Adventure travel demands luggage that’s resilient and ready-for-anything. The Thule Aion review here is for a ‘Carry-On Spinner’. It aims to be a fusion of style, durability, and functionality, something that looks tailor-made for more adventerous travel. But is it the ideal rugged carry-on bag? Let’s find out.
Thule Aion overview: Why review a rugged carry-on bag anyway?
Living with the Aion carry-on spinner
Thule Aion review: Key features and specifications
What’s a carry-on bag anyway?
A carry-on bag is a bag that you are allowed to bring on board an aircraft: It is typically smaller than checked luggage, meets carry-on size restrictions and is stored in an overhead bin or under your seat during the flight.
Carry-on bag current sizes
The size of carry-on bags can vary, but airlines typically stipulate a maximum size. For many airlines, the maximum size for a carry-on bag is typically around 22” x 14” x 9” or 56 x 36 x 23 cm, including handles and wheels for domestic flights in the US, or even smaller for some airlines or international flights. However, you should always check their airline’s specific guide to carry-on luggage as these can vary.
Thule Aion overview: Why review a rugged carry-on bag anyway?
Well, I’ve been through a few travel bags and in my experience, the tougher, the better. Cheaper versions have sometimes surprised me, but the old adage is usually true: quality lasts – or it should. I needed a rugged carry-on that fitted the smallest sizing of the airline I travel with most.
When I travel for adventure activities my backpack will go in the hold, but alongside it I need a carry-on that can take knocks like a backpack. Thule products have a good reputation and the Aion carry-on spinner looked like a good choice to review.
The quick Thule Aion review
It’s neat, it’s quality, and it’s expensive – compared to my usual purchases anyway. So, much of this review is to see if it’s worth spending this amount and what exactly you get for your money when buying a Thule Aion carry-on.
What I like about It
So let’s see where the detail is with this bag and what I liked about it – and what it missed.
- Build quality: Evident in every part of this bag’s construction. This carry-on is built to last. Material: The outside of the bag is 600D: tough but not too heavy.
- Handle: Slick telescoping and wide handle.
- 360-degree spinner wheels. These are proper trucks that should survive most surfaces and make it easy to manoeuvre
- Zips: Rubberized and covered with the front compartment zipper tucking cleverly behind a neoprene flap.
- Colour options: Lovely blue-black in my bag and understated decals and branding.
- Eco credentials: bluesign® certified.
- Thoroughly tested: Thule put their products through rigorous testing before launch
What I thought could be improved
- The bag isn’t depth expandable – this would be really useful so you could use this for larger loads when not in carry-on mode.
- High-Viz: I think they missed a trick by not including some high-visibility flashes or subtle reflective elements.
- Locking: There isn’t a lock, and maybe at this price it could be built-in. I’ve seen this on a few other bags, and it’s a great idea.
- Passport essentials pouch: The pocket is short and could perhaps run down the length of the bag.
Living with the Aion carry-on spinner
The thing you’ll use most – and will annoy you if it’s not up to scratch – is the telescoping handle…and it’s superb. Clunky, stable, and wide; this handle will endure lots of telescoping and dragging.
I’ve just returned from my first trip with the bag and it was excellent throughout. Also, I really liked how the design doesn’t shout ‘adventure’ or ‘extreme’ as I really don’t need that in a bag.
Access and rolling
The attention to detail is excellent, and so are some of the design elements. The 600D fabric is a great choice and provides real peace of mind given the rugged needs here, and the rolls are super – I’d like to find out if they are replaceable, as this is sometimes the first point of failure after bashing these bags into planes and from the luggage carousel…
Access to the main storage space comes from the standard wraparound zipper, and a vertical zip on the front of the bag leads you to the separated zippered pocket interior layer. There’s also a small front packet that might come in handy for smaller items and essentials – passport, etc.
A look inside
I like how Thule makes the effort to protect even the zips on the inside…they clearly care about making things last. I took things a little further and unzipped the interior lining: Here’s a picture of how well built this carry-on bag is. Materials are solid throughout – even the lining is quality.
