My New Carry-On Suitcase, Customized by Me and Built-to-Order by ROAM Luggage
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For me, the season of buying the cheapest suitcase possible from TJ Maxx or Amazon is OVER. I need to be able to count on my luggage to hold up to regular international travel, as well as road trips, flights to Seattle, and every other little trip we take throughout the year.
When I was a college kid trying to live in Rome for the least amount of euros possible, I could make the broken zippers and wheels that popped off at the first cobblestone work well enough.
But now, I really need to be able to count on my luggage to be sturdy, reliable, durable, and made to really last. So when I started seeing ROAM Luggage popping up on my social media, and all their rave reviews, I decided I needed to see if their luggage lived up to the hype.
As soon as I started to play with their luggage color customizer tool, learned about their use of 100% recycled materials, and saw how many travelers were THRILLED with their durability of their ROAM Luggage, I was IN.
After a lot of fun designing, I landed on the expandable large carry-on with front pocket.
Here’s how you can completely customize your own built-to-order suitcase from ROAM Luggage, too!
My new suitcase from ROAM Luggage is here!
The design process
The first thing I had to decide is which size suitcase I wanted to order. I opted for the large carry-on suitcase because I absolutely prefer traveling without checking luggage. The large carry-on adds 2 inches of width on top of the standard size carry-on suitcase, which I can definitely make use of.
ROAM Luggage suitcases all come with their compression board packing system, ball bearing wheels (yessss smooth glide), and waterproof zippers, so I didn’t need to do anything extra to make sure my suitcase came with these components.
Then, I added the option to make my carry-on expandable (which ROAM says adds 45% more space, yes please!) as well as the optional front pocket, considering I always travel with my 16 inch MacBook laptop. This front pocket is SERIOUS, unlike most other suitcase front pockets. It opens pretty wide, and has additional storage options within itself, so I can store even more in there than my (huge) laptop. Even with these additional added components, my new carry-on suitcase weighs about 8.5 pounds BEFORE I start packing it - not bad!
Finally it was time for the REALLY fun part - color customizing every inch of my new suitcase! ROAM has a full gallery of designs you can choose from if you don’t want to go the color customized route, but for me, getting to choose every color of my new suitcase was a major reason I wanted to try out ROAM Luggage.
I made an Instagram reel of the process, which you can view below!
I really wanted to design my bag with more white pieces, but at the time I designed mine white was only available for smaller, accent pieces (like the side handles). If you really want specific colors that you’re not seeing, I’d advise checking in every so often to see what the current color offerings are! They’re all hand crafted in Georgia so I’m sure supply lines and logistics affect what colors can be offered for which pieces at various times.
Here are the colors I ended up settling on for my bag:
After I placed my order, it took about 10 days for my suitcase to arrive. Because ROAM Luggage offers a 100 day trial on their suitcases, I made sure to order mine in time to take on my upcoming trip to Seattle. Read more about that amazing trip here, which included Olympic National Park, whale watching, and lunch at our favorite restaurant in the city!
And here’s what my new suitcase looks like!
front view of my new large, expandable carry-on suitcase from ROAM Luggage
I can’t forget to mention the option to add a monogram! I loved having this feature available, and of course I added my initials after color customizing the monogram on the back of my suitcase.
my custom personalized monogram on the back of my new suitcase from ROAM Luggage
How my new suitcase held up on our trip to Seattle
Traveling from DTW-SEA was the trial run for this suitcase, and it didn’t disappoint. We flew main cabin in Delta, and it fit perfectly in the overhead bins on its side. The compression system, combined with using packing cubes to organize my luggage by the day, kept me organized and left me with plenty of space for my toiletries bag, souvenirs, and other travel extras.
It was a breeze to push through the airport, and the handle was very sturdy unlike most of my other carry on suitcases, with handles that feel super flimsy and end up putting extra pressure on my back and shoulder.
ALSO - no annoying click clack of the wheels, thanks to their ball bearings. LOVE that!
view of inside of my new suitcase from ROAM Luggage featuring the compression system and internal zip pocket
Expectations for our upcoming trip to Italy
The next test for my new carry-on will be our trip to Italy this fall. This trip falls within our 100 day trial period, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up!
I’ll be traveling with my baby, and you can read more about how I’m prepping for this trip here.
I’m curious to see what it’s like rolling/pushing my new suitcase along cobblestone streets in Italy, but I think the ball bearing system in the wheels should perform relatively well - unlike the suitcase I bought on sale for my study abroad semester in Rome, which lost 2 wheels the day I arrived in the city.
my new suitcase from ROAM Luggage in my office
Overall,
I am loving my new carry-on suitcase from ROAM Luggage. As a traveler that appreciates and prioritizes quality travel gear, so far this suitcase is checking all the boxes.
It’s hardshell, waterproof, easy and efficient to push thanks to the wheels and handle, with a compression system included and a seriously impressive front pocket - with complete color customization being the cherry on top.
On the occasion that I do have to gate check this suitcase, you can bet I’ll be able to tell exactly which bag is mine! Don’t forget to add your initials.
After Italy, we have 3 more trips on the books for 2024, and I’ll report back about how my carry-on from ROAM Luggage has held up after a year or so of travel and 5+ international trips, on top of whatever domestic flights and roadtrips we take in the meantime.
My readers can take 10% off of your order from ROAM Luggage using code FWTC10 - on top of the 100 day trial and Lifetime Guarantee, it’s the perfect time to try one out yourself!
I’m Erin, your travel bestie. Based in Michigan with plans to see the entire globe, I am passionate about empowering my travel clients to create and experience your very best adventure. After studying abroad in Rome during college, marrying the love of my life in 2020 (COVID wedding!), and becoming a mom, I know that we all want to spend less time stressing on the internet and more time enjoying the people we love. Let me help you achieve this by taking on the work of your next vacation so you can spend more time enjoying your people.
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