Carry-On21.6 x 14.2 x 9.0 in
- Metric
- 55 x 36 x 23 cm
- Weight
- 7.28 lb
- Packing
- 39.2 L
- Maximum
- 45.5 L
- Trip
- 3 to 4 days
Paravel Aviator
The Paravel Aviator is a hardside spinner suitcase sold in four sizes: the Carry-On, Carry-On Plus, Grand and Trunk.
The Aviator first launched in 2019 and became Paravel's best-known piece. When ATR Group relaunched the brand on October 8, 2026, the Aviator came back redesigned: a ribbed shell textured like yacht decking, 70% recycled polycarbonate, replaceable Hinomoto wheels and a 10-year warranty. This guide compares all four sizes and both generations.
Which Paravel Aviator Size Do I Need?
Paravel describes each Aviator size by the length of trip it suits. Pick how long you usually travel to see the size it points to and what to watch for.
Aviator Carry-On
21.6 x 14.2 x 9.0 in, 7.28 lb, 39.2 L
Paravel pitches the Carry-On at a long weekend or a quick work trip, about three to four days of clothing. It is the safest cabin choice: within American, Delta and United's 22 inch height and 9 inch depth, and 0.2 inch over their 14 inch width on paper.
Carry-On dimensions and airline fit
Aviator Carry-On Plus
22.4 x 15.0 x 9.8 in, 7.72 lb, 47 L
Paravel says the Plus packs for roughly four to five days, for trips that run a day or two longer. You gain 7.8 liters over the Carry-On for less than half a pound, but the bag is over a 22 x 14 x 9 limit on every side. It suits Southwest, Frontier and long-haul cabins better than regional jets.
Compare it with the Carry-On
Aviator Grand
27.9 x 19.3 x 11.6 in, 11.02 lb, 87.5 L
The Grand is the mid-size checked case, which Paravel pitches at a week-long trip or an extended stay. Empty, it weighs 11 pounds, which leaves about 39 pounds before most US airlines' 50 pound checked-bag limit.
Grand specifications
Aviator Trunk
30.7 x 16.3 x 14.2 in, 12.13 lb, 99.8 L
The Trunk is the tallest and deepest Aviator, which Paravel pitches at multi-stop trips, sabbaticals and long stays abroad. Its deeper box packs boots and coats more easily than the wider, flatter Grand.
Trunk specificationsParavel Aviator Sizes Compared
All four share the same shell, wheels, handle, lock and interior. Only the box changes.
Carry-On Plus22.4 x 15.0 x 9.8 in
- Metric
- 57 x 38 x 25 cm
- Weight
- 7.72 lb
- Packing
- 47 L
- Maximum
- 54.2 L
- Trip
- 4 to 5 days
Grand27.9 x 19.3 x 11.6 in
- Metric
- 71 x 49 x 29.5 cm
- Weight
- 11.02 lb
- Packing
- 87.5 L
- Maximum
- 102.6 L
- Trip
- 1 to 2 weeks
Trunk30.7 x 16.3 x 14.2 in
- Metric
- 78 x 41.5 x 36 cm
- Weight
- 12.13 lb
- Packing
- 99.8 L
- Maximum
- 116.5 L
- Trip
- Several weeks
Dimensions, weights and volumes from Paravel's product pages, where packing space is the usable volume and maximum is the full shell; trip lengths paraphrase each product page. Sizes are height x width x depth.
How the New Aviator Is Built
The 2026 Aviator keeps the vintage look and changes almost everything underneath. Each part below is listed in Paravel's specifications.
- Shell
- 70% recycled polycarbonate from certified post-consumer material, with a ribbed texture inspired by wooden yacht decking and a visible fleck that shows the recycled content.
- Corners
- Aluminum-reinforced, the points that take the hardest knocks on belts and curbs.
- Wheels
- Japanese-made Hinomoto Silent Glide 360 spinners, replaceable.
- Handle
- Telescopic, four height settings, designed to be swapped rather than scrapped.
- Lock
- TSA-approved three-digit combination lock, repairable.
- Zips
- YKK Natulon recycled zip tape with aluminum pulls.
- Interior
- Recycled striped lining, compression board, webbing straps with a Paravel clip and two pockets.
- Tests
- Paravel lists 40 performance tests, among them zippers pulled at 249 lb, wheels run 10 miles under 66 lb and drops after chilling to 10°F.
