July Carry On Luggage Review

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Items that were received as PR product are marked with an asterisk * 
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After over a year of pandemic-induced lockdowns, travel has been back on the cards recently (which feels equal parts weird and normal) as vaccinations against Covid are made available.  It’s been more than a year of fluctuating Covid infection rates, on-again, off-again lockdown restrictions (sigh Victoria… 😔), and just overall quarantine fatigue.  And while we’re still not in the clear, as this past week has shown, travel is picking up (at least most interstate travel anyway) – for both business and pleasure – and we’re slowly adjusting back to our lifestyles as we knew them.  

Uniqlo Trench (sz XS – similar here), Marks & Spencer knit* (sz 8 – similar here), Scanlan Theodore skirt (sz S, sold out, new season skirt here), Mules now sold out, shop secondhand pair here, Celine bag (review here), July Carry On Luggage in Forest

Before there was any sign of a pandemic, the good folks over at July sent across their Carry On Luggage Case to see me through what was going to be a busy 2020 of business travel and family trips. And while the bag managed a couple of excursions for some quick work trips in early 2020, from March 2020, well… we all know how that played out! 🙈 

Thankfully 2021 has been an improvement.  And with a couple of trips to see family now under the belt, I wanted to share my thoughts on my luggage of choice for travel – the July Carry On Luggage – and there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.  Not only does it look slick, it’s a smart little feller too and I’ll walk you through its nifty features.

July Carry On Luggage in Forest, Uniqlo Trench (sz XS – similar here), Scanlan Theodore skirt (sz S, sold out, new season skirt here), Celine bag (review here)

Features of the July Carry On Luggage

Having had the benefit of using the case properly, I’m impressed with how functional it is.  The case has been cleverly designed to hold the maximum amount that’s allowed in a cabin with you.  And with the fair share of travel I’ve experienced over the years, I’ve come to learn that having the right carry on is oh-so-important for maximising the allocated size and weight restrictions.  

Here’s a rundown of the bag’s features:

• Smooth and quiet wheels that rotate 360° (these are a welcome change in light of all the noise those hard wheels make – particularly on footpaths and cobblestones)
• An in-built battery to charge your devices on the go (easily ejectable for security; safe for travel)
• An outer shell made of an aerospace-grade German polycarbonate (with aluminium bumpers on the corners for extra protection during rough treatment)
• An ergonomic handle (that can be adjusted at 20 different heights)
• A practical internal configuration which includes a compression pad as well as a hidden laundry bag (that is odour and water resistant)
• Integrated TSA lock

And if you’re really looking to overhaul your packing, the July Packing Cells are a worthwhile addition to the luggage case. I use the black packing cells and they allow me to compartmentalise my things in an ordered and neat fashion.

Personalisation (and a promo code!)

There are 9 different colours to choose from and there’s the option to personalise the bag as well, which I chose to do with my initials.  While personalisation usually costs $65, July have kindly sent across a special code for my audience to take advantage of where you can get free personalisation if you use the code ‘WHATVEEWORE’.  (Please note personalised items cannot be returned or exchanged.)

L: July Carry On Luggage, Toteme coat (sz XS), Everlane knit* (sz XS), Nobody Denim jeans, R.M. Williams Boots, Celine bag (review here, affordable dupe here); R: July Carry On Luggage, Toteme Jacket (via Vestiaire Co), Country Road knit (sz XS), Gucci belt (review here), Everlane trousers*, R.M. Williams Boots, Celine bag (review here, affordable dupe here)

The verdict

It’s hard to fault the July Carry On Luggage.  It’s well made, designed to last and it’s packed full of features that enhance the overall travelling experience.  And at $295 AUD, it’s very well priced.  I’ve got the original Carry On Luggage, but they’ve since released two additional versions – the “Pro” (that comes with a detachable sleeve for your laptop) and the “Light” (which, as the name suggests, is almost half the weight of the original weighing in at 1.8kgs compared to 3.4kgs).  July also have a range of bigger bags for longer trips known as their Checked Luggage.  These bags also come in the same colour range with the same personalisation options as the Carry On.  

Personally, the July Carry On Luggage has been a welcome addition to our travel essentials and is a piece that I rely upon when travelling for both work and pleasure.  It’s easy to manoeuvre around the airport and to place in the cabin hold above my seat.  I’ve gotta say that charging my phone at the airport was a bit of a novelty!  My phone was almost at full charge but it’s great to have the power bank there in case of unexpected delays!

The bag comes with a lifetime warranty and you can take advantage of July’s 100 day trial (subject to T&Cs and not offered for bags with personalisation). 

Uniqlo Trench (sz XS – similar here), Marks & Spencer knit* (sz 8 – similar here), Scanlan Theodore skirt (sz S, sold out, new season skirt here), Mules now sold out, shop secondhand pair here, Celine bag (review here), July Carry On Luggage in Forest

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and I’ll answer them below.  Wishing you all happy and most importantly, safe travels.

Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Budgeting for work clothes at different stages of your career and my favourite work heels!