This Weekender Bag Has Completely Changed the Way I Travel

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When I found myself facing down the busiest travel year I'd had in ages—my twin brothers graduating college, my best friend’s wedding, multiple family vacations, the works—I started planning everything I could to make the process easier. A smooth travel experience is crucial to me, and having the right luggage makes all the difference between a relaxing plane ride and a nightmarish day at the airport. I previously traveled with my old faithful Samsonite set that, while durable, had seen better days. After using my suitcases to move cross-country, and breaking the handle on one in the process, it was time for an upgrade. Since I needed new pieces, I jumped at the chance to review Delsey Luggage for work. The brand has spent the last 78 years in business building a reputation for stylish, durable suitcases. And while I'm usually quick to sacrifice aesthetic for function, Delsey seemed to offer the best of both worlds.

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To get a good scope of its offering, I tested three different Delsey lines: the best-selling Helium Aero, the leather-trimmed St. Tropez, and the iconic Chatelet Air 2.0. I decided to test what felt like the three luggage essentials: a weekender bag that serves as a personal item, a rolling carry-on, and a rolling checked bag. After an incredibly smooth delivery and unboxing some super simple packaging, I was ready to put these pieces to the test on the road.

Helium Aero Carry-On Expandable Spinner

I tested this spinner carry-on suitcase in the Metallic Blue colorway. Clocking in at 21 inches tall, the Helium Aero is one of Delsey's best-sellers for its security measures and metallic sheen. It comes with padded handles, a TSA-accessible combination lock to protect your belongings, and it expands up to two inches thicker to fit everything you need.

I'm an over-packer, so my suitcases need to be expandable. I was very impressed by just how much that expandable quality helped me. Even as I packed this carry-on to the brim with my maid-of-honor supplies (my bridesmaid dress, rehearsal dinner outfit, two pairs of heels and virtually all the makeup I owned), it maintained its sturdiness. I'm also used to ripping the zippered compartment of my carry-on by overfilling it, and the one in the Helium Aero was wide enough to hold my wide width block heels and three other outfits. And it still fit perfectly in the overhead bin, even when expanded.

Unique to this suitcase (and very appealing to those traveling for business) is the front expandable pocket for files and slim electronic devices like laptops. It makes it a breeze at security to have easy access to those items. I used it to hold my bridesmaid sash during my wedding travels, but it's a great place to slip an AirTag or any documents you need for traveling internationally. A word to the wise: the more you pack the interior compartment, the less you can fit in the laptop sleeve.

Everything about this hardshell carry-on screams durable, from the reinforced handles on the top and side of the bag to the inner adjustable strap that secures your belongings. It spins and rolls like a dream on linoleum or tile, but it's much trickier to roll on carpet. My Samsonite carry-on frequently stalled and tipped over as I dragged it through LaGuardia Airport, and I was hoping that my Delsey one would alleviate this pet peeve, but no such luck.

Pros of the Helium Aero Carry-On

• It has a smooth, polycarbonate shell with a gorgeous metallic finish.

• The expandable compartment and zipper compartment holds all of my items with ease.

• Handles rises super high for easy maneuverability and stacking of a carry-on.

• It has double spinner wheels, so it rotates 360 degrees pretty easily.

Cons of the Helium Aero Carry-On

• There's no way to securely stack the carry-on on top of a checked bag.

• The paint finish scuffed easier than it should have after rough TSA handling.

Chatelet Air 2.0 Weekender

For a personal item that holds much more than a traditional purse or tote, but will still fit under the seat in front of you in a pinch, look no further than this weekender bag. The Chatelet Air 2.0 is an iconic Delsey line for its luxury detailing and vegan leather trim pattern. Make no mistake: this is a gorgeous bag and it was easily my favorite of the three I tested.

The weekender is definitely more sizable than your typical personal item. When boarding my flight, I ended up trying to cover it with my jacket because it felt like I was bringing on two carry-ons. To my relief, with a little bit of shoving, it fit snugly under the seat in front of me and I still had room for my feet.

Where the hardshell suitcases have lots of dividers and zippered pockets, the weekender bag has one cavernous opening with a capacity of 46 liters. There's two pockets that run the length of the bag on either side, for small valuables or liquids you might want tucked away from the rest of your things. The lack of major dividers means this bag can contort to whatever weirdly-shaped items you need to store. For me, those were a custom clothing hanger, an umbrella, and two vinyl records. Because of the spacious nature of the bag, I highly recommend having your own smaller bags to stay organized. Luckily, it comes with two: one zippered jewelry pouch and one water-resistant toiletry bag.

