Pros
- + Very style, personalizable
- + Extremely durable with handy corner bumpers
- + Compact for overnight trips and light packers
Cons
- – Doesn’t expand nor fit as much as others
- – Interior design and clasps need work
- – Easily gets dirty
I’m a notorious over-packer. Yet if I’m going on a short trip, I’ll do everything in my power to only bring a carry-on. That’s not an easy feat, but sometimes necessary to avoid extra baggage fees and additional time waiting for checked luggage to hit the carousel.
I tried going carry-on only during a recent four-day trip to New York City, a perfect opportunity to test the new Casetify luggage collection. Yes, the same company that makes those sleek smartphone cases and other mobile accessories has recently launched a luggage line.
What to Know About Casetify Luggage
Casetify is known for its customizable and licensed smartphone cases and other mobile accessories. But now, the brand has expanded to include customizable luggage as well.
The line, which starts at MSRP US$399, includes hard suitcases that incorporate the same Bounce technology Casetify uses in its smartphone cases. There are carry-on models in Matte Black, Cobalt Blue, and Cherry Red. But you will also be able to customize the look for free to add your own text, like initials, with colour and font options continually expanding. The carry-on is available right now in the U.S. and South Korea but no word yet on official availability in Canada. It measures 13.9 x 21 x 9 inches (w/h/d) and weighs 8.23 lbs.
You’ll find Bounce Bumpers around the top edges of the suitcase, just as they appear in smaller form in the Bounce line of smartphone cases. These naturally add extra protection in the event of a drop, fall, or bump. Anyone who travels knows that luggage is subject to all the above. This technology makes as much, if not more, sense for a suitcase as it does for a smartphone.
Overall, the carry-on is ultra-durable: Casetify says it has passed various tests for mileage, stair, trolley jerk, handle jerk, drop, and cold resistance. Sizing meets carry-on requirements for most, if not all, airlines and it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
The carry-on I received features a funky geometric shape design with black and white arrows on the front panel and a black finish all around. On the bottom, right corner of the customized designs are my initials “CP” in a forest green font. Along with the four top bumpers, there’s a combination lock at the top for security. The retractable handle fits neatly into the top while there’s a top carry handle and an appreciated side handle that makes it easy to hoist the bag into to the bag check area or overhead bin. The Casetify logo is prominent throughout, much like you’ll find on the company’s smartphone cases.
Packing For a Four-Day Trip: How Much Can It Fit?
After admiring its beauty, it was time to pack for my trip. I unzipped the luggage to see if it met my need for spaciousness. On the left, is a zippered space for clothing and other essentials, while on the right is an area for clothing with straps to secure everything. Overtop the right side is a flat piece called a tech organizer for storing items like cables, adapters, chargers, even a thin tablet or phone. I also received two packing cubes, an appreciated inclusion (these are sold separately on the Casetify website).
Eyeballing the interior, I could tell that the Casetify luggage isn’t as spacious as other carry-on luggage I have used. The TravelPro Platinum Elite carry-on, for example, which I reviewed for our travel tech guide, not only has two big open spaces on either side, but it’s expandable as well.
With this suitcase, there’s a border around the zipper measuring at least an inch, which sacrifices some real estate. Sure, you can still tuck items underneath it. But if you have taller items like a make-up kit or shoes, this prevents them from fitting.
Nonetheless, I powered on, and filled this side with my toiletry kit, blazer, one of the packing cubes with socks and underwear, a sweater, bras, one pair of pyjamas, a hairbrush, hair straightener, and a packable bag (Just in case I get the shopping itch and need to check my carry-on.)
Moving over to the other side, I’m not a fan of the way the luggage straps connect. It embarrassingly took me some time, and almost breaking a nail, to figure out how to clasp and unclasp it. It is effortless once you figure it out. But, there’s another annoyance: the straps don’t have a lot of slack. For someone like me who is adamant that just one more pair of jeans or an extra sweater will fit, this suitcase told me otherwise. I had to remove a few items just so I could secure the strap.
On this side, I packed a pair of short boots under the zipper (A neat trick I recently learned), two pairs of dress pants, three pairs of jeans, several tops, and a tank. I wish there was a mesh zipper cover to further secure (and compress) the items inside. If there was, I’d be less worried about having to secure the extremely tight strap. This side is completely open except for the tech organizer resting loosely on top of the items.
