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The best carry-on luggage of 2024.
Discover the best carry-on luggage for your unique travel style and needs.
The Best Carry-on Luggage
Rachael Hood | U.S. News
Things aren't always as they seem – especially when it comes to luggage. In our quest to find the best carry-on bags, we discovered that while some suitcases look good, they don't always hold up to the demands of travel. Some designs have attractive features that add bulk but not additional functionality, while others just don't live up to the hype.
To determine the best carry-on luggage, we tested dozens of bags on countless trips to find the ideal bag for every travel need. Read on to find the best option in a variety of categories, tested and reviewed by our team of experts.
Best Overall: ROAM Carry-On Front Pocket
- Jump to features and expert insights ↓
- Overall Runner-up: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-on Hardside Spinner
Best Hard-sided: Away The Carry-On
Best soft-sided: samsonite solyte dlx carry-on spinner, best lightweight: july carry on light, best for international travel: delsey paris helium aero international carry-on - expandable spinner, best affordable: amazon basics 20-inch hardside spinner.
- Best Expandability: Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner
- Best Underseater: CALPAK Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-On Luggage
Best for Business Travel: Amazon Basics Expandable Softside Carry-On Spinner – 20.4 Inch
Best luxury: carl friedrik the carry-on pro.
- Best Carry-on Duffel: The North Face Rolling Thunder–22"
Best Carry-on Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
(Note: Prices were accurate at the time this article was published; they may fluctuate due to demand or other factors. Original photos were taken by our editors during luggage testing.)
Price: $625 or less
Dimensions: 22 x 14.25 x 9.75 inches | Weight: 8.3 pounds Packing capacity: 4-7 days; 37 liters | Color options: Custom color combinations include red, black, lilac and slate Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Limited lifetime with a 100-day trial
This fully customizable suitcase allows travelers to create a one-of-a-kind carry-on bag. From the front and back of the bag to the handles, zippers and wheels, you choose the color combination you love.
However, it's not all about the aesthetics: This hard-shell suitcase has 360-degree ball bearing wheels that roll easily over multiple surfaces, including brick sidewalks and moving walkways. The telescoping handle is sturdy and adjustable, which makes the bag glide with you, and the front-access pocket has a key fob and room for a laptop, phone, glasses and small travel essentials. There's also a built-in TSA lock. The back of the suitcase has an inset with a monogrammable leather tag to keep your personal information discreet while traveling.
Note: This carry-on is currently on closeout with limited color availability.
What our editors say:
I was extremely impressed from the moment I opened the box. It was nicely packaged in a blue ROAM-branded dust bag and the carry-on is beautifully constructed. It's made of high-quality materials, and I found the compression panels with mesh zippered compartments to be extremely useful for both maximizing space and keeping items in place while traveling. But what really sets this bag apart is how easy it is to maneuver when fully packed for a weeklong trip. It glides effortlessly over all types of terrain, even inlaid brick sidewalks! The customized color scheme (which is really easy to do) takes this carry-on to a new level. Plus, you can create a coordinating tote or backpack to match. – Rachael Hood, Senior Editor
Best Overall Runner-up: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner
Leilani Osmundson | U.S. News
Price: $369.99 or less
Dimensions: 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 10 days; 45 liters | Color options: White, red, blue, green or gray Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Limited lifetime
The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner is a truly well-rounded carry-on with a plethora of unique features. USB A & C ports on the outside of the bag give easy access to charging. (A power bank is not included, though the bag does have a pocket for one inside the expansion zipper.) Self-aligning magnetic wheels – a reviewer-favorite feature – allow painless travel through the airport as well as on roads, sidewalks, uneven surfaces and more. A built-in TSA zipper lock offers ultimate protection for your possessions.
Even without the features listed above, this Travelpro spinner is, at its core, a high-quality piece. The hard outer shell is ultra-strong and 100% polycarbonate; aluminum corner guards further protect your belongings. The clamshell-style suitcase has two large interior compartments along with three extra pockets, one of which is water-resistant, and the expansion zipper allows for an extra 2 inches of packing room. Plus, this carry-on is made with genuine leather trim, so you can travel in style as well as comfort.
There are some amazing features on this carry-on, but my favorite is the wheels – as someone who typically prefers hands-free travel (primarily backpacks), I found that the way this suitcase easily glides around everywhere absolutely changed my mind about wheeled luggage. Just know that since this is one of the larger bags on this list, I would still check your airline's carry-on size requirements before traveling (though it's been tested for most major domestic airlines, and it fit perfectly on Delta). – Leilani Osmundson, Digital Producer
Amanda Norcross | U.S. News
Price: $275 or less
Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 5 days; 39.8 liters | Color options: Black, navy, blue gray or olive, plus 2 glossy options Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Limited
When it comes to hard-sided carry-on luggage , nothing beats The Carry-On by Away. The bag is lightweight yet indestructible thanks to a 100% polycarbonate exterior. Plus, you can easily wipe away most scratches with a magic eraser.
In late 2023, Away launched a new iteration of The Carry-On that somehow made it even more efficient. The most notable new features are an additional underside grab handle, three extra interior compartments, and an enhanced compression system that upholds the bag's ability to accommodate nearly a week's worth of clothing. The bag's 360-degree wheels are also slimmer than those of its predecessor for improved maneuverability. While Away has long been known for its neutral colored matte options, glossy options of this bag are now available.
The Away Carry-On is my ride or die. I've taken it on so many trips over the past five-plus years and it's still in perfect shape. I know I'll have it with me for many years to come. – Amanda Norcross, Content and SEO Strategist
Catriona Kendall | U.S. News
Price: $199.99 or less
Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 32 liters | Color options: Black, gray, green, aqua blue or royal blue Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: 10-year limited
This classic soft-sided option from Samsonite offers everything you need for a smooth trip. There are three spacious pockets and a trolley strap on the outside so you can stack it on top of another rolling suitcase, as well as a USB port for charging your phone (though you'll have to purchase a battery separately).
Inside the suitcase, three more zippered pockets – including one for wet items – help you stay organized, while buckles keep the main compartment's tie-down straps out of your way while packing. This spinner can conveniently expand by 0.75 inches, but keep in mind if you're flying that overpacking may put it over your carry-on size allowance.
I've used other spinner suitcases in the past, but none of them glide as smoothly as this bag, with its 360-degree dual-spinner wheels. I also love the high-quality, lightweight material, but my favorite part is its organizational features – especially the WetPak pocket. I'd highly recommend the Samsonite SoLyte DLX for anyone who needs a trusty soft-sided carry-on for a flight; it definitely fits more than I thought it would. – Catriona Kendall, Associate Editor
Price: $245 or less
Dimensions: 21.25 x 14.17 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 3.9 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 32 liters | Color options: Beige, light green, dark green, lilac, charcoal or 3 others Hard- or soft-sided: Hard | Warranty: Lifetime with 100-day returns
Weighing just under 4 pounds, this bag is the lightest hard-sided carry-on we found on the market. It's constructed with an extremely durable German polycarbonate shell, and the interior has two mesh zippered compartments to keep your belongings from shifting. The inner nylon lining is also resistant to water and stains. To make the suitcase easy to maneuver, there's a top carry handle, a telescoping handle and dual-spinner wheels.
I was absolutely shocked by how light this suitcase is. While some lightweight designs can be extremely flimsy, this July carry-on is very durable and holds a good amount of clothing. With compression packing cubes I was able to pack enough clothing for a week. It was extremely easy to put in the plane's overhead compartment, and the wheels rolled very smoothly for my entire journey. The only thing I noticed is that since the bag is so lightweight, the trolley bag I had was making it want to topple. Next time, I'd use a smaller tote or a north-south design to avoid that issue. – Rachael Hood
Erin Evans | U.S. News
Price: $179.99 or less
Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 10 inches | Weight: 8.16 pounds Packing capacity: 5-7 days; 41 liters | Color options: Black, blue, red or gray Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 10-year limited
This DELSEY PARIS carry-on is a well-built piece of hard-sided luggage. It meets carry-on suitcase size restrictions for most international airlines and offers an easily accessible front compartment – ideal for a laptop up to 15.6 inches or other items you want to be able to grab quickly. The suitcase has a TSA lock and two spacious internal compartments for clothing, shoes and travel gear. The double-spinner wheels glide smoothly across all types of surfaces, and the handle pulls out and retracts with ease.
I was incredibly impressed by this little workhorse of a carry-on bag. There are so many different pockets and compartments within it for organization, and it fits a surprising amount of clothes, shoes and accessories. The handle and wheels make it easy to maneuver, and the glossy exterior makes it look sleek and chic. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor
Tips on Trips and Expert Picks
Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.
Price: $80 or less
Dimensions: 21.46 x 14.76 x 9.45 inches | Weight: 7.34 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 23 liters | Color options: Black, navy blue, orange or light blue Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 1-year
The Amazon Basics 20-inch Hardside Spinner is similar to many other hard-sided luggage products on the market, but it's available at a fraction of the price. The ABS shell is textured, so even if you – or luggage handlers – bang it around a bit, it does not show scuffs or scratches easily. The double-spinner wheels (a must, honestly, in today's luggage landscape) make the bag effortless to maneuver.
Inside, one side of the bag features a compression strap, while the other has a large fabric zippered closure, complete with a few organizer pockets for smaller items. Thanks to its availability on Amazon Prime, the carry-on luggage ships quickly, so it's also a great option if you need new luggage in a crunch.
This carry-on bag is a superb selection for the budget-conscious traveler. I appreciated how much I was able to get into this bag (it doesn't look huge, but it fit quite a lot), and the textured exterior really ups the durability factor. The compression straps and the interior organizer even helped me squeeze in a bit more. – Erin Evans
Best Expandability: Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner
Price: $699 or less
Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 (up to 11.5) inches | Weight: 10 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 37-48 liters | Color options: Black, navy or olive Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Lifetime
The Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner has a standout feature that other bags on this list don't: one-touch CX expansion. Exclusive to Briggs & Riley, this technology allows your bag to expand and compress in one swift motion. Simply press and pull up on the red levers found at opposite ends of the bag, and it will grow 2.5 inches. Once you've packed your belongings, push down on the buttons to compress the bag before zipping it up.
This bag also features a garment folder to reduce wrinkles in a suit or dress, as well as cinch-down garment panels to secure the clothing in place. Other convenient features include interior mesh compartments for organization, an exterior pocket for airport essentials (or even your laptop) and a signature PowerPocket where you can charge your smartphone.
While the bag is undoubtedly an investment at $700, its "simple as that" guarantee (free repairs forever, no questions asked) – plus sturdy features like impact-resistant corner guards and self-repairing zippers – means you'll have it for life.
When it comes to quality, this is the best luggage I've ever used – period. The compression/expansion system is just the icing on the cake. – Amanda Norcross
Best Underseater: CALPAK Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On Luggage
Price: $165 or less
Dimensions: 16 x 14.5 x 9 inches | Weight: 5.1 pounds Packing capacity: 2-4 days; 34 liters | Color options: Chocolate, oatmeal or rose quartz Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: 2-year limited
Compact and filled with useful features, this CALPAK underseater has a water-resistant exterior, a TSA-approved lock, and side and top handles for easy lifting into the overhead or pushing under the seat. There's a telescoping handle, a luggage trolley sleeve and two exterior pockets for stowing small items like your passport, boarding pass and earbuds.
On the inside, there's a padded laptop sleeve, multiple interior pockets and compression straps. For added convenience, the main panel can be secured via built-in snaps to get your laptop out while traveling (and keep your other belongings from spilling out), or you can unsnap it while packing to maximize the interior storage space.
When I'm traveling on a quick trip with my laptop, this is my go-to bag. Its compact size glides easily under the seat, and it's also compact and light enough to fit into the overhead bin even on the smallest regional planes. I love the laptop sleeve and the zippered exterior pocket for my book, earbuds and wipes. To maximize the interior space, I use compression cubes from Lug , and I'm able to squeeze in four to five outfits, a pair of shoes and daily necessities. – Rachael Hood
Price: $83 or less
Dimensions: 20.4 x 14.9 x 8.2 inches | Weight: 6.35 pounds Packing capacity: 2-3 days; 26 liters | Color options: Black, olive, gray, red, blue or purple Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 1-year
This simple but sturdy carry-on piece from Amazon is a great option for business travelers, thanks to its front pocket for easy laptop access, smooth double-spinner wheels and TSA lock. This Amazon Basics soft-sided carry-on also features a handle on the bottom between the wheels, which makes it easy to put the bag up into and pull it out of the overhead bin. On some airplanes, it may even be small enough to fit under the seat.
The interior of the bag features one large compartment with two compression straps, plus two zippered pockets on the opposite site. The 20.4-inch option is ideal for shorter trips, but this style is available in larger sizes as well. Another bonus: It's available on Amazon Prime, so it ships quickly.
This Amazon Basics option is on the smaller side for a carry-on, but that's what makes it a solid choice for business travelers going on short trips who only need to pack a few things. The laptop pocket is easily accessible, and the handle on the bottom of the bag is super useful for hauling it out of an overhead bin. The black color is professional, and the price can't be beat. – Erin Evans
Price: $565 or less
Dimensions: 21.7 x 15 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 9.5 pounds Packing capacity: 5-7 days; 43 liters | Color options: Gray/cognac, gray/chocolate, gray/black or black Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Lifetime with a 100-day trial
Constructed with premium materials, this luxury carry-on has Italian leather accents, Japanese spinner wheels and a polycarbonate exterior with an aluminum metal frame for stability. It closes via two secure latches with combination locks (rather than a zipper). There's a front laptop compartment with a smaller pocket and pen slots to keep business essentials or travel documents easy to access.
The interior has leather details, compression straps and a removable compression pad with a pocket – ideal for small items like ties, fashion jewelry or silk scarves. Travelers can also purchase an additional compression pad to have a pad on each side of the interior compartment.
This suitcase exudes luxury with its Italian leather trim and understated elegance. The design of it looks very sleek, the interior is spacious, the handle is very sturdy and the wheels glide with ease. I especially liked that the top of the suitcase is very flat, which gave my trolley bag a secure base so it wasn't moving around while I was at the airport, and the front compartment was ideal for accessing my laptop on the go. It feels very sturdy, but the only downside is it weighs more than a typical carry-on. – Rachael Hood
Best Carry-on Duffel: The North Face Rolling Thunder – 22"
Price: $270 or less
Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 7.34 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 5 days; 40 liters | Color options: Black Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Limited lifetime
The North Face's 22-inch Rolling Thunder duffel doesn't have the bells and whistles of other carry-on options, but it's a sturdy and reliable option for those who want a duffel style on wheels. The duffel has a hard-sided back panel, two wheels that can withstand various terrain and plastic bumpers for abrasion resistance. The soft-sided top of the bag is made of water-resistant Base Camp material and nylon for extra durability. There are two zippered pockets on the outside to stash small items and a mesh pocket inside for some added organization.
I brought this duffel on a trip to New Zealand, and it held up very well. The Rolling Thunder had no issues after being checked on six different flights, and the flexibility of the style allowed me to easily store it out of the way in my campervan once I had unpacked. It's definitely a simpler style, but it does its job well. Be aware, though, that this wheeled style doesn't have straps that would allow you to carry it like a duffel; it can only be rolled. – Catriona Kendall
Price: $200 or less
Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 10 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds Packing capacity: 5-10 days; 35 liters | Color options: Multiple options but color availability changes frequently Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Lifetime
When it comes to hands-free and adventure travel, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L can't be beat. This lightweight carry-on backpack comes with a sternum strap, a removable waist belt and a weight-distributing harness system, all to make for a comfortable carry (since sore shoulders can be a concern when it comes to carrying backpacks through time-consuming airport experiences).
Organization is a breeze with a top zippered pocket – perfect for storing travel documents or a Cotopaxi hip pack – and a padded laptop sleeve on the outside. Internally, you'll find two mesh compartments, one large and one subdivided, that work great with Cotopaxi packing cubes . The backpack's straps can be tucked away for more streamlined travel, and the bag even comes with a rain cover (though the Allpa is already TPU-coated to be water-resistant).
Furthermore, Cotopaxi is dedicated to sustainability : 94% of Cotopaxi products contain repurposed, recycled or responsible materials. The vibrant, one-of-a-kind Del Dia Allpa backpacks , for example, use remnant fabric.
