As one of the early converts to Sterling Pacific, I was elated when I found out Sterling Pacific released a slight larger, spinner version of their elite Cabin Travel Case. Apart from improvements in ergonomics, black aluminum is now an available color, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Sterling Pacific’s new finish.
The 40L Cabin Travel Case features a few minor updates over the 35L version but most importantly, it is materially larger and somehow even more spectacular.
One of the biggest differences is that the 40L Sterling Pacific Cabin Travel Case is a spinner, a new feature that rectifies any hesitations people who prefer spinners had about the 35L version.
I was cautiously excited to see how the new Sterling Pacific black aluminum would turn out, and if the spinner would make a material difference in the stability and sturdiness of the wheels. But I was especially curious to see if the new case could live up to the illustrious standards Sterling Pacific set with the 35L case.
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The most beautiful bag in the world?
Honestly, I was a little nervous about switching to Sterling Pacific’s latest cabin travel case. The 35L I have in silver aluminum is not only the most beautiful suitcase I’ve ever owned – but the most beautiful suitcase I’ve ever seen. It seemed very unlikely that Sterling Pacific could improve upon this already excellent design.
But when I pulled the new 40L Sterling Pacific travel case out from its protective cover, my fears left the universe, and my jaw quite literally dropped. I was stunned.
The finish, the design, the quality was beyond my wildest imagination. It may sound like an exaggeration, but I was not prepared for how beautiful the case would be. I’m not sure photos or videos can do this suitcase justice.
Size (40L Carryon Travel Case)
At 22.5″ x 14″ x 9″, the Sterling Pacific Travel Case maximizes the room you can squeeze into a carryon bag – without exceeding US major airline carryon limits (though the handle does protrude maybe half an inch, hardly noticeable). Note that in Europe size limits are smaller, but the case looks sleek enough that you could probably get away with not checking it in.
The 40L of space offers enough for 4-7 days of clothing, with enough room for a winter coat in the newly added top compression pocket. As I said earlier, the additional 5L makes a surprisingly pleasant difference.
But if you have a longer trip and need more room, Sterling Pacific also offers the even more impressive 80L and 90L Check-in Travel Cases.
For my (sometimes month long) travels, the size of the 40L Travel Case is perfect;
- Fits perfectly into the overhead straight in
- Doesn’t provoke questioning about size
- Slightly too long to fit underneath the seat in front (unless you’re in first class)
Related: The Airline Pilot’s Complete Packing Guide (Travel for Months from just a Carry-On)
Quality
Perhaps the most impressive quality of the Sterling Pacific products is, well, the quality.
You can see quality oozing out of these bags. I’m tempted to keep my bag on a trophy stand as a centerpiece in my house, but that might defeat the purpose….
The zippers have a delightful sturdiness and smoothness, the straps snap in with meaning, and the latch locks open and close like the doors of a Porsche 911. The handle feels like it’s welded in at any position, making the bag sublimely comfortable to roll around.
The Italian full-grain leather handles, from an independent Italian tannery in a small town called Chiampo, feel smooth like butter and are so pleasant to the touch.
Of course, all of this is backed by Sterling Pacific’s lifetime warranty.
- Extremely sturdy and trustworthy
- You could use this travel case as a safety case to protect your most important valuables at home.
- According to the website, the black travel case features a “reinforced, Sterling Pacific-customized 5000 series aluminum alloy with 1.5mm 5052 load taking corners”
Features
Overall, the Sterling Pacific Travel Case is relatively simple. Functionality and maximizing room was clearly key in the development of the carryon.
- High quality buckle straps to keep content from shifting
- Brand new compression pocket makes packing a coat, sweater, and shoes or other accessories convenient
- Some of the best rolling spinner wheels you can find on any suitcase.
- High quality Italian full-grain leather and even some leather care wax included
- Lifetime Warranty & Repair Service
Weight
At 12 pounds, the travel case is a little on the heavier side. However, the ultra-smooth wheels make the 40L travel case feel lightweight, like it wants to roll for you. I love it!
