Heys USA Eco-Case Luggage

The Green product world is a strange place.

In certain categories such as clothing, cosmetics and cookware, consumers have a vast array of eco-friendly choices.

But in other categories, it's nigh impossible to find a single Green option.

We used to think that luggage fell into this second category, until we discovered the Heys USA Eco-Case made from 100% recycled plastic.

Introduced in 2008, the Eco-Case comes in three sizes - 28-inch, 24-inch and 19-inch.

It's also available in at least six colors including black, bronze, pink, red, silver and turqouise.

The turqouise 19-inch sample case we received for testing was so adorable we practically wanted to pick it up and hug it. Had we given in to the temptation, the suitcase probably would have felt at least somewhat huggable thanks to its new ABS plastic formulation that Heys says gives the hard-sided case the flexibility of a rubber band. We think the rubber band metaphor is stretching things a bit - pun intended. You won't be stretching the Eco-Case across the room, but it does seem to have measurably more flex than a standard hard-sided case.

We're mystified about why Heys even bothers to offer a 7-year warranty if it's going to exclude both normal wear and tear and any damage that airline baggage handlers might cause. What does the warranty cover then? Maybe if the Eco-Case spontaneously falls apart in the your storage closet, you can county on the warranty, but otherwise it seems like window dressing.

On the other hand, we don't imagine we'll need to test the warranty anytime soon, because the Heys Eco-Case seems like one tough cookie. Four 360-degree spinner wheels from Japan give the case lovely manuveurability, the locking telescoping push-button handle seems rock-solid and all the zippers, lining and other hardware looks and feels top-notch.

Basically, the Eco-Case has the style and substance of a premium piece of serious luggage - with the added Green advantage of being made from recycled plastic.

Heys says the Eco-Case is also 100% recyclable, but we're not clear on how exactly to bring the materials back into the recycling stream. Presumably you can't just leave the Eco-Case on the curb with your milk cartons and soda cans.

Where to buy:

A wide variety of e-tailers carry the Heys USA Eco-Case, including Amazon.com ($440 for 3-piece set), eBags.com ($450 for 3-piece set), Luggage.com ($449.99 for 3-piece set) and others.