Field notes · House · Castle · Review
Globe-Trotter Centenary carry-on review
A handmade fibreboard case for one to three nights. What it costs, what it holds, and the trade-offs that reviewers and one long-time owner point out.
The short version
The Centenary Carry-On is the carry-on on our House list, in black with gold fittings, and on our Castle list in all black. Both cost $2,695 at globe-trotter.com on October 1, 2026, with delivery, duties and taxes included. The black and gold showed only one in stock when we checked. Hand-painted initials are $175 extra.
It is handmade in England by a company founded in 1897. It is also small, unexpandable, carries a five-year warranty against defects only, and costs nearly four times as much as the Briggs & Riley Baseline. Those trade-offs are the review.
What it's made of
Globe-Trotter builds the shell from vulcanised fibreboard: 14 layers of recycled paper, cotton and wood pulp, bonded with zinc and compressed with steam and pressure. The corners, trims and handles are vegetable-tanned leather, which the brand says develops a patina with use. The handles are bonded leather pressed for 48 hours before assembly. Inside there are webbing straps, a cotton lining and a numbered metal plaque. It closes with locks and leather straps. There are no zips.
Size and what it holds
Outside it measures 56 by 42 by 21 centimetres. The body alone is 49 by 38 by 21. It weighs 4.2 kilograms, about 9.3 pounds, holds 34 litres and has a 100-centimetre trolley. Globe-Trotter designs it for one to three nights. It says it meets the cabin rules of most major airlines, and adds that a small number may ask economy passengers to check it.
For scale: OutdoorGearLab weighed the Baseline 22" at 10.1 pounds, and the Monos Carry-On is listed at 6.6. The Centenary sits between them on weight and holds the least.
What reviewers say
Travelling for Business, which says it pays for the products it reviews, reviewed the Oxblood and Black version. It found the four wheels rolled easily through airports and streets, called the weight low for a hard case and the build solid, and noted the five-year warranty.
Expert World Travel is cooler. It notes that the locks can be opened without the key by twisting the mechanism, which Globe-Trotter's own instructions explain, so they deter more than secure. It likes the leather belts, which compress a full case and keep it shut if a lock fails. It points out there are compression straps inside but no interior pockets, so you'll want packing cubes. It isn't impressed by the warranty at this price. Its verdict: buy one if you can afford it without feeling the cost, but don't stretch your budget for it, because Rimowa, Tumi and Briggs & Riley offer better warranties and more features for less.
Packing a case with no zip
A fibreboard case packs differently from a soft bag. There is no expansion, so 34 litres is the limit. Expert World Travel says the carry-ons have compression straps inside and that the outer leather belts help close a full case. With no interior pockets, small things go in cubes or pouches. Globe-Trotter sells its own packing cubes, and our House list includes the Original Small Packing Cube at $105.
Two wheels or four
Globe-Trotter also makes the Centenary carry-on with two wheels. Expert World Travel says spinners are the popular choice and roll quietly on smooth airport and hotel floors, while in-line wheels cope better with cobblestones and rough ground but are less easy to steer. We list the four-wheel version.
The warranty
The warranty runs five years from purchase and covers defects in materials or workmanship. It does not cover scuffed paintwork or leather damage from baggage handlers or security, damage to locks from forcing, or water damage. Globe-Trotter says airline damage is the airline's responsibility. Compare that with Briggs & Riley, which repairs airline damage for life at no cost.
The practical case against
Simon Crompton of Permanent Style wrote in the comments on a 2017 post that after years of loving the look of Globe-Trotter but struggling with its impracticality, he had switched to Rimowa for good, citing wheels and easier packing. That is one owner's view, but it comes from a writer who reviews quality goods for a living.
Who it suits
Buy it for short trips where the case stays close to you: train, car, front cabin, a hotel with a porter. Pair it with a Globe-Trotter packing cube, since there are no pockets inside. Skip it if you need a week of capacity, fly economy on airlines with strict cabin rules, or want a bag you can hand to a gate agent without thinking. The Baseline 22" does those things better for $729.
