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This Robust Carry-On Fixes the Least Convenient Thing About Travel Luggage

The design ups the convenience factor by a ton without sacrificing compatibility with airplane carry-on standards.

Close-up of black double spinner wheels on the bottom corner of a gray hard-shell suitcase on a green surface.Portar
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By Sean Tirman

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A solid carry-on bag is an absolute essential for frequent travelers. That said, most (even the best-rated fan favorites) have the same basic vertically oriented format.

Portar’s Concord Aluminum EdgeFrame Pilot Carry-On Suitcase illustrates that there might be a better way. In fact, I’d argue it solves perhaps the most frustrating thing about traditional carry-on luggage.

Dark gray hard-shell suitcase with four spinner wheels and two TSA locks on a white background.
This bag is horizontally oriented, like a trunk, rather than vertically, which actually makes it even more convenient.
Portar

Four-on-the-floor

The biggest difference between this luggage and more traditional carry-ons is the orientation, which is perhaps extremely obvious. Instead of orienting vertically, this bag sits horizontally, making it wider than it is tall.

That seemingly simple change makes a huge difference in a few ways. Mostly, it means you never have to find space to lay down your bag. It’s already lying down, so to speak. You simply have to flip the lid.

And since the lid is smaller than a vertically oriented bag’s flap (and has integrated hinges), the overall footprint is smaller, too.

Black hard-shell suitcase with four wheels and an extended telescopic handle.
Despite its unique orientation, it still has a telescoping handle and four omnidirectional wheels, making it a cinch to haul.
Portar

Really, it’s more like a trunk in that respect. However, it also has the added benefit of being a bit cleaner and more hygienic. Not lying your bag on the ground means you’re not getting whatever is on the ground all over your bag.

This is made possible, as well, by its quartet of omnidirectional wheels, which make navigating with this bag just as simple and convenient as a vertical one. In fact, it even still has a telescoping handle, so all things considered, you don’t really have to navigate any differently.

Oh, and that handle doubles as a bit of a security add-on, as you can’t open the bag while it’s extended.

Gray hard-shell suitcase with four black spinner wheels and open lid showing interior zippered compartments.
Because of how the handle works, it doubles as a security feature, preventing the case from opening when extended.
Portar

Carry on, wayward son

You might worry that the new orientation comes with other compromises. But you’d be wrong. Virtually everything else you’d look for in a carry-on bag remains intact with this one.

It still has a liner with compression straps to keep all your gear secure in transit. It still meets airlines’ carry-on size standards (meaning it fits in overhead bins). It fits down narrow airplane aisles. And it has a pair of TSA-friendly locks (no zippers to slow you down, either, as they’re not necessary).

Open black hard-shell suitcase with black fabric interior lining and a gray handle inside.
The horizontal format means you never have to lay your bag down on the dirty floor, and you can access its contents at any time with far less effort.
Portar

Perhaps most critically, the exterior is crafted from a classic combination of tough materials: polycarbonate with aluminum reinforcements and a full-perimeter aluminum EdgeFrame. That makes it lightweight and impact-resistant. It will also ding and dent and acquire a character all its own as you use it.

It comes in two colorways as well: Dark Gull Gray and Lunar Silver, with the former just a few shades darker than the latter.

Man in a dark gray coat walking with a silver rolling suitcase at a train station with a blurred train in the background.
This bag might just revolutionize your carry-on experience.
Portar

Availability and pricing

The Portar Concord Aluminum EdgeFrame Pilot Carry-On Suitcase is now available on the brand’s official site for $350 (down from $425) in two colorways.

Dark gray hard-shell suitcase with dual TSA locks and four black spinner wheels.Portar

Portar Concord Aluminum Edgeframe Pilot Carry On Suitcase

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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