Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case Review: Elevate Your Carry-On Game With a Timeless Aluminum Spinner

Now that travel has become a regular occurrence again, it may be time to upgrade your luggage. If your current carry-on is falling short, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case offers a worthy solution. Building on the strengths of the Sterling Pacific 35L Cabin Travel Case, the new 40L version adds extra space and four spinner wheels for smoother movement through busy terminals. The result is a piece of luggage that blends timeless materials, exceptional durability, and modern convenience, ensuring frequent flyers and occasional adventurers can all enjoy a more elegant, effortless journey.

Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case in Silver and Black

Like the 35L that came before it, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case boasts a top-tier aluminum shell in Silver or Black, luxurious leather handles, and an interior designed for efficient packing. It will garner plenty of second looks from fellow travelers in the lounge and comments from hotel clerks as you check in, which can be fun if you don’t mind the extra attention.

Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case Features

• Full 5000 Series aluminum body with impact-bearing ridges
• Reinforced 1.5mm 5052 aluminum corner corners
• 100+ SAE 304 Stainless Steel Rivets
• A380 aluminum trolley housing (no plastic!)
• A retractable, two-bar, die-cast aluminum trolley handle
• Italian full-grain leather handles
• Extruded 6063 aluminum frame
• Four 360° wheels with metal caps
• TSA double combination latch locks

The Packaging

The Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case ships in a cardboard box with inflated plastic corner reinforcements. Depending on where you live, everything should be recyclable.

The suitcase comes wrapped in a reusable branded cloth storage bag that slips over the top and velcros shut on the bottom. Sterling Pacific sent me both the Black and Silver carry-ons for this review.

And here they are without the covers. The Black version has stealthy black leather handles on the top and unhinged side, while the Silver version has dark brown leather handles in both locations. Either color combination looks amazing, but the Brown leather really pops on the Silver.

A Close Look at the 40L

I’ve never owned black aluminum luggage, but I love the look. At first, I was a wee bit worried about how it would fare with my frequent travels and the inevitable bag handlers tossing it around when it had to be checked. Still, I decided to claim the Black Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case and told my husband Kev he could have the Silver.

Right after I took these photos, Kev put a red and white Terlingua sticker on his bag (!!), as he’s done with other hard-shell suitcases and carry-ons he owns. In mock outrage, I told him doing so on his pristine carry-on was like slapping a bumper sticker on a Rolls Royce! He considered that momentarily, agreed, and promptly removed the sticker.

It still makes me laugh to think about it, although I’m sure stickers will appear on his bag as time passes, as it inevitably gets some travel scars.

As the 35L version did, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case rejects flimsy zippers in favor of robust latch locks that close the case securely and keep unwanted moisture or opportunistic thieves at bay.

Like the 35L, the 40L Cabin Travel Case relies on a strong frame and thick rivets to ensure its structural integrity remains sound. Here’s a closer look at the bag in Silver; as you can see, rivets abound, giving it a distinctive look.

And here is the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case in Black. As I said, this version is a bit more stealthy and less flashy, so there’s something for every taste.

On each bag’s left side, you’ll find two heavy-duty hinges, the engraved Sterling Pacific name, and a Batch Identification Number (BIN) that details the bag’s capacity, manufacturing timeline, and historical lineage.

The Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case truly sets itself apart from the 35L version in terms of capacity and mobility. While the earlier model’s two oversized wheels offered bulletproof stability and a feel reminiscent of a sturdy trunk, this 40L version embraces the four-wheel spinner format, making it remarkably easy to glide through modern airports and hotel lobbies.

The 40L measures 22.5″ tall by 14″ wide by 9″ deep, and it weighs 12 pounds empty. It easily fits into the overhead baggage compartments on domestic flights.

Inside, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case remains as elegantly straightforward as its predecessor. Instead of relying on complex compression panels or intricate organizational systems, it provides a well-finished interior, a compression pocket, and adjustable straps that keep your belongings in order.

Here it is in silver, with a brown Alcantara lining.

And here it is in black, with a black Alcantara lining.

The interior is designed so that you can pack thoughtfully without wrestling with the limitations of flimsy linings or weak dividers. The new Alcantara-lined interior seems more luxurious than the twill fabric in the 35L version.

I was glad to see that the 40L version keeps the handy zippered mesh compartment, making it simple to store clothes, small accessories, and toiletries without clutter.

Each Sterling Pacific travel case comes with an Amenity & Care Kit, which includes a travel pouch (perfect for makeup or shaving gear), a one-ounce tin of Leather Care Wax, a microfiber cloth, a Sterling Pacific Travel Case Manual, and a Sterling Pacific branded aluminum pen that is great to write with.

