3 Editors Review Trunk Luggage, the Roomier Bag Style That's Overdue for a Comeback

Until I used the July Trunk, I had no idea that traveling with a lot of luggage could be so easy. Not only can I fit three pairs of shoes in the case no problem, but I can fit a medium stack of each of my T-shirts, pants, button-front shirts and a folded jacket as well. Especially after I separated all the stacks into their own mesh travel bags, both packing before the trip and seeing all that I had after I’d arrived were actually more organized than I am at home. Additionally, maneuvering the case is a pleasure, since unlike littler bags I’ve used, I couldn’t overstuff this one and therefore make it tip over. No, the two TSA-lock clasps are what hold this together rather than a zipper, so there’s no temptation to stars squeezing and zipper-finessing to get it all closed. Using the smooth-gliding July Trunk is civilized travel, not least because it has a hidden odor-proof laundry bag that compresses down whatever your put in there.

Overall, it’s nimble enough to dart through a crowded airport and roomy enough to carry two persons’ clothing on an upcoming cross-country summer road trip. Another perk? My case’s matte finish is handsome and impervious to scratches and dings; my only regret is that I didn’t spring for the $50 to have it customized.

Fast Facts

• Material: polycarbonate
• Size: 28.35” H x 16.34” W x 14.5” D with wheels
• Capacity: 95L
• Weight: 13.2 pounds
• Colors: 4 gloss, 6 matte shades

Mutz raves about the Trunk by Away, the tall, slim drink of water that came to his rescue when he realized that, after all the planning he’d done on his two-week destination wedding in Mexico, he hadn’t thought through the right luggage to take. “I realized I was wholly unprepared in the luggage department,” he says in his glowing review. “I needed something really big, really lightweight and really easy to manage.” For a suitcase of this size, The Trunk is incredibly lightweight and easy to maneuver with its 360-degree, smooth-gliding wheels. I was able to zip around the airport quickly using only the trolley handle (which has two height settings). There are also plenty of side handles to make the suitcase easy to lift when necessary.”

“The Trunk is made of a polycarbonate shell that keeps things lightweight but adds to the quality of the bag. I’ve used suitcases before that have cheap plastic outsides, but this isn’t one of those. The shell is tough enough to withstand dents or dings—and after my international trip, I didn’t notice any scuffing on the exterior,” he writes. Inside the bag, Mutz made use of the double-buckle compression pad, mesh pockets (including one hanging pocket) and it, of course, comes with the laundry bag. Last but not least, this bag got complimented—both because of the glittery, limited edition silver finish, as well as the unusual and attractive 31.1-inch-tall frame.

Fast Facts

• Material: polycarbonate shell
• Size: 31.3" x 17" x 13.7" exterior with wheels
• Capacity: 107 L
• Weight: 12.3 pounds
• Colors: 14 brights and neutrals

PureWow’s resident cruise expert, beauty and cultures editor Chelsea Candelario, is an ardent traveler who isn’t going to leave behind her favorite products or style trends just because she’s having fun around the world. Her secret weapon is her retro-styled checked luggage. “I've traveled everywhere with this Calpak large luggage,” she says. “The design looks I'm heading to Hogwarts, but it seriously carries so much. I was able to put so many items in it when I was in Europe for two weeks, and I still had more room for souvenirs.” This case is a hybrid traditional-trunk case; the equally balanced halves of the case have a two-inch zipper expansion in the middle, which are features of most cases today. But the styling is all trunk—there’s a faux croc finish with an embossed outer strap design, which look elevated. Plus, it has the roominess of a trunk case. And tough? Chelsea appreciated that the wheels took some battering from European cobblestones but lost none of their smooth ride. "I've had this luggage for years, so it does have some scruffs but they are very minor and don't take away from the design. The most beat-up feature is the wheels since they've been everywhere—from Spain to moving into my new apartment in NYC," she says.

Fast Facts

• Material: polycarbonate shell
• Size: 29" x 18.75" x 12" exterior with wheels
• Capacity: 98.6 L
• Weight: 11.3 pounds
• Colors: almond