This picture was taken at the second of three hotels stayed at on our trip. Yes, I travel with a scale in between the two halves as well as baby wipes (you never know when they might come in handy). You’ll notice that I raided the hotel room’s tea stash each night, and in the process, I acquired a nice selection of Hong Kong and Chinese teas. Yes, I’m that person. 😉
The telescoping double pole handle is comfortable to grip, and the full bag rolls very easily when pulled. Perhaps the only thing that I miss on the Copilot versus the slightly smaller Rimowa IATA I was using would be that I do wish the Copilot had four independent wheels so it could roll sideways down airplane aisles. Alas, four wheels would take up too much room from the interior of the bag (meaning a loss of packing space, as is the case on the Rimowa), so it is a tradeoff that I am willing to accept. So my strategy now is to roll the Copilot through the first class and business aisles (assuming they are wide enough), and then pick it up by one of its many handles to carry to my seat in economy.
The Timbuk2 Medium Copilot is a good-looking piece of luggage that is full of efficient surprises. Not only did it pass unscathed when checked for my Hong Kong to Dallas then San Angelo flights, it was a joy to use during a hard week of travel. If you’ve been looking for a carry-on suitcase that can keep you organized and efficient when on the road — whether for a weekend or a month — this is the bag you’ll want to consider.
The Timbuk2 Medium Copilot Luggage Roller retails for $225, and it is available directly from the manufacturer as well as from other retailers including Amazon [affiliate link].
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Striking bag design with bright red dual pole handle; Compartment on top of bag is extremely convenient when bag is in a plane’s overhead bin; Easy access to the right side of the bag from the front is convenient for stowing or retrieving things on the go; Padded front pocket can hold your tablet or laptop; Dual compartments on the inside separated by zippered mesh helps with efficient packing; Dual poles for handle take up very little room on the left side of the suitcase interior; Wheels do not take up room on the interior of the bag; The Copilot emerged unscathed after being checked on an international flight
What Needs Improvement: In a perfect world there would be four wheels on the bottom so that the bag could roll sideways down plane aisles, but adding them would cut into the available packing space — it’s not worth the tradeoff
UPDATE 11/05/17: This bag is still going strong, and it is the carry-on that I always travel with anymore. It has been checked countless times, and it still looks brand new — minus a couple of scuffs on the exposed red handlebars. It is, simply put, the best carry-on suitcase I’ve ever owned.
