Samsonite Paradiver Review (A Softshell Bombshell)

Softshell vs. hardshell luggage; a debate that is very frequent among travelers. Both have their benefits, but in general, I prefer hardshell luggage, especially if I am traveling by plane.

On the other hand, a lot of you prefer softshell luggage because it is lighter, more affordable, and just comfier to carry.

In this review, we’ll switch things up a little and take a look at a softshell piece of luggage – the Samsonite Paradiver. The Paradiver line of products includes many different items, but in this review, I will focus on the duffel bags with spinner wheels.

Let’s (para)dive straight into the review of the Samsonite Paradiver spinner duffel bag!

Who Is The Paradiver Best For?

I would say that this duffel bag is a great choice for people who won’t be traveling by plane. This is because luggage at airports is often thrown around, and most softshell suitcases end up squished on the carousel. If you are traveling by bus, train, or car, this duffel bag is a great choice for you.

If you are looking for a smaller, carry-on suitcase, this could be a good choice. The rules for checked baggage don’t really apply to in-cabin baggage, so you can disregard what I said earlier about baggage handlers. A particular benefit the Paradiver has as a carry-on (when compared to most hardshell carry-ons) is the presence of many exterior pockets. You can keep any smaller items you might need during the flight in them, and you will be able to access them easily.

If you are looking for luggage that you can use for overseas travels by plane (for many years to come), I urge you to check out my review of hardshell suitcases. They are much sturdier by design, and they cope better with being thrown around by baggage handlers. Zipperless hardshell suitcases in particular have many benefits when it comes to traveling by plane.

Materials And Durability

The Samsonite Paradiver is made from durable 600 x 600 denier polyester. This type of material is weather-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your bag getting wet or dirty, which is one of the biggest concerns when talking about softshell luggage. Your belongings will stay dry even if you get caught in really heavy rain.

The outside of the duffel bag is coated with polyurethane, which is partially what makes it weather resistant. This coating also enhances the durability of the bag and makes it resistant to dirt. However, in terms of impact resistance, I wouldn’t say that the Paradiver is very durable. That’s the downside of softshell luggage – if too much weight is put on top of it, it can easily get deformed.

Spinner Wheels

It is not very often that you find softshell luggage (and duffel bags in particular!) with spinner wheels. In fact, there are several versions of the Paradiver without spinner wheels, so carefully check that before you go ahead and buy it.

These wheels are able to turn 360 degrees each, which allows you to roll your luggage however you want. There is no need to tilt to bag to get the wheels rolling, which means much less strain on your arms and shoulders.

Wheel Handle And Carry Handles

The extendable wheel handle is a single-tube, which minimizes the weight it adds to the bag. Additionally, since this is a softshell suitcase, the handle doesn’t really protrude in its interior, the way it does with hardshell luggage. A cool thing about the wheel handle is that, when it’s not in use, it can be zipped up into its own compartment, and it’s not visible at all.

There are several carry-handles on the Paradiver; on the top, on the sides, and on the very front. They are soft to touch and reinforced so that you don’t need to worry about the handle breaking off from the bag.

Interior Of The Paradiver

If you are fine with one packing compartment, then the Paradiver is a great fit for you. If, however, you are used to having 2 packing compartments, this might be a problem. Personally, I prefer to have 2, simply because they allow me to be more organized.

There’s not much to talk about, in terms of the interior of this suitcase. There are elastic straps inside it that will keep your stuff in place, as well as a single zipped pocket for any smaller belonging you would want to keep separate. The interior is mainly black, but the pocket zipper matches the overall color of the suitcase, which really brightens it up.

Other Things To Note About Samsonite Paradiver

• It has several exterior pockets. You can stay organized and keep your laptop, chargers, or passport in one of the many exterior pockets of the Paradiver. Keep in mind though that these pockets can’t be locked, so basically, anyone will have access to them.

• It has an integrated ID tag. The tag is cleverly hidden behind the Samsonite logo on the front. If you need to use it, just pull it out. It’s a great way to save on having to use those horrible, flimsy airline tags!
• There are no locks on the suitcase. This won’t bother you much if you are traveling by car, or using it as a carry-on. However, if you have to part with your luggage at any point, you definitely want it to be locked, and unfortunately, there is no such option with the Paradiver. You could, however, fashion one yourself and get a travel luggage lock for the zipper pullers! I use this method all the time.

Should You Get The Samsonite Paradiver?

There are pros and cons with this bag, so, allow me to explain:

If you are looking for a bag to add to your existing luggage collection, then yes, this is a great bag for you. If, however, you don’t own any luggage and you are looking for something big and strong that you can bring along on overseas flights, then no, this isn’t the suitcase for you.

Samsonite Paradiver Light - Duffle with Wheels 55/20 Strict Cabin, 55 cm, 48.5 L, Black, Black, L (79 x 44 x 31 cm), Paradiver Light

• Travel duffle/Backpack with two wheels 55 (Hand luggage: Suitable for a two day trip): 40 x 25 x 55 cm - 51 L - 2.40 kg
• Weather resistant materials: durable Polyurethane and Polyester

$598.26

Buy On Amazon

This is mainly because softshell luggage doesn’t handle protect your stuff against the treatment from baggage handlers very well, and it often comes out damaged. In addition to that, this bag doesn’t have any locks on it, which is also why I wouldn’t recommend it as checked baggage. In that case, I would advise you to consider getting a hardshell suitcase.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a carry-on or a bag that you can take along with you on trips in 4-wheeled vehicles then I would say yes, this is a good option for you. The spinner wheels really set it apart from other softshell luggage. Also, the bag is made of weather-resistant material, which is another great feature you don’t usually expect from softside luggage.

Another thing to consider is: if you do fly with this bag, and don’t ever back anything that can get damaged, it’s also a good option. For example, you only pack clothes, shoes, and books? Then it’s perfect.

If you want to buy the Paradiver, then go over to Amazon – you’ll hardly find a better deal somewhere else.