THIS CARRY-ON SUITCASE HAS A BUILT-IN CLOSET—AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS
As someone who likes to travel a lot, having a suitcase that doesn't break down and looks nice is important to me. I've always been an Away fan and have thought about getting a Rimowa (I'm not quite there yet, but my sister, who has one, is slowly convincing me otherwise), but the latest piece of luggage that has caught my eye is the Solgaard. The New York City-based suitcase brand has distinguished itself from competitors with its unique removable shelving system (more on this later) and sustainable efforts: Solgaard uses recycled ocean-bound plastic to make its products. Since the best way to know if a product is actually good or not is to test it, I decided to write a Solgaard Carry-On Closet review for House Beautiful.
I ordered the Carry-On Closet Original in the "Grenada Green" color, size medium. I was debating between the medium and large carry-on, but since I already own the Away Bigger Carry-On, I decided Solgaard's medium is less of a headache to travel with. (I've had issues with the Away Bigger Carry-On not fitting on smaller domestic and international flights.) Once it arrived, I tested it for a week, bringing it with me in a car down to Virginia, then from there, on a flight to Los Angeles, then back to New York City. Below, I break down all the need-to-know details about the Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original and if it's worth buying for your own travel adventures.
What Makes Solgaard Special?
The one feature that makes Solgaard different than other suitcases is its unique patented five-shelf shelving system that keeps your clothes organized sans hangers. Imagine if you could connect all your packing cubes together and then hang it up vertically–that's the shelving system.
What Sizes Does the Solgaard Come In?
The Solgaard comes in two carry-on sizes, medium and large, and is available in nine different colors. The medium measures 20.8" x 13.4" x 9" while the large measures 22.4" x 14.6" x 9.6". If you go with the medium, it's accepted by all international airlines, including European budget carriers. The larger option, which is comparable to Away's Bigger Carry-On (22.7" x 15.4" x 9.6"), is accepted by all U.S. airlines but may not be accepted everywhere else.
For the check-ins, Solgaard also offers medium and large options in nine different colors. The medium measures 24.8" x 14.5" x 11.8" (and holds around 10-15 days' worth of clothes), while the large measures 28.3" x 17.3" x 14.5" (and can hold 14+ days' worth of clothes).
What's the Difference Between Solgaard Original and Solgaard Lite Luggage?
When you're ordering from the website, you'll notice there are original and "lite" luggage choices for check-ins and carry-ons. Although the sizing is the same across the board, the Lite line offers more color choices for the check-ins (including the limited-edition Caribbean hues), zipper closures (instead of latches), and shelving units with a horizontal orientation (versus vertical). I opted for the Original line because I wanted to try the latch mechanism since all my suitcases feature zippers, and I didn't have a preference between vertical or horizontal storage.
How Much Can You Pack in a Solgaard Carry-on Closet?
The shelving system is self-explanatory to use, as I just folded up and stuffed my clothes and undergarments into the different compartments. On the first shelf, I packed underwear, bralettes, and socks, followed by pajamas, workout clothes, and various dresses/sets. Although the pockets felt small, they fit a decent amount of clothes in there—I was able to pack seven different outfits. That said, I was packing summer clothes, which are easier to compress and not as bulky as wintertime pieces. If I had to pack my chunky knit sweaters and jeans, I wouldn't be able to fit much. The brand recommends packing each shelf 60 to 70 percent full, but I ended up packing it to more like 90 percent full—I'm an over-packer.
Once all the pockets were filled, I stuffed the removable shelf back into the suitcase and didn't use the compression straps to hold everything together since the shelf felt quite stuffed already. There was still space on the sides to slot in a few extra items, so I tossed in a swimsuit and an extra workout bralette. As for the other side, I was able to fit two pairs of flats and running sneakers. Although my travel beauty pouch fit here too, I realized I couldn't close the suitcase because between that, the shelving unit, and sneakers, all the items were too bulky. I ended up taking out the pouch and sticking it into my tote bag.
Solgaard's Additional Features
Aside from the shelving unit, here are several other features to note about the suitcase: it's made from a durable, lightweight polycarbonate shell; it has 360-degree wheels, a TSA-approved combination lock, an integrated USB port so you can charge your device on the go, plus soft touch top and side handle grips. Note: you have to use your own rechargeable battery pack or buy one from Solgaard, as it is not included. All the Solgaard suitcases are TSA-approved.
Is the Solgaard Durable?
I have zero worries that the exterior polycarbonate shell will break. It feels really sturdy and solid. Granted, I have only tossed the suitcase into the back of a car and flown with it once so far, but the suitcase feels like it's built to last. Plus, the brand offers a lifetime warranty on its luggage to give you peace of mind should anything break. The two latches on my suitcase didn't snap open or crack during travel, even though my carry-on was stuffed to the max.
Is the Solgaard Original Suitcase Worth Buying?
As someone who is loyal to specific suitcase brands (Away in particular), I felt neutral testing out Solgaard. Now that I've experienced the suitcase for myself though, I did have fun using the shelving unit, the handles feel nicer on my hands than the Away ones, and the 360-degree wheels are indeed smooth to operate. I would recommend this suitcase to people who aren't over-packers and aren't as fussy with their outfit choices: I think the built-in shelving works better with T-shirts, shorts, and jeans—items that lend themselves to being folded. (I didn't pack some of my nicer skirts or dresses because they would wrinkle from being crammed into the shelves.) I'll continue to use this suitcase for quick weekend trips and the like, but won't be traveling internationally with it as I have too many outfits to fit into the shelves (check-ins only!).
2024-07-10T22:36:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd