American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Luggage Review — Is It Worth It? [Video]

American Tourister is a prominent brand in the midrange luggage market. Known for its affordable and durable soft-side and hard-side cases, the brand provides dependable baggage solutions to frequent and occasional travelers.

The brand creates trendy pieces of luggage and has partnerships with the likes of Disney and Marvel for eye-catching, themed designs.

We’re reviewing the Moonlight Hardside collection, which is available in both muted colors and bold designs.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Luggage

The Moonlight Hardside range consists of durable, trusty luggage pieces that mix style and functionality. These versatile bags fit seamlessly no matter what trip you’re planning. Whether you’re looking for a professional bag to take on retreats or something more whimsical you can send with your kid to summer camp, the American Tourister Moonlight collection has a suitcase for you.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Luggage Review

For this review, we tested the carry-on bag in the Moonlight Hardside line. This spacious case offers plenty of room for multiple days’ worth of clothing and anything else you might need for a trip. Size-wise, it is at the top end for carry-ons, so make sure you know your specific airline’s size restrictions before using this case.

Hot Tip:

Not sure of your airline’s checked baggage size restrictions? Check out our comprehensive guide. Devoted to going carry-on only? We’ve got you covered there, too!

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Overall Rating

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Style and Look

All the models in this line are available in a surprisingly expansive range of colors and patterns, so virtually anyone can express their personal style through their luggage. This ranges from block colors to animal prints, marble effects, and multicolored designs.

We love how recognizable this collection is. Even if you have to gate-check your carry-on, you won’t have to worry about losing track of it on the luggage carousel since you’ll be able to quickly spot which bag is yours.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Size and Compartments

Measuring 22 x 15 x 9.5 inches, the Moonlight is on the larger side as far as carry-ons are concerned. This includes the handles and wheels, but you’ll still want to be careful that it adheres to your airline’s standards. As it’s a large carry-on, you should be able to fit plenty in there for a short break, and when it’s empty, it weighs just 6.6 pounds.

The already generous size makes the additional 1.5 inches of space provided by the expansion zipper somewhat unnecessary unless you’re using it for a road trip or train travel. Still, it’s a useful feature to have.

The bag is a pretty standard weight for a hard-side carry-on. Although there are usually no strict weight restrictions for carry-ons, we appreciate a lightweight bag for general ease of handling.

Since this is a hard-shell case, it opens like a clamshell, with 2 interior compartments. The main packing area is equipped with a compression strap to prevent your clothes from moving around and getting overly creased.

The other compartment is enclosed with a zippered dividing panel. Unfortunately, the only smaller pocket in the case is a tiny pocket along the spine that can fit small accessories. We wish there were a wet pocket or shoe compartment built into the zippered panel, but you could make do with packing cubes instead.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Durability and Materials

American Tourister used a mix of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate plastic for the Moonlight’s shell. These materials are fairly solid and lightweight, but we weren’t overly impressed with the case’s structural integrity.

We didn’t notice any particular scuffs or damage during our tests, but the material felt a little weak. It seemed like it wouldn’t take much force to dent the case. This isn’t really a problem with carry-on bags, but checked cases are often tossed around, so we can’t recommend the checked versions of the Moonlight collection.

There’s a slight texture on these bags, which helps prevent scratches and scuffs. However, again, we don’t know how well the bags would hold up if regularly mishandled.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Wheels

We were disappointed to see that this case has single-spinner wheels. While this is a lightweight option, double-spinner wheels are more responsive for maneuvering. This wasn’t hugely noticeable with the carry-on, but for larger and heavier versions of the bag, it could be a problem.

Since this is a bag you’d be running around airports with, a smooth glide is essential. We tested how the wheels rolled on different textured floors and grounds and didn’t have any problems.

While the wheels felt secure and didn’t rattle, they stuck out quite a bit because there was no recess where they were attached. This not only impacts the bag’s overall size but also leaves the wheels open to getting bumped or damaged. Again, this isn’t the end of the world with a carry-on, but it’s definitely a point against getting a checked Moonlight case.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Handles

Despite being a carry-on, this model in the Moonlight collection still has 3 different handles, which we were pleased with.

The telescopic handle can be adjusted via a button and has 2 height settings. It operated smoothly, and we didn’t notice much rattling even when fully extended, so we’re confident it wouldn’t break with regular use.

The 2 carrying handles were a weak spot, though. When they’re not being used, they lie flat against the bag’s shell, which helps maintain its streamlined look. We also found them pretty easy to grasp.

However, they weren’t comfortable. The absence of cushioning became noticeable within moments of us holding the bag, and we can only imagine it becoming increasingly uncomfortable the longer it’s carried. While this isn’t a major issue for a carry-on, it would be a significant drawback for a larger checked bag, where better padding would make a difference.

We would have liked to have a bottom handle on the bag, as well, to make it easier to lift into an overhead compartment.

American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Locks and Zips

We were pleased with the zippers on the Moonlight Hardside. Even when the bag was packed full, the zippers worked smoothly without snagging or getting stuck on anything. The pulls were also large enough to grip and pull comfortably. They did jingle a little while the bag was rolling, but it wasn’t too loud, so we don’t think it would be annoying on a stressful travel day.

There’s no built-in TSA lock on this case, which we weren’t surprised by since that’s pretty common with American Tourister carry-ons. However, there’s no built-in lock on the checked bags, either, so you’ll need to attach your own if that’s important to you.

American Tourister Brand Warranty and Customer Service

American Tourister offers a limited global warranty on all its bags. This protection lasts 3 or 10 years, depending on the warranty type.

This warranty covers all issues that arise from manufacturing defects in any of the brand’s products. While this is an industry standard, we’re a little concerned that it could be hard to prove what damages were caused by production problems and what damages were simply from wear and tear.

Other American Tourister Moonlight Hardside Luggage

The Moonlight Hardside collection of luggage is small, consisting of only 3 pieces. In addition to this carry-on bag, the set also includes a medium and a large checked suitcase.

A 3-piece set would meet most travelers’ packing needs, but we’d love to see the range expanded to include other more niche items, like a small cabin bag and other sizes.

Final Thoughts

Available in various sizes, from carry-ons to larger checked luggage, the Moonlight collection caters to a wide range of travel needs, whether it’s a weekend getaway or an extended vacation. Combining practicality with eye-catching designs, it’s a great choice for travelers looking to make their journeys both stylish and hassle-free. With its affordable pricing and high-quality build, it’s a reliable companion for any adventure.