Samsonite Omni PC Spinner Review

We purchased the Samsonite Omni PC Spinner suitcase so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

The Samsonite Omni PC Spinner suitcase is one of the most affordable hardside checked bags on the market. It features a lightweight polycarbonate shell, 360-degree spinner wheels, an integrated TSA-approved luggage lock, and an expandable middle section. While Samsonite is a trusted luggage brand, can any suitcase at this price really stand up to the stress of travel? I stuffed it full and hit the road to find out.

Interior Design: Many functional details, but lacks pockets

 The Samsonite Omni PC Spinner comes in a carry-on luggage size as well as medium (24-inch) and larger (28-inch) checked luggage sizes. I got the 24-inch Samsonite Omni PC, which, like other suitcases of this size, is marketed for week-long trips. So I tested the claim on a seven-day vacation to visit my family over Thanksgiving.  

After traveling with a 22-inch bag for years, I was shocked at how much space two extra inches afforded. I was able to pack nine cold-weather ensembles, sneakers, a laundry bag, and toiletries. Using the 2-inch expander, I easily added a few presents for my nephews, items I’d been prepared to carry separately. 

The clamshell design, which is typical of hardside suitcases, makes for easy packing, and you don’t have to rummage through as many layers to get to your stuff. While the polyester lining isn’t as refined as the kind you’ll find on pricier alternatives, this didn’t affect function. One side of the shell features a full-zip mesh divider, while the other has crisscross straps. When I arrived at my destination, everything was still folded and in place. With all of my day clothes folded neatly into the mesh side, I could see all of my outfit options at a glance.

The Omni PC’s biggest downside? Organizational features stop at the mesh divider and crisscross straps. This is a problem particularly on a hardside suitcase, which lacks the exterior pockets of its soft-sided brethren. While I don’t like bulky organizational features, just one or two pockets on the mesh divider would’ve made me happy.  

I used the sole pocket—a long, thin one running along the long side of the interior—for a pill case, but there are other items I would’ve liked to access quickly. This wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, as I had packing cubes, toiletry bags, and pouches at the ready. I used six of these helpers to pack—without them, the side with the crisscross straps would’ve been a mess. 

Exterior Design: Stylish, durable hardshell

The Omni PC doesn’t look like a budget suitcase from the outside. The exterior is sleek and stylish with a scratch-resistant shell and a textured “micro-diamond” finish, which is unlikely to scuff like glossy alternatives. An added bonus: This line comes in a wider range of colors than most. You can choose from basics like black and navy or a slew of colors like a rich nightshade purple, bright pink, burnt orange, and—my choice—Caribbean Blue. In a train station surrounded by black, soft-sided bags, I knew my suitcase would stand out—in a good way—on any luggage carousel. 

The polycarbonate shell is pretty much the standard for higher quality suitcases, as it’s slightly flexible and therefore resistant to cracking. Inferior shells are usually made of polypropylene or ABS. The only sturdier option is aluminum, though it’s both heavier and more prone to cosmetic damage.

Despite the price point, the Omni PC doesn’t skip out on smart, functional essentials. The expander zipper is red, to differentiate it from those for the main compartment—I always confused the two on my old suitcase. The telescoping handle stops at two heights and can move up and down with the push of a button, meaning you can collapse it one-handed. The side and top handles retract slightly when not in use, which saves a little dimensional space. They seemed sturdy, too, as I used the handles to carry the suitcase down two flights of stairs and then hoist it into my train’s overhead storage.

Reviewers who’ve owned this suitcase longer than I have find it durable, though it’s worth noting that one downside of any hardshell case is that if it cracks, it cracks, which a soft-sided suitcase just won’t do. 

Portability: A cinch to transport

I hauled this hardside suitcase a quarter mile on foot to the train station, and while I’ve heard that 360-degree spinner wheels are inferior to two-wheeled rolling luggage on rough terrain, I rolled the suitcase behind me without issue over brick streets and uneven sidewalks. On smooth sidewalks and in the train station, it was a dream to roll the suitcase upright. After years of dragging rolling luggage behind me, this piece felt almost weightless. The four spinner wheels stick out, unlike the classic roller wheels, which means slightly less internal capacity for the height. But, I’d gladly exchange space to glide through an airport with ease.

On airplanes, you won’t have to do much hoisting, as this bag has to be checked. Though it’s only a few inches larger than the biggest carry-on, you’ll earn significant extra packing space (checked-bag bonus: no worries about packing liquids).

The 24-inch Omni PC weighs less than 8.5 pounds without anything in it (I weighed it myself, just to be sure). This is a few pounds lighter than many competitors. When I stuffed the suitcase full using the expanding compartment, it weighed nearly 40 pounds, about my limit for thrusting the thing overhead solo, though it easily fit into Amtrak’s overhead storage. While larger checked bags may have more packing space, it’s worth noting that many of them can easily reach the typical airline weight limit of 50 pounds before they’re filled to capacity. 

Extra Features: A ten-year warranty and a TSA-approved lock

The suitcase has a ten-year warranty, however this is only against manufacturer defects. So, if you throw your suitcase down a flight of stairs and it cracks, the damage is unlikely to be covered. Another extra is a handy TSA-approved, flush-mounted combination lock. While an ambitious thief could, of course, just steal the suitcase or cut through the expandable cloth, it’s still a deterrent and significantly less annoying than the alternative—a flimsy little luggage lock and its easy-to-lose key. 

More expensive suitcases are likely to have extras that the Omni PC lacks. This suitcase doesn’t come with luggage tags, a laundry bag, a phone charger, a compression compartment, luggage straps, or the like.

Price: A steal

The Samsonite Omni PC is one of the most inexpensive checked bags on the market—competitors can easily cost twice as much. The 24-inch Omni PC frequently hovers around the $100 mark, and sometimes even hits lower. Most other suitcases in this price range are carry-on size.

However, several upgraded Samsonite suitcases, such as the Winfield 2 and Windfield 3 DLX, feature slightly better compartmental organization and are sometimes priced below the suggested retail, making them competitively priced with the Omni PC. Personally, though, I prefer the look of the Omni PC to these Samsonite alternatives. 

Competition: Less expensive than most alternatives

Away The Medium: It can be cheaper to purchase a matching three-piece set of the Omni PC line, which is sometimes priced at around $250, than to buy almost any single suitcase from Away, the luggage brand of Instagram influencers everywhere. The 24-inch Medium Away bags start at $275. And while Away luggage, with its compression compartments and phone chargers, is the clear winner for those with unlimited budgets, the Omni PC is no slouch if budget is at all a concern. 

Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds Luggage: The 24-inch spinner from the Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds collection is one of the few hardside, checked bags that we found for a better price—it can be found on sale for around $50—but in terms of durability (it has an inferior ABS shell), it just doesn’t measure up.