Max Studio Lightweight Luggage | Hardside Spinner Collection
Our lightweight hardside spinner is engineered for travelers who refuse to choose between durability and weight. The polycarbonate shell resists scratches and impacts without adding bulk to your packing allowance. We designed this collection with dual spinner wheels that glide smoothly through airport terminals, and an expandable main compartment that grows when you need extra space.
The interior features compression straps and a zippered divider to keep clothes organized during multi-leg trips. Each piece in this collection stays under 8 pounds for the 20-inch carry-on and 10.5 pounds for the 28-inch checked size, giving you maximum packing capacity without exceeding airline weight limits.
What makes our hardside spinners different
| 01 | 100% polycarbonate hardside shell with scratch-resistant finish |
| 02 | 360-degree dual spinner wheels for effortless maneuverability |
| 03 | Expandable main compartment adds 2 inches of packing space |
| 04 | TSA-approved combination lock integrated into shell |
| 05 | Aluminum telescoping handle with three height positions |
| 06 | Fully lined interior with compression straps and zippered divider |
| 07 | 20-inch carry-on weighs 7.8 lbs; 28-inch checked weighs 10.4 lbs |
| Available in three shell colors | charcoal, navy, and silver |
What the numbers mean
We chose polycarbonate for our lightweight hardside collection because it absorbs impacts without cracking. The material flexes slightly under pressure, then returns to its original shape after baggage handlers drop your case onto the carousel. This flexibility prevents the stress fractures that plague rigid ABS shells after a few trips.
The shell surface receives a matte coating that resists scuffs from overhead bin edges and luggage cart corners. Our testing showed this finish maintained its appearance through 50 simulated travel cycles, while uncoated polycarbonate showed visible wear after 20 cycles. The same approach to balancing material strength and weight appears throughout our lightweight line, where every component is selected for its strength-to-weight ratio rather than lowest cost.
The eight-wheel spinner configuration distributes weight across four contact points instead of two, reducing the effort needed to push your luggage through long terminal walks. Each wheel rotates a full 360 degrees, so you can pull the case beside you or push it ahead without changing your grip.
We mounted the wheels on reinforced housings that sit flush with the shell bottom. This recessed design protects the wheel assemblies during conveyor belt transport and prevents the snags that happen when exposed wheels catch on escalator edges. The bearing assembly inside each wheel is sealed against dust and moisture, maintaining smooth rolling even after sand or rain exposure during beachside trips.
Compression and divider system
The main compartment includes two sets of compression straps that flatten folded clothes and prevent shifting during turbulence. We positioned these straps in an X pattern that applies even pressure across the entire packing area, rather than the single horizontal strap that creates pressure points and wrinkles.
A full-width zippered divider separates clean clothes from worn items, and the mesh panel in this divider lets you see contents without unzipping. The divider pocket is deep enough to hold a week’s worth of undergarments or charging cables and adapters that would otherwise migrate to the bottom of your bag.
Expandable capacity and weight limits
The expansion zipper adds two inches of depth to the main compartment when you need extra room for return-trip purchases or cold-weather clothing. This zipper runs along three sides of the case, allowing the front panel to move outward while maintaining the structural integrity of the hardside frame.
Our 20-inch carry-on weighs 7.8 pounds empty, leaving you 32.2 pounds for belongings if you’re flying an airline with a 40-pound carry-on limit. The 28-inch checked size weighs 10.4 pounds, keeping you well under the 50-pound threshold that triggers overweight fees on most domestic carriers. Every ounce matters when you’re packing camera gear or bringing home bottles from a vineyard visit, and we watch the scale closely during design to preserve your packing allowance.
More from our lightweight luggage collection
What the crews say
Common questions about Max Studio lightweight luggage
Our carry-on measures 20 inches high, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, not including wheels and handle. These dimensions fit the overhead bin requirements for all major U.S. airlines and most international carriers. When you engage the expansion zipper, depth increases to 11 inches for additional packing capacity.
The 20-inch carry-on weighs 7.8 pounds empty, the 24-inch checked bag weighs 9.2 pounds, and the 28-inch checked size weighs 10.4 pounds. We publish actual weights rather than estimates because every pound matters when you’re calculating your packing allowance. These weights include the integrated TSA lock and all interior straps and dividers.
Yes, all wheels on our lightweight spinners are replaceable. Each wheel assembly detaches with three screws accessible from inside the case. We sell replacement wheel sets through our parts page, and the installation takes about 15 minutes with a standard Phillips screwdriver. The wheels are designed to last hundreds of trips, but we make replacement easy for long-term owners.
No, polycarbonate maintains its flexibility across a temperature range from minus 40 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. We chose this material specifically because it doesn’t become brittle in the sub-zero cargo holds common on winter flights. The shell will flex under impact at any temperature, then return to its original shape without cracking.
The lock arrives set to 0-0-0 from our factory. To change the code, open the lock using the default combination, then locate the small reset button next to the lock mechanism. Press and hold this button with a pen tip while you rotate the dials to your new three-digit code. Release the button to save your code. The lock will now open only when you dial in your custom combination.
No, the expansion zipper maintains the structural integrity of the hardside shell. When the expansion is not engaged, the zipper is hidden in a reinforced channel that distributes stress across the shell edges. When you expand the case, the front panel moves outward as a single rigid piece, keeping the polycarbonate frame intact around your belongings.
We currently offer three shell colors across all sizes: charcoal gray, navy blue, and metallic silver. Each color receives the same scratch-resistant matte finish and maintains the same weight specifications. The interior lining is light gray across all exterior color options to help you spot items during packing and unpacking.