★★☆☆☆ Good concept, but disappointing

★★☆☆☆ Good concept, but disappointing compared with Travelpro Platinum I wanted to like the VersaPack+ more than I ultimately have. I travel regularly for business, and there are things Travelpro gets right here—the wheels roll smoothly, the Elemental Blue looks great when new, and the overall construction initially feels like a quality product. Unfortunately, several issues have become frustrating in actual travel. The biggest is the telescoping handle. It routinely gets stuck and does not retract smoothly. Having used Travelpro’s Platinum luggage, the difference is noticeable—the Platinum handle slides up and down much more reliably. On a premium piece of luggage, I should not have to fight with the handle to get it to collapse. I also had to check the bag on one trip, and it came back stained. I understand that checked luggage gets dirty, but I have been unable to remove the staining from the Elemental Blue fabric. That makes me question how practical the lighter color is for luggage that will inevitably be checked occasionally. The weight is another drawback. For a carry-on, the bag itself consumes more of your weight allowance than I would prefer. And while Travelpro emphasizes the VersaPack+ organizational system, I actually find that the organization and usable packing capacity leave quite a bit to be desired. There are plenty of features, but they don’t necessarily translate into efficient usable space. The wheels and general maneuverability are very good, which prevents this from being a bad suitcase. But considering the price and my experience with Travelpro’s Platinum line, I expected the VersaPack+ to feel like an advancement rather than a compromise. If choosing again, I would probably go with the Platinum, unfortunately that isn’t possible.