# The Victorinox Connex Reminded Me How Nice A Good Suitcase Looks and Feels When Traveling *By James Hills — Updated November 2026* The Victorinox Connex Large Hardside Case is a $390 checked suitcase that weighs just 10.1 pounds, and it's a good test of whether nice luggage is worth paying for. I packed everything into it for a recent trip to St. Joseph. Here's what I noticed about the wheels, the handle and the liners, and what I think about the price. **How To Buy Victorinox Connex Large Hardside Case****How To Pack A Full-Sized Checked Bag Without Paying An Overweight Fee****Review Index** The [Victorinox Connex Large Hardside Case](https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Travel-Gear/Checked-Luggage/Connex-Large-Hardside-Case/p/654078/) is available directly from Victorinox at an MSRP of $390, and the Connex collection is also sold at Macy's stores in the Chicago area (and presumably other parts of the country as well). Carry-on and checked sizes across the line run from $295 to $390. Amazon carries the [Connex Medium Hardside Case](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJFFM5QD?tag=mantr0c-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1) in blue. If your big bag is headed under the plane, a few habits keep you from repacking it on the floor at the check-in counter. - Weigh the bag at home with a handheld luggage scale, because the counter is a bad place to learn you're two pounds over. - Pack shoes and other heavy items down by the wheels, so the case stands up straight and doesn't tip when you let go of the handle. - Leave a few pounds of room on the way out if you plan to bring home bottles, gifts or gear. - Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on travel day, since neither one counts against your checked weight. - Keep medications and chargers in your carry-on, and remember that spare lithium batteries aren't allowed in a checked bag at all. 1. [I'd Forgotten How Much A Good Suitcase Changes The Way A Trip Feels](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#i'd-forgotten-how-much-a-good-suitcase-changes-the-way-a-trip-feels) 2. [Hinomoto Wheels Keep A Fully Packed Case Rolling Nicely](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#hinomoto-wheels-keep-a-fully-packed-case-rolling-nicely) 3. [The Handle Retracts Seamlessly And The TSA Lock Is Built Into The Shell](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#the-handle-retracts-seamlessly-and-the-tsa-lock-is-built-into-the-shell) 4. [A Swiss Army Knife-Inspired Multi-Tool Is Tucked In Next To The Top Handle](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#a-swiss-army-knife-inspired-multi-tool-is-tucked-in-next-to-the-top-handle) 5. [Padded Liners Keep Your Stuff Insulated From Rough Handling](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#padded-liners-keep-your-stuff-insulated-from-rough-handling) 6. [Two Packing Sides And 107 Liters Hold Enough For A Long Trip](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#two-packing-sides-and-107-liters-hold-enough-for-a-long-trip) 7. [At 10.1 Pounds, The Connex Is Light As Hell And Leaves Almost 40 Pounds For Your Stuff](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#at-10.1-pounds,-the-connex-is-light-as-hell-and-leaves-almost-40-pounds-for-your-stuff) 8. [$390 Is A Lot To Risk On A Bag That Will Take A Beating, So You Need To Figure Out If This Is The RIght Bag For You](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/victorinox-connex-review.html#$390-is-a-lot-to-risk-on-a-bag-that-could-get-destroyed) ## I'd Forgotten How Much A Good Suitcase Changes The Way A Trip Feels I haven't been able to travel as much as I normally would over the past three years, and I'd sorta forgotten about how nice a good piece of luggage makes you feel when you're on a trip. For a lot of men a hard case is just a utilitarian box you throw shit into, and frankly there is some logic to that perspective. I've had dozens of bags destroyed over the years, which left me wondering if maybe a cheap bag is better. If the next trip is going to wreck it anyway, why pay for nice? On the other hand, when I get a chance to review a suitcase like this Victorinox Connex it makes me realize all those things that don't show up when you just look at two nearly identical photos online. I packed everything into this bag for a trip to St. Joseph, Michigan, and what I noticed were the little things, like the way it rolls, the way the handle goes up and down, and the padding inside. You live with those details on every trip, from a week on a cruise to a [bachelor party](https://www.mantripping.com/bachelor-party-ideas.html) halfway across the country. ## Hinomoto Wheels Keep A Fully Packed Case Rolling Nicely The wheels on the Connex Large roll really nicely. Victorinox uses four dual-caster spinner wheels with what it calls super-quiet Lisof tires, and retailers list them as 60mm Hinomoto wheels. Dual-caster means two wheels at each corner, so the case pivots in any direction. You feel that on the long walk from a rental car return, or anywhere else you're steering a packed bag with one hand and holding a coffee in the other. ## The Handle Retracts Seamlessly And The TSA Lock Is Built Into The Shell The handle on the Connex goes up and retracts seamlessly. It's a dual-tube telescopic design, and retailers list three stops so you can set it to your height. If you've ever fought a sticky handle in a hotel lobby while your buddies stand around waiting on you, you know how annoying that is. The lock is a three-dial combination lock built into the shell, and the zipper pulls dock right into it. It carries the red Travel Sentry diamond, which means TSA agents can open and re-lock it without cutting anything. There's also a