Delsey St Tropez Hardside Luggage Review — Is It Worth It? [Video]

As one of the largest luggage companies in the world, Delsey is often at the top of the list when it comes to getting a new suitcase. With its midrange pricing and long-lasting products, it’s no wonder it’s been a staple for decades.

The company has become popular for its reliable and high-quality bags suitable for frequent and casual travelers. This reputation can be seen in the St Tropez Hardside luggage we’re reviewing today.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Luggage

The St Tropez Collection by Delsey consists of functional, sleek, and timeless luggage versatile enough for any trip.

It’s a distinctive range of luggage with a textured hardshell design that has almost a leather-like appearance. This range has plenty of useful features that help make these bags ideal for travel, like spacious interiors, strong zippers, and security. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or are packing for an important business trip, Delsey’s St Tropez luggage has you covered.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Luggage Review

For this review, we looked at the carry-on bag in the St Tropez line with a clamshell opening. Sleek and unassuming on the outside, the bag offers plenty of space and a few organization options for clothing, toiletries, or work supplies, making it suitable for a number of travelers.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Overall Rating

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Style and Look

Whether you’re heading into the lobby of a big business conference or about to set off on a family getaway, Delsey’s St Tropez carry-on fits in seamlessly. The vegan leather accents, stylish colors, and sleek design of this suitcase give it a timeless look that will be just as stylish in 10 years as it is today.

The Delsey St Tropez has a classic, elegant appeal that can be used by travelers of all ages. Since the bag is resistant to scratches, scuffs, and cracks, the carry-on will continue to look good through countless trips.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Size and Compartments

Weighing around 7 pounds, it’s not the lightest hardside carry-on option on the market. However, the weight isn’t that surprising since it has a few built-in features and is made of durable polycarbonate.

If you don’t mind lugging around the extra weight, this shouldn’t be that big of an issue. However, some airlines have strictly enforced weight limits for cabin luggage, so that’s something to consider when deciding if this is the bag for you.

The suitcase, fortunately, meets the size requirements for most U.S. and international airlines. The carry-on measures 21.65 x 13.77 x 9.84 inches. This includes the extra height from the bag’s wheels and handles. Of course, ensure that the bag will fit the allotted space beforehand since its solid structure doesn’t allow it to conform to spaces.

Organized travelers will love the interior of this case and its 2 same-size interior compartments. The first is an expandable compartment with an x-shaped compression belt to ensure your clothes don’t fall out or shift too much.

The other main compartment has a zipped separator panel for further organization. The divider also has 2 elastic shoe pouches and a zipped mesh compartment.

Unfortunately, this carry-on has no external pockets, so we recommend having a separate personal bag to access your travel documents or wallet easily. We also would have liked specific compartments for tech, like a laptop or tablet.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Durability and Materials

The bag is made of Delsey’s signature polycarbonate, designed to resist shocks, cracks, and scuffs without adding significant weight. The bag’s durability is further elevated by its diamond-texture finish, which is scratch-resistant, allowing the bag to maintain its structural integrity and sleek looks for longer.

However, this material is far from indestructible. It can easily stand up to the regular wear and tear of travel, but we found that particularly bumpy or careless handling can start to wear down the material faster.

The bag’s exterior accents and handles are made out of soft and easy-to-grip vegan leather that isn’t prone to cracking or peeling.

We’ve all had a spillage with our travel toiletries at some point, so we were pleased to see that the bag’s interior is fully lined with easy-to-clean fabric. This lining is removable and washable to easily clean up any unexpected travel messes.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Wheels

Though it’s a carry-on, the bag has 4 double-spinner wheels that are slightly recessed for extra protection. The wheels are made with 2 layers of rubber, which helps keep the wheels quiet and in good shape for years.

Delsey’s double spinner wheels are excellent for gliding across different types of flooring, from tile to carpet and concrete to moving walkways.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Handles

There are several options when it comes to lifting and transporting this little bag. The telescopic handle, used to glide and direct the suitcase, has 2 different height settings, which can be adjusted with a button.

We found the heights relatively universal for people of any height, and the handle grip was comfortable. However, the adjusting function wasn’t very smooth, and the handle often got stuck.

Of the bag’s 4 sides, 3 have a carrying or lifting handle. These handles are made of vegan leather, making them soft and easy to grip. The top and side handles were sturdy, and we had no trouble relying on them to lift the bag into an overhead compartment or carry it up a flight of stairs.

The bottom handle, on the other hand, didn’t feel that secure. The material seemed a little weaker here, so we don’t recommend using it much unless you use one of the other handles for assistance.

Delsey St Tropez Hardside Locks and Zips

Security might be where the bag shines best. As with some other carry-ons, the St Tropez has a built-in TSA-approved lock to help keep your belongings safe. This isn’t just helpful if you have to look away from your bag but also in cases where you have to unexpectedly gate-check your carry-on.

The suitcase’s zippers are also strong and use patented SECURITECH technology, which is said to make them up to 3 times stronger than standard luggage zippers. This zipper and the locking mechanism prevent unintentional opening or ripping, keeping your items secure.

Unfortunately, the trade-off for having a strong zipper is comfort, as they can be a bit stiff to open and close, especially around the corners of the case. The bag’s zipper pulls don’t have grips, so they can be difficult to handle and pull.

The Delsey St Tropez has a separate zipper to expand your case by an extra 2 inches. Just be careful not to exceed the size restrictions for your airline when using it.

Delsey Warranty and Customer Service

Like most of Delsey’s products, the St Tropez bag has a 10-year limited warranty, which covers any design defects and most problems with the bag’s wheels, zippers, extensions, and carrying handles. We would have liked for damages to the telescopic handle and the shell to also be covered.

Registering your bag online ahead of time isn’t required to claim warranty benefits.

Other Delsey St Tropez Luggage

The St Tropez luggage line also includes medium and large checked suitcase options. So, overall, the line has any bag you might need, no matter how you travel.

Final Thoughts

Since the 1940s, Delsey has been a leading brand when it comes to luggage, offering midrange options that are durable and versatile. The carry-on bag in this St Tropez collection is an extremely useful piece of luggage, with enough space to hold a few days’ worth of clothing and multiple convenient handles.

However, there were still a few drawbacks to the bag. It doesn’t have any exterior pockets to facilitate quick access, and we were disappointed in the quality of its telescopic and bottom handles.

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