Timbuk2 Copilot Roller Bag

I'm pretty serious about my bags since I travel quite a bit. Once again in search for the 'perfect' suitcase, I stumbled upon the Co-Pilot suitcase. In my quest, I bought the 20 inch Co-Pilot, the 22 inch Co-Pilot, and even the 22 inch Checkpoint. I read the reviews, watched just about every video out there, but I needed to hold one in my hand and do a dry run of how I would normally pack into my suitcases.

I used to own a Delsey 20 inch carry-on and sling my Timbuk2 Commuter onto it when I'm on the go, but I was also looking for something to consolidate the suitcase and messenger into one when necessary. A friend has an Antler (UK brand) carry-on suitcase that I loved because it has a compartment that holds your laptop, yet it was a vertical pull case and not the horizontal ones that you often see business people with at airports. I don't like the horizontal ones because they tend to be short and fat and really don't hold a whole lot when you need it for trips that are more than overnighters. So, my requirements were a vertical pull carry-on that can hold clothes, laptop (and other electronics), and easily accessible when needed.

First that arrived was the 22 inch Co-Pilot. I pitted it against my tried and true Delsey, which has solid and rigid sides, a good thing; the Co Pilot doesn't and I knew that going in. But, with a basic blanket test to see the volume, the Co Pilot trumped the Delsey without even showing any bulge. I could barely zip up the Delsey. It fit my Thinkpad T410s (14in wide) in the front zipper and it fit perfect (thought I'd probably still put it in a sleeve just in case). Overall, I thought it was nice, but I felt it looked a bit large. So...

I ordered the 20 inch Co-Pilot and the 22 inch Checkpoint.

In short, the 20in Checkpoint had a manufacturing defect in the neoprene zipper I noticed when I was doing the blanket test. The mesh ripped, which leads me to believe that I may have to be careful in the future. But, with Timbuk2's excellent warranty, I wasn't too concerned. The 22in Checkpoint, I felt was a little bit too flippy floppy for my tastes and won't be able to handle any sort of airport-luggage-handler-crush-tests. So, the 22in Co-Pilot wins.

Now, the real life test.

We took this for a weekend trip and were able to fit mine and my wife's clothes (summer Seattle weather) and my 18mo old's stuff all inside without any bulge. I was amazed. We usually would have to carry two bags. On the plane (Alaska Air and UA on the return), it was a perfect fit into the overhead compartment. I was pleased with the results. The rollerskate wheels were quick and quiet around the airport and the compartmentalized sides are great for quick access instead of rummaging through a bunch of clothes. For even better packing, use packing cubes! We used the shoe pocket for our flip flops, but you can use it for your toiletries as well for those times you need to deal with the TSA.

Next major run, two weeks in Asia. I'm ready.

--UPDATE 10.20.2011 ---

Yes, I went on a 12 day business trip to Asia. I packed 7 days worth of work and casual clothes in there and came back with a ton more stuff. I ended up using a backpack in combo with the Co-Pilot, but I think I came back with double the amount that I left with. Everything fit just fine and I was even able to stash it in as a carry-on in United Airlines 737. Be careful of some of the 737's since the side compartments tend to be smaller than the middle ones. Otherwise, all's well and I'm still lovin' the Co-Pilot 22!

--UPDATE 06.20.2012 ---

Since getting the bag, I've been traveling with the Co-Pilot 22in for almost 20 trips (domestic and international) and couldn't love the bag more! It's been through rain, snow, and dirty streets in China and the bag still looks brand new. I get lots of looks and I love how I can spot it easily coming down the conveyor belt.

Skateboard wheels--I'm mixed about them. They work awesome on smooth tile and road terrain, but being that most airports are carpeted, they create a lot of friction and can get tiring real quick. They look nice and are whisper quiet, though!

If I could, I'd like to make a suggestion to Timbuk2 to their suitcases. I've had and still use two Timbuk2 messenger bags (one now a camera bag and the other, my work bag) and they both have reflector tabs on them. Because I know I'll always at some point walk in the dark, I'd like to prevent getting hit as much as I can. So, I stuck on a couple 3M reflector strips on the front and the back of Co-Pilot. This also greatly helps visibility when I'm waiting for my ride--I just turn my bag towards incoming cars and they can spot me quickly. It doesn't have to be huge, but just accent enough to be spottable.

--UPDATE 09.11.2012 ---

It's been about a year and about 60K miles with this suitcase throughout the US, Canada, and Asia. I'm bummed. A couple of seams are coming apart from the side of the bag. While I, and you I'm sure, occasionally "pack it in", this should not happen this easily and this early in the game. The seams haven't popped open to where the innards are exposed, but I fear the inevitable. :(

I purchased the 20" Copilot from eBags directly because they had a great sale and I happen to live in Seattle (where Amazon also lives). The listing on Amazon for this bag can be confusing so here is what I know about this bag from looking at the Timbuk site. The name of the bag is the Copilot Roller which comes in three sizes (S,M,XL) as indicated by a small fabric tag on the inside of the bag. The bag can be referred to as the 20" Copilot, 22" Copilot or 28" Copilot depending on the height of the bag. On many other sites the Copilot Roller is also referred to as the Copilot Footlocker and in fact the attached cardboard tag on my bag says "copilot footlocker." (It also says the color is black/black/black even though the bag is black/gunmetal/black so it is likely the wrong tag.) The Amazon listing is confusing because it lists the 20" Copilot Footlocker as available in three sizes when in fact 20" is size small.

