Thule

Thule was founded in Småland, Sweden in 1942 by Erik Thulin, and has spent the decades since building equipment whose whole purpose is getting gear somewhere intact. The travel range carries that over — hard-wearing shells, compression that actually compresses, and organisation built into the bag rather than sold separately. The Travel Shop is an authorised Australian Thule stockist.

Aion — waxed canvas, for travel that looks like travel

Aion is the softest-looking range Thule makes and the most durable of the lot. Waxed canvas over a recycled shell, leather-look trim, and a removable packing cube in the spinner. It suits people who want luggage that ages rather than scuffs. The range runs from a 2 L sling through 28 L and 40 L travel backpacks to the carry-on spinner and a 70 cm wheeled duffel.

Subterra 2 — the business travel range

Subterra 2 is built for people who fly for work: quiet spinner wheels, a compression panel that lifts out and works on its own, and a fold-flat divider. The carry-on spinner is 55 × 35 × 23 cm and 35 L, inside the 56 × 36 × 23 cm cabin limit Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar all use. It weighs 4.5 kg empty, which is worth knowing against a 7 kg cabin weight limit. Above it sit a 68 cm checked spinner and a 90 L wheeled duffel. The PowerShuttle organisers and MacBook sleeves are designed to sit inside the rest of the range.

Chasm — the one that gets thrown in a ute tray

Chasm is Thule's weather-resistant tarpaulin line. Wide-mouth opening, welded seams, and straps that convert the soft duffels into a backpack. It is the range to pick for camping, road trips and anything that will live outside a terminal. Sizes run from a 30 L duffel and 40 L duffel to a carry-on wheeled duffel and a 110 L rolling duffel on all-terrain wheels.

Daily carry — EnRoute, Chasm and Gauntlet

For commuting rather than travelling, the EnRoute 21 L is the volume seller: a laptop backpack under $200 with elevated device pockets so a drop lands on the base of the bag, not the machine. The Chasm laptop backpack takes a 17in machine, and the Gauntlet sleeve is a rigid clamshell for people who already have a bag they like.

Landmark — travel pack with a daypack inside

The Landmark 60 L is the outlier: a hiking-style travel pack with a removable daypack and a lockable compartment, aimed at longer independent trips where you need one bag for transit and a smaller one once you arrive.

Which range for which trip

• Cabin-only work travel — Subterra 2 carry-on spinner. Compression panel plus a laptop that comes out without unpacking.
• Two weeks, checked — Subterra 2 68 cm spinner, or the Aion wheeled duffel if the ground will be rough.
• Camping and road trips — Chasm, every time. It is the only range built to be left in the weather.
• One bag, longer trip — Aion 40 L travel backpack or the Landmark 60 L.
• Daily commute — EnRoute 21 L.

Packing and organisation

Thule's packing accessories work across every range and across other brands too. The compression cubes flatten a load rather than just containing it, the Clean/Dirty cube keeps worn clothes off clean ones behind a wipeable divider, and the PowerShuttles hold chargers and cables in something you can lift out at security.

The Thule Guarantee

Every Thule bag carries a two-year guarantee from the date of purchase by the original owner, and unusually for luggage it covers normal wear and tear and the natural discolouration of materials — not only manufacturing defects. Register the product with Thule and luggage, travel bags and laptop bags extend to five years, though the additional three years is narrower and excludes typical wear such as zips and coating, cosmetic damage, and damage caused in transit or by an airline. Misuse, overloading and failure to follow Thule's instructions are excluded throughout. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law apply in addition and are not affected. Full detail is in our Thule range guide.

Free shipping Australia-wide and 30-day returns. The Travel Shop is an authorised Australian Thule retailer.