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Details
- Price $2175 at rimowa.com
- Material Aluminum
- Capacity 90 L / 5492 cubic inches
- Weight 13.45 lbs / 6.1 kg
- Dimensions 1.7" (w) x 2.9" (h) x 1.4" (d) / 44 (w) x 73 (h) x 37 (d) mm
- Made in Germany
Overview
After a couple of months with my Rimowa Original Cabin S, I found myself stuck on the consumerist train and became obsessed with getting a check-in-sized luggage from Rimowa. I fought the urge for a good 8 months, but years of marketing brainwashing have broken me.
I was in the process of moving back to Japan and had a couple of months on a temporary visitor visa. I knew that it was the perfect time to get one tax-free.
I haven't brought it on a trip yet, so this is a first look rather than a full review. Check back in a couple of months and I will have some stories to tell.
The cheapest way to buy a Rimowa in Japan
Buying from department stores is the cheapest
The cheapest way to buy a brand new Rimowa for a tourist is from an outlet in a department store, either those from the Mitsukoshi group like Isetan Shinjuku, or Takashimaya Nagoya. There, you get a 10% tax-free rebate and a 5% discount.
You'll have to bring your passport to the tax-free counter to receive a discount card, guest card for Mitsukoshi, or Takashimaya's Shoppers Card. The cards give you a sweet 5% off in the department store although not everything is eligible. Rimowa, fortunately, is.
How it works is that you get 5% off the list price when paying. You bring the receipt to the tax-free counter and get 10% back in cash, minus 1.55% in handling fees.
Using the Original Trunk‘s price of 342,100 yen as an example. You first pay 324,995 yen to Rimowa after the 5% discount. Then bringing the receipt and passport to the tax-free counter, you will get 27,462 yen (8.45%, 10% tax minus 1.55% handling fee) back.
Effectively, you will get a discount of about 13.04%.
However, department stores do not stock every Rimowa model, and while it is possible to make a deposit and have it ordered, you will not be able to get tax-free this way since you do not receive the product at the time of payment.
I would recommend calling in to confirm stock, even if the website lists the model you want as avaialble. For me, Takashima Nagoya listed the black Trunk as available, but when I called, they neither had it nor was able to order in.
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Buying from a Rimowa store is probably the best experience
Since no department stores stocked the Original Trunk in black, I opted to get it from the Rimowa store in Omotesando. I've visited the store in Ginza before, but I prefer the Omotesando store for the store size and the staff seemed a little friendlier.
You can call in to reserve a model for three days, free of charge. They will hold it under your name and cancel it automatically after three days. I recommend this as you have nothing to lose. The worst thing that can happen is to get hyped up and head down to the store only to find it gone.
If you know exactly when you will be going down, I recommend calling in to make a reservation to visit the store or you might have to queue. Rimowa stores are large but the customer flow is heavily controlled, with only about three groups of customers allowed in at one time, based on my experience at the Omotesando store.
At the Rimowa store, you get to enjoy a direct 10% off the price tag. So you pay the tax-free price which is superior to the departmental store experience of having to claim it back in cash.
For mile chasers who want to maximize credit card rewards, you, unfortunately, cannot use two credit cards for one luggage. Believe me, I practically begged for them to let me do it but you know how the Japanese are with their rules. I've heard this was doable in places like Germany.
You can, however, combine a credit card with cash, which is what I did since foreign credit cards incur an FX fee—3.25% for most Singapore-issued cards. It isn't quite worth it if you are not getting any rewards for it.
Carrying a huge suitcase for the rest of the day doesn't seem fun, but thankfully, Rimowa sends it to a location within Japan at no extra charge. I sent it to a Tokyo address and the earliest you can get it is in two days. So, I recommend not leaving it to the last few days of your trip to buy a Rimowa. There are delivery charges if you choose this service at department stores.
Last but not least, make sure you take your time to check the condition of the luggage before you pay. While there's a lifetime warranty, it only covers damage that affects the functionality and won't apply to scratches. I know scratches are part of the character, but this is only if you caused them and doesn't quite apply if you get it pre-scratched.
I designed a thing.
I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
or read review
For me, the staff spotted a scratch when he was taking out the one I reserved and brought me a replacement. The finishing was a little sketchy too around the logo tag, but I wasn't too bothered about that.
When my luggage was delivered, the deliveryman asked that I check the luggage's condition before I sign off, as he waited patiently. This seemed to be requested by Rimowa to ensure that you confirm that the luggage arrived in perfect condition.
Style
You were most probably enamored by the Rimowa name and quality to be reading this review. If you are going to get a Rimowa, it doesn't make sense to me to get anything besides their iconic aluminum luggage, either the original or classic.
To be clear, I firmly believe you don't have to justify whatever product you want to buy, but I feel like the appeal of Rimowa lies in the beautiful, iconic aluminum suitcases, no matter how much shit they get for getting banged up quickly.
I went for the original because I wanted to match my Rimowa Original Cabin S. I chose the original over the classic because I preferred the softer-looking, rounded corners, and the consistent black colors on every part of the suitcase like the locks.
The details of the trunk were impeccable, with every groove carefully engineered. I did notice that on the trunk, compared to the Cabin S, the wheel casing juts out. I love how flushed the wheels were attached to the body this stood out to me, but wasn't a deal breaker.
