Picking the right luggage can be quite a difficult task. There are many options and features, and the price range is wide. CALPAK offers a huge variety of well-designed luggage bags. The luggage bags are TSA-approved, come with many handy features and they suit everyone’s budget.
In this review, I’ll give you a detailed insight into best-selling CALPAK luggage bags and other customer-relevant stuff – customer reviews, shipping, returns, warranty, etc.
Keep on reading to find out whether CALPAK will accompany you on your next trip.
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About CALPAK
California Pak (CALPAK) was founded in 1989 by Edward and Judy Kwon. They started as a collection of handbags and wallets. 10 years later the founders began focusing on duffel bags and soft luggage and in 2008, Edward and Judy decided to go with hard-sided luggage.
This wasn’t the final change. In 2013, Edward and Judy’s kids, Jennifer and Roy joined the company. As Jennifer says I didn’t see myself or my friends reflected in our products—or anywhere else in the travel industry. Nothing out there fit our tastes or lifestyles. With the new customer in mind, Jennifer and Roy decided to rebrand CALPAK. They infused modern style and added some trendy features.
In 2021, they made their debut in the world of apparel. This includes attire and wellness products such as masks, sanitizers, sweats, and leisurewear.
PROS
- Excellent quality/price ratio
- TSA-approved lock
- Expandable – up to 2 inches
- Carbon steel wheels
- Free shipping
- 30-day returns
- 2-year warranty
- Gorgeous design
CONS
- Some customers complained that the parts of the suitcase such as the zipper strip break easily.
CALPAK Luggage
CALPAK offers 5 different types of luggage along with 2- and 3-piece luggage sets. I’ll review the most popular pieces from each.
Let’s go.
Hue Mini Carry-On Luggage
This small carry-on roller is a perfect option when you want to keep things light or perhaps you don’t have enough space in your main suitcase. Hue Mini Carry-On is 16″ x 14″ x 8″ therefore you don’t have to worry – it fits under most airline seats.
The exterior is made of polycarbonate while the interior is Polyester. Your belongings are safe thanks to a TSA-approved lock. The carry-on roller comes with four dual 360° spinner wheels and an extending handle for ultimate mobility. For carrying, there’s a bottom grab handle.
Speaking of the interior, Hue Mini Carry-On features an interior divider with pockets, up-right and compression straps.
The carry-on comes in 6 classic colors and 2 limited ones.
Ambeur Carry-On Luggage
Ambeur Carry-On is your new best traveling partner. This ultra-lightweight carry-on luggage is one of the most popular CALPAK luggage options. It weighs only 6lbs (2.7kg) and it’s 21″x14″x9″. The exterior is made of polycarbonate & ABS while the interior is made of polyester. Carbon steel bearing wheels and the extending handle provide smooth rolling while a TSA-approved lock keeps your things safe. Ambeur Carry-On features two interior dividers – an interior divider with pockets and an interior accessory pocket.
The carry-on comes in 4 different colors.
Astyll Medium Luggage
I mentioned that Edward and Judy’s kids, Jennifer and Roy joined CALPAK in 2013 and started rebranding the company to meet the style and modern needs of 21st-century customers. Astyll luggage collection is an excellent example of rebranding. Available in two stunning colors, midnight marble and milk marble, this medium luggage is exactly what you need. It features a hard shell made of polycarbonate & ABS making it ultra lightweight. Astyll Medium Luggage is so easy to move and roll thanks to four dual 360° spinner wheels and extending handle. The TSA-approved lock keeps your things safe and compression straps keep them in place. The suitcase features two interior dividers as well – an interior divider with pockets and an interior accessory pocket. The suitcase is 25.5” x 17” x 10”.
