For more than 30 years, Kenneth Cole has successfully embraced the essence of diversity, energy, and boldness and they took a unique approach through their Reaction line that includes both travel and business. The luggage bags are made of premium materials, have clean lines, and feature bold colors.
These things add up to a modern-day yet casual style intended for both men and women. If you are thinking about making a statement at the airport or anywhere else, there is no better way than having a piece of luggage that looks expensive but is designed to perform amazingly during transit.
Among Kenneth Cole’s diverse range of luggage, the Renegade 20-inch carry-on is one of the popular products. It is considered the best according to many pilots, crews, and regular travelers. In this Kenneth Cole Reaction Renegade Review, you get to know what makes the suitcase popular.
Kenneth Cole Reaction Renegade, at a glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Several zippered pockets along with elastic shoe pockets | The carry-on comes with an inferior-quality handle |
| Retractable trolley handle with an ergonomic design | Doesn’t feature a TSA-approved lock mechanism |
| A garment restraint panel that holds clothes in the right place | Might fall within international carry-on airline restrictions |
| The coil zippers are self-repairing and they glide without effort around the bag | |
| Molded reinforcements on four corners provide impact-resistant abilities while protecting the luggage from wear and tear | |
| Multi-directional 8-wheel spinners |
Kenneth Cole Reaction Renegade Review
Many travelers want to carry a stylish suitcase that functions great as well. Kenneth Cole is a popular luggage brand that produces impressive carry-on suitcases intended for travelers who are looking to buy one for under $130. Although Kenneth Cole has a variety of carry-ons, the Reaction Renegade 20-inch is the most preferable option for many people.
Being part of a highly sought-after Kenneth Cole Collection, the Renegade carry-on is made of durable and strong ABS material. As such, it keeps the suitcase lightweight while making it easy to maneuver. Available in different color schemes, the Renegade luggage is the perfect accessory for people who seek stylish and affordable carry-ons.
This 20-inch carry-on luggage rolls smoothly and effortlessly because of the multi-directional wheels. With handles located at the bottom, side, and top, this suitcase gives you comfort when you need to put the suitcase either in the overhead compartment or under the seating area.
In addition, the fully-lined interior is well-designed and has adequate space including several inner pockets to keep your belongings safe. The garment restraint panel keeps your clothes wrinkle-free and neatly organized. Also, the suitcase comes with two elastic shoe pockets so that the shoes don’t get mixed with your clothing.
You can even expand the capacity of the suitcase to up to 2 inches. It helps you to maximize your belongings for longer trips. The four molded corner guards protect the carry-on from the usual knocks and bumps experienced during air travel. The coil zippers are self-repairing and keep your clothes safe.
However, the Renegade lacks additional features that you can find in luggage bags with a slightly high place. The carry-on doesn’t come with a TSA-approved lock. Moreover, it isn’t durable enough for people who travel frequently because it is made with ABS plastic. In a nutshell, the Renegade 20-inch carry-on is a great bag for both international and domestic travel.
Ease of use
When it comes to ease of use, the Renegade carry-on luggage gives you the right comfort. This carry-on luggage comes with eight spinner wheels that allow the luggage to move effortlessly in all directions. This luggage rolls smoothly on almost every surface. Moreover, the telescopic handles retract and expand well making the movements of the luggage even more subtle.
In short, you don’t have issues when moving this luggage even if it is packed to its limits. When you move it on rough surfaces, the luggage won’t go smoothly. In that case, you have to pick the carry-on with any one of the handles that you see at the bottom, side, and top.
The side and top handles are standard in almost every good-quality suitcase. But the bottom handle that you can find in the Renegade gives you the opportunity for extra maneuvering. For example, it makes it easy for you to lift the luggage and put it in the overhead compartment.
When it comes to zippers, Renegade provides the ultimate smoothness that you can’t find elsewhere. It feels like the zippers are gliding through butter. The best part is that the zips work smoothly even if the bag is overstuffed or empty. Another interesting feature of Renegade comes in the form of exterior pockets.
These are great for carrying small items such as pens or passports. There is no reason why you won’t enjoy using the bag’s exterior. Furthermore, these pockets give you convenient storage options for quick access whenever you need them.
Versatility
Regarding versatility, the Renegade is equipped with many intuitive features. The external pockets maintain a professional look without compromising the functionalities. The classic look of the carry-on luggage bag work wonders for any family vacation or business trip. You can even carry your suit along with other garments without worries.
The zippers in the exterior help you organize small items with ease. Made from a durable ABS exterior, the Renegade carry-on luggage offers you more space for packing your belongings. Also, it makes your stuff free from moisture, dirt, and abrasion. Besides, if you encounter rain, you don’t have to worry about the luggage bag.
There is no denying that Renegade lacks a padded laptop compartment and TSA-approved lock. But it comes with many organization pockets that you don’t find in other suitcases at this price point. If you are someone who carries a lot of small bags to organize different types of items in the suitcase, Kenneth Cole Renegade is for you.
