LAT_56 Road Warrior Carry-On Suitcase :: Drive By

The Road Warrior Carry-On Suitcase RW_01 by Scottish-based LAT_56 is built for business travel and other short excursions.  Sleek styling combined with high-quality components and their patented SPS™ Suit Packing System caught my attention. 

For the past couple of months I’ve put this carry-on through its paces on various short trips, both on the road and through the sky, and here are the results.

Who It Suits

The business traveler who needs to keep his suit looking sharp, the minimalist traveler looking to pack the bare essentials with built-in organization, and anyone who requires a fashionable option while traveling on short trips.

Who It Doesn’t

Anyone who requires more space out of their carry-on luggage and the price-conscious traveler.

The Good

Let’s start off with the style.  The fashion-forward design is appealing to the eye, so much so that I’ve been complimented several times on the luggage, even by a friendly attendant while checking-in for my flight who offered to “take it off my hands.” 

The carry-on is lightweight and heavy-duty.  Made from military-spec moulded EVA foam and ballistic nylon, the luggage is built tough and water resistant to keep the contents safe.  Size-wise this is an IATA (International Air Transport Association) cabin approved suitcase, which fits in most if not all overhead bins.  It also fits nicely stored away with its slim profile, which is a double-edged sword, but we’ll get to that later.

“The fashion-forward design is appealing to the eye, so much so that I’ve been complimented several times on the luggage“

The details help make this a standout.  Utilizing two wheels (an eight-wheel version is also available) inspired by longboard skateboard wheels, the luggage rolls very smoothly and makes it easy to bob and weave throughout the busiest of airports.  There are also two small feet at the bottom to help the luggage stand upright when not moving.  LAT_56 elected to use high-quality components, from the weather-resistant zippers to a solid and sturdy adjustable handle complete with a non-slip and comfortable grip for extra control on the go. The included LAT_56 branded TSA-approved lock is also a nice bonus.    

“…the luggage rolls very smoothly and makes it easy to bob and weave throughout the busiest of airports.  There are also two small feet at the bottom to help the luggage stand upright when not moving.“

Organization is a key element of this luggage.  The suitcase comes with removable internal storage compartments found within the clamshell design.  The two main compartments are divided by a thin translucent zippered liner.  There are two small detachable pouches made for socks and underwear that attach via Velcro.  I found them to be small, but looks can be deceiving and they do fit a weekend’s worth of skivvies.  A detachable water-resistant sealed shoe / laundry bag is also included, which came to be my favorite feature as it came in handy to store both an extra pair of kicks and some dirty gym clothes while on the road.  There are a few internal zippered pockets that provided additional storage for small belongings.  Overall, the interior is nice and I enjoyed the smooth red liner. The exterior pocket fits a magazine for quick storage and easy access while on trips. 

“Organization is a key element of this luggage.  The suitcase comes with removable internal storage compartments found within the clamshell design.“

A standout feature that LAT_56 includes with the Road Warrior is the patented SPS™ Suit Packing System.  The system includes a quality garment bag that can hold a suit, jacket, or dress shirts and a beefy EVA foam hanger.  What makes the system is the foam portion of the garment bag that helps fold the suit / dress shirts nice and evenly before then connecting the SPS back into the luggage.  Another nice touch is the magnetic enclosure which makes it a breeze to hang the SPS in any hotel closet quickly and conveniently.

I personally don’t travel often with sport coats or suits.  Last time I did was for my wedding.  So to test it out I threw together three dress shirts in the SPS.  The shirts came out a little wrinkled, but not as much as if I tightly rolled them.  As shirts are more susceptible to wrinkles, my guess is that a suit would be fine while traveling.

“A standout feature that LAT_56 includes with the Road Warrior is the patented SPS™ Suit Packing System.  The system includes a quality garment bag that can hold a suit, jacket, or dress shirts and a beefy EVA foam hanger.“

LAT_56 stands by their product and offers a limited 5-year lifetime guarantee.  According to the brand, there are no hassles and no charge for returns deemed to come from defective product due to a problem with their manufacturer and they will either repair or replace the item.  I tested the luggage on several flights both as a carry-on and as a check-in and there were only minimal scratches to the exterior and my internal contents stayed safe and sound.

“I tested the luggage on several flights both as a carry-on and as a check-in and there were only minimal scratches to the exterior and my internal contents stayed safe and sound.“

The Not So Good

One feature that I found missed the mark slightly is the toiletry pocket.  It’s great that there is a built-in storage pocket with quick and convenient access for all liquids, but I found it to be a little small for a few of my items. It’s also tough to stuff if the case is packed to the gills.

“One feature that I found missed the mark slightly is the toiletry pocket.” 

The actual storage space is smaller than you may expect.  The retractable handle takes up a little bit of the space in the main compartment, while the Suit Packing System when used takes up practically the entire other compartment.  I was able to fit a few packing cubes to help keep things organized and in place. As mentioned this luggage is only good for a couple of days of travel, so for longer stints this may not be the carry-on for you.

“The actual storage space is smaller than you may expect.  The retractable handle takes up a little bit of the space in the main compartment, while the Suit Packing System when used takes up practically the entire other compartment.”

I found the product name to be deceiving as a “Carry-on Suitcase,” as there are no real compartments for a laptop or other work-related gadgets.  Sure, it looks good enough to bring into the office, but it would still need to pair with a work pack or messenger for today’s tech-driven workplace.

One detail I found could be improved is the thick handle at the top of the luggage.  The handle is very beefy, perhaps a bit too bulky, and when trying to stack a pack or other luggage on top it doesn’t allow for proper balance. 

“I found the product name to be deceiving as a “Carry-on Suitcase,” as there are no real compartments for a laptop or other work-related gadgets.“

There were a few stray threads that distracted from the overall finish of the bag, but that can easily be snipped off, yet is still worth mentioning.

“The handle is very beefy, perhaps a bit too bulky, and when trying to stack a pack or other luggage on top it doesn’t allow for proper balance.”

Finally, the price is steep at £299 ($449 USD), but this comes with all the extra internal storage pouches and the garment bag.

Verdict

The LAT_56 Road Warrior Carry-On Suitcase RW_01 is a great weekend trip companion.  Great for business and short trips alike, though fair warning it is not budget-friendly.  The internal organization provides storage options while the exterior is sleek and a solid solution for fashion-conscious travel.