Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner

1. Introduction

To quote Ursula the sea witch, “I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain.” Sometimes it’s not the best designed or the best quality carry-on that attracts our attention, it’s the one that’s the best value.

That doesn’t mean that we just buy the cheapest one on the market. When it comes to a suitcase, we still expect something with good maneuverability and decent durability. However, we also aren’t expecting to get the same level of design as an Away or a Monos for a fraction of the price.

The Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner is one of the most affordable carry-ons out there, but we were interested to find out whether its bargain-basement price was matched by “good enough” quality. As digital nomads, we travel regularly, and something that falls apart after one or two trips really isn’t worth the dollar savings – especially because claiming on a warranty while you’re on the road is an enormous hassle.

In this post, we’re going to walk you through our experience of the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner, from its telescopic handle down to its wheels.

2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions

Weighing in at 6.8lbs (about 3kg), the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner is very lightweight. That’s partly down to the ABS plastic shell, which doesn’t weigh as much as the polycarbonate used by a lot of hardshell luggage – although it also isn’t as tough.

With dimensions of 21.7” H x 14.8” W x 10” H (55cm x 37.5cm x 25cm), it is slightly oversized for many airlines, including Delta and United. We didn’t have any issues taking it on board, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

It can only fit 34l of stuff, which isn’t bad, but it’s certainly not one of the larger options. If you need a bit more space, there’s a pair of zippers to expand the case that gives you an extra 2” of depth. That takes you way over the dimensions for many airlines – but it’s a nice option to have for when you travel with more generous carriers.

We went with the navy blue color, but there are also louder colors like orange and light blue, as well as subtler black and rose gold. Honestly, we were surprised by how smart it looked IRL given the cost

There is an immediately noticeable bit of Amazon Basics branding on the front – which, frankly, is not appealing. Who exactly wants their fellow travelers to know they bought the cheapest bag on the market? Then again, you’re less likely to be targeted by thieves, so there are silver linings…

3. Features & Functionality

We weren’t expecting the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner to do anything revolutionary, and it doesn’t, but it also isn’t as “basic” as its name would suggest.

Storage & Interior Design:

The interior has two roughly equal spaces. One side is open, with a single pocket for small items and a compression strap. BTW, we’re not fans of the compression strap, which didn’t really help compress our clothes at all. You can use it to hold shoes or other items in place, but it won’t help maximize space.

On the other side of the interior is a zippered compartment fronted by two mesh pockets that are handy for small, flat objects and/or cables.

Wheels & Handling:

Amazon has splashed out on four dual spinner wheels, which are a nice touch and offer good maneuverability. Our main issue is that they aren’t recessed at all, which makes them more prone to getting smacked and potentially damaged.

The telescopic handle is one of the worst we’ve tried, taking us back a good 20 years or so to a time when people just accepted that the telescopic mechanism would need a bit of jiggling to get it to extend properly.

Security:

There’s no lock on the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner, which is highly unusual. Then again, not everybody uses the built-in suitcase locks anyway, so it might not be a dealbreaker.

The shell has scratch-resistant finish that gives it a more textured feel and helps to prevent the appearance of scuff marks.

Tech & Smart Add-ons:

The Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner lives up to its name on this front. There are no smart features to speak of.

Mobility & Ease of Use:

There’s one handle on the side and one on the top of the suitcase for when you need to lift the bag. The design of these handles looked a little flimsy to us, but they held up fine during the period that we were testing the bag.

4. Durability & Travel Performance

We didn’t throw the bag down a flight of stairs or anything, but it coped well over a few weeks. We did manage to accrue a few scuffs and a dent though, and long term that ABS shell would definitely be a concern for us.

As for the maneuverability, well, it’s not the most obedient piece of luggage we’ve ever had. While you’ll be fine on the smooth floors of an airport, we struggled a little bit getting it to follow along over uneven pavements in Rome.

We also found the telescopic handle a bit juddery, which probably irritated us more than it should have just because we’ve recently been trying some fancier pieces of luggage. Don’t expect any smooth release action.

One thing we didn’t have any issues with was the zippers. These are Amazon Basics, rather than a specialist zipper brand, but they work fine and seem like they’d last, even if they don’t look anything special.

If the zippers or other functional pieces of the suitcase get damaged, the warranty covers you for just one year.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Incredibly cheap
• Lighter than most
• Good wheels for the price point

Cons:

• Poor telescopic handle
• Non-functional compression strap
• No locking mechanism

6. Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner vs. Samsonite Outline Pro vs. LEVEL8 Road Runner Pro

At just $53.99, the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner is one of the cheapest pieces of luggage on the market. It’s almost a quarter of the price of other relatively affordable luggage such as the Outline Pro ($199.99) and the LEVEL8 Road Runner Pro ($219.99).

However, it is made from cheaper ABS plastic, as opposed to the more robust polycarbonate of the Road Runner Pro.

It also isn’t as well set up for nomads with digital requirements. Where the Road Runner Pro has a handy front compartment for a laptop and a built-in USB charging slot, the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner is devoid of all smart features.

For heavy packers, the Hardside Spinner is light on capacity at 34l. That’s only a little less than the Road Runner Pro (35l), but it’s a lot less than the Outline Pro, which offers 49l of packing space. The flipside of that is the Outline Pro has dimensions of 23” H x 15” W x 10” L, making it too large for strict airlines.

We love a warranty, because in our experience as digital nomads, luggage gets damaged! The one year you get with Amazon Basics is poor, but not unexpected given the price. For comparison, you do get a lot more from Samsonite (10 years) and LEVEL8 (lifetime).

7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)

Perfect for: budget travelers, lightweight packers

Not ideal for: longer trips, remote families

You’re not going to be able to fit a huge amount of stuff in the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner – certainly not with that flimsy compression strap. A three-day trip isn’t going to be an issue though, even if you travel with a laptop and pro camera as well as clothing and toiletries.

8. Final Verdict & Rating

Given the price of the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner, it’s reasonable to expect a customer to put up with flaws in the telescopic handle, the lack of built-in lock, and the mediocre materials. After all, we’re not talking about best-in-class, we’re talking about best value.

We took this bag on several trips, and it held up OK, with only superficial damage to show for its journeys. Would we trust it to survive with us over the course of several years of nomadic travel? Honestly, no, but the reality is it’s so cheap that you can afford to replace it regularly.

That said, from an environmental standpoint, it’s obviously better to have luggage that’s built to last. Plus, things that only minorly annoy the occasional traveler are going to get really irritating for the digital nomad who spends a lot more time jetting about the globe.

Rating: 3.5/5.

9. FAQ Section

What’s the warranty policy?

All Amazon Basics products are subject to a one-year warranty. However, Amazon is not overly clear on how this applies to their luggage range, so we wouldn’t expect it to cover anything beyond serious manufacturer defects.

Is the luggage waterproof?

No, the hardside spinner is not advertised as waterproof. While the ABS shell will stand up to most weather, the zipper lining is not impervious to leaks.