I've taken my Cotopaxi Allpa on countless adventures and it's survived everything – wind, rain, being shoved into tiny rental cars, you name it. Besides being incredibly durable, I love how much this backpack can fit; my longest trip so far with only the Allpa 35L as my luggage has been a comfortable nine days, and that included packing bulky cold-weather gear. I just wish it had a water bottle pocket like the Allpa 42L does! – Leilani Osmundson
Also Recommended
Solgaard Carry-on Closet – Large: This bag packs a built-in organizer component along with a durable exterior. The Solgaard Carry-on Closet is worth considering if you like to avoid packing and unpacking.
Solo New York Re:Serve Carry-On Spinner: While the Solo New York Re:Serve Carry-On Spinner is a solid (and sustainable) carry-on bag for less than $200, it doesn't offer quite enough space – especially for someone who may be traveling for longer.
Away The Aluminum Carry-On Bag: This is a well-built carry-on bag. The only downfall is that it's on the heavier side, weighing nearly 11 pounds. Away's Aluminum Carry-On is also more than twice the cost of the standard carry-on by Away, which works just as well.
Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner: This is a great soft-sided option if you're looking for a lightweight suitcase. Featuring a sleek nylon construction, a large front exterior pocket and internal zippered pockets, the Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner works well but isn't as lightweight as the July Carry-on Light.
Monos Carry-on Plus: It's a high-quality suitcase with a lot of internal details, but given its larger size this bag doesn't fit in the overhead compartment on multiple planes (especially regional jets). That said, if you're traveling domestically on larger planes, the Monos Carry-on Plus could be an option to consider. Or, the smaller standard Monos Carry-on could be a good option as well.
Pros and Cons of Hard-sided Luggage
Pros and cons of soft-sided luggage, frequently asked questions.
Aside from traditional rolling suitcases, the following items can be used as carry-on luggage provided they meet carry-on size limitations (which vary by airline) and fit in the overhead bin or fully under the seat (not sticking out) in front of you.
- Duffel and weekender bags: This includes weekenders and duffel bags with wheels . Just note that wheels are included in carry-on dimension restrictions.
- Garment bags: These are also considered carry-on baggage by most airlines. You can place your garment bag in the overhead bin, or in some cases, a small closet on the plane.
- Pet carriers: Some airlines consider pet carriers to be carry-on luggage. Check with your chosen airline when preparing for your trip with Fido.
- Backpacks: If your carry-on backpack fits under the seat, it will count toward your personal item allowance on most major airlines. This means you'll have the option to bring an additional bag for the overhead bin.
- Diaper bags: If you're traveling with a baby, diaper bags and other baby travel gear generally don't count toward either allowance – meaning you can bring these items in addition to your carry-on bag and personal item.
Purses , briefcases and camera bags can be carried on the plane as well, but usually aren't considered carry-on bags and are instead labeled personal items. Underseater bags – often designed specifically to fit comfortably under a plane seat – are also ideal as a personal item.
Typically, travelers can bring one carry-on bag (for the overhead bin) and one personal item (for under the seat) on the plane, free of charge.
Carry-on luggage sizes can vary by airline. Several major U.S. carriers, such as American Airlines and United, impose a 22 x 14 x 9-inch rule. If you're buying new carry-on luggage, this is a good default size to choose – especially if you fly with a variety of airlines.
For international airlines, it's often 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches. To be sure about dimensions as well as any weight restrictions, see our guide to Carry-on Luggage Size & Weight by Airline . It usually doesn't matter how heavy your carry-on bag is, though some airlines do monitor the weight.
- Hard-sided: The hard-sided July Carry On Light weighs less than 4 pounds, making it one of the most lightweight carry-on bags on the market. Other lightweight carry-on bags we recommend include the hard-sided Away The Carry-On (7.5 pounds) and the Amazon 20-Inch Hardside Spinner (7.3 pounds).
- Soft-sided: If you're looking for a lightweight, soft-sided carry-on bag, consider the Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner (4.8 pounds) and the Samsonite SoLyte DLX Carry-On Spinner (7.1 pounds).
Hard-sided luggage is often heavier than soft-sided luggage – but only by a few pounds. If you're planning to purchase a hard-sided carry-on bag, look for something that's made of polycarbonate or polypropylene, both of which are lightweight yet durable materials.
How We Tested
Our team tested 26 carry-on bags across several price points and on a variety of trips spanning overseas flights, weekend getaways, overnight trips and more. We traveled by car, plane, train and cruise and packed for a variety of climates and activities, from shore excursions in Mexico to rainy road trips around Iceland. For bags with wheels, we tested their maneuverability on multiple surfaces, including gravel, pavement, grass, moving walkways, cobblestone and carpet. After four months of testing, we deem these carry-on bags the best of the best for 2024.
Why Trust U.S. News Travel
The following editors personally tested the luggage recommended in this article:
Erin Evans , Managing Editor: Evans loves a durable bag and also can't say no to a good deal. Considering how banged up luggage can get, her picks on this list are both well-made and affordable.
Rachael Hood , Senior Editor: Hood rarely checks a bag, yet she loves to pack a lot and pick up some new finds along her journey. She looks for a combination of durability, functionality, interior space and overall appearance.
Catriona Kendall , Associate Editor: Kendall opts for convenient and versatile carry-ons that can work well for weekend and weekslong trips alike.
Amanda Norcross , Content & SEO Strategist: Norcross has mastered the art of traveling with a carry-on bag only, but believes this is only possible with the right luggage.
Leilani Osmundson , Digital Producer: Osmundson prefers lightweight, streamlined luggage that's ideal for adventure travel.
You might also be interested in:
- What to Pack in Your Carry-on Bag
- What Is Allowed in a Carry-on Bag
- The Best Travel Insurance Companies
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The Best Luggage for International Travel in 2024
If you’re looking for the best luggage for international travel, these ten suitcases are ready for both globetrotting and overseas business trips alike.
Traveling internationally demands a lot from luggage. Since you’ll be living out of your suitcase, you want something that packs in convenient features and durable construction that will stand up to abuse.
I’ve traveled across four continents and have had to toss my luggage on top of packed buses and drag it miles over cobblestone streets. Over the years I’ve learned a lot about what makes a suitcase work well for traveling internationally.
So what makes a piece of luggage ready for international travel? The most important distinction is that international airlines have tighter restrictions for carry-on size than domestic flights. If you’re flying internationally, you’ll want to make sure your carry-on is smaller than 21” so you don’t have to worry about fitting within limits.
This guide will highlight the best carry-on bags that fit within international restrictions as well as some of the best checked luggage for international flights.
- Best Luggage for International Travel Overall: Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 21”
- Best Lightweight Luggage for International Travel: July Carry-On Light
- Best Luggage Set for International Travel: Samsonite Novaire Set
- Best Carry-On Luggage for International Travel: LEVEL8 Pro Carry-On 20”
- Best Checked Luggage for International Travel: Travelpro Roundtrip
- Best Large Luggage for International Travel: Eagle Creek Expanse
- Best Durable Luggage for International Travel: Osprey Ozone
- Best Medium Luggage for International Travel: Monos Check-In Medium
- Best Soft Luggage for International Travel: Travelpro Maxlite 5 International
- Best Hardside Luggage for International Travel: Briggs & Riley Sympatico International
Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 21” : Best Luggage for International Travel Overall
Briggs & Riley is one of the most respected luggage brands out there. Flight crews and frequent travelers around the world trust them to build the highest-quality and longest-lasting luggage available.
Unlike most manufacturers who offer at best a limited lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects, Briggs & Riley has a true lifetime guarantee. If your suitcase is ever damaged, they will repair or replace it no questions.
Good international luggage needs to meet carry-on size restrictions while still offering lots of packing room. You also want to look for features that will help you stay organized while you’re traveling.
The Briggs & Riley Baseline Global 21” is a fantastic choice for overseas trips. It combines impressive durability, thoughtful features, and unmatched versatility, making this suitcase an easy choice for anyone traveling abroad.
Two-wheeled rolling luggage is more durable than spinner wheels. You can drag this suitcase over cobblestones or other rough surfaces without worry.
You get a large external pocket that can fit a laptop, hanging garment storage for suits and dresses, compression straps, and an expandable main compartment if you need more space. The array of interior and exterior pockets is extensive and well-thought-out. All these features make this carry-on incredibly versatile and organized.
While the price is high, if you’re looking for the best quality out there and the peace of mind that comes with a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with the Briggs & Riley Baseline.
- Technical Specs
July Carry-On Light : Best Lightweight Luggage for International Travel
Launched in 2018, July is a startup travel brand based in Australia that is dedicated to simplifying and improving the travel experience with innovative designs and quality products. Though they’re new to the market, they have quickly become a leader in the industry, thanks to their commitment to solving problems in the luggage industry.
If you’re traveling a lot, it’s definitely worth looking for lightweight luggage that won’t weigh you down. A suitcase that’s under five pounds will be easier to maneuver through the airport and lift into overhead bins. You don’t want to compromise on durability and features though.
The July Carry-On Light is the perfect solution for anyone looking to drop a few pounds from their travel gear. At 3.9 lbs, this is the lightest carry-on case on the market!
This ultralight suitcase manages to cut weight without cutting corners on build quality. It has a sturdy polycarbonate shell, a well-engineered aluminum handle, and July’s bomber double spinner wheels. You can count on this case to stand up to some abuse.
The closure uses YKK zippers and has an integrated TSA-approved lock. This ensures your suitcase is secure during travel.
Organization is simple but effective, with a zippered divider and interior pockets. If you want the easy access of exterior pockets or more advanced organization, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
If you’re looking for the lightest luggage on the market to lighten your load while traveling, I highly recommend you take a look at the July Carry-On Light.
Want to learn more about this brand? Read our full July luggage review for an in-depth look at their products.
Samsonite Novaire Set : Best Luggage Set for International Travel
Samsonite luggage is probably the most well-known brand. They’ve been selling luggage for over a century and have built a reputation on providing high-value suitcases for every budget.
If you are traveling with a family or are just looking to buy both checked and carry-on luggage, it’s definitely worth trying to buy a luggage set. You’ll get matching suitcases that work together, and you’ll save money over buying pieces individually.
The best luggage sets will keep you ready for everything. With a carry-on and checked bags you’ll be prepped for anything from weekend beach trips to long-haul international adventures.
The Samsonite Novaire Set is one of the best luggage sets out there and is a perfect choice for international travel. It includes a carry-on that is sized for international restrictions and a large 29” checked case that is ready for trips where you have to haul a lot of gear.
Both suitcases are made with durable Makrolon polycarbonate hardshells with scratch-resistant texture and reinforced corners. These cases will take a beating and keep looking good over the long term.
The expandable luggage design gives you the option to add a few inches of packing space. This increases the versatility of the set so you’re ready for trips with different packing requirements.
The Samsonite Novaire Set is a fantastic combination that is well-built, affordable, and ready for anything. On a bit of a budget? Our list of the best cheap luggage sets can help you find something more affordable. You can also check out our list of the best hardside luggage sets .
LEVEL8 Pro Carry-On 20” : Best Carry-On Luggage for International Travel
LEVEL8 is a modern luggage brand that emphasizes functional, minimalist designs that are intended to streamline the travel experience. They specifically make some of the best carry-on luggage that is stylish, simple, and well-built.
A good carry-on suitcase for an international trip needs to be spacious enough to carry all your belongings for longer trips while fitting within international size restrictions for carry-ons.
The LEVEL8 Pro Carry-On is a sleek and stylish hardshell case that’s designed to fit carry-on size restrictions for airlines all over the world. It stands out with innovative features, streamlined design, and high-quality construction.
This carry-on case is built with Makrolon polycarbonate and has a TSA-approved lock. You can be sure your belongings are protected and secure while traveling.
Unlike most hard-sided luggage, this case has a large external pocket that can fit a 15.6” laptop. This quick-opening zipperless pocket is fantastic for keeping electronics or other items easily accessible
If you’re looking for a sturdy, streamlined hardshell carry-on suitcase for international use, the LEVEL8 Pro Carry-On is a fantastic choice.
Looking for something a bit cheaper? Check out our list of the best affordable carry-on luggage .
Travelpro Roundtrip : Best Checked Luggage for International Travel
Travelpro was started to make luggage specifically for flight crews. With pilots, flight attendants, and other pros trusting their luggage, you can be sure they are doing something right.
Travelpro has been at the forefront of luggage innovation for decades. Their founder invented the first upright rolling suitcase, and they continually seek new improvements in designs and materials.
The best checked luggage for traveling internationally needs to be strong enough to stand up to frequent flight transfers across the globe. An expandable design is also a plus so it can adapt to your needs over different trips.
The Travelpro Roundtrip combines all of Travelpro’s luggage expertise into a highly-functional and well-built check-in suitcase that’s ready for long international trips.
The Roundtrip has a durable polycarbonate shell with built-in corner guards. Corners are usually the first thing to break on hardshell suitcases, so this is a fantastic design that helps this suitcase endure hard hits and make it to the baggage claim undamaged.
This case uses Travelpro’s double spinner wheels and a lightweight extendable handle. It is exceptionally smooth rolling and easy to maneuver through the airport.
If you’re going on an extended trip and need more room than just a carry-on, the Travelpro Roundtrip is a fantastic choice for a checked bag.
Eagle Creek Expanse : Best Large Luggage for International Travel
Eagle Creek builds luggage for adventurous folks who are heading far from the beaten path and need equipment that’s rugged and well-designed. Their No Matter What Warranty shows that they stand behind their products.
For some trips, you just need a lot of space. Whether you’re hauling climbing gear to Morocco or packing for a family, a single massive piece of luggage often makes more sense than multiple smaller bags.
The Eagle Creek Expanse is a massive rolling bag with rugged durability, heavy-duty wheels, and cavernous space. It’s strong enough to haul heavy loads and stand up to abuse.
While it’s easy to assume hard-sided luggage is more durable because it has a rigid shell, that isn’t always the case. This soft-sided luggage is made of ultra high strength fabric that’s virtually impossible to tear. Unlike a hard case, it will never crack under impact.
The design is simple, with one massive main compartment, a small external pocket, and a mesh internal pocket on the lid. This gives you a lot of freedom to pack gear the way you want.
If you need a big checked bag that’s ready for anything, this is it.
Osprey Ozone : Best Durable Luggage for International Travel
Osprey is a Colorado-based outdoor gear brand that is best known for their innovative backpacking and hiking packs . You may not know that they also build capable and durable travel luggage.
Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee is legendary within the outdoor community. You can send in any product for any reason to be repaired or replaced for free.
I really respect companies that stand behind their products, and Osprey is one of the best. They also are committed to reducing their environmental impact by using recycled materials and sustainable processes.
The Osprey Ozone is a compact, lightweight carry-on that is built tough so you can take it around the globe without any worries of wear and tear. I love that this bag is really built for adventurous travelers, with no-nonsense features, organization, and construction.
This bag is built with a highly-engineered aluminum frame, durable recycled nylon fabrics, burly YKK zippers, and oversized wheels. You can count on it to stand up to the abuse of global travel.
If you’re looking for an international carry-on that will last forever, the Osprey Ozone is built to handle a beating. If you ever do manage to break it, Osprey will repair it for you.
Monos Check-In Medium : Best Medium Luggage for International Travel
Monos is a luggage brand that emphasizes minimalist designs that give you everything you need without any unnecessary bells and whistles. They are also committed to quality and have some of the best durability and life testing I’ve ever seen for luggage.
I am really impressed by the testing methods Monos has developed for their products. It really gives a lot of confidence that their suitcases will survive hard use.
The perfect medium check-in bag gives you ample room to pack for longer trips without becoming cumbersome when maneuvering through the airport.
The Monos Check-In Medium is an incredibly well-built 26” suitcase with durable construction, ultra-smooth spinner wheels, and extremely well-thought-out details.
Interior organization is phenomenal in this suitcase. It has a large zippered divider, a plethora of zippered interior pockets, compression straps, and includes two shoe bags. Every detail is well-configured to make it easy to stay organized and neat while traveling.
If you need more space while traveling but don’t want to be weighed down by an overly-bulky case, the Monos Check-In Medium is a fantastic choice.
Travelpro Maxlite 5 International : Best Soft Luggage for International Travel
This is the second Travelpro luggage product on this list, and it’s because they make seriously capable and well-designed products. Their soft-sided luggage is especially good, with sturdy construction and fantastic organization features.
Soft-sided luggage excels in organization, accessibility, and lighter weight. Convenient external pockets can make it very easy to access items while traveling. Having a single large compartment can make packing much easier than the two-sided clamshell design of hard luggage.
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 International is a lightweight soft-sided carry-on that combines thoughtful design, rugged construction, and an affordable price into a fantastic carry-on for international trips. It fits size restrictions for almost any airline in the world, but still has a surprising amount of space inside.
