When it comes to luggage we don’t ask for much. All we need are wheels that can traverse any terrain and a chassis durable enough to withstand those rough baggage handlers. It’s a bonus if the luggage is light enough to carry up and down flights of stairs. So when Samsonite promised me that its new Lite-Shock range would exceed our expectations, I was intrigued and put it to the test when I travelled to Mauritius.
Suffice to say, I could hold a camera and take pictures in one hand, and carry my luggage in the other.
Even when the Lite-Shock Spinner 69cm was completely filled with clothes, adaptors and shoes, it only weighed 1.6 kilograms. The people at Samsonite were more conservative, telling me that it will weigh 2.3 kilograms when full. I legitimately had no idea how they managed to reach such a heavy weight. They must have pretty bulky shoes. The light weight is achievable due to the patented Curv material, which gives it maximum strength while reducing weight.
In a nutshell, Curv is made from plastic but treated with heat and enhanced to create a material that has incredible tensile strength, perfect for withstanding the rough treatment by overzealous baggage handlers. The unique and eye-catching ripple design is not just for aesthetics; it gives additional strength to the Lite-Shock and its corners.
And as with any luggage worth its salt, the Lite-Shock is fully featured with integrated ID tags, built-in TSA approved lock and four multi-directional spinner wheels. It comes in three colours – petrol blue, sand and silver – and retails from $790.
If you are an avid traveller, we highly recommend it.