I love a designer handbag. So, it seems obvious that my obsession with wearing a nice piece of art on my arm should extend to pushing a pretty piece of luggage around too. However, choosing the right suitcases is trickier than deciding between a baguette or a bucket bag for the season. As well as hitting the right style notes, luggage needs to be super-functional to take the pain out of any trip; from the short commute to the long haul. Cue our latest love affair with Lojel. The luxury brand cleverly marries stylish design with smart innovation, as we found when we put our family of Lojel luggage to the test on a recent month-long trip around Europe. Here is our full Lojel Cubo Review.
Skye Gilkeson
Waiting for the train in Switzerland with my Lojel suitcase. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Lojel Cubo Review
Contents
It’s obvious from the moment you see, feel, and wheel the Lojel Cubo cases that they have been designed by people who actually travel. All of the features intrepid travelers dream of have been built into these suitcases.
This Lojel Cubo review includes a few of our favourite features:
The Lojel Cubo luggage has a retro-cool feel. Image © Skye Gilkeson
The Hard Shell
I would be lying if I said we treat our luggage with the same care we show our baby. We give our bags a workout from the time we leave home for the airport, to the cobblestones of Europe, the dirt back roads of Asia, luxury hotels, airport lounges, and every type of plane, train, or automobile.
Our suitcases get around. They are thrown, squashed, kicked (not intentionally, I promise), and generally pushed to their limits by those who handle them over the course of our trips. It is for this reason that we now always choose hard-side cases.
Thankfully, the Lojel suitcases are made from lightweight polycarbonate, so they are built for a lifetime but still light enough to pick up comfortably.
They also come with a 10-year warranty, so if you do somehow manage to damage them, they will, within reason, be replaced or repaired.
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Tamper-proof zippers and TSA-approved locks come standard on Lojel luggage. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Retro-Cool Design
The first thing you notice when you see a Lojel Cubo case is that they look different from everything else on the market. They have a bit of a retro look about them, which is a little bit hipster and a little bit high-end.
When ours arrived at our front door as a little family; two large cases, a medium suitcase for our baby, and a cabin bag, they genuinely made me even more excited about our upcoming trip.
Unlike other designs on the market, these cases are also authentically unisex. They have a slightly masculine edge that appeals to both the hubby (particularly his navy case) and I (in my off-white).
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Our favourite part of the Lojel Cubo is the flat-top opening. For that reason alone we would get these again. Image © Skye Gilkeson
The Front-Top Opening
The front-top opening alone is enough to woo me when it comes to Lojel Cubo. It is actually what caught my eye when trolling through the aisles of a luggage store, overwhelmed by choice.
We have been using the typical clam-shell opening cases for years and the thought that we could actually fit all of our cases open in a hotel room or even prop it on the often redundant and dusty luggage stand was very appealing.
My husband’s eyes lit up too when we unpacked the Lojel Cubo carry-on. You can’t miss the key feature which we both immediately fell for.
The front-opening pocket that you can unzip to easily slip your laptop in and out of. I quickly reminded him the cabin case was mine but I would throw his laptop in with mine if he liked (they both fit comfortably).
We also managed to squeeze in our camera shoulder bag so we had one less bag to carry on board.
The cabin bag is the perfect size to use as a makeshift travel desk too. I throw the suitcase on my lap and prop the laptop on top – et voila, instant desk, no back pain.
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Dual wheels keep the spinner moving smoothly during your commute. Image © Skye Gilkeson
The Dual Wheel System
Wheels and zippers are typically the first features that go on our suitcases, so it is important that both are strong and durable. The wheels on the Lojel Cubo cases are fancy.
These are the first suitcases we’ve had with Hinomoto wheels.
Essentially, what that means is these are spinner cases with eight wheels instead of four and they are super strong.
In practice, it means the cases glide, which we loved when pushing our four cases as well as a stroller, through a busy airport. We have pulled these cases across cobblestones, dirt, pebbles, tiles; you name it. So far, so good.
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A flat top opening means you can see exactly how much room you have to work with (and an expander for when you over-shop). Image © Skye Gilkeson
The Lojel Cubo Suitcases Are Large
Our large Lojel suitcases are the biggest bags we have ever owned. When it comes to the Lojel Cubo fit, they are a few centimeters taller than our previous suitcases.
You could not possibly need more room in a suitcase than the 130-liter capacity available.
If you do give your credit card a workout while on holiday and top it out, there is an expander.
Be warned though, you may go beyond your weight limit (unless you’re flying business class), should you over-fill this case.
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Our daughter’s medium Lojel Cubo suitcase is packed for Europe with plenty of room left to throw in the baby carrier when needed. Image © Skye Gilkeson
They Are Super Easy to Pack Suitcases
Packing habits are a funny thing. I think they offer insight into someone’s character. The thing I believe we all share is that, well, no one really enjoys packing. I haven’t met one soul yet who plans for a trip and says “I can’t wait to start washing, folding, rolling, and editing my suitcase”. So, when your luggage is easy to pack, the pain eases slightly (as does packing with a good glass of red in hand).
What I love most about packing our Lojel luggage, is at I can see exactly how much room we have to work with (and how much I need to leave to justify all the shopping I aspire to do while we are on the road).
The front-top opening means the depth is obvious and you can simply fill as much as you like and secure your belongings with a strap so they don’t start rolling around the place. The netted pockets are great.
Particularly so for my baby’s accessories as they are so small and everything gets lost unless it’s compartmentalized.
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The hatch is easily held up by two simple straps. Image © Skye Gilkeson
Lojel Cubo Review: The Verdict
Our Lojel suitcases returned from a month in Europe with a few little marks and a couple of very fond fans. They were so easy to use, they fit everything we needed, even when we became slightly lazy at packing them perfectly and they protected all of our valuables without issue.
We love our Lojel suitcases. They are our newest must-have travel accessory, with a size suitable for every adventure.
Shop Lojel Suitcases
The Fit Traveller was gifted these Lojel suitcases for this Lojel Cubo Review. As always, the opinions, words, and images are authentically our own.
Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.
She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.
As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.
Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.
Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.
Read more about Skye’s story here.