MOST READ TRAVEL
While there’s no shortage of smart and stylish suitcases in the skies these days, one thing missing from the luxury luggage market has been a brand that allows customers to design a suitcase online—think Nike’s robust customization suite, but for luggage—and have it delivered right to their door.
Today, that changes with the launch of ROAM, the first fully customizable, direct-to-consumer luggage brand. Of course, the company’s ability to innovate makes sense given its creators: Charlie Clifford, founder of beloved luggage brand Tumi, and Larry Lein, Tumi’s former executive vice president. (Together, ROAM’s founding team boasts more than 100 years of combined industry experience.)
Here’s how it works: On the company’s website, customers select a suitcase in one of four available sizes (a traditional carry-on, a wide-body carry-on, a medium check-in, or a large check-in). From there, they can customize a variety of features—including outer shell colors, wheel caps, stitching, zipper and zipper pulls, binding, carry-handle, monogram patch, and telescoping handle rods—with combinations of 10 rich colors. (To start, the colors are only available in a shiny patent, but the brand plans to launch a matte collection as well.) From there, individual suitcases are made to order in the brand’s factory in San Diego, California, and shipped door-to-door within three business days.
But even with a sleek user experience, ROAM luggage wouldn’t stand out among its competitors—like Away, Rimowa, and Raden—without a high-functioning product. Currently, ROAM is the only luggage company to use American-made virgin polycarbonate, which is both durable and exceedingly light, for its shell material. Plus, each suitcase’s four wheels, from Japanese manufacturer Hinomoto, have ball bearings that spin smoothly on any surface—from airport hallways to cobblestone streets. All pieces of ROAM luggage also have an ergonomic molded-handle grip for maximum comfort, plus water-resistant zippers, a leather initial patch with an engraved ID card, a TSA-approved combination lock, and a mesh interior with two zip pockets. Bon voyage, indeed.
From $350; roamluggage.com.
