Sterling Pacific 35L Travel Case – Tested by a Pilot

As an international airline pilot, I live out of my carry-on suitcase. I depend on having a high-quality suitcase that can handle the stress of constant travel, and I spent years trying out every kind of suitcase you can buy – everything from cheap, replaceable Costco luggage to high-end Rimowa Aluminum Luggage.

It felt like an endless search for the best suitcase. Cheap suitcases were replaceable, but replacing suitcases twice a year was a hassle. Average suitcases would last a bit longer, but they were always a compromise – whether in quality, roll resistance, amenities, or all of the above. And if I was going to splurge for a high-end suitcase, I wanted it to be the last one I’d ever get.

That’s when I stumbled serendipitously on Sterling Pacific‘s brand new 35L travel case. As a newer company, I knew very little about what I’d expect. But I took a leap of faith on what ended up as the best looking suitcase I’ve ever seen. Here’s what the experience has been like so far.

What makes the Sterling Pacific 35L Carryon Travel Case special?

What I’m about to say is not debatable: Sterling Pacific makes the most beautiful suitcases in the world.

I’ve never received as many compliments, questions, and as much curiosity from passengers, flight attendants, and pilots about a suitcase before. It’s truly a work of art, and gleams with impeccable beauty everywhere you take it. Everyone wants to know where you can get one.

The quality of Sterling Pacific travel cases is completely unmatched, and unheard of. They offer a lifetime warranty to back it up. But I’m not sure they even have to.

In a sea of boring, plain suitcases that are designed to last only a couple years, the Sterling Pacific Carryon stands apart by leagues.

Quick comparison: Rimowa Cabin Carry-On vs Sterling Pacific 35L Travel Case

	Sterling Pacific Travel Cases	Rimowa Aluminum Luggage
Body	Full 5052 Aluminum Body Impact Bearing Ridges Reinforced A380 Aluminum Corners	“High-end” anodized aluminum
Handles	Italian Full-Grain Leather Handles	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
Weight	11.5 lbs	9.5 lbs

As you can see, the one word you can associate with Rimowa bags is ‘plastic’. Though the Sterling Pacific is heavier, it’s for good reason – your precious cargo is safe.

My experience with Rimowa has offered me a broken telescoping plastic handle and one of the locks cracked – while thousands of miles from home. Rimowa’s aluminum is also noticeably thinner than the 5052 aluminum Sterling Pacific offers, and is prone to bending and dents.

Even though Rimowa makes excellent suitcases, Sterling Pacific is in another league. Rimowa might be the Porsche of suitcases, but Sterling Pacific is the Rolls-Royce.

Why did it take so long to find the perfect carryon suitcase as an airline pilot?

Why did it take so much time and effort to find the perfect carryon? Because every suitcase airline pilots and flight attendants use needs to meet strict requirements:

• Squeezing in a weeks worth of warm and cold weather clothes on top of uniform accessories, flip flops and swimwear, jackets, make-up, work and street shoes
• Handling the brutal stress of being dragged across rough roads and sidewalks, being loaded under a pile of other suitcases, rolling through snow and sleet and dirty streets
• Being easy and unique so that other passengers don’t accidentally confuse it for their bag

For many years, I lugged around the traditional airline crew suitcase: a heavy, steel Luggageworks pilot suitcase. But despite its heaviness, it cracked after a car accident, and its replacement cracked on the bottom after a couple years too. And worse – there was no warranty to fix it, so I’d be out $300 to replace it (again).

That’s when I decided I was done buying new suitcases and compromising. So when I found out about the new Sterling Pacific 35L Carryon Travel Case, I decided to give it a shot. It seemed to offer excellent quality and strength without any compromise on weight, plus a lifetime warranty.

So is the Sterling Pacific bag a viable option for the strenuous position of dependable luggage that can handle even my life? I’ll let you be the judge.

Size (Carryon): 35L Travel Case

At 22.5″ x 14″ x 8.5″, the Sterling Pacific Travel Case maximizes the room you can squeeze into a carryon bag – without exceeding major airline carryon limits. This allows for 35L of space, which is enough for 4-7 days of stuff, less if you throw a winter coat in there.

If you’re worried about room, Sterling Pacific also offers the even more impressive 80L Check-in Travel Case.

I really like the size of the 35L Travel Case.

• 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)

Quality: Incomparable

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 straps, zipper, locks, aluminum, rivets, leather are all top-notch, and Sterling Pacific even includes some leather care wax to maintain it.

• 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, it’s a “full 5052 aluminum case with impact bearing ridges and reinforced A380 aluminum corners. Over 50,000 tons of hydraulic pressure is used to bend and corrugate the aluminum sheets.”

Features of the 35L Travel Case

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
• Internal ring spun twill weave lining bag mesh and travel pouch
• Some of the best rolling wheels you can find on any suitcase. They’re extra large which makes moving around super easy. This also prevents the bag from getting scratched on sidewalks and curbs.
• High quality Italian full-grain leather and even some leather care wax included

Weight

Ah, this is my favorite part. Despite how amazingly sturdy this travel case is, there’s finally no compromise on weight! At just over 11 pounds, and with some of the smoothest rolling wheels I’ve ever used, this travel case feels super strong and lightweight. I love it!

• No compromise; it’s light AND it’s sturdy.
• 11.5 pounds

Price (35L Carryon)

At $1950, the Sterling Pacific 35L Travel Case is one of the most expensive products out there. But it’s the best. There simply is no comparison.

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.

As previously mentioned, 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

Verdict

Ultimately, the Sterling Pacific 35L 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.

And that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.

Looking for other useful guides from an airline pilot?

5 Suitcases Airline Pilots Use: Why You Need One
Ultimate Packing Guide You Need for Your Next Trip
The Ultimate Guide to Staying Fit and Healthy While Traveling (by a Pilot)

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