Best in Show for Flying Right
Checked baggage fees — $30 round-trip for one item — are set to become standard policy among most major airlines. And so with growing legions of passengers armed with just hand luggage, you’d better get used to an intensified battle for the overhead bins and a phalanx of new “carry-on police” stationed at security lines.
Short of using a luggage forwarding service, your best bet to survive the carry-on chaos is to go ultra-light and ultra-durable — yet without skimping on the style. Here are our favorite models from the latest carry-on collections.
Titan
360-DEGREES FOUR DIAMOND COLLECTION | $400-$660
The German company celebrates 25 years with diamonds: integrating them into the look and the name of their newest line of polycarbonate cases. The ultimate marriage of style and durability, these super-lightweight trolleys are virtually scratch-resistant — a difficult feat in hard-shell engineering. Titan has done it with a textured diamond-patterned exterior, which we love for the way it catches the light, lending a subtle glitter to chic colors like black and champagne. Trolleys come with transparent snap-in toiletry bags, and Titan’s ironclad “No Matter What” warranty.
Globe-Trotter
ONEHUNDRED&TEN AIR CABIN | $3,525
You would think a case costing $3,500 would come with wheels. But then that would defeat the purpose of the world’s lightest carry-on — which also happens to be bullet-proof. Unveiled at New York’s fashion week, Globe-Trotter’s latest limited edition celebrates the legendary luggage makers’ 110th anniversary. Designed by Ross Lovegrove (who made the original Sony Walkman), the onehundred&ten Air Cabin is molded from a custom-made carbon fiber woven with Kevlar (since carbon fiber shatters on impact). The result? A three-pound bag that’s five times stronger than steel.
Samsonite
BLACK LABEL by ALEXANDER McQUEEN | $775-$2,000
Since launching in 2007, the Samsonite-McQueen line of luggage has set the gold standard in stylish carry-on. Now both the Hero AI1 (fashioned after a human ribcage) and the faux-crocodile skin AI2 are available in silver. Personally, we loved the old-school romance (and smell) of these leather shells (previously available in black and white), but the futuristic-looking new finish should at least complement Black Label’s rock-solid engineering and strength.
Rimowa
SALSA CABIN TROLLEY | From $425
Germany’s oldest luggage company (founded in 1898) knows a thing or two about air travel: in 1950 they pioneered the world’s first aluminium trunks, inspired by the grooved metal shells of aircraft alloys. Those grooves became the trademark (and provide the strength) of Rimowa’s classic look, now replicated in their pure polycarbonate cases. The ultra-light Salsa series can take its fair share of knocks — and always bend back to memory shape. Which explains why Rimowa calls it “nearly indestructible.”
Tumi
T-TECH POLYCARBONATE PLUS 22” | From $395
The star in Tumi’s new adventure line of luggage doesn’t really have anything to do with adventure at all — though the PC Plus carry-on at least has the requisite durability you’d expect from a three-layered polycarbonate case. Four wheels would have been nice (available in only the 25 and 28” versions), but when you’re stylin’ with Tumi there are other rewards: you get to choose from a liquid black finish, “flame yellow,” or titanium color.
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