I have traveled with all kinds of bags over the years. When I was in college, it was my trusty backpacking backpack. When I was in my mid twenties, it was a big outdoorsy duffle. Now, climbing into my 30’s, I am sick of hauling my traveling items around on my back and just want a really good spinner. That’s where the Thule Aion Spinner Carry-On and the Thule Chasm Wheeled Duffle Carry-On entered my life. These are sleek and sturdily built spinners with Thule’s outdoor and lifestyle chops backpacking them up. Plus, I don’t have to carry them!
Thule Aion Spinner Features:
- Removable compression packing cube with odor and dirt resistant TPU liner
- Oversized rear wheels with recessed front wheels
- Front stash pocket and zippered exterior pocket for valuables
- Polycarbonate back panel with V-tubing external telescoping handle
- Outer shell fabric, lining and mesh made with 100% polyester
- 600D waxed canvas shell fabric is durable and has a PFC-free water repellant coating
- Bluesign certified
- MSRP: $350
Thule Chasm Carry-on Features:
- Wide opening lets you easily pack clothes
- Two oversized wheels make for a smooth pull
- V-channel telescoping handle reduces flex
- Outer fabric is durable, weather-resistant tarpaulin fabric
- Carry-on compatible but can expand an additional 2″
- Quick access zippered mesh pocket to access small items
- Internal large mesh zippered pocket to separate dirty clothes or shoes
- MSRP: $350
Two Thule flavors, both sweet in their own way:
For years, as an “adventurous” 20-something, I had labored under the delusion that the best way to travel was to either load up a duffel bag or a backpacking backpack, stroll through the airport enjoying the admiring glances of other travelers who *wish* they were so outdoorsy, and then gratefully flop the bag down at the gate to give my aching shoulders a break.
In my 30’s, I have learned. Why carry when you can roll? Thus, the introduction of two new pieces of gear into my life: the Thule Aion and Chasm carry-ons.
Starting with the Chasm, this piece of luggage is designed for more rugged travel needs. Rather than being a spinner, it features two large diameter wheels that don’t get snagged on uneven terrain, and they tend to shed dirt, sand and mud. The foundation of the luggage is its 50% recycled polycarbonate back shell, wedded to a weather-resistant heavy duty fabric duffle top. A large D-shaped aperture gives entry into the luggage, and the inside is simple but with a few key features. For one, there’s an internal packing line to make sure your bag will be carry-on compliant with a 9″ depth, although the bag can accommodate 11″ of depth if you pass that line.
Other thoughtful features include a rigid V-tube telescoping handle which is shielded from the pack internals so that nothing gets caught. The outside of the bag has a simple but generous stuff pocket up top, which is great for AirPods, phone chargers and the like. A set of compression straps complete the duffel aesthetic and function, and they work great for securing the load so the Chasm’s contents stay more-or-less put in transit.
On the other hand, the Aion is meant to be more of a sleek travel companion. The four double wheels give this spinner glorious mobility, and it’s fun to wheel it effortlessly through long airport corridors. I took some silly beach shots of this bag, and I wondered if the sand would clog those smaller wheels but I had no such issues. By the time I was back to rolling on sidewalk, there was no sand crunching around in there.
The Aion has a little more complexity to it than the Chasm. There’s a front-access large pocket, which is also accessible from inside the bag and essentially forms the lid. I tended to put bulkier items that I still wanted accessible there, like my iPad and sunglasses case. The bag is balanced very well, and at what point I very foolishly stuffed a physiology textbook AND my laptop in that front pocket and it still didn’t topple over, despite just having clothes in the main. I was impressed.
Inside the bag, the main compartment is divided by a removable TPU packing cube that’s waterproof and baffled, so you can expand it to carry anything from bulky trail runners to flip flops. This can be removed, and the straps used for compression inside the bag. I loved this little thing after I got Hawaiian mud on my runners.
The outer shell fabric is blue sign approved, made of 100% recycled polyester from plastic bottles to create a 600D waxed canvas fabric. It did prove very durable, and while the DWR will wear off over time I expect the fabric to last just as long as a hard shell would, and without any cracking worries.
The Good:
- Both bags are well designed and well built, with the same luxury feel that Thule’s sleek racks have
- Thoughtful feature selections keep these bags trim but exceptionally functional. Nothing is wasted.
- Loved how well they both wheeled, whether it’s the Aion’s spinner or the Chasm’s rough-and-ready big wheels
- I appreciate the incorporation of more sustainable fabrics and plastics
The Bad:
- Tapered zipper pulls taper the wrong way, and could be hard to pull
- Not a true negative, but the Chasm really is just a step up from a duffle. Don’t expect tons of organizational features.
The Bottom Line: Thule Lion and Chasm Luggage
Both of these pieces of luggage are well constructed and well designed. In a world of really cheap luggage options that start to bet wobbly wheels and rickety handles, I think that these products are both going to have years of use ahead of them. They each have their own flavor: the Aion is sleek and convenient with its four wheels, while the Chasm offers the durability and convenience of a duffel bag to people looking for more of an adventure product.
Buy Now: Aion and Chasm available from Thule.com
