Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner vs Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner
Bottom line: Pick the Samsonite Freeform 21" if you want a hard shell; pick the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" if you want fewer outright misses, a lighter bag and a smaller bag.
Neither fully fits 22 × 14 × 9 in on US majors, but the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Compact does.
Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner
Best for occasional trips, families
- Weight
- 6.5 lb
- Size in
- 23 × 15 × 10
- Warranty
- 10 yr
- Our score
- 6.4/10
- AA: too big
- DL: too big
- UA: too big
- WN: fits
- B6: too big
- AS: too big
- NK: too big
- F9: fits
- G4: too big
Samsonite's best-selling hardside: double spinner wheels, a built-in TSA lock and a 10-year warranty, but it's bigger than most US carry-on limits.
Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner
Best for frequent flyers, occasional trips
- Weight
- 5.4 lb
- Size in
- 23 × 14.5 × 9
- Warranty
- Lifetime
- Our score
- 7.6/10
- AA: tight fit
- DL: tight fit
- UA: tight fit
- WN: fits
- B6: tight fit
- AS: tight fit
- NK: too big
- F9: fits
- G4: too big
One of the lightest spinner carry-ons you can buy, from the brand many flight crews use, with a lifetime warranty.
Key differences
- Size: the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" is 23 × 14.5 × 9 in; the Samsonite Freeform 21" is 23 × 15 × 10 in.
- The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" is lighter: 5.4 lb vs 6.5 lb.
- Capacity: 46 L for the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21"; not listed for the Samsonite Freeform 21".
- Shell: the Samsonite Freeform 21" is hard; the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" is soft.
- The Samsonite Freeform 21" has a tsa lock; the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21"'s tsa lock isn't listed.
- The Samsonite Freeform 21" has no laptop / front pocket; the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21"'s laptop / front pocket isn't listed.
- The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" has the longer warranty: lifetime vs 10 yr.
- Airline fit: the Samsonite Freeform 21": fits 2 of 9 US airlines; the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21": fits 2 of 9 US airlines · tight on 5.
Specs side by side
| Spec | Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner | Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 23 in (58.4 cm) | 23 in (58.4 cm) |
| Width | 15 in (38.1 cm) | 14.5 in (36.8 cm) |
| Depth | 10 in (25.4 cm) | 9 in (22.9 cm) |
| Empty weight | 6.5 lb (2.9 kg) | 5.4 lb (2.4 kg) |
| Capacity | Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec) | 46 L |
| Shell | Hard | Soft |
| Wheels | 4 | 4 |
| Expandable | Yes | Yes |
| TSA lock | Yes | Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec) |
| Laptop / front pocket | No | Not listed (the brand doesn't publish this spec) |
| Warranty | 10 yr | Lifetime |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner or the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner?
Overall we rate the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner higher (7.6/10 vs 6.4/10, airline fit included). One of the lightest spinner carry-ons you can buy, from the brand many flight crews use, with a lifetime warranty.
Which is lighter, the Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner or the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner?
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" is lighter: 5.4 lb vs 6.5 lb.
Which fits more airlines?
The Samsonite Freeform 21" Carry-On Spinner: fits 2 of 9 US airlines. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21" Carry-On Spinner: fits 2 of 9 US airlines · tight on 5. Based on published size limits.
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