Raden’s A Series line offers two sizes, the A28 check and the A22 carry, and is the most recent addition to the world of technologically equipped “smart luggage.” With VC money in the bank, I fully expect that you will be seeing more and more from this company over the next year.
While I previously had the opportunity to check out the A28 check bag, recently I was able to try out the A22 carry, also in the black gloss version (see how Raden compares HERE). I had a good experience with the Raden carry on, but there are definitely some things you need to know before you make a potential purchase. You get some really cool tech features, but that comes with the tradeoff of slightly less packing space.
Read on for my full Raden carry-on review.
PROs
- Very lightweight
- Rolls incredibly smoothly (best roll of any carry-on I’ve tried)
- Fashionable design (my subjective opinion)
- Useful technological features (that actually work)
- Great value (compares favorably to high-end options)
Get the best value on the Raden A22
CONs
- Will see some scuff marks (may vary by color)
- Price is higher than the average carry-on
My Experience with Raden
The Raden A22 is extremely lightweight, and just like the A28, very eye-catching and chic. I will note that this time around, I noticed that the black gloss version has a tendency to scuff somewhat easily. I’m sure this will be fine in a carpeted airport, but once you’re out of the airport and wheeling it along a sidewalk (as I was, before accidentally dropped the suitcase), you might want to be extra cautious. I am curious to try out the other colors (particularly the black matte) to see if something similar would happen.
The suitcase on its own is incredibly lightweight, and the four wheels, just like in the check bag, glide more smoothly than many other suitcases I’ve reviewed. From carpet to sidewalk, dragging the bag with me was very easy.
The inner compartments are sleekly designed, with separate zippered compartments, and in my opinion provide a fair amount of space for a carry-on sized bag. As in the check bag, the battery pack is in its own zippered case and requires charging – you can either charge the battery itself directly or charge through the USB ports located near the handle. Once charged, I paired the carry-on with ease, as I had previously downloaded the Raden app.
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The app is very easy to use, and offers a chat feature for any troubleshooting. My “home” airport was in the app from the last time I paired the check bag, so real time traffic and weather reports appear as soon I open the app. As with the check bag, other features include using the weight sensor in the handle to determine the weight of your luggage through the app, and a Bluetooth radio in the suitcase, which tells you if you’ve lost your luggage or left it behind.
Related: Best Smart Luggage
Key Features:
- Four-Wheel Hard Shell Spinner
- 22” x 14” x 9”
- 8.4 lbs: made primarily of polycarbonate
- Companion App Technology: Locate, Weight, Charge
- Removable compact battery
- USB ports located underneath handle
- Zippered interior compartment
- Comes in White, Black Matte, Hunter, Navy, Light Blue, Light Purple, Light Pink
- Option to buy both A22 Carry (retail $295) and A28 Check (retail $395) as the A50 Set (retail $595)
What You Need to Consider Before Buying
One of two concerns I have is that I found the black gloss finish to scuff a bit when I accidentally dropped the suitcase on a New York City sidewalk. This is just something to bear in mind for those who use public transportation after reaching and leaving your destination airport, as opposed to a car service or taxi. However, I was able to easily remove the scuffs with rubbing alcohol and a cloth. I noticed a few scratches, but the reality is it’s luggage and that will happen. I was informed that the cases have a laminate coating and a special resin in the plastic that minimizes the impact of scratching.
The other thing to note is that the bag is priced at $295. The Raden A22 is more than the average carry-on, but for a product of this quality (that compares to the likes of Tumi and Rimowa in many ways), the value is actually quite significant.
The suitcase itself is lightweight (and an approved carry-on size) yet offers a great deal of room for your belongings, and the companion app has useful features that are bound to make travel less stressful, such as being able to see the TSA wait times at your destination airport or call an Uber to get you to the airport.
Who Makes It:
Raden’s founders took a cue from what startups like Warby Parker did for eyewear (selling direct to consumer), and focused their energies on technologically innovating luggage. After two years of research and design input, including conceptualization by designers from Beats by Dre, Raden released the A-series line. Its features include a removable compact battery, with two ports accessible from the outside of the case, and a companion app to utilize all of its features.
Summary:
Raden’s A22 carry-on is chic, lightweight yet durable, and provides a great deal of space for a carry-on. The Raden companion app is easy to get the hang of and features are unparalleled (more extensive than the Away carry on), with location and weight sensors, and practical features such as being able to call an Uber or see the traffic time to your destination airport.
At $295 the A22 may be pricey for some, but frequent travelers should consider that the features provided by the A22 are not ones you will encounter in your run of the mill backpack or duffel bag carry-on.