If you’re in the market for a new piece of check-in luggage, the Rimowa Essential Check-In L is definitely worth considering. This hard-shell luggage is designed with durability and style in mind, making it a popular choice among well-to-do travellers.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Rimowa Essential Check-In L and evaluate its features, design, and overall value.
Design
The Rimowa Check-In L Polycarbonate has a sleek and modern design, with a hard-shell exterior made from durable polycarbonate material.
It comes in a variety of gloss and matte colours, including pine, red, white, and green, giving you the option to choose a suitcase that fits your personal style.
Here it is in a gorgeous blue colour from all angles:
Telescopic Handle
The luggage also features a telescopic handle and four multi-directional wheels. I find that the wheels make it very easy to navigate through those really crowded airport situations. This is a real feature of Rimowa cases that makes them very appealing.
Here’s what the handle looks like on this model:
This is a bit different from the Essential Lite model, and gives you something to get your hand around for that bit of extra grip security.
Dividers
The luggage also has a divider panel with zippered pockets, allowing you to organise your belongings efficiently. Here’s a photo I took that shows you what it looks like:
The dividers (and accompanying straps) add a little bit of extra weight to the whole case, but it feels very solid.
Lock
The luggage also has reinforced corners and a TSA-approved combination lock, providing additional security for your belongings.
How Durable is the Essential Check-In L?
One of the standout features of the Rimowa Essential Check-In L is its durability. The polycarbonate shell is extremely strong and resistant to impact, ensuring that your luggage will withstand the wear and tear of travel.
I actually prefer the full polycarbonate shells to all of the other materials, as it’s much more difficult to scratch and scuff. So, it looks better for longer.
Capacity
The Rimowa Essential Check-In L has a pretty spacious interior with a capacity of 85 litres, making it a great option for longer trips. It’s also a popular choice for those of us who need to pack a lot of items or bulky clothes (eg ski trips).
Weight
One potential downside of the Rimowa Check-In L Polycarbonate is its weight. At 4.8 kg, it’s relatively heavy compared to some other luggage options.
However, the weight is a tradeoff for the durability and protection that the polycarbonate shell provides. The Essential Lite might be an option for those who want a Rimowa that is a bit lighter.
Speaking of weight, the actual contents inside can handle a generous 25kg. One would be hard-pressed to pack anything over that, I would say.
Price
Let’s not hide from the fact that the Rimowa Essential Check-In L is a premium luggage option, and its price reflects that. It’s definitely on the more expensive side of luggage options.
However, the quality and durability of the luggage certainly (in my view) make it a worthwhile investment for frequent travellers who like to get around with a high level of protection and style.
Conclusion
Overall, the Rimowa Check-In L Polycarbonate is an excellent luggage option for those who want a stylish luggage item that is also rugged enough to take all of the knocks that come with travel.
While it may be on the more expensive side, Rimowa’s built-in quality and features make it a worthwhile investment, especially if you find yourself travelling a lot.
Its hard-shell polycarbonate exterior, reinforced corners, and TSA-approved combination lock ensure that your belongings will be protected during travel, while the spacious interior and efficient organisation allow you to pack efficiently.
If you’re in the market for a piece of new check-in luggage, the Rimowa Essential Check-In L is right up there with giving you the very best of all worlds.