Throughout our research across all of the best luggage brands and all of the top selling suitcase options around the world, the Delsey Luggage Helium Aero series seems to nearly always appear among the most popular picks. This, of course, made us curious to know more. The result is this Delsey Luggage Helium Aero review, where we take a deep dive in to look at the features of this collection, and explore some of the pros and cons experienced by actual users.
First, A Bit of Background
The Delsey company was founded back in 1946, and quickly grew to the well established leader in the luggage industry that it is today. Through the years they have continuously introduced new and innovative improvements that have become luggage industry standards. Among these innovations was the introduction of the first semi-rigid flexible frame case in the initial Helium line.
Yes, they were instrumental in jump-starting the relatively recent industry craze of suitcases with flexible hard shell exteriors. With progressive advancements in design and technology, this then evolved into the Helium Aero Expandable Rolling Luggage that is so highly acclaimed today. And although there have been many additional Delsey luggage styles introduced since these first came out, they continue to be a very popular choice for travelers across the globe.
Sizes of the Delsey Helium Aero Series
Let’s start by looking at the different sized bags offered in this collection, and the measurements and weights of each of them.
19″ Expandable International Carry-on – Dimensions: 19″ x 13″ x 9.5 Weight: 8.2 lbs – Smaller than the classic 21″ carry-on size (below), the international carry-on measures slightly smaller all the way around, making it compatible with carry-on size requirements with most any airline in the world.
Unlike most hardsided luggage, and unlike the other bags in this collection, this 19″ piece has the added advantage of including some exterior storage. A spacious, easy access front compartment has a padded sleeve that fits up to a 15.6 inch laptop. It’s perfect for quick business or pleasure trips where you want easy access to your well protected computer. There are also 2 zippered mesh pockets convenient for computer accessories, toiletries, book or other last minute items.
(Beware that in its fully expanded size, the 19″ international carry-on bag may no longer meet the size requirements of some smaller planes. So if you’re planning to carry this bag on a flight, be sure to check the size guidelines of your particular airline before heading out.)
This size suitcase works great on it’s own for an overnight getaway, or to take along as a matching companion to one of the larger check in size bags.
21″ Carry-on – Dimensions: 20.5″ x 14.5″ x 10 Weight: 8.4 lbs – This traditionally sized carry-on is the optimal combination of being compact in size, easily manageable for handling on a plane, and roomy enough to hold all you need for a week-end or week long trip. (As mentioned above, be sure to check with your airline to confirm that this size meets their carry-on requirements if you do intend to bring it on-board with you.)
25″ Expandable Upright – Dimensions: 25″ x 17″ x 11.5 Weight: 10.2 lbs – The 25″ upright is an excellent all around size for most types of travel, with the capacity to carry multiple outfits for a 2 week trip or longer. And even when totally full it is liftable and manageable, making it convenient to handle for plane, train, bus, or car trips. Of course when traveling by plane this bag will need to be checked in.
29″ Expandable Upright – Dimensions: 29″ x 19.5″ x 12.5 Weight: 12.5 lbs – This large 29″ upright is ideal for long journeys or for transporting larger loads. Keep in mind that this size can become pretty darn heavy when it is filled. Not only could that make it difficult to lift, but it also may incur additional checked baggage fees. (Always check your airline for weight and size requirements before packing. Then plan your packing to minimize or eliminate those extra charges.)
Whether your travels take you near or far and the duration is short or long, these 4 size options can be used alone or combined with one another to meet most any type of travel need whether for work or leisure.
Exterior Colors and Finish
The sleek exterior design of this luggage gives it a high-end appearance. The parallel grooves that run the length of the bag’s hard shell and the rounded edges along the corners are not only nice looking, but they serve to provide added protection when bags when stacked or stowed.
Delsey Helium Aero luggage is offered in several brilliant color choices: cobalt blue, red, titanium grey, emerald green, black, and purple. The robust textured high gloss finish serves to minimize the appearance of any scratches or scrapes that may come along with frequent use.
Key Features of the Helium Aero Luggage
Lightweight and Durable Hard Case Construction
We know that when bags are checked onto a plane, or stored under a bus, they can be subjected to being crushed under a stack of heavy bags or being tossed around by baggage handlers. The exterior of these bags is made out of 100% polycarbonate, a nearly indestructible material that is superior at handling the harsh environments that traveling can deliver. This resilient hard shell exterior won’t crack or break under pressure. It has a lot of “give” that allows pushing and compressing, then pops back out to its original shape without any permanent damage.
And even with this extreme level of durability, they are also incredibly lightweight. This is because this material is molded into a very thin shell that takes up little space or weight compared to most traditional soft sided bags.
