5.11 Tactical® has launched a number of great new products for Fall 2019. Not the least among these is the new 5.11 Tactical Load Up 22” Carry On 46L wheeled luggage. And in perfect time for holiday travel.
Hands-On Review of the 5.11 Tactical Load Up 22” Carry On
Designed to meet US domestic airline carry-on size restrictions, the 5.11 Tactical Load Up 22” Carry On measures 22″H x 14″L x 9″D (11″D with expansion). It has an internal capacity of 45.5L (2772 cubic inches). It’s expandable to 55.5L (3388 cubic inches). It weighs 15.85 lbs. The Load Up 22” Carry On maximizes the allowable carry on space of most major airlines.
Current external color choices of the Load Up 22” Carry On are Ranger Green and Volcanic. Both colorways feature a Ranger Green interior. I went with the Volcanic color, which is a dark grey.
The Load Up 22” Carry On rates high on style, functionality and durability. It’s constructed of water-resistant 1680D poly (top) and 1050D nylon with a durable and impact resistant polycarbonate hard-shell main compartment with expandable zipper and a compression molded EVA top lid with durable Hypalon® corners and a loop strip for attaching a name tape. There’s also an exterior business card / ID slot. YKK® zippers with zipper pulls are used throughout. The lid and main compartment are lockable and may be accessed separately.
The Load Up 22” Carry On has three compartments. The top compartment is designed for quick access when going through security. It features a zippered admin pocket for small items and a padded laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15.5” laptop. The middle compartment has a honeycomb frame and features a mesh compartment with removable divider. The middle compartment has two-way access to top and main compartment. The main compartment has an expandable zipper for 2” of added depth and features internal compression straps with UTX® side-squeeze Duraflex™ buckles. The rigid, relatively inflexible exterior of the Load Up 22” Carry On helps protect the contents from damage due to impact.
The Load Up 22” Carry On has two large sturdy fixed (inline) wheels and a sturdy retractable two-stem handle and additional grab handles, as well as has two U feet . The handle is adjustable to two heights. You simply depress of recessed button in the handle. The handle features a textured rubber overmold on the underside for comfort. The wheels are housed inside the frame, which protects them from damage.
The Load Up 22” Carry On is very easy to pull and very stable, even with heavy loads, thanks to the large fixed wheels and two-stem handle. The fixed wheels don’t shift as much as spinner wheels and move along more quickly. The wheels and U feet are easily user-replaced should that ever become necessary
Although both two wheeled and four wheeled luggage each have their own merits, my personal preference is for two wheels, such as on the Load Up 22” Carry On. Two wheels provide less rolling resistance than four wheeled luggage, and won’t roll away from you on sloped surfaces. They also make it easy to maneuver around corners, as there’s no chance of misaligned wheels. Another plus is that they also allow you to perch a second bag on top due to the angle that you wheel it.
Although the two wheels can only be in one orientation when dragged, in really tight quarters I simply use the grab handles on the Load Up 22” Carry On and carry it. Also, although some two-wheeled luggage can topple over if over loaded, the U feet on the Load Up 22” Carry On are designed to prevent this.
My Final Thoughts
The 5.11 Tactical Load Up 22” Carry On is an outstanding carry-on bag for the frequent flyer. It’s also a great way to transport EDC essentials. A backpack just doesn’t cut it in some environments. And the Load Up 22” Carry On doesn’t look at all tactical. It won’t look out of place at a luxury hotel or in a corporate boardroom.
The Load Up 22” Carry On is exceptionally well designed, ruggedly constructed with the best materials, and professional in appearance. The workmanship on the sample provided to me was excellent. MSRP is $199.99. It’s imported.
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