- Slightly on the heavier side, but feels light when rolling
- 12 pounds
Price (Carryon)
At $2150, the Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case is one of the most expensive products out there. But it’s the best. There simply is no comparison.
The $200 increase over the 35L bag is worth it to me, simply for the black aluminum and top compression pocket. It’s a material increase in quality of life.
There just aren’t any other carryon suitcases as elegant, capable, or of such high quality. The nearest competitor, of course, is Rimowa, but even their bags appear plain and boring compared to the Sterling Pacific products.
The quality of Rimowa’s mass-produced bags is what you’d expect from mass-produced suitcases. For just slightly more, it seems like a no-brainer to go for Sterling Pacific.
- Expensive – but you get what you pay for
- Can save money over the long run by eliminating the need to replace suitcases every couple years
- Lifetime warranty so you’re not risking buying suitcases over and over again
What’s the difference between the Sterling Pacific 35L and 40L case? Is it worth upgrading to the 40L if I already own the 35L travel case?
Apart from the 5L (14%) increase in size, one of the main improvements Sterling Pacific included in their new 40L bag is the interior. The bottom section remains essentially the same, with interjecting buckle straps that are great at compressing clothing to maximize what you can fit. However, there’s now essentially an entirely additional section.
Replacing the lid and mesh pocket of the 35L case is now a roomy compression pocket with space for a jacket and a sweater, or shoes, or anything you’d want to keep separate from the rest of your clothes. It’s highly convenient and materially improves quality of life on the road. This, to me, would be totally worth the upgrade if you sometimes find yourself tight on space when you travel. The additional 5L/14% of volume feels like a 30% improvement in practicality.
I’m also relieved that the spinner wheels are of excellent quality, and the case travels magnificently smoothly. It’s well-known fact that 2-wheel roller suitcases are inherently tougher and sturdier than 4-wheel spinners – but once again, Sterling Pacific here shows that you don’t have to compromise. A massive improvement here is how silent the 4-wheel spinner is, especially in comparison to the 2-wheel roller.
- A 14% increase in size that feels like a 30+% increase in usability
- 4 wheels of excellent quality with silent, cushioned rolling
- Brand new, stunning, black aluminum finish
How does the new Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case compared with Rimowa’s Aluminum Carry-On Bag?
| Sterling Pacific Travel 40L Case | Rimowa Aluminum Carryon Luggage | |
| Body | 5000 Series Aluminum Body with 1.5mm 5052 Aluminum Corners | “High-end” anodized aluminum |
| Measurements | 57 x 36 x 23 cm | 55 x 40 x 23cm |
| Volume | 40L | 35L |
| Handles | Italian Full-Grain Leather Handles from the small town of Chiampo in the Italian region of Veneto | Plastic Handles |
| Rivets | SAE 304 Stainless Steel Rivets (Shear strength of 26,000 lbs/sq.in) | No information on rivets |
| Handle | Retractable Aluminum Trolley & Housing | Plastic Telescopic Handle |
| Locks | Double Combination Aluminum Latch Locks | Plastic Locks |
| Interior | Ring Spun Twill Weave Lining | Polyester |
| Colors | Silver, Black | Silver, Green, Black, Titanium, Arctic Blue |
| Wheels | SATRA TM248 Endurance Tested Wheels with Metal Caps | Ball-bearing hard plastic mounted wheels with cushioned axles |
| Weight | 12 lbs | 9.5 lbs |
Having experienced Rimowa’s Aluminum Carry-On, I can tell you that it’s an excellent suitcase, and certainly a worthy upgrade from almost any other bag. That is, unless you’re comparing it to Sterling Pacific.
As you can see in the comparison above, the one word you see repeatedly with Rimowa bags is ‘plastic’. If you don’t believe me, feel free to look on their own website at the ‘materials’ section.