There is almost no branding since the grooves are iconic enough for anyone to tell it's a Rimowa. There is an engraved Rimowa logo but it is very subtle.
There is a silver brand tag on the interior, as well as monogrammed lining and branded zipper pulls.
Which size Trunk should I get?
There are four Trunk sizes so hopefully this section will give you an easier time choosing.
At the time of the review, here are the differences:
| Trunk S | Trunk | Trunk Plus | Trunk XL | |
| Size | 25.6 x 15.35 x 13.4 inch 65 x 39 x 34 cm | 28.8 x 17 x 14.8 inch 73 x 44 x 36.5 cm | 31.5 x 17.3 x 14.8 inch 80 x 44 x 36.5 cm | 31.5 x 17.2 x 17 inch 80 x 43.5 x 44 cm |
| Weight | 11.7 lbs 5.3 kg | 13.4 lbs 6.1 kg | 14.1 lbs 6.4 kg | 15 lbs 6.8 kg |
| Capacity | 17.4 gal 66 L | 23.6 gal 90 L | 26.5 gal 105 L | 34.3 gal 130 L |
| Colors | Silver | Silver, Black | Emerald Green, Silver, Black, Titanium | Silver, Black |
Airlines have different standards for check-in luggage sizing, but I will be using economy class on Singapore Airlines as the reference.
Without any upper ranked airline loyalty membership like Krisflyer Elite Gold, everyone gets up to two check-in baggage, up to 23 kg each, where the sum of length, width and height of each checked baggage must not exceed 158cm (62 inches).
I don't feel weight is a big concern since it is pretty easy to pick up a cheap duffle to spread stuff across two luggages, but the size is going to be the main determining factor. The Trunk Plus measures 168.5 cm on the three sides, so it is technically oversized. Check-in staff will most likely not be too bothered since the difference is small. But in the off chance that they do, then you would have to pay for oversized baggage fees.
Oversized baggage fees on Singapore Airlines start from S$80 to S$203 depending on the destination and if you prepurchase it.
If oversized baggage fees are of no concern to you and have pickup service wherever you go, then the Plus or XL might be a good choice, since you won't have to worry about space. Note that overweight charges still can apply and they cost between S$6-51 per kg depending on your destination and if you prepurchase.
I personally feel like the Plus is just too big and while I'm not too worried about it being checked as oversized, I don't even want to slightest doubt to slip into my mind at the already-stressful check-in counter. As someone who is used to traveling with a single 30 L backpack and never shop when I travel, I immediately knew the Trunk was the right size for me.
Usage
Lock
Most suitcases come with a lock, but did you know it can be bypassed simply by sticking a pen through the zippers? Rimowa luggage comes with a latch-on system so you can't do this. The only way someone can get in is to open the lock or angle grinder.
I love the number combination locks on the Rimowa Original since you don't need to bring along a key.
The combination of the two locks can be set independently. To do so, open the lock (default combination should be 000) and hold down the button, and set your desired combination. You should feel some resistance when turning the numbers but once you get your combination, you can let go of the button to lock it in.
One lock is strong enough to hold the suitcase together, so even if a bad actor manages to get past one of them, they are only halfway there.
Wheels
Rimowa is known to have the best wheels in the industry. Thanks to a ball-bearing system, these glide across the airport floor like a runway model—graceful, flawless, and totally out of my league. It's recommended to pack so that the weight is evenly spread out. This will allow it to take on most surfaces easily without toppling over.
There are tabs on one side of the trunk for you to place it down without scratching the aluminum, but the wheels get in the way and you'll have to make sure it faces away from the ground to place it down evenly.
Interior
The interior is somewhat minimalistic. It was perfect for someone big on packing cubes like me. It gives me the flexibility to arrange it as I see fit. When I head to places like Vietnam, Indonesia, or Thailand, I bring along a helmet and it helps that I can opt not to use the flex dividers.
Weight and Portability
Rimowa aluminum luggage is not light. The Original Trunk weighs 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg). I mostly fly budget and economy which has a 20 kg check-in limit. I am used to indefinitely traveling with a backpack of about 7-10 kg of carry-on luggage, so 13.9 kg in addition to that is a luxury to me. But, most would find it limiting, especially if they love shopping.
Maintenance
Like it or not, your Trunk is going to go through some shit if you use it. Vindictive baggage handlers, poorly maintained sidewalks, or even your carelessness will put dents and scars. Rimowa marketing tells us that this is the charm of aluminum luggage; it becomes your own.
As someone who used to be into raw denim and leather products, I'm the perfect type of sucker for this so-called selling point. No matter how you baby your luggage, it is going to be scratched and dented. Even my Rimowa Orgiginal Cabin S that I carry on only won't stay pristine.
If you are the type that will worry about an expensive belonging getting less than perfect, Rimowa is not for you.
Other details
The side handle is pretty sleek. It snaps back in place once you let go to keep the luggage streamlined.
Conclusion
Purchasing a Rimowa suitcase is an investment in both style and practicality, and the buying process in Japan offers some solid discounts if you know how.
Whether you choose to embrace the “battle scars” or protect your investment with a cover, it’s clear that Rimowa’s iconic design and quality craftsmanship make it a luxury that’s uniquely yours.
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