I like the case’s roomy trunk-style design because it allows me to live out of it on a luggage stand in my hotel room, avoiding the awkward split of a traditional clamshell.

The extra five liters of interior volume may sound modest, but that additional space can mean the difference between packing an extra blazer, tucking in a bulkier pair of shoes, or simply having more breathing room when rummaging through your belongings mid-trip.

That’s a week’s worth of clothing and accessories, all packed and ready to go!

Best of all, that expanded volume does not break any major carry-on size rules, so you can confidently roll onto most flights without worrying that your bag won’t fit in the overhead.

One of the most significant shifts from the original design is how you’ll interact with the bag as you walk. With four 360-degree spinner wheels, you are no longer pulling something behind you that might occasionally catch on a narrow aisle or struggle with when the floor isn’t perfectly even.

Instead, you can guide this bag gently at your side, even pivoting it in tight spaces. Maneuvering through a crowded terminal, weaving around slow-moving travelers, and pushing your luggage down the airplane aisle suddenly feel more fluid. Those accustomed to slinging a two-wheeled case over every obstacle might be surprised by how much less strain a spinner can put on your shoulders and wrists.

The 35L’s two-wheel approach offered distinct benefits for travelers frequently navigating rough or unpredictable terrain, but if your journeys are usually set against the smooth floors of terminals and upscale hotels, four wheels simply feel more in tune with your environment.

That is not to say four wheels eliminate every challenge. No matter how robust, the spinner design can’t entirely escape the perils of uneven sidewalks, abrupt curbs, or the occasional escalator mishap. The two-wheeled model 35L version has an advantage when surfaces turn treacherous, rolling stably behind you and absorbing shocks better.

Even so, the Sterling Pacific team has engineered these four wheels to withstand the trials of frequent travel. While no spinner is immune to rough conditions, the metal housings and sturdy materials used here are intended to offer better longevity than you’d expect from standard spinner luggage.

As with the 35L model, the absence of exterior zippers on the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case means a more secure and weather-resistant seal. While it’s true that you cannot overstuff the luggage to an extreme degree, it encourages those with a tendency to overpack to think carefully about what they bring.

The legacy of theft deterrence holds strong since no pen or makeshift blade will breach an aluminum case secured by latch locks. Those who treasure prized items and dislike the vulnerabilities of cloth or polycarbonate will again find peace of mind in the 40L’s robust shell and reinforced corners.

If breakable souvenirs often accompany you home, this bag provides better crush protection than flimsier materials can guarantee, as long as you cushion your valuables. I’ve managed to bring home six bottles of wine wrapped in clothing inside mine, although that did mean having to check it.

Inevitably, any aluminum piece comes with a few considerations. At 12 pounds, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case is slightly heavier than most polymer cases, and as with the previous version, the aluminum will gather scrapes and scars over time. The emerging patina will tell the story of your travels, a charming trait if you appreciate character but a potential annoyance if you prefer your luggage to remain factory-fresh.

And, of course, it’s a premium product, and the price point remains high. At $2150, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case costs more than many economy international round-trip flights, and there is a $200 difference in price between the two-wheeled 35L and four-wheeled 40L models to consider.

Yet the combination of Sterling Pacific’s lifetime warranty, readily available spare parts, and a service promise that extends well beyond what lesser manufacturers provide might help justify the expense if you view this bag as a lifetime investment rather than a seasonal trend.

Those who enjoyed the craftsmanship and aesthetics of the 35L but found themselves longing for an easier way to navigate concourses and terminals will find their answer in this Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case spinner version. It is perfectly tuned for travelers whose journeys rarely stray far from polished floors and sleek architecture. However, it can handle cobblestones and uneven sidewalks when necessary by simply tilting it and pulling it as you would its two-wheeled 35L sibling.

If you know that your travel patterns fit this description and you’ve come to value convenience and effortless maneuverability over rugged, all-terrain capability, then this may well be the upgrade worth making.

The Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case offers everything that made its 35L predecessor special while offering a smoother ride, a bit more space, and that timeless, retro-inspired look that never grows old.

The Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Travel Case retails for $2,150. It is available directly from the manufacturer in Black or Silver and on Amazon in Silver.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: 100% aluminum construction in a retro design with reinforced corners, wheel wells, and trolly area; Full-grain leather top and side handles; TSA-approved latch locks; Trunk-style set-up inside with upgraded Alcantara fabric; Roomy interior with enough space to pack a week or more’s clothing; Extra security and weather-proofing for your stuff; Zippered mesh pocket on the lid; Included amenity kit; The telescoping trolley handle is all aluminum and will work for users of any height; Four spinner-wheels that make it easy to navigate airports and slim cabin walkways; Lifetime Warranty & Repair Service

What Needs Improvement: It’s expensive