Lipault 19″ 2-Wheeled Carry-On Review

The Lipault 19″ 2-Wheeled Carry-On catches the eye from afar. The dark purple is bright with confidence, the posture distinctive. This is a different kind of soft-shell 2-wheeled bag that you can get for less than $200. It’s a fashion piece first, and a travel gear second – one that exudes charm and shows off the designers’ sense of style in a way that few other bags (in any price range) do.

Lipault believes its luggage stands out in the market with the following qualities:

• Bright fashionable colors
• Lightweight designs
• Luxurious and durable fabrics
• Unique, innovative, high-quality gear

How well does the Lipault 19″ 2-Wheeled Carry-On represent the brand? Let’s take a look at this pretty bag and see if it’s worth your consideration.

Like all of our bags, we’ve made a video review for this Lipault that you can watch on our YouTube channel Tekuben Prime or below:

We’ve also made a shorter Quick Take video for those who find the video above too long:

Tekuben.com is a privately owned, independent website. The views expressed are entirely our own. We do not receive merchandise or payment from manufacturers or retailers to review products. Our work is for and supported by you. In our post, you’ll find orange links to Amazon.com. We earn commission if  you make a purchase of any kind on Amazon after clicking on the link. If you would like to buy this Lipault, please consider purchasing it from Amazon.com with this link. Doing so will help support our work here at Tekuben. We hope you find the video above and our thoughts of this bag below helpful and we thank you for visiting Tekuben.com

 Exterior

Let’s start with the exterior: Pretty, silky, small, light.

This Lipault carry-on captured our attention with its unique front and side profile. Regardless of what color you choose (Purple is our favorite – Black, Aqua and Espresso are the other choices), it is undeniably cute and you can’t help but want to pick it up.

Note that the color of your choice is amplified. Not only will the fabric be in that color, but so will the handle bar, handle, zippers, wheels and the luggage tag.

The top of the bag has a gentle slouch that reminds us of a backpack or purse. You can see the absence of structure on the top of this bag more clearly from the side and you can experience it yourself by pushing the bag down and compressing it. The construction allows for a somewhat compact storage, which is a nice benefit.

However, the construction also results in the bag having uneven weight distribution when it’s empty, showing a tendency to tilt backwards. This is countered by the weight of your items when the bag is packed, but still worth knowing.

The top of the bag is also where you’ll find the only handle. That’s right, there are no side handles. This is an issue for us since we’re accustomed to having at least two handles on a bag for ease of handling. We get it though. A side handle would’ve disrupted the bag’s clean lines and potentially dampen the aesthetic appeal of it all. One could even argue that given the bag’s size, one handle is enough. If you’re one to find this omission inconvenient, know that the company’s 22″ 2-Wheeled Carry-On does have a side handle.

The one handle that this bag does have is great. It’s big and cushiony, providing travelers with an assured, comfortable grip.

The bag uses a nylon twill fabric that Lipault claims is easy to clean. We can’t speak to that. However, what we can say is this is probably the smoothest, silkiest material we’ve ever come across on a bag of any size or price. It’s simply delightful to touch. Durable? Hopefully. Luxurious? Definitely.

At 19″ x 13″ x 6″ (49cm x 33cm x 15cm), this bag should comply with nearly all but the strictest International airliner’s carry-on size requirements. This is a valuable feature that gives the Lipault an advantage over many other bags in this price range.

Meeting the dimensions allowed for a bag to be carried on to the cabin is sometimes no longer enough. Airliners are starting to limit the carry-on by weight as well. Given the bag’s svelte footprint and minimalistic design, we’re pleasantly not surprised that this 19″ Lipault is also lightweight. Officially listed at 5 pounds (2.26kg), this is one of the lightest bags available, allowing you to pack more weight (though in considerably less volume than our current favorite lightweight bag).

There is one exterior pocket on the whole of this bag, located on the front. The zippers protecting this pocket are tucked underneath a fold of the fabric from the top. Again, the design is tasteful but in usage, not as functional as it should be. The flap over the zippers look great but serves more as a hindrance to access. We’re not quite sure why there’s pocket space above the zipper line. That space would’ve been much better used for a second smaller pocket that can hold small items such as cell phones and boarding passes. As it is, the pocket can be used for other things – fewer things that are even more difficult to access if the main compartment is packed, as it pushes the front out like one’s belly when breathing in deep.

Despite having only one handle and a less than ideal exterior pocket, the combination of aesthetics, dimensions and weight make this, Lipault’s smallest wheeled carry-on, a great choice for short trips.

Interior

The benefits derived from the bag’s exterior dimensions serve as a detriment to the bag’s interior usability. It’s small, so it’s easy to travel with and it’s small, so don’t expect to pack a whole lot in this bag.

Self-healing zippers hold the bag together. Inside, you’ll find the basics. 2 straps to buckle down your items, one small pocket that runs along the edge below the hinge (built in to the side, which is nice, not flapping around), and a zippered pocket on the door side. The handle bars take up a good bit of room and the slouched corners on the top of the bag means there’s more depth at the base of the bag.

The lining is dark which does two things: provides contrast for what you’re packing and makes the interior seem smaller than it already is.

It’s enough room for a trip of 2-3 days. 5 days would be stretching it, let alone 7. This Lipault carry-on is the quintessential 2-wheeled, upright weekend bag.

Overall

Lipault hits most of the right notes with this 19″ bag. It’s stylish, small and light while maintaining a 2-wheel upright form. The zippers feel strong, the nylon fabric soft and silky, yet firm. The wheels are in the color that the bag is in. Lipault includes a non-TSA lock (which is a bit bizarre), but at least it’s also in the color that your bag is in – as is the included name tag.

Lipault backs all of their products with a 3-Year Guarantee that covers the bag against manufacturing defects. Damage or repairs needed as a result of normal wear and tear are not included in the warranty. More information about Lipault’s 3-Year Guarantee can be found here.

Summary

You’ll enjoy using this Lipault 19″ 2-Wheeled Carry-On if you appreciate stylish designs and believe that a carry-on is more of an accessory than it is a travel good. At an MSRP of $169, you are paying for its good looks, compliant size and light weight. All of these are important qualities in this age of excessive baggage fees, and in this price range the Lipault takes the crown of all three. With that being said, this bag is limited to short trips and may only be seriously considered by those who appreciate stylish design above practicality. As a fashionable, 2-wheeled upright used on short trips and nearly all international flights, we recommend this Lipault 19″ 2-Wheeled carry-on.

Specifications:

Model: JPF-017

Height: 19″ or 48.3 cm from wheel to top of compartment (not including handles)

Width: 13″ or 33 cm from side to side

Depth: 6″ or 15.2 cm from front to back

Weight: 5 lbs

Warranty: 3-Year Guarantee against any manufacturing defects (wear and tear is not covered)

Thank you for your support!

We’re happy you’ve found us and we hope that our review helps you decide if this Lipault bag is the right one for you. We also have a hand picked list of bags that offer best-in-class quality. Check out the bags that are Tekuben Approved™.