American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Luggage Review — Is It Worth It? [Video]

American Tourister is widely recognized as one of the most reliable and affordable brands in the midrange luggage market. Its global popularity has made it a top choice for travelers worldwide.

While the brand is best known in recent years for its hardside suitcases, its softside options, like the Fieldbrook Softside collection we’re reviewing today, also offer excellent value for the price.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Luggage

The Fieldbrook line of soft-side luggage is an affordable suitcase option for both new and seasoned travelers. While it doesn’t have many frills, its utilitarian design allows it to be a functional and budget-friendly bag. Available in sets of 2 to 4 pieces, this is the ideal all-in-one solution for business or leisure travelers alike.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Luggage Review

In this review, we tested the 2-piece Fieldbrook set, which consists of a carry-on and a travel tote. If you’re a light packer, this trusty little set has everything you need, whether you’re boarding a plane or heading out on a road trip.

Though this bag set isn’t winning any style competitions, its practicality and versatility have you covered for both professional and leisure trips.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Overall Rating

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Style and Look

American Tourister’s Fieldbrook collection isn’t particularly stylish or trendy. When it comes to this range, the brand prioritized function over fashion by creating a pretty standard-looking set of luggage. That being said, the range does come in a small selection of colors, which we appreciated, since having those options can help express your personal style.

Going with the standard black option for your carry-ons shouldn’t be an issue, since you’re less likely to have to spot it on a luggage carousel, but we’d still recommend adding a distinguishing luggage strap or tag.

Since the Fieldbrook line is understated, it won’t look outdated in a few years, so it’s a good long-term option. It also won’t look out of place at a corporate retreat or a family vacation.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Size and Compartments

The carry-on in this line measures 21 x 14 x 7 inches, so it’s small enough to fit in most overhead compartments. However, keep in mind that domestic routes tend to use smaller planes. So check the specific size limits of each airline you fly with to make sure you’re not forced to check your bag at the airport.

Hot Tip:

When talking about baggage allowances, many airlines refer to “maximum linear dimensions” or something similar. This is merely the number you get when you add the length, width, and depth of a piece of luggage. For example, if you have a suitcase that’s 26 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, then its linear dimensions are 62 inches, or right at the maximum for many airlines.

The carry-on weighs just 5.9 pounds, which didn’t surprise us given its lightweight frame and 2-wheel design. There usually isn’t a strict weight limit for cabin bags, but having a lighter starting weight is helpful when it comes to packing since it’ll be easier to lift it into the overhead compartment.

Overall, we were happy with the number of compartments in the carry-on. There are 2 small external compartments that are the right size for documents or other small personal items.

However, the bulk of what you pack goes in the main storage compartment. With just 1 interior compartment, accessed through a top-opening lid, using packing cubes might help you stay organized.

The tote bag measures 15 x 10 x 5 inches and is lightweight, weighing just 1 pound. It’s a frameless bag, so it can be packed flat inside your carry-on or used as a personal item.

Storage-wise, there’s a single external zippered pocket and a main compartment. We didn’t have any trouble fitting our travel essentials in it with room to spare. However, the lack of compartments and the general shape of the bag can make it a little less appealing to people who are used to using backpacks for travel.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Durability and Materials

The bags in this line are made of 600-denier polyester, which is shown to withstand wear and tear remarkably well. During our tests, both bags felt strong and like they’d be able to resist tears even if they snagged on a corner while rushing to a flight gate.

Normally, we’d be a little worried about the corners of a soft-side bag like these, but American Tourister reinforced them with corner guards, so they shouldn’t wear down much.

We were disappointed by the lining inside the carry-on. It was loosely attached and didn’t do a great job of concealing the frame of the case.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Wheels

There are no wheels on the tote bag model in the Fieldbrook collection, but the carry-on is equipped with recessed, in-line wheels. While they don’t spin quite as seamlessly as other wheels we’ve tested, they glided smoothly and quietly on a variety of surfaces.

Rollaboard cases may not glide as effortlessly as spinner luggage, but their wheels are more durable since they’re less exposed to potential damage.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Handles

The carry-on has 2 different handles, depending on how you want to transport the case. The telescopic handle for rolling has 2 different height settings that can be adjusted via a button. We had some issues with the handle sticking when adjusting the height, but it felt pretty secure at the highest setting.

Additionally, there’s 1 cushioned carrying handle on the top of the case. While it’s not too bulky, it doesn’t lie flat, so you’ll have to be careful that it doesn’t snag on anything. On the bright side, we found the carry handle to be very sturdy and comfortable, so carrying the bag up a flight of stairs or down a plane aisle shouldn’t be a problem.

Unfortunately, there’s no bottom handle, so be careful when lifting the bag up into an overhead compartment.

The tote only has a single strap for carrying over your shoulder or wearing as a cross-body bag. If you don’t want to juggle 2 different bags, the tote also has a luggage sleeve that slips over the carry-on’s telescopic handle, which we thought was pretty convenient.

American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Locks and Zips

Unfortunately, neither of these bags has an integrated lock. While that’s not the end of the world for cabin bags, it would have been a nice extra touch, especially if you have to gate-check your carry-on at the last minute.

We were a little disappointed by the zippers on both of these cases. They felt strong and secure, but they didn’t glide smoothly, especially around the corners of the carry-on, where they often got stuck.

Though the zippers don’t interlace, you can still attach your own luggage through the loops on the zipper pulls.

American Tourister Brand Warranty and Customer Service

American Tourister’s Fieldbrook Softside bags are covered by the brand’s general limited global warranty. This protection typically lasts 3 or 10 years from the date of purchase or delivery.

The brand guarantees coverage for all issues arising from manufacturing defects. We found this warranty to be in line with those offered by other companies, but it can be difficult to prove damage is caused by a manufacturing defect.

Other American Tourister Fieldbrook Softside Luggage

The Fieldbrook line is also available as a 3- and 4-piece set to meet all travel needs. The 4-piece set includes the carry-on and tote we’re reviewing, as well as a wheeled duffel and a medium checked bag.

We appreciate that this range has a few different options but would love to see it expand even more to include pieces like a tech bag, backpack, or large checked suitcase. If the line does expand, we’d prefer all pieces to be available to purchase separately rather than as a full set.

Final Thoughts

American Tourister has quickly become a top name in the luggage industry thanks to its balance of high quality and affordability. A prime example of this reputation at work is its Fieldbrook Softside line of bags.

This functional line has all your packing needs covered, no matter what trip you’re planning. While there are a few things we wished were a little better, namely the range’s zippers, telescopic handle, and interior lining, this case offers excellent value to travelers looking for a budget luggage option.