Samsonite Prodigy Review – The Ultimate Business Luggage?

Samsonite Prodigy Review

Product Name: Samsonite Prodigy 55cm

Product Description: Samsonite's Prodigy collection is focused on making your business travel comfortable and relaxed in the future. Constructed of robust polycarbonate, it will survive the extreme. The large main compartment contains cross straps and a zipped mesh pocket. Padded compartments at the front for laptop and tablet. The TSA lock allows separate closing of the two compartments. Quiet rubberized double wheels, and an integrated address plate complete the collection.

Overall

91.25

• Functionality - 90
• Build - 95
• Design - 90
• Value - 90

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Samsonite Prodigy review – In-depth

The Samsonite Prodigy review should be the easiest review I ever write. We all know the quality and reputation of Samsonite…and for good reason. They are fantastic.

However, the people have spoken…they asked and I delivered. Here is my in-depth Samsonite Prodigy carry on review.

Buying a suitcase is always a little more difficult than most products as we rarely get to see them, especially if you shop online as I do.

A good review helps with that decision-making process and a more in-depth review will help even more. In this review, I will cover off the main areas that you need to know about. I will give you some details that you might want to consider and what to look for.

At the end of this review, you will know whether the Samsonite Prodigy carry on spinner is the one for you.

So, let’s get into some detail.

Why I bought the Samsonite Prodigy Spinner

I wanted a suitcase that was a carry on that would be flexible to accommodate both my business and leisure needs.

I don’t like checking in luggage when I can get away without doing so. Over time, I have learnt to take less with me and a few hacks here and there mean that traveling light is simple enough.

My requirements were mainly business related. I travel for work…a lot. Mainly short internal flights with an overnight stay. I therefore only use carry on luggage. It needs to look smart enough to wheel into an office environment without raising eyebrows, but flexible enough to allow me to travel with ease.

This Samsonite Prodigy met my needs. The biggest attraction was the easy access to the front pouch which contained my laptop. This allowed me to dispense with my secondary backpack.  The less I carry, the better.

It was robust and well built which attracted me to it. With a 4 wheel spinner, it was easy to maneuver.

Is it the right one for you…lets run through the details.

Specifications & details – Samsonite Prodigy

Material: Polycarbonate 100%

Dimensions: 55 x 40 x 23 cm (including handles, wheels, bottom glides, side pockets and other external parts)

Expanded dimensions: 55 x 40 x 26 cm (including handles, wheels, bottom glides, side pockets and other external parts)

Volume: 40 liters (47 Liters expanded)

Weight: 2.8kg

Warranty: Limited 5 year global

Maximum laptop size: 38.5 x 27 x 4 cm (⌀ 41.7 cm)

Maximum tablet size: 24 x 19 x 0.9 cm (⌀ 24.5 cm)

Padded laptop/tablet compartment: Yes

Exterior pockets: 1 front pocket and 1 easily accessible top pocket

Cable pockets: Yes

Lock: Combination lock with TSA

Zips: Yes

Handles: Top and side handles

Wheel handle: Double tube

Wheel type: Double wheels

Address tag: Integrated ID tag

Wet pocket: Yes

Bottom compartment: Yes, with ribbons

Top compartment: Yes, with fully lined divider pad and a zipper closed mesh pouch.

Build

• Materials
• Durability
• Finish

Having worked in this industry for many years, I can tell you that build quality is the last thing most people look at. The color, style and design is uppermost in peoples mind…much to my frustration.

The purchase of any luggage should always start with the build quality and likely durability. The fact is that your ‘new’ suitcase is going to get thrown around in the baggage area of airports. Poor build quality with a a poor material inevitably means disaster.

So, back to the Samsonite Prodigy suitcase. Put simply, I was impressed and I will explain why.

The things that make Samsonite stand out from their competition is their attention to detail. They excel at it and this suitcase is no different. Everything seems to have been thought through down to the last screw. Genuinely, it fits together like a laser cut jigsaw.

The materials are beautiful. The main case is made with polycarbonate which is my preferred choice too. This is the material that will stand up to a bashing and come through unscathed. It is incredibly strong yet flexible so can take other suitcases being stacked on it without cracking. Put simply, the durability will be excellent.

The other advantage of polycarbonate over other materials is the texture. The finish on the Samsonite Prodigy is beautiful, not only to look at but also to touch. It is a really classy design and really delivers a business class finish.

On first touching the Samsonite Prodigy, you may feel that the polycarbonate is thin…too thin perhaps. This was an initial concern to me too…but my mind was put at rest over several months. It has come through totally unscathed and is testament to Samsonite’s ability to produce great materials.