The body of the bag is built with a high-denier polyester fabric with a water-resistant coating. This material is highly durable and protects your belongings from rain or splashes.
This rollaboard suitcase uses sturdy wheels with rigorously-tested steel ball bearings. The best rolling carry-on luggage will always be more durable than any fancy spinner case. You can expect this bag to be smooth-rolling for a lifetime of travel, even if you’re pulling it over cobblestones or other rough surfaces.
Briggs & Riley Sympatico International : Best Hardside Luggage for International Travel
We’ll wrap up this list with another suitcase from Briggs & Riley. This brand builds some of the best quality luggage on the market, and their unbeatable warranty ensures that when you buy one of their suitcases, it’s going to last you a lifetime.
It is common nowadays for manufacturers to skimp on materials, construction, and quality testing. It’s refreshing that Briggs and Riley changes that by building suitcases that can be an investment. Their products aren’t cheap, but I think it’s worth it for frequent flyers.
Hardside luggage has the advantage of being more secure and protective for expensive or fragile items. Hard luggage for traveling internationally needs to maximize those advantages with a highly durable shell that will survive the abuse of longer trips.
The Briggs & Riley Sympatico International is a stylish, spacious, and durable hardside carry-on that is compact enough for international airline restrictions.
This case has a durable polycarbonate shell, YKK zippers, and an aircraft-grade aluminum telescopic handle. This well-built suitcase will last a long time, and if you ever manage to break it, Briggs & Riley will repair or replace it for free.
If you are frequently traveling internationally and are willing to invest in a hardside suitcase that will last a lifetime, I highly recommend the Briggs & Riley Sympatico.
How to Choose the Best Luggage for International Travel
What size luggage should you buy.
The biggest difference between luggage for international and domestic trips is the carry-on luggage size restrictions. Most international airlines limit the length of any carry-on to 21.5”. Many manufacturers make luggage slightly larger than that for domestic flights, so double-check suitcase dimensions before purchasing. Knowing how to measure luggage can be helpful here.
For checked luggage, size restrictions are less of an issue on international airlines. Still, wherever possible I’d recommend going a bit smaller. Packing light will simplify your trip and let you focus more on the experience of traveling rather than hauling around massive overstuffed suitcases.
Hard vs Soft-Sided Luggage
Another major decision when shopping for luggage is whether to buy a hard or soft suitcase . Soft luggage used to be much more common, but hardshell cases are gaining in popularity, and with advances like durable yet lightweight polycarbonate shells, they are better than ever.
Picking between hard and soft-sided luggage is mainly up to personal preference, but if you’re on the fence, there are some key factors that can help you decide.
Soft-Sided Luggage Advantages
- Soft luggage is usually more lightweight .
- You will get more options for external zipper pockets .
- Soft luggage is more flexible for packing and cramming into the overhead bin.
- If you want 2-wheeled luggage , a soft suitcase is your only option.
Hard-Sided Luggage Advantages
- Hard luggage is more protective .
- When combined with a TSA-approved lock, a hard suitcase is more secure .
- Some people prefer the streamlined style of hardshell cases.
International Travel Luggage Accessories
Monos travel folio.
When traveling internationally, keeping passports, travel documents, and electronics together in one place can relieve a lot of anxiety. I know one of my biggest fears is losing my passport while abroad.
This zippered folio can act as your travel wallet/passport folio. With room for electronics, cards, and important travel documents, it’s a great way to keep all your most important items in one place.
REI Co-Op Flash 18 Pack
When you arrive at your destination, you’ll want a good travel daypack for heading out on shorter excursions. This compact, lightweight pack is perfect for everything from hiking to heading out around town.
This little backpack is easily packable, so it won’t take up space in your suitcase while traveling. You can easily use it as your personal item on the airplane or as a stuff sack for added organization inside your suitcase.
July Leather Luggage Tags
For a stylish addition to help identify your luggage in the airport or at the baggage claim, check out these luggage tags that you can personalize to your liking.
This luggage tag is made of full-grain leather and attaches easily to a handle on your suitcase.
Monos Compressible Packing Cubes
It’s easy for the main compartment of your suitcase to become a disorganized, jumbled mess. These zippered packing cubes are a great solution for taming the chaos.
Built of a lightweight fabric, these packing cubes have a mesh front panel that lets you easily see what’s inside.
They come in an array of sizes to fit everything from socks to shirts. You can purchase either a four-pack or a six-pack.
Why Trust TravelFreak?
Here at TravelFreak, we want to give you the best information and recommendations to help you get out and explore the world. Our brand reputation is based on giving high-quality recommendations you can trust, so we take our product selection very seriously.
We don’t pick products just because they are popular or highly rated. All the members of our team are avid travelers and adventurers, and we base all of our recommendations on our personal experiences, observations, and struggles traveling the globe.
We’ve had a lot of chances to test luggage and to learn what works and what doesn’t. Every suitcase in this list is something we would personally use in our own travels.
I’ve hauled luggage up endless stone staircases in the lower Himalayas and have destroyed suitcase spinner wheels on the unforgiving cobblestone streets of Germany. The recommendations in this list are made based on my own real-world experience and the combined travel experience of the TravelFreak team.
Luggage for International Travel FAQs
What luggage bag is best for international travel.
The Briggs & Riley Baseline Global is a fantastic luggage choice for traveling internationally.
Is hard or soft luggage better for international travel?
Soft luggage is typically lighter and has more external pockets. Hard luggage is more protective.
What size luggage do I need for international travel?
International airlines limit carry-ons to 21.5” in height; luggage needs to be shorter than that.
How do I choose the best luggage for international travel?
A suitcase for international travel needs to be very durable and fit international carry-on size limits .
What is the best suitcase for traveling to Europe?
A 2-wheeled rollaboard will be better for the cobblestone streets you find in Europe.
Jeremy Scott Foster
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The Best Carry-On Luggage
Traveling well is not always easy. Keeping your suitcase with you when you fly not only protects your belongings from loss or damage but may help you avoid extra fees as well.
If you decide to do so, you need a good carry-on bag.
Over the past 10 years, we’ve handled, tested, and traveled with 67 bags from more than 35 brands, and we remain convinced that the Travelpro Platinum Elite offers the best balance of value and quality for most travelers. It packs five days’ worth of clothes into standard US carry-on dimensions 1 and has premium touches you might expect from a $600 bag at about half the price. It’s a bag that you can rely on for life, even if it’s damaged by airlines —a rarity at any price.
Everything we recommend
Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner
The best soft-sided carry-on.
This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, plus high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
Buying Options
Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard
A bit more capacity and extra wheel durability.
This two-wheeled carry-on bag isn’t as maneuverable, but it offers slightly more space, a garment folder, and larger, more durable wheels.
Away The Carry-On
The best hard-sided carry-on.
This great-looking and relatively resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line components—including wheels as smooth-rolling as any we’ve tested.
Away The Bigger Carry-On
Slightly more room, but you might get checked.
With more capacity than Away’s standard carry-on, this suitcase is sized appropriately for most flights. On smaller planes, though, you may get gate-checked.
Budget pick
Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner
Lightweight and appealingly inexpensive.
Remarkably well priced for a reputable brand, this is an ideal lightweight pick and provides many features of luggage costing nearly twice as much.
Upgrade pick
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner
A soft-sided carry-on that fits more in less.
This carry-on bag offers superlative build quality, plenty of expandable room, and a uniquely effective compression system. It’s a buy-it-for-life suitcase.
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ 2-Wheel Expandable Carry-On
More room, bigger wheels, less maneuverability.
If you’re willing to give up maneuverability for more space and bigger wheels, this is also a great option.
Carl Friedrik The Carry-On
A more luxe hard-sided carry-on.
Luxury touches and a strong polycarbonate and aluminum design give this bag a standout look with exceptional feel and performance. It does cost nearly $200 more than the comparably sized Away bag, though.
Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage
A bag built for tough conditions.
A polycarbonate back and rugged wheels make this design suited for rougher travel over difficult surfaces. However, it has a limited warranty, and it’s somewhat unwieldy to handle.
What to consider
Four-wheel bags, aka spinners, are easier to maneuver down tight airplane aisles, but two-wheel bags will always be more durable .
Hard-sided looks better to most people, but soft-sided luggage withstands the bumps and knocks of travel for longer .
Plenty of reputable brands offer lifetime warranties; it’s generally worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind .
Depending on where you travel, you might need to look for specialty luggage sizes .
We’ve also included picks that stood out for their form and individual functionality: an upgrade with best-in-class compression, a pick made of polycarbonate , an upgraded hard-sided case with latch closures and an aluminum frame, a rolling soft-top hybrid , and a budget pick that’s also the best ultra-light suitcase we can find.
Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line of luggage is still our top pick after 10 years of testing. It addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price while offering the best warranty against potential airline damage in the industry (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase, which you can do in minutes).
The Platinum Elite features smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, as well as solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. Travelpro also provides a full catalog of other replaceable parts . Instead of chasing the smart-bag moment, Travelpro added an exterior pocket with a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And weighing less than 8 pounds when empty, the Platinum Elite is dead in the center of average weight for bags this size.
In our view, soft-sided luggage lasts longer and shows less wear, but if you prefer the look of a hard-sided bag, Away’s The Carry-On is our choice. Like our other picks, this bag stands out for its high-end components: YKK zippers, smooth-running wheels, and a well-braced handle. Its strong but flexible polycarbonate shell shows scratches—however, after seven years of using the Away Carry-On, our testers have found that it is capable of enduring most of the trials of travel with fewer knocks than other similar models we’ve tested.
Away also makes a slightly larger version of the same model: The Bigger Carry-On . It conforms to carry-on size for most major airliners, but you might be asked to gate-check it on smaller planes.
Similar to our soft-sided picks, this Away bag is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. And though the coverage doesn’t explicitly protect against airline damage, it does apply to any damage that an airline could possibly dish out—specifically, but not limited to, the shell cracking or wheels breaking off.
Some companies have tried to shave off a few pounds from their standard luggage designs to make so-called ultra-light luggage. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is the best of these bags we’ve seen, and it comes with the pedigree of our top pick but not quite as strong a warranty.
The Maxlite 5 is just over 2 pounds lighter than our top pick—that’s the weight of two or three pairs of jeans. It’s not a huge difference, but if you have trouble lifting luggage over your head and prefer an easier-to-manage suitcase, the Maxlite 5 may be your choice. This bag is also the best one we’ve found under $200, with almost all the benefits of luggage nearly twice the price.
For the more frequent flyer who is willing to invest in a higher-quality bag, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On . Every detail of this bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and it has a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested.
Briggs & Riley boosts this extra capacity with a ratcheting compression system that easily presses an entire extra outfit (if not more) into the same external dimensions as most other carry-ons. It’s simple, impressive, and unmatched by any other brand’s compression system.
The Expandable Spinner version is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder, which helps shirts and pants stay wrinkle-free if you pack them well. If things go awry, Briggs & Riley has a catalog of replaceable parts and a global network of repair centers , as well as a reliable lifetime warranty covering repairs for airline damage.
For some people, Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On may be worth the extra cost. Behind the maturity of Italian leather accents and polish of higher-end Hinomoto wheels, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On bypasses the biggest compromise in most polycarbonate designs: the stitched-in zipper. Incorporating an aluminum frame around the center of the case and two latch locks, it feels comfortingly secure and well structured where other luggage tends to sag or bend away.
There’s a potential catch, however: The flex in a polycarbonate design (and most luggage, incidentally) is its strength. The more robust a piece of luggage becomes—by replacing, for instance, a zipper with an aluminum frame—the greater the chance that if something hits the case hard enough, the frame can bend or break. That said, you need to hit a frame like this with an extreme amount of focused force for that to happen. And Carl Friedrik provides a lifetime warranty that appears to cover airline damage in the event that an airline doesn’t compensate you within 14 days.
The Yeti Crossroads 22”/35L Wheeled Luggage represents the best of a relatively niche type of luggage design. Call it a hybrid model—a blend of a soft-sided luggage on top and hard-sided luggage on the back—that lends itself to fairly specific circumstances. It’s ideal for tough roads, broken streets, and slamming your luggage into uneven curbs with abandon. Do most people need this kind of luggage for their day-to-day travel? Absolutely not, and it can feel heavier than it really is. But if you do, this is the best there is—at least for the moment.
The Yeti Crossroads has everything you might expect from a brand that has built its reputation for over-the-top toughness and durability. The two heavy-duty wheels are among the largest and broadest that we’ve seen. Externally, Yeti blends a polycarbonate shell back with a water-resistant 700-denier nylon front and waterproof zippers. However, Yeti backs its luggage with only a three-year warranty and no mention of airline damage. That’s very limited protection, especially for the conditions this bag was designed for and definitely in comparison with the standards that our other picks set.
The research
Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, our pick for the best carry-on luggage: travelpro platinum elite, our pick for the best hard-sided carry-on luggage: away the carry-on, budget pick: travelpro maxlite 5 carry-on spinner, upgrade pick for the best carry-on: briggs & riley baseline essential, upgrade pick for the best hard-sided carry-on: carl friedrik the carry-on, also great for tough conditions: yeti crossroads 35l wheeled luggage, other good carry-on luggage, what to look forward to, the competition.
I’ve been covering luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade and have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. Over the years we’ve also spoken with plenty of experts: flight attendants for major airlines, product designers and creative directors for luggage and gear companies, and travel and gear writers. My conversations with these people have helped shape our coverage, and we owe much to their collective knowledge.
In the 10 years we’ve been covering this category, luggage has evolved, and so has our thinking about what makes the best carry-on for most people. After spending well over 200 hours doing research and interviews and easily twice that time conducting hands-on testing, we’ve seen a few truths become clear. First, at a certain threshold—roughly over $200—most luggage is fine. It will more than likely get you from point A to point B without incident many times a year for many years. What distinguishes great luggage from everything else is mostly an attention to detail—the quality of a bag’s handle, its wheels, the frame, and stitching—and a company’s guarantee that it will stand behind its product.
Every year we try to refine our testing and find new ways to consider what it means to be the best luggage. We’ve weighed and measured suitcases, comparing our results with company claims. We’ve calculated true internal capacity with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls 2 and some decently complex math for a writer to scratch out. We’ve packed and unpacked more bags than I care to remember. We’ve studied and compared wheel bearings, wheel sizes, pocket counts, pocket quality, the curious subtleties of garment bags that will (or more often won’t) keep your clothes wrinkle-free, the strength of warranties, and repairability.
We believe that any maximally sized carry-on should be capable of holding enough clothes to last you five days with room to spare for miscellaneous necessities. Most years we aim to have two testers, one male and one female, pack two bags individually as if headed to the same wedding. 3 What we included isn’t representative of a family traveling or a couple splitting a bag, but we erred on the side of bulky, and we hope it gives you a clear idea of how much of your own stuff these bags will hold.
We looked at how each bag loaded. Was there an easy way to keep smaller items (such as socks and underwear) organized? Did it have compression straps to keep things in place? Were the straps thick enough to avoid creasing the clothes? Just how much would the bag compress? How much room was left over? Once packed, was the bag prone to tipping over?
Over the years I’ve torn bags apart to see how the frames were put together, taken apart wheels, dismantled handles, and more or less treated luggage as poorly as one person could. I’ve wheeled loaded bags around many neighborhoods, looking at how well each bag rolled and how well it handled broken sidewalks, uneven pavement, grass, bricks, dirt, and curbs. I’ve dragged bags up and down two flights of concrete stairs, noting how easy this task was and how much damage the bags sustained. For our finalists, I’ve repeated the torture test along a second, even rougher route because I like the sound that polycarbonate luggage makes when it bounces down cavernous stairwells.
In fall 2023, we asked a panel of paid testers with a wide range of body types, dexterities, and mobilities to examine our picks and share their perspectives. We’ve incorporated their feedback in this review.
The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner is our pick for a soft-sided carry-on; if you need a little more room, we also recommend the Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard .
It has a history of great performance. Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line has been our top pick for almost every iteration of this guide because it addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price: In addition to smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, it features solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid 7.8-pound internal chassis. Travelpro backs it all with a lifetime warranty that covers airline damage and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase). Additionally, Travelpro supplies a full catalog of other replaceable parts .
It moves well across most surfaces and through most situations. The spinner bag’s configuration stands out in particular because of its MagnaTrac wheels, which magnetically snap into a forward position when the bag is moving. The small tracking assistance makes a large difference when you’re navigating the Platinum Elite through a crowded airport or down a busy street. It also has an easy-to-use, removable garment bag. After years of testing, we think the superior maneuverability of spinner luggage, along with improvements in manufacturing processes, makes four-wheel bags a better choice for most people. However, if you prefer slightly more packing capacity (the equivalent of squeezing in two more sweatshirts), larger wheels that run more smoothly over rough terrain, and a more protective built-in garment folder, 4 you may appreciate the two-wheeled 22-inch version of the Platinum Elite. One of our paid testers, who’s 6-foot-6, told us that although he could see the appeal of a spinner, “I would still choose the two-wheeler. It has a little more space, and when you’re my size, packing is just so horrible.”
It’s sized to maximize your space, but you have options. Measuring 23 by 13.5 by 9 inches, the Platinum Elite carry-on bag (in either wheel configuration) hits the upper margins of actual carry-on size limits and could get you gate-checked by an overzealous agent. However, it fits into most standard-size baggage caddies at check-in, including that of American Airlines and United Airlines. I’ve personally traveled with Travelpro carry-ons this size for more than 45,000 miles spread across 50 flights, from regional to long-haul to international routes, and I’ve never had an issue fitting within gate-side luggage sizers. If you’re nervous about getting caught at the gate or often fly in very small regional planes, Travelpro makes a 20-inch Platinum Elite as well as a slimmer international size, but they hold less (naturally) and lack a suiter insert.
It keeps clothes compacted but not creased. Inside, the Platinum Elite has a pair of tie-down straps and two broad panels with pockets that cinch down, similar in design and function to what you’d find in much more expensive Briggs & Riley luggage . Compared with the simple tie-down straps you often find in cheaper luggage, the panels do a great job of keeping things compacted without creasing clothes—a problem we’ve encountered in numerous other bags we’ve tested. Beyond that, the Platinum Elite’s internal organization system is about average. It will be familiar to anyone who has used a suitcase before, which means there’s no learning curve for optimizing the storage capacity. One long mesh pocket sits on one of the bag’s sides, and a smaller removable transparent plastic bag sits on the other side for easy TSA inspection of toiletries.
It’s tough yet flexible. The exterior is made of a hard-wearing nylon fabric, a key feature of all the bags we’ve tested. It hides scuffs and scratches, and it’s much more versatile than hard-sided bags. An expansion zipper lets you increase storage by about 30% in a pinch—although the bag is no longer carry-on compliant at that point. We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad-hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight. The Platinum Elite carry-on also has a variety of convenient exterior pockets, including two in the front, suitable for a sleep mask and other small miscellaneous items, and one on the side for a battery, though it can fit a bit more if necessary. It also has an accordion pocket on the front for magazines and electronic tablets.
It’s well balanced and spacious. This luggage has an 1,856-cubic-inch interior, which we measured using hundreds of Ping-Pong balls . In real-world terms (the needs of Ping-Pong champions notwithstanding), the Platinum Elite swallowed up five days’ worth of clothes with no problem and had a good deal of room to spare—and that’s without our resorting to the expansion zipper.
It has an excellent warranty. Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpro’s generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage . The sole other company we’ve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose carry-on suitcases start at about $500. Travelpro bags have owner-serviceable parts and multiple repair centers . To get repair service, you can either drop the bag off at a repair center or ship the bag to Travelpro, the cost of which the company will cover. Keep in mind that the warranty doesn’t cover cosmetic wear.
Travelpro has a history of fixing production errors remarkably quickly. In 2019, we noticed a small uptick in Wirecutter reader complaints about zipper tabs breaking. We reached out to Travelpro, and a representative told us that a production error expanded the capacity of the front pocket of the Platinum Elite; this allowed travelers to overpack the pocket, which put excessive strain on the zipper. Travelpro identified and fixed the issue before it had reached the threshold of more than a few comments online.
Dimensions: 23.5 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.8 pounds Volume: 46 liters
How the Platinum Elite has held up
After nearly a decade of testing the Platinum Elite line of bags from Travelpro, we have yet to encounter a single serious issue. The fabric exterior brushes off scrapes and is easy enough to clean. Simply, it is a remarkably built bag that continues to travel well, year after year.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Though the Platinum Elite rolled well in general, we are still concerned when dragging the bag up stairs. Some of the other bags we tested had long plastic bumper strips running most of the way up the length of the bag; this Travelpro model’s skid plate isn’t as big or as protective. I haven’t had an issue, but if you’re particularly rough on your luggage or uncomfortable lifting the bag over curbs or up stairs, it’s something to be aware of.
- In 2018, Travelpro added a USB-A pass-through cable to the Platinum Elite as a way to compete with so-called smart bags. We like the battery pocket, but the built-in cable itself, which routes from the pocket to a USB port less than 6 inches away, is an unnecessary item, which at best adds a potential point of failure to the bag—USB cables do not last forever. Does it ruin the bag? No. Is it a feature? Not really.
If you prefer the look of hard-sided luggage or the security of knowing that you can’t overpack your suitcase, Away’s The Carry-On is the carry-on we recommend. If you want to maximize your available carry-on space, it also comes in a slightly larger size: The Bigger Carry-On .
It can take wear and tear. Most travelers are still better off with one of our soft-sided picks than a hard-sided carry-on; soft-sided luggage shows less wear and typically lasts longer than hard-sided luggage. But the Away Carry-On’s wheels and zipper are as well made as those of our soft-sided picks, and its polycarbonate showed fewer scratches than that of hard-sided competitors.
We’ve tested the Away Carry-On for six years, traveling with it ourselves across the country and lending several units to testers and frequent travelers to see how they enjoyed using the bag. Its polycarbonate feels similar to that used on more high-end (and significantly pricier) suitcases such as the Rimowa Essential Cabin , which is more than three times as expensive.
You have options if you need extra space. Away makes a similar model of suitcase with an expandable zipper, The Carry-On Flex . The Flex is the same bag as the standard Carry-On except for the expanding center zipper and the price (it’s about $50 more). Personally, I’m not a fan of expanding zippers on suitcases. It feels like just one more thing to break. But some people may prefer having the extra flexibility.
It feels great to use. The bag itself feels good in the hands, and the wheels are noticeably better than those on any of the hard-sided competitors we tried. Away also uses YKK zippers, outclassing our top pick in that regard (Travelpro moved to Supra zippers in 2015). At this point, we’re pretty comfortable saying that years of debate over the best zipper are largely redundant, but YKK still sets the standard.
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Away has sparked more imitators and outright duplicates than any other brand in the past decade, in part due to its appeal with younger travelers. I’ve thought about why, and as best as I can guess, a simple polycarbonate cube dripped in limited-edition soft hues does exude a certain calm; the fact that some of those same colors also coat the exteriors of pills ending in suffixes -ax and -il is not, one assumes, accidental.
It has a great warranty. The Away Carry-On is backed by a limited lifetime warranty that protects against defects and parts breaking. Though the warranty doesn’t specifically mention airline damage, the damages it does list—cracks or breaks in the shell, wheels or handles becoming unusable, zippers that don’t work, fabric tears that render any pocket unusable—basically outline anything an airline could possibly dish out.
Dimensions (for The Carry-On): 21.7 by 14.4 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.5 pounds Volume: 40 liters
- The Carry-On’s sleek style comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks.
- It lacks certain amenities, such as external pockets and a suiter, that our top picks have.
- The clamshell design, which splits down the middle and opens into two parts, can make the bag frustrating to pack and unpack. Packing cubes help, but after years of packing and unpacking soft-sided luggage with a single lid, I personally find a clamshell design to be more finicky when packing.
The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is one of the lightest pieces of luggage we’ve tested, at a great price.
It’s lightweight. We have a hard time imagining how anyone could make a suitcase much lighter than this without breaking certain laws of physics. A few years ago, I took apart a Maxlite suitcase to see how the internal frame was built. What I found beneath the fabric was a clever lattice of plastic supporting the frame, which offered the best balance between weight-saving and structure.
For some people, especially those with limited upper-body strength, a lighter bag—even by just a few pounds—may be easier to lift or manage. That said, most people don’t need extremely light luggage, but just to pack less. For all the innovative design, the Maxlite 5 shaves only 2.4 pounds off the weight of our top pick. That’s the equivalent of a couple of pairs of jeans.
It’s inexpensive. My general advice to friends is to spend more than $200 but less than $500 to get good, if not great, luggage. The Maxlite 5 is the one piece of luggage I’ve found that breaks that rule. You can usually find it for about $150 or less, which is a remarkable price considering the bag’s quality.
Simple is good. This model doesn’t have any real bells or whistles—no battery pass-throughs or magnetically tracked wheels, as with our other Travelpro picks. Instead you’ll find two simple front pockets, a few well-placed handles, and a cavernous main compartment with a couple of pockets and two light straps to hold your stuff in place.
It comes from a trusted brand. We haven’t covered, examined, and interrogated a single luggage brand at Wirecutter for as long as we have Travelpro. For a decade, Travelpro has done a premier job of maintaining trust with its customers and with us—we’ve watched the company make small changes in design, catch flaws quickly, and address warranty concerns promptly. This is not something we say lightly: Travelpro is a name you can trust.
Dimensions: 23 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 5.4 pounds Volume: 46 liters
- The Maxlite 5’s warranty isn’t as robust as that of our top pick: Manufacturing defects in the wheels, zippers, and handles are covered for as long as you own the bag, but airline damage and shipping to a Travelpro repair center are covered only for the first year. (And you do need to register the bag.) Considering that this bag costs half the price of the Platinum Elite, this makes sense, but it’s something to be aware of.
If you’re a frequent flyer and willing to invest in higher-quality gear, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner (also available in a two-wheeled version with more capacity).
It’s the best of the best. Every detail of this top-rated bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and we found that it had a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested. Briggs & Riley keeps its design consistent, adding, at most, small improvements such as this year’s upgraded lifting handle. Our 6-foot-6 paid tester pointed out that the Baseline Essential’s handle extended an inch and a half farther than that of the Travelpro Platinum Elite, which made it less likely to hit his heels as he pulled it.
Although the wheels don’t snap into alignment, they are exceptionally smooth-rolling and easy to maneuver. If you fly more than 25,000 miles per year, it’s worthwhile to invest in luggage that goes beyond merely being sturdy and actually improves your overall travel experience. That’s why we’ve been recommending it since we first covered this topic in 2014. The Baseline Essential is one of the best carry-on luggage options available today.
Its compression system is truly a marvel. The most ingenious part of the Baseline Essential bag is its CX expansion and compression system. Pull upward on two plastic handles inside the bag, and you can extend its depth a full 2.5 inches. Load the bag as full as you need to, and zip it closed. Then you push down on the bag, which compresses it as a clip mechanism secures it in place. Unlike other expansion systems, which are either open or closed, this one locks into incremental positions. It’s a unique design and very satisfying to use.
It’s the easiest to pack. Briggs & Riley placed the tracks for the Baseline Essential handles on the outside of the bag, which allows for a flat surface in the interior of the bag, with no small crevices to work around for simple packing. And in our tests, after packing 10 bags and trying to figure out strategies for each nook and cranny, packing on a broad flat surface felt like a luxury. According to our measurements, the bag, unexpanded, offers 1,905 cubic inches of storage room (and that accounts for the space occupied by the wheel wells and such). Expanded, it can stow 2,110 cubic inches. That’s remarkably efficient for a bag that does so much. All of these features add up to a carry-on that is easier to pack than any other bag we tested.
The Baseline Essential spinner is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder. It’s similar to the folder in Travelpro’s two-wheeled Platinum Elite bag, and that’s a good thing. It’s easy to pack and has an anchor point for hangers. Each of the three folds has a bit of padding that helps to keep a suit from pinching onto itself and creasing, though much of that depends on how well you pack. You can fit a week’s worth of clothes in the Baseline Essential, including some puffy gear for colder weather. A wide, wrinkle-free tie-down system completes the package.
It’s understated. On the outside, the Baseline Essential is pretty unremarkable. There’s nothing eye-grabbing about the bag, which is good if you’re trying to avoid being gate-checked (or having it stolen). Its outer, nylon fabric seems to be of a tighter weave than that used on the other bags we’ve tested. We also noticed a robust feel to the zippers, which are a self-repairing type made by YKK.
Similar to our top pick, the Baseline Essential includes a charging pocket. However, Briggs & Riley skipped the internal USB wiring, instead opting for a simple pocket arrangement (video) on the back of the bag for discreetly storing a charge pack and your phone. It’s an elegant solution.
It comes with an excellent warranty. All Briggs & Riley bags come with a lifetime warranty that covers any damage to the “functional aspects” of the bag, even if caused by an airline (like Travelpro, Briggs & Riley does not cover cosmetic wear or cleaning). Although Briggs & Riley handles warranty-covered repairs at no extra cost, you do have to pay to ship the bag to the company to carry out any repairs; it will ship your bag back to you for free. Or you can drop off the bag at one of the many repair centers . Briggs & Riley emphasizes that returning your bag to you in its original condition, even after repairs, is not always possible. The bags are easy to service and repair, so you can also order the parts you need and replace them yourself at home.
We’ve put in the miles, and the Baseline Essential is in a separate league. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter founder Brian Lam carried a two-wheeled Baseline Essential carry-on while traveling 150,000 miles and farther. After considering all the bags in our test and logging an additional 40,000 miles with a similarly priced bag by Tumi, he was convinced that this model is the best for anyone who’s always on the move. “I love this bag. It carries so much,” Brian said. “Sometimes I check it. Sometimes I carry it. It always fits.”
Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 (expands to 11.5) inches (HWD) Weight: 10 pounds Volume: 37 liters (expands to 48 liters)
- Despite the plastic shielding, the exposed rails on the exterior could use more protection. While dragging the bag up stairs (which we don’t advise doing), we felt more scraping than we’d like.
- At first glance, the handle feels too loose for a roughly $700 bag. We spoke to Briggs & Riley representatives, and they explained that this is a deliberate choice: The looser tolerances allow for the handle to retract by itself when you click its button, without your having to force it down. In practice, this is very helpful for scaling stairs and could save you some hassle in tight quarters, such as in the aisle of an airplane.
- At 10 pounds, the Baseline Essential is the heaviest bag we recommend. In this price range, weight often equals durability, which equals quality. But if you’re uncomfortable with a heavier bag, this isn’t the best pick for you.
Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On is an impressive polycarbonate case that improves in areas where most other companies tend to cut corners.
It’s robust and durable. It improves the usual hard-case design primarily by replacing the zipper with an aluminum frame sealed with two metal latches incorporating TSA locks. This trim makes the case feel far more robust, which is a very satisfying feeling when you’re wheeling luggage around an airport.
Clasping shut an aluminum frame with a metal lock is pleasing—it feels like closing a safe and locking it tight. The polycarbonate shell has an equally rigid feeling but exhibits plenty of flexibility under strain. Although it’s difficult to compare polycarbonates between brands, higher-end polycarbonate feels dense to the touch even as the material flexes; in this piece of luggage, Carl Friedrik offers impressive quality.
Additionally, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On has YKK zippers internally and Hinomoto spinner wheels from Japan—both considered the top of their class.
It’s thoughtfully styled. The soft leather accents and bolted frame all have a certain maturity that’s often lacking in other, competing cases. This look carries to the inside of the luggage as well. A simple gray polyester lining accompanies two sets of compression straps and a removable compression pad, which has a zippered pocket.
It has an excellent warranty. As you might expect for the price, Carl Friedrik backs up its luggage with a lifetime warranty that protects against airline damage (assuming the airline hasn’t responded to your request for compensation within 14 days).
Dimensions: 21.6 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8.6 pounds Volume: 40 liters
- This is a brand-new pick—so far we haven’t found any flaws, but we’re keeping an eye on the latches. Luggage latches are small, complicated mechanical devices that have a myriad of ways to fail.
- The handle feels just a touch loose, which, as with our upgrade pick from Briggs & Riley , can be a benefit. It can also sometimes be a hazard. Again, we’ll continue testing it.
Hybrid designs like the Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage aren’t for everyone, but if you like the flexibility of a soft-sided luggage with the hard-hitting ruggedness of a polycarbonate back and two large fixed wheels, then this bag is just right.
It’s made from tough materials and easy-to-repair parts. Yeti has a reputation for using tough, sometimes cutting-edge, materials in all its gear. The Crossroads is no exception. The 700-denier nylon is one of the better nylons we’ve tested—tightly woven and exceptionally durable. (Denier is a measure of the fiber thickness in a fabric.)
