Review: Samsonite Neopod

The Samsonite Neopod is a 55cm cabin bag. There are no larger sizes for the Neopod, it is strictly a carry-on.

The Samsonite South Africa website shows two model types, one is the “easy access” for your laptop in the front, and the other has a “slide out pouch”.

I was sent the easy access version, in the brand new colour called Sage Khaki. It is a dark green shade, which I absolutely love.

Samsonite Neopod Quick Look:

• 3.1kg, 55cm spinner made from polycarbonate
• Dimensions: 55x40x23cm (43L)
• Expandable zip to 27cm depth (50L)
• Front laptop and tablet slot
• Dual TSA combination locks
• Integrated ID tag
• Includes personalisation stickers

Initial thoughts

The Easy Access version is great for a business traveller who needs to fly with a laptop or tablet but easily remove it at security without opening the main part of the suitcase. It also has a front slim zipped slot for flight tickets and passports.

I think it is also great for women who don’t want to carry their laptop in a backpack, which adds unnecessary weight on their shoulders; I’ve been in this situation. It pairs well with a handbag for a short business trip or a carry-on for an international flight.

I know this is so minor, but I love the addition of the personalisation stickers. It was one of the first things I did when I received it – I added my initials and the plane sticker to it, on the side.

The bag has 360-degree spinning wheels that Samsonite says are shock and noise reducing suspension wheels. The bag is also a hard side bag made from polycarbonate.

I’ve had a bad experience with polypropylene bags where a new bag of mine cracked after a couple of uses and I’ve since swore off that material. If you want a stronger bag because know what luggage has to endure, go for polycarbonate.

The telescopic handles are height adjustable and have various slots to adjust for your height or whatever is comfortable for you to wheel around. The handle at its maximum is shorter than my Rimowa.

The integrated ID tag is at the back and it includes stickers to place on it with your contact info. As a woman who travels on business alone, there is no way I am putting my home address or number on the tag, I just put my name and email address.

The front compartment

As the “easy access” name suggests, you can very easily access the front compartment without opening the whole bag, which is especially useful at airport security during a tight connection. It fits a 15.6-inch laptop and a10.5-inch tablet.

You can see how comfortably my 13-inch MacBook Air fits into it, plus an iPad mini. It has a stretch strap with velcro so you can fasten it over your tech items so they won’t move around during transit.

In addition to the laptop and tablet slots, there are two pockets further down and on the lid, another two zipped slots. That’s a lot of compartments for things like a power bank, cables, plugs, wallets, magazines, tissues, and other small items.

This is the reason I love Thule bags, there’s a slot for everything, which is great if you like being organised instead of putting everything into one compartment. I hate my tech getting scratched and bumped against other items.

As a creature of habit, I have specific pockets for certain things so even at night when the cabin lights are off, I know exactly what I am reaching for in the dark.

Inside the main bag

The main bag and compartment on the right comes with a removable zipped pad that fits over your clothes like a compression of sorts. All the linings on the inside are removable and washable.

It’s useful to keep your clothes in place, which is what I’ve used it for so far. But that half of the bag also has a strap to hold everything in. I feel better placing the flat divider over my clothes and then clipping the strap.

The other side is zipped and has another front slim zip compartment. The bag is great for separating stuff or if you pack a certain way and don’t want things to get mixed up. You can comfortably fit shoes, hair tools, and other small bags within both sides.

Given that it has zips, covers and straps, I didn’t feel the need to use my trusty packing cubes with this bag, which is quite something in itself. Those will come in handy for checked bags, and fitting a large coat in a bag.

The carry-on is larger than normal. It has a 43L capacity without the expandable zips, and if you use them, you get 50L, which is huge. If you’re traveling abroad in summer or have a quick business trip, you can likely get away with carry-on only because this bag is so capable. Comparatively, my Rimowa Cabin S is 31L from its 20cm depth. Here it’s 23cm and expands to 27cm.

According to Samsonite, the bag is compatible with 27 international airlines, they have a list on their website. This was the link shared to me on the Samsonite UK site.

Final thoughts 

The Samsonite Neopod is a sturdy carry-on suited best for business travellers or women who don’t want to be weighed down by a laptop on their shoulder.

The 360-degree spinning wheels let you walk or run in any direction and it will glide smoothly.

A lot of thought went into its design, from the easy access compartments, to the dual TSA locks, dividers, compartments and straps for packing in an organised way without stuff shifting in transit.

A big plus is the polycarbonate exterior, which is superior to polypropylene and ensures longevity.

If you’re in the market for a new carry-on, or fly often with a laptop, or need a bag to fit everything in to avoid checked-in bags, the Samsonite Neopod is for you.

It costs R5 999, which is a lot of money for hand luggage but it is arguably the most used bag for frequent travellers who make short trips or business travellers. It comes with a 5 year limited warranty but should give you way more years of use, which should justify the cost.

Samsonite is also a trusted brand that has been around for a long time, and you won’t struggle to find a store for repairs no matter where you are in the world.