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Thanks to the popularity of Insta-famous luggage brands like Away, there's been an explosion of colorful, hard-sided suitcase brands cropping up over the past few years. One popular brand is July, an Australian luggage line that made its official debut in the United States just a few years ago. It's a design-forward brand with offerings for checked suitcases, carry-ons, personal items, and travel accessories. The original carry-on is the standard fare, while the Pro offers added features like a detachable laptop sleeve. The Light promises to be the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world at 3.9 pounds, and the Trunk boasts a heritage design that conjures serious travel nostalgia.
Former Insider Reviews travel editor Emily Hochberg first reviewed the Pro SnapSleeve back when July first made its US debut in 2021. Since then, we've gone on to test its original carry-on, and I recently had the opportunity to test the Pro to see if our opinion still stands. Below you'll find my own review, alongside details from Hochberg's original 2021 review.
Every July carry-on (except the Light) has an ejectable battery with a USB and FastCharge USB-C, durable YKK zippers, and a 20-height multi-stop telescopic handle. The Pro takes that functionality one step further with a bit more packing room and the addition of a padded, zipped sleeve at the front. You can choose to have the sleeve attached or opt for the SnapSleeve, which may be removed to access a laptop or other essentials (note that you have to remove the SnapSleeve if you're checking the bag).
The bags come in eight matte colors, seen here is the Pro SnapSleeve in Navy.
Emily Hochberg/Insider
Both the Carry On and Carry On Pro have the same dimensions and the same capacity. While the Pro offers a front pocket, we found that functionally it holds a little less than the regular Carry On because the pocket cuts into the interior packing space. Both should fit overhead on most airlines.
The suitcases' shells are streamlined and attractive, with rounded corners designed to purportedly increase bounce and offer added protection.
A July logo is emblazoned on the side. You can choose from eight matte colors (and several limited edition designs) and add your own personalization for $50, which is a fun touch. The brand also runs frequent promotions offering it for free, too.
If you do want to check these bags, both have integrated TSA-approved locks to keep your belongings safe. The combination takes seconds to set and the lock is smooth and easy to use.
Inside, both bags have water-resistant nylon lining, a hidden laundry bag, and a thick twin-strap compression system to squeeze in that one extra outfit you might want to wear.
Interiors are well designed but will only fit a few days of clothes, less if they are bulky.
Emily Hochberg/Business Insider
The Carry On by popular Australian luggage brand July is an attractive hardshell suitcase with thoughtful features like an ejectable battery and a 20-point telescoping handle. However, we felt it left something to be desired when it came to durability and packing room.
I recently used the regular Carry On as my main bag on a five-day trip to Chicago for a conference. Since I had some bulky clothes packed, the bag was at capacity. I put this bag to the test by going up tiny Amtrak stairs, lifting it into overhead bins, boarding the L, and pulling it across uneven sidewalks.
Overall, the bag was nicely designed and functional. It wheeled exceptionally well through the airport and I was a fan of the 20-height multi-stop telescopic handle, which felt more useful than others that are limited to three heights. The handle was actually soft, so it was a joy to steer around throughout the trip. Compared to other bags I've used, though, the handle was noticeably easy to collapse accidentally while wheeling.
The handle was incredibly comfortable to grip, though I did accidentally trigger the collapse button a few times while holding it.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
The highly durable, silent wheels were a breeze to spin, push, pull, and twirl through busy train stations. I was impressed with the bag's maneuverability through crowds, up stairs, and around tight corners.
The ejectable battery was one of my favorite features. It was convenient to charge my phone with my suitcase on the go. Even when I wasn't using the bag, I would eject the battery to take with me in case I needed a charge while out and about in the city. It is worth noting that the battery pack takes up a bit of room within the bag itself, which can get in the way of packing awkwardly shaped items.
A TSA-approved lock and ejectable battery are high-tech features.
Emily Hochberg/Insider
Unfortunately, I found this bag unforgiving when it came to packing. The interior fits 42 liters but I did have some trouble packing everything I needed, which included five days' worth of clothes, toiletries, a purse, and a pair of shoes. I had to relocate some items — like my hairbrush — to my personal item so the bag could close. Fortunately, the zippers were durable and smooth, which came in handy when I needed to zip my overstuffed bag.
While I appreciated that it came with a hidden laundry bag, something I associated more with large checked suitcases, it was quite small. I had to take my laundry out of the laundry bag and fold my dirty clothes in order for the bag to close on the trip back.
The bag appeared to be bursting at the seams when I packed everything I needed it it. I had to take some items out.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
The shell promises to be scratch-resistant, but I didn't find that to be true. More on that below, in the "Cons" section.
This suitcase has is the same size as the regular Carry On, but has a front pocket for storing a laptop and other travel items. Unfortunately, the front pocket cuts into the interior packing space, so it has functionally less capacity than the regular Carry On.
Removable front pocket may not fit overhead if over packed
Prone to dents and scuffs
Personalized items not eligible for 100-day trial
Former travel editor Emily Hochberg tested the July Carry On Pro with SnapSleeve when the brand first came to the US in 2021. Hochberg used the Carry On Pro as her main cabin bag when she flew cross country with her infant daughter (in other words, there was a lot she needed to fit and have at the ready).
The Carry On Pro actually has the same capacity as the regular Carry On at 42 liters. Functionally, however, the front pocket cuts into the interior packing space of the bag, so the Pro fits a little bit less than the regular Carry On. Hochberg had difficulty fitting everything she needed into the bag, which included a couple of days' worth of clothes, toiletries, toys for her daughter, and a breast pump. The latter barely fit, and she had to remove other items so she could close it. She said that while the compression straps were nice and wide, for odd items like her pump, the panel seemed to add to the bulk rather than mitigate it.
