Category Archives: Carry On Luggage

Luggage Review: Enkloze X1 Carbon Fiber Carry-On

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Finding a good carry-on can be a very difficult task. You want one that is not only good looking but is functional and offers something that its competitors don’t. You want one that will last for years and can safely carry your belongings to your next destination. That’s where the Enkloze X1 Carbon Fiber carry-on comes in. It’s durable, stylish, and one of a kind.

FEATURES

DURABILITY

Enkloze x1 Reinforced Corners

The Enkloze X1 is made out of 100% polycarbonate, which means that it is durable, strong, and lightweight. The carbon fiber carry-on will fit inside of all major airlines’ overhead compartments, so you will not have to worry about it getting thrown around when it is being loaded on the plane. But, if you do end up having to check it, its aluminum shock absorbers reinforce the corners so it won’t end up coming out on the conveyor belt in pieces like some hard cases do if they aren’t handled correctly.

SIZEEnkloze x1 Internal Compartment

At 21.3” x 14.6” x 9.4” (54cm x 37cm x 24cm) the Enkloze X1 is pushing the limits of carry-on size (like the previously reviewed Ricardo Beverly Hills carry-on).  But again, that’s a good thing in my opinion.  Weighing in at 8.2lbs (3.7kg), the Enkloze x1 is pretty light for its size which you would expect from a carbon fiber carry-on.

OTHER STUFF

Enkloze x1 External Pocket

The bag is intuitively designed and comes with many features. Perhaps my favorite one is the organization pocket located in the front of the suitcase.  The generously sized pocket allows you to easily access your laptop during security and on your flight.  It can even eliminate the need for a second carry-on or personal item.  The Enkloze x1 comes equipped with TSA approved locks, four wheels, and an adjustable pull rod and really quiet, smooth-rolling wheels. These features make it an extremely functional carry-on option whether you’re headed on a business trip or a weekend getaway.  You can pick up the Enkloze X1 in black or white.  The white carbon fiber actually looks pretty nice, but like Wesley Snipes, I always bet on black.

WHO’S IT FOR?

Enkloze x1 Handle

The Enkloze X1 really looks good and as you’d expect from a carbon fiber carry-on, it’s also very light and durable.  But the real target audience here is going to be frequent travelers looking for something a step or two above something you’d pick up at Costco or a department store.

VALUE

Enkloze x1 Wheel

If you’re on a budget, but looking to invest in a quality piece of luggage, the Enkloze X1 compares favorably to bags twice its price. Plus, all Enkloze products are under warranty for at least five years. If something that is covered breaks,  the company will repair it. All you have to do is take photos of the issue and email it to their support team. You can see a complete list of what’s covered under warranty on their website.  The bottom line on value here is that you can really feel comfortable that you’re paying a premium for quality and not for just the name on the front.

DRAWBACKS

Enklozed x1 Main Compartment TSA Lock

It’s obvious that I am pretty enamored with the Enkloze X1.  There is one major immediately apparent flaw, though.  The built in TSA lock for the main compartment uses a key rather than a combination.  (The second TSA lock for the front pocket is a combination lock.)What were you thinking, Enkloze?  I know that I can get a replacement key by contacting you if I lose mine, but that’s not going to do me any good when I’m trying to unlock my bag on the spot at the request of security at the Ho Chi Minh airport!  A carbon fiber carry-on with an integrated key lock is like a new BMW with a tape deck.  Why?

CONCLUSION

Enkloze x1 Profile

The Enkloze X1 carbon fiber carry-on is a durable bag that comes with features that other bags just don’t have. It is a great price compared to its competitors and the five-year warranty is hard to beat. The sleek, high-quality carbon fiber carry-on is made with the best materials and is extremely functional. If you purchase the Enkloze x1, you’re purchasing a piece of luggage that you will not only love, but you will be able to use for years.

Luggage Review: Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 Carry-On

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I bought the Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21-Inch 4 Wheel Wheelaboard Hard-Side Carry-On suitcase for my wife before a three-week trip to Asia. Her criteria were: hard-sides, four-wheel spinner design, and cute. I don’t know much about what makes for a “cute” carry-on suitcase, but according to my wife, this is cute. I actually found it quite stylish myself.