The Crossroads comes in only a two-wheeled design, which is usually able to withstand more damage than a four-wheeled design. The wheels are also easier to service on the road and often replaceable. 5
It’s well organized. It includes a front panel organizer, similar to that of modern laptop backpacks, with two slots for your laptop and tablet plus a mesh pocket for spare gear. Fully packed, it still has room for a few magazines as well, if you like. Internally, the soft top has a zippered main compartment with a decent amount of packing space, as well as two mesh organizing pockets.
It’s a pleasure to pack. As the Crossroads is built around a molded polycarbonate base, the entire suitcase becomes, in essence, a large tray to pack and then zip shut. It’s a very satisfying design—easier to manage than many of the clamshell designs that are currently popular. Yeti’s packing cubes are designed to fit snugly in the Crossroads’s main compartment, and the bag does come with one small cube. But if you choose these, you’re spending a premium for additional packing cubes when almost any packing cube will work.
Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8 pounds Volume: 40 liters
- We’d love to see a better warranty. Three years is very limited when compared with other luggage brands selling similarly priced suitcases—especially for a bag that claims to be as tough as the brand’s reputation.
- Occasionally, Yeti’s tough-gear reputation veers almost into absurdity, as with the inclusion here of self-sealing zippers on a bag that isn’t actually waterproof—merely weather resistant. They’re top-of-the-line zippers. But self-sealing zippers can be hard to operate and require regular lubrication, which most people aren’t used to providing.
- The front-facing laptop organizer is woefully unshielded. If you’re traveling with a laptop, place it deep within the bag if you want it properly protected.
- The bag feels heavy—by our measurements, it weighs about a half pound more than Yeti’s 7.5-pound estimation. It’s not the heaviest of our picks, but something about the weight distribution and shape of the bag makes it feel heavier when you’re swinging it around.
If you need a hard-sided budget bag: Look at the Gregory Quadro Hardcase 22″ , an unexpectedly high-quality suitcase from an outdoor-gear company. Gregory offers a lifetime warranty with service and repair. Although the warranty doesn’t explicitly mention airline damage, Gregory’s good reputation speaks for itself in this matter. However, the Quadro Hardcase is a pound heavier (at 6.5 pounds) and about $60 more than our budget pick.
If the Away Carry-On is sold out: Consider the Monos Carry-On Plus . Picking between these two models came down to splitting some very fine hairs. Both use YKK zippers. Both have lifetime warranties. The handles and interiors are almost identical. Monos even hides the stitching that attaches the zipper to the polycarbonate frame, which is a nice aesthetic touch. The difference came down to the Away Carry-On’s wheels, which spun just that much more freely in our testing, and the underside handle, which made it easier to pull out of overhead bins. And we’ve tested the Away Carry-On for longer. However, if it’s unavailable, the Monos model is a good, nearly identical substitute.
If you want a bag made of recycled materials: We suggest the Paravel Aviator Carry-On . Paravel is attempting to design luggage with recycled materials and some environmentally minded transparency to the company’s production methods. However, you pay a premium for the effort. Quality-wise, the bag is similar to our other hard-sided picks, for about a hundred more dollars. And much of the Paravel branding is built on carbon offsets, which we are deeply skeptical of (though we wish they worked).
If you’re an infrequent adventurer: Try the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller , which could almost be an also-great pick under our hybrid pick . It’s cheaper, has a better warranty (but no explicit coverage for airline damage), and is made from recycled materials. However, the overall build quality is wanting. For example, the polycarbonate shell doesn’t fully cover the tubes for the extendable handle as it does with our hybrid pick. It seems an oversight for bags that are built to knock around.
If the best possible suit-packing experience is all you want, and money is no object: The Vocier C38 Carry-On Luggage is worth a look, despite a few flaws and an $800 price tag. The C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes. Rather than folding garments in on themselves to fit in the bag, it bends the suit around the outside of the luggage frame in a U shape. This packing method creates no creases and therefore no wrinkles. The case is protected by a limited lifetime warranty that doesn’t cover airline damage.
We hope to take a look at the European brand Floyd , which is currently popular on Instagram. At first glance, it’s another piece of luggage looking to appeal to a younger mass audience. But the easy-to-replace polyurethane wheels and bearings—similar to skateboard wheels—do have “user-serviceable parts inside” curb appeal.
We’re currently testing Level8’s Voyageur series of luggage, which features an extra-wide handle. It’s a design trend we’re starting to track with a few lesser-known brands (and, incidentally, a Louis Vuitton case costing several thousand dollars). A wide handle should do two things: It should free up a little more space inside the luggage, and it should improve handling.
Lastly, we’re considering expanding our coverage to include equipment cases like those made by Pelican . Though their appropriate use is very specific, when you need to travel with high-end gear or fragile valuables, Pelican cases more or less set the standard.
Soft-sided carry-on luggage
Cotopaxi Allpa 38L Roller Bag : We’re generally fans of Cotopaxi’s Allpa line, but this two-wheeled bag falls short. Specifically, the bottom of the bag is split by the zipper, which gives the bag an unstable feeling when it’s standing upright.
Eagle Creek Tarmac XE 4-Wheel 22″ Carry On Luggage : If this bag were about $150 cheaper, it would be a good price for the quality. We like the recycled materials, but the bag lacks framing.
Solo Re:Treat Carry-On Spinner : I appreciate any bag made entirely out of recycled materials, but this model (from a brand owned by the same company that manages Briggs & Riley) felt awfully flimsy. Even with its five-year warranty, I just don’t trust that this bag can go the distance.
Thule Subterra : The clamshell design—similar to the ones you find on hard-sided bags—makes this bag difficult to close if you’re trying to fill it to its full capacity. It just isn’t as easy to use as our soft-sided picks.
Timbuk2 Copilot Luggage Roller : The balance on this bag was decent, and it stood up well unloaded or loaded. Its wheels had a cheap ball-bearing rhythmic chatter, though, and the abundance of zippers and internal compartments made it tedious to pack.
Tumi Aerotour International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On : At about half the price, this would be a great bag. But paying nearly $700 for a five-year warranty and a bag that doesn’t do nearly as much as a Briggs & Riley suitcase seems a bit silly.
Hard-sided carry-on luggage
Amazon Basics 24-Inch Hardside Spinner : This bag is a surprisingly good carry-on for about $90. However, its ABS plastic shell is not as tough as a polycarbonate shell. It’s worth investing more in your luggage—the bag you choose will last longer and work better.
Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-On : The Arlo Skye carry-on is a decent piece of luggage, but it’s hard to square the bag with its cost: $200 more than our pick from Away .
Away The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition : 10 pounds! At this weight, you’ve lost a quarter of your allowable luggage weight to the suitcase alone, unpacked. And it’s nearly as expensive as our upgrade pick, with a much less satisfying compression system.
Briggs & Riley Torq and Sympatico : Though these collections seek to solve a different problem, neither is as impressive as the Baseline series.
Calpak Ambeur Carry-On Luggage : We preferred sturdier polycarbonate shells over Calpak’s blended ABS polycarbonate shell. Also, the bag’s handling felt jittery against normal airport floor surfaces.
Delsey Rempart Expandable Spinner Carry-On : At just around $200, the Rempart is a decent budget option. However, the external styling (like layers of pressed sheet pans) is an odd choice. It has some practicality, but only if you’re stacking identical Delsey cases one on top of another, which might happen, I suppose, at some point … maybe.
July Carry On : In the lineup between July, Monos, and Away, July falls just short. We appreciate the lifetime warranty, YKK zippers, and flexible but dense-feeling polycarbonate. But the overall design doesn’t do much to improve on the category (as the Monos bag subtly does).
Level8 Road Runner Pro Carry-On 20″ : This is potentially a decent budget pick at just around $200. But the one-year warranty and the somewhat fiddly TSA lock and front latching panel give us pause.
Lojel Cubo Medium : Although we liked the uncommon top-loading design, the internal organization of the lid made packing this carry-on difficult. We also weren’t impressed by the zippered expansion system, which made the suitcase feel bulkier than our picks.
Lojel Voja Medium : An odd suitcase, this would be a great children’s suitcase or a budget pick—especially if it were under $200. But its current price is steep for a polypropylene blend with a couple of latches.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Chris Ryan.
Airline policies vary, but a general rule is that the bag must be under 45 linear inches—the total sum of the bag’s length, width, and depth. Here’s the current sizing breakdown among the major US airlines:
- Alaska Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
- Allegiant Air: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
- American Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (the dimensions of soft-sided garment bags are allowed to add up to 51 inches)
- Delta Air Lines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
- Frontier Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches (and less than 35 pounds)
- Hawaiian Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
- JetBlue Airways: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
- Southwest Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches
- Spirit Airlines: 22 by 18 by 10 inches
- Sun Country Airlines: 24 by 16 by 11 inches
- United Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
We double-checked the measurable packable space of our top picks against the manufacturers’ listed volumes by filling each piece of luggage with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls: 144 Ping-Pong balls weigh exactly 0.5 pound, and each Ping-Pong ball represents approximately 2 cubic inches (PDF) . After weighing each piece of luggage three times to establish an average empty weight, we filled the bags as full as we could with Ping-Pong balls and measured the change in weight. For every half-pound increase in weight we estimated 288 cubic inches of packable space.
His five-day travel kit included the following:
- 1 two-piece linen suit on a hanger
- 1 dress shirt on a hanger
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 pair of khakis
- 5 medium-weight to lightweight shirts
- 1 heavy sweater
- 2 flannel shirts
- 5 pairs of boxer briefs
- 5 pairs of sport socks
Her five-day travel kit included the following:
- 1 dress on a hanger
- 1 blazer on a hanger
- 1 blouse on a hanger
- 1 pair of heels
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 1 pair of light sneakers
- 5 pairs of underwear and 3 bras
- 1 pair of yoga pants
- 1 flannel shirt
- 1 hair dryer
- 1 curling iron
- 1 jewelry/makeup kit
- 3 pairs of sport socks
- 4 lightweight shirts
You use a garment folder by laying a suit or dress across the panels, folding them into themselves, and zipping up the inner compartment. A folder should be wide enough that a suit isn’t cramped, and it should include hanger straps (which should fit around everything, even larger plastic hangers) to keep things from shifting around too much. Some folding boards have 0.75-inch-diameter foam rolls in them to help prevent creases along the packed clothes’ fold lines. When you aren’t traveling with fancy clothes, you can take the whole apparatus apart and use it as luggage dividers in the main bag itself, or leave it at home, converting the suit/dress compartment into an extra packing cube.
Yeti doesn’t seem to have an easy way to order replaceable wheels. But the 3.5-by-1-inch wheels are fairly common, and we’re looking at the best possible alternatives.
Meet your guide
Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.
Further reading
Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022
by Wirecutter Staff
These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in September 2022.
The Best Luggage Tags
by Geoffrey Morrison
We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases.
We’ve Loved Luggage From Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Line for Nearly a Decade. Here’s Why.
by Kit Dillon
Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion.
Are Away Carry-Ons Worth the Hype?
Although we still prefer the better durability of soft-sided luggage, if you want the look and feel of a hard-sided case, we recommend the Away Carry-On .
To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .
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The Best Travel Bags for Wherever You’re Headed
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Best Soft-Shell Bag Travelpro Crew Versapack Read more
Best Hard-Shell Bag Away Bigger Carry-On Flex Read more
Best Budget Bag Travelpro Maxlite 5 Read more
Most Luxurious, Durable Soft Shell Briggs & Riley Baseline CX Read more
Travel bags live a rough life, and good luggage can be expensive. But paying for a decent bag means buying a little peace of mind. A few yards of zippers and either hard plastic or nylon are the only barriers between your bag and the belly of an airliner, the conveyor belt of a baggage claim, and the trunk of a car. In our luggage testing, we put a lot of focus on luggage that's lightweight, rolls easily or fits comfortably on your back, and doesn't split open on the way to your destination.
Whether you're slinging a duffel into a car trunk for a weekend trip or packing for a whirlwind jaunt across Asia, we've got you covered. Need a bag for your passport or groceries? Don't forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Recycled Bags , for more picks.
Updated November 2023: We’ve updated pricing and retailer availability, as well as added the Land's End Waxed Canvas Duffel, Target Signature Weekender Bag, and Db Ramverk Pro Front-Access Carry.
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Best Soft-Shell Bag
The Travelpro Versapack bag consists of modules that zip into the lid of its main compartment. It comes with a single compartment module that's good for separating dirty laundry and others are available separately. There is one that folds into thirds to keep suits and shirts wrinkle-free and another made of several small compartments. It has a sealed, clear-plastic pocket for toiletries that’s removable if you have to go through a security screening.
The Crew Versapack is heavy at 7.9 pounds for the roll-aboard version. There are lots of pockets, and the handles are nicely padded, securely attached, and … kind of tight. The aluminum handle extensions are solid, smooth, and don’t get hung up. It's heavy but very tough and full-featured.
I also give points to Travelpro for adding a pocket for a battery bank, with a pass-through for a cable. You can buy a portable battery and stuff it in there.
Best Hard-Shell Bag
Away's newest bag is a version of its stalwart hard-sided Bigger Carry-On, with a twist: It has an expandable fabric section between the two polycarbonate clamshells that lets you grow your bag an extra 2.25 inches when you're coming back from a trip with tons of extra trinkets.
Hard-shell bags tend to be unforgiving when you need to cram extra stuff into them, so the flexibility was nice and helpful for wedging it into overhead bins. There's a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, four spinner wheels capable of rotating 360 degrees, and an included laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate from the rest of your stuff.
Best Budget Bag
The Maxlite 5 is good but not perfect. At 5.4 pounds, it's very light for a rolling suitcase. The exterior toiletry pocket is a nice touch for when you go through security and need to take out your liquids and the zippers are also quite strong and don't tend to get stuck, which is a big problem with cheap suitcases. The wheels also rolled nicely on both the spinner and roll-aboard versions. Cheaper suitcase manufacturers will skimp on the wheels and pick ones that have too much rolling resistance.
The aluminum extensions for the handle have a tendency to stick, and the Maxlite 5's main handle is only single-stitched. I also worry about the durability of that handle and the fabric slit at the bottom of the suitcase that replaced the Maxlite 4's bottom-side handle, but we haven't had any issues yet. Despite this, it's made better than most everything else in the $100 - $150 price range.
Most Luxurious, Durable Soft Shell
A Briggs & Riley carry-on was WIRED editor Adrienne So's first and super expensive post-college purchase. Briggs & Riley is one of the few companies with a lifetime unlimited warranty. She recently had to replace a busted zipper, and it was done for free at a nearby B&R retailer within a few days.
Its components are top-of-the-line. The face fabric is a heavy-duty ballistic nylon that’s water-repellent and abrasion-resistant, and Adrienne's is still as gleaming bright red today as when she bought it. The zippers have survived a decade of being yanked on, and the low-profile wheels haven't broken or fallen off. The grab handles are also luxuriously padded. Back when people used to travel, her husband had her carry his suits for him because they'd stay wrinkle-free. The only downside is that at 9.3 pounds, it’s pretty heavy.
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Most Luxurious Hard Shell
Aluminum suitcases usually cost into the four figures. Away's suitcase is not what I'd call affordable, but it is attainable ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ).
The metal is thick, and the fixtures are solid; Away didn't cheap out on the materials. Two organizer panels inside keep your stuff from shifting around, and there's a stowable interior laundry bag to keep dirty clothes off your clean clothes. There's also an option for an integrated power bank that's accessible through a flip-up door near the handle. The battery only costs $20, so you may as well get it if you don't have one.
An aluminum bag will dent and scratch over time, and you should accept that before you splash down big money on one. You may be able to baby it a little more if you never check it, but it's unlikely that you'll make it more than a few trips with it looking minty new. Then again, I agree with Away that a dinged-up and well-traveled bag ends up looking pretty sweet.
Best Duffel Bag
The Big Haul ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite duffel because it hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. The standout feature of the Big Haul series, which comes in 28-liter to 120-liter options, is the ability to easily reposition the carrying straps, which feature plastic fishhook-style ends that slip into fabric loops. You can connect one strap end-to-end or double up on two straps in an H pattern for more stability with heavy loads. Adding and removing the straps isn't super fast, but it's not difficult, either, and six low-profile loops seems less intrusive than six rattling plastic buckles.
Two small interior pockets and an exterior pocket keep small things organized, and its water-resistant fabric is thick and tough without being stiff. All the sewing around the grab handles feels very robust too. Padded backpack straps hide away under a padded pocket on the top of the bag. This means that when you sling the Big Haul over your shoulders to give your arms a rest, your back is against the relatively clean top of the duffel, rather than a wet, dirty bottom side that's been set down on the ground. The current iteration of the Big Haul is also made with recycled nylon. What's not to love?