Superior Maneuverability of Dual Spinner Wheels
The Delsey Helium Aero is spinner style luggage, meaning it is rolling luggage that rolls on four wheels in an upright position. The benefit of spinners over traditional 2 wheeled rolling bags is that with these spinners your bag virtually glides in any direction without putting any strain on your forearm.
These Helium Aero bags set themselves apart from most other spinner style bags in that each of the four wheels is actually a double/twin wheel. The dual 360 degree wheels maximize stability and provide an ultra smooth rolling experience.
Expandability
Have you ever experienced the frustration of shopping for wonderful gifts and souvenirs while on a trip, then finding that your new goodies wouldn’t fit into your suitcase? Well, the ingenious expandability of these bags helps eliminate this problem. All of the sizes except the 21″ carry-on suitcase are expandable at the pull of a zipper. When the zipper is fully opened, the bag grows by an additional 2 inches in depth, providing that extra capacity just when you need it. When not needed, just re-zip that zipper to compress the bag back to its original size.
The Delsey Helium series was one of the first luggage lines to introduce having a lock built right into the suitcase. And what a brilliant idea that is. No more needing to shuffle through your cabinets looking for that little luggage lock you bought last year. These bags are equipped with 3-digit combination locks that are fully accepted by TSA. This means that TSA agents will be able to open and inspect your bag if needed, but otherwise your belongings are securely locked away until you reach your destination.
Other Features
- Bags open flat to reveal two fully lined packing compartments. A lined divider as well as tie-down straps help minimize shifting and wrinkling of your items.
- Interior zippered pockets lets you keep toiletries, socks, undies, or accessories separately organized.
- Two cushioned handles, one on the side and one on the top, allow for comfortable lifting of the case when it is fully packed.
- As with all Delsey luggage, these bags are backed by Delsey’s 10 year limited warranty, so you can rest assured that your luggage investment will be a lasting one.
User Ratings and Reviews
Pros
Over 93% of those who have left a review online for a Helium Aero (at the 6 major websites we analyzed) have rated this luggage either Very Good or Excellent, or at least 4 out of 5 stars. Most users express being extremely happy with the overall appearance, features, and performance of these bags. In general, people find that the quality and durability is superior for the reasonable price of these bags.
The form factor makes them very user friendly and easy to organize packing for trips. They declare that the bags roll smoothly and are easy to maneuver through different environments such as narrow airplane aisles, carpeted terminals, or even cobblestone streets.
When you use 2 or more pieces in the matching set it not only looks stylish but also makes it easier to recognize all of your luggage among others. And because these bags can be nested one inside the other (the 29″, 25″ and 21″ (or 19″), it makes it extremely convenient to store the entire set when not in use.
Concerns
There is a small percent of user ratings and reviews (about 7% at the time of this writing) that express some level of disappointment or unhappiness with their suitcase. This percentage is not unusual or much different from that of other high quality, top value luggage lines, such as the Samsonite Winfield2 or Omni series, which are their equivalent offerings. The main complaints or concerns we found were:
- About 3% of reviewers reported experiencing damage to their checked bag when retrieved at baggage claim. Most were reports of big dents or broken wheels. In many cases these were fixed or replaced through the Delsey warranty, but still resulted in frustration. We don’t have statistics on how many bags (across all brands) are damaged through air travel, but our sense is that this small percentage is not out of range with what others experience. That seems to be the nature of the rough handling of airline baggage.
- About 1% of users had concerns about the integrated TSA lock, saying the these are easy for someone to break into if they have a paperclip and know how to use it to get into the lock. We discovered that people have reported this issue with several other brands of luggage who have incorporated a similar style of lock onto their luggage.Our thoughts on this are: In the unlikely event that there is a thief around, they are likely to target bags that are not locked where it’s quick and easy to unzip, slip a hand in, and grab someones belongings, rather than take the extra time and effort to break into one that is locked and increase their risk of getting caught. Frankly, if a thief really wants to get into any bag that badly, they will find a way, whether breaking through a lock or slicing through zippers or exterior materials. Or, they will simply pick up the bag and take it with them. The purpose of the lock is to deter theft and protect contents while en route. When at your destination, it’s always recommended to use the hotel safe to store valuables.
- Some users simply find that they prefer soft sided luggage or two-wheeled rolling luggage for their style of travel. This, of course, is a personal preference.
Conclusion
Our Delsey Luggage Helium Aero review and research finds that overall there is good reason for the high popularity of these bags. They deliver excellent, solid quality and are a great workhorse for most types of travel. The full range of features are well designed for efficient usability, simplifying the travel experience from packing and organization to handling and transporting.
The price range for this luggage is extremely reasonable for what you get, scoring them a top value pick. For anyone who prefers hard-sided luggage over soft-sided, and is looking for great quality and overall value, you can’t go wrong with these extremely popular bags.