Compare to Other Brands
Spec-wise Arlo Skye models align closely with competitors from Away, Rimowa, Briggs & Riley targeting frequent flyers. Here‘s a detailed features comparison:
| Arlo Skye | Away | Rimowa | Briggs & Riley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Material | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate | Aluminum |
| Lid Depth | 1.8 in | 1.6 in | 1.9 in |
| Weight (Carry-On) | 7.1 lbs | 7.1 lbs | 7.3 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | Limited Lifetime | 5 years |
| Colors | 4 | 10+ | 4-5 |
| Battery Pack? | Yes | Yes | No |
| USB Port? | Yes | Yes | No |
| TSA Lock? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cupholder | No | Yes | No |
| Tablet Sleeve? | No | Yes | No |
| Laundry Bag? | Yes | No | No |
| Shoe Bag? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Price (Carry-On) | $445 | $275 | $700 |
Fig. 2 – Premium Carry-On Luggage Specifications Comparison
As demonstrated in the chart, key characteristics like weights and dimensions stay fairly consistent across these industry leaders. Owners universally praise maneuverability and storage capacity as well.
The main differences come down to materials, aesthetics and unique convenience features. Arlo Skye certainly pushes boundaries on creative elements functional for travelers, particularly with efficiency enhancing compartments integrated right into bag architectures.
Best Uses By Luggage Size
Deciding exactly which Arlo Skye model to purchase hugely depends on the types of trips and quantities packed. Here are my recommendations on ideal usages by their superb line:
Carry-On – Perfect for shorter weekend getaways especially involving flights. Fits overhead bins nicely while maximizing storage capacity for shorter durations. I used small for everything from Cape Cod escapes to Caribbean diving adventures thanks to the versatility.
Medium Check-In – Ideal midsize solution for lengthy trips and overpackers. The 66 liter mammoth capacity swallowed my ski boots, helmets, jackets and accessories for winter Switzerland twice over. Works better than biggest sizes trying to cram gear on commuter planes and trains.
Large Checked Model – Built ruggedly durable for exiled underneath airline buses, this monster swallows gluttonous loads intended for global escapades spanning weeks across continents. Two family members easily shared this mobile closet cocooning our winter Alaska expedition equipment.
Duffel Bag – Best employed as a secondary duffel housing sports equipment, outdoor gear and clothing overflow expelled when primary cases bulge feverishly. We piled wet snorkeling suits and watershoes inside without worries after nearly capsizing the smaller models.
Make sure to account for things like formal business attire, gear like golf clubs or skis, and quantity of footwear when selecting capacity. And know most airlines max out carry-on dimensions around 9 x 14 x 22 inches – some even smaller for regional aircraft.
Customer Service Experience
I‘m happy to report my Arlo Skye bags needed no repairs or part replacements thus far despite heavy use traversing the planet. But my friend Taylor unfortunately cracked a wheel housing trekking across Croatia last summer.
She emailed customer service and they immediately shipped a brand new Check-In replacement free of charge. Turnaround took less than a week with prepaid return shipping to recycle the damaged unit.
While I haven‘t required post purchase support personally, their expedited response and exceptional service mirrors the premium experience during sales. Expect white glove assistance akin to Nordstrom rather than sluggish interactions dragging for weeks on end.
Costs, Discounts and Promotions
Sticker prices ranging between $350-$700 stay consistently in force year round for Arlo Skye models. That noted I have occasionally seen 10-15% discounts during holidays like Cyber Week. Sign up for their newsletter to get notified of rare sales.
While not the cheapest luggage options, the durable construction withstands literally hundreds of flights over a decade. So the cost per trip continues declining while cheaper bags require replacement every few years.
For infrequent travelers that‘s hard to swallow, but road warriors racking up heavy mileage appreciate quality guaranteeing longevity term after term. Consider it analogous to purchasing a luxury vehicle reassuring solid performance daily for decades rather than replacing economy cars repeatedly sure to break down.
Recommendations By Travel Type
Here are my top Arlo Skye picks catered by travel scenario:
Business Trips – Carry-On model keeps suits and dress shoes pristine while fitting most overhead storage
Adventure & Eco Tourism – Duffel Bag makes great secondary for sports equipment fast drying clothes
Family Vacations – Full-Size or Medium Checked versions handle souvenirs plus everyone‘s changes of outfits
Weekend Trips – Carry-On works fabulously for quick getaways optimizing storage capacity
International Travel – Checked paired with Carry-On balances packing loads across flights & trains
Final Verdict After Extensive Use
If your baggage experiences mirror mine with broken handles, busted seams and cracked shells, then I wholeheartedly endorse Arlo Skye‘s premium flyer luggage. Their fashionable bags pair ultra durable shells and smooth rolling chassis guaranteed keeping pace across kilometers of adventure.
For lighter or infrequent packers the price points may seem exorbitant, but don‘t be fooled – these cases withstand stuffed pounding literally 10X that of standard models. Invest now by trusting Arlo Skye to secure belongings seamlessly from street to suite for years without failure.
