“Aye, that’s a pretty case, innit?”

We’re on the remote Knoydart Peninsula, accessible only by boat, on the west coast of Scotland. The man admiring my luggage is the late 50s Scottish estate manager transferring my watercolor designed carry-on from the boat we rode in on to the 4×4 trailer that will haul us to our accommodation. It’s not the first compliment on this new piece of luggage, or the other NaSaDen carry-ons I have. My partner TJ was using my cat carry-on the previous week on a shorter domestic trip, and the woman at the airline gate checking our tickets paused to tell him, “Oh! I love your luggage!”

I’ve been using NaSaDen Luggage since 2018. I’d had subpar experiences with my other luggage throughout the years, trying several brands but never being super satisfied. Reliable luggage is essential on long haul flights and trips with a lot of moving from one place to the next.

I’ve written about NaSaDen before here and here. I can confirm all my pieces are going strong. We’re frequent travelers both internationally and domestically from the USA. Our luggage has traveled thousands of miles and been used in just about every terrain and weather condition. Our carry-on luggage gets the most use; we rarely check bags on our trips. But our checked luggage has been used pretty heavily for transporting photography and filmmaking equipment from job to job.

When it comes to packing, we really max these out. Typically, we’re packing for 2-3 week trips, usually in cold weather climates. So, there’s rain boots and raincoats, sweaters, tripods, and more. Knock on wood, but I’ve never had a zipper or seam bust yet. The suitcase is also super lightweight but robust, which helps when you overpack. I’m 5’2″ and can manage lifting this always jam-packed suitcase up into the overhead compartments.

The 360 degree spinner wheels are quiet and smooth, and handle every surface pretty easily. The TSA Universal Locks are also handy when you need extra security without a key. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: one of my favorite features of the suitcase is still the simple way the luggage zipper sliders lock neatly into place. Why is it so satisfying?

Eight years of using these, I’ve finally decided to geek out and google what “PC-ABS material” actually is. Well, if you want to know: They’re thermoplastics. Polycarbonate (PC) is tough and heat resistant, while acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is flexible and processable. This site describes it: It’s tough with high-impact strength. PC-ABS has both toughness and impact resistance in abundance. These two features are not the same thing, although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. When we’re describing material properties, “toughness” is how much energy or force it can absorb/take without cracking. The “impact resistance” is how well it can deal with a single, sudden hit.

Well, there you have it. If I didn’t already feel confident from previous experience, this improves my odds next time I sit on my suitcase to get it closed.

The interior design also acts as its own compression pack. I don’t use packing cubes much anymore because of it. You’ve got a metal clasp, and then a zipper closure, so everything compresses fantastically well – and your stuff doesn’t flop out as soon as you open it. It also has a waterproof interior pocket (which has come in handy when swimsuits haven’t fully dried and you have to move on to your next place). The satin material is easy to clean and I never feel like my clothing is going to get dirty in transit.

NaSaDen seems to be innovating their designs and reliability consistently. If it came in a 22″ carry-on, I’d love to try the Rhein Series with the front opening, but I may still be tempted to see how versatile the 25″ option would be at some point.

They have a great variety of “cute” designs as well as basic colors, so every personality can find what they need. TJ got the 22″ inch carry on in Mystery Green after our big trip (he chose it specifically because of the name, he says), but it’s already survived being in the back of a pick-up truck on a dirt road, so that’s pretty impressive already.

One last thing to note as far as unboxing: Each suitcase comes with its own cover for when you don’t want your investment getting dinged-up or dusty in storage (you could probably use it while you’re traveling, too).

I’ve seen some Amazon reviews from people who clearly have just opened the box, judged it initially re: price, whatever, and then admitted they haven’t put it to the test. Maybe I’m just getting lucky, but having 5 of these throughout the years and using both the old and new ones I have, I can say it’d be worth every penny of the investment. Where I would buy luggage every year before NaSaDen, these have held up surprisingly well for travelers like myself who do not “baby” their luggage. I’m still waiting for a wheel to break or a zipper to bust, but so far…… so good.

If you want to see my Instagram story highlights throughout the years, click here. 

Watch my cats unbox the Stripe Cat Pattern carry-on here. I think they did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.
AND: here’s a look inside my carry-on so you can see just how much stuff fits in this thing…. Click here.

Anyway, it’s clear I’m passionate about reliable (and stylish) luggage. I’m glad I never have to scroll through endless luggage options again trying to find something unique and sturdy.

I wish they’d proofread their site for grammatical errors, but that’s the only feedback I can really give on these. Hah!

I’m currently writing this on one bar of wifi in a cosy Scottish cottage, so I’ll update with more images when I get back.

*I may receive a small commission if you use my affiliate link to purchase your dream luggage. If there isn’t a sale going on, use “emilyphoto” to receive 15% off.

If you prefer Amazon, you can find my favorites here.

Let me know how you like it!