Olympia Fashion Rolling Shopper Tote Review

Olympia is mainly known for its colorful luggage sets and variety of luggage items. However, one of its bags that stands out is its rolling tote (codenamed Fashionista); it’s very elegant and versatile while still being somewhat affordable.

In this Olympia fashion rolling shopper tote review, we’ll look at everything this bag has to offer, from its durability to its warranty, while also checking out where it lacks compared to similarly-priced luggage from Rockland and Pacific Coast Signature.

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The Good

• Lightweight
• Looks Great
• Fits Carry-On Restrictions

The Bad

• The retractable handle doesn’t function properly
• Not water-resistant
• Not the greatest warranty
• It’s not a good value for your money
• Could have more features

Quick Take

The Olympia Fashion rolling shopper tote will pass the carry-on restriction on every airline and is very lightweight while also looking elegant. However, there are several issues with it, especially when it comes to its durability, its non-existent water resistance, and its lacking features. Also, its warranty is one of the worst ones we’ve reviewed so far.

Overall, the Olympia Fashionista rolling tote will be a good choice for leisure travelers, and it should last for a few trips if you take good care of it. Though, there are several better options, like the Pacific Coast Signature rolling and the tote Rockland rolling backpack.

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Full Review

Dimensions & Weight (9/10)

The Olympia Fashionista rolling tote measures 20 x 14 x 8 in (51 x 35.5 x 20 cm), which falls within the most common carry-on restrictions (22 x 14 x 9 inches). Unfortunately, the bag is too big to be used as a personal item for most airlines, especially if you fill it up. That said, we found some reviews mentioning that as long as you leave some space inside the tote, you should be able to squeeze it under the seat on domestic flights.

While we’re on the topic of filling up the bag, its internal packing space isn’t the best. Most owners use it for everyday tasks, like going to work or buying groceries, instead of storing their clothes. Still, the bag can fit enough clothes for a weekend trip or up to a week if you use packing cubes. However, you should keep in mind that if you fill it to the brim, it tends to topple over.

In terms of its weight, it’s amongst the lightest pieces of luggage out there. It weighs a mere 4.20 lbs (1.90 kg), making it more lightweight than the average polyester underseat bag weight (5.42 lbs), and much lighter than the average polyester carry-on weight (6.55 lbs). So, you should have no issue using this bag as a carry-on, even on European flights, where the weight restrictions are pretty strict (15-22 lbs).

Materials & Water-Resistance (7/15)

The Olympia rolling tote is made from polyester, which is widely used in affordable fabric luggage. Despite being the worst in terms of durability, it’s one of the most lightweight materials, which explains why this bag weighs so little. That said, it’d be much better if the tote was made from nylon, which is more durable; this would also mean that the bag would cost more, though.

Regarding its water resistance, the Olympia tote isn’t great. We found several complaints about water seeping through the seams, and the fabric itself, in light to moderate rain. In cases of heavy rain, your belongings will definitely get soaked, if not destroyed. It’s worth noting that some owners praised the bag’s water resistance, especially in light rain. So, just to be safe, you should avoid rolling it over any puddles and cover it up during a storm.

Durability (9/20)

While there’s no doubt that it’s affordable, and many customers had only good things to say about it, the complaints about its durability were plenty. As is usual with cheap bags, the zipper is below-par, especially when the bag is full. Some owners stated that when they tried to close the tote while it was half-full, the zipper would rip the fabric and get broken. What surprised us the most was that even people who loved the bag complained about the zippers.

However, that’s not the worst part. The retractable handle is one of the worst-reviewed ones we’ve seen. Apart from the occasional review mentioning it being broken, we found that the push-button was often not functional, meaning the handle wouldn’t stay extended. The wheels and the tote’s main compartment weren’t met with the best reviews either. The former will often break within the first year of use, while the latter had a few tears within the first trips.

Truth be told, numerous reviews mentioned no such issues concerning the Olympia rolling tote. Also, despite some extreme cases where the bag was destroyed in the first few months, it should last at least a year before durability issues arise. While this is far from ideal, the tote is somewhat of a bargain, so you shouldn’t expect it to last for many years.

Still, the Olympia Fashionista is one of the least durable bags we’ve reviewed so far.

Read Next: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Underseater Review

Moveability (9/15)

Even though durability isn’t their strong point, the tote comes with two inline plastic wheels. In most cases, a set of 4 double spinner wheels is the optimal wheel selection for maneuverability. However, a pair of skate wheels also has a few benefits, especially when visiting off-the-beaten-path locations. While they don’t roll as smoothly, they’ll not get stuck on dirt or gravel, as is the case with spinner wheels. Plus, if you use public transport throughout your trip, inline wheels won’t start rolling on their own.

