Bellroy Transit Carry On Luggage Review – What Fits Inside!

This blog post is a paid for advertorial in collaboration with Bellroy.
Items that were received as PR product are marked with an asterisk * 
Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR products here. 

Estimated read time: 6 minutes

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been quietly testing something very exciting: Bellroy’s first-ever hard-shell luggage case. It’s only just come out – I was lucky enough to try it ahead of its official release – and let me tell you, for a debut, it’s seriously impressive.

After taking it for a spin on a recent three-day work trip to Melbourne – just enough travel to see what it could do without triggering my overpacking tendencies (Just kidding, I still brought my Dyson Airwrap) – I have thoughts about Bellroy’s new Transit Carry-On Case. 

Design & Sizing

This is classic Bellroy: sleek, minimal, and quietly elevated. The matte shell, rounded corners, and clean lines give it that subtle, “yes, I have my life together” energy – without screaming for attention. It’s elegant without being over-designed, and stylish in a way that works just as well in a corporate setting as it does next to a coffee cup at the airport lounge.

It’s the kind of carry-on you could confidently wheel into a boardroom, a boutique hotel, or a trendy café without missing a beat. Stylish, but not trying too hard.

I chose to go with classic black, but it comes in chalk, everglade (a teal shade) and bronze. Having seen these colours used by others, I have to admit to having a tiny bit of FOMO for not choosing a vibrant colour! But I’ve been very pleased with the new case to our luggage rotation – the black makes this a very smart and sleek looking bag and a vibrant colour would be a little too “main character” in a traditional office setting (…well, I’ll keep telling myself that anyhow).

SHOP THE CURRENT LINE UP

The bag is available in two sizes:

Bellroy’s luggage receives the highest level of warranty from the brand at 10 years (at the time of writing, the bag warranty was been increased from 3 years to 6 years). In addition, selected components of the bag have been designed so they can be repaired, rather than needing to replace the entire case which is what you would need to do with other cases in the market. Parts that are replaceable include the telescopic handle, the woven grab handles, wheels, and TSA lock, and they can be removed and refitted by you with the hex key that comes with the bag. No drilling necessary or hard-to-reach places.

Packing Like a Pro (or Just Like Me)

Now, onto the inside – which is where Bellroy really shines. The internal configuration is clever in all the right ways: one zippered mesh side for clothes, and another compartmentalised side for everything else. No flapping panels, no wasted space. Bonus for those on Team Packing Cube: the case comes with two removable pockets that act like built-in cubes. They’re great for corralling smaller items or separating out things like activewear or smaller bits and bobs. If you’re a chaos-packer turned reluctant organiser, this is your gentle nudge into the light. The packing cells also double as an internal divider, for those of you still in denial about packing cubes (…I’m totally judging you btw 😎)

Here’s what I managed to fit in my Transit Carry-On for my three day work “adventure”:

Meanwhile, you can watch me packing said items into my case in this YouTube video below where I share my work travel essentials and some useful tips.

Packing the bare essentials 😅

The internal pouches kept things organised without me having to resort to my usual four-packing-cubes-and-a-prayer method. Everything had its place, and nothing moved around mid-flight. Huzzah!

Taking the Case for a Spin

Navigating through the airport with this case in tow felt smooth and easy. It wheeled well across most surfaces, and the compact form meant I could glide through narrow aisles and crowds without awkward manoeuvring. The telescopic handle extended and retracted without fuss (designed with three different height settings), and felt comfortable in hand for the most part – though I did notice it feels a touch more lightweight when the bag is fully packed.

It’s the kind of bag that won’t draw attention to itself, in the best way – doing its job quietly while you focus on finding your gate (and your second coffee of the morning).

Although the case is designed for carry-on, my journey home ended with it being ceremoniously checked in. I was randomly asked to weigh my luggage at the gate (love that for me), and despite my best efforts to avoid eye contact with ground staff, I was swiftly intercepted. My bag tipped the scales at 10kg. Virgin Australia was not impressed with my interpretation of the 7kg limit. Can’t blame the bag for that one – I blame my Airwrap.

A humble reminder about weight limits

The Verdict: A Smart, Stylish Travel Sidekick

Bellroy’s debut luggage case is everything I hoped it would be – understated, functional, and deceptively roomy. It’s a carry-on that suits the modern professional who appreciates smart design and doesn’t want to sacrifice style at 30,000 feet.

Would I recommend it? Wholeheartedly. Just maybe weigh it before you hit the airport.

Bellroy case*, Bellroy tote bag* (featured here), vintage Burberry coat (some options here and here), Sezane shirt (sz US 4 / AU 8), David Lawrence skirt (new season version here, very similar version here), Bared loafers*, Status Anxiety sunglasses*, Arms of Eve earrings*

SHOP ITEMS FEATURED IN THIS POST

As always, thanks for stopping by!

P.S. For travel gear that served us for a non-work purpose, here are the nifty travel things that kept us organised on our trip to Japan!