Sideways Suitcase Breezes Through Airports: Roverlund ‘Ready-to-Roll’ Carry-On Review

As I zipped through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Terminal 2), I gleefully spun the hard-sided Roverlund Ready-to-Roll bag down the concourse. Like a figure skater linking triple lutzes to double axels, I kept twirling and whirling the bag ahead of me, its neon-yellow skateboard wheels silently carving up the linoleum.

“Nimble” had never been a criteria I considered when shopping for luggage. Durability, size, organization, security — those are the big features I look for whenever “Brand X” asks me to test a carry-on or checked bag. But in the few short hours I’d been using the Ready-to-Roll carry-on bag, it had already demonstrated its physical and logistical agility.

Its funky fresh wheels helped it scoot. But its odd sideways stance really lent the case a sneaky element of acrobatics. Sure, the lower center of gravity allowed it to spin without tipping, but the design also helped me breeze through the TSA checkpoint (general boarding, of course).

Though Roverlund markets the suitcase toward dog owners — because its sideways design leaves room for a small dog bed or carrier — I found it offers plenty of upside for solo human travelers as well.

In short: The Roverlund Ready-to-Roll has two design tricks up its sleeve, and everything else is simple. The sideways posture provides great stability rolling through an airport, while also allowing plenty of room for another bag (or pup) to sit on top. A handy horizontal compartment for laptops makes TSA checkpoints a quicker operation. But be aware, there are some scenarios, like getting on an escalator, where sideways comes with setbacks.

Roverlund Ready-to-Roll Carry-On Review

Don’t let the name fool you: This carry-on is suitable for pet parents and pup-less travelers alike. The sideways design was drummed up to accommodate passengers with small dogs or cats. The idea was that a dog bed or pet carrier could rest on top of the wheeled Ready-to-Roll to ease the hassle of moving about the airport.

But I don’t own a small pup, I own a 50-pound cattle dog — and I don’t bring her on planes. Still, the Roverlund design looked clever and I have a well-established track record for hacking airport rules whenever possible. So I agreed to test it out on its merits as a true carry-on.

After all, pet owners shouldn’t have to settle for a subpar suitcase, just because they need to bring their fur baby along.

Design & Construction

The Ready-to-Roll Carry-On is a TSA carry-on-compliant, hard-case roller bag. The exterior is a polycarbonate shell — hard but not indestructible. If you’re looking for something more formidable (and head-turning), you might want to check out the $2,000 “James Bond Carry-On.”

The clamshell design is pretty standard; open it up and a soft nylon lining covers both sides. Each half of the case has zippable flap covers (with small storage compartments) and offers nearly equal volume — though one side has slightly greater depth.

In total, the case can hold 43 L worth of gear and clothes. The deeper side has stretchy retaining straps with side-release buckles running the length of the compartment.

But it’s outside the carry-on where things get interesting! First is a main zipper lock. Both zippers click into a locking chamber, opened with a three-digit code that you set. This offers extra peace of mind should you ever have to gate-check your bag or leave it out of your sight.

On one side of the exterior is another zippered compartment — this one perfectly fits a laptop. This is brilliantly designed, as it allows you to quickly and easily grab your tablet or computer as you go through the melee of security.

If you are also carrying a backpack or other personal item, you can keep your laptop in this compartment to save weight on your back while you hustle through the airport. Then when you’re ready to board the plane, you can snag it and keep it with you.

Skateboard-Inspired

The rolling ability of Roverlund’s bag deserve its own callout. Not that a carry-on needs to be fun, but what a bonus if it is!

Four pairs of skate wheels imbue the aptly named Ready-to-Roll with a frisky agility. You’ll be hard-pressed not twirl and slalom the bag as you scoot around the terminal.

The wheels seems to roll equally across concrete, cracked tarmac, linoleum, and carpeting. They’re smooth and nearly silent.

Travel Tested

So far, my Roverlund Ready-to-Roll has been through about a half-dozen airports between the U.S. and Europe. It has yet to be gate-checked, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it reliably fits carry-on requirements. On the downside, it hasn’t yet had to endure baggage handlers on a bad day.

But, in the interests of science, I went ahead and tumbled the Ready-to-Roll down flight of concrete stairs. (In full transparency, I let go of the bag as I was coming to halt and it rolled its way right off the landing at a train station.)

The shell took on a couple light scuff marks but did not crack. The wheels didn’t bend out of true and none of the zippers popped open. Overall, the bag seems tough enough for at least incidental accidents and rough handling.

That said, stairs in general took some getting used to (more on that below).

What I Like Most

The bag is a blast to bring along and a breeze to get through checkpoints. The laptop sleeve is very clever and effective for making it efficiently though security. The zipper locks add peace of mind and work well. And the interior storage, though basic, is sufficient for up to “about week’s worth of clothes,” according to the brand.

For my use — as someone who buys large and extra-large items — I found it topped out at 5 days’ worth of wardrobe.Your mileage may vary, based on the weather and items you need with you.

A Couple of Drawbacks

I found two minor gripes with the Ready-to-Roll. First, as mentioned above, stairs — more specifically, escalators. I found the most intuitive way to hold the case was to wheel it alongside me, length-wise. But in that configuration, the wheelbase is too long for an elevator step. To properly hop on the moving staircase, you need to pull the bag behind you. This may be a no-brainer for some, but it gave me pause the first time.

The second issue is with the opening action. Most times I laid the case fully open, it was fine. But a few times, the wheels interfered with one another and blocked the case from opening all the way.

This is a minor inconvenience and one that’s easy to manually adjust. Just be aware that it may happen from time to time.

Conclusion: Should You Buy?

Overall, the Roverlund Ready-to-Roll receives a ringing endorsement from me. This bag is well made, tough enough for typical airline travel, cleverly designed with simple features that pay dividends at the airport, and surprisingly fun to use.

It’s not a budget-buy — but with a price tag under $400, it’s certainly not in the upper echelon of carry-on luggage. And with its sideways silliness, it’ll turn just as many heads as suitcases twice the price.