Bellroy Transit Carry-On Review

It’s always exciting to see what a brand can bring to a product category it hasn’t ventured into before. We’ve come to know Bellroy as one of the more creative brands out there, not just for its eye-catching aesthetics but also for the more far-out designs it’s come up with (think the Apex Backpack, for example). So when we heard Bellroy was introducing carry-on luggage, we took notice.

So, how does the Transit Carry-On stack up against its contemporaries? On a surface level, not much, apart from the very notable nods to making the bag’s components replaceable. Also included are two packing cubes in lieu of the more usual compression panel or hold-down straps we typically see with carry-ons of this caliber. This seemingly modest change in approaching a carry-on’s organization is quite interesting, especially for those looking for an all-included package.

And if this doesn’t turn out to be the package you’re looking for, Bellroy is also releasing the Lite Carry-On and the Transit Carry-On Plus. The former is softside luggage, while the latter is a bigger version of the Transit Carry-On. Bellroy is going all out with this trio, so hopefully, you can find the best carry-on luggage for you.

So, without further ado, let’s check out the Bellroy Transit Carry-On.

External Components

All roads lead to polycarbonate—at least, it seems that way for hardside luggage. We can hardly fault Bellroy for going with a tried and tested material most of the industry has also adopted; that happens for a reason. It’s light, flexible, and cost-effective, so it’s understandable luggage brands eventually land on this material. That said, eco-conscious folks will be happy to know that the type used in the Transit Carry-On’s construction is 80% recycled, so it’s at least kind(er) to the environment.

As to styling, the Transit Carry-On doesn’t really look all that different from most other hardside luggage. The only real signature Bellroy calling cards here are a tastefully applied logo top and center, the muted colorways available at the time of this writing, and fabric handles. The faded olive colorway we’re sampling in this review is classy, though not necessarily head-turner material. Meanwhile, the chamfered edges and depressed sides aren’t too noticeable, especially in a sea of other luggage featuring flashier patterns, textures, and even graphics. Overall, it is still a nice-looking luggage, just not a standout one.

If it’s any consolation, those depressions around the sides mean only a portion of the edges bears the brunt of abrasions to help keep the flat front free from blemishes. Hence, you see a bunch of scuff marks around those areas on our sample. Unfortunate as these scuffs may be, they’re more or less inevitable when it comes to hardside luggage; these things are destined to be tossed and slid around.

At the top and right side of the Transit Carry-On are grab handles covered in fabric. This detail alone is fairly unique as we’re used to mostly plastic ones. We understand why brands would want to go with plastic handles. After all, you don’t really use secondary handles like these for long-term carrying, so even simple plastic ones will suffice most of the time. That said, we very much appreciate fabric handles, especially thick ones like these, since they’re more comfortable to hold.

As is pretty much the case with other top-tier luggage brands, Hinomoto wheels come standard. There are four sets, each with two wheels, with a rubber lining for smooth rolling. You can tell they’re rubber-lined because dirt has visibly marked our sample’s wheels.

And what carry-on luggage is complete without a built-in TSA lock? Again, there’s nothing too special about the one on the Transit Carry-On. Both main compartment zipper pulls have notches that insert into the lock’s corresponding holes, and a three-digit combination keeps them there. The rotary wheels can kind of slip off the digit you try to set to, but that’s not a big deal. If anything, it just helps keep the digits randomized.

Another fairly unique feature of the Transit Carry-On is its exposed telescoping handle. Bellroy says this has saved them a good chunk of weight, not having to cover the handle in extra polycarbonate. While that’s logically true, we’re more keen on how the open design makes it easier to replace the handle—because you can.

