Our premium collections are built to a higher material and engineering specification. Where standard luggage uses ABS plastic shells, the Rodeo Drive 2.0 is constructed from Makrolon® polycarbonate — the same material used in aircraft windows and bulletproof glass — which is lighter, more impact-resistant, and far more resilient than ABS. The Montecito 2.0 is built from 100% polycarbonate, delivering the same structural advantages of rigidity and impact resistance without the flex or brittleness of ABS.

At the feature level, these collections include extras you won't find on entry-level bags: FastAccess™ front-panel pockets for instant access to travel documents, USB charging ports built into the shell, and integrated TSA-approved combination locks rather than a separate padlock slot.

The Montecito 3.0 is our premium softside answer, made from a polyester and rPET blend — incorporating recycled material without any sacrifice in structure or finish.

Think of it in two axes: hardside vs. softside, and feature set.

• Rodeo Drive 2.0 — Our flagship hardside. Makrolon® polycarbonate shell, USB charging port, and the widest colour range. Best if you want maximum protection and a bold aesthetic statement.
• Montecito 2.0 — Hardside with every premium feature including FastAccess™ front panel and USB. The practical traveller's choice: a tool built for frequent flyers who value quick access over pure style.
• Montecito 3.0 — Our premium softside. rPET recycled fabric, TSA lock, and an integrated removable toiletry bag. Choose this if you prefer a bag that compresses slightly to fit tighter overhead bins or car boots.
• Brentwood — A hardside with FastAccess™ and a built-in Viewing Stand that lets you work from your open bag. The business traveller's collection.

If you're still unsure, our Luggage Guide walks through every scenario in detail.

Hardside (Rodeo Drive 2.0, Montecito 2.0, Brentwood): better protection for fragile items, easier to wipe clean, cannot be overpacked, and tends to roll more smoothly on four spinner wheels. The rigid shell means dents from rough handling are possible but the polycarbonate used here is significantly more flex-resistant than standard ABS.

Softside (Montecito 3.0): slightly compressible, which helps in tight overhead bins. Exterior pockets give quick access to items you want mid-flight. Generally lighter by a few hundred grams at equivalent volumes. The rPET fabric on the Montecito 3.0 is water-resistant rather than waterproof, so avoid standing it in standing water.

Neither is objectively better — the right choice depends entirely on what you're packing and how you travel.

The Montecito 3.0 shell fabric is a polyester and rPET blend. rPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate — material sourced from post-consumer plastic bottles and reprocessed into yarn. The fabric incorporates a meaningful proportion of this recycled content alongside virgin polyester.

Makrolon® is Covestro's branded polycarbonate resin — a thermoplastic used across aerospace, medical, and safety industries because of its exceptional impact resistance-to-weight ratio. It's roughly 250 times more impact-resistant than glass at a fraction of the weight.

In luggage terms this translates to: shells that flex on impact rather than cracking, a significantly lighter bag than equivalent ABS, and colours that are more stable and resistant to UV fading over time. Most luggage marketed as "polycarbonate" uses a blend; the Rodeo Drive 2.0 use 100% Makrolon® polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate is more scratch-prone than ABS due to its surface hardness profile — a trade-off for dramatically better impact resistance. Light surface marks are normal with regular travel use. The textured shell finish on Rodeo Drive 2.0 and Montecito 2.0 is specifically designed to diffuse surface scratches visually, so individual scuffs are far less visible than on a smooth-finish bag.

Deep gouges from rough handling are rare in our experience, and minor scratches can often be buffed with a soft cloth and a small amount of car polish. We recommend avoiding abrasive cleaners.

All premium collection bags roll on four dual-spinner wheels with oversized rolling surfaces for smooth multi-directional movement. The wheel housing is recessed to reduce snag risk. On our hardside bags the wheels are mounted to reinforced base brackets rated for consistent heavy loads.

The telescoping handle uses an aluminium alloy tube system with push-button extension at multiple height positions, designed to lock securely at each setting without play. The handle is covered by the 10-year warranty alongside the rest of the bag.

FastAccess™ is Ricardo Beverly Hills' front-opening panel system — a full-width exterior pocket accessed by a single zip that opens without laying the bag flat or opening the main compartment. It's designed for boarding passes, travel documents, a laptop, or anything you need in the first thirty seconds at a gate or hotel check-in.

FastAccess™ is available on select variants within the Montecito 2.0 and Brentwood collections. It's not available on the Rodeo Drive 2.0 or Montecito 3.0. When browsing, look for "FastAccess" in the product name, or use the FastAccess™ filter in the filter panel above.

The USB port is a pass-through system — the bag does not contain a battery. There is an interior cable routed through the shell to an exterior USB-A port. You place your own power bank inside the bag, connect it to the interior cable end, and charge your devices from the exterior port without opening the bag.

This design means no battery restrictions apply when checking the bag, as the bag itself contains no power source. A power bank is not included; any standard USB power bank works. The USB port is available on Rodeo Drive 2.0 and Montecito 2.0 hardside bags.

All premium collection hardside and Montecito 3.0 bags include an integrated Travel Sentry®-approved combination lock. You set your own 3-digit combination using the reset button. TSA agents and approved security personnel carry master keys that can open Travel Sentry®-compatible locks without cutting the zipper — this is what "TSA-approved" means.

