I'm Jules Renner. I fly somewhere in the range of eighty times a year for work, and at some point the suitcase stopped being luggage and became equipment. Curated Roam is where I write that down. More about me.
Delsey wins for casual travelers who check bags fewer than ten times a year, since its price and wide parts availability offset the shell cracking and scratching reviewers report. Level8 costs less upfront, roughly $140 to $180, but its…
4 min read · Luggage
Buying used luggage pays off if you test the bag in person rather than trusting photos or the seller's word. Run every zipper full-length on a stuffed bag, spin the wheels for wobble or flat spots, extend the handle at an angle, measure it…
4 min read · Travel Mode
For road trip trunk packing, use soft-sided duffels, not hard-shell cases: they squish into gaps around coolers and folding chairs, while hard cases just waste space. Put the heavy bag on the bottom, ideally over the axle. Pack the cooler…
5 min read · Travel Mode
Level8, specifically the Grace Carry-On, wins on value against the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21", running roughly $140 to $160 versus a price flight crews accept as a tool purchase, while matching it on wheel quality and adding front-pocket…
5 min read · Luggage
The Level8 Grace works as a carry-on for most Europe trips if you pack layers instead of volume and stick to about 22 x 14 x 9 inches, since budget carriers gate-check strictly. Its zipper pull is the known weak point, often failing around…
4 min read · Travel Mode
The minimalist 3-1-1 kit works best with three twist-cap 3oz bottles (shampoo, face wash, one catch-all) plus a solid shampoo bar and solid deodorant, since bars don't count toward the quart bag at all. Skip refillable pump bottles, since…
4 min read · Travel Mode
For a ski trip, check skis and boots (usually around $40 to $50 each way depending on the carrier) and carry on goggles, electronics, one base layer set, and gloves so you can still function on the mountain if the checked bag disappears.
4 min read · Travel Mode
The Level8 Carry-On is the pick for weekly flyers who don't want to spend Travelpro money, priced around $140 against ~$300+ for the Travelpro. Its front laptop compartment holds a 16-inch MacBook Pro and iPad separately, speeding up…
5 min read · Luggage