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Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What We Tested…
July’s CaseSafe Checked Luggage, $375
How We Tested…
We tested July’s CaseSafe suitcases over the course of a couple trips, taking note of durability, tracking functionality, ease of use, and how much it could hold. We also paid close attention to the quality of details like zippers, handles, and wheels as we traveled.
Why We Tested...
Margo’s Results…
Easy setup. July’s CaseSafe line has a built-in tracker, so you can keep tabs on your luggage. It’ll pair with Apple’s FindMy and Android’s Find Hub apps. The setup is incredibly straightforward and took me about two minutes following this video. All I had to do was locate the back of the tracker inside of the suitcase, pull the plastic tab, open the FindMy app on my phone, and follow the prompts from there.
Organization and size. I love this suitcase’s general layout. One side has a larger zippered compartment, while another has an adjustable, compressive divider. There’s even a built-in nylon laundry bag that folds neatly into a zippered side compartment. The checked size is ideal for most trips. I took mine on a long weekend trip, where I needed about five outfits, two pairs of shoes, toiletries, and a pair of pajamas, and I had room to spare.
Durability. While I’m not usually a hardshell suitcase kind of girl, I am very into the reinforced corner bumpers and Aerospace-grade German polycarbonate shell. I found that my suitcase could be thrown around and I didn’t worry about my belongings being damaged. The downside is that these durable materials made the suitcase seem a little bit heavier to me. That said, I’ll give it bonus points for the water-resistant, stainproof-lining that wipes down easily. I also found the zippers to be thick and sturdy, which is a must if you’re an overpacker and you don’t want to worry about a broken zipper.
Wheels. I think the SilentMove™ wheels were what really sold me on this suitcase. As the name suggests, they’re extra quiet and are so smooth you hardly have to push or pull to get the momentum going. They move 360 degrees, so you can dash through the airport without having to deal with lagging.
Price. It goes without saying that this suitcase is a splurge. To me, it feels like its quality matches the price. July’s premise behind this suitcase is that you don’t have to remember to place an Apple AirTag inside your suitcase if you buy this one. If you’re forgetful, this might be worth the splurge for you. I still feel like if you wanted to save some money, you could just buy an Apple Airtag (they’re $29 each) and place them in your go-to suitcases at all times. If you’re looking for a new suitcase with all the bells and whistles, I would still recommend this one.
Ali’s Results…
Durability. Ali Napoli, our Senior Commerce Director, also tested this suitcase with me. She raved about how durable the outer shell feels (especially with the reinforced corners) and found the built-in TSA lock to feel extra secure.
Wheels. Her favorite part about the wheels is that they can handle a lot of weight; extra weight placed on top (like a tote or personal item) doesn’t make the wheels catch. They’re overall smooth and easy to roll.
Storage bag. This suitcase comes with a drawstring storage bag, which, for the price you’re paying, is an awesome added touch to help protect the suitcase when storing.
Sidenotes…
July’s CaseSafe Luggage comes in seven different sizes, but we’d go for the basic carry-on and checked versions to cover your bases.
This one doesn’t have a weight check handle. If we’re spending this much on a suitcase, we would have loved this to help us save some extra money in the long run.
Ali noted that the retractable handle on hers will sometimes stick when she’s putting it down, which in turn causes a slight delay when she’s in a hurry. I didn’t have this problem on mine, but July has a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defaults.