Why Does the Navigator Suitcase Shell Have a 10-Year Warranty?

Because the Navigator shell is made of 100% polypropylene, a flexible material that absorbs an impact and springs back instead of cracking. That's why we give it a 10-year warranty: the frame, the hard shell, cracks and structural breaks. The wheels, handles, telescopic handle mechanism and zipper pulls are covered for 12 months, like the rest of our suitcases.

What is covered for 10 years and what for 12 months?

The Navigator warranty is split into two parts, based on what each part goes through in use:

This applies to every Navigator model: 20, 24, 28 and 32 inches, and also to the sets of two, three and four suitcases. The wheels, handles and zippers are the parts that work hardest on every trip, so they are covered for a year. After that year they can be repaired in our lab, based on a quote from a photo.

Why polypropylene?

Hard-shell suitcases are usually made of one of three materials: ABS, polycarbonate or polypropylene. You feel the difference exactly when the suitcase falls off the conveyor belt or gets squeezed in the hold:

• ABS tends to crack from a hard knock.
• Polycarbonate is strong, but heavier.
• Polypropylene absorbs the impact and springs back, without eating kilograms out of your baggage allowance. A 20-inch Navigator weighs 2.5 kg.

A shell that flexes and springs back is a shell that doesn't crack easily. Instead of asking you to take our word for it, we put a ten-year warranty on it. If you'd like to know what else we check in a suitcase before it goes on the shelf, we have a guide to spotting a quality suitcase.

What doesn't the warranty cover?

The warranty covers manufacturing defects and structural breaks, not everything that happens to a suitcase along the way. Not covered:

• Cosmetic damage: scratches, small dents, scuffs and stains.
• Normal wear and tear and unreasonable use.
• Damage caused by a third party: an airline, a hotel or a shipping company.

A suitcase damaged on a flight is the airline's responsibility. The most important thing is a damage report (PIR), which you fill out at the lost and found desk or the airline's desk before you leave the terminal. With a valid report on a Camel Mountain suitcase from a company we work with, you get a new suitcase from us at no extra cost. All the details are in our guide does the warranty cover suitcase damage on a flight.

When do the 10 years start?

The warranty starts on the purchase date shown on the invoice. For products we ship, including orders from stores we ship for, it starts on the actual shipping date. Keep the invoice: for an order from our website, it is also saved in your account.

How do you make a warranty claim?

1. Fill out the warranty claim form on the site, with photos of the problem and your order details.
2. We review your request and get back to you with the way forward for a repair or a replacement.

A repair in the lab takes up to 20 business days. We wrote about the most common faults we see, and how to prevent them, in the 5 faults that reach our lab most often.

What else Navigator has, besides the shell

A long warranty on the shell is only worth something if the rest of the suitcase is built for travel. These are the parts you'll meet on every flight:

• Silicone-coated double spinner wheels: they turn 360 degrees and glide quietly, even when the suitcase is fully loaded.
• Telescopic handle: locks at several heights at the press of a button.
• Built-in combination lock: locks the zippers with a code, with no tiny key to lose.
• Expansion zipper: extra volume for the way home, when you bought more than you planned.
• Reinforced corner and side guards: they absorb the knocks of the conveyor belt.
• An organized interior: cross straps on one side keep clothes folded, and a zippered mesh compartment on the other side separates cables and laundry.

There are eight colors, from Onyx Black and Graphite Gray to Eucalyptus Green, Powder Pink and Pomegranate Red.

How to look after the suitcase over the years

• Cleaning: wipe with a damp cloth, without solvents. Harsh cleaners damage the look of the shell.
• Wheels: after a flight, check that no hair or threads have wrapped around the axles, and clean them before they make the wheels hard to turn.
• Zipper: don't force an overstuffed suitcase closed. If you need more room, open the expansion zipper.
• Storage: keep the suitcase in a dry place, with nothing heavy on top of it.

Which Navigator size is right for you?

All dimensions include the wheels, and every size expands with a zipper. Note that the total dimensions of the 32-inch exceed the 158 cm many airlines set for a standard suitcase, so with those airlines you may pay an oversize fee. For a clear choice by trip length, there is a guide to every suitcase size, and you'll find all the models of this type in hard-shell suitcases.