The Pro has a compression sleeve but it didn't save room for oddly shaped items.
Emily Hochberg/Insider
That said, Hochberg said the suitcase was attractive and easy to wheel. The highly durable, silent wheels were a breeze to spin, push, pull, and twirl through busy airports, all while wielding a baby in a stroller at the same time.
The detachable exterior pocket was one of her favorite features, as it allowed her to quickly remove her laptop while in the security line. The sleeve was nicely padded and meant to fit a 15-inch laptop, and had compartments for multiple documents. However, if you overpack it, you may risk the carry-on not fitting into the overhead bin properly.
The sleeve snaps on and off, though she found this feature to be a bit tricky. We recently tested the Pro without the SnapSleeve and liked the security of the front pocket being fully attached. However, keep in mind that the pocket does cut into the interior packing space and loses some of its functionality if you overpack.
Finally, Hochberg said the personalization was a nice addition with a multitude of fonts, colors, and locations to add your name, initials, or a phrase. She added her initials on the back and felt like it was a helpful identifier for locating the bag at claim or in crowded overhead bins.
For $50, you can add personalization to the bag, like our former travel editor did here.
Emily Hochberg/Insider
What makes the July luggage stand out
July makes highly functional hardshell carry-on bags designed to address travel challenges with multiple handle heights, slick wheels, an ejectable battery, and — with the Pro — an exterior sleeve for anything you need to access quickly.
July offers a lifetime warranty, a 100-day trial with free returns (unless you personalize your bag), and free shipping for orders over $100 across the US and Canada.
At $295 and $325, the bags are similar in price to competitors like the Monos Pro Plus but a little more expensive than Away's Carry-On. (Read our full Away luggage review and Away Carry On review for more about what we think of July's competitors.)
The cons
These are not cheap bags, and many less expensive hardshell carry-ons exist with like-minded features.
Away's Carry-On, for example, retails for $275. Personally, I prefer Away's bag, as its compression system is more effective and will cost you $20 less. If the ejectable battery is a dealbreaker for you, though, July might be the way to go.
In our testing, the July suitcases had durability issues. The bags scuff and scratch easily. While the minor scratches are easy to wipe off, major scuffs in the shell and metal corners are permanent. And, we noticed major dents in the shell after our durability testing of both bags.
Despite having bumpers, the July bags fared much worse in our durability testing than other bags. Here you can see a major scratch down to the frame, and on the right, the bumper pulling away from the bag.
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
Additionally, while the compression is meant to help you pack more, these are still standard carry-on bags, so don't expect one compression panel to magically let you fit two weeks' worth of clothes or oddly shaped items. The compression panel also disconnects from the straps very easily, so be careful when closing your bag.
Personalization adds three business days to the shipping time, costs $50 extra, and excludes the product from the 100-day trial. However, the warranty still applies for any manufacturer defects.
What are your alternatives?
Our guide to the best carry on bags outlines several options that may be better suited for your needs. Functionally, Away and Monos makes similarly designed bags to July and we've found them more durable (and often cheaper). If you're interested in a hardshell bag with a front pocket, Monos offers this design in both its standard and bigger carry ons. We'd also recommend checking out Travelpro's line of soft-sided luggage, which is beautiful, durable, and has extremely thoughtful features. It's a favorite of airline crew and frequent fliers for good reason.
July is a worthy competitor for other popular hard-shelled luggage brands. It's worth paying attention to for its attractive design and smart add-ons. At $295 for the regular Carry On and $325 for the Pro, July is similarly priced to other premium mid-tier options like Monos and Away. I appreciate how each corner and feature was created to address travel challenges and, of course, protect your belongings. I can see myself taking it on many future trips.
That said, we found July's luggage less durable and packable than other suitcases we've tested. If you absolutely need a bag with an integrated battery, we think it's worth considering. Otherwise, you can find more durable and spacious bags for the same price, or even cheaper.
Kinsley Searles first joined Business Insider as a Freelance Writer in February 2024 where she tested and reviewed products from carry on luggage to hamster cages. Kinsley joined the Reviews team as a Home and Sleep Reviews Fellow in February 2025. A self proclaimed connoisseur of all things cozy, she is devoted to researching and trying the most innovative sleep and home products on the market. A lifelong Kansan now living in Indiana, Kinsley received her B.A. in English Literature and her M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric from Kansas State University. When she's not researching or trying out a new mattress, you can find Kinsley playing video and card games, attempting every arts and crafts project, watching bad movies, and hanging out with her spoiled and crazy dog, Boo.
Emily Hochberg was Business Insider's Travel Editor and shaped coverage of the best places to travel including top hotels and Airbnbs, trending destinations, great deals, and much more. She has traveled extensively across six continents and some of her favorite hotels in the world include a decadent urban oasis in Bangkok, a small island villa off the coast of Cartagena, a posh eco-friendly luxury hotel in Miami, and a sprawling beachfront resort in Mexico. She has extensively reviewed hotels in New York City, Miami, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Thailand, and many more, and has also written about safe travel, incredible Airbnbs, and travel planning tips.Prior to joining Business Insider, she was the Managing Editor for the travel app Porter & Sail, a hotel booking platform and portal to uncover unique properties, insider recommendations, and city guides. She has written and edited content covering travel, lifestyle, and entertainment for outlets such as MTV, Scott's Cheap Flights, FabFitFun, Xfinity, Secret Escapes, People Magazine, Redfin, and many more.
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