Is the LOJEL Cubo Fit luggage worth its $560 price tag? We put it to the test

You’ve booked your tickets, paid for your accommodation and planned out your entire travel itinerary. Now all that’s left is to plan your wardrobe and pack them all in the perfect suitcase. 

Now, unlike the rest of my personality, I’m not hugely practical when it comes to packing for my travels. I need to have at least 75% of my creature comforts with me and that includes enough variety in my wardrobe (including shoe and accessory changes), my full skincare routine and a plushie to hug.

Sometimes this means compromising on aesthetics regarding my bags as I have to choose between form and function. So when LOJEL contacted me to try out a couple of their products before I went on a 12-day trip to Tokyo and Seoul, I jumped at the chance.

A bit of background information about LOJEL — while the brand has recently picked up its presence on social media, it was founded in 1989 by a young entrepreneur named Chih Chang Chiang. Frustrated by the one-size-fits-all model in the luggage industry, he set out to make a prototype — a hard-shelled roller bag with re-engineered details such as better zippers, handles, and internal stabilizers to find the ideal weight-to-durability ratio. Now Lojel is run by his grandson An Chieh, and has become a full-fledged travel and lifestyle brand that seeks to be the most sustainable user-centric carry essentials brand.

While functionality and ease is at the core of the brand’s products, did I mention how aesthetically pleasing their products are as well? Here’s my review of the three products that I got to test out.

An aesthetically pleasing luggage that doesn’t compromise on function

As mentioned above regarding my… packing philosophy, I’ve been surviving on a trusty grey Samsonite suitcase for years. It was my first big girl suitcase, a trusty hunk of luggage that I had paid for on my own for my very first solo trip out of Asia when I was 20. It was heavily discounted, and I wanted something that would last me for years to come. It wasn’t the most visually appealing suitcase nor the lightest, but I didn’t care. It was mine and it symbolised the start of my adulthood travels.

With age comes growth, and a keen interest to evolve — and my new Cubo Fit was to symbolise that. While my airport fit had evolved from ratty jeans and a pullover to a sleek, black jersey jumpsuit that was equal parts comfortable and stylish, I wanted my travel gear to reflect that. And I’m happy to report that my Cubo Fit checks all the boxes when it comes to style. 

But, any smart traveller will tell you that aesthetics mean nothing if there is no function to it. Thankfully this luggage is not that. For a heavy packer like myself, I love the smart components of this luggage. There are zipper pockets on opposite sides of the luggage interior, two mesh pockets plus a padded tech pocket under the hood, and a 4-pocket compression divider that allows me to organize items, especially odd-sized ones like my shoes, bags and accessories. The luggage is also expandable, which gives me extra space after a shopping trip. 

One thing that I particularly like about the Cubo Fit is the clever flat-top opening, which honestly, I feel more luggage brands should incorporate into their designs. This made it super easy to reach for my things especially when I was staying in Tokyo, a city notoriously known for its tiny hotel rooms. While I didn’t have to test it out, I can imagine how handy this would be if you ended up being overweight at the airport, and needed to quickly repack your luggage without having all your stuff spill over the dirty airport floor.

One thing to look out for though: at 4.9kg, the Cubo Fit isn’t the lightest luggage I own, so just something to take note if you’re going for a longer trip or have the intention to buy back a lot of stuff.

A sleek and minimalist bag that goes with everything

I like to walk a lot whenever I travel, so this means carrying a bag that only holds onto the essentials. Unlike in Singapore, where I’m accustomed to carrying a ton of things on my commute due to my work needs and last-minute weather changes, for days where I don’t foresee myself doing a lot of shopping, a simple purse will do.

The phone sling from the Iloj collection is a full-grain leather bag that is simple and fits the essentials — my phone and my card case. The design is convenient too. Its quick-release magnetic closure me to access my phone easily, and there’s an exterior pocket where I can store my transport cards. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze, but with some smart manoeuvring, you can even slide your passport inside. The adjustable strap also allows me to choose between carrying it as a shoulder bag or crossbody.

A lightweight and versatile for your adventures 

On the days when I knew I was going to be out the whole day, I switched out my phone sling to the Nuru City Sling, a roomier crossbody bag that could fit in all my essentials, as well as a small waterbottle and an umbrella. Similar to the Cubo Fit, this bag was also expandable, allowing me to squeeze in some travel souvenirs I had come across on my day out. 

Remove the straps and this bag also becomes a handheld carrier, allowing it to function as a bag organiser within my carry-on bag, ensuring that I didn’t have to bring too many small bags as I did in the past. The three small interior pockets and key holder strap made it super easy to sort and find all my belongings, allowing me to segregate my local and foreign cash, passport, hotel keys etc.

Travel products made by an actual traveller

While this was my first brush with Lojel products, I was pleasantly surprised by how functional and durable all the products were. The designs were sleek, but more importantly thoughtful, and always had the traveller in mind. After all, travelling, while fun, can also be a stressful experience and if my gear helps to alleviate some of the hassle, sign me up.