Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that the blog may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support!
Last year, I had the opportunity to interview the two founders of ROAM Luggage - Charlie Clifford and Larry Lein. The two founders have a lifetime of experience in the luggage industry having been former Tumi executives. Prior to this interview I was unfamiliar with the ROAM Luggage brand, but after speaking with the founders and learning more about the brand, I had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to own a piece of ROAM Luggage myself. I was gifted with the Jaunt XL, and I am very pleased with the product. In this post, I’ll share with you why I believe that ROAM Luggage offers the best carry-on bag for women.
>>> Click here to read my interview with the ROAM Luggage founders. <<<
Image courtesy of Beverly Hills Magazine.
What makes ROAM different?
With ROAM Luggage, you can customize the colors of nearly the whole bag, down to the trim and wheels. As someone who appreciates style and quality, I loved having the chance to design my very own unique piece of luxury luggage. Not only is it easy to pick out my luggage on the conveyor belt, but it is also quite chic and gives me the opportunity to express my sense of fashion and style.
Image courtesy of Beverly Hills Magazine.
Key Features
Let's get down to the details and evaluate the key features that make ROAM Luggage the best carry-on bag for women.
Design
The ergonomic handle is telescoping and offers 4 height points. The interior fabric is water-resistant and washable. Likewise, the zipper is also water-repellent to ensure that clothes stay dry.
As mentioned earlier, ROAM Luggage allows you to fully customize the colors of your luggage. Though the color selection does not cover the full rainbow, there is a wide variety of colors to pick from. Such colors include Glasgow Gray, Venetian Green, Rio Fire, Cornwall Slate, Vail White, Tromso Ice, Marrakech Tan and Bermuda Pink.
The following pieces can be customized:
Front Shell
Back Shell
Zipper
Binding
Wheels
Carry Handle
Monogram Patch
I liked that ROAM Luggage offers complimentary 3-letter monogramming on their luggage, allowing the traveler to customize their piece of luggage even further. It also comes with a TSA-approved combination lock.
The wheels are incredibly smooth and quiet. (Maybe even too smooth! Don’t leave your luggage on a slope…it may slip away from you!) In all seriousness, I was very impressed with the 360 degree navigation of ROAM’s ball bearing wheels. You barely have to put any effort into rolling it alongside you which makes it feel like your luggage is just floating alongside you.
Image courtesy of CNN.
Durability
With hard shells, you never have to worry about tearing or the luggage getting squashed in transit. Yes, the shell can get scuffs but most can be buffed out. (My shells are in Vail White so scuffs do show more easily, but I don’t regret it because I love my personal color combination of Vail White and Marrakech Tan.) If you are worried about scuff marks, opt for a darker color. ROAM advises to use a non-abrasive spray cleaner and a foam sponge when cleaning your shells.
The Jaunt is a mere 7.3 pounds with dimensions meeting the requirements of most major U.S. airlines, and the Jaunt XL is 7.7 pounds, which gives you an extra 2 inches of width while still qualifying as a carry-on for most airlines.
Image courtesy of CNN.
Size and Space
The original Jaunt has a capacity of 37 liters while the Jaunt XL has a capacity of 42 liters. With the Expandable added, you gain the ability to have up to 51 liters of capacity and the Jaunt XL gets up to 60 liters of capacity. Once expanded, the bags should be checked, however this is a convenient option to have if you come home with souvenirs and gifts.
I grew up with a single sided carry-on. If you’re used to single side carry-ons like me, you may need some adjusting to the ROAM Luggage, which are all double sided. Instead of loading up one single cavity, you’re loading two halves. I’m still not fully adjusted to this new method of packing, but using packing cubes have helped.
ROAM’s carry-on luggage also comes with an interior compression system on both sides. These mesh compression pads and tie-down straps allow you to not only compress down your clothing but also secure all of your items in place so they don’t shift around mid-flight.
I have taken my Jaunt XL on several weekend out-of-state trips now, and I would say it holds about 4 days worth of women’s clothes, outfits, and toiletries. Three days is probably ideal - perfect for a weekend getaway. I generally fly American Airlines, and have not had any issues with the Jaunt XL’s carry-on sizing.
Image courtesy of Food and Drink Destinations.
Value
ROAM is the only company in the world that allows you to custom design your bag, try it for up to 100 days, and return it if you’re not completely satisfied. They offer a limited lifetime warranty that covers any material or workmanship defects.
Image courtesy of Hunker.
The Verdict
It’s hard to want more when it comes to ROAM Luggage. It makes traveling easy with a thoughtful, elegant, lightweight design. It also makes traveling more personal and fun through color customizations. ROAM Luggage is lightweight and practical yet also chic and attractive. You get the style of a luxury luggage brand without sacrificing any utility or function. For these reasons, I believe ROAM Luggage creates the best carry-on bag for women.
Author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
