Becky is an avid rock climber and outdoor enthusiast and is now living in France as an expat. When she is not writing about travel gear and various destinations she has visited during her travels, you can find her playing with her two dogs.
Have you ever been in that situation where you’re travelling somewhere for a short space of time and you don’t have the right sized bag? I’m talking about those trips that are a couple of days where a big suitcase or backpack is too big and a rucksack or daypack is just too small. If you know what I’m talking about, then you feel my pain of having to check in an unnecessary bag at the airport which is half empty.
As I take these kinds of trips often, I was on a mission to find the ideal bag even though I didn’t really know what I was looking for. All I knew is that I was fed up with having to sacrifice essential items to take one bag or taking an extra bag and having to wait at baggage reclaim. Thus started my research and as luck would have it, I stumbled across this beauty known as Cabin X.
As I said previously, I really didn’t know what I was looking for in terms of bags when I started my research, all I knew was that I needed a bag that was in the middle of the two sizes that I had. However, when I came across Cabin X which is a hybrid trolley-backpack, I wondered why something so obvious hadn’t crossed my mind before; the answer to my problems was a hybrid bag!
So, I was looking for a medium-sized backpack that would fit my essential gear in it as often hiking or rock climbing equipment takes up a lot of space, however, I was slightly worried that this might make the backpack too heavy to carry. This is where Cabin X saved the day. With a backpack that turns easily into a suitcase that you can pull, this product really did tick all of my boxes.
Cabin X: Our favourite features
I was pretty excited to use this hybrid carry-on luggage on my next trip because I was quite optimistic that it would make my life a whole lot easier. When I opened it up for the first time and saw the smart packing features inside, it was confirmed that it would.
Detachable companion day bag
For me, this was my absolute favourite feature! When thinking about a hybrid bag, even with all the advantages, I was thinking about not having a smaller backpack when I got to my destination and this might have been enough of a deal breaker for me to revert back to my take-an-extra-bag method. With Cabin X, however, there was no need for this compromise.
With a more compact day bag included, I could take a smaller backpack with me where I could either attach it to the front of the main bag to wheel or carry or use it as a separate bag altogether. This made traveling super easy as I could keep all of my essentials in the small backpack and keep that with me on the flight when I put the main bag above me in hold. When I got to my destination, I could also use this bag to take whatever I needed for a full day out as it has organizer pockets, a padded iPad storage and a zip out water bottle holder.
Zip-out backpack straps
As the world’s first patent-pending zip-out backpack, this product aims to make switching from trolley to backpack a breeze. Amazingly, it does just that and it is an incredibly useful feature to have! It came in pretty handy for me when wheeling the suitcase through the airport and security as whenever I came to stairs, and when boarding the plane, I could quickly zip-out the backpack straps and start to carry it instead. What’s even better is that the backpack straps also feature an anti-fatigue chest strap so this makes carrying a heavier load super comfortable.
Flight Approved Bags
It might seem obvious but worth a mention nonetheless. The Cabin X bag is suitable as hand luggage for most major airlines and the day bag also fits the criteria for the second bag carry on rules. This makes these pieces of luggage the ideal travel combination, especially as the main bag is also suitable for check-in if for some reason you have to.
Amazing inside features for smart packing
Although not a necessity, the smart packing features of Cabin X made me drool. For all you other packing nerds out there, if you like hidden features and pockets and other packing hacks, this bag had them all. The main packing features include:
An Internal Compression Zone
AÂ Removable Hang-up Packing Organiser
AÂ lockable Laptop & iPad Storage Compartment
An RFID Safe Pocket
Many Hidden Zips and Pockets
When it came to packing this bag, there was no need for packing cubes or other methods of sorting my packing as the bag itself allowed me to organise my things. At first glance though, all of these features actually made it seem like there wasn’t much room inside at all. When I was done packing, however, they definitely ensured that I made the most of the 38L internal capacity.
The removable hang-up packing organiser was a particular bonus for me as it also made unpacking a breeze too! I used this for my toiletries and gadgets, so all it took was unzipping the organiser and hanging it up and all that was left in my bag was clothes.
 High-Quality Material
Last but not least, as well as the speedy delivery, I was also impressed by the overall look and feel of the bag. Made of high-quality material, I could feel immediately that this would be a sturdy and hard-wearing bag which is exactly what I was looking for. As well as scoring points for durability, I also loved the combination of blue and grey. Not only was it aesthetically pleasing but it also meant that I could identify my bag straight away if I ever checked it in as luggage.
Cabin X Review: Our Verdict
Although it did tick all of my boxes, one thing that I will mention whether for improvement or just to highlight a potential issue to others, is that the arm and handle that you use to pull the backpack as a trolley is a bit short. It was just about right for me (I’m slightly taller than average) but for taller people, this may make wheeling it more difficult.
So, is Cabin X really a revolution in hybrid carry-on luggage? I think this question is subjective to each individual, but I can say that for me, it was definitely what I needed and what I was looking for without realising.
With this product being a hybrid trolley backpack in one, I don’t think there was a better product for me to satisfy my packing needs on my short trips away. Long story short, if you want one trolley, one backpack, then Cabin X is the one.
Disclaimer:Â This backpack was sent to us to try out but as always, our opinion is solely ours. We will always be 100% honest with all our reviews.
