Customer Reviews

Samsonite Silhouette 11 22" Spinner

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First of all, Samsonite Silhouette luggage is probably the best on the market. It is made of material that is more durable, abrasion resistant, and stain resistant. The spinner wheels are superb--One of the best features in my opinion. The telescoping handle has various lengths that you can pull it up to so it works with people of varying heights. There is a "boston bag" that can be purchased separately that has slotted material on the back so that it fits perfectly over this or any of the telescoping handles in this series of luggage so that you don't have to carry it.

I own several pieces of the samsonite silhouette 11 (current model) as well as the samsonite silhouette 10 (last model). I have had the "older" luggage for about 3 years and it looks as good as new. the zipper quality is excellent, the material is excellent, wheels still function perfectly, etc.

The downside to this particular luggage is that the 22" does not conform to all carry on guidelines of all airlines. Now that you have to pay for checked bags typically, this presents an even worse problem than before. It is not only inconvenient to find out at the last minute you have to check your bag, but when it also costs $25-$35 to do so it can be extremely aggravating. Also, human nature being what it is, it seems that many people try to stuff their luggage as much as possible (i am guilty for sure). If you expand the 22", it won't meet any carry on guidelines.

So, if you are looking for awesome construction that will stand the test of time and move effortlessly through the airport and be guaranteed you can carry it on--go for the 20". By the way, the 20", when expanded, holds as much as the 22" not expanded--and it still meets the carry on guidelines. Major boon in my opinion. (not to mention it costs less).

If you are not worried about the ability to carry on luggage and just need something this size--go for it!!

And, i can't say enough about how wonderful spinner wheels are. I discovered them by mistake and now won't use luggage without them!!!

UPDATE: another reviewer said this fits in overhead bins on domestic flights. I want to make sure that my description is clear---it is accurate that it fits in the overhead bin on most flights. However, when you look at the maximum size a carryon is allowed to be, this exceeds that size--you have to measure linear size which means from the floor to the top of the bag on both sides, added to the measurements of the top and bottom of the bad. The four sides add up to the "linear" size of the luggage. This exceeds the linear size on most, if not all airlines. Now, if you flight isn't full and the crew is happy--you will be fine. if the flight is full or the crew is cranky, they can make you check it because it doesn't meet their "linear size" guidelines. I have personally witnessed on full flights, people not being allowed on the plane until they checked their bag---frustrating for them. And, I wouldn't have the patience with it myself. For me, flying is stressful enough, i don't want to have to worry about whether or not they will let me check my luggage. And, by the way, on the last two extremely full flights I was on, one was a 757 and one was a 747 (this was 4/2010)---so the bins were certainly large enough--the bins were huge---and that didn't matter because the flight was full and they were enforcing the rules. One flight was american airlines and one was United Airlines.

I was excited about this bag, but it's too big to be a carry-on for a lot of airlines. The actual height is more like 24 inches than 22 inches, which is just a little too big to be squeezed into some overhead bins. It looks like a nice bag, but I returned it because of this issue.

I've had the Samsonite Silhouette 11 22" spinner for four months now, and can attest that it does fit on DOMESTIC airline overhead bins. As a consultant who travels every week on United, I was nervous that the dimensions listed in the product spec were slightly larger than the dimensions for United carry-ons (other airlines like Southwest and American list dimensions that will fit the Silhouette 22" just fine). However, I crossed my fingers and purchased this spinner anyway because it looked very spacious, had four wheels that were rugged and big, and was very light in weight.

To my pleasant surprise, the Silhouette 22" fits just fine in United overhead bins, even though it was the most limiting of all the domestic airline carry-on dimensions I researched. This spinner will fit with wheels going in first, not just sideways. I've seen many other people shove their roller bags next to mine that looked slightly longer than mine and were still able to fit it.

As for International flights, the Silhouette 22" will almost never fit, because international airplanes have smaller overhead bins that will fit up to 20" bags.

