I travel often, and I travel hard. It’s not intentional, the tremendous wear and tear on my baggage. That’s simply what happens when I take more than 50 flights a year, numerous road trips, and countless weekend getaways. Thanks to some overzealous airline workers, my last luggage lost a wheel at the airport. The suitcase I had before that one broke across the front when an airline worker dropped it over the edge of the conveyor belt as we were deplane-ing. I was none too pleased about that. Still, thanks to these travel mishaps, I was in the market for a new piece of luggage. I discovered that ROAM Luggage could be completely customized and built-to-order right here in the good ol’ US of A, and I couldn’t “add to cart” fast enough. Here’s how to order your own built-to-order ROAM luggage!
Why I Chose ROAM Luggage
I wanted something that would last. I did lots of research about hardshell luggage. Eventually, I landed on an expandible carry-on from ROAM because I could customize the colors, and they have a reputation for excellence that I’ve been curious about for quite some time. I wanted something that was made here in the states simply because I was curious how it would compare to other carry-ons I’ve owned in the past that were made abroad. While I own objects from all over the world, and I think it’s so incredibly cool that we live in such a globalized society (obviously, I love traveling!), I know things made in America used to be a huge deal. Having used this carry-on myself now, I can definitely see a difference in quality!
Without sacrificing weight, this luggage overall feels very sturdy and well constructed. A full pound lighter than my last carry-on, this bag doesn’t wobble on its wheels, the seams are evenly stitched, there’s no jagged metal or anything sharp whatsoever, and the exterior can be cleaned using melamine foam sponges to remove scuffs and scrapes, which means I can easily care for it and keep it looking clean for years to come.
Design Process
Designing my bag was so much fun. I’d initially planned to go all white with a neon or brightly colored zipper and handle, but for some reason, carry-ons don’t have the option to be all white just yet. So, I decided to make it white and green, inspired by the colors of the forest around my house and the gardens I love to visit around the world. Here’s how I designed my built-to-order ROAM Luggage. I chose the expandable standard carry-on size.
The first step was to select either the standard or large carry-on. I went the standard route so that I wouldn’t have any issues. Some European and Asian airlines are very picky about baggage dimensions, and I thought this would make things more convenient. For an extra $45, I made it expandable to fit more when I can get away with it, like on road trips!
The next step was to select the colors. This is so much fun to play around with. They have a design gallery inspired by travel destinations around the world, like Edinburgh, Newport, and Osaka, where you can get ideas (or shop) for popular and unique color combinations. Although I didn’t pick anything from here, it gave me some ideas of what I liked and didn’t like. Don’t be afraid to play around with things you might not like to get a feel for what you like.
This is the color combination I created and eventually settled upon. 
This is how it turned out below!
Built-to-Order Luggage Features
There are a few options here, like whether or not to make the luggage expandable, the luggage’s overall size, and of course, the color customization. I love that the baggage has a TSA-approved lock on the side, and the telescoping handle is so sturdy, unlike other hardshell carry-ons I’ve used that feel flimsy and like a single strong gust of wind might snap it off. The luggage also comes with compression boards to make packing easier than ever.
Remember how my last luggage was broken? Well, this is made from lightweight, flexible polycarbonate plastic that is, according to the dozens and dozens of reviews I’ve read, resilient enough to withstand being yeeted from an airplane, chucked off of buses, rained and snowed on, and worse. Let’s hope that’s true.
The zipper is water-repellant, so I don’t have to worry about my belongings getting soaked even when it rains. ROAM luggage offers 100-day trials of my luggage, so I will test it and see how it does over spring and summer of heavy traveling. Beyond that, it has a lifetime warranty and is shipped for free. After it shipped, it arrived in under two days.
Final Thoughts
I’m so happy with the final product. I think the quality and precision of what I ordered vs. what I received and the craftsmanship of this piece, paired with the fact that I could select the colors and have it built just for me here in America, makes it special. I’ve heard many great things about ROAM Luggage, so we’ll see how this holds up over the coming year or two of travel. I’ll update you about its durability in a year or so, but I have high hopes, and I’m optimistic that it will hold up far better than other hardshell luggage I’ve owned.
See my travel adventures here.
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