Original Aviator vs the 2026 Aviator
Every new size is lighter than the one it replaces, and Paravel now publishes liters for all four. The shapes moved slightly too, which matters if you are matching an older set.
| Size | Original (2019 to 2025) | New (October 2026) | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-On | 21.7 x 13.7 x 9 in, 8.2 lb | 21.6 x 14.2 x 9.0 in, 7.28 lb, 39.2 L | About half an inch wider, nearly a pound lighter |
| Carry-On Plus | 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 in, 8.5 lb, 46.6 L | 22.4 x 15.0 x 9.8 in, 7.72 lb, 47 L | Shorter and slightly wider, 0.8 lb lighter, same space |
| Grand | 28 x 18.25 x 11 in, 11.8 lb, 77 L | 27.9 x 19.3 x 11.6 in, 11.02 lb, 87.5 L | Wider and deeper, more packing space |
| Trunk | 31 x 16.67 x 13.88 in, 12.3 lb, 95 L | 30.7 x 16.3 x 14.2 in, 12.13 lb, 99.8 L | Slightly shorter, a little deeper, about 5 L more |
What carried over
The silhouette, the ribbed shell, the spinner format, the compression board and the striped interior all return. So does the four-size range: the original line began with carry-ons in 2019, added the Grand in November 2020 and the Trunk later, and the relaunch kept all four.
What is new
A published recycled share for the shell (70%), Hinomoto wheels from Japan, wheels, handle and lock designed for repair, 40 published performance tests and a digital product passport. The carbon-neutral shipping claim the original brand was known for is no longer marketed.
Original figures as Bloomingdale's, Crate & Barrel, FWRD and Room for Tuesday listed them; the AFAR launch article gave the original Grand as 28.1 x 19.7 x 11.7 in. New figures from paravel.com.
Aviator Sets and Nesting
Paravel sells the Aviator as matched sets in one color, and the carry-ons store inside the checked cases to save closet space.
The Aviator Set of 3
Carry-On, Grand and Trunk in one color. The set for someone who flies within 22 x 14 x 9 limits and checks a bag on longer trips.
The Aviator Plus Set of 3
Carry-On Plus, Grand and Trunk. More room in the cabin bag, for travelers whose airlines allow a larger carry-on. Paravel also lists two-piece sets, a carry-on with packing cubes and a five-piece set with the tote and a tag.
How they nest
Per Paravel, the Carry-On or the Carry-On Plus nests inside the Grand or the Trunk. Paravel does not say the Grand fits inside the Trunk, so plan on storing a three-piece set as two stacks.
Aviator TSA Lock Setup
The lock opens at 000 until you set your own code. Paravel's steps, in short:
- Turn the dials to 000 so the lock opens.
- Press the small button on the lock, marked in red in Paravel's guide.
- With the button pressed, dial your new three-digit code.
- Push the slider in the direction of the arrow to set it.
Test the code a few times at home and write it down somewhere safe. Paravel says it cannot open the lock for you, so a forgotten code means working through every combination from 000 to 999, which takes about 30 minutes.
Keeping the Shell Clean
Scuffs were the most common complaint from owners of the original Aviator, especially on lighter colors, and darker shells hid wear better. Most marks lift with a damp cloth or a melamine sponge; deep scratches stay.
Lighter shades photograph beautifully but show belt marks sooner. If the Aviator will be checked often, Bar Harbor Navy or Mystic Black is the practical pick; Nantucket Cream suits a carry-on that stays with you.
The Original Aviator
Original-generation Aviators still turn up on Amazon and resale sites. Check the listing's dimensions against the original sizes above, and expect no warranty from today's Paravel.
See Original Aviators on AmazonThe 2026 Aviator
Sold at paravel.com in Nantucket Cream, Newport Red, Bar Harbor Navy and Mystic Black, with free standard delivery on luggage to the contiguous US. When a size is out of stock, Paravel offers a waitlist.
Shop the Aviator at paravel.comParavel Aviator Questions
What sizes does the Paravel Aviator come in?
Four: Carry-On, Carry-On Plus, Grand and Trunk. The Carry-On and Plus are cabin bags; the Grand and Trunk are checked cases.
What is the Paravel Aviator made of?
The 2026 shell is 70% certified post-consumer recycled polycarbonate, with recycled trims, recycled YKK zip tape and a recycled polyester lining. Retailer listings for the original Aviator gave its shell as polycarbonate, with recycled plastic in the lining.
Does the Paravel Aviator expand?
Paravel does not list an expansion zip on the 2026 Aviator, and reviewers noted the original did not expand. Space comes from the compression board inside instead.
Can you replace the wheels on a Paravel Aviator?
On the 2026 Aviator, yes: Paravel says the Hinomoto wheels, handle and lock are designed for repair, so a worn part can be swapped instead of the whole case. For an original Aviator, an independent luggage repair shop is the usual route.
Where is the Paravel Aviator made?
Paravel does not name the factory for the 2026 Aviator. It says the supply chain is fully traceable and that each case carries a digital product passport with its origin. One retailer, FWRD, listed an original Aviator Trunk as made in Taiwan.
What was the Aviator100?
A limited original-era edition whose shell was 100% recycled polycarbonate from post-consumer water-cooler jugs, in a Glacial Blue that varied by batch. It is not part of the 2026 range.
Which Aviator color hides scuffs best?
Darker shells. Owners of the original line found lighter colors marked sooner. Mystic Black and Bar Harbor Navy are the practical choices for checked bags.
Is the Aviator Grand a checked bag?
Yes. At 27.9 x 19.3 x 11.6 inches it is Paravel's mid-size checked case, for a week or two away.