Other than the clothing compression panel that can be adjusted, this carry-on comes with a dedicated shoe compartment, a zippered pocket, and two mesh pockets. The vertical zippered pockets come in perfect lengths to store grooming items easily. Additionally, one of the mesh pockets comes with a Velcro closure.
As such, it makes for an amazing space to store small electronics like chargers, etc. But the horizontal mesh pockets don’t come with a closure mechanism. Still, they are great for organizing your socks, handkerchief, and underwear. If you need more space, you can expand the bag by two inches. That way, it provides the right amount of space needed for a couple of extra shirts or trousers.
Storage
The inner part of the bag comes with a simplistic design that can accommodate plenty of items. Regarding storage, Renegade comes with organized compartments. And it is something that you don’t see in other brands at a similar price tag. The luggage includes two spacious lined compartments for organized, double-sided packing.
The interior main compartment in the bag features a big mesh zipper pocket, a large zipper organizer, two elastic shoe pockets, and a second mesh zipper pocket. The front lid features a big U-shaped zipped pocket that allows for two-sided packing. They have enough space to keep small items in the right place.
You can separate certain types of small clothing such as undergarments or even swim trunks from the others and keep them organized in one place. The main compartment appears more or less like a box-shaped structure. What’s interesting is that you don’t have to see the telescopic handle like you find inside most luggage bags.
As a result, it gives you more space in the interiors. Because the telescopic handle is outside, you can pack many things with ease the way you want. Another remarkable aspect of the luggage bag is the compression system. It makes Kenneth Cole stand out from the rest in terms of the mechanism that it provides.
Instead of regular straps that you find in almost every luggage bag, the Renegade comes with garment restraint straps that keep your clothes compressed in their place. Because of the feature, it allows you extra space inside the main compartment. Precisely, it can provide you with a few more inches to pack items with ease.
With this mechanism, you can pack your items right to the top without discomfort because of the straps. And, the clothes would be free of wrinkles thanks to the compression system. Still, if you want more space, Kenneth Cole Renegade has a trick up its sleeve.
This luggage bag can expand up to 2 inches from the exterior. Even after taking complete advantage of the garment restraint straps, the additional carrying capacity that the luggage provides is awesome. As it appears, the company worked hard to increase the storage and they did it in great style.
Durability
To begin with, Kenneth Cole Renegade is made with ABS plastic material. Although the material makes the luggage bag much light, the bag becomes more prone to being shattered. Kenneth Cole makes their suitcases from a reliable variant of ABS that’s shock-resistant and flexible.
When manufacturers make such type of claims, it is hard to believe. But the occurrence of such events and complaints from customers surrounding ABS shell breaking are rare. Therefore, the claims from the company seem a bit true. While the company didn’t mention that the luggage is water-resistant, it is assumed that the suitcase can be water-resistant because it is made of plastic.
But it would be unwise to rely on it fully. Maybe, it can hold a little bit of drizzle, but expecting your clothes to stay dry when the luggage experiences heavy rain is not smart thinking. The Kenneth Cole Renegade comes with reinforced corners that keep the suitcase in great shape.
The Renegade luggage can even withstand drops that other suitcases can’t and have every possibility of getting broken. Now, that’s an interesting feature that is hard to find in most suitcases at a similar price point. Hence, you can say that Renegade is more durable compared to the others in its class.
Of course, some people have complained about the durability of Renegade in terms of the performance of the wheels. From the online reviews, it was found out that some people complained that the wheels broke off after certain accidents. But that could be an issue with quality control and not with the luggage itself.
Value for money
Kenneth Cole Renegade comes with a warranty of 10 years. However, the warranty is too narrow and limited to a few coverages. Typically, it covers manufacturing damage. It means that if you notice underperformed zippers, loose stitching, or other issues caused during the manufacturing process, the company will pride you on a replacement or repair.
But the warranty doesn’t cover damages caused during air travel or wear and tear. Additionally, the shipping costs of the repairs aren’t covered either. So, you have to pay for the shipping charges if you want to send the product to the company for repair.
Therefore, the Renegade 20-inch carry-on won’t receive any award when it comes to durability. But it is a fabulous suitcase at this price point. Undoubtedly, nothing can be compared with the Renegade which comes equipped with many pockets, handles, and color options. Plus, when you make a thorough evaluation of the luggage, you can find that the problems aren’t that big.
Only a handful of customers have complained about the wheel being broken due to mishandling or being unhappy with the company’s warranty policies. The only thing that can bother you is that the luggage dimensions are slightly higher than the carry-on restrictions by international airlines.
Wrapping Up
Overall, the Kenneth Cole Renegade 20-inch carry-on is an extremely amazing luggage that you can buy. It is extremely durable and includes essential features. It has several organization options. The wheels and handles make your trip smooth. It is certainly worth your money.
Although it doesn’t have a TSA-approved lock mechanism or rubber wheels, you can enjoy many features that are unavailable in most suitcases at this price point. With proper care, it can serve you for many years. Lastly, the Kenneth Cole Renegade 20-inch carry-on is a great suitcase for people with a strict budget.
