Travelpro Walkabout 5 Review: Worth The Hype?

Interested in the Travelpro Walkabout 5 Collection? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this detailed review will tell you all you need to know about this awesome luggage collection!

The first thing you should know is that the Walkabout 5 suitcase collection is sold exclusively at Macy’s. They offer international shipping, so getting your hands on the collection should be easy enough. If you’d rather not order from the popular retailer, the Travelpro Maxlite collection is the next best thing.

Anyway, read on to see what we (don’t) love about the Walkabout 5 luggage, and decide whether it’s right for you!

Collection Variety

Travelpro usually offers a lot of variety within their different luggage collections, and the Walkabout 5 is no exception. It includes five suitcases, a rolling underseat bag, a rolling garment bag, a laptop backpack, and a two-in-one tote cooler.

I’m guessing you’re most interested in the suitcases, so let’s start with those. The Walkabout 5 collection features three carry-on suitcases – a 20” bag that will pass as a carry-on with pretty much every airline in the world, a slightly larger 21” suitcase with spinner wheels, an upright 21” carry-on (inline skate wheels), and two checked bags.

Both checked suitcases feature a honeycomb frame for enhanced durability. This helps improve their overall impact resistance, so they’re able to withstand more heavy use. In other words, while they’re still not the ideal suitcases for checked luggage (those would be polycarbonate cases), they’re a lot sturdier than your average softside bag.

The Tote Cooler is the most unique piece of luggage in the collection. It’s a tiny tote that easily fits on top of the other Walkabout 5 suitcases, and features an insulated compartment for drinks and food. The bag also offers several other pockets and compartments, so it can certainly hold more than just lunch!

The Walkabout 5 Laptop Backpack is a great carry-on for all travelers who prefer backpacks to suitcases. It has four separate compartments, as well as a bunch of internal and external pockets. The bag even has a USB port for charging your tech on the go, as well as a padded and ventilated backpanel for ultimate carrying comfort.

The Rolling Garment Bag is great for business travel, thanks to the intricate system that prevents garments from creasing and crumpling. If you’re always packing several suits in your luggage, this might just be what you need.

The Rolling Under-The-Seat Bag is a classing small carry-on designed to fit under most airplane seats. With a USB port, dedicated laptop compartment, and several other pockets, it’s perfect for keeping your necessities handy and organized.

The Materials

All of the bags in the Travelpro Walkabout 5 collection are softside bags. They’re made from the same high-quality polyester with DuraGuard coating, and they all feature the H2O Guard coating on the interior lining. The coating doesn’t let the lining absorb moisture, so even if the luggage gets wet on the outside, your clothes in the luggage should stay dry.

DuraGuard coating protects the exterior of this luggage. It makes the bags water and stain-resistant and keeps them looking brand new for longer. Keep in mind that DuraGuard coating will work as long as there’s not too much water involved – in other words, you’re fine in light rain, but not so much if the bag ends up in a pool.

It’s worth noting that the H2O Guard coating will also work only up to a certain amount of water, which unfortunately isn’t specified here. It should work perfectly fine in light rain, but if the bag gets absolutely drenched, it’s likely some of the stuff inside will get wet as well.

The polyester fabric is very durable and rip-resistant, so the luggage should be able to withstand frequent travel.

Suitcase Features

The five suitcases featured in this luggage collection differ just in size – the important features are pretty much the same on all five suitcases. It’s worth noting that all the Walkabout 5 suitcases are super lightweight – even the largest case is under 9 lbs, which makes them great for trips when you need to stay under a certain weight limit with your baggage.

One thing they all have in common is expandable capacity. You can expand the capacity of the bags by 2” with the expansion zipper, which is awesome for all of us who haven’t mastered the art of packing light.

Also, all the suitcases are equipped with one packing compartment that has tie-down straps, a zippered pocket, and a large, zippered compartment on the lid. That’s not all the packing space you get on the suitcases – all five also feature an external zippered compartment on the front of the bags.

Four out of five suitcases in the Walkabout 5 collection are equipped with double-spinner wheels. They’re sturdy and smooth-rolling, so the perfect option if you want to be able to roll your suitcase in any direction. If you prefer dragging your suitcase behind you, then the 21” two-wheel bag is the better option for you.

No matter which suitcase you get, you’ll get an extendable wheel handle that locks into multiple positions. The luggage also boasts grab handles on the top, side, and bottom, so it should be super easy to just pick up your suitcase whenever you need to.

One thing that all five suitcases are missing is a TSA-friendly lock or any lock for that matter. If you want to be certain that this luggage will stay safe even when you’re not around, you’ll need to invest in some padlocks. However, bear in mind that the bags feature ergonomic and soft zipper pullers, so I’m not entirely sure how you would go about locking them.

Features of the Cabin Bags

In addition to the five suitcases, the Travelpro Walkabout 5 Collection also features three in-cabin bags. They’re all made from the same high-quality polyester, they all feature luggage straps in the back so you can attach them on top of the bigger suitcases, and they’re all built for different purposes.

The tote is the smallest bag, and it’s the best option if you need something to keep the essentials organized. It’s the perfect size for a phone, some snacks, a passport, a boarding pass, and maybe a few other items as well. The tote bag features a key clip, internal and external pockets, and a dedicated insulated compartment for snacks/drinks.

The backpack can almost replace a carry-on suitcase. It’s great for shorter trips, especially if you know how to pack light and you only bring the essentials with you. With a plethora of different pockets and compartments, you’ll be able to find a dedicated spot for every single item you want to put in the bag, plus you’ll have easy access to anything you need in-flight. Even if you don’t want to use this as a carry-on bag, it’s a great backpack in general, whether you need it for travel, everyday wear, or even school!

The Rolling Under-The-Seat is slightly smaller than the backpack, and a great option if you need two in-cabin bags. It features a built-in organizer, a padded sleeve for tablets and smaller laptops, a USB port for charging on the go, and zippered external pockets. It’s small enough that most US airlines accept it as an underseat bag without any issues, so it’s the perfect companion to your other carry-on and checked bag.

Travelpro Walkabout 5 Rolling Garment Bag

The Rolling Garment Bag is an interesting piece of luggage. It’s technically not a suitcase and it’s too big to be a cabin bag. The checked bag is specifically designed to transport suits and other items that need to arrive at the destination without wrinkling or crumpling during the trip.

It’s a great bag for business travel, or for transporting big and bulky items that take up way too much space in your regular suitcase. Whether you want to use it for a wedding dress or your favorite coat, it will certainly help get your clothes from point A to point B in pristine condition.

The bag features a metal clamp for a hanger, a roll bar padded with foam, hold-down straps that are adjustable, and several built-in pockets for easier organization. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the garment bag shares most of the other features with the suitcases, such as the extendable wheel handle, the external compartment, multiple grab handles, etc.

Final Thoughts

Is the Travelpro Walkabout 5 luggage collection worth it? If you’re looking for high-quality softside luggage, it most certainly is!

Travelpro is known for manufacturing great quality luggage, and they’ve even made collections specifically for cabin crew. All their luggage is of premium quality, known for excellent durability, convenient features, and quality details. Whether you’re looking for a tiny tote or a large checked suitcase, the Walkabout 5 collection has an option for you.

The only issue with these bags is that they’re only available at Macy’s, so the shipping and import costs might be a bit much for some people. Macy’s returns procedure isn’t quite as convenient as Amazon’s either, which could be a problem if you end up not liking the luggage.

If you like the luggage collection but you vary about ordering from Macy’s, be sure to check out other Travelpro collections like the Maxlite and the Crew 11, which are very similar to Walkabout 5, but they’re available for purchase in more places!