TRAVEL GEAR | Osprey Rolling Transporter 120 Luggage – Review

On a recent diving trip to the Yucatan in Mexico, I put the brand new Osprey Rolling Transporter case through its paces and find it’s the perfect luggage for adventure travel. Read on for my full review.

Osprey Transporter Wheeled Luggage
The Osprey Transporter bag at Manchester airport train station

What is it?

Osprey Rolling Transporter 120 RRP £220 – Buy it here

Features

  • 120 litre capacity
  • 4 grab handles
  • Dual mesh pockets on inner front panel
  • Durable and highly water resistant fabric
  • ID Card holder
  • Lockable zippers
  • Osprey HighRoad™ chassis
  • Panel zip access to main compartment with lockable zippers
  • Retractable handle with ErgoGrip™
  • Available in Kingfisher Blue or Black

What did we think?

I’m a big fan of soft cases, not only do they tend to weigh a bit less than rigid suitcases, but for active travel I find them heaps more convenient. My 110 litre Roxy split roller has been my go-to case for snowboarding trips for almost 10 years, but with one broken handle and fabric beginning to fray, it’s definitely on its last legs. Unlike my old Roxy case, the Osprey Rolling Transporter isn’t split into two and instead provides a single enormous packing area.

Osprey Transporter Wheeled Luggage

Inside the case there are 3 tension straps, allowing you to keep the contents firmly in place, as well as 2 large zipped mesh internal pockets and a large pocket outside on one end of the case.

The case is accessed by a large zipped cover which takes up the entire front, and there is a retractable ErgoGrip™ handle and big sturdy wheels that make negotiating the airport a doddle. The wheels actually feature Osprey’s HighRoad™ chassis which means that the pack is capable of handling rough terrain with ease, so regardless of your destination, the case will remain easy to move around.

Surfdome

There are various strong webbed grab handles on the outside of the case, ideal for loading and grabbing it off the baggage carousel, and because the case is made from durable and weather-resistant material, bad weather doesn’t need to be a worry when you’re using this case outdoors.

5 years on the bag has been all over the world!

In the past I’ve walked out of Geneva airport in the pouring rain, arriving in the Alps to thick snow leading to worry that the contents of my case could get wet as I’ve trudged through the streets of Morzine, rolling my case through snow and slush. With the weather-resistant Rolling Transporter though, there’s no need for concern.

Osprey Transporter Wheeled Luggage
Case checked in and ready to load into the hold

The Kingfisher blue colour of the case is lovely, bright and eye catching – a definite bonus as far as I’m concerned as I hate dowdy, dull looking luggage. The bright colour and distinctive styling of the bag makes it super easy to spot on the baggage carousel too. No more tentatively pulling off every black suitcase that trundles past to check the tags in the hope that it’s yours!

Packed to about 85% capacity, my case weighed in at 21kg and although I was only going away for a week, I was diving and snorkeling so packed a lot of additional sporting gear that meant I needed a case with a good packing capacity. I could have easily fitted in more however, making this case the perfect size for a longer holiday, especially if you need to take additional sporting gear with you.

The OspreyTransporter 120 shown next to my old Roxy split roller in France

The Verdict

As the owner of several Osprey backpacks, I’ve come to expect high levels of quality from Osprey and the Rolling Transporter is no exception. It feels very strong and sturdy and I love the addition of weather-proofing; making the case ideal for adventure travel and expeditions.

Due to its size and weight when fully packed I did find I sometimes struggled to keep it upright going around corners with it having just two wheels that aren’t multi-directional, so when handling it, I did find it swung onto its side a couple of times. Despite this, in a straight line though, it was very easy to pull along.

Osprey Transporter Wheeled Luggage
The Osprey Transporter case with my hand luggage popped on top

At 120 litres the capacity is ample for a 2 week or even longer holiday or expedition and whilst it is pricey (double the price of my old Roxy split roller with the similar capacity), with Osprey you are paying for quality, and thanks to the Osprey Almighty Guarantee you’re investing in a piece of luggage that will be at your side for many, many years to come even if the baggage handlers do their worst!

5 Year Update

After 5 years, the Osprey Rolling Transporter 120 has been to Mexico, Egypt, France, Spain, Antigua and the Maldives – not bad eh considering we’ve had lockdown in that time too!

Apart from some scuff marks, the bag is holding up brilliantly and it’s absolutely worth every penny (so far!). Here’s to another 5 years of globetrotting with it.

DISCLOSURE | Thank you to Osprey for supplying us with the featured product. We were not paid to write this review.

Where to next?

Shell Robshaw-Bryan
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