Air travel isn’t what it used to be. There was a time when it was so much less stressful to take a flight, when you didn’t need to get there 3 hours early, when you had leg room and enough overhead storage for a full-size suitcase.
There used to be leg room, windows big enough to see anything through and seat cushions that weren’t made of plate metal. It used to be that you could just roll up to the gate right as it was boarding, wave a little hello to your flight attendant and settle in for a nice relaxing flight. Things have changed since the good old days. Air fare has skyrocketed, seats have shrunk dramatically, carry-on storage has evaporated and the airlines have collectively agreed to nickel and dime you for every cent they can get.
They charge for early check-in, they charge for a window seat, they charge for extra leg room and boy oh boy do they ever charge for luggage. That’s where they really get you now, the luggage. If you’re lucky enough your flight will allow one free carry-on. If you’re traveling for more than a weekend trip, you might as well take out a loan to pay for your extra socks and underwear.
That’s why it has become more and more important lately to make the absolute most out of your carry-on, and that’s what the NOBL Carry-On All-in-One is all about.
A Modern Design for Modern Travel Concerns
The NOBL (I’m shortening it to the brand name from now on since “NOBL All-in-One Front Pocket” is a heck of a pile of letters to keep typing) is a truly well engineered bit of luggage. The designers at NOBL have seriously taken the modern flight experience into account when building out this bag’s features. Let’s take a look at all the amazing things this rolly-case can do and why they all matter so much.
The first and most eye-catching feature of the NOBL is the front-loading pocket. The entire front face of the bag swings open allowing extremely easy access to essentials. I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve needed something from my bag at the airport, it’s always been a struggle. Finding a place to sit down, balancing my bag on my knee or finding enough space to put it on the seat next to mine, unzipping and rummaging through the contents just to have to put it all back together both when I find what I need and when I need to put it back. This big front pocket with its easy latch makes it simple. It’s designed to fit a laptop and a few extra essentials, basically all the stuff you’re likely to need on-the-fly. Being able to reach my laptop, tablet and books without needing to stop in my tracks is an absolute blessing.
Another great feature is the folding cup holder that sits flush against the back of the case. The mechanism is really neat, a two-part very sturdy cup holder unfurling with a one-finger lift. It fits a water bottle or a cup of coffee effortlessly, and I’m sure it could hold anything else you night need to drink to help you make it through the gauntlet of American air travel (insert wink here).
Another more common but no-less-amazing feature is the built-in charging port. If you have a battery bank you can nestle it into the top of the NOBL case and hook it up to an external port. That means you can just plug your phone straight into your bag and, unless you have a truly terrible layover, you’ll never have to roll the dice on a public USB port. Not sure if you know this, but those things are a hacker’s sweetest dream, so avoid plugging your phone into any public outlets if you can, just use your case’s amazing charging port instead!
And while you are dealing with your layover and charging your phone the very cool way, there is another great design choice I’m amazed I haven’t seen more often. The handle, you know, the cool telescoping bag handle all good rolly-cases have, is equipped with a phone/tablet mount!! If you’re sitting in one of those terrible airport gate benches, the handle pulls up to just about head-height, which means you can while away the hours watching a movie or endless reels on your device without having to hold it for hours at a time! It’s like having a teeny little movie screen at your beck-and-call! Now I know this is also not a completely unique feature but man oh man is it handy! The holder folds very comfortably into the handle, too, so there is no sacrifice in the grip comfort for long drags.
There are a slew of other features that make this thing a must-have for frequent travelers, too. Two form-flush bag hooks on one side make a purse or the odd extra bag picked up in the concourse shops very easy to manage. The inner case has two high-compression sections that make packing a heavy bag easy and organized. There is a water-proof toiletry pocket and a great accessory net built into the zipper-front compression chamber, and the larger open side has that classic hook-and-loop elastic strap to make sure all your loose folded clothes stay in place.
The outer shell is a polycarbonate material they are calling “unbreakable,” though I’ve seen some pretty impressive acts of luggage violence perpetrated by baggage handlers in the past so let’s just be safe and call it “hard to break.” And hey, if they can’t break it and decide to send it to another state instead, as airlines are known to do, the case comes with a NOBL-brand digital tracking system pre-installed! You don’t need to waste money on an air-tag since you can track the NOBL case on an app already. That way you can look the “customer service” agent dead in the eyes and show them exactly what desert island they’ve shuttled your unmentionables to instead of waiting 3 days for them to track it down for you! The sides of the case lock tight with two very hefty TSA-approved locks so no matter who they send your bag to, they’ll never manage to get it unless they are willing to get a sledgehammer or two involved. Coupled with a combination lock built into that convenient front pocket we went over, it’s a very secure bag, which certainly offers some peace-of-mind.
If you’ve ever shopped for luggage, you’ll know perfectly well that a case like this could easily go for over $500 but for a paltry $279 it’s almost suspiciously cheap. It comes in a whopping 20 different colors, and the aesthetics are just crazy on-point. This is a very good looking suitcase!
TL;DR Specs
For those of you who are in a hurry to learn the basics, here are the specs!
- Exterior Dimensions: 20.5 × 15.5 × 10 inches
- Carry-On Approved: Yes (fits most airline overhead bins)
- Shell Material: Polycarbonate
- Interior Lining: Stain-resistant fabric
- Front Pocket: Dedicated quick-access compartment for laptop and travel essentials
- Charging Port: Built-in USB and USB-C pass-through (power bank not included)
- Lock: Integrated TSA-approved combination lock
- Wheels: 360° silent spinner wheels
- Handle: Multi-position telescoping handle
- Cup Holder: Integrated fold-out cup holder
- Compression System: NOBL Y-Strap compression system
- Water Resistance: Water-resistant shell and construction
- Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty
- Return Policy: 100-day trial period
Is it Worth the Money?
This is absolutely worth the cost. The larger bags in the NOBL collection can get a little pricey, but this carry-on is a steal. Again, you just can’t beat that $279 price tag and get a case with this many high-end features. I’d say it’s absolutely worth it if you travel fairly often. If you rarely ever fly, though, this might be a little bit over-kill.
About the Author:
George Berger
Ever since a young George was disappointed with a toy that did match up to the advertising, he became a tireless advocate for consumers. He’ll review anything that folks have to spend their hard-earned dollars on. George is grateful that he gets to use his skills as a writer and an artist to help connect with consumers and help them make the best decisions possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s independent opinion. Readers should verify details directly with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase decision.