Trnk Large Luggage
Trnk Large Luggage is a part of Trnk collection – a modern shift to vintage-look suitcases. Even though it features that vintage look, it keeps modern functionality. This incredibly-looking luggage features a hard shell made of polycarbonate & ABS with faux crocodile design. Speaking of movement, the suitcase comes with dual spinner wheels and a convenient extending handle. The interior is made of polyester and it comes with compression straps, an interior divider with pockets, and an additional removable pocket. Since security comes first, all the CALPAK luggage is secured with TSA-approved locks including Trnk Large Luggage. The luggage has a capacity of 101 L and is 29” x 18.5” x 11.5”.
Hue Trunk Luggage
If you love to overpack stuff because “you never know,” or if you’re traveling with kids, Hue Trunk is made for you. It is huge and durable thanks to the Polycarbonate shell and with spinner wheels, so easy to move. It features an extending handle and a TSA-approved lock on the outside. Speaking of the interior made of polyester, there’s a divider with pockets and an accessory pocket. Hue Trunk is 31.8” x 16” x 13” and has a capacity of 108 L so there’s no way you’ll need more space.
The luggage is available in 4 classic and 2 limited colors.
Customer Reviews
CALPAK has a lot of online reviews and some major brands reviewed CALPAK and loved it (such as CNN and Britannica). According to CNN, CALPAK makes gorgeous suitcases and they are impressed by details – for example, the wheels and handle match the exterior design making the luggage so Instagrammable.
On Amazon, CALPAK Carry-On scores 4 out of 5 and the customers love the design, colors, price/quality ratio, and the ultra-lightweight feature. One happy customer says that she was surprised at how spacey the carry-on is. Also, it’s super easy to move around and the only drawback she mentioned is that there’s no side handle.
Another customer says that he managed to pack for a week-long trip without any problems. He didn’t even have to unzip the expanding part. He was super happy with the wheels and he like how sturdy the carry-on is.
On the other hand, some customers complained about the quality of the bag and customer service. One of the customers claims that the zipper attaching strip and stitching broke after only a few trips. The other customer wasn’t happy with the communication with customer service. The person claims that the company was more focused on promoting products instead of dealing with the given issue.
Shipping and Returns
CALPAK offers free shipping for all orders over $75. All other orders ship for a flat rate of $7.95. Speaking of shipping timeframe, it takes 3-8 business days to process and ship your order. I find the processing time a bit too long. After the order is processed, it takes between 2-9 business days for your package to arrive depending on your location.
Speaking of returns, you can return the unused product you bought within 30 days. Products must have their original packaging, shipping carton and any uncut hang tags. CALPAK offers a flat return shipping rate for different categories
- Luggage: $14.95
- Bags & Accessories: $7.95
- Apparel: $4.95
After your return has been approved, you can choose whether you’d like a refund or an exchange.
Also, all CALPAK products are backed with a Limited CALPAK Warranty. All the suitcases are backed by a 2-Year Limited CALPAK Warranty against defects in material and workmanship.
The Verdict – Is Calpak Worth It?
CALPAK is a luggage brand with quite a history. Their main goal is to make quality, functional suitcases at affordable prices. The suitcases have all the features the 21st-century traveler needs and they are well-designed. Edward and Judy’s kids, Jennifer and Roy made a huge deal with rebranding. CALPAK is now known as one of the most Instagrammable luggage brands out there. Also, they made their debut in the world of apparel by introducing attire and wellness products.
CALPAK has a huge variety of products, and speaking of the luggage part, all the suitcases are made from high-quality polycarbonate shell and polyester interior. They feature compression straps, 360 dual spinner wheels and TSA-approved locks. All the suitcases have handy interior dividers (including the mini carry-on one) as extending handles.
Customers love the design of the CALPAK suitcases as well as the mobility. The wheels work like charm and the hard shell is sturdy enough. Even the carry-on bags are spacious enough.
For overpackers, CALPAK designed Hue Trunk, their largest suitcase with a capacity of 108 L.
Speaking of customer experience, customers are mainly happy with CALPAK and most of them love the quality/price ration, design, mobility, and enough storage.
Travel looks good on you.
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