Review - Thule Crossover Carry-on 56cm/22" Rucksack Holdall
If you are a frequent traveller, the chances are that you try to squeeze as much as you can into your carry-on luggage, rather than deal with the potential delays and problems of the baggage re-claim belt. The consequence of packing the compact bag to bursting point though is that it often weighs a tonne, which means wheels are your best option for lugging it around.
The problem with wheeled bags is that you can't easily carry the bag on your bike to the train station, and things like stairs and busy pavements become an obstacle. The solution? A wheeled bag, which also has rucksack straps.
The Thule Crossover 87L Rolling Travel Duffel has been putting up with my use and abuse for the last 18 months, so the smaller Thule Crossover 22 inch carry-on bag instantly appealed. It is also the only bag of its kind, with rucksack straps and wheels, which I came across in my searches.
Put to the test over the last few months, the Thule Crossover 56cm Carry-on has excelled.
The design is robust and durable, with rubber bumper strips, oversized wheels, and hardwearing water-resistant nylon. Little details like the zippers and handles have a real quality feel to them, as I have come to expect from Thule bags.
The Crossover Carry-on can swallow up an impressive amount of kit. On the outside of the bag, there is a padded laptop compartment; as well as one of Thule's fantastic little 'SafeZone' rigid compartments, designed for eyewear or your phone.
On the inside, there is a rigid bottom section of the bag that is great for things like cameras and heavier items; then there is a mesh section that is ideal for holding and organising clothes.
Another very useful feature is that on the outside of the bag there is a strap to hold a smaller piece of hand luggage, such as a laptop bag or handbag. Ideal if your flight allowance lets you take both (e.g. British Airways, Norwegian, etc.).
For me, this is the ultimate hand luggage solution. I can walk or ride to the station with the bag on my back, then use the wheels to reduce the strain whilst walking around the airport or on location. With weighty equipment like a laptop and camera, it really comes into its own compared to a standard rucksack.
Whether as a travel bag, or as a race day kit bag, the Thule Crossover Carry-on is a versatile and very well designed option.
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