The durability of the Samsonite Prodigy has been nothing short of amazing. There is barely a scratch on it after several months of use and everything works as it should. The wheels look used but are functioning without any issues and the zips still feel like new. No cracks, no coloring issues nor lock jamming issues to report. Overall, an excellent experience on durability.

The finish is as you would expect from Samsonite. Clean, accurate and just as you would expect from a premium end brand. No surprises and no issues to report over the test period.

Design

• Style
• Features

The style of this suitcase is a major plus point. Understated and classy are the words that come to mind. It is not particularly ‘showy’ but that is just what you want from business luggage. It’s a little like owning a nice wallet, it gets noticed for quality and style.

Front compartment

The Samsonite Prodigy comes complete with a very useful front compartment. Designed to hold a laptop and a tablet, they are perfectly sized and padded to protect your valuables.

They are also perfect for placing travel documents and other things. A common criticism of hard sided luggage is the lack of accessible pockets. This makes this suitcase immune from that criticism.

Additionally, the extra sized zip toggles form part of the TSA lock mechanism, meaning that the contents can be secured.

All in all, a handy feature that will no doubt suit many business travelers.

Capacity

The suitcase holds a relatively generous 40 liters of capacity. The design of the internals is minimalist to say the least. This is not a criticism; the bareness of the internals means more capacity and still looks very stylish.

The biggest capacity gain is the design of the wheels. Normally, the wheel covers are recessed high into the suitcase body. This design sits lower and thus takes less room meaning more capacity. It is a small detail that makes a difference, a very typically Samsonite trait.

You also have the option of using the expansion which gives you an extra 3 cm and 7 liters of space.

Handle

The handle set up is pretty standard on this suitcase. One at the top and a helpful one on the side too. They are strong and well made.

The telescopic handle is one of the best I have tested. Strong and robust, it has a nice sound to it too. I have not had a second of issue with it to date. The design of it is appealing too with the handle sitting snugly into a well-designed frame.

Expandable section

This is an unusual design feature on hard sided luggage, an expandable section. It is a welcome addition and very useful too. The case expands by 3 cm.

It also has the added advantage to allowing you to secure your luggage using two zips.

Wet pocket

The Samsonite Prodigy comes with a removable wet pocket that is a nice feature. It is a zipped wet pocket that can be used to store toiletries and maybe even a wet swimsuit. Whatever you use it for, you can be safe in the knowledge that the rest of the suitcase is protected.

Locks

The Samsonite Prodigy is secured using an integrated TSA combination lock. This applies to the main compartment and the front compartment.

The fixed locking position of the lock makes this a little more secure than some other TSA locks. The fixed position of the zippers in the lock when secured means that zip cannot be opened an closed without your knowledge, a common criticism of zipped luggage.

There is no luggage that is 100% secure as we all know, but this does a fine job of limiting the risk.

What is the Samsonite Prodigy like to use? 

There is no exact science to this but you get that ‘feeling’ when you are using it. I have to say that I genuinely enjoyed travelling with my Samsonite Prodigy.

Aside from the fact I like its understated looks, it was its quite efficiency that impressed me.

It just did everything very well. The capacity was better than I expected and I got more packed in there including suits.

Everything just worked very well and with the purpose it was intended. The dividers were useful as were the pockets. It was the quite efficiency in which it went about its business that is what really stands out.

The front compartment was the most pleasant aspect in my opinion. It just made things convenient and unless you experience it, you just don’t realize how simple it makes things. I normally travel with a small backpack too but I found myself leaving it at home.

I have to say that the rubberized wheels were a pleasant surprise, they were so quiet. Not only do they look solid, but you just know that there is some serious thought gone into them.

So, to summarize, the user experience and functionality was excellent for me. I still use it today.

Value

The subject of value is always very subjective. It is so personal and what is ‘value’ anyway.

I can only give my thoughts on it. Since I was buying it to use not just review, I have to say the value was there otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it. In fact, compared to other Samsonite’s, I thought it was pretty cheap.

Based on other Samsonite models and other brands too, it seemed to be priced on the lower end for some reason. I genuinely can’t see difference in features with the more expensive models.

The Samsonite build was excellent as expected and it has a reputable warranty that delivers too. That alone is worth paying a little extra for.

Overall, with excellent materials, build quality and design…and backed by the reputation of Samsonite, this is definitely worth considering if you are looking for a classy, sturdy and robust piece of luggage.

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