The bag, as noted by other reviewers, is a tad larger than the stated dimensions. The height of the 20" (small) Copilot is 20" from the wheel axle to the top of the bag so even though the bag is 20" the wheels and stand support extend about 1.1" beyond 20". If the bag is overstuffed it will also easily exceed its depth dimension of 9". This means that even the smallest Copilot at 20" is still a larger carry-on bag and may not meet international carry-on standards even though it is less than 45" in all dimensions. (Also, it is likely that the actual height for all the Copilots is 1.1" more than listed.)

The bag is a clamshell design with zippered mesh webbing over each half on the inside so that when opened everything stays in place. The front half of the bag is soft and the back half is rigid. What might not be seen in the photo's is that it has handles on both sides as well as the top and under the top handle in a tiny zippered compartment is a piggyback strap. This bag is light for its size which is ideal for a carry-on bag but I have my doubts as to the survivability of the copilot as checked baggage.

My bag was made in China (Timbuk2 also has factories in the Philippines for non-custom production). Unlike other Timbuk2 bags, this one needed a few days to off-gas.

I decided to purchase the Timbuk2 model as a smaller carry-on bag (although the 20" is larger than I anticipated) and also, in case I do check it, to make it easier to visually recognize my bag on the belt. My old 22" black Samsonite is remarkably indistinguishable from all the other square black pieces of luggage when circling on the conveyor.

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I have always had brand loyalty for Timbuk2 products ever since purchasing my first messenger bag, so I was extremely excited to see them come up with a suitcase.

I bought the smallest one because I thought the TSA maximum carry on size was 45 linear inches, and the medium one's dimensions are just over that. The medium one is actually abount an inch too big although timbuk2 says it's acceptable. I got the smallest size so there will be no dispute about it, in case they start becoming more strict about carry on sizes.

First the positive:

The quality of the material, like most timbuk2 products, is among the highest I've ever seen for suitcases. Strong and light at the same time.

I travel frequently as a poker player, so I was looking for a carry on that won't rip after a few trips. I used to go through one every few months. So far, I've used this 5 times and it's still in "like new" condition. So if quality of material is your primary concern, this is an excellent buy.

Now the negatives:

The suitcase is actually a bit bulkier than the dimensions say. If you use the front pocket for something such as a laptop or a large book, then it will be slightly too fat to fit in the overhead bins in some planes. This makes the front pocket pretty much useless if you're planning to use this suitcase as a carry-on, so you're pretty much stuck with the two clamshell compartments to put all your stuff.

Even with the added bulk, I found that I couldn't fit that much stuff in mine. The problem with the design is that it's harder to use all the space in the corners. There's a zipper web cover for each side of the clamshell but the lining of it extends over the edge which is slightly annoying. Also, the bottom is not flat which also makes it harder to pack at full capacity.

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Bought the 22" (medium) Copilot, then agonized over whether I should have bought the 20" version instead. Have used this bag for both air travel and car travel now, and like it very much.

Like: Much lighter than my previous (very old) carry on. Grab handles on every side make overhead stowing and retrieval a breeze (I'm a wuss and had no trouble holding the packed bag over my head). Wheels are quiet and wide enough it doesn't tip much. TONS of room inside (even packed my pillow in there, along with everything else for a long weekend). Weird neoprene zippers ROCK, I was not sure what to expect but they are stretchy and practical and go easily around anything.

Dislike: Yes it is 22 x 14 x 9 but each of those dimensions is a good half to three-quarters of an inch bigger than stated. Fit easily into Southwest overheads but they state 24 x 16 x 10 is acceptable. Have not tried on another airline yet. Front zipper pocket is just a smidge too small for my 14.1" laptop.

Overall: Based on my experience with this bag, I'd cheerfully take the 20" (small) Copilot instead and know it has plenty of room, as well as being more likely to fit in overhead bins. I don't fly as often as we drive, but it definitely stresses me out to know I may have to check this bag because it's an inch too big. Potential size issues aside, I absolutely love it!

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Timbuk2 20-Inch Co Pilot Footlocker I bought this case so I didn't have to check my luggage in at the airport. I am irked by having to pay for checking in a bag and I'm mistrustful that it, and I, will arrive simultaneously at any given destination. That being said, I've used this bag twice and not carried it on either time.

I'm not worried about it working as a carry on. It's just that my last two trips have involved driving and then a boss who paid my check in costs. I took a chance on the arrival thing. The bag is perfect for carry-on. With handles on all four sides and its compact build, this suitcase will fit into the overhead bin better than I fit into the little tiny seats they give us now.

With regard to check in, it was the first time I've been able to find my luggage on the carousel without having to grab at and peer at every black bag of a certain size. The violet stripe and handle bar and tannish (potrero?) color makes it easy to spot. The bag rolls quietly and is very stable. I had a brief bag and c-pap machine loaded on it and it balanced nicely. The only thing that would make the wheels better is if they were spinners. Notwithstanding that, the bag is easy to maneuver and follows along like a well trained puppy.

Packing the Co-Pilot is also a treat. There are two compartments, the two halves of the suitcase, each covered with a mesh screen. When you close or open the case, everything stays where it should, something that has never happened for me with the ties that most cases use. I fit professional and casual clothes for 4 days, my shower bag, a pair of nice shoes and my Birkenstock clogs into this suit case and didn't have a problem closing it.

I am very happy with my new suitcase. I've used Timbuk2 briefcases and bags for some time and I'm quite pleased that I tried their carry-on suitcase. I highly recommend it.