TORONTO — Just how far would you go to test a theory? Probably not as far as Samsonite, which – quite literally – went to the moon and back to prove a point.
As reported in Travel + Leisure, the luggage manufacturer and retailer recently teamed up with Sent Into Space, a marketing-focused space agency, to perform “the ultimate drop test” on one of its products. From a height of 130,000 feet, Samsonite’s Proxis Global Carry-on Spinner – acclaimed for its “remarkable strength, resilience and lightness” – was sent plummeting back to earth, all for the sake of quality control. Did it survive? You betcha, and there’s video to prove it.
With help from a 4K camera system and a flight computer attached to the suitcase, curious onlookers are able to watch its entire space journey, from its steady climb to outer space, to its gasp-inducing release above the earth’s curvature, all the way to its relatively smooth landing in the mountainside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Touching down (squarely on four wheels, no less) with just the mildest of thuds, Proxis appears to survive the journey without so much as a scratch.
How is this even possible, you ask? According to Samsonite, the Proxis Global Carry-on Spinner is made with roxkin, “an innovative material that is incredibly lightweight and strong,” allowing it to bounce back into shape easily. With a hard outer shell and weighing just 4.7 pounds, Sent Into Space told Travel + Leisure that the Proxis made for the perfect test subject.
Of course, the entire point of the space mission was to prove that if the Proxis can survive a 130,000-foot drop, it can surely withstand the rigours of travel, whether it includes circling around a baggage carousel, bumping along the back of a rickshaw, or being dragged up a flight of stairs. Even before the mission was successfully done, the Proxis had already garnered rave reviews online, scoring a 4.2 rating among customers, with 79% recommending the product. “Super secure and tough,” and “It’s extremely durable and got style!” are just some of the comments written by customers on Samsonite’s website, many of which also included shoutouts to other cool features like the built-in USB port, an integrated keyless TSA-friendly lock, and dual spinner wheels, which, as we all saw, are virtually unbreakable.
So, the question remains, would you buy the Proxis Spinner for your next vacation? Stylish, secure and space-proof – what more could you want in a carry-on?
