Peak Design’s Roller Lite Carry-On is bigger on the inside — and cheaper, too

When we sampled Peak Design’s Roller Pro final year, we loved nearly everything concerning the camera equipment powerhouse’s archetypal attempt at a appropriate suitcase. Everything, that is, apart from for the price. Back then, during its crowdfunded launch, the Pro could be had for as small as $425. Today, you’re looking at $599.95 for the identical roller bag.

Peak Design has taken that feedback to bosom in creating the Roller Lite Carry-On, part of a new sequence of suitcases that bring many of the Pro’s features and scheme concepts into a hard-sided clamshell scheme that’s additional traditional and, crucially, additional affordable, starting alongside the $449.95 Lite Carry-On.

It’s part of a new Lite family of suitcases. The slightly larger Lite Carry-On Plus expenses $469.99 and measures 22.5 x 15 x 9 inches, during the $549.95 Lite Trunk is 30 x 16.1 x 13.8 inches. The erstwhile should motionless compression in most overhead compartments, during the second is improved off checked. Both, though, arrive in cheaper than the Pro.

That cost-cutting does outcome in bags alongside small features and small originality, but I motionless established the new Lite Carry-On to be a awesome journey companion, archetypal for a two-day whirlwind journey to Rome, afterward for a week in Tucson, Arizona.

I journey a lot, spending far additional period escorting my carry-on about airports than I do driving my car at home, so no astonishment that I’m picky concerning what I drag through terminals and haul up into overhead compartments. I wouldn’t say that aesthetics are a chief concern, but everybody prefers a good-looking suitcase, and the Roller Lite passes that archetypal test. It’s understated yet advanced in black, but the emerald green choice called cypress power be equal better. There’s additionally a hue called rock for those additional into earth tones.

Regardless of color, I think the Lite Carry-On’s difficult synthetic casing looks improved than the soft-sided Roller Pro, and I’d hazard a conjecture it’ll remain the test of period better, too. The second trip I took alongside the Lite started in a small puddle-jumper of a plane. The escape attendant gate-checked any bag alongside wheels, equal although the Lite Carry-On (21.7 x 13.8 x 9 inches, slightly smaller than the Pro) would have effortlessly fit in the overhead.

It came rear to me from its trip to the belly of the airplane alongside a few new scuffs and scratches, alternatively looking lone a small worse for wear.

Durability was a big marketing item on the Roller Pro, and that continues here. The Lite is equal additional repairable gratitude to its effortlessly replaced strap handles. They sit flush without taking up any area in the suitcase itself, yet are fairly comfortable to use.

Both the Pro and Lite portion the identical carbon fiber handle, additionally effortlessly replaceable. It’s my favorite feature, rising smoothly and dropping into location without a hitch. I particularly affection the dry carbon weave that’s exposed whenever it’s raised.

My lone grievance is that the grip on top is too bulky, making it a clumsy fit through the luggage passthrough on my backpack. But otherwise, the carbon building makes for a sturdier awareness than the grip on my Tumi 19 Degree Aluminum roller, which expenses three times as much.

While the two portion the identical handle, the Lite’s scheme is a significant departure from the Pro. The Pro offered a so-called “hybrid” layout, alongside the top beginning up and swinging rear into a sole ample compartment. The Lite is a additional traditional clamshell alongside a zipper operating the complete circumference, splitting the case in two akin a book.

When it comes to packing camera equipment and another gear, I think the Pro’s sole chief division is easier to live with, particularly if you’re hauling several bulky telephoto glass.

But whenever I’m packing additional items of garments than camera gear, I really favor the Lite Carry-On’s two smaller compartments. I can distinct apparel from everything else, which is helpful whenever living out of a suitcase.

The Lite Carry-On lacks the Pro’s trick external pockets for laptops, passports, and the like. That doesn’t annoy me, as that material continually goes in my backpack, but if you’re looking for a single-bag journey experience, the Pro is improved suited. The Lite is additionally missing the Cord Hook characteristic of the Pro, possibly helpful for strapping a tripod or the akin to the outside.

Inside, the correct fractional of the Lite has a zippered flap shield alongside two ample mesh pockets that don’t appearance or awareness as fine as the inner pockets on the Pro. You’ll motionless discover a hidden pocket for tucking distant an Apple AirTag tracker, though.

The another flank has the identical elastic-strap holding scheme as the Pro. You burden it up alongside stuff, afterward extend the two hooks throughout to latch on the another side. It’s a basic, flimsy-looking solution, but it works. When the agents at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport wanted to rummage about in my bag, those small bungee hooks kept everything from scattering complete the flat in Fiumicino.

The Lite Carry-On has an integrated, TSA-approved lock, item missing on the Pro, and although it’s slightly smaller on the exterior (21.7 x 13.8 vs. 21.8 x 14), removing that forefront pocket makes it substantially bigger on the inside: 38 liters vs. 34 on the Pro, expanding to 45 liters vs. 39.

The 2-inch enlargement on the Lite is a awesome emergency resolution if you picked up a few too many souvenirs in Seville, but the Lite feels free and floppy whenever rolling about alongside its enlargement zipper open. I don’t propose it.

Otherwise, whenever completely zipped and packed, I really enjoyed wheeling the Roller Lite around. It was an uncomplicated glider complete gentle terminal floors and didn’t rattle obnoxiously complete rougher asphalt.

The Roller Lite Carry-On is undoubtedly a simpler suitcase than the Roller Pro that preceded it, and since of that, it doesn’t awareness nearly as particular to use or purpose-driven as Peak Design’s offerings typically are.

But afterward it’s $150 cheaper, roomier, is easier to pack, and, in my estimation, volition demonstrate equal additional durable. It may not be the supreme roller bag for pro photogs, but it’s my new favorite suitcase for under $500. I’d equal put it onward of options from Tumi, Briggs & Riley, and others that disbursal many times more, aren’t as effortlessly repaired, and don’t arrive alongside a life warranty.

Photography by Tim Stevens / The Verge