Along with the bag’s four wheels, grab handles, and lock, you can technically replace the Transit Carry-On’s handle if it breaks. That’s really helpful since wheels and handles are arguably the most interacted with parts of rolling luggage, and thus, they face plenty of wear and tear over time and use. Scuffs, scratches, and dents on polycarbonate—we can overlook those so long as they’re not structurally compromising. However, a broken handle or wheel is much tougher to ignore, so it’s nice that Bellroy allows you to replace broken parts just in case.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; the telescoping handle on the Transit Carry-On is quite beefy. More than that, it extends quite smoothly, with very little rattle or play along its different sections. We’re quite happy with the relatively tight tolerances Bellroy went for here; it’s definitely in line with the quality we expect from an established brand.

Fit Notes

The telescoping handle has three height adjustments, which is plenty for most of us. That should cover all scenarios, whether we want to pull the bag behind us at an angle or roll it beside us on four wheels. The handle is rounded and fits the hand comfortably, and the lock release is on the bottom, where it’s easy to push. Our only nitpick is that the handle doesn’t always slide all the way down under its own weight, and sometimes has to be slightly pushed at the end. Overall, it’s not a big deal.

What’s there to say about the Hinomoto wheels? Nothing apart from the expected smooth rolling we’ve confirmed with our testing. They’ll handle most terrain easily, such as carpeted floors, pavement, and even occasional cobblestone walkways. You may have trouble with graveled parking lots, but then again, most luggage we’ve tested struggled with those, too.

Inside The Carry On Luggage

Let’s first talk about sizing. We’re testing the 41-liter version of the Transit Carry-On, which is more internationally compliance-friendly. That said, definitely still check the specific airline you’re flying with since some of them can be very strict. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, you can still pack quite a lot of gear, even if this is “the smaller version.”

The main compartment opens like a clamshell, with a roughly even split of space between the two halves. In other words, the layout is mostly the same on each side, though Bellroy has implemented a few unique touches. For now, let’s check out the left side of the main compartment.

A large zippered panel covers this space, keeping all your gear underneath in place. Unzip the entire panel to access the bucket space underneath. On top of the panel is a flat mesh pocket that’s best for storing slim and small items like packable hats, dress shirts, or maybe even some larger travel documents you need to bring.

We usually travel with a bunch of other gear besides clothing, such as tech pouches, shoes, packable backpacks, and a toiletry bag. Those non-clothing must-haves have found a home under here. It’s nice to have this much depth dedicated to the left side, as we’ve definitely seen other clamshell-style luggage with a more shallow space in their design.

As neat as the left side is, the Transit Carry-On real strength lies on the right. Whereas other pieces of carry-on luggage have a compression panel or a hold-down strap setup, Bellroy includes two removable packing cubes. From what we can tell, these two packing cubes are tailor-made for the Transit Carry-On, or at the very least, they’re not sold separately at the time of writing. As packing cube advocates, this gets a huge thumbs up from us as it skips any guesswork on the part of users who may not already have their own set.

The two packing cubes are different sizes, cluing you into using one for tops and one for bottoms or light and thick clothing. We packed the small cube with five different tops and put three pairs of pants, a pair of shorts, and a hoodie in the large packing cube. That’s about a week’s worth of clothing for a trip.

Since there is no compression panel or hold-down straps, the packing cubes themselves can act as anchors. They each have loops on their top and bottom edges, and there are corresponding toggles around the edges of the bucket space to attach them to. Those are meant to keep the packing cubes in place, but this system also keeps the socks and underwear we’ve lined underneath in place. You could also remove one of the cubes and keep the other secured up top to give you move space at the bottom for packing large items.

So, what about underwear, socks, and other bits of clothing? We usually use a third packing cube for those. However, since the two included cubes already take up all the space, we lined the socks and underwear at the back underneath both cubes. If that’s free, you could also use the zippered mesh pocket on the left side.

All of this is to say that, on the one hand, including two packing cubes is great for those who want an all-in package ready to go. But, if you’re like us, who usually already have a system or packing strategy in mind, plans can get subverted by the setup envisioned by the brand. You don’t have to use any of the included cubes, though you’re losing a bit of value if you don’t (use it or lose it, as some would say).