carry handle on the side for lifting the bag into a trunk. ## A Swiss Army Knife-Inspired Multi-Tool Is Tucked In Next To The Top Handle I didn't even know this was a feature, but Victorinox built a multi-tool into the Connex. It's inspired by the Swiss Army Knife and includes a SIM card replacement tool, an ID tag and a pen, and it tucks into a small tray right next to the top carry handle. The SIM tool is the one that got my attention. If you land overseas and want to swap in a local SIM card, that little pin is exactly the kind of thing you never have on you. It's a small touch, but I think it does a really good job of connecting this suitcase to the Swiss Army Knife heritage of the brand, and it's a fun nod from the company behind the [Swiss Tool Spirit X](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/swiss-tool-spirit-x-from-victorinox-review.html). ## Padded Liners Keep Your Stuff Insulated From Rough Handling The padded liners inside the Connex are easy to miss in a product photo. Your stuff is more insulated against rough handling, and after dozens of destroyed bags, that one matters to me. The polycarbonate shell takes the hit, but anything pressed up against it still gets knocked around, so the padding gives your stuff a little cushion. If you're bringing a bottle home from a [guys trip](https://www.mantripping.com/guys-trip.html) to bourbon country, wrap it in a sweatshirt and pack it in the middle of the case, away from the shell. ## Two Packing Sides And 107 Liters Hold Enough For A Long Trip The Connex Large opens flat into two packing sides. One side has X-shaped compression straps to hold your clothes down, and the other closes behind a zippered divider with a big mesh pocket for the small stuff you don't want rattling around. Victorinox lists it at 107 liters, with a main compartment that expands up to 4 cm when you need more room. At 29.5 x 19.7 x 12.6 inches, this is a big suitcase. It makes sense for a long trip or a cruise, and it's more bag than you need for a few nights away. For that kind of weekend, I'd grab something like the [BagSmart Paz 43L duffle](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/bagsmart-paz-43l-duffle-backpack-review.html) instead. ## At 10.1 Pounds, The Connex Is Light As Hell And Leaves Almost 40 Pounds For Your Stuff Oh yeah, and the Connex Large is light as hell! That might not be a big deal if you have status on airlines that gives you extra weight allotment, or if you only travel with a carry-on. But if you travel with a full-sized bag that's fully packed, those extra ounces you save with a bag like this vs. something heavier can mean a lot! To bring it back down to Earth for a moment, the reality is that at 10.1 pounds it pretty much sits right in the middle of the pack for premium modern hard sided luggage like this (most are 8-12 pounds now) but compared to my old "bang around" Walmart special, these are positively featherweight and that's one of the things you get when you spend a little extra money. While it might not sound like a lot, I've had many situations where I've either had to unpack to get a couple pounds below the weight limit or left things behind.  This is an issue because the empty case counts against your limit of typically 40-50 pounds. Most economy tickets cap a checked bag at 50 pounds, so at 10.1 pounds the Connex leaves you 39.9 pounds for everything you're bringing. Delta charges $100 each way for a domestic bag between 51 and 70 pounds, so saving a few pounds on the bag itself can keep you from paying that $100. ## $390 Is A Lot To Risk On A Bag That Will Take A Beating, So You Need To Figure Out If This Is The RIght Bag For You The price is the catch with the Connex. At $390, you're paying much more than you would for a basic hardside. So it's up to you if premium luggage is the right choice or if you'd prefer to just wing it with something cheaper but in situations where you'll potentially be bringing the bag with you on a work trip, or rolling it through the lobby of a Ritz-Carlton on a golf trip ... your luggage ends up saying a lot about you and your personality. Victorinox covers the Connex with its Travel Gear Lifetime Warranty, which helps with that risk. Retailers describe the coverage differently, though, so read the terms on airline damage before you count on them. If you're checking a full-sized bag on every trip, this is where I'd spend the money. This one reminded me why a good suitcase is worth having, and I'm happy to pack it for the next big trip. Do the math before you unzip the expansion, though. The listed dimensions add up to 61.8 inches, just under the 62-inch limit that U.S. airlines commonly use for a standard checked bag, and airlines count the wheels and handles. Expanding it adds up to about 1.6 inches, which can push you over, so leave it zipped unless you need the room and put a tape measure on it if you do. You can see the full specs at [Victorinox.com](https://www.victorinox.com/en-US/Products/Travel-Gear/Checked-Luggage/Connex-Large-Hardside-Case/p/654078/), and for current pricing and availability on the Connex Medium, check [Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJFFM5QD?tag=mantr0c-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1). Details Written by: James Hills Published: 04 November 2026 Last Updated: 04 November 2026 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? Let us help you plan a cruise, all-inclusive resort, or tour for your next guys trip, family vacation, or romantic getaway. Click here to [**Book Your Next Vacation**](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html). #### Is Your Money Better Spent on Lobsters and Beer Than a Week Glued to Cruise Ship WiFi? 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