The Ridge Check In is a rugged piece of luggage made of highly durable materials very similar to their Carry On. In many ways it’s like Ridge took their popular Carry On and zapped it with an enlargement ray. The result is a hard shell 4 wheel roller that is strong and spacious but suffers from growing pains.
You can watch the full video review above and read on for more.
Hard Body
The Ridge Check In comes in 5 different colors from bright basecamp orange to the sleek alpine blue. No matter which color you decide on all of the Check In versions have a matte poly-carbonate shell. In theory the matte finish, instead of a flat or glossy one, should help with scratches and scuffing, something hard shell luggage is especially prone too. Even with the two rubber bumpers running vertically down the front of the Check In it won’t take more than a flight or two for the first signs of wear. (To help combat this Ridge have included a cleaning eraser that does a decent job of wiping off scuffs but you’ll have to be diligent about using it after each trip.)
The poly-carbonate shell is thick to help add to the durability of the case and other Ridge luggage I’ve tested has held up well to frequent travel wear and tear. Like the Carry On the Check In also has aluminum corner protectors to prevent the corners getting turned inward from being tossed around. Those too scratch fairly quickly but again, no luggage looks like new for long.
Water Shell
The Check In has YKK zippers and an IPX3 rating meaning it can resist a strong downpour of rain and keep the contents dry. Most luggage doesn’t have (or the manufacturers don’t bother) to get an IPX rating for their bags so Ridge have gone above and beyond here. They’ve also made the most of the interior space – the Check In is 70 liters and compared to other premium bags of similar dimensions – Ridge have been able to squeeze out just a few more liters in the same space.
What’s Missing
The weight is also on the lighter side for hard shell luggage of this size (67.3 x 47 x 26.7 centimeters or 26.5 x 18.5 x 10.5 inches). The Check In has a few kilos on soft sided luggage but at 4.6 kilograms or 10.2 pounds, isn’t has heavy as the hard shell competition average. The interior is lined with light but durable 210 denier polyester (labeled with plenty of Ridge logos) with a clam shell design. One side has compression straps while the other has a mesh zippered window to keep contents in their place. I’d prefer compression straps on both sides to better keep contents in their place during baggage handling but being hard shell helps compensate just a bit.
The lack of a handle or hard plastic bar on the bottom of the Check In is also a major lacking. On the smaller Carry On a handle not being there isn’t as big of an issue because presumably the bag will be lighter simply by being a smaller bag. For the much larger Check In though, picking up 20 kilos (or 30 plus pounds) of weight with nothing but the rubber zipper lining to grip isn’t very comfortable at all. I’m afraid it will wear on the bag over time and eventually give out. Not to mention drops or mishandles trying to pack the Check In on trains, car trunks, or other higher surfaces.
The Check In has the durability and lifetime warranty to set your mind at ease but keep in mind this is a $450 piece of luggage. There is a lot of competition at this size though with Away, Monos, and Samsonite all making luggage that’s nearly as durable but runs $100 or more cheaper. If you’re the kind of person that changes your checked luggage frequently, then you might want to look at some of the less expensive but still premium alternatives. But if you don’t mind the higher premium price for the minimalist look and rugged build, the Ridge Check In is a bag that should last you a long time.