Men's Journal

We drenched, dragged, drove over, and dropped five pieces of supposedly abuse resistant rolling luggage to find out which can survive the worst pain that a baggage handler could ever dish out.

By Josh Fulmer

Photographs by Jeff Harris

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The Contenders

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Crumpler Free-Standing Edwardian

An 82-liter roller with semirigid sides from the masters of messenger bags. [$520; crumplerbags.com]

Patagonia Freewheeler Max

Struts integrated into the sides of the Patagonia’s 123-liter recycled-polyester body fold flat so the bag stores easily. [$399; patagonia.com]

Filson Extra-Large Wheeled Duffel

Oil-treated canvas, vegetable-tanned bridle leather, and heavy-duty brass hardware make this 107-liter roller look and feel old-school durable. [$495; filson.com]

Osprey SpaceStation 100

It’s a 100-liter packbag inside a frame of aluminum and plastic tubing, with high ground clearance ready for rough terrain. [$249; ospreypacks.com]

Tumi Vapor

The 25-inch-tall Vapor encases your gear in a lightweight polycarbonate shell with rubber bumpers on the sides and corners to protect its futuristic high-gloss styling. [$495; tumi.com]

The Tests

TEST 1: GRAB-HANDLE STRENGTH

We put 50 pounds of bricks in each bag, tied seven feet of webbing to the grab handle on top, anchored the other end, and pushed each roller out a window.

Only the Tumi hit the ground, its handle tearing out on one side. The Patagonia’s top handle ripped partially but held, a testament to 1,200-denier polyester. Even the Filson’s burly leather loop lost a few stitches and two of its six fasteners. Neither the Osprey’s frame rail–cum-handle nor the Crumpler’s simple fabric handle even winced.

TEST 2: RIP RESISTANCE

When the smell of burnt polyester cleared, the Filson’s oiled canvas wore several dime-size holes, while the Crumpler’s front looked like it had been stabbed a dozen times with a hot soldering iron. The Osprey’s tubing served as a roll cage, protecting everything save the front mesh pouch, which gained a few extra holes. Both the Patagonia and the rubber-bumpered Tumi suffered nothing more than minor scrapes.

TEST 3: STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

We lined up the bags in front of the truck and did our best Grave Digger impression.

The Osprey and Filson survived 7,135 pounds of Detroit steel without complaint, while the Patagonia escaped with just a hairline crack in the wheel housing. The Crumpler collapsed like a stepped-on Solo cup, its frame permanently warped. Then we cringed as the rigid Tumi flattened under the Dodge’s tire…before springing back with a crease in the shell and one zipper pull MIA (but the other working fine).

TEST 4: WATER RESISTANCE

After all the abuse, we soaked the bags with a high-powered hose. Unfair? We call this a torture test for a reason.

The Patagonia and Osprey, both boasting water-repellent treatments, fended off our downpour. The Filson held out for a few minutes before water penetrated its oil-treated canvas. Some H2Oseeped through the Tumi’s zipper, but otherwise it acted like a big plastic duck. On the other end of the spectrum, the Crumpler proved that it can also double as a sponge.

Final Indestructibility Scores

OSPREY: 9

A few scrapes, but the only one that aced every test. Winner!

FILSON: 8

Lost some stitches and rivets, but it looks better with the scars.

PATAGONIA: 7

A worthy contender with no major problems.

TUMI: 7

A flimsy handle, but otherwise it was surprisingly resilient.

CRUMPLER: 2

Lived up to its name. But hey — how ’bout that handle!

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This article originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.