If you want to get serious about traveling, then you need to travel with some good gear!
For the longest time, I would only travel with a backpack. I don’t know why.
But I would stuff everything inside my backpack…clothes, shoes, and everything in between.
However, when I started doing more international travel, I knew I would need to invest in some real luggage.
That’s when I came across the AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner. It’s part of the “AmazonBasics” line – which is their store brand.
Overall, I had some great experiences with other AmazonBasics products (like chargers, towels, etc) so I decided to give their hardliner luggage a try.
And overall, I’m very impressed and I think it’s definitely worth the money.
This is a great value product if you want something that is durable, can fit a ton of your clothes and souvenirs, and still look really stylish.
Here is my AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage Review!
Overview Of The AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner
The AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner is a classic piece of carry on luggage.
The dimensions are:
- 25.5″ (~64.5cm) height
- 16″ (~40.5cm) width
- and 11″(~28cm) length
The luggage is split into two compartments. On the bottom is the largest and main storage area.
It’s pretty open and there is a “seat belt” that holds the stuff together so they don’t jump around on the plane.
The top compartment has two zippered pockets and the whole thing can be unzipped for even more storage on top.
Each half of the storage area is around 5 – 6 inches deep depending on how far you can stretch it.
The actual outer shell is made out of a hard plastic (I believe it’s ABS), which helps protect your stuff inside.
Overall, I love the look of the hardside spinner. It’s very sleek, simple, and incredibly functional.
My Latest Experience With This Bad Boy!
My latest trip with this piece of luggage was hauling it all the way to Guadalajara.
And let me tell you, I brought back a bunch of stuff and was luckily able to fit it into this bad boy.
Here’s what I put inside on my last trip:
- A week’s worth of clothes (3 t-shirts, 2 polo shirts, 2 pairs of jeans, and a pair of chinos)
- Two pairs of shoes – dress shoes and double monk straps (for hitting the Guadalajara nightlife scene)
- A full suit (slacks, jacket, and dress shirt) to visit the city’s best restaurants!
- Ceramic bowl that I bought from Tlaquepaque
PLUS I brought back 8 bottles of Tequila!
Yep… you heard me! I packed eight 750 ml bottles of tequila in this thing even with all those clothes.
Yeah I know…I’m kind of a tequila addict. I collect and drink Tequila so it’s just a “hobby” haha.
But anyways, as you can see, I was able to pack a ton of stuff into the AmazonBasics Hardliner Spinner.
And yes, my bottles of tequila made it home safe with none of them breaking 🙂
Click Here to buy the AmazonBasics Hardline Spinner for your next international adventure!
Pros of The AmazonBasics Luggage
Alright, I want to discuss in more detail some of my favorite things about this piece of luggage.
There are 4 main reasons why I love this luggage: (1) durability, (2) size, (3) smooth wheels and (4) GREAT VALUE.
Durability
Durability is a big question when it comes to buying luggage. Some premium brands charge $200+ for a good piece of hardliner luggage.
So you definitely want to make sure the luggage can stand the test of time.
Well, I’m glad to report that I have been using the Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner for well over two years now.
And I travel pretty frequently (12 – 14 times per year).
Whenever I travel, this thing takes a beating. But it’s still alive and kicking! The only noticeable wear and tear is a few scratches on the outer shell.
Other than that, the luggage is very durable. All of the zippers still work inside. The handle still works.
And the wheels are still nice (although not as smooth as when they were brand new).
Size (It Expands!)
One of the really cool features of this hardside luggage is you can unzip the side and increase the size. According to Amazon, the zippers on the outside allow you to increase the size of the luggage by 15%.
In my experience, unzipping the side actually increases it by more because the material around the zipper is a lot more flexible – so you can put a lot more stuff in there.
However, if you expand the luggage, it likely won’t fit as a carry on item. I’ve had a few experiences where they had me check the luggage in and other times they really didn’t care.
Overall, I would say the expandable feature is one of the product’s coolest features.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve traveled where I forgot about it and almost had to throw some priceless souvenirs away!
Smooth Wheels!
When I was younger, I would travel to Taiwan with my mom and sister. And my mom had this crappy old piece of luggage.
And let me tell you this thing was a piece of crap! The wheels were so old that sometimes they wouldn’t even turn.
So often times we had to carry this large behemoth by hand in the airport! And there were a few close calls we had to missing flights because of this dead weight luggage haha!
That’s why I vowed I would get a piece of luggage with a smooth set of wheels so this won’t happen.
The wheels of the AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner are great. They still run pretty smooth after two years of abuse from yours truly.
This past October, I dragged them through the rough and barren streets of Guadalajara (the city is undergoing a lot of construction).
And the wheels performed just great.
You sure as hell won’t be missing any flights because of this luggage 🙂
Great Value!
You can get the AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner for less than $65 bucks.
That’s a complete STEAL!
For something like this, I would gladly pay $100+.
That’s why I love AmazonBasics. You can get high quality stuff (that could pass for luxury products) without actually paying for the “brand.”
This is one of the best $65 bucks I ever spent on travel gear.
At this price point, this is one of the best pieces of carry on luggage that money can buy.
Click Here to buy the AmazonBasics Hardline Spinner for your next adventure abroad!
Cons Of The AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner
While I do LOVE the AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner, I do have a few complaints about the product.
Here are some of the things I don’t like…
Inside Zippers Are Flimsy
A minor complaint I have is that the inside zippers of the top storage compartment feel very “flimsy”.
That’s the best way I can describe it. They feel like they could snap off at any moment.
While I haven’t had any issues with them (perhaps, they are more durable than I give them credit for), I certainly expect them to break down at some point.
No Charging Option
These days a lot of new high tech luggage have charging options. While I have mixed opinions about those features, this option isn’t available with the product.
I know a lot of airports don’t have great charging options. So this is a big turnoff for a lot of digital nomads looking for a piece of luggage.
But I always keep at least 2 – 3 external chargers around when I travel, so this isn’t a deal breaker for me.
No Lock
I would say my biggest complaint of this product is that there are no locks at all.
If you want to truly secure your luggage from theft, you’ll have to buy some locks.
It’s not a deal breaker for me, but it’s just another extra hassle to go through.
AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m a big fan of the Amazon Hardside Spinner Luggage.
The carry on luggage is very durable, can fit a ton of stuff, and is a really great value at less than $65.
Sure, there are a lot more expensive and luxurious carry on luggage out there, but if you want an affordable hardside spinner, then this is the one for you.
Click Here to get the AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner to take on your next adventure!