Packing
One thing that didn’t really make sense to me is the packing cube. While it’s also beautifully finished, I don’t think I’ll ever use it as designed (see below). Yes, it’s clever, but I think it’s a little bit of overengineering a problem to be honest. Without the bag the same straps are used to compress/ hold down your clothing or packed items, which makes more sense.
Thule Aion review: Key features and specifications
The Thule Aion is equipped with features essential for travel comfort and efficiency. This includes multi-directional spinner wheels for smooth maneuverability, telescopic handles for easy navigation, and a well-thought-out internal compartment system for organized packing. The case boasts a durable outer shell and tough water-resistant fabrics.
- Removable compression packing cube: This feature, with a TPU lining, efficiently segregates items with odor, moisture, or dirt from the rest of your belongings. It also serves as a convenient day bag.
- Oversized and recessed wheels: The large rear wheels glide smoothly over rough terrain, while the smaller front wheels are recessed to create more interior space.
- External pockets: The Thule Aion features a convenient front pocket for quickly stowing items like jackets, and a zipped exterior pocket for easy access to small essentials, enhancing both convenience and efficiency during travel.
- Internal pockets: Inside, the case boasts an interior mesh pocket in the main compartment, designed to keep various items in place throughout your journey. This is the same pocket that you access from the outside – I listed it above as an external pocket as it’s both, really.
- The case features a sturdy exoskeleton with a polycarbonate back panel and a patented V-tubing telescoping handle for smooth handling.
- Security-friendly zip pulls: The exterior zip pulls can be locked together – you’ll need to buy a lock as it’s not part of the design.
- Sustainable materials: The Thule Aion bag boasts sustainability with 100% recycled materials in its shell fabric, lining, and mesh, featuring a water-resistant and character-developing waxed canvas, along with a polycarbonate back panel made from 50% recycled material.
Why use 600D waxed canvas in carry-on luggage anyway?
Choosing 600D waxed canvas in bags like the Thule Aion carry-on spinner adds water resistance and guarantees resilience. It’s a fabric known for repelling moisture and stains, and it’s ideal for changeable weather.
The canvas balances lightweight design and rugged durability. Beyond functionality, the aesthetic appeal of waxed canvas, with its distinctive texture and aging properties, adds a stylish touch.
- Durability: 600D waxed canvas is highly robust, making it ideal for withstanding the wear and tear of outdoor use and frequent travel.
- Water resistance: The wax coating provides excellent water resistance, protecting contents from moisture, an essential feature for outdoor and adventure travel.
- Aesthetic appeal: Waxed canvas has a unique, stylish look that stands out compared to typical luggage materials.
- Eco-friendliness: This material can be more environmentally sustainable than synthetics like nylon or polyester, aligning with eco-conscious consumer values.
These properties make 600D waxed canvas a good choice for adventure gear especially if you travel a lot, offering a blend of functionality, style, and sustainability that other common travel baggage materials may not match.
Comparison with other carry on luggage
The Thule Aion carry-on spinner stands out for its durability and design. Its features are tailored for the adventure-minded, setting it apart from more conventional carry-on luggage. It’s also better looking…
Price and availability
Quality luggage comes at a price. In this case that price is £285/ $365 USD. Now, while higher than some competitors this does reflect the quality in the bag. It’s beautifully built and over time it should prove worth this outlay.
You can find the Aion spinner from the usual online retailers and platforms – and you can buy Thule carry-on luggage direct from the company.
Thule Aion review final thoughts: Is this carry-on spinner the best choice for adventure travelers?
The best carry-on luggage for adventure travelers has to do more than meet carry-on requirements, it has be easy to pack and have robust build and user-friendly design.
As a piece of luggage the Aion carry-on spinner makes a decent travel companion, but it’s also built to take more knocks than carry on luggage on a business trip.
If you’re looking for a bag that mixes travel style with tough features. it’s for you. The Thule Aion is a top recommendation in the rugged carry-on category. However, it’s expensive at £285. When it comes to luggage it takes time to really prove itself, so look out for an update to this post in 12 months from now.
Do you use a carry-on bag? Got experience with the Thule Aion carry-on spinner? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
