Eagle Creek  Gear Warrior XE 2-Wheel 30" Luggage

I’ve owned and used this bag for over a year and I would love to give it 5 stars but I can’t. The bag is lightweight, the materials are extremely durable, and the size is perfect- it fits everything I want it to. The problem is the compression straps- whoever designed these has never packed a bag in their life. One side of the internal compression straps is so short the buckle ends up buried by clothing every time you pack; you have to dig under everything you just put in to click it together. The outside straps aren’t any better- the short end of the webbing places the plastic buckle directly over the outside corner of the bag- where it’s the stiffest and most exposed, just asking to get damaged. One of the outside buckles has already cracked/broken and I’m sure it won’t be the last. If it weren’t for the straps, both inside and out, this would be a 5 star review perfect bag. Maybe they can fix those in the next version…

I bought the Sand Dune color on sale. It’s a nice, very solid bag. Zipper to main compartment is very heavy duty and a bit cumbersome as a result. But the main issue is that the material is a heavy canvas, that after only one use is almost unrecognizable. It’s a dirt magnet and I have no idea how to clean it or whether to even bother. (See photo). When I picked it up off the carousel I was shocked. And this is after my first flight with it. Go with a darker color and you may be OK. It’s another surprise design oversight from what I consider a super excellent company.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This suitcase is a replacement (they couldn’t repair it anymore) for an Eagle Creek suitcase I loved and had traveled with for about 12 years. It’s VERY sturdy but I don’t like the interior straps - they’re too short and the clip isn’t in the middle it’s on the side, deep inside the suitcase making it hard to clip when your suitcase is full. Additionally, the inside cover pocket used to be one large pocket and now it’s 3 small pockets that feel very unusable. The additional exterior handles are nice as is the zipper closure on the retractable extending handle. It’s my first international trip packing it so hopefully I’ll find a way that’s more useable.

It seems the product quality has diminished. I owned an older model. The older model had more protective rails and guards attached. The newer model seemed cheaper. The build quality wasn’t as good as my older model.

The bag is like a coffin, which is what I needed. I am a big fan of EC products, esp. the duffels. However, the zippers on this bag are so stiff that I can hardly move them along the track. Forget navigating the corners. I called EC and was told that they would loosen up in time. They didn't. Unfortunately, my travels took me away for several months. When I returned, I called EC (again) and was told that it was too late to return it. Sadly, it sits upstairs in the attic gathering (expensive) dust.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] After about 10 years of service the wheels began to give up on the blue Gear Warrior. I was in the middle of my travels in Miami and ordered a new, this time yellow. Hopefully for the next 10 years!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My wife and I are huge Eagle Creek fans. The luggage is rugged and well designed. We have bought, over the course of many years, six pieces of Eagle Creek for ourselves and one for our daughter. This is the second piece of gear warrior luggage that I have had. The first piece was demolished by a baggage handler and true to the Eagle Creek warranty, they gave me a significant credit to be used to a new piece, even though my ruined piece was at least four or five years old. I'm even more sold on Eagle Creek luggage than I was before.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have had the Gear Warrior 30" for several years (a little older version) and it has now traveled 350,000+ miles on airline travels and still look as good as new. The strong exterior, the double stitched anchors, great compression straps, and great volume has helped me in 5 week trips to Asia, Africa, and Europe. I like the newly added expansion zipper (mine does not have that feature) and should be a great asset to the bag. The bag is well-made, has strong extension handle, and resists the abrasion of airline handling.

I used this bag for the first time on a 4-country exploration of Central America. The bag helped keep me well organized throughout the month and protected all belongings even when the duffle was caught temporarily in the rain at an airport. My only observation is that the penalty for its sturdiness is the weight of the bag. If it could be 2-3 pounds lighter, it would be more manageable to handle and less likely to hit maximum weight thresholds on transportation vehicles. I would rate the Gear Warrior luggage a 4. 5.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First to pack this two days before my long haul trip. I bought this to replace my 29" Tarmac two wheeler that I bought years ago because I didn't trust the zipper to make it back to the Philippines from the US. This bag doesn't hold nearly as much, the tie down straps are useless inside when the bag is full. I am having to leave things behind that just won't fit. Not liking this line of bag at all but too late for me to do anything about it at this point. I'm tempted to chance using the old bag.