On the contrary, spinner wheels are the best when you spend most of your trip on well-built roads and pavements. They also need minimal effort to push around, with brands like Travelpro having suitcases that roll on their own. That said, spinner wheels will also take up more space; in the case of the Olympia tote, this would have meant that it would barely pass the carry-on size restrictions.

The tote also comes with two straps, along with the retractable handle. While neither is very durable, it’s nice to see that Olympia featured the straps in case the handle breaks. There’s also a bottom handle for when you’ll be lifting the tote onto the overhead bin, which should make the process easier for those of you who have back problems (myself included).

Additional Features (4/10)

Totes usually don’t come with too many additional features, since they’re very small; the same is true for the Olympia fashion rolling tote. The bag has two pockets; the main compartment and a tiny external pocket. It also has a side pocket for your water bottle or an umbrella.

However, apart from that, no other feature stands out. To be fair, most rolling totes feature a rectangular shape rather than the classic tote design, which allows them to have extra pockets and packing options. That said, considering that this tote is meant to be used as a carry-on, we’d love to have seen a few pockets on the inside, or an extra handle, instead of the straps. A water-resistant coating would have also been great.

Read Next: American Tourister 4 Kix Underseater Review

Design (7/10)

Olympia’s luggage is colorful and full of patterns, and the Fashionista is no different. We find the bag’s design unique since it’s different from the rectangular rolling totes from big brands like Travelpro and Samsonite. Besides that, Olympia included patterns for business and leisure travelers on the Fashionista line.

Along with the Houndstooth and Damask Black, which feature a white pattern, there’s the all-black version for business travelers and the Lime Polka Dot one for those who get fancy with their luggage. We really liked this choice from Olympia, and this variety of designs and colors is definitely something big brands need to start implementing in their luggage lines.

Warranty (2/10)

The Olympia Fashion shopper tote comes with a 2-year limited warranty. Considering that similarly-priced brands like Rockland offer at least a 3-year or 5-year warranty, we were disappointed by what Olympia offers. However, we were much more disappointed once we read the warranty terms.

For starters, the brand itself doesn’t mention how long the warranty lasts since it’s different for every luggage piece. Olympia’s warranty only covers manufacturing defects; this doesn’t include any cosmetic damage, wear and tear, or accidental damage. You’ll also need proof of purchase (a receipt is enough) to file a warranty claim. In addition, you’re responsible for paying the shipping fees, which can cost up to $15 if you send the whole bag.

Value (5/10)

Despite being a good piece of luggage, the Olympia Fashionista isn’t the best value for your money. It might look beautiful, should hold up for at least a year of leisure traveling, and has several great reviews. However, we found many complaints about almost every part of it.

As you’ll see below, several bags from Olympia and other brands offer more than this tote while costing the same or less. Still, since many people praised this bag, there could be some value in getting it if you adore the design.

Read Next: Samsonite Underseat Spinner with USB Port Review

How Does the Olympia Fashion Rolling Shopper Tote Compare to Similar Suitcases?

The Fashionista is similar to two Olympia bags: the Olympia Under The Seat and the Olympia Deluxe Fashion Overnighter.

The Fashionista is the most lightweight of the three and has the most internal packing space. All three bags are usually used as carry-ons, despite the Under The Seat and the Overnighter being advertised as underseat bags. Still, you could use them as personal items on airlines with lenient restrictions, like American Airlines. The bags also have the same wheels, come with a similar telescoping handle, and are made from polyester.

However, despite costing the same, the Under The Seat and Deluxe Fashion Overnighter are much more well-reviewed than the Fashionista and are more durable. That said, the two Olympia underseat bags are similar in terms of features and packing options. If you had to choose one of the three bags, we’d suggest you go for the Overnighter if you’re a leisure traveler or the Under The Seat if you’re a business traveler.

Two rolling bags that stood out as alternatives for the Olympia fashion rolling tote are the Rockland rolling backpack and the Pacific Coast Signature rolling tote.

Both bags cost less than the Olympia bag, despite being better-reviewed, having more design patterns, and weighing less. The Rockland bag weighs the least of the three, with the Pacific Coast Signature tote following closely behind. In terms of packing options, the backpack from Rockland has the most pockets, while the two totes are almost identical. Also, despite the Pacific Coast Signature and Olympia bags having single inline wheels, the Rockland one has double wheels, which are better in terms of maneuverability.

Overall, there are several better alternatives to the Olympia fashion rolling tote, with the Rockland rolling backpack standing out as the best one.

Our Verdict

The Olympia fashion rolling shopper tote isn’t the best one out there. Even though it looks great, it’s not very durable. That said, if you’re traveling 1-2 times a year, it should last for several trips, but you’ll need to take care of it. At its price point, you can find bags from other brands, like Rockland or Pacific Coast Signature, which are better.

All in all, if you don’t travel too often, the Olympia tote is an okay choice – it’s far from being the worst one. But if you’re planning on traveling somewhat regularly, you should opt for something more durable.

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