I can’t usually be trusted with nice things because I destroy them. My cement coffee table had rings after two days, I take white sneakers out in the rain and my “undentable” luggage has a giant cup-like dent in the corner; you could fill it with cereal and milk and eat out of it.
So, for a fresh start on the luggage, I tried another brand: Montblanc recently released silver versions of its #MY4810 Nightflight Trolley lineup (previously available just in black), so I stuffed the 8.6-pound cabin trolley full for 19 days of work travels through Italy and Spain. I wasted no time in my unintentional attempts to destroy it: Upon arrival at Rome’s central station, I saw that my hotel was 30 minutes by foot, but also 25 minutes by car. Having sat all day, I decided to walk, knowing full well that it was all cobblestone and hills. That sleek luggage took every bump, curb, divet, I threw at it.
Over my travels, I switched hotels 12 times in 19 days (between five cities), and often walked between the properties or dragged the luggage to train stations in very old, rustic towns. And after nearly three weeks, I realized how much more enjoyable my travels were due to this really damn-sturdy piece of equipment. After being checked on four flights and tossed around into 12 different hotels, there wasn’t a single scratch in the wheels, even; they’re perfectly round yet, and they still spin 360 degrees so that I can speedwalk with my big-boy conviction through the airport without stopping to readjust. The leather details are untarnished, as is the polycarbonate case.
I repacked the bag throughout, and somehow added 11 pounds of souvenirs to an already full tow; the jacquard lining seemed to expand around everything, making it all the easier to zip shut and go about my travels. And even when it was stuffed too tight, that pretty trolley seemed to take a deep breath and absorb the bulk — it still glided, spun and plane-checked with aplomb. By the end of the trip, I was genuinely proud of it, so much so that I wanted to tell others about it.
It’s luxury luggage even I can’t destroy.
What’s New: In addition to the silver design, Montblanc launched two blue cabin trolleys with Italian tire maker Pirelli, and its silver Nightflight line includes a soon-to-be-launched compact trolley.
