DAKINE Terminal Spinner 40L Carry-On Bag

I was looking for a new spinner that would meet airlines’ shrinking carry-on regulations and this one stood out to me due to its cupholder, which is something I’ve never seen before but had wished for multiple times. The laptop sleeve and many other pockets were also a plus and I purchased in the dusty rose color so it was a reasonable price. I actually didn’t love it the first time I packed it because I’m unaccustomed to the clamshell style and the interior is made smaller by the hardware taking up part of it, but when I needed to really stuff it for my return trip, it really surprised me with the amount it could hold and the design makes it almost impossible to overpack. If i could get the suitcase closed, I could be sure that it was going to fit on the plane. The cupholder does become obstructed if you put a bag on top of your suitcase, but it’s still a handy feature and a worthwhile purchase overall.

I was routinely envious of travelers with the four-way spinning carry-ons. They made it look so easy on board planes, composed and collected moving on foot through the Airport, I just had to give it a try. Love this piece for it's four-way spin, but infinitely more impressed by the detail and thoughtfulness of design.

There's a slim/hidden zipper pocket on the very front, useful for stashing a cord or snack last minute. A second complete with an ultra featured laptop sleeve that can be removed and added to a different pack (as the photo shows). The main clam shell has a nice about of mesh storage/organization for dirty clothes, shoes or dopp kit, and more simplistic half w/ elastic straps to secure clothes. It's all around the right amount of organization. And the overall silhouette is slim and low profile despite being totally packed out. The cup holder is pretty convenient as well. I went with the Burt Rose from last season, so it was a little more identifiable.

Overall this is a pretty simple carry on roller bag. Has all the typical bells and whistles you'd expect from a modern day piece of luggage. Most crucial to me would be the compression straps and the removable laptop sleeve. What sold me on this thing though, vs. the countless other options, was the cup holder on the top. Might sound a bit gimmicky/impractical and obviously you don't want a full 20oz latte in there when you're sprinting to your next gate, but it is actually a HUGE help for those random moments when you're fumbling a handful of things around trying to get organized. It's super nice to be able to just put my coffee down and know it is secure while I am messing around with my headphones, looking for my passport, or whatever it is I need two hands for.

If you think that's stupid and not actually useful, well this is still a sweet bag for the price! And I would suggest giving the cup holder a try some time :)