Thule Subterra 2 Check In Spinner 65L

The Thule Subterra 2 Check In Spinner 65L is part of its revamped collection where the logo appears black. I think a dark logo looks better than the white logo, especially on this dark slate colour bag.

Thule supplied me with the Subterra 2 Check In Spinner for recent travels, in the 65L size. It’s a medium sized bag that you check in, with a soft fabric exterior.

It’s available on the Thule South Africa website for R10 999 and comes in black or dark slate.

Subterra 2 Check In Spinner Quick Look

• It has a 65L capacity
• Dimensions: 42 x 35 x 68cm
• Weight: 4.25kgs
• Material: Nylon, Polyester
• Back Panels: Polycarbonate

This medium sized bag is suited for trips of up to a week long, given its size. It fits between a 55cm carry-on and a 75cm large suitcase. If you like a luggage made with fabric, this would appeal.

Thule says the bag is durable through its YKK zippers and 800D nylon outer that has a water-resistant free finish. It adds that it is a ‘bluesign’ product, which is a strict international criteria that ensures the protection of workers, consumers, and the environment.

Features and Compartments

The bag is deep and has one big compartment, unlike other bags that open in the middle, split between two halves on each size for storage. The deep compartment is great if you don’t necessarily use compression cubes or have thick jackets and coats.

The main compartment also has a small compression panel that fits a smart jacket or top that you want to keep separately, which is detachable, so it can be used with or without the compression straps.

On the open side or lid of the bag, there is a fold-flat divider to separate items, example shoes or toiletries that can be stored on there. It has a mesh panel that zips around it. It also features an easy access zip with direct access to this part from the top of the bag, like if you want to grab a jacket from the outside.

This additional easy access panel would need to be locked, in addition to the main compartment zips on the bag. There is no built-in locks. I got myself the new Thule TSA cable lock for the main compartment and used a cable tie for the easy access slot on my last trip.

This is the extend of the compartments available in the bag, which is a different layout to say, a Thule backpack with lots of slots and zips. There’s a also a slot for an ID tag.

Traveling with the Thule Subterra 2 

I like how much on the medium size this bag actually is, if it makes sense. Cabin bags are too small for my business trips that are over 4 days and I don’t like carrying a large bag. It’s not ideal or rather, I don’t prefer to lug around a massive suitcase. This makes it the perfect between bag-sizes bag.

For my business trips abroad, I usually need to carry jackets or coats in addition to my work clothes, climate dependent, and this suitcase was great for my recent trip to Germany and Hungary, in September. The start of the shoulder season, but weather in Europe is all over the place so one day you could need a thick jacket and another day, a trench will suffice.

Despite the large main compartment of this bag, I used my Thule compression cubes for my most of my clothes, so I could just place my jackets and other odds on top. I had space on the side to add more stuff, which was ideal. Like my hair tools or my steamer.

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On the top panel, or rather lid of the bag, was perfect for my toiletry bag and shoes. It’s a narrow compartment that is also adjustable through a fold down panel, giving you some flexibility, which is the Thule way.

What I found was that on the cover compartment, it is best not to overload it as this affects the balance of the suitcase when wheeling it.

On my way back from my trip, I had some extra items, which added to the weight in my bag, and that compartment. The extras had an impact on the bag standing upright so in future, I would try to load as much in the main compartment to not have it tip over.

That said, the 360-degree wheels let you glide through the airport. However, just for a short while, considering it is a checked-in luggage.

The telescopic handles can be adjusted to a few heights, which is where I placed my backpack, which was another Thule bag as it has a slot that fits onto your bag handle that’s easy to walk around.

The only concern I have is that the outer is fabric after all, and it may attract more dirt or dust than say a hard-shell luggage would, and thus requires more effort to clean, as it is impossible to keep clean when its left to the luggage handlers.

Final Thoughts 

The Thule Subterra 2 check in spinner 65L bag is the perfect medium sized bag, the between two bag sizes, for your travels. Looks wise, the dark slate colour is very understated, especially with the black logo. I would say it is best for a week-long trip and fits your items for a shoulder season, and if you have compression packing cubes, even better. Just beware of not overloading the top part of the bag as you don’t want it to cause an imbalance while wheeling the bag around.

*Thule SA gifted me the Subterra 2 luggage