Carl Friedrik Carry-on X Review

In recent weeks, our YouTube viewers have been flooding us with requests to review Carl Friedrik’s rolling luggage. Well, without further ado, it’s Carl’s time to shine! From numerous comments, we realized that many users enjoy the look and functionality, so we were amped to try it for ourselves. Let’s dive in!

External Components

As you can tell from the photos in this review, the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X is hard-sided luggage. It’s crafted from German-engineered Makrolon, which looks sleek and is easy to clean. We’ve noticed more scuffing than initially expected; however, it’s held up incredibly well overall and looks sleek after two weeks of rigorous testing.

The exterior has vertical lines pressed into the material, which looks professional and adds a dimension to the luggage. Instead of looking boxy, it has depth, and we’re here for it!

There are feet on the left side of the luggage, which are handy for setting the bag down on slanted surfaces that might cause the bag to roll away otherwise. Additionally, you can use these to ensure your bag doesn’t get as scuffed up when loading it onto the conveyor belt if you’re checking it. After it leaves the desk, it’s in the airline’s hands; however, you’ll know you did what you could. Luckily, the Makrolon is durable and handles scuffs nicely compared to some polycarbonate exteriors, so you’ll be in the clear either way.

There are handles on the bag’s top and side, which are handy for loading and unloading from a trunk, overhead bin, or closet. They’re crafted from Vachetta leather, which looks sleek and is comfortable to hang onto. There isn’t any padding, though, which may deter some travelers.

The handle is telescopic and has a wide opening, which we dig, as it doesn’t make your hand feel claustrophobic. The button to engage it is on the top, which is useful, though the handle lacks padding or grippy material. Though not the standard, we appreciate these details and were slightly bummed that Carl Friedrik didn’t include them here. However, the sleek lines on the handle match the rest of the luggage.

The handle has four levels, which we’ve found works for most heights, even incredibly tall travelers.

What’s a solid handle without a proper set of wheels to get it over the hump when the game is on the line? The Carl Friedrik Carry-on X has four 360° Hinomoto wheels, which are durable, smooth, and durable. So far, we’ve had no issue with them.

The zippers on the secondary compartment are unbranded but feel durable and capable.

The main compartment has no zipper; it utilizes two locking buckle clasps. Each side has a TSA-approved lock, so you can ensure nobody can get inside your pack quickly, and security agents can get inside if they need to without breaking your bag. We haven’t had any issues with these; however, we’re curious about their long-term lifespan. The bag is recessed where they latch, making it so they don’t protrude as far, but they still could take a hit if a baggage worker isn’t careful. So far, there have been no issues to report.

Fit Notes

We haven’t had any issue getting around with the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X, and that’s good. It rolls incredibly well no matter the surface, and the wheels feel durable enough to handle the bumps and knocks of travel.

We always warn travelers coming from areas with primarily flat walking surfaces (we’re looking at you, Americans) to ensure they’re prepared for the terrain where they’re going. Many parts of the world have cobblestones, more stairs, and uneven surfaces, which makes using rolling luggage more challenging. The wheels on this luggage have worked well for us; however, if we were going to Venice, we might opt for a two-wheeled bag, as they’re often more durable on uneven ground, or a travel backpack to avoid the situation entirely.

The Carl Friedrik Carry-on X spins nicely and transitions from two-wheeled mode to four-wheeled without issue. The handle height will work for most travelers, and it stands well on its own four feet without issue. Because it’s hard-sided, you can even sit on it!

Inside The Carry On Luggage

Unlike most hard-sided carry on luggage, the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X has a secondary compartment. We dig this, as traveling with a laptop inside rolling luggage is tough. We usually bring a travel backpack or daypack with a laptop sleeve instead, and while we love backpacks, sometimes you only want one bag.

The laptop compartment is secured at the top with a strap and a hook-and-loop fastener. There’s more organization here, too, so you can stow your other tech or work items here. There is a large mesh pocket, which works well for a computer charger. The lid has four liner pockets: two medium and two small, which work well for smaller gear. There are some pen slots, too, which are ideal for people who like to write on the go.

If you typically use a tech pouch, you may be able to leave it at home in favor of this internal organization. However, that’ll depend on how much tech you like to bring. We enjoy bringing a separate pouch because it’s handy for going to the coffee shop, but you might feel differently.

The secondary compartment has gussets on either side that secure with a button and hook-and-loop fastener. If you undo them, the flap will open further. We haven’t found a practical use for this, but it does make it easier to see and organize your gear.

Inside the main compartment, both sides have a compression system. They’re identical but work in different ways. The buckle is large but snappy and can be quickly tightened or loosened.

On the left side, there’s no other organization. It’s a wide-open area ideal for larger items like shoes, big packing cubes, or a jacket. There may not be as much space here as you’re used to with hard-sided luggage due to the secondary compartment since the organization (and your computer) are under the liner.

On the right side, the compression straps attach to an organizational panel on the top. You can remove this (or unlatch it) easily; however, it’s handy for compressing the gear below it. The panel creates more contact points with the gear being compressed so that you can save more space than the other side, in theory. In reality, it’ll depend on what you stow on either side.

The divider is crafted from mesh and is a solid place to stow socks, underwear, and other small items. Behind it, there’s a ton of open space, and the extra compress makes this a solid place to stow gear that can be made smaller, like clothing, a coat, or camping gear.

Without the organizational divider, the two sides are mostly the same. The only difference is that there is more space on the right, as there isn’t anything else taking up space as there is on the left, thanks to the secondary compartment behind the liner.

Overall, we like how the Carl Friedrik Carry-on X allows us to pack. We can bring our own packing cubes, tech pouch, and toiletry bag if we want to; however, there are places for you to stow your tech and clothing if you don’t have those. A lack of segmentation can save space but won’t work for every traveler.