Capacity aside, my favorite feature of the weekender is the smart band on the back of it. This zippered slit helps the bag stack on top of a suitcase, and it frees up the handles for easy access to your things! It was such a small, but life-changing upgrade.

Pros of the Chatelet Air 2.0

• The durable exterior fabric is made from recycled water bottles.

• The hardware on the bottom of the bag offers extra sturdiness when you set it on the ground or counter.

• The structure of the bag holds its shape well.

• There's a hidden zippered pocket on the front, which is great for IDs and wallets to be accessible but hidden.

Cons of the Chatelet Air 2.0

• It's definitely on the larger side of a personal item, so some strict airlines might take issue with it.

• It can be pretty heavy to wear crossbody when it's full.

St. Tropez Medium Expandable Spinner

I tested the 24-inch tall St. Tropez Medium Spinner in navy, and it's a great medium-sized checked bag for trips that need a little more than a carry-on can handle. It's spacious, well-crafted, and has extra strong zippers to avoid break-ins. It comes with the heavy-duty polycarbonate shell protection, but with a matte finish that's a bit more elegant.

The navy blue polycarbonate shell and brown vegan leather trim is truly the happy medium between the Helium Aero and the Chatelet Air 2.0. If you want to be the most stylish one at the airport, this is the ideal accessory. Aesthetics aside, this expandable suitcase is designed for the folks who don't travel light, with extra long adjustable straps to hold belongings in place. Also, if you've ever opened your suitcase to the horror of your shampoo spilling all over the interior, take heart: the lining is removable and washable, so it'll stay in great condition.

Pros of the St. Tropez Spinner

• The matte finish is less likely to scuff and rub off in transit.

• More zippered pockets in the main compartment, plus two extra pockets for shoes!

• Its lining is machine-washable.

• Handles are on the top, bottom and side of the suitcase for easy carry.

Cons of the St. Tropez Spinner

• It's the most expensive of the pieces I tested.

• The TSA combination lock can be tricky to set up.

How I Tested the Delsey Luggage

I spent a month testing out the different luggage pieces, both in a home environment and while I was traveling. I ran the hardshell pieces I tested on several different surfaces, including carpet, linoleum, and uneven wood flooring to test for maneuverability. I also packed the three bags with clothes and toiletries to see how easy it was to organize the different pieces.

I took the Helium Aero carry-on and the Chatelet Air 2.0 Weekender on a four-day domestic trip for a wedding where I was the maid of honor. This gave me the chance to test it against an airport environment, seeing how it held up to being handled by TSA, how it fit in the narrow airplane spaces, and how easy it was to pack and re-pack throughout the weekend. Though I did not take the St. Tropez spinner to the airport, it is made from the same lightweight and durable polycarbonate material as the Helium Aero, so it’s likely to respond similarly.

How to Decide Which Delsey Bag Is Right for You

The right luggage for you will depend on your own travel needs, but there are different factors to consider. Evaluate the airlines you tend to travel and their size restrictions, whether you're a light or heavy packer, and how often you tend to travel before you purchase a new piece or set.

Delsey offers larger versions of their carry-on and checked bags, but I opted for the medium sizes. Airline luggage rules have only been getting stricter in recent years, and as I checked Delsey’s measurements against some of the stricter airline sizes, like American Airlines and Spirit Airlines, the large checked bags and Carry-On Plus bags made me nervous about bringing them on board.

It's also worth considering a hardshell vs. a fabric suitcase. Where fabric suitcases might have more luxurious detailing, they could also be susceptible to tearing and fraying if overpacked. Hardshell suitcases are often more durable, but can sacrifice aesthetic or scuff if handled too roughly.

Why Trust House Beautiful?

House Beautiful is dedicated to finding the best pieces for your home and lifestyle, no matter what your budget or design preference is. As much as we love taking care of our homes, we love to take our eye for design on the road and check out some of the world's premiere design destinations. We love to have the best travel accessories along for the ride, so we've spent months testing and reviewing some of the most popular luggage brands out there, from comparing Béis and Away suitcases to taking Quince luggage for a spin.

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