MVST Treva Review: A Rimowa Look-Alike at a Quarter of the Price

Is a $2,000 suitcase really ten times better than a $400 one? I’m not spending two grand to find out. Instead I tested the MVST Treva, which the internet calls a Rimowa killer. I have the whole family: carry-on, medium and the big trunk. MVST sent them over; the opinions are mine.

Build

After a trip to Hawaii, I can say the build is solid. It’s like a portable vault. The aluminum shell has a subtle textured pattern, the handles are aluminum and so are the reinforced edges. The only plastic outside is the telescopic handle. That’s smart in hot or cold weather, but it has a little wobble.

The latches are the feature you’re paying for. They’re sturdy and very satisfying, and they beat zippers for security. The downside is you undo two of them every time you open the case. Resetting the code means finding a small button hidden on the back. Out of the box one of my handles had marks I couldn’t clean off, but support sent a replacement I could swap myself.

Inside

The lining is black and feels like the inside of a rain jacket. There are two panels, one held with a simple hook and one fully removable. Zipper pulls and buckles are aluminum. Because the shell is aluminum, there are no ridges inside apart from the handle, so packing feels more even.

Scratches and color

I picked green and champagne because they look incredible on camera. Anodized aluminum scratches, though. I thought silver would age better. After one trip my silver one had black marks from conveyor belts and a small dent. I now think darker colors age best.

Weight

The carry-on is 9.7 lb empty. Not every airline weighs carry-ons, but some international ones cap them at 22 lb or even 15 lb. That leaves you 12 lb, or as little as 5 lb, for everything else. If you’re always near the limit, get something lighter. If you never are, don’t worry about it.

The wheels are good: smooth on hardwood, decent on carpet and quiet.

Verdict

Is it a Rimowa killer? I don’t know, and I’m not paying two grand to test it. I can buy this whole 3-piece set for less than one Rimowa carry-on, and I’m happy with how it looks, feels and works. Buy it because you love the look and want protection. It isn’t cheap next to a Muji or Herschel case, but it has a lifetime warranty.

Specs that matter

Weight (carry-on)	9.7 lb empty
Shell	Aluminum with textured pattern
Closure	Dual TSA latches
Wheels	Bearing wheels, quiet on hardwood and carpet
Warranty	Lifetime