An Absolutely Rugged Bag
I've been trying to ruin my PR5 for almost a decade. It's my standard traveling bag, whether I'm taking it through an airport for a weekend trip or hauling a bunch of gear to a dirty base camp. I've used it for whitewater paddling trips and to lug mountain climbing equipment from coast to coast. I've tossed pointy, pokey things like ice axes and trekking poles into it and overloaded it beyond a reasonable weight; I still can't find a frayed thread.
Everything about Red Oxx is overbuilt. The zippers are huge, its thick pieces of nylon webbing are robustly sewn, and chunky metal rings hang the detachable carrying strap. All that said, it's not abominably heavy. At 3.4 pounds it's still lighter than many wheeled bags.
A Solid Wheeled Duffel
Wheeled duffels are a bit odd, but if done right, they're the best of both worlds. With this model, you get the ability to cram its soft sides into tight spaces and also have a frame and hardware that can support a heavy load without flopping all over the place.
It weighs only 4 pounds, 14 ounces, making it a lot lighter than any rolling suitcase, but it also has about a quarter less storage space. The Gear Warrior has been going in and out of stock lately, but if you find it sold out, it should become available again soon.
Other Bags We Like
Not every good product can snag a best-in-category title, but there are several more bags we've tested that get our thumbs-up and deserve a mention.
The North Face Base Camp for $129 : Unlike most duffel bags these days, this is a cylindrical duffel bag. If you're a folder, it can be difficult to keep everything straight and wrinkle-free as you pack it into the Base Camp's curved bottom, but those who roll their clothes won't have any problems. I compared the Base Camp ( 6/10, WIRED Reviews ) to a sturdy, old truck, more than competent enough for tough jobs but lacking in finer details of more modern bags. It's a workhorse used often by the outdoors crowd, so while the water-resistant fabric and the handles are durable, they just don't feel as nice to the touch.
Patagonia Black Hole 40L for $159 : This is another great adventure duffel with a water-resistant fabric coating and backpack straps. It's It's 1.5 inches too thick in one dimension for US domestic carry-on requirements and could have a bit more waterproof material. But it's a duffel, so you can squish it to fit in an overhead bin.
Tom Binh Aeronaut 45 Duffel for $330 : It's tough to find a made-in-the-US bag these days, but as long as you're willing to pony up the extra coin, you'll find it in this Seattle-made, carry-on-size duffel. WIRED reviewer Martin Cizmar applauded the sturdiness of the 1050-denier nylon fabric and YKK zippers, which held up well on tough streets and even tougher airlines over the 10 years he's been using it. There are hideaway backpack straps, plus what Martin calls the most comfortable cross-body strap he's ever used.
Gregory Alpaca 40 Duffel for $140 : This one impressed me. It weighs a scant 2.7 pounds, but the water-resistant fabric and extraordinarily beefy (though plastic) buckles make it a solid bag for adventuring. It's not quite as burly as the Base Camp, Big Haul, and Red Oxx bags, and it lacks triple-stitching, but it feels tougher than most, including the Eagle Creek below. There's an exterior pocket for storing shoes or dirty clothes. The backpack straps don't tuck away for storage—you have to unclip them—but might be the most well-padded, comfortable straps I've encountered on a duffel. Exterior daisy chains and an interior zippered pocket round out the impressive features list.
Land's End Waxed Canvas Duffel for $90 $180 : Most duffel bags these days are made of nylon, and while it's tough to call a material that's been popular since the 1940s “modern,” nylon bags don't have the old-school charm that this waxed canvas bag does. Cotton canvas, covered in wax for water resistance, is offset with leather. It feels well-made, with durable stitching, chunky leather handles, and burlier-than-typical zippers. The internal zippered pocket is a nice touch, as well.
Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 40L for $149 : Two things jump out about the Cargo Hauler. First, it weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces, which is only slightly heavier than air. Second, it has backpack straps that stow away in a front pocket. It's less heavy-duty than the other duffels in this guide, but it doesn't feel cheap.
Skyway Epic Carry-On for $80 : Bags under $100 are sometimes dodgy. At 7.1 pounds, the Epic is on the lighter end of average. While it's a fair bit cheaper than the Maxlite 5, our favorite budget bag, it's also a couple pounds heavier. The handle is a wee bit more finicky, and the Travelpro's wheels glide a little more nicely. Still, for under $100, the Skyway's zippers and wheels were of fine quality. These are areas cheap bags usually skimp on. If you must spend less than $100 on a bag, the Epic is a solid choice.
Db Ramverk Pro Front-Access Carry for $699 : If you need an absolutely bomber-tough rolling suitcase and don't mind its 9.6-pound weight, the Pro Front-Access Carry will stand up to more abuse than most rolling bags, with its aluminum frame and 70-percent-recycled polycarbonate body. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam says it's his favorite rolling bag in years, sold on its usefulness by what he calls its brilliantly simple front compartment that gives instant access to your stuff, without having to lay the bag flat. Add in a pull-up toggle that easily lifts your laptop clear without disturbing your other belongings and their multi-compartment camera inserts, and you've got a seriously versatile bag for active travelers.
Target Signature Weekender Bag for $81 : Looking like a cross between a duffel and a handbag, the Weekender has a structure that product reviewer Louryn Strampe says can become overfilled, so keep that in mind if you plan to bring it onto a plane as a carry-on. She appreciates its durability and the many internal pockets for organization, though, and its rather long five-year warranty.
Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus for $365 : It's a tiny bit over what most airlines list as the maximum dimensions, but the difference is so small that it's accepted 95 percent of the time. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe praises its optional clip-in closet clothing organizer, which makes for efficient packing. The built-in TSA lock is easy to use, and there's an internal power-bank pocket. This suitcase is included in our Favorite Upcycled Products guide.
July Checked Bag for $325 : This bag uses a polycarbonate shell with aluminum bumpers, striking a good compromise between weight and durability. It’s lighter than the 16-inch Monos checked bag that WIRED reviewer Adrienne So tested by about a pound, and it showed fewer scratches and rub marks on a trip. However, the Monos’ telescoping handle has a much smoother roll-out, and the surface is smooth, not pebbled.
Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On for $200 : This is a hard-side, four-wheeled spinner carry-on made from an outer shell of durable polypropylene. Standout features include an interior fabric made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and a “WetPak” storage pocket for keeping damp items separated from the rest of your luggage.
Adidas Defender Duffel for $40 : If you're looking for an inexpensive duffel that'll handle some light-duty traveling, this is a good way to save $100. The fabric is significantly thinner and less sturdy than that of other duffels in this guide, and it lacks backpack straps. If there's a chance you'll have to check it often, I'd look elsewhere. But for taking on the train or tossing into a car trunk, it'll do the trick.
Paravel Aviator International Carry-On for $395 : This carry-on has an interior lining made of recycled plastic bottles, a telescoping handle made of recycled aluminum, and vegan leather trim to help it stand out from all the plain black bags at the airport. Product reviewer Jaina Grey really fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.
Bags We Don't Like
Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.
Peugeot Voyages Carry-On Spinner for $595 : What a price tag for a plastic-case suitcase. You can see where Peugeot tried to imbue the Voyages with some luxury, such as the metal riveting and built-in travel locks, but the case felt no more solid than a budget hardside bag, and the USB charging port felt cheap, like an outlet you'd find built into a seat in an airport terminal. For this kind of money, the telescoping handle felt cheap and flimsy. The wheels rolled particularly smoothly and quietly, and I'll give it a nod for the built-in locks and luxe interior that comes with a zippered clamshell and mesh pocket to keep your belongings from shifting around.
Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On for $469 : At 6 pounds, 2 ounces, this bag is a bit heavy. There's a zip-off 19-liter backpack that you can separate from the rest of the 37-liter bag, but when they're zipped together, the combined size doesn't meet carry-on size restrictions, so you need to separate them and carry them like a conventional duo of luggage and backpack onto the plane. Its soft sides offer little protection for your stuff, too.
Ebags CTS Carry-On Spinner for $200 : This one wasn't awful for the price, but there are much better options for the money. Its hard plastic sides felt more brittle than the hard-sided plastic Away suitcases, so although I didn't break it during my use, I'd worry about its resistance to shattering if checked by an airline. The handle rattles a lot and it didn't roll quite as smoothly as other bags.
A Few Travel Accessories
Once you've got your bag, you'll want to pack it with a few more useful items:
Tripp One-Outlet Surge Protector for $10 protects your devices from power surges. Some countries have less reliable electrical infrastructure, and you never know how well that discount hotel's outlets are wired.
Eagle Creek Specter Pack-It Cubes Three-Pack for $30 keep everything inside your bags organized by allowing you to separate it into different cubes, so you won't ever have to hunt through seven pairs of socks to find your bathing suit again.
UrPower Portable Steamer for $24 (Click the Coupon) beats a travel iron because it's far lighter and you don't need to hunt down an ironing board at your hotel. WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano and I both have been using UrPowers for years. For a tiny thing, it's powerful and effective at steaming practically anything. You just need to refill it often.
Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15 is handy when you're packing a heavy bag for an upcoming trip. Use it to weigh your luggage and make sure it's within the weight limits. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.
Incase MacBook Sleeves for $50 will keep your laptop from bearing the damage caused by airport security lines. Travel through an airport without a case and it's only a matter of time before a bare laptop or tablet picks up nasty scratches and dents. For tablets, check out the Zugu iPad Case for $50 .
Apple AirTag for $29 is something we have mixed thoughts on , but if you have an iPhone, it's one of the best ways to keep a digital eye on your bags. These Bluetooth trackers utilize the sheer number of smartphones to report their location regularly back to your device. Even if you don't plan on checking your bag, you might end up having to gate-check it on crowded flights. Drop an AirTag into an interior pocket to make sure you and your luggage are reunited at your destination.
How to Pick the Right Size Bag
Every airline sets its own dimensional requirements for carry-on baggage. Broadly, they're split into two categories: domestic and international.
Domestic flights by US airlines (and a few others) have standardized on 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
International carry-on bag sizes tend to be about 21 inches tall and a bit narrower, but they're all over the place. It's tough, because many international airlines will measure your bags at the airport and reject anything even slightly bigger than the allowed size. If you fly outside the US a lot, you may as well buy a bag sized for international flights.
You'll also want to check each airline's weight limits. They vary wildly, but some international airlines restrict you to 15 or 20 pounds, including the weight of the bag itself. There are also East Asian airlines that limit carry-on bags to 11 pounds. Once you subtract 6 or more pounds for the bag, you're not left with much wiggle room to put stuff inside.
Two Wheels or Four?
The other difference is how many wheels a bag has. Two-wheeled roll-aboard bags are lighter than ones with four spinning wheels, have more room inside, and their wheels are larger and more durable than spinners. That could come in handy on cobblestone streets when you're heading to your hotel.
For carry-on sizes, I prefer roll-aboard bags. Any extra space in a carry-on is precious, and suitcases this small tend to be easy enough to maneuver without spinning wheels. Most of the rolling suitcases we recommend are available in either configuration, although spinners tend to cost more.
When to Remove Battery Banks
Battery banks, also known as power banks, are a travel must-have. Whether you're using a tablet to watch movies on your flight or relying on your phone to coordinate rideshares, hotel check-in, and handle your boarding passes, you've got to keep those devices charged and topped up. Many bags offer a removable battery bank that slides into a special pocket or notch of the suitcase.
For carry-on luggage on a flight in the US, you're allowed to bring a lithium-ion battery of 100 watt-hours or less. You don't need to remove it from the suitcase's pocket if you're storing your bag in the overhead bin.
Lithium-ion battery banks are not allowed in checked luggage. If you check your bag or have to gate-check it, make sure to remove the battery bank before you give your suitcase to the gate agent. Slip the battery bank into your purse, backpack, or pocket for the duration of the flight.
Primary testing was done by Matt Jancer. Adrienne So, Louryn Strampe, and Jaina Grey also contributed to this guide.
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The Best Luggage Sets, Tested by Experts
Coordinating carry-ons and checked bags, pro approved.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
If you're headed on a long trip or might just consider yourself to be an overpacker, it's likely that you'll need more than one bag to stuff full of all of your belongings (and overfill with souvenirs for the way home). Instead of lugging around a hodgepodge of pieces, consider a luggage set. There's nothing more chic and put together than carrying a coordinating set of luggage complete with carry-on and checked bags. Plus, if you're vacationing with kids or family, traveling with a matching set is a great way to keep track of all of your bags. But with so many options to choose from, including different types of materials and all kinds of organizational features, it can be difficult to decide which luggage sets will look great, hold up to frequent use and really be worth the splurge.
Best Overall Luggage Set
Samsonite freeform hardside expandable luggage.
Best Value Luggage Set
American tourister fieldbrook xlt softside upright luggage.
Best Luggage Set for Frequent Flyers
Travelpro platinum elite softside expandable luggage 2-piece set.
Most Fashionable Luggage Set
Calpak ambeur 2-piece luggage set.
Best Luggage Set on Amazon
Amazon basics 2-piece set hardside spinner.
Best Lightweight Luggage Set
Delsey paris helium dlx softside expandable luggage.
Best Minimalist Luggage Set
Monos for your special someone luggage set.
Most Popular Luggage Set
Away classic set of 2.
Samsonite continues to stand out in our Lab evaluations and has wowed our consumer testers , earning the title of best overall luggage brand . This luggage set includes two of our top-tested suitcases from the brand's Freeform collection — the smaller 21-inch carry-on model and the larger 28-inch checked bag. These suitcases are made of a durable hardside material that performed well in our drop tests, resisting major damage after being released repeatedly at different angles from a set 3-foot height.
When we packed the suitcases with a standard load of items like clothing, shoes and accessories, we were impressed by how well everything fit inside with room to spare — even without having to use the 2-inch expansion system. One caveat: Some of our testers noted that the carrying handles on suitcases in this collection felt a bit tight, which made it more difficult to lift or lower the bags. However, the telescopic handles to push and pull the suitcase around received higher scores for feeling sturdy and comfortable to use. Testers also appreciated how easily the suitcases navigated around twists and turns and said the 360-degree spinner wheels were smooth.
Priced at less than $100 for three pieces including softsided carry-on luggage, a checked bag and a personal item, this basic American Tourister trio is an absolute steal and one of the best affordable luggage sets out there. While the bags may be simple, they're still full of practical features that make traveling easier like plenty of external pockets for quick access to your travel essentials as well as interior mesh pockets and compression straps to secure your belongings.
The brand's bags aren't as durable as others we've tested, so we recommend this set for someone who isn't planning to fly frequently. According to one GH analyst who has used this set for nearly a decade, the bags have held up well to repeated use. She added that the softside polyester material is slightly worn with some fraying and scuffs, but the bags are still useable, and the important features, like the telescopic handles and zippers, are in working condition. When we evaluated other suitcases from American Tourister, testers highlighted the smooth and stable wheels, and online reviewers say they roll nicely, despite only moving forward and backward.
Originally designed by a pilot for other pilots who are always on the go, Travelpro's luggage is the perfect pick for the frequent flyer, and we're particularly impressed by the brand's Platinum Elite collection. The softside suitcases were some of the top performers in our durability tests , withstanding repeated dropping without dents or damage, and the nylon material resisted signs of wear after being rubbed back and forth with our abrasion tester. They are heavier than many of the other bags we tested, but they are durable bags built to last.
The suitcases are thoughtfully designed with a tapered expansion system that prevents the bags from tipping over when they're full of all of your belongings, self-aligning spinner wheels that you can push and pull in all directions and cushioned handles with contoured grips for a comfortable feel. Plus, they're packed full of extras inside like expandable garment bags, toiletries bags and hidden USB ports to charge electronic devices (power bank not included). Our testers gave luggage in this collection high scores for ease of use and highlighted the sturdiness of the telescopic handle.
If you want luggage that looks as great as it performs, Calpak's Ambeur two-piece luggage set offers the best of fashion and function. Available in five fun metallic shades that are sure to stand out at baggage claim, the bags are made of a composite of polycarbonate and ABS plastic that aced our Lab tests for durability. They also proved water-resistant in our evaluations, but did show noticeable markings after we dragged a wire across the surface during our scratch-resistance tests.
