This article is part of a series giving you detailed reviews on
a wide range of the major choices of carry-on bags available
today. |
|
Be sure to read it in conjunction
with our related reviews and our summary recommendations (see
links in right column). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search |
Looking for something else? Search
over two million words of free information on our site.
|
|
|
|
|
Free Newsletter |
|
|
Help this Site |
Thank you for your interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
 |
|
Reader's Replies |
If you'd like to add your own commentary,
send me a note. |
|
|
|
|
|
Heys
USA Carry-on Luggage Reviews
Smart looking and light weight bags
|
|
Heys USA was founded in
1986 and has built a broad range of carry-on and checkable
luggage, typically being brightly colored and with styling
touches slightly different to traditional bags, without
being too over the top.
Their special strength
seems to be lighter weight bags, and they claim to make the
lightest bag of any company.
|
Scroll down or click these links to
jump to the review you wish to read
Eco
Case 19"
19" Eco Case
Part of Heys' three bag Eco Case set
|
|
This is typically sold
as the smallest of three bags in a set, the other two being
28" and 24" on their longest side, and so too large for
carrying on.
The outer shell is said
to be made from 100% recycled materials, and in turn, it is
said to be 100% recyclable again in the future.
For the more pragmatic
among us, its most standout feature is its very light weight
- a mere 6.7lbs.
The bag is a 'bare
bones' bag with none of the extra features that heavier bags
usually offer as standard. No outside or inside
pockets, and only one carry handle are the most noticeable
limitations.
But, if you want the
lightest possible carry-on bag, and at a fair price, this is
a good choice to consider.
|
Price and
availability |
The set of three
bags lists for a ridiculous $900, but can be purchased
at eBags for a more sensible $450. If you say this
perhaps represents $200, $150 and $100 each for the
three bags, then with a notional cost of only $100, this
is a good buy.
With a 110% low price matching guarantee, comprehensive
product range, and excellent service, we recommend
eBags
for
purchasing this suitcase.
Special Note : eBags are now giving Travel Insider
readers 10% discounts off many products and free
shipping too. |
Warranty |
Seven year standard
type warranty - ie, it covers manufacturing defects but
not wear and tear or abuse, and apparently requires you
to be able to show the original receipt and the warranty
card to qualify. |
Official size |
19 x 13.5 x 8.5 (41"
total) |
Measured maximum
external size |
22" x 13.5" x
9"
(44.5" total) The bag
fits within all three of the generally standard
dimensions for a carryon (22 x 14 x 9), and note that
the 9"
dimension is a bit variable due to some give and take in
the zipper hinge It could be squashed a little
smaller if necessary.
Expanding the bag adds up to 1.5" extra to the 9" dimension. |
Measured internal
size |
18.25" x 13.25" x
3.75", unexpanded, for the main internal compartment,
and a generally similar amount (unexpanded) for the
'lid'.
The internal depth varies a bit because the carry handle
is mounted inside the base, and the lid shape is
slightly contoured on the outside. |
Expandability |
Yes - you can unzip
a 1.5" expansion gusset that is on the lid half of
the bag. |
Weight |
6.5 lbs claimed.
Tests to about 6.7 lbs. This is a wonderfully
light bag, although it saves weight in part by cutting
down on extra features and pockets. |
Construction |
The exterior of the
bag is made of two pieces of ABS type plastic.
Heys say they've added extra plasticizers to ensure the
plastic never becomes brittle, but remains slightly soft
and pliable, able to 'give' when hit by something, and
return to shape when the stress is removed.
The inside of the bag is lightly lined, and additional
pieces of protective fabric are placed over otherwise
exposed screw and rivet heads.
Construction is a mix of screwed wheels and riveted
carry handle.
The double external zipper has a hole for a padlock hasp
to go through to lock the two zips together. |
Color choices |
The bags are
distinctive in three ways - by construction material, by
design/styling, and by color, making them easy to find
on a carousel. They
are available in six usually bright colors - black,
bronze, pink, red, silver and turquoise.
The zip and handle areas are a second color (grey)
compared to the main body color. |
Handles |
The bag has only one
handle (in addition to the towing handle). This
handle is on the short top side, next to the telescoping
tow handle. |
Towing Handle
|
Extends to 38" from floor to bottom of handle.
Telescoping design with three sections. Appears
reasonably strong and doesn't wiggle.
Mounted internally. |
Wheels |
Four wheels, all on
external castors sticking out from the bottom of the bag
a couple of inches.
The wheels themselves are small - about 1.5" in diameter
and about 0.7" wide.
They look somewhat vulnerable to damage, but as long as
you are not checking the bag, it hopefully won't be too
severely mistreated and they should be okay.
If a wheel does need replacing, it can be unscrewed and
a replacement screwed back into the body of the bag.
The four wheels, each freely mounted, make this bag what
is sometimes called a 'spinner'. You can roll the
bag along on all four wheels as well as trundle it
behind you, tilted onto two wheels. The roll-along
feature, with the bag being rolled along on its narrow
rather than wide side, can be useful if, eg, going down
the aisle on a plane, but because the towing handle is
more designed for towing than for pushing, it is not
something you'd normally do in a normal less cramped
environment. |
Stair skids |
None. The
bottom of the bag's mould pattern goes out and in a
couple of times, but doesn't provide any additional
protection against the wear and shock damage that one
causes when pulling a bag up stairs. |
Outside
compartments |
None. |
Inside compartments
in base |
None. |
Inside compartments
in lid |
None as such.
But there's a type of divider that can be secured across
the lid, and in this is a mesh pocket measuring about 7"
x 16", with a zipper along the 16" side. |
Suit carrier
included |
No. |
Other Removable
holders inside |
No. |
Waterproof
compartment |
No. |
Packing Straps |
Yes - there's a sort
of 'H' shaped set of straps on the top of the base, with
a single connector/release along the bar of the 'H'.
These straps are anchored on the ends of the two
vertical lines of the 'H' and the anchor points are at
the top of the base, not at the bottom, so they don't
really serve a good purpose to hold things in securely
that might otherwise be loose. |
External carry
hook/strap |
Yes - An adjustable
webbing loop clips onto the top of the bag and then
clips onto itself. |
ID holder |
No. |
Other features |
A TSA approved three
barrel combination lock is provided with each of the
three cases in this three case combo pack. |
Review methodology
Please note that weights and
measurements are approximate. Measurements in particular
are surprisingly subjective, and almost no bag/case has even
measurements across every part of the bag.
External measurements are
usually taken at the largest possible part - like an airline
would do if trying to negatively prove your bag was illegally
oversized.
|
If so, please donate to keep the website free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.
|
Originally published
25 Feb 2009, last update
30 May 2021
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
|
|
|