I have been sent an item of luggage from the new Eagle Creek Tarmac collection to review. The brand states: “Designed for urban explorers with a taste for freedom, the Tarmac is not just luggage – it’s a hybrid travel tool. A bold fusion of hard-shell protection and soft-shell flexibility, it combines rugged performance, thoughtful organisation and eco-conscious materials into one sleek package. Lightweight. Lockable. Ready for anything.”
3 sizes:
- Tarmac Carry-On (21.75” / 40L) – £386
- Tarmac 26” (67L) – £434
- Tarmac 32” (95L) £472
- Key features include:
- Durable hard-shell back for protection
- Soft, water-resistant, 100% recycled front panel for fast access
- Quick-access laptop storage (carry-on luggage only)
- Interior with mesh zip panels, compression straps, expandable main compartment
- SmoothRoll™ wheels
- 360° rotating, all-terrain wheels
- Telescoping handle
- Available in Black, Blue Jay and Duck Green
- Sustainable design: 100% ocean-based recycled nylon (front panel), PFC/PFAS-free coating, produced under certified fair conditions in Indonesia
- Peace of Mind: Protected by Eagle Creek’s No Matter What™ Warranty
- See: Eagle Creek
My thoughts: Eagle Creek Tarmac 26” (67L)
This is a the sort of suitcase that goes in the hold of a plane. At 67 litres it holds easily holds enough kit for a week’s holiday although if I am going on a longer holiday, where I am doing a number of different activities, I would probably take my larger 90l suitcase.
I like the hard-shell back. It’s not too heavy as a basic suitcase yet the shell is more knock resistant than my other luggage, which is made of a softer, more pliable fabric. I guess there is a balance to be had with harder backed luggage being heavier to start with. The Tarmac suitcase strikes a good balance I think with a semi hard shell but still not too heavy.
Inside, the suitcase is nicely lined with fabric and feels quite spacious. There are a couple of zipped mesh pockets inside, too. I usually pack my clothing in “packing bags” to keep things in order but it’s useful to have extra mesh pockets for other bits and pieces, such as travel plugs, PJs, extra toiletries etc. There are compression straps to reduce the overall volume of what you pack if needs be, and to keep items in place.
The quick-access front pocket on the outside of the case is a seemingly good although I am not sure how useful it actually is. I guess it’s a useful place to put documents and a laptop but then, when the case goes into the hold, you don’t have access to them. It is also water-resistant.
The most obvious item for this pocket is a laptop, although, as I noted, if are travelling by plane once the suitcase is checked in at the airport, the laptop is no longer available to you. Added to this, the outside pocket seems quite vulnerable to theft. The outside pocket looks like it will have valuable items inside and so it’s a quick and easy place to target if you were to be the victim of theft.
Instead, I prefer to carry my laptop and important documents in my hand luggage. This means I can have them with me when travelling and I can keep the close to my person.
The suitcase has an easy-to-use telescopic handle and the wheels make the luggage really easy to manoeuvre. They roll in all directions and don’t get stuck.
There are two robust carry handles, one on the top of the suitcase and another on the base. The base one is a thoughtful design because when trying to heft large cases about you often need more than one handle.
The colour-ways are nice and a bit different (apart form the black) to what I usually see at airports. It’s useful to have luggage that stands out from the rest when collecting it from a conveyor belt.
The suitcase is lockable with a key and also a three-digit combination lock. This is preventative rather than wholly robust because I am sure it would be easy to break into the case if someone forced it. I guess it’s a useful deterrent, more than anything.
Another bonus is the sustainable design with elements of the case made from ocean-based recycled nylon, plus a PFC/PFAS-free coating.
And, if the luggage fails for any reason, there’s Eagle Creek’s “No Matter What” warranty. I’ve not tested this so I’ve no idea if it works but I would hope it does.
The suitcase does cost a rather eye-watering £434. This seems a high price for a suitcase. But it’s a nice suitcase that does what it says it will and looks trendy. Eagle Creek has a good reputation as a brand, too.