The bags are GH-tester favorites and earned top marks for their performance in our luggage obstacle course after testers pulled the suitcases over different surfaces and around sharp turns. Testers especially loved the sturdy and easy-to-use telescopic handle. When we assessed the suitcases in the Lab, we were impressed by the zippers that opened and closed with ease and by the spacious interior compartments, which were able to hold our entire packing load of items including clothing, shoes and toiletries. Both the carry-on and checked bag are expandable and equipped with zippered organizational pockets, compression straps and a removable toiletries bag. For even more organization, you can try Calpak's top-tested packing cubes , too.
Not only does this two-piece luggage set from Amazon Basics have more than 33,000 five-star reviews, it also earned high scores in our Lab evaluations and was loved by consumer testers. The carry-on and checked suitcase unfold into two main packing compartments, one with compression straps to keep your belongings in place and another with a full zippered panel for even more security. When we packed the carry-on bag in the Lab, we were able to fill it with an entire weekend's worth of gear including clothing, shoes and toiletries — with room to spare. Plus, both of the suitcases expand for even more space.
The hardside suitcases are made of an ABS plastic that's lightweight and keeps the price low, but it wasn't as scratch-resistant as some other suitcases we tested. It did hold up well in our drop tests though, with no serious denting or breakage after being released repeatedly from a set 3 foot height. When testers rolled the suitcases through our luggage obstacle course around turns and over different surfaces from wood to carpeting, they were impressed by the maneuverability and wheel performance.
As the name implies, these Delsey Helium DLX suitcases are some of the lightest we've evaluated in the Lab. With this luggage set, you won't have to struggle lugging around a bulky bag or lifting your carry-on into the overhead bin on a plane. Despite being so lightweight, these bags are tough. In our tests for durability, the luggage held up well after being released repeatedly in our drop tests, and the softside nylon material showed no signs of wear after being rubbed back and forth 15,000 times by our abrasion tester.
In our evaluations, we found the exterior zippers a bit tricky to use, and the bags received lower scores for maneuverability than other suitcases we tried, but they did earn high scores for their comfortable gripped telescopic handles and for being easy to pack. All three of the suitcases open into one primary packing compartment with compression straps, but the lids of each bag are equipped with zippered pockets and elastic sleeves for additional storage, and there are removable bi-fold organizers inside as well. And we love that the linings can be unzipped and removed for easy cleaning.
Designed with simplicity in mind, this two-piece set from luggage brand Monos has a sleek, modern look that our testers love. Both of the bags open to reveal two spacious compartments that were able to fit our entire load of items in our packing tests. The carry-on bag features an adjustable compression panel that can be tightened to better secure your belongings, while the larger checked bag is equipped with compression straps and a larger fabric panel to keep everything in place. What's more, there are plenty of organizational mesh pockets inside the bags to neatly stow away everything you'll need for your travels, along with additional shoe bags and a laundry bag to separate your dirty clothes.
During Lab evaluations, the durable carry-on and checked suitcase resisted major denting and damage in our drop tests. Although it is important to note that both we and our consumer testers noticed prominent scuffing on the suitcases after use, the brand provides a sponge for cleaning that one GH analyst said removed most of the marks on her bag. In our luggage obstacle course, testers appreciated the smooth gliding wheels and loved how effortless it was to maneuver the bags around twists and turns. They also noticed how well the telescopic handles locked into place at four different heights for easy toting.
Popular luggage brand Away carries sets of their best-selling carry-on and large checked bag for a better value — $50 off the full retail price. The hardside suitcases are loved by testers who highlighted the streamlined look and the spacious, well-organized interior. The bags open into two separate packing compartments with zippered mesh panels and pockets for additional space to store your favorite vacation clothes. There's also an adjustable compression panel inside each bag so you can really stuff it full if you're an overpacker. When we packed the bags in the Lab, we appreciated how smoothly the zippers opened and closed and by how much we could fit inside.
The polycarbonate material is super lightweight — even lighter than some of our favorite softside luggage — but ultra durable and performed well in our drop tests, remaining in great condition after being released multiple times from a set 3-foot height. And in our scratch tests, the bags only showed minimal scuffs and markings. One caveat: Our consumer testers gave the telescopic handle lower ratings for feeling a bit wobbly when fully extended. The bags received high scores for their maneuverability and smooth wheels, though.
How we test the best luggage
At the Good Housekeeping Institute , we test all kinds of luggage to determine which pieces are worth buying. We evaluate luggage in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab and share it with consumer testers who are able to bring the luggage on their own trips and then provide us with valuable feedback. Here's what we look for when we test suitcases:
- Size and weight: To ensure that the brands' listed dimensions for the suitcases are accurate, we measure each bag in the Lab. We weigh the bags and place carry-ons in a 22" x 14" x 9" area to make sure the suitcases meet most airline restrictions.
- Ease of use: We use the luggage to determine how easy it is to open and close zippers and any built-in locks, raise and lower the telescopic handles, roll the wheels, grab the carrying handles and more. We then rate and score the luggage for overall ease of use.
- Packing: It's important that all of your belongings fit inside your suitcase, so we fill each piece of luggage with a standard load of items like clothing, shoes, other accessories and toiletries (pictured here) to test the capacity. For larger checked bags, we pack them with a week's worth of items and for carry-on bags, we add a weekend trip's worth of items. We then score each suitcase on how much it's able to hold.
- Drop testing: We fill the suitcases with a standard amount of weight and then load them into our drop tester (pictured here) . We then release the luggage from a set 3-foot height and repeatedly drop the luggage from different angles, evaluating each piece for any dents, damages or scuffs.
- Abrasion resistance: We cut a piece of material from softside luggage and place it into our abrasion machine, which rubs the fabric back and forth 15,000 times to simulate long-term use. Once the test is done, we remove the fabric and rate how well it held up, noting any signs of wear or fraying.
- Consumer testing: Most importantly, we share the suitcases with our consumer testers. We set up a luggage obstacle course where testers roll the suitcases around twists and turns and pull the bags over different surfaces like carpeting, tile and wood. Testers also use the carrying handles to lift and lower the luggage onto or from elevated surfaces.
In addition to the obstacle course, we send suitcases to testers who are able to try the bags out on their own vacations and provide us with valuable feedback about how much they could pack, how easy the bags were to use, their thoughts on appearance, how the bags performed on their trips and more.
What to look for when shopping for the best luggage set
Here are a few helpful tips for picking out a new luggage travel set:
✔️ Wheels: Luggage with four 360-degree spinner wheels tends to perform better in our tests with higher maneuverability scores. You're able to easily push, pull and move the bags in all directions and can still tilt the bags back if you prefer to pull them behind you. Luggage with just two wheels needs to be tilted to roll, and you can only move the bags forward and backward instead of side to side.
✔️ Telescopic handle: If you have the chance to check out the luggage in person, we recommend raising and lowering the handle several times to determine how comfortable it is to use and grip. A sturdy handle can make a big difference when you're pulling a full suitcase through the airport.
✔️ Side handles : You'll use the side handles to raise and lower the suitcase into an overhead bin or pick it up from baggage claim, so it's a good idea to make sure the handles aren't too tight and feel comfortable to use.
✔️ Compartments: Consider if you prefer to open up your suitcase to see a big open space that can hold larger items or if you prefer two smaller compartments for better organization. Most suitcases are equipped with additional zippered pockets, compression straps and/or removable shoe or laundry bags as well. Some bags are also designed with exterior pockets for easy access to travel essentials like your keys and ID.
✔️ Zippers: Because zippers can be finicky, it's a good idea to zip and unzip the bag multiple times if you have the chance to check out the luggage in person.
✔️ Warranties and returns: Many luggage warranties often only cover manufacturer defects and can be difficult to prove, so if you're unsure of committing to your purchase, we suggest reviewing the brand's return and exchange policy. There are plenty of luggage brands that offer extended trial periods that will allow you to test out the luggage at home or, in some cases, take it on a trip, before deciding if it's right for you.
What's better: hard or soft luggage?
We've tested plenty of hardside and softside luggage and have had top performers in each category. Each type and material has its own perks and disadvantages.
Hardside luggage: Hardshell suitcases are growing in popularity because they're protective, streamlined and lightweight. Not all hard suitcases are the same, though. Here are some of the most common hardside materials:
- Polycarbonate: This is the most popular hardside option. It's lightweight compared to metal and more durable than plastic. The material has high impact resistance, which means it's durable when it's dropped, but it does have lower resistance to scratches and scuffs.
- ABS: A more affordable option, ABS is a plastic material that's lighter than polycarbonate but also less durable and is more prone to scratching.
- Polycarbonate & ABS composite: Suitcases made with a blend of polycarbonate and ABS give you the benefits of both materials, but it's still not quite as durable as 100% polycarbonate. These suitcases typically have an ABS shell with a polycarbonate coating.
Softside luggage: Fabric-based suitcases are more forgiving when it's time to store them when not in use and they give you a bit more leeway to stuff them full of belongings for a trip. They also tend to look nice over time and don't typically show major signs of wear or scratching.
- Nylon: This is the most common material for a softside suitcase. It's a durable synthetic fiber that's able to withstand abrasion and is a great option for frequent flyers who are rough on their bags.
- Polyester: Another synthetic fiber type, polyester is usually less expensive than nylon and is lighter weight, but it's less durable. That said, we've tested some polyester suitcases that have proven to be abrasion resistant.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst. She has tested all kinds of luggage in the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab and has covered carry-on bags, checked suitcases, hardside luggage, softside luggage, kids' luggage and the best luggage on Amazon. Amanda used her relative expertise and referred to former luggage testing data when choosing the best luggage sets.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
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With everything else you’ve got to worry about, have peace of mind knowing your stuff is secure.
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Thankfully, there's no shortage of durable and attractive pieces of luggage out there. We tested the best of the best to ensure that you won't get caught in a luggage letdown when you're already at the airport.
Our Top Picks
Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX Hardside Luggage with Spinners
Delsey Paris Helium Aero Hardside Expandable Luggage
Best Carry-On for Luggage for International Travel
Away the bigger carry-on suitcase.
Most Stylish Carry-On Suitcase for International Travel
Paravel aviator carry-on suitcase.
Best Tote Bag for International Travel
Calpak luka large duffel with trolley sleeve.
Béis Carry-On Roller Suitcase
July Carry-On Spinner Suitcase
Best Backpack for International Travel
Dagne dover dakota neoprene backpack.
Best Luggage Warranty for International Travel
Monos carry-on rolling suitcase.
Briggs & Riley Baseline-Deluxe Travel Tote Bag
While size guidelines vary based on airline, destination, and even frequent flyer status and seat location, a good rule of thumb to abide by is keeping your carry-on luggage less than a length of 22 inches (56 cm), width of 18 inches (45 cm) and depth of 10 inches (25 cm), according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) . These dimensions include wheels, handles, and side pockets. A standard domestic carry-on can typically be slightly longer, so you'll want to be prepared well before wheels up.
Check out our top picks for the best options at every price point and luggage type, from tote and duffle bags with trolley sleeves to rolling luggage and everything in between. Whether you're checking your bag or stowing it in the overhead bins, the best luggage for international travel will put your mind at ease as you prepare for takeoff.
When it comes to a sturdy, solid suitcase that doesn't take up too much room, this Samsonite 20-inch carry-on checks the boxes. Scratch-resistant polycarbonate construction means it'll look brand-new for years to come, and side-mounted TSA-approved locks ensure your belongings are safe and secure. Multiple color options let you fly in style, and its lightweight design will take you from cab to plane to train, boat, car, and street with ease and flexibility.
When you're taking the whole family across international waters, you're going to need luggage that can store everything you need – with plenty of room for souvenirs, of course. That's where this sleek suitcase comes into play. It offers double-spinner wheels for easy maneuvering (a major bonus for clumsy kiddos who insist on toting their own bags!), a double-locking system with a TSA-approved lock, two large fully lined compartments with multiple pockets, an ergonomic handle, and the ability to expand an extra two inches to ensure no must-have gets left behind. What else could you need?
Trust us: Any luggage from Away is an investment worthy of a spot in your travel essential arsenal. While it may seem a little pricey up front, our Away suitcases have never had any issues and last through city streets and long travel days for years.
Along with a 100-day trial period and free shipping, this impressive polycarbonate hard-shell suitcase is ideal for transporting all your necessities. It's also solid for staying organized on multi-destination itineraries, thanks to a water-resistant inner laundry bag and multiple storage compartments.
If you're looking for stylish travel bags for your fabulous holiday abroad, Paravel makes some of the best—from Oprah's favorite fold-up travel backpack to this super-chic rolling suitcase. Its Aviator carry-on suitcase comes in five gorgeous colorways and has an option for personalization. Plus, Paravel offers an impressive 10-year limited warranty.
Not sold yet? While the luggage is made from recycled materials, the brand also offsets the carbon emissions that are generated creating and shipping the bag to you.
Calpak's puffer tote bag perfectly stores an extra pair of shoes, your laptop or iPad, and other essentials, thanks to tons of interior and exterior pockets. It's made from a high-quality, lightweight, and scratch-resistant fabric. The icing on the cake? The luggage trolley sleeve that lets you rest it right on top of your rolling suitcase. Did we mention the super-quick shipping for last minute trips?
It's been a few years since rolling suitcases first got a facelift thanks to modernizing brands like Away and Monos. Now the stylish travel brand Béis is in the mix, and we're loving everything from the tough but still sleek design to roomy interiors and organizational pockets.
Aside from the fact that it comes in a dozen bold, beautiful hues, the July carry-on makes for the ideal travel companion thanks to its minimalist look, manageable size, and impressive added features like a hidden TSA-approved lock, ejectable USB-C battery, and 20-height handle. For an added fee, you can customize your carry-on by adding your initials, making it a solid gift option for any jet-setter in your life.
Thanks to a lightweight, waterproof-finish neoprene, you won't have to worry when toting your travel essentials internationally. Dagne Dover's backpacks are roomy enough to carry all your gear while tons of interior and exterior pockets keep you organized. Plus, you can use the handy trolley sleeve when you want to give your back a rest.
Traveling in style has never been easier than with this beauty, which is designed for optimal comfort no matter where your journeys may take you. Included is a sturdy polycarbonate shell, comfy telescopic handle, TSA-approved lock, whisper-quiet wheels, and vegan leather detailing—and each carry-on is designed to fit inside the brand's larger check-in sizes, making storage simple and seamless. Did we mention that each luggage piece has a lifetime warranty?
Briggs & Riley Baseline-Deluxe Travel Tote Bag
Along with being frequent-flyer- and flight-attendant-approved, this travel tote includes an inner toiletry kit for easy access, a roomy main compartment, and an interior pocket to hold everything you need readily available, including tickets, magazines, device chargers, and more. If your travels are taking you directly from boarding gate to the boardroom, you won't worry about this classic carry-on taking up too much space...just grab it, and you're good to go.
Sara Klausing covers all things fashion and style for Oprah Daily . Follow her on Instagram .
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22 Best personal carry-on bags according to travel bloggers
by Anne Betts | Aug 2, 2023 | Luggage and Packing | 3 comments
Updated August 2, 2023
Most carry-on travellers have two bags. Their personal item is stashed under the seat in front while their standard carry-on bag is stowed in the overhead locker. For insights on the best personal carry-on bags , I reached out to travel bloggers. What follows is an eclectic collection of 22 tried-and-true bags in the 15 to 30-litre range that could qualify as a personal carry-on item.
For recommendations from travel bloggers on standard carry-on bags, see:
The best standard carry-on bags according to travel bloggers
What is a personal item?
The personal bag carries what’s needed for a comfortable flight without any need to access the standard item. A personal item earns its keep if it can work as a day bag at the destination.
A personal item can be a handbag, backpack, camera bag, or computer case. Like a standard carry-on, a personal carry-on needs to meet an airline’s size and weight restrictions, where they exist. As a guideline, a personal item shouldn’t exceed 45 x 35 x 20 cm / 18 x 14 x 8 in. The most important characteristic is that it needs to fit under the seat in front. Some airlines have no restrictions on the weight of a personal item.
For dedicated one-baggers, their one and only bag is both a standard and personal item. For others who favour one-bag travel, they might have a small packable bag that can be packed away in the main bag after the flight and later used as a day bag at the destination. Photographers and digital nomads with a considerable amount of camera equipment and electronics have made specialty bags work as a personal item. The same applies to hikers and cyclists who use a bag designed for hiking or cycling as their personal carry-on.
