The Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller Bag Review by Lifelong Skier

Traveling with your own equipment is a no-brainer for an avid skier. Who wants to waste time and money at the rental shop just to flail down the mountain on subpar skis? Still, as a New Yorker, using my own equipment once made my inconvenient-at-best love for skiing even more daunting. From storing gear in minuscule apartments to schlepping it downstairs and hundreds of miles to the mountains, it takes a certain kind of chutzpah to stay active in the sport while living in the city that never sleeps. However, since I got Thule’s RoundTrip roller ski bag just over two years ago, being an urban skier has been practically effortless.

This best-selling ski bag keeps my gear safe through the toughest baggage handling, is easy to maneuver around crowded airports, and allows me to head straight to the lifts when I make it to the mountain. It checks all the essential boxes for a great ski bag, but it’s the thoughtful extra details that truly make this an all-star buy.

How Protective Is This Bag?

First and foremost, the Thule RoundTrip protects my skis. My 175-centimeter-long bag has two sets of hardy straps for securing two pairs of skis. They compress down tight to ensure my equipment stays put in transit, no matter how rough things get on the way to baggage claim. It comes with a removable ski divider that I use as an extra cushion around my bindings since I travel solo, plus two tip pads with laundry bags to keep my sweaty garments separated on the way home.

Since the bag is so incredibly spacious (more on that below) I bolster the hardy 360-degree padding with clothing and other soft items to keep my skis extra safe. When I first got the RoundTrip, I watched in horror as it sat on the tarmac in a rainstorm, knowing I’d be in for a soggy ski trip if any leaks got to the base layers and sweatshirts inside. Since everything arrived bone-dry, I’ve left my packed bag sitting in the snow without a worry. And, after two seasons worth of rocky road trips and cross-country flights, my roller looks practically as good as new, and my skis arrive in pristine condition every time.

How Easy Is This Bag to Maneuver?

Dragging skis through a crowded NYC airport isn’t anyone’s favorite pastime, but the brilliant handle designs and tough-as-nails wheels on the RoundTrip make it as painless as possible. I’ve rolled this thing through slush, gravel, ice, and everything in between, and the maneuverability has proved rock-solid through it all.

I grasp it by the front handle or by one of the two generously padded middle straps, depending on how my packing has affected weight distribution. To me, the middle straps are standouts for both their thick padding that prevents hand strain and sturdy compression to help the bag’s contents stay put. I always carry my (inevitably densely packed) ski bag down my apartment building’s stairs, so a comfortable grasp is essential. At 5 feet, 2 inches tall, I’m much shorter than this bag, so the ease of portability has been quite commendable on Thule’s part.

What Is This Bag’s Capacity Like?

Apart from the standout durability and maneuverability, my favorite feature of all is the bag’s S-shaped double zipper.

For a chronic overpacker and procrastinator like me, pre-airport mornings usually involve stuffing extra sweaters wherever I can find the space and seeing if I can squeeze in just one more pair of shoes to round out the après wardrobe. And, as much as it shames me to admit it, I’ve found myself at the airline check-in desk hastily moving things from my checked bags to carry-ons to make a weight limit a time or two (that is before I finally invested in a luggage scale, which is easy and essential to use with the RoundTrip, by the way). The shape of the zipper means I don’t have to open the whole bag to rearrange or retrieve items from any given spot, and I can make sure every inch of my packing space is put to use. It saves me the hassle of keeping my Lyft to the airport waiting or showing the entire check-in line just how many pairs of booties I’m bringing to Vail. 

Speaking of, when it comes to capacity, this bag is an overpacker’s dream. I fit all my checked belongings for trips between this and my matching boot bag (FYI for the uninitiated, most major airlines count one ski bag plus a boot bag as one checked bag).

Winter trips can be doozies to begin with thanks to all the bulky clothes and outerwear, and testing ski products adds pounds of belongings to my packing list. I once fit five winter jackets (a mix of shells, insulated jackets, and peacoats) plus my skis in the RoundTrip, with plenty of room left over. It’s deep enough to handle oddly shaped items — I’ve packed my helmet, Moon Boots, and Calpack Cosmetics Case a number of times. There’s a pocket for poles, plus, for a little extra organization, a zipped mesh pocket that’s also a great place to throw an AirTag. 

Is It Worth It?

While I’ve been singing this bag’s praises for just over two years now, someone else in my family has been trusting it with his equipment even longer. “Without a doubt, it’s the best ski bag I’ve ever owned,” says my dad, Bill Price, who’s been skiing for over 50 years and flying with his gear for 35 of those.

“It’s of an elevated quality. Compared to other bags I’ve used, it’s akin to the difference between shaped and straight skis.” He’s used it to transport two sets of skis at once and advises that there was plenty of room left for additional clothes. After just over five years of using the RoundTrip, he won’t trust anything else with his precious powder skis or favorite pair of carvers.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L senior editor Lydia Price tests and reviews the latest and greatest in travel gear, apparel, and products. She grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and learned to ski when she was about 4 years old. So far, her favorite ski trips have been to Whitewater, British Columbia, and Kiroro, Hokkaido, but skiing the East will always have a special place in her heart. You can keep up with her travels and latest product recommendations on T+L’s social platforms. 

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