Mountainsmith Boarding Pass Review
Quick Take Review
Last year, I reported some very positive experiences with Mountainsmith’s 26-inch Discovery Rolling Duffel. The rugged bag accompanied me on several European trips proving more than sufficient for hauling seven to 10 days of gear. So when it came time to look for a smaller traveling companion, Mountainsmith was where I turned. And the Boarding Pass 22-inch roll-on-board suitcase was what I purchased.
The Boarding Pass is a scaled-down version of the 26-inch Discovery, having many of the same features and using the same materials. The sliding handle has two aluminum shafts for stability. The bag is constructed of heavy-weight ballistic nylon. And the bottom is covered with a rubberized coating known as Hypalon to increase wear. Wheels are large and user replaceable, extending the life of the bag.
Inside, the Board Pass has the same bright yellow lining as the Discovery allowing you to better see the bag’s contents. There’s a large zippered mesh pocket across the lid for storage. Two additional pockets – one large and one small – provide extra carrying capacity. And speaking of extra capacity, the Boarding Pass also has a zippered extension that adds 300 more cubic inches of storage. Mountainsmith selected heavy duty YKK zippers for the Boarding Pass and the pull-tabs match the lining.
Specs
Dimensions: 21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in
Weight: 8 lb 7 oz
Capacity: Up to 2380 cu in
Material: Ballistic nylon
So far, the Boarding Pass has been a great traveler. Storage capacity seems larger than I expected from a 22-inch bag. The Boarding Pass can haul a week’s worth of clothing, an extra pair of shoes and more with ease. It fits easily in most overhead bins even with the extension panel in use.
Two small complaints. First, the bag is tippy. Frankly, so is just about every bag of this type, so it’s hard to get worked up about this issue. Second, I wish Mountainsmith had stuck with last year’s deep gray color vs. 2011’s black. The gray and yellow (found on my Discovery) is a killer color combination and stands out just that-little-bit-more on the baggage carousel.
Overall, the Mountainsmith Boarding Pass is an outstanding 22-inch roll-on-board that should stand up to years of travel. Recommended.
