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Have you ever seen those ‘Golden Age of Air Travel’ photos circa the 1960s where beautiful people in first class sip champagne amid a plume of cigarette smoke getting ready to feast on lobster thermidor? As an old soul, these images have always made me ooze with nostalgia for a bygone area where glitz and glamor were synonymous with flying the friendly skies. People dressed to the nines and accessorized for the airport in style, perhaps best displayed via their selection of luggage for the sojourn. Beautiful valises from the best luxury European fashion houses were staples of this era, cementing luggage as a key new category adventurous consumers have connected with for over a hundred years.
Fast forward to today, and unless you’re an ultra-frequent flier or have beaucoup bucks, travel is anything but glamorous. And yet we still have an opportunity to express ourselves through how we move around the world. I’ve been on the lookout for a modern luggage brand I could be proud to strut to the gate alongside. Enter July, the Australian-born luggage company bringing much-needed design-forward thinking to the category. It’s quietly become my favorite luggage brand and my go-to for trips both short and long.
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At A Glance: July Luggage
Best For: Frequent travelers, design lovers, carry-on-only packers
Starting Price: $135
Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Trial Period: 100-day returns
Ships to: US, Australia, UK, and select international markets
Who Makes July Luggage?
Frequent travelers and founders Athan Didaskalou and Richard Li saw a category that was selling poorly designed products at extreme premiums - and wanted to fix it. The two gents read over 4,000 reviews of some of the best selling luggage on the market and saw immediate room for improvement: addressing the form-factor of the hero products, innovating on materials, and leading with a customer-centric view of things like warranty and personalization that are unique to the brand. In 2019, July launched with a single SKU – the Carry-On.
In the 4+ years since, July has grown up in a big way. From launching into new markets across the globe to expanding their product lines across hard-shell suitcases, overnight bags, backups, and toiletry bags/packing cells, July is committed to helping you elevate your travel experience, wherever it may take you. And I think a lot of that has to do with the brand they’ve built alongside the products. It’s elevated, yet accessible – a tough balancing act for sure, but it comes through across every touchpoint – website is beautifully designed, the brand’s IG has nearly 235K followers, and even a newly opened brick-and-mortar storefront in their maiden Australia oozes a thoughtfully designed aesthetic that makes you wonder if a new Golden Age of travel is right around the corner.
I've been testing July’s Original Carry On for several months across real travel (airports, trains, and the cobblestone streets of Europe that destroy lesser luggage), and it earns every bit of praise it gets.
The carry-on is engineered to hold the maximum cabin-allowed volume, with a distinctive eggshell shape (a rectangle with curved corners) that reinforces the weakest points of any polycarbonate shell. Anodized aluminum bumpers add further protection, and July's proprietary scratch-proof texture handles the inevitable road-warrior wear better than any suitcase I've owned.
Notable features that actually matter in practice:
- SilentMove 360° spinner wheels: genuinely the best wheels I've experienced on any suitcase. Gliding through a terminal with a fully packed July feels effortless in a way that's hard to describe until you've done it.
- Ejectable battery bank: approved for flying on all major airlines, charges your devices without hunting for a gate outlet
- YKK Japanese zippers: among the best zippers available; the open/close experience is satisfying in a way cheap zippers never are
- Y-Strap Compression System: a heavy-duty internal strap that compresses one side to create more packing space
- Compressible nylon laundry bag: a small touch that makes packing for the return trip significantly less chaotic
The cobblestone test was the most telling. Streets that have rattled and damaged every other bag I've owned barely registered. The construction is that solid.
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While I’m usually an avoid-checking-luggage-traveler-at-all-costs, after browsing July’s full product catalog I fell in love with the Checked Trunk ($555) knowing it’d be a perfect fit for an upcoming overseas trip. A few travel influencers I follow swear by the Trunk form-factor, wowed by the twin latch locks (no zippers!) and the 80/20 lid opening to allow for oversized items like boots or hats to not get squished on the deeper side of the trunk. Maybe I’m trying to harken back to that vintage 60s ‘first class’ energy I alluded to earlier, but the Trunk definitely is a vibe for those looking to make a statement with their luggage choice and stand out in the one-size-fits sea of traditional checked bags.
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And for those looking to wet their beak with the July brand without making a bigger investment, I’d encourage you to take a look at their soft goods selection – including backpacks, weekenders, and totes. The Everyday Small Tote ($135) is the perfect compliment to the Carry-On piece, fitting snugly over the Luggage handles with just enough space and compartments for all the must-haves during transit. At just over a hundred dollars, the 100% cotton canvas totes are an attractive entry point to start building out your July luggage collection. And for those ready to take the full plunge, there are bundle-and-save deals when you purchase two or more bags.
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NEW: July's latest launch is worth knowing about before you buy. The Capsule Carry-On introduces a top-down packing system with a door-style opening, a genuinely different approach that makes accessing your bag in tight overhead bins and cramped hotel rooms significantly easier than a traditional carry-on that opens down the middle. It comes loaded with additional features like integrated tracking, lockable wheels, internal compression, a hidden valuables pocket, and a laundry bag. Available in five colors, it sits at $395, a step up from the Original Carry-On but with a meaningfully different packing experience.
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July Carry-On Review: The Star of the Show
I've been testing July’s Original Carry On for several months across real travel (airports, trains, and the cobblestone streets of Europe that destroy lesser luggage), and it earns every bit of praise it gets.
