Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 28" Review

The Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds has surface appeal. It's a shiny, classic, hard clamshell case that suggests simple yet functional travel support in a respectable mid-size form. Unfortunately, that's where the attention to true value ends. While you'll find ample storage at a reasonably low weight, you won't walk away with the solid construction or reliable components required to ensure long-term, or even short-term, use.

Performance Comparison

Storage & Organization

Storage and organization are simple and reasonably thoughtful in this otherwise underwhelming mid-sized 85L suitcase. With its standard clamshell design, there are no external pockets or organizational features to note, although a purse or carry-on item can certainly ride well enough atop the rigid exterior if the need arises.

The two clam halves of the core compartment offer plenty of room for all you'd ever need on an average week-long jaunt and leave plenty of wide-open space to organize the interior as you prefer. Yet with only a couple of minor interior organizational additions, there's really not much to set this bag apart as a contender.

Specifically, a single zip enclosure panel runs across one-half the clam opening to hold your items secure. On the other side, you'll find a bag-length accessory pocket hanging down the middle, just under a set of gently elasticized straps. Although ostensibly a restraint system meant to hold gear in place in the other half of the bag, we found no evidence these thin flimsily-clasped straps could perform against great weight, even if their presence allowed for a slightly simplified packing strategy.

Ease of Transport

Out on the move, the Reaction Out of Bounds performed acceptably, if not impressively. All four spinner wheels provided reasonable glide across most paved and polished surfaces, only producing small hiccups in our gait at intervals where cracks or concrete seams made themselves known. When packed reasonably light, the bag managed to keep up and deliver without exhaustive pressure. And notably, without any stopper to brake the suitcase when standing, it managed to continue rolling along without us on occasion. Best to keep a hand on it.

At the full check-weight of 50 pounds, things went down a bit differently. Like other spinner bags in our test suite, a heavy pack job seemed to produce an angled effect to the bag's position each time it was in motion, sending it out away from the body at 45 degrees to our front side. A heavier bag also produced a noticeable amount of drag working against the spinner wheel mechanisms, requiring extra arm strength to provide stabilization and control. While tolerable for short distances, this would certainly become an annoyance on a longer journey, especially given the lightweight design of the telescoping handle.

Wherever rough road presented, we also had issues. Like all spinners, we knew this case would struggle. But given the worrisome combination of cheap parts and construction, each scrape, tug, and stumble across stairs, potholes, rocks, or gravel left us worried the bag was about to see the end of its days. So while such landscape sampling did not impact its overall transportability during testing — it held up well until it met its final set of stairs — no matter what destination lay ahead, the Out of Bounds was inevitably our last pick out of all options on the table. Where there's no trust, there's no future.

Reliability

The Reaction drew questions of durability straight out of the box. Flimsy to the touch, its thin ABS hard-shell exterior with hard plastic molded corner reinforcements did little more than project a superficial strength without any verifiable weight in materials or construction to back the claim. Similarly, the cheap hard-plastic single-wheel casters, clothing-grade zippers, and lightweight pull handle jiggling within its housing only continued to feed our concerns that not all parts were made to last.

Stuffed in a trunk at full capacity, the Out of Bounds gave us no immediate cause for concern. Zippers and hard case served their purpose, with items remaining tucked away and out of sight. But once out on the roll, the vibration and jiggle underhand and the flex to both sides left us doubting that contents would safely arrive at our destination.

Exterior scuffing from average travel use came standard, although it did tend toward the sort that could be sufficiently wiped clean. And much like nearly all other suitcases in our test suite, the hard-shell exterior remained impervious to water in testing. That said, it was quickly undermined by zippers and other vulnerable connection points, allowing moisture to seep in and pool along the inner edges and bag base below.

But the real kicker for the Out of Bounds came during testing when we mimicked the harsh road life ahead for any case moving between hotel and airport tarmac: a short fall down a set of stairs. Of all the bags in the group, this hard case proved the most disappointing, becoming the single only case to give out entirely with a dramatic split along the zipper to expose contents to the ground below. For us, this is where the purchase-worthiness of this low-priced suitcase stops and ends.

Weight

At 9.2 pounds, this is a pretty light case comparatively. You can pack up to 40.8 extra pounds of gear before hitting weight capacity at the airport, which seems just about right for the 85L capacity of the bag. This means less opportunity to overweight yourself and face charges. However, when it comes to weight-to-volume ratio, you get little bang for your buck. If a light bag with core strength and legitimate packing power is a priority, other options will suit your needs better.

Style

The Out of Bounds received compliments for its classic spinner styling. For a low-cost option, its crisp, clean finish and dulled shine will garner subtle appreciation when rolling alongside you at the airport. And with a good number of color options to choose from, you should have no problem finding a seasonal shade to match your current look.

Value

When considering most checked luggage with a decent amount of storage capacity comes in at over a couple of hundred dollars, it's always refreshing to discover options for a more restricted budget. But unfortunately, as is often the case, where costs are reduced, so too is quality. And with the Out of Bounds 28" spinner, there is no doubt that some basic durability and functionality requirements are missing. That being said, if you aren't planning to travel far and wide or often, and you have no expectation of facing extraordinarily rough roads or wild climactic forces, this cheap case ought to have enough stowaway space and wheel-power to see you there. Maybe even enough lifespan potential to get you back home. While we wouldn't count on it time after time, riskier bets have been made. The gamble is yours.

Conclusion

The Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds is an inexpensive, classically-styled, four-wheel clam-shaped suitcase offering respectable storage capacity, a decent glide over hard surfaces, and a few useful organizational extras to set it apart. Where it fails to deliver is in the quality of parts and craftsmanship. This undermined our confidence in performance and longevity and put its overall value into question even at such a low price.