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Samsonite Freeform Spinner Review

A perfectly priced hardshell that doesn't sacrifice style or performance
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Samsonite Freeform Spinner Review
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   Samsonite
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 5, 2024
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 15
  • Capacity - 35% 8.4
  • Ease of Transport - 25% 7.0
  • Construction Quality - 20% 6.5
  • Design and Functionality - 20% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Samsonite Freeform Spinner is one of our favorite hard shell carry-ons because it's less expensive than premium brands, but it still has great style, form, and function. This bag offers a very basic interior storage compartment, but makes up for it with improved double-spinner wheels, a soft polypropylene case, tough zippers, a smoother ride, and an appealing modern look — a much needed face lift that will keep Samsonite relevant and competitive. Overall, this spinner is a great bargain and should be at the top of your short list if you're looking to stay within a budget.
REASONS TO BUY
Tough shell
Lots of packing space
Smooth ride
Cost effective
Decent zippers
Well-balanced handles
TSA combo lock
Cool built-in luggage tag
Expandable
REASONS TO AVOID
Exterior shell scratches
Lacks protective bumpers
Thin trolley handle
Very basic questionable wheel durability
Editor's Note: This product is new to our lineup as of July 2024 and replaces the Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Spinner 20-Inch.

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Price $200 List
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Bottom Line One of our favorite bargain hardshell models — it looks great, rolls smooth, and doesn't break the bankFrom hopping planes to hopping rocks, take your gear just about anywhere with this lightweight carry-on, backpack comboMade for extensive travel, this bag has clean modern lines mixed with a bring-your-lunchpail-to-work kinda vibeA host of useful features combined with a durable foundation and solid functionality make this reasonably priced softshell an easy choice to meet your carry-on needsA great bargain bag perfect for shorter jaunts and basic travel
Rating Categories Samsonite Freeform... Osprey Daylite Whee... Away The Carry-On SwissGear Sion Soft... Amazon Basics 20-In...
Capacity (35%)
8.4
9.3
7.2
7.4
7.0
Ease of Transport (25%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.3
6.0
Construction Quality (20%)
6.5
6.9
8.5
6.6
6.1
Design and Functionality (20%)
6.0
7.9
7.7
6.7
5.5
Specs Samsonite Freeform... Osprey Daylite Whee... Away The Carry-On SwissGear Sion Soft... Amazon Basics 20-In...
Weight (Measured) 6.6 lb 4.6 lb 7.4 lb 7.3 lb 6.6 lb
Exterior Dimensions 23.0" x 15.0" x 10" 22.0" x 15.0" x 8.0" 21.7" x 13.5" x 8.5" 23.0" x 14.1" x 10.0" 22.0" x 14.8" x 10.0"
Main Compartment Volume (Measured) 41.2 L 43.5 L 35.5 L 40.5 L 36 L
Exterior Material Polypropylene Recycled polyester Polycarbonate Polyester Polycarbonate
Number of Wheels 4 2 4 4 4
Pull Handle Heights 1 (41.5") 1 (40.5") 4 (27", 34", 37.5", 41.5") 3 (28", 34.5", 43") 2 (33", 41")
Opening Style Half shell Top lid Half shell Top lid Half shell
Locking System Combination/TSA lock Zipper loop Combination/TSA lock Zipper loop None
Number of Exterior Pockets None 2 None 2 None

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Freeform Spinner has a friendly price tag and is as functional as it is stylish. It's more lightweight and modern than past Samsonite models, and it has better wheels and a much-improved ride.

Performance Comparison


samsonite freeform spinner - using our sturdy freeform spinner as a footstool while we wait at...
Using our sturdy Freeform Spinner as a footstool while we wait at the gate.
Credit: Jason Wanlass


Capacity


The combining power of a lightweight polypropylene shell and a spacious cargo space earned the Freeform Spinner impressive scores on all of our tests for this metric. In particular, we liked its simple, uncluttered half-shell design that offers one of the largest interiors of all the bags in our review. In addition to being spacious, we also loved that the Freeform weighs in at just 6.6 pounds.


In addition to a one-inch expansion, this unit's interior offers a zippered mesh divider on one side and cross-ribbon elastic straps on the other. Although basic in its design, we pushed this packing system to the max and found it capable of carrying a wide variety of payloads, including ski boots on one occasion and oversized hiking boots on another. After weeks of testing and use, we feel the Freeform Spinner would function better if each of its half shells offered a zippered divider. This is a design feature that many brands are switching to, and we feel it is superior to the status quo of the age-old buckled bungees.

Checking out the interior of the Freeform. It's quite basic, but it works well enough. Although, we do think Samsonsite should do away with the bungee straps and add a second zippered compartment.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Ease of Transport


Four double-wheeled spinners are a massive improvement over single-wheeled designs we've tested on past Samsonite models (like the Omni PC Hardside Expandable Spinner), resulting in much improved marks for this metric.


As stated, this model's double-wheeled spinners are vastly superior to previous Samsonite models. Although we don't feel they are as rugged as other products in our lineup, we do feel they will perform well during typical airport hustle and bustle. This bag's double-wheeled spinners are quiet, smooth, very responsive, and roll at high speed with far less vibration than previous single-wheeled designs. Likewise, during our line tests, the Freeform Spinner tracked very well.