The lock secures the main zipper pulls together. It does not lock exterior pockets. If you forget your combination, contact our customer service team — we can advise on a reset procedure, though this typically requires the bag to be sent in.

The expansion gusset adds approximately 1.5 to 2 inches of depth to the main compartment — typically an additional 15–25% of packing volume depending on the bag size. On a medium check-in this can meaningfully increase capacity for the return journey when you're carrying more than you packed.

Note that expanding a carry-on may take the bag outside airline size limits, depending on the airline. We recommend using the expansion only on checked bags, or verifying dimensions with your airline before boarding. When expanded, the bag's stated dimensions no longer apply.

A straightforward rule of thumb by trip length:

• Carry-On (21–22") — Weekend to 5 days. Fits in most airline overhead bins and avoids bag check entirely. Best for business travel and short leisure trips.
• Medium Check-In (25–26") — 5 to 10 days. The most versatile checked size for a week-long holiday or an extended business trip where you need room for shoes and layers.
• Large Check-In (29–30") — 10 days or more, or any trip where you're packing for multiple climates, formal events, or bringing back purchases.

For detailed dimensions, weight, and volume figures on each specific bag, see the Size & Weight Guide.

Our carry-on bags are designed to comply with the standard carry-on allowance used by most major North American and European airlines (typically 22 × 14 × 9 inches including wheels and handle). However, allowances vary by airline, fare class, and aircraft type — and rules are enforced inconsistently.

We maintain an Airline Carry-On Compliance Checker where you can verify your specific bag against your airline's stated limits. If you travel frequently on budget carriers or regional jets, we particularly recommend checking before you fly — overhead bin space on smaller aircraft is more restricted.

Do not expand the expandable carry-on before boarding. Expanded dimensions may exceed overhead bin limits.

Polycarbonate's advantage over ABS is a meaningfully lighter bag at equivalent strength. A medium check-in in the Rodeo Drive 2.0 or Montecito 2.0 typically weighs 7–8 lbs (3.2–3.6 kg) unladen, leaving a comfortable margin within the standard 50 lb (23 kg) airline allowance.

The Montecito 3.0 softside is lighter still at equivalent volume. Exact weights for each bag are listed on individual product pages. If you're concerned about bag weight, our Size & Weight Guide lists unladen weights across all sizes and collections.

Our 10-year limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship — meaning manufacturing faults, component failures (zippers, wheels, handles, locks) under normal travel use, and structural defects in the shell or frame.

It does not cover damage caused by airline mishandling, overpacking, use beyond reasonable travel purposes, cosmetic wear (surface scratches, colour variation), or accidental damage. Proof of purchase is required for all warranty claims.

To start a claim, contact us at ricardobeverlyhills.com/pages/warranty. Most warranty issues are resolved with a replacement part or a full bag replacement at our discretion.

Airline damage is the airline's liability, not ours — and acting quickly is critical. Before leaving the airport, report the damage at the airline's baggage claim desk and get a written Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Most airlines will not accept damage claims filed after you've left the terminal.

Photograph the damage before and immediately after travel if possible. Once you have a PIR number, file a claim directly with the airline — they are legally required to handle this under Montreal Convention rules. Keep your Ricardo Beverly Hills purchase receipt, as airlines may request it to value the claim.

Our warranty does not cover airline damage, but our customer service team can help you document the damage and advise on replacement parts where the airline claim falls short.

Hardside shells (Rodeo Drive 2.0, Montecito 2.0, Brentwood): Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid abrasive cleaners, solvents, or bleach — these can cloud the shell surface. Dry thoroughly before storage. A light application of car polish can reduce the appearance of minor surface scratches.

Softside fabric (Montecito 3.0): Spot clean with mild detergent and cold water. Do not machine wash. The rPET fabric is water-resistant; avoid prolonged exposure to heavy rain or standing water. Air dry completely before storing.

Wheels: Remove hair, thread, and debris from the wheel axles periodically — this is the most common cause of rolling resistance. A toothpick or fine scissors work well. A small drop of light oil on the axle keeps wheels spinning freely.

Storage: Store bags upright in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For long-term storage, a dust bag helps maintain the finish.

We offer free standard shipping on orders over $175 to addresses in the contiguous United States. All premium collection bags are above this threshold, so standard shipping is included on every single-bag order.

Currently, we only ship to the contiguous United States. We do not ship to international addresses, PO boxes, APO/ FPO military addresses, Hawaii and Alaska.

We accept returns within 30 days of delivery on items in original, unused condition with all original packaging. Returns are free — we provide a prepaid return label.

Bags that have been used for travel are not eligible for return unless there is a manufacturing defect, in which case the warranty process applies. "Unused" means the bag has not been checked onto a flight, filled for a trip, or had its tags removed for use.

To start a return, visit our returns portal or contact customer service. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5–10 business days of receiving the returned item.

Yes. Every size in every premium collection is available to purchase individually — carry-on, medium check-in, and large check-in are each sold as standalone products. The 2-piece and 3-piece sets bundle sizes together at a discount compared to buying each piece separately.

If you already own a carry-on from a premium collection and want to add a checked bag later, buying the checked size individually is the straightforward route. All pieces within a collection match in colour, material, and finish.