The carry-on is engineered to hold the maximum cabin-allowed volume, with a distinctive eggshell shape (a rectangle with curved corners) that reinforces the weakest points of any polycarbonate shell. Anodized aluminum bumpers add further protection, and July's proprietary scratch-proof texture handles the inevitable road-warrior wear better than any suitcase I've owned.
Notable features that actually matter in practice:
- SilentMove 360° spinner wheels: genuinely the best wheels I've experienced on any suitcase. Gliding through a terminal with a fully packed July feels effortless in a way that's hard to describe until you've done it.
- Ejectable battery bank: approved for flying on all major airlines, charges your devices without hunting for a gate outlet
- YKK Japanese zippers: among the best zippers available; the open/close experience is satisfying in a way cheap zippers never are
- Y-Strap Compression System: a heavy-duty internal strap that compresses one side to create more packing space
- Compressible nylon laundry bag: a small touch that makes packing for the return trip significantly less chaotic
The cobblestone test was the most telling. Streets that have rattled and damaged every other bag I've owned barely registered. The construction is that solid.
We like
We don't like
Personalization: Actually Impressive
Great brand, great product. Check and check. But it’s July’s customer-centric approach that really stands out in a crowded luggage market. July offers a 100-day trial allowing you to return the luggage no questions asked if it’s simply not right for you.
You can also personalize your carry on for free, but this isn’t your class borning gold foil monogramming. July has really placed a stake in the ground around personalization, offering customers 11 fonts and 28 colors to choose from to really make the bag your own. At the time of publishing, they even ran a program to personalize your luggage with a photo of your favorite fur baby! July is serious about their personalization and these limited edition launches are a testament to that in a way I’ve never seen another brand deliver.
Other Editor-Approved Hero Products From July
NEW: July's latest launch is worth knowing about before you buy. The Capsule Carry-On introduces a top-down packing system with a door-style opening, a genuinely different approach that makes accessing your bag in tight overhead bins and cramped hotel rooms significantly easier than a traditional carry-on that opens down the middle. It comes loaded with additional features like integrated tracking, lockable wheels, internal compression, a hidden valuables pocket, and a laundry bag. Available in five colors, it sits at $395, a step up from the Original Carry-On but with a meaningfully different packing experience.
We like
We don't like
While I’m usually an avoid-checking-luggage-traveler-at-all-costs, after browsing July’s full product catalog I fell in love with the Checked Trunk ($555) knowing it’d be a perfect fit for an upcoming overseas trip. A few travel influencers I follow swear by the Trunk form-factor, wowed by the twin latch locks (no zippers!) and the 80/20 lid opening to allow for oversized items like boots or hats to not get squished on the deeper side of the trunk. Maybe I’m trying to harken back to that vintage 60s ‘first class’ energy I alluded to earlier, but the Trunk definitely is a vibe for those looking to make a statement with their luggage choice and stand out in the one-size-fits sea of traditional checked bags.
We like
We don't like
And for those looking to wet their beak with the July brand without making a bigger investment, I’d encourage you to take a look at their soft goods selection – including backpacks, weekenders, and totes. The Everyday Small Tote ($135) is the perfect compliment to the Carry-On piece, fitting snugly over the Luggage handles with just enough space and compartments for all the must-haves during transit. At just over a hundred dollars, the 100% cotton canvas totes are an attractive entry point to start building out your July luggage collection. And for those ready to take the full plunge, there are bundle-and-save deals when you purchase two or more bags.
We like
We don't like
Is July Luggage Worth It in 2026?
With loyalty programs cutting their perks left and right, I’m not sure the next time I’m going to earn an upgrade the good ole fashioned way of staying loyal to one airline. Instead, I shifted my focus to upgrading my luggage game to something worthy of the person I am or at least aspire to be. With July, I’ve found a brand committed to the things I care most about: design, aesthetics and function all wrapped up in one cohesive package.
What are you waiting for? Take the plunge and shop your favorites from July’s collection today!
July Luggage FAQs
Is July Luggage worth the price?
Yes, especially for frequent travelers. At $295 for the carry-on, July sits at the premium end of mid-market luggage but well below ultra-luxury brands like Rimowa. For anyone who travels more than a few times a year, it pays for itself in durability alone.
What are the July carry-on dimensions?
The July Original Carry-On is designed to meet the maximum cabin-allowed dimensions for most major airlines. Always verify against your specific airline's requirements before travel, as carry-on limits can vary.
Does July Luggage hold up on cobblestone streets?
Yes, this was one of the most notable findings in our testing. The anodized aluminum corner bumpers and SilentMove wheels handle cobblestone significantly better than standard spinner luggage. The eggshell polycarbonate shell also resists cracking at the corners, which is where cobblestone damage typically appears on cheaper bags.
What is July's return and warranty policy?
July offers a 100-day trial with no-questions-asked returns, and a lifetime warranty on all luggage products.
Why You Should Trust Us
At The Quality Edit, we do the legwork so you don't have to. Our writers and editors spend hours testing, reviewing, and researching products to bring you only the most honest recommendations. This review was written by Scott Silver, co-founder of The Quality Edit and a veteran traveler who tested July Luggage across multiple trips including real-world use across European airports, trains, and cobblestone streets. Scott's assessment covers months of daily use, not a single unboxing. Pricing and product details have been verified and updated for 2026.
