Delsey Alexis Hardside Luggage Review – Is It Worth It? [Video]

Travelers around the world love and rely on Delsey when it comes to its luggage. Known for its innovation and long-lasting products, Delsey offers versatile options for virtually any type of trip.

Delsey has spent decades honing its design and manufacturing to create timeless, high-quality products that are still reasonably affordable. The Alexis Hardside line is a great example of this reputation at work.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Luggage

Delsey’s Alexis collection consists of a line of durable, fashionable, and functional bags suitable for various travelers. Though it doesn’t have many frills, the bag truly shines when it comes to its comfort and style.

Whether you’re looking for a reliable little carry-on or a sleek checked bag you can easily spot on a luggage carousel, the Alexis Hardside range is a great option worth considering.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Luggage Review

For this review, we tested the medium-sized version of the Delsey Alexis Hardside line. Still, the other variations of this collection all have the same packing compartments, hardware, and security features.

Internally, it’s not the most organized bag, but it’s a stylish little piece with plenty of room for a trip’s worth of clothing, toiletries, or any other items you might need while traveling.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Overall Rating

Delsey Hardside Style and Look

Delsey is known for its classic, timeless luggage. So we were pleasantly surprised by just how stylish and unique the Alexis Hardside design is.

This line is available in 5 colors: black, navy, burgundy, silver, and blue. The hardware on these bags also comes in silver or rose gold, depending on which shell color you pick. Ours had rose gold zipper pulls, which we thought was a nice touch that went well with our bag’s color.

Though the color range isn’t very extensive, we thought it was varied enough to suit most styles. We also really liked the shell’s design. It has a subtle brush texture that helps the bag catch the light and prevent scratches, ensuring your luggage stays pristine.

What really adds a touch of style to this line of bags is the indented pattern. We thought it helped the bag stand out in a sea of other suitcases, so you should have no trouble spotting your case on the luggage carousel.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Size and Compartments

Weighing 8.5 pounds, it’s a reasonably lightweight suitcase on its own. That’s something we really appreciate since it maximizes the amount of weight available for packing without worrying about going over airline limits.

The lightness of the bag doesn’t sacrifice space, either. From the top of the case to the bottom of the wheels, it measures 27.25 x 18 x 11.5 inches, which is well within the allowed limits of checked bags. However, with a simple unzip of the expander, you can get up to 25% more space. Unfortunately, the expansion zipper isn’t a different color, so this can be confused with the main zipper pulls.

We took advantage of the extra room during our tests and found we had a little extra peace of mind that nothing would get damaged from being too tightly packed. However, we had to be careful not to make the bag too heavy with all the extra available room.

We were slightly disappointed by the case’s organization in the 2 main compartments. The first has an X-shaped strap, which is meant to keep clothing flat and help compress things to optimize the space. The other side can be closed via a zipped panel. 

While these spaces were roomy, and we could fit everything we needed, we would have liked more pockets to better organize our belongings without relying on packing cubes.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Durability and Materials

The Alexis line of bags is made of ABS plastic, known for being lightweight. Although it’s not as durable as polycarbonate, it’s a flexible material that can withstand a decent amount of impact from luggage handlers.

We also noticed that the shell’s brush texture added another layer of protection since it helped prevent scuffing and scratching.

The interior lining was pretty average quality, and definitely not as luxurious as some other Delsey cases that we’ve tried.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Wheels

Like most Delsey bags, the Alexis has 4 double-spinner wheels that can swivel in any direction. The wheels are made of thick, durable rubber that didn’t rattle or feel loose.

We tested the wheels by rolling the bag at different speeds, on various surfaces, and through obstacles for maneuvering. We found they rolled smoothly and quietly across most flat and solid surfaces. However, we aren’t confident about their long-term durability on uneven terrain.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Handles

There are 3 different handles on the bag, which doesn’t take away from its sleek appearance.

The telescopic handle has 2 height settings, and the button to adjust between settings was smooth and easy to press. We didn’t have to struggle with the handle to get it to the height we wanted.

However, we were a little concerned with how sturdy the handle was. At its highest setting, it did rattle around quite a bit, but this didn’t seem to affect the maneuverability of the case.

There are top and side handles to lift or carry the case. They aren’t bulky and lie flat against the shell when not in use. We would have liked a handle or indented shell to grab at the bottom of the case.

The carry handles were comfortable to hold. They stretch enough to get a good grip and have a gel cushion to keep them from digging into your hand.

Delsey Alexis Hardside Locks and Zips

Security is another one of the suitcase’s strong points. All of the zippers glided smoothly without catching or sticking. The zipper fabric felt strong, so we didn’t worry about it opening or ripping unintentionally.

The zipper pulls look great, but they didn’t have any grip on them. However, they do interlace to attach your own luggage lock. This is optional since the case has an integrated TSA luggage lock. With a 3-digit code to lock and unlock, it’s quick and easy to use.

Delsey Warranty and Customer Service

All Alexis bags are covered by Delsey’s limited warranty. This coverage can last 3, 5, or 10 years, depending on where you get your bag from.

While we were more than happy with the amount of time the bag was covered, we were a little disappointed in the protection offered. The warranty only covers manufacturing defects in a bag’s handles, wheels, zippers, or expanders. Unfortunately, damage usually occurs during air travel, which wouldn’t be covered unless you could prove that it was a manufacturing fault.

Other Delsey Alexis Hardside Luggage

The Delsey Alexis line is small, but it covers what you need to travel for a variety of durations. In addition to the medium-sized checked bag we looked at today, the collection also consists of a carry-on and a large checked case.

While the bag has all the essentials we were looking for when it comes to suitcases, we wish it had a few more options, like a micro cabin bag or an extra-large checked option.

Final Thoughts

Delsey has been a dominant force in the mid-range luggage market for over 70 years. The brand is known for its reliability and durability, as seen in its Alexis hardside luggage line.

There were a few things we wished could be improved, like the sturdiness of the bag’s handles and its ability to keep things organized. However, there was also a lot we appreciated, like its comfort and size. 

• The Best Delsey Luggage
• The Best Checked Luggage Bags for Any Traveler
• All Our Best Travel Product Reviews – In One Place