I love this Spinner! Over the past four months of constant use, it has held its own and still looks like it's in great shape. I roll it everywhere at the airport twice a week, I throw it into taxi cabs, roll it through the streets sometimes, and keep it open and organized at the hotel every week. Samsonite did a really good job of making economical space and creating logical pockets. I especially like the front deep pocket, which amazingly is deep enough to fit a laptop. I have a cheap and rugged netbook that I like to use on the plane, so I keep it in that pocket for easy access through security and while on the plane. I wouldn't recommend keeping an expensive and un-padded laptop in that pocket, but for any laptop that is in a sleeve, it should be safe enough to keep even if the luggage tips over.

Yes, the Silhouette spinner does tip over front-wise at times when I overload the bag and the wheels have been turned a certain way. It's pretty much the only thing I can find to criticize. When it's overloaded, you can see the tip-over coming and just roll the entire bag backwards so the wheels are rotated in a way that balances the bag. This only happens when the bag is overloaded to begin with.

Re: other reviewers' comments about the bag being too big for overhead bins - on some planes, you need to turn it around so that the handle goes in first. That makes the contours of the bag match the contours of the bin, and it fits. It has a handle on the bottom, so getting it out of the bin isn't a problem. It can be a very tight squeeze if the bag is expanded and very full, so I recommend against that if you're carrying it on. I'll never buy another non-spinner suitcase.

Have used it barely for a month. I travel heavily and I am used to checking my bag at the airline. Within a month, the bag showed some theads ripped out.. possibly by handling by the airline. My earlier Samsonite bag took the beating of solid 4 years.. without it showing any signs of ripping threads or poor material. This one looks like it has a a much cheaper material usage.

Not very satisfied with the purchase.

Great product and it does fit in the overheads. No problems. I checked the dimensions prior to purchase and at multiple airports I was not asked to check it.

I purchased this suitcase after careful review and searching all the options. I really wanted to make the move to a spinner. The suitcase itself is pretty nice and I thought had enough space to pack for a 3 day business trip. The problem is the wheels. They don't move easily. It can function ok as a spinner on a solid surface but on carpet forget it. You have to pull it negating the whole point of having the spinner. Two of the wheels don't move most of the time. It tips easily even without anything in the outside pockets. I am a longtime samsomite customer but this suitcase is not it-get something else. unfortunately Amazon is telling me I had only a 30day window to return it and I waited to use it for longer an that. Be sure to check Amazon's return policy if you decide to do this!

I held off writing a review for six months so that I could give a more accurate portrayal of this item. I'm happy to say that this roller bag is perfect for those 1-5 night trips. It's roomy enough to fit an extra pair of shoes and workout gear along with a week of business attire, but compact enough to fit in the overhead bin on most planes including an E170/E190 or larger. Too big for the bin in a CRJ but what isn't?

The wheels are durable and have been punished by asphalt, stairs, snow, sand, and just about anything else I've encountered over the past six months. I anticipate this bag lasting me a long time and standing up to years of abuse. Recommended without reservation!

I travel a fair amount (75,000 miles a year), and I was looking for a carry on luggage to replace my 10 year old TravelPro. Overall, this spinner is of good quality and easy to race through airports with. My biggest problem is that the unit is TINY! Because of the design and how the top cover that unzips is designed, it really restricts how much you can fit inside.

If you look closely you will see the expandable part stars about 6 inches up from the ground and a few inches up from the bottom. This unit is fine for a short 2-3 day trip, but forget about trying to get dress shoes, business attire, and other items in there.

I'm sold in the spinner design, but I'm going to sell this particular unit on CL and buy the Samsonite 22" Outline hard shell spinner that has a lot more interior space. I will miss the external pockets, but I rarely use them and I'd much rather have the internal space.

Bottom line, if you travel VERY light for VERY short trips, get it. But if you need a week's worth of men's business attire, look elsewhere.

So I travel alot. Dragging my carry-on bag through many airports and across the US and Canada. So far this is by far the best bag I have had yet. I can pile my back pack on top of my samsonite and roll this across the airport with my left hand while texting or talking on my phone with the right. It is very nice to roll this bag beside you instead of dragging it behind you. Fits in the overhead just fine. I would buy it again.