Casey Wren

Lead Analyst · Tested Outdoor Gear

What Casey covers

• wheels
• handle
• durability

6 pieces on Tested Outdoor Gear

• Level8 vs Travelpro: Checked Without Overpaying 2026-08-17
  Travelpro's Maxlite 5 wins this comparison for anyone flying major airlines, since its dimensions clear published carry-on limits and owner reviews describe better zipper longevity and warranty resolution. Level8's Carry On costs about $40 less and rolls better on carpet, but its 22 x 14.5 x 10 size risks gate-check fees, and half its zipper complaints get called dealbreakers by owners.
• Best Luggage Under 200 Without Overpaying 2026-08-07
  The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On 21" wins this list at around $140, with owner reviews describing it as the lightest bag in the roundup and its wheels spinning freely with no wobble. Travelpro's warranty complaints trace back to the checked line, not this model. Buyers wanting more shell rigidity should look at the Samsonite Omni PC instead.
• Best Tsa Lock Luggage: Picks That Actually Hold Up 2026-08-03
  The Away Carry-On holds up best overall, drawing the lowest complaint volume of any bag here besides Monos, including notably fewer zipper mentions than Travelpro or Delsey report. Owner reviews flag no major mechanical flaw with it. Buyers who need front-laptop access without opening the whole case should choose the Level8 Carry-On instead, though its zipper pull is a recurring complaint.
• Best Luggage For Students: Picks That Actually Hold Up 2026-07-04
  The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On 21" is the top pick, scoring 8.7 in owner-review analysis, with durability complaints running mostly cosmetic rather than structural. Students hauling a checked bag for move-in should pair it with the Samsonite Omni PC 24" instead. Budget flyers should verify the Monos Carry-On Pro's dimensions first, since reviewers report it exceeding standard carry-on size limits.
• Briggs & Riley ZDX Large Expandable Review 2026-06-04
  The Briggs & Riley ZDX Large Expandable stands out for its wheel system, which owner reviews describe as gliding without wobble even packed near the expansion limit, and for roomy, easy-to-organize packing volume. Its main flaw is zipper durability: owners report three separate first-trip zipper failures, with problems clustering around overstuffed use, so avoid loading it to its absolute limit.
• Pelican BA22 Elite Review 2026-05-14
  The Pelican BA22 Elite wins on shell and zipper durability, where owner reviews report the fewest complaints of any category on the case. The tradeoff is the handle: it draws more complaints than any other part, with owners describing side-to-side play and, in some cases, full sticking failure. Size compliance is also tight, since 22 x 14 x 9 sits right at the carry-on limit rather than under it.

How we work

• We do not handle the products. We run no physical tests, no instrumented tests and no hands-on evaluation of any kind.
• The word "tested" on this site refers to testing done by the owners whose reviews we read, over months of real use — not to testing done by us.

Full method: How we score. Corrections and questions: data@testedoutdoorgear.com.