At a time when checking a bag is becoming less and less appealing, being armed with the best carry-on suitcase can seriously upgrade your travel experience. Having travelled with July’s standard cabin-sized suitcase for a while now, I was excited to test out the refreshed Carry On Pro, alongside the Carry All Weekender to complete the look.

July is an Australian luggage brand founded by friends and frequent travellers Athan Didaskalou and Richard Li. Each July suitcase comes with a 100-day returns policy and a lifetime warranty, plus free shipping and returns for all Australian customers. As a direct-to-customer business, July suitcases are only available on the brand’s website.

When I received my July luggage, I was first impressed that took less than 48 hours to arrive. The Carry On Pro came packed in a sturdy box, and inside a branded and reusable cloth bag for protecting your case when stored at home. Within the suitcase, I found my Carry All Weekender, which also comes with a protective cloth bag.

There’s an option to get your July bag personalised, and while I have my initials printed below the handle of my first case, for this order, I decided to keep it blank. Note that personalisation adds delivery time and voids the 100-day returns policy.

The Carry On Pro comes in six matte colours, with my case seen in Navy. A German polycarbonate shell is lightweight and provides long-lasting protection, with aluminium bumpers on each corner for additional durability.

The hard exterior has a unique surface that feels smooth but looks textured. On first inspection, it appears that this shell would be flimsy, but I have found it to be incredibly durable. While July does claim to be scratch-proof, in my experience I would describe the case as scratch-resistant. The reality is no hard suitcase will escape all scuff marks and scratches throughout its lifetime. I have had my first case for around a year now and being dark green in colour, any marks aren’t that obvious.

Spinner wheels and a 20-height adjustable telescopic handle allow the case to glide beside you with ease. Even jam-packed over the airline limit, my case feels light and maneuverable beside me.

Naturally, the Carry On Pro comes packed with useful travel features, most notably with the addition of a padded sleeve that is attached to the front of the case. Here, there is space for a laptop and other small essentials. The sleeve can be removed and reattached via strong magnetic fittings.

An ejectable power bank is tucked underneath the handle for easy access, with a USB-C cable and mesh pouch provided inside the case.

Durable YKK zippers allow access inside, with protection thanks to a TSA combination lock. Open up to find a nylon lining that is water-resistant, and can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth. A hidden laundry bag is included, as well as a twin-strap compression system to squeeze in that extra outfit you just have to pack but won’t end up wearing. The compression pad also has a large mesh zipped pocket for anything you need quick access to.

The Carry All Weekender comes in four colours, but I went with Navy to match my case. The exterior is made from a durable nylon with soft leather touches for a quality finish that feels great.

One of my favourite features is the pass-through band that allows the Carry All Weekender to slip onto the Carry On Pro for easy airport navigation.

The bag has a quick access pocket on one side, and a large zipped pocket on the other. A shoulder strap is also included.

Inside, there is plenty of space for everything you’ll need quick access to during your flight. There’s a laptop sleeve which is useful, but I would have appreciated more padding here. On the other side of the bag are two zipped pockets for anything small you don’t want rolling around.

While the Carry On Pro (A$425) and Carry All Weekender (A$295) aren’t exactly a budget option, they are similarly priced to competing brands including Away Travel. In saying that, July offers a superior product that, in my opinion, is worth the cost.

I’m a huge fan of July’s ethos and the overall functionality of every product they create. The Carry On Pro helps me take more onboard, something I’m appreciating while the industry continues to run out of control.

To learn more about July luggage, check out their website here. You can also shop in-store at July Luggage in QV Melbourne, plus a new store in Sydney that is due to open later this year.

Full disclosure: this guide was written as part of a paid partnership with July Luggage. The writer’s thoughts remain true and unchanged.

Senior Editor and Chief AvGeek at Flight Hacks

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