Travelling with the Samsonite Cosmolite FL to the Mediterranean

When I was preparing for my Mediterranean Cruise, one of the things I thought about immediately was the kind of luggage I needed to bring.

Well for one, I’m not a light packer. And two, I was going to be away for 2 and a half weeks. I do have a very reliable luggage that has been travelling with me for over a year now but it can only take a maximum of 2 weeks worth of clothes and items (for me).

I was going to be away for 2 and a half weeks, I travelled in April to May, around the Mediterranean (Italy, Turkey and Greece). Googling the weather in these countries, I knew that the climate was going to be pleasant, but I still needed to pack a lot of “just-in-case” items (coats, jackets, umbrella, etc).

So I really needed a bigger luggage.

I’d been intrigued by one of Samsonite’s latest luggage collection, the Cosmolite FL

 

Not only does it look sleek, it is famous for being the strongest and lightest Samsonite luggage.

I mean, look at this test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFDW03x3mhc

Actually, I got lost YouTube-ing so many Samsonite Cosmolite tests and there are so many out there! The Cosmolite being run over by a 10-wheeler truck, being dragged by a moving vehicle, being stomped and stepped on repeatedly – and all of them bounced back into shape.

Not that you ever anticipate your bag to be rammed anytime by a speeding vehicle (nor run over by a truck), but it’s good to know that it will survive!

Oh and in case it is of interest to you, the Cosmolite line is also European made, and is crafted using the Curv technology which apparently is also employed in making bulletproof vests, skis and skates.

Now I’m not too worried about my bag getting run over (or if I’d need to use it as a shield if I get randomly shot at). The most crucial selling point for me is how lightweight it is. 

I received the Samsonite Cosmolite in Black and it is also the largest size at 81cm.

And for an 81 cm luggage, this weighs only 3.10 kg ( 6.8 pounds) when empty

My medium sized luggage (the 2-week max one), I dearly love but even that one weighs heavier than this much larger Cosmolite.

And here’s the Cosmolite when opened. It has a mesh enclosure on the upper case which is really helpful.

How I packed:

Ever since I discovered packing cubes, I’ve never ever packed the same way again. I can almost double the items I carry with this method, and at the same time not have the insides of my luggage look like a it’s been through a hurricane.

Well as I said, I’m not a light packer at all so I won’t be enlisting everything I packed lest you might think this was a retail inventory. But I will show some brief ‘boards’ of what I wore to the Mediterranean on a separate post.

So. given the above fullness , I was still able to close the luggage with grace. And by that I mean, without having to straddle it, nor try to zip it close as if it had a live octopus inside.

Rolling with it

The Samsonite Cosmolite 81cm  is a 4-wheel luggage. Samsonite has tested the wheels by having the wheels run for 32 kilometres in full, loaded capacity.

I sure did a lot of to-and fro-ing at airports and just abit on the open road, and no damage to the wheel. It did feel sturdy, but I think an 8-wheeler on the 81 cm size would make it feel much more secure.

The single handle looks really stylish too and is easily pulled up and down (no annoying snags).

At the Airport

The Samsonite Cosmolite does turn heads because of its sleek and shiny surface. The surface can be susceptible to fingermark prints (can be seen in the photo above). But this disappears on and off depending on the temperature.

And I got the biggest thrill of my travelling life. When I checked in, I braced myself to hear the usual words of, “You’re actually 1-2 kilos over”, but this time, nothing was said, the check-in agent reached for the luggage tags and proceeded to attach them to my bag. And no, she didn’t reach for the “Heavy” tag either!

I looked at the scale- lo and behold, I was actually 6 kgs UNDER!!! U.N.D.E.R! Zombie will be proud 😉

How it reached Rome

I took 2 flights to reach Rome. One long-haul flight (13.5 hours) Sydney to Dubai , and one mid-haul flight (6.5 hours) Dubai to Rome.

I reached Rome early morning, and while waiting at the conveyor belt, I was worried about 2 things. That because the luggage was a generic black, that I might not be able to spot it immediately, or worse, someone might have taken it mistakenly. I mean I did tie a colourful Hawaiian name tag to it, but still.

Well. Talk about a sparkling entrance. Amidst all the drab and weary looking bags that came out of the belt, the Samsonite Cosmolite stood out like a sparkling onyx.

Here’s the cosmolite being carried by the airport pick up driver. Notice how those fingerprints now disappeared? It’s an unusual surface that somehow reminds me of a mood ring. I don’t have a proper explanation but I think it disappears / appears depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment.

How it fits in rooms

The Samsonite Cosmolite stands on a regular-sized luggage stand comfortably.

Now an interesting fact about cruising : There is no weight limit on the luggage. I don’t think there’s a size limitation either but it’s up to you how to maneuver and store the luggage inside staterooms.

Because I was travelling with a companion (my cousin), the wardrobes weren’t big enough to house 2 luggages. The Samsonite Cosmolite sat comfortably in the seat next to the bed.

And even on a limited space, it was still easy to maneuver the luggage because of its light weight.

Also one thing to take note of when cruising, on the last evening of the cruise, all guests were required to put their suitcases outside their doors for collection.

Portability

The Samsonite Cosmolite in 81 Cm, though being the largest suitcase size in the collection, was still able to fit comfortably in shared transportation. Above, a driver is loading the suitcase into a shared van. (From Civitavecchia to Rome city)

Reaching Home

So this is the state of the Samsonite Cosmolite after:

2 long-haul flights – 1 Sydney – Dubai 13.5 hours , 1 Dubai-Sydney 13.5 hours

2 mid-range flights – 1 Dubai – Rome 6.5 hours, 1 Rome-Dubai 7 hours

2 weeks in a cruise

2 bus rides

4 taxi rides

Overall, I’m extremely happy with its performance. I’ve read online reviews of people complaining about the zipper, so I feel I have to address it. I did not find anything wrong with the zipper. Some claim that they found their Cosmolites in the airport conveyer belt splayed open, the zipper busted. Honestly, I think those guys don’t know how to pack. If you stuff shut any suitcase forcibly, something is bound to happen. Solution: PACKING CUBES! Couldn’t suggest those highly enough.

The Samsonite Cosmolite looks and feels like an enigma. It looks sleek, but feels so light and almost vulnerable, that you would think it is not that sturdy. The sleek handle at times feels rickety but upon closer look, it is stable and sturdy as a nail.  The Samsonite Cosmolite does surprise you in a very good way with how much force and weight it can bear.

The suitcase arrived with extremely minimal scratches. The wheels still look alright, no fraying.

And I’m using the Samsonite Cosmolite on another long-haul trip end of this year, and I’m confident it will hold up well.

Now I’m very interested to know, are you a light or heavy packer? 🙂

Disclaimer and Fact Box:

I was given the Samsonite Cosmolite  81 luggage for the purpose of a review.
There is no obligation to write a favourable review, and all thoughts and opinions 
of the product are mine.

The Samsonite Cosmolite in 81 cm retails for AUD 899.00