FEATURES

DURABILITY

The Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21 Inch Carry-On sports hard sides and reinforced corners. With “Beverly Hills” in the name, one could be forgiven for assuming that form might be emphasized above function. Let me assure you, this thing is tough. This carry-on suitcase is a constant companion.  After at least a dozen flights and another half dozen road trips, it still looks as good as new.

SIZE

With 1.73 cubic feet (that’s about 49038 cubic centimeters to those of you that are metrically inclined) of interior space, the Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 carry-on has plenty of space. You can pack a few days’ worth of clothes, gadgets, and even an extra pair of shoes or two. With exterior dimensions of 21”x16.5”x10.5” (53.34cm x 41.91cm x 26.67cm) excluding the wheels, this bag really pushes the size limits of a carry-on in today’s era of baggage restrictions.  In my mind, that’s a good thing. You’re maximizing the amount of stuff you can carry on in order to avoid checking luggage. In all of our travels with it, including some low-budget carriers in Southeast Asia, my wife never got so much as a sideways look as she rolled this bag through the gate. The carry-on’s interior compartments are smart but in no way restrictive, so it’s easy to pack however you like. (Especially with the help of our favorite packing cubes.)

OTHER STUFF

The Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 has an integrated TSA lock. We never used this feature in the airport since it’s a carry-on and always by our side anyway. We did use it to leave some quasi-valuables in the hotel that were too big for the safe. Although nothing is really that safe in any zippered suitcase regardless of the lock. The advantage to the Roxbury 2.0’s built-in locking system is that it’s harder for a thief to cover their tracks since the zipper pulls are locked in place. This carry-on also includes a retractable add-a-bag strap to piggyback the Roxbury 2.0 to another suitcase. We didn’t even use this feature once since the bag is so easy to roll around the airport that we didn’t see the need.  

Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 Carry-On Suitcase Side

Clicking this image takes you to the Amazon product page

WHO’S IT FOR?

The Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21-Inch 4 Wheel Wheelaboard Hard-Side Carry-On is really a great bag.  Its size makes it versatile enough for any traveler. It has plenty of space for two people for a weekend trip or for folks that can pack light for a week or longer. We’re not easy on our luggage and durability is important to us. This carry-on has served us well so far and there doesn’t appear to be any reason it won’t continue to do so.  

Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 Carry-On Suitcase Interior

Clicking this image takes you to the Amazon product page

VALUE

Looking back on how the Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21-Inch 4 Wheel Hard-Side Carry-On Suitcase has performed, I wouldn’t be disappointed if it cost me $400. Of course, I didn’t spend nearly that much.  Ricardo Beverly Hills was an unknown brand to me before picking this up for my wife but I could easily see myself becoming a repeat customer.  (If this carry-on ever actually needs to be replaced.)

DRAWBACKS

While I really like this carry-on suitcase, it has a couple drawbacks that kept me from rating it at five stars.  The Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21-Inch 4 Wheel Wheelaboard Hard-Side Carry-On suitcase would really benefit from the addition of an exterior pocket.  Rarely found on hard-sided luggage, I love exterior pockets on carry-on suitcases.  They allow me to quickly toss in keys, sunglasses, wallet, passport, boarding passes, etc. to buy an extra couple minutes clearing security.  Carry-on suitcase pockets are also really handy to quickly slide a laptop in and out.  

The other drawback is the handle on the Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 carry-on suitcase.  To hit five stars, I’d like the handle to be a bit more comfortable.  Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is really long and I had to move this from hand to hand a few times to keep my wrist from getting too stiff.  

OK – I know the last one was a real nitpick, but I am trying to come up with drawbacks for what is a really great carry-on suitcase here.  And as long as I’m picking nits,  I really don’t like the name “Ricardo Beverly Hills”.  I actually really don’t like many brand names to be honest, but this one really irks me for some reason.  Fortunately for people like me, the brand isn’t too prominently displayed.  There’s a small insignia on the front of the carry-on suitcase and the name is also displayed on the extended handles.

CONCLUSION

The Ricardo Beverly Hills Roxbury 2.0 21-Inch 4 Wheel Wheelaboard carry-on suitcase is a terrific value.  It is a great buy for anyone looking for an affordable, durable, high-quality hard-sided carry-on suitcase.