RIMOWA Essential Check-In L Review
1. Introduction
There’s something to be said for a luggage company’s reputation. As regular travelers, we’re often willing to spend a little more on a brand that has proven mileage, with years of experience in creating sturdy, long-lasting products. The last thing we want is to be stuck in a foreign city and having to splash out for a brand-new bag because the previous one packed up after just a couple of trips.
RIMOWA is definitely on the premium end of the scale when it comes to suitcases, but it boasts a 100-year-plus track record in creating robust luggage that can survive the bump and grind of plane journeys and rail rides.
The most premium end of the company’s products are its aluminum suitcases, but it also has a very good line of polycarbonate hardshells that aren’t quite as eye-wateringly expensive – albeit they’re also not quite as luxurious or sturdy.
We’ve previously tested out the Essential Cabin, so we thought we’d continue our exploration of the brand’s core product range by giving the Essential Check-In L a spin.
2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions
It’s important to get the stats of any new piece of luggage before making a purchase, especially if you’re splashing out more than $1,000. One of the first things we always want to know is: will it fit the size restrictions of most airlines that we’re likely to fly with.
At 30.6” H x 20.5” W x 11.1” D (77.5cm x 51cm x 26.5cm), the Essential Check-In L is within the checked luggage limits of all the major international airlines, as well as smaller carriers. It doesn’t have an expandable feature like some extra-large suitcases, but its capacity of 85l was more than enough for our needs.
We decided to go with the glossy red color. No surprises, it looked gorgeous. The feel of the polycarbonate shell is lovely and smooth, broken up by an even covering of grooves that give it a nice, textured look without being too OTT. (Then again, who are we to worry about being OTT with our glaringly loud red suitcase!)
There are also more muted colors like black, grey, and navy, as well as equally flashy hues like green and white.
The luggage weighs 10.6lbs (4.8kg) empty, which makes it one of the lighter checked bags on the market.
3. Features & Functionality
The interior layout of the Check-In L is fairly standard for a clamshell suitcase, but there are some noticeable upgrades to the details.
Storage & Interior Design:
The suitcase has two large interior compartments. One side is zippered and is slightly smaller because the telescopic handle slides into it.
The other side is an open space with a compression pad, which uniquely uses Velcro rather than a buckle to cinch down your clothing. We were skeptical at first, but we can confirm that it worked very well!
Both the zippered compartment and the compression pad are fronted by mesh pockets that run the length of the suitcase. This is where we quarantined our dirty clothes, but you could also slip in books, cables, and other flat-ish items.
There’s also a small pocket on one side where we just chucked things like loose change and jewelry.
Wheels & Handling:
We slid our RIMOWA over a mixture of hotel carpets, concrete airport terminal floors, and cracked road pavements. The wheels held up well over all these surfaces, even if we occasionally had to switch to dragging it behind us rather than rolling it beside us. Mounted on ball bearings, the wheels feel smooth and responsive.
As for the telescopic handle, it’s a stage-free design, which means you can slide it out to match your height.
Security:
The bag has a built-in, TSA-approved lock on the side. The zippers for the main compartment just click into the combination lock and, boom, secure – well, as secure as any suitcase can be.
Tech & Smart Add-ons:
There aren’t any smart features available with the Essential range.
Mobility & Ease of Use:
You’ve got your typical retractable handles on the top and one side. The other side has a series of bumpers, so you can balance the suitcase on its end if you want.
4. Durability & Travel Performance
As well as adding a visual element to the surface of the suitcase, the ridges on the RIMOWA shell are meant to reduce the appearance of scuffing. We still managed to pick up a few scratches over the course of a couple of trips though.
While that’s not unusual for a polycarbonate hardshell, if it’s something that bothers you, maybe don’t go for the glossy red option! From our experience with other suitcases, matte finishes in more muted colors don’t tend to show cosmetic damage as noticeably.
Since 2022, all RIMOWA suitcases have come with a lifetime guarantee, which is a much-appreciated change from the five years they offered previously and something that factored into our final verdict (see below). The guarantee covers functional issues like the zippers, handles, and wheels, but not cracks in the shell.
We haven’t yet had to claim on the warranty, but RIMOWA has a very good reputation for replacing broken parts free of charge.
5. Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good capacity
- Gorgeous exterior
- Lighter than most
Cons
- Very expensive
- No smart features
6. RIMOWA Essential Check-In L vs. TUMI Extended Trip Expandable 4 Wheeled Packing Case vs. Eagle Creek ORV Wheeled Trunk
The RIMOWA Essential Check-In L is one of the best-looking pieces of luggage on the market, and the company has a long history of quality and class. We’d have no problem rating it as more striking and glamorous than pretty much anything on the market, including the TUMI Extended Trip Expandable Packing Case and the Eagle Creek ORV Wheeled Trunk.
However, while it does have a good capacity of 85l, it’s not quite as big as the TUMI (126l) or the Eagle Creek (97l). For over-packers, it might not be the best option.
It’s also not as business oriented as the TUMI, which has lots of compartments and pockets for devices, suits, and more. On the other end of the spectrum, the Eagle Creek is clearly a better purchase for more adventurous travelers who want a sturdy piece of luggage with spaces for dirty boots, bike helmets, and other equipment.
Where the RIMOWA really fills a niche is for long-term expats who want a stylish suitcase with top-quality wheels and a reliable telescopic handle that is perfect for traversing the world’s cities.
And let’s not forget that at $1,200 it’s slightly cheaper than the TUMI, which costs $1,395. (The Eagle Creek is expectedly a lot more affordable at $439, as it’s more a piece of high-end outdoors gear than luxury luggage.)
Plus, you need to factor in the fact that RIMOWA provides a lifetime warranty – as does Eagle Creek – while TUMI only offers free repairs for up to five years.
7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)
Perfect for: long-term expats, city slickers
Not ideal for: adventurous nomads, business travelers
We managed to pack enough clothing for two weeks with ease. As a hardshell suitcase, the Essential Check-In L doesn’t have as much flexibility as a softshell or a duffel, but its roomy compartments still leave plenty of space for multiple outfits, a couple pairs of shoes, and even our favorite Panama hat.
8. Final Verdict & Rating
Full disclosure: we’ve previously tested out the cabin version of the RIMOWA Essential range, and we were a little bit down on it because of the price. That’s because personally we’re not willing to spend a huge amount on carry-on, especially when there’s a lot of beautiful, functional carry-on luggage out there that you can purchase for way less.
HOWEVER, it’s a different story for the checked bag. For us, it makes more sense to invest in an expensive piece of checked luggage like the Check-In L if it is robust and comes with a good warranty, since it’s likely to endure rougher treatment during transit.
The only real downsides that we can list for the RIMOWA Essential Check-In L are drawbacks that you will find for almost every piece of hardshell luggage. Otherwise, the only thing stopping us from recommending it to all our friends is the cost!
Rating: 4.5/5
9. FAQ Section
What’s the warranty policy?
All RIMOWA suitcases come with a lifetime warranty, which covers repairs for broken zippers, handles, and other functional features. There is no protection for cosmetic wear and tear, such as scratch marks or scratched shells.
Is the luggage waterproof?
Like a lot of hardshell luggage, the RIMOWA Essential Check-In L does a good job of keeping its contents dry. However, it is not advertised as waterproof, and in a deluge, you might find that the zipper lining begins to leak.
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