Shopping Value Report.
Travel Gear, Priced per Trip — every product bought at retail price and tested in real life. No sponsored verdicts, no recycled spec sheets.
How It All Started
In 2022 our founder Sabrina paid a checked-bag fee four times on one round trip because her carry-on was half an inch over the airline’s sizer. The bag was advertised as “carry-on size.”
Shopping Value Report reviews travel gear by gate — carry-on, checked, backpack, and extras — buying every product at retail price and flying with it before scoring cost per trip.
Today we’re a small team in Seattle with more than 30 travel products tested and one rule: a bag that costs extra at the gate is not a good value, no matter what it cost online.
What We Stand For
Four promises we’ve kept since day one.
Bought, Not Borrowed
Every product is purchased at retail price with our own money. Review units from brands are declined or clearly marked.
Tested in Real Life
Installed, used, worn, and broken. If it can’t survive real daily use, it doesn’t score well.
One Honest Verdict
Each product gets one score out of 10 with the trade-offs stated plainly. We never take payment for a good score. Read our Disclosure.
Re-Tested Yearly
Products change fast. We re-review every product every year and update scores when better options appear.
The Team
Sabrina Marin
Founder & Editor
Has flown 30 carry-ons through the same airline sizer. Keeps the receipts.
Elliot Shaw
Bags & Luggage
Drags every bag over the same cracked sidewalk and up the same stairs.
Lena Ortiz
Packing & Extras
Packs the same 5-day list into every bag and weighs the result.
Jared Hale
Packs & Carry
Walks a full airport terminal in every backpack he tests. Twice.