Nomatic Check-In Classic Review

1. Introduction

As a digital nomad, you’re often carrying your entire life around with you from place to place. To do that, you need a beast of a suitcase!

The Nomatic Check-In Classic is one of the options that fits the bill. It’s a huge piece of luggage, one that will inspire terror in parents with small children.

Despite now being primarily known for its functional backpacks, Nomatic actually started off in 2014 with an innovative wallet design for explorers. Several successful crowdfunding campaigns later, the brand (known as Gomatic in Europe due to a trademark issue) has become a favorite with adventure travelers due to the sturdiness of their products.

The Check-In Classic is one of the company’s limited forays into hardshell suitcases. What began as a 2019 Kickstarter campaign has morphed into a popular option for nomads who travel prepared.

2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions

The Nomatic Check-In is a buff piece of baggage. When we unpacked it, we were immediately reminded of the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, just with a curved front. There is a real sleek, manly vibe to the whole thing.

That’s driven home by the fact that the hardshell comes in just two no-nonsense colors: Black and Deep Olive. Honestly, Deep Olive just looks like a slightly lighter shade of black from the pictures online, but maybe it looks different in real life. We don’t know, we just went with black!

The suitcase starts at 78l, but it can go up to 90l if you use the expansion zipper. With dimensions of 29” H x 18.5” W x 9″ L (74cm x 46cm x 23cm), it fits within the scope of all airline restrictions.

It weighs 12.1lbs (5.5kg) empty, which is heavy, but still leaves you at least 44lbs (15kg) for your stuff.

FYI, you can go even larger with the Nomatic Method, which can hold 86l (127l expanded), but it’s a lot bulkier to lug about.

3. Features & Functionality

With the basics out the way, let’s dig a little deeper into what the Nomatic Check-In Classic has to offer, from the telescopic handle down to the spinner wheels.

Storage & Interior Design:

There’s no exterior compartment, so everything is going inside this bad boy. One half is a zippered compartment, fronted by two mesh pockets where you can place digital devices, reading material – relatively flat stuff. The compartment itself also has two small pockets that can be used for cables, pens – general small stuff.

The other half has a compression panel with three magnetic compression straps. The panel can detach and fold into thirds, so if you don’t want the whole side compressed, you can adjust the panel accordingly. That’s handy if you have, say, a pair of shoes occupying part of the space.

Wheels & Handling:

The Hinomoto spinner wheels are nice and quiet, with a smooth turn that makes it easy to change direction. We didn’t get a chance to test it much outside of the airport, but it worked fine on the carpeted lounge areas and the concrete floors.

The aluminum handle is sturdy, like the rest of the Nomatic Check-In Classic, and has three height options.

Security:

The top of the suitcase has a TSA-approved lock with a standard three-digit combo that the YKK zippers click into.

The Makrolon polycarbonate shell can withstand a blow from a sledgehammer (at least according to the Nomatic website). We can’t say that we replicated this test, but it survived perfectly fine getting banged about at Heathrow Airport in London.

Tech & Smart Add-ons:

Don’t expect any fancy smart luggage extras. The Nomatic Check-In is all about getting the basics right.

Mobility & Ease of Use:

There’s a handle on the top and the side of the suitcase, both also made by Hinomoto. They’ve got a nice rubber feel and a solid grip, which made it easy to lift the luggage on and off the arrivals carousel. No complaints!

4. Durability & Travel Performance

As with a lot of hardshell suitcases, the Nomatic Check-In does get scratched in transit. We had a similar issue with the wheels getting banged up a bit, although they weren’t seriously damaged. They look and feel reassuringly robust, as do the chunky zippers.

There is a lifetime warranty in case something does go wrong with the wheels, zips, handles, or other functional parts of the suitcase, although this excludes issues caused by airline mishandling. As is usual with these guarantees, cosmetic damage isn’t covered.

One thing we noticed is that it picks up (and shows) fingerprints and other grime quite easily. We’re not sure why it’s particularly noticeable on the Nomatic compared to other polycarbonate luggage. Possibly it’s due to the smooth texture and the color. In any case, it’s a minor annoyance, but not a deal breaker. Just have a cleaning cloth handy!

It’s worth nothing that we did have to sacrifice an outfit or two due to the heaviness of the case. True, 12.1lbs isn’t massively more than other hardshell checked backs or wheeled duffels, but it does make a difference to what you can pack.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros

• Durable and sturdy
• Stylish exterior
• Smartly designed interior

Cons

• Shows dirt more than competitors
• Pricey investment

6. Nomatic Check-In vs. Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX vs. TUMI Alpha 3 Extended Trip Expandable 4 Wheeled Packing Case

Let’s not beat around the bush: the Nomatic Check-In is a costly piece. At the recommend retail price, it will set you back $649.99. Now, that’s a lot more than many Samsonite checked bags, including the Winfield 3 DLX, which costs $259.99.

On the other hand, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a really luxury piece of luggage, like the TUMI Alpha 3 Extended Trip Expandable 4 Wheeled Packing Case, which is more than double the price at $1,395.

Of course, there’s a luxury association with TUMI that the Nomatic doesn’t have. Plus, the TUMI has some unique features, like a hanging bracket and a deluxe expansion system. Still, the Nomatic feels like a way to go upmarket without breaking the bank!

Plus, its check-in has a very cool aesthetic, as well as numerous pockets for different types of items. By comparison the Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX is a bit basic in its design, with less robust wheels and zippers.

As for capacity, it’s about average for similar hardshell and softshell suitcases we looked at, managing 78l compared to Samsonite’s 76l. Of course, it can also be expanded, bumping the total up to 90l – although that is still less than the massive 126l that the TUMI can manage.

7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)

Perfect for: travelers with delicate possessions, people who like to stay organized

Not ideal for: weekenders, lightweight packers

Without doing any laundry, you can manage to fit in two weeks’ worth of clothing, three weeks if you don’t have to pack bulky jumpers and/or jackets. It’s definitely too large for that cheeky long weekend, but it’s perfect for nomads who like to travel with all their kit.

8. Final Verdict & Rating

The Nomatic Check-In is a bit of a statement piece. Despite being minimalist and understated in some ways, it’s hard to ignore the almost sinister presence it has. We love the way its compartments are laid out, and it feels like some real thought has gone into the interior design details, from the foldable compression pad to the various pockets.

That said, it’s not as chic as some checked luggage we’ve tested, and its ability to pick up dirt is annoying. While we feel confident in its robustness, it does seem like it’s more prone than other bags to picking up scuffs and scratches.

Ultimately, it’s a solid option if you want something that will help you stay organized, protect your possessions, and look stylish – but you’ll have to keep an eye on the maintenance.

Rating: 4/5

9. FAQ Section

What’s the warranty policy?

Nomatic has a lifetime warranty that covers things like broken zippers and seam defects. It does not cover cosmetic damage or airline mishandling.

Is the luggage waterproof?

It is not marketed as being waterproof. However, we did take it out in a light drizzle and the wetness did not penetrate to the inside. We wouldn’t suggest testing your luck in a thunderstorm though, as the zipper seam is likely to leak eventually.

Does it have a TSA-approved lock?

Yes, the Nomatic Check-In comes with a three-digit combination lock that can be opened by TSA staff using a special key if they need to access your luggage.