A nearly perfect performance at walking the line. The Freeform's four spinners are spot on.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

The wheels on the Freeform Spinner are two inches tall, so it lacks the same clearance as some of our higher-rolling models; however, it handles most curbs or steps relatively well. Its spinners do lack the all-terrain capability of some of the adventure bags in our lineup, so they don't perform very well in grass, gravel, or dirt.

Testing our carry-on's ability to tackle concrete, curbs, and dirt.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

We tested all of this unit's handles and feel they are average. The Freeform Spinner has two basic plastic grab handles that work well, although they are thin and lack a comfortable grip. This bag's smooth shell also makes it a little difficult to hold while lifting overhead or positioning, but overall, the bag is well-balanced and stands firmly upright even when fully loaded. The trolley handle is adequate and feels sturdy, but we were never fully convinced of its overall construction quality — it's a bit too thin. That all said, this bag is certainly ready for moderate travel, and is perfectly sized to fit in most overhead compartments. It also maneuvers very well, especially in tight spaces.

Zooming through the main cabin as we make our way to the jet bridge. The Freeform snakes through tight spaces like an Indy car.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Construction Quality


We don't feel the Freeform Spinner is on par with some of the more robust bags in our review, so its scores for this metric don't match those reserved for our best bags. But this bag is no slouch. For its price point, we feel it competes very well against similar bags, and with proper care, it will be a reliable performer.


We don't recommend the Freeform Spinner to high-paced jet-setters who routinely travel the globe. However, we took ours on a few international trips without incident. This bag is certainly tough enough for broadly based travel; however, we feel travelers may see a breakdown in performance if frequency is more than mild to moderate. The Freeform's shell is made from polypropylene, which is lighter, softer, and more pliable than polycarbonate (the industry's standard material). Overall, it performed well during our drop and tumble tests, but as a whole, it may not be as impact-resistant as polycarbonate, and its softer properties cause it to scratch very easily.

Stop, drop, and roll: Getting serious about discovering the construction quality of the Freeform's polypropylene shell. It's tough, but it scratches.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Collectively, this bag's zippers, wheels, handles, and buckles are all slightly above-average grade, and should perform well for several travel seasons if used with care. Given its price tag, we were impressed with its overall quality, but we weren't as wowed with its performance in our water tests. With the help of a backyard hose, we showered the Freeform Spinner with a five-minute rainstorm. In short, nearly one-third of the interior took on water. The shell is certainly waterproof; however, the zipper system is not. The likelihood of a carry-on being exposed to this amount of rain is rare, but we still feel the test plays an important role in determining construction quality.

The shell is waterproof, but the zipper is not. The Freeform didn't take on a lot of water, but allowed enough to pass through to make us question.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Design and Functionality


The overall vibe of the Freeform Spinner is certainly a step up from past Samsonite designs. The Freeform dons an appealing modernized pattern and a sleeker, more trendy look. Despite its well-needed makeover, this bag is still pretty basic in terms of functionality, resulting in average scores for this metric.


The Freeform Spinner will appeal to pleasure travelers looking for a good deal. It will also serve the thrifty business traveler well as long as their schedule is restricted to a quarterly basis. The Freeform has nice lines, but otherwise is rather basic in every way. Its half-shell design has two main compartments with two smaller zipper pouches for smaller items. It doesn't have a lot of extras, but we did like the built-in sliding name tag.

It's not much in terms of extra features, but it's still pretty cool -- never lose your name tag again.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

This carry-on's wide-open interior can pack just about anything, but it certainly lends itself to more traditional payloads, like shoes, clothing, and toiletries. The Freeform's main zippers are a little stubborn, but are otherwise fairly solid, and we love the fact that it comes with a combination lock that is TSA-approved.

Playing with our combo lock while we wait to board.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Should You Buy the Samsonite Freeform Spinner?


This bag is ideal for price-conscious travelers who don't want to give up quality in their search for a good deal. That being said, the Freeform Spinner is far from indestructible, but with proper care and light to moderate use, this bag should last for several travel seasons. It's perfect for leisure travelers and is even stylish enough to work well for basic business travel. If you're looking for a solid carry-on that will perform well for a handful of trips per year, the Freeform is a great option. We love this bag's price tag, but what we love even more is its modern edge and classic colors. Combined, they give off the vibe that says you paid more for your carry-on than you actually did.

samsonite freeform spinner - a perfect fit: this bag is perfectly sized to fit nicely in overhead...
A perfect fit: this bag is perfectly sized to fit nicely in overhead bins -- even the small ones that are common on shorter, domestic flights, like this one from Salt Lake to Denver.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

What Other Carry-On Should You Consider?


The Away The Carry-On is a step up from the Freeform. It's one of our favorites and is tougher, has better wheels, and a great packing system. The Delsey Paris Helium Aero is another cost-friendly hard shell that has its own distinct style. However, if you're simply looking for the best deal possible, the Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner is a great option.

samsonite freeform spinner - dreaming of a smooth ride in the clouds after a long day of testing.
Dreaming of a smooth ride in the clouds after a long day of testing.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Jason Wanlass