If you’re as unfriendly to your luggage as I am sometimes, the Titan Manhattan four-wheeled suitcase will quickly become your new best friend. I am always amazed at how bags get thrown around by airlines (and I’m one of those die-hard, carry-on fanatics, but I have no choice on smaller regional jets). That brand new bag you just paid hundreds for suddenly has scratches, dings, and stains in no time.

Thanks to this bag’s hard exterior, it gets an immediate leg up on the willpower scale. The 100% polycarbonate shell is the perfect remedy for airline employees’ careless handling. Bingo! I’ve found the cure to avoiding wet clothes from bags that sit on the tarmac in the rain.

What I often find to be the biggest problems with carryon bags are that when they are overstuffed, they become a pain to zip. The hard exterior on this just requires a hefty push and zipper tug to close it back up. I have yet to be hit by projectile socks when opening it again so no need to feel concerned about stretching it too far. The bag itself is lightweight at just over 7 lbs. meaning you can put more inside without worrying about breaking the airline scale.

Another great feature for someone who stuffs bags to the gills are the four multidirectional wheels that allow me to zip through crowds and busy airports with ease. I often get compliments on the shiny carbon finish on my bag, and its unique look makes it easy to spot in a lineup of other identical black rollaboard cases.

The zippers are heavy duty plus each trolley bag comes with TSA locks so that I can keep valuables in a safe place while enduring the prying hands of airport security when needed. Inside the bag, I can keep my life organized because of various compartments (especially helpful when TSA whips open my bag in public view keeping me from being too embarrassed).

This impressive piece of luggage doesn’t come cheap (list price is $745-$825), but its durability has outlasted what cheaper bags would not have. Plus its lifetime warranty makes the price easier to swallow. Not surprisingly, the warranty does not cover damage done by airlines, but the warranty does cover damage to the wheels, exterior, or interior during normal use. This bag can be found on Titan’s web site TitanLuggageUSA.com or for a significant discount at other online retailers like eBags or Amazon.com. This is a solid winner for the road warrior combining style with functionality.