Though the Sterling Pacific is heavier, it’s for good reason – your precious cargo is safer. I’m not sure there’s any plastic anywhere on the Sterling Pacific except maybe the wheels.
As I wrote previously, my experience with Rimowa has been a broken telescoping plastic handle and one of the two locks cracked. Rimowa’s aluminum is also noticeably thinner and less attractive than the 5000 series aluminum Sterling Pacific offers, prone to bending and dents.
The main upside of the Rimowa is that I’m less afraid of getting it scratched and damaged. The Sterling Pacific is a bit too beautiful, frankly, and I am tempted to travel with the protective cover on (honestly).
The biggest previous (and now rectified) downside of the 35L Sterling Pacific compared to the Rimowa carry-on was storage, as Rimowa’s flex divider is a great way to maximize packing. However, Sterling Pacific’s 40L case completely upends this, offering straps on one side and a compression pocket on the other.
So although Rimowa makes an excellent carryon suitcase, the 40L Travel Case Sterling Pacific offers is in another league.
Verdict
Ultimately, the Sterling Pacific 40L Travel Case isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who, like me, are done compromising between weight, durability, usability, and quality.
All aluminum bags, especially full aluminum – not ‘hybrids’, are costly. That comes with the territory. But none carry the workmanship and excellence that Sterling Pacific does.
And thanks to the Lifetime Warranty & Repair Service Sterling Pacific offers, I’ll never have to buy another suitcase (for myself) again. I also know that wherever I take my suitcase, my things will be safe.
But most importantly, I know I have the best suitcase money can buy.
I have my eye on both the 35 and 40L. I’m not a fan of spinners, so inclined to the smaller. But what I most want to know is if you know if the 35 (or both) fit in the overhead of RJs.
Yes, it does! However it’s still up to you to convince the gate agents not to “pink tag” it.
I’m really debating getting this exact model in black (it matches my style perfectly) but with it being an investment, I want to make sure it looks the part years and years to come. I’m not a fan of scratches and dents on my luggage, in your experience if used soley for carry-on purposes on domestic and international flights, would you still recommend it? Or would you say that it’s not worth it for someone like me who doesn’t want their expensive investment scratched up?
Also, with the size being 22.5″ instead of 22″ will that extra .5″ be an issue on airlines? That’s my only other concern. Lookswise, it’s almost perfect in my eyes.
I would definitely recommend the black aluminum. It looks spectacular.
To keep it looking amazing, I would advise against using a J-Hook. I’d also consider taking the protective cover with, just in case you do have to check it in for whatever reason.
I have never experienced any issues or pushback about the size within the US. However, internationally (especially within Europe) they are a lot more picky/stingy about bag size. And if you happen to be late for boarding for whatever reason, that risk still exists. Hope this helps!
-Pierre
It does. Thank you!
I do not use J-Hooks, so that shouldn’t be an issue for me. I just wanted to make sure that the black finish wouldn’t scratch easily when loading it in the overhead storage/other bags rubbing against it, etc. I have no plans of ever checking it unless I absolutely have to and I will always have the protective cover inside the travel case so I can use it if need be.
Hi Pierre, does the 4 wheel model have brakes? To me this is a really underrated feature.
Hi Deetee, they do not. I actually did not know that feature existed on suitcases, but since you brought it up I’m looking into it. There are definitely times brakes would be useful!
Do you think the black or silver would look better over the years? I’m super torn as both are gorgeous, I just worry about being TOO conspicuous with the silver. I must also admit I would prefer the lining and handles be black instead of brown, I think I would actually go for silver and black over full black. That is not what is offered, however so it’s black or silver. Since you have both finishes, which do you think looks better after some milage? Is it something I should worry about?
I really, really love the look of the black. In terms of wear and tear through, I really don’t know. I think the black would show any creases less and possibly scratch less easily, but I don’t know for sure! I love both of course.