Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 Review

The Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 stands out as the most featured roller suitcase in our review, optimal for those who will be engaging in diverse landscapes, activities, or climates and need more room to pack the extensive or bulky gear to support their travels. Advertised as an adventure suitcase, it's not for those merely seeking a sleek or stylish bag to check at the airport.

Performance Comparison

Storage & Organization

The ORV Trunk is aptly named. It is more like a trunk than a traditional roller suitcase or duffel and stands out for its thoughtful storage design and easy-to-exploit capacity. It also easily wins the title of "most featured suitcase" in our test suite. While the company claims the 30-inch case carries 97 liters of gear, we felt we got more out of it, given all the extras. Seeking simplicity? This isn't it.

Rigid enough to hold its shape when only partially packed yet still flexible enough to squeeze in just one more layer when packed to the gills, this big bag will challenge the weight capacity regulations on almost any airline if you're not careful. If 50 pounds is your max, you will need to demonstrate restraint when packing or commit to overcharges.

Taking a look inside, you'll discover a spacious main compartment featuring one large mesh pocket on the backside of the zippered opening panel along with three small mesh slip pockets to one side of the interior lining for easy stashing of smaller items like undies and socks. To the back, a multi-use internal cargo net provides moderate compression and restraint for clothing and other unruly items during transit. Once you land at your destination, just unclip and reattach it to the outside to allow easy access and storage for bulky or dirty items on the go. A very handy addition for when wet and dirty activities factor into your travel days.

A design feature we really love is the expandable pocket at the foot of the suitcase. Built of a water-resistant liner, it creates a wet/dry separation from the rest of your gear. At full unzipped expansion, it will fill the bottom third of the bag, easily accommodating two pairs of boots or similar inside. Just above, another spacious exterior pocket provides enough space to easily fit a pair of sandals, a camera, or any other on-the-go essentials, along with yet another internal mesh zip-storage pocket to capture smaller critical items like an ID or ticket.

Need more? You've got it. The 30-inch roller has ten gear loops around the outside, with even more built into the 36-inch. While not particularly useful in transit, these can make a nice tool for sorting gear once landed at your destination or to bungee off any wet gear being towed about from last-minute excursions. Similarly, a topside bungee cord easily deploys from the handle port to attach your helmet, coat, second backpack, or purse.

Of course, with all this bulk, chances are high you will need extra compression to maintain balance and mobility while on the move. Good news: simply cinch down each of the four hefty exterior buckles around the outer edges, and you're ready to roll with a well-stuffed bag.

Ease of Transport

Given its bulk, this suitcase isn't the easiest to haul around. But it's not terribly bad either. Like any two-wheeled roller bag, it moves pretty flawlessly through the airport and on hard surfaces. The oversized wheels glide over cracks smoothly, even when fully loaded, and we appreciate that it stands well on its own when cinched down and loaded.

The wheels on the ORV feel sturdy, but their grooved traction will add an element of vibration when rolling on harder surfaces, so they aren't a super smooth urban ride. The wheels are also plastic and don't have the rubberized surface that we have grown to love on other models. However, the wheel housings are bomber and hold up under the weight of a full load. They work well on gravel too, but of course, not as smoothly. Given the size of this bag, it can be heavy when loaded and hard to push and pull. It's not exactly nimble. It doesn't have a lot of clearance either, so it snags easily at its base if you're not careful.

If you're packed full and have to pick this bag up to haul it over rougher terrain or toss it in the car, you've got your work cut out for you. The ORV is big and bulky. The good news is there are six well-positioned haul handles, including one on each edge and two on the front side, so you'll always have one close at hand to leverage and grab.

We appreciate the beefy and comfortable roller handle on the top of this bag. It tucks into a zippable port and is one of the sturdiest in our review. The rest of the load handles are thinner, but we didn't run into any durability issues during our testing period.

Overall, this suitcase is a bulkier case meant to transport, serve, and protect more diversly than most. With decent rolling capabilities that navigate hard surfaces and those littered with rocks, soft dirt, or gravel, this is a great option for expeditionary travel but can just as easily be used at the airport or on road trips.

Reliability

This suitcase is solid. The outer material is a combination of water-resistant 900-1000-denier polyester materials that resist scratches and punctures, along with "armor" reinforcements along each of the most vulnerable surfaces, corners, and edges. All wheels, zippers, and handles are well constructed, some of the sturdiest we've tested. Given how durable each of these components proved during testing, we award this bag one of the highest reliability scores in our review.

Even after throwing this suitcase in the back of a truck for a month, it still looked brand new. The corners, where you would expect to see the most wear and tear, are reinforced with plastic bumpers and thicker fabric. They really do their job, increasing the durability and longevity of the bag.

The fabric on the main body is also impressively water-resistant, repelling moisture during all our water tests. That said, the case itself is not waterproof because the zippers are permeable. If water can get past the protective zipper flap, it will (and did) seep in through the zips to pool inside.

The wheels on the ORV 30 are large, rolling easily over cracks and other obstacles. They are also easy to change out if they do wear down over time with a simple twist of an Allen key. And the burly zippers are simple enough to use, even if they do sometimes get tangled up in the corners due to the softshell material. Fully packed, they become easier to use with the giant pulls proving especially helpful when you're sitting on top of the bag trying to close it.

The main pull handle operates simply by pressing a central button. It has one of the smoothest actions in our review and feels sturdy as it glides to one of two possible heights. It doesn't bow out under the weight of a fully packed bag, either.

The only durability issue we foresee is at the bottom of the bag. The rubber "kick-plate" midway between the wheels on the bag's backside was pretty chewed up after our tests. If you're somebody who bumps their bags up curbs and steps, expect to see some wear and tear in that area. Of course, that's what the guard is there for, so the fabric doesn't suffer. Overall, if you're seeking a super reliable suitcase, this is one of the best.

Weight

This is a burly piece of luggage, yet only registered 9.9 pounds on our scale. That leaves you 40.1 pounds available for gear before making it an overweight suitcase at the airport terminal. Still, you will want to double-check yourself before flying — the cavernous interior of this case can easily swallow way more than you anticipate, with plenty of room left to add on the go.

Style

This case has a utilitarian, technical style that will appeal to some and repel others.

The web netting, exterior gear loops, armored corners, and super burly fabric give it an outdoorsy or even military-style look. So, it's not particularly stylish if urban jet setting is your goal. It's also not likely the suitcase you'd choose for regular business trips or long casual weekends away. But for long haul or overland adventures, or where sports and heavy equipment activities are a central feature of your planning, this bag will look the right part and serve you well.

Value

The ORV is on the pricier side, and those seeking a simple bag for run-of-the-mill travel are unlikely to unlock its full value. That said, if you frequently travel with enough gear to head to the crag or into the backcountry, or if you're looking for a strong investment to carry you far, you'll appreciate its rugged durability, organizational extras, and packing capacity.

Conclusion

The Eagle Creek ORV Trunk 30 is a very technically-minded roller suitcase. It's meant to move yet sturdy and organized enough to hold its own against all types of activities once you land. Water and abrasion-resistant features make it a great choice for long expeditions where potential exposure may be a concern. But for those seeking a simple checked bag for casual jaunts between city and country retreats, you're likely to be disappointed due to its bulk and utilitarian looks. This one is built for the go-hard and go-big adventurer.