Speaking of which, I ended up removing the tech organizer because it was taking up room I didn’t have to spare. I usually bring along my small backpack as a personal item, and use that to carry relevant cables, adapters, and chargers anyway. I also feel like the tech organizer would be much more appealing if it connected to the suitcase by a simple zipper. It’s sort of flimsy in the way it sits. Another minor irritation is that removing it was a challenge: you have to push the clips out of the fabric, which took more time than I wanted it to while in a rush. A zipper would probably have been more expensive, but given the premium price of this suitcase, I would have expected something better.
Once I finished packing more outfits than I needed (it’s about choice, right ladies?) it was time to hold my breath and hope for the best. The suitcase required a bit of coaxing to close, and I had to remove a shirt and shift around my boots to make it work. It finally closed but there was no way it would fit anything else on the way home. Seeing how I really pushed the zipper to its limit to close this suitcase, however, I was confident it was strong and durable. I yanked, pulled, and tugged on it every which way and it was able to withstand my desperate insistence that it close.
Navigating With the Suitcase
Now, it was time to take off. The journey involved taking the GO Train to Union Station in Toronto, taking the shuttle to Porter Airlines, then walking through the airport there. Once I arrived in Newark, I navigated that airport then to my hotel and up to my room. Through the entire journey, it was smooth sailing with this suitcase.
I appreciate 360° rotating wheels so you can glide the luggage at your side versus having to tilt the suitcase and drag it behind. It’s worth investing in more expensive luggage for this very reason. I also like that the wheels have grip such that the suitcase doesn’t start to roll away with a mind of its own when I let go for a second to reply to a text. (Yes, this has happened to me with other carry-ons!) The handle easily slides up and down and the carry handle was sturdy enough for me to carry it up and down several flights of stairs at the GO Train station on the way home.
Since I had to gate-check the suitcase on the way there (it was a small plane with an overhead bin that could only fit small bags), it was likely tossed around as it was loaded onto the plane. On the way home, I checked it (using that handy packable bag as a carry-on to hold the goodies I bought) and, once again, it came out unscathed. The Uber driver from New York to New Jersey where I attended a second press event even dropped the suitcase with the handle fully up after taking it out of his trunk and it was fine. Not a scratch on it. It does, however, pick up dust and debris quite easily. But it’s easy to wipe down with a damp cloth once you get back home.
Overall, this suitcase is stylish, easy to maneuver, and you can get in eye-catching designs. It’s not as spacious inside as I’d like, and the straps aren’t as user-friendly as others. It’s obvious that Casetify knows cases but the company isn’t necessarily an expert in the luggage space…yet. That said, this is a suitcase that can withstand all the rigors of airplane travel and express your personal style.
Should You Buy the Casetify Carry-on Suitcase?
The Casetify carry-on suitcase isn’t for people like me who need as much room as possible through expanders and straps that stretch to kingdom come. I need my carry-on to fit eight outfits for a four-day trip or be able to hack it with just one more pair of jeans or shoes. This one doesn’t rise up to that challenge. But for business travelers who pack light (think men who can get away with two pairs of jeans, the same blazer they get on the plane with, a couple sweaters, a pair of dress shoes or runners, and a toiletry kit), it’s just right. Those who travel often and light will love this carry-on.
The tech organizer is a nice touch for everyone from executives to students, especially for short flights. You can stow things like a laptop charger or tablet, portable charger, cables, flash drives, and more that you don’t need on the plane but need to bring along. It keeps everything nicely organized and away from your clothing and toiletries. If you aren’t also bringing a purse, backpack, or briefcase, this makes it easy to retrieve those items after take-off without having to rummage through everything in the suitcase.
In terms of durability, the luggage is a solid hard case that can take a beating. If you think you might have to check it and worry that it won’t be handled with care (truth: it won’t be), fear not. This suitcase can fight back and stand up to tosses and tumbles.
One of the big draws with this suitcase beyond the interior and durability is the customization. There are so many cool designs from which to choose along with personalization options. I also received a matching phone case with the same Bounce bumpers, something you could consider doing as well. I mean, how cool is that?
From a customization and durability standpoint, this suitcase is a winner. Some work needs to be done with the design inside, but these are all minor details that won’t matter to light packers anyway.
Bottom line: guys (or gals) traveling for an overnighter or couple days where you just need a few quick-change outfits and essentials, the Casetify carry-on is a solid case (pun intended) that will stand out among a sea of black and silver carry-ons in the overhead bin or coming off the luggage conveyer. You can truly make it your own and be confident that it is built to last and handle anything that air travel throws your way.