Table of Contents
1. NEATPACK VERSATILE CANVAS SLING BAG (15L)
2. osprey farpoint 55 / 70 detachable day pack (15l), 3. fjällräven kånken classic (16l), 4. osprey ultralight stuff pack (17l), 5. away front pocket backpack (17l), 6. solgaard lifepack backpack (18l), 7. tom bihn synapse 19, 8. cabin max metz stowaway 20l, 9. travel hack backpack (20l), 10. deuter women’s trail 20 sl hiking pack, 11. arcido vaga day pack (20l), 12. osprey ultralight dry stuff pack, 13. quechua mh500 20l, 14. wandrd prvke 21l, 15. nordace siena (23l), 16. biaggi zipsak backpack (~23l) , 17. sea to sky 24l pack, 18. deuter trans alpine 24 (24l), 19. lowepro fastpack pro (25l), 20. herschel little america classic (25l), 21. able carry daybreaker 25, 22. patagonia arbor lid pack 28l, 22 best personal carry-on bags.
- Dimensions: 18.5 x 12.5 x 4 in / 47 x 32 x 10 cm
- Weight: 408 g / 14.4 oz.
- Volume: 15 litres
A sling bag offers some of the best features of a crossbody purse and a backpack. Like many backpacks, a sling bag tends to have a roomy main compartment and a water bottle holder. Unlike a backpack, the bag doesn’t need to be removed to access anything inside. Like many purses, it can be worn in front, and features internal organization to keep items secure.
- Between the four compartments and two external pockets, the NeatPack Versatile Canvas Sling Bag holds a lot of stuff.
- Aligned with the triangular shape of the bag, the water bottle pocket has a toggle strap that can be cinched to keep a water bottle in place. Depending on the size of the water bottle there may be enough room to include a travel umbrella.
- The external pocket on the strap is large enough for sunglasses or a phone. There’s a slotted grommet on the pocket for the cords of wired headphones.
- The compartment that rests against the body has RFID-blocking capabilities so it’s ideal for a slim wallet, passport sleeve, and a phone.
- In the roomy main compartment is a laptop/tablet sleeve with elasticized trim. It’s rated to accommodate a 12-inch device. There’s no other internal organization in the main compartment so it’s perfect for clothing layers, small first-aid kit, pocket shopping bag, and other travel essentials.
- The other two compartments are much smaller and can hold a pocket camera, keys, small flashlight, pen, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and small miscellaneous items.
- The metal D-rings at the base permit easy changeover of the strap from one shoulder to the other.
- The loop at the top is convenient for hanging the bag on a hook.
SHORTCOMINGS
- The pocket on the shoulder strap is a good size but it should be able to slide along the shoulder strap so it can be correctly positioned when the bag is worn in different ways.
- The fabric isn’t waterproof; however, its water-repellent properties mean the contents stay dry in periods of light rain.
Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel. Is a sling bag a good travel bag provides more information on sling bags and a detailed review of the NeatPack.
- Dimensions: 10 x 17.5 in / 25 x 44 cm
- Weight: 1.3 lb / 590 g
The Osprey Farpoint Day Pack is a removable backpack that comes attached to the Osprey Farpoint 55-litre and 70-litre travel bags. It has several small, useful pockets, a padded sleeve to protect a laptop, and a padded zippered pocket that will keep smaller electronics secure. Keys can be attached to the conveniently located key ring. A scratch-free stash pocket protects eyewear. Two external mesh pockets accommodate one-litre or smaller water bottles; Nalgene one-litre bottles fit perfectly by design. This bag zips neatly to the main bag but can be easily detached to slide under the seat in front on a plane.
- It’s lightweight and perfectly sized: small enough not to be cumbersome but large enough to hold a day’s worth of essentials.
- Breathable mesh backing and padded straps make for a comfortable carry.
- The sternum strap prevents the shoulder straps from slipping or shifting.
- The zipper has a lockable closure to prevent pickpocketing or pilfering if sleeping in hostels or dozing off in other public areas.
- It comes with a lifetime unlimited warranty.
- It is difficult to remove and return a water bottle or other items into the two water bottle pockets when the main compartment is full.
Kaidon Nickel and Natasha Karcz blog at Planes, Trains, and Karcz
- Dimensions: 5.1 x 10.61 x 15 in / 38 x 27 x 13 cm
- Weight 300 g / 10.6 oz
- Volume: 16 litres
The Fjällräven Kånken Classic backpack is lightweight and durable. It’s simple yet recognizable, and this combination makes it appealing to a wide audience.
- The Fjällräven Kånken was designed as a school bag. While only 16 litres, the boxy rectangular shape makes the bag ideal for carrying a laptop, binder, and A4-sized notebooks and folders. However, it also works well as a carry-on personal item and travel day pack.
- The lightweight wax-like Vinylon F fabric is both water and dirt resistant. There are over 50 colours to choose from, including darker shades that obscure dirt and stains.
- The roomy main compartment and outside front pocket have zippers protected by rain flaps. The double zipper on the main compartment extends almost to the base of the bag, allowing it to be opened clamshell style.
- Within the main compartment is a small pocket to insert a name tag, and an open pocket with a thin piece of foam that can be removed and used as a seat pad. When carried as a backpack, the seat pad provides extra padding for the wearer.
- The two open side pockets can accommodate a water bottle, travel umbrella, or smaller objects.
- There aren’t many compartments for internal organization.
- Fjällräven Kånken is not machine washable. In fact, it loses its colour and structure if it’s laundered in a washing machine.
Una is a blogger at Wandernity . Check out her Fjällräven Kånken Classic backpack review after four years of using the backpack for travel, work, and everything in between.
- Dimensions: 43 x 23 x 18 cm / 17 x 9 x 7 in
- Weight: 113 g / 4 oz
- Volume: 17 litres
About the size of a fist in its stuff sack, the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack works well as personal carry-on bag while in transit and a day bag while exploring a destination. At other times, the minimalist design means it’s small enough to ‘nest’ inside a main travel bag. Where every gram or ounce counts, it’s a good choice as a second bag for travellers who are working with stringent carry-on requirements.
- It’s well built with reliable YKK zippers and 40 Denier ripstop nylon, and like other Osprey products, it’s protected by Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee .
- There are two compartments. The top compartment is a stash pocket with a handy security clip for tethering small objects such as keys or a pouch containing a phone. The large main compartment is dual zippered.
- The dual zippers on the main compartment and the single zipper on the top compartment have Osprey pulls. The three zippers can be lined up for attaching a lock, cable, or clip to deter pickpockets.
- A stretch mesh external side pocket is large enough for a water bottle and travel umbrella.
- It’s not possible to lose the stuff sack; it’s integrated in the top stash pocket.
- The mesh straps are adjustable and if the pack isn’t overloaded, they’re surprisingly comfortable.
- It comes in a range of bright and neutral colours.
- The minimalist design means compromises such as very little internal organization, no sternum strap or hip belt, and minimal padding on the shoulder straps. Zero organization in the main compartment can be overcome with packing cubes.
- Just one external side pocket containing a full water bottle may contribute to an unbalanced carry. A tall skinny water bottle may slip out when bending over.
Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel. Check out Is the Osprey warranty any good? It’s so good, I’m now a customer for life that describes an experience that tested Osprey’s unlimited warranty.
- Dimensions: 30 x 15 x 39 cm / 11.8 x 5.9 x 15.3 in
- Weight: 1 kg / 2.2 lb
- Volume: 17 litres
- The Away Front Pocket Backpack is a sleek, lightweight bag that fits way more than it seems at first glance.
- A trolley sleeve allows the bag to slide easily over the handle of rolling luggage.
- It has many organizational features with several pockets and compartments for storing travel essentials.
- Near the trolley sleeve is a hidden pocket that is large enough for a wallet, passport, financial cards, identification, or similar documents requiring extra security.
- The namesake front pocket has a few organizational features including a pen holder, small open pocket, detachable leather key leash, and space for smaller items such as tissues, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and items requiring less security.
- The full wraparound two-zipper feature allows the spacious main compartment to be opened bucket style. This space has several pockets including a padded sleeve for a tablet, mesh pocket for a water bottle, open pockets for packing organizers containing chargers, comfort items, sunglasses, phone, earbuds, or snacks, and an open area for a lightweight rain jacket or a discarded layer of clothing.
- Behind the main compartment is a padded 15″ laptop pocket for a laptop and a drop pocket for a tablet. The magnetic locking zipper offers extra security.
- The harness system consists of adjustable shoulder straps and a breathable mesh back panel.
- An outside pocket for a water bottle could be more secure in case of leakage.
- The colour selection is limited.
- It’s expensive, but boasts many features not found in cheaper backpacks of a similar size.
Keri Baugh is a family travel blogger who blogs at Bon Voyage with Kids .
- Dimensions: 11.6 x 18.5 x 7 in / 29.5 x 47 x 17.8 cm
- Weight: 4 lb / 1.81 kg
- Volume: 18 litres
The Solgaard Lifepack Backpack is a solar-powered, anti-theft bag designed to be an all-in-one carry-on solution. There are separate compartments for electronics and clothing for staying organized, protecting belongings, and charging devices while on the move.
LIKES
- The fabric is made from upcycled plastic.
- With the adjustable shoulder straps, the bag fits a variety of body types. The plush shoulder straps with back support make it comfortable for wearing for long periods.
- Solgaard offers optional extras (Solarbank, Juicebox, and the Bluetooth speaker called the Solarbank Boombox). The Solarbank can also be charged via a micro-USB cable by plugging into a wall outlet with USB charging capability.
- It has an integrated quick-access USB port in an outer pocket for charging devices.
- It’s designed to fit up to a 15″ laptop, but some 17″ laptops can be accommodated.
- The bag features a patented anti-theft lock with a stretchy coil design that resembles a miniature bike lock, and the zippers can be easily locked for additional security.
- A ‘suitcase seatbelt’ allows it to be attached to the handle of a rolling bag .
- There are lots of pockets for smaller items, including a hook for car keys. Four secret pockets hold passports, financial cards, or a transit card.
- Durable water-resistant vinyl lines the bottom, and the bag stands upright on its own.
- It’s not fully waterproof and doesn’t come with a rain cover.
- The exterior water bottle pocket is very small and doesn’t fit most bottles.
- Solgaard customer service is excellent but sometimes it takes a while to receive a response.
Brodi Cole is a full-time digital nomad and blogger at Our Offbeat Life . She travels full time with her family and offers international travel guides to adventurous families who want to explore the world.
- Dimensions: 29 x 41 x 20 cm / 1.4 x 16 x 7.9 in
- Weight: 708 g / 1 lb 9 oz (400 Denier Halcyon/420 Denier ripstop nylon); 752 g / 1 lb 11 oz (525 Denier Ballistic)
- Volume: 19 litres
Tom Bihn has attracted a band of loyal customers of its well-designed and high-quality bags and accessories produced in Seattle, USA. The older Synapse 19 (and the larger Synapse 25) backpacks have been joined by the Synik 22 and Synik 30 that incorporate additional design elements for larger laptops and feature a full clamshell opening of the main compartment.
- The Synapse 19 is a paragon of organization with a well-designed pocket system that holds an astounding amount of gear with excellent weight distribution.
- The curved, padded shoulder straps are robust enough to carry a heavy load. The adjustable sternum strap, removable waist belt, and padded foam-and-mesh back panel contribute to a comfortable carry.
- The large main compartment extends from the top to the bottom of the pack, accessed by dual YKK zippers. It has an open sleeve for a laptop.
- Complementing the large main compartment are five strategically placed zippered pockets.
- Unusual in a backpack is a zippered water bottle pocket in the centre of the bag. It’s large enough for a one-litre bottle that slides out easily and keeps the weight in the centre of the pack.
- A unique and appreciated feature, most pockets have plastic O-rings sewn into the seams for tethering packing cubes and valuables in packing organizers.
- Every zipper has a pull cord that can be lined up with other zipper cords and secured with a lightweight cable or carabiner to deter pickpockets.
- Tom Bihn describes the features of the Synapse 19 (and others) in detail. This is a refreshing contrast to the summaries of other bags that leave potential customers with lingering questions.
The Synapse 19 is expensive for a small backpack. While understandable given the quality of materials and workmanship, it’s not a budget-friendly option.
Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel .
- Weight: 0.5 kg / 1.1 lb
- Volume: 20 litres
- The Metz Stowaway meets the new, more stringent Ryanair rules for free under-seat cabin baggage.
- The suitcase-style opening permits packing much more than would be expected with such a small bag. There’s plenty of room for everything needed for a short trip, especially if compression packing cubes are part of the packing strategy.
- Coralie and her son have used these bags dozens of times for short ‘carry-on-only’ breaks, enabling them to book cheap budget-airline fares.
- It looks smart, even after years of use.
- There are lots of pockets to help organise packing, and compression straps help compress what’s packed and create more space.
- It’s lightweight with comfortable padding and straps — perfect for getting on and off public transportation and wandering around a new destination.
There’s no external pocket suitable for a water bottle.
Coralie Thornton is the writer and photographer at Grey Globetrotters where she offers mature travellers practical travel advice and inspiration.
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 7.8 x 9.8in / 40 x 20 x 25cm
- Weight: 0.6kg / 21.1oz
The Travel Hack Backpack is a collaborative effort between Cabin Max and Monica, a frequent traveller and travel blogger from The Travel Hack. The functional, yet stylish bag meets the under-seat carry-on dimensions of the budget airline Ryanair, so it’s guaranteed to fly for free on their flights.
- There’s an expandable water bottle pocket, a padded laptop compartment (to fit up to 13-inch devices), a front pocket, side pocket, and a floating top pocket for items requiring easy access. Inside are two 3D mesh pockets.
- It opens fully like a suitcase.
- The shoulder straps and back panel are made from padded mesh so it’s comfortable to carry for long periods.
- The showerproof external shell has rose gold detailing and an eco-leather ID holder
- It works well as a personal item for flights, but the stylish design makes it a lovely versatile day bag, whether using it for a beach trip or wandering around a city.
- There’s a strap on the back so it can be slipped over the handle of rolling luggage.
- The backpack is now part of a larger Travel Hack range, so it can be paired with a matching suitcase destined for the overhead locker or a large tote bag.
As the internal pockets are located on the opening, you do need to leave space in the main compartment to be able to shut the backpack. Alternatively, only fill them with small items, rather than completely filling them.
Kylie is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs about outdoor adventures at Between England and Everywhere . Check out Travel Hack Backpack Review , for her detailed review.
- Dimensions: 54 x 28 x 18 cm / 19.7 x 9.45 x 7.9 in
- Weight: 1.02 kg / 2.65 lb
The Deuter Women’s Trail 20 SL Hiking Pack is an excellent choice for minimalist travellers who want a reliable carry-on bag that doubles as a hiking pack. The carrying system in the SL model is somewhat shorter than the standard Deuter packs as it’s adapted to the female anatomy.
- The pack is very comfortable to carry, with adjustable sternum, shoulder, and load adjuster straps that help to effectively distribute the weight. The stowable, anatomically formed pull-forward hip fins hug the body while allowing for freedom of movement.
- It has excellent ventilation with contoured shoulder and hip straps with air-mesh lining, and an additional ventilation channel between the two Aircontact pads on the back panel.
- There are several loops and attachment points to hang various items, adding to its appeal as a hiking pack.
- It’s well organized with front panel access and two-way zippers on the main compartment to open the pack suitcase style. There’s an interior pocket for valuables, two side pockets, a wet pocket for damp items, a small lid pocket, and an ice/axe/walking pole holder, as well as an attachment point for a helmet. The rain cover is easily accessible, and the water bottle pocket can be reached without removing the pack.
- It accommodates a three-litre hydration bladder.
- It’s quite small for a winter destination requiring bulky winter clothing.
Giorgy blogs at G-Extreme Travel where she writes about her travels around the world with her beloved Deuter travelling companion.
- Dimensions: 50 X 34 X 15 cm / 20 X 14 X 6 in
- Weight: 600 g / 1 lb 5 oz
Arcido makes backpacks that look more professional than the typical backpacker style bags. The Arcidio Vaga Day Pack is made from durable material, it’s water resistant, and comes in a stylish grey colour. Arcido sells a laptop harness with a pull tab that can accommodate a 15.4” laptop or adjusted for smaller laptops or tablets.
- The classy grey colour is less flashy than the average brightly coloured backpack.
- The curved, padded shoulder straps are comfortable on the shoulders, especially when carrying heavier items. There’s a place to attach a sternum strap (purchased separately).
- The main compartment occupies the length of the bag and opens clamshell style. It’s large enough for anything that might be needed while out for the day, such as a jacket, snacks, or camera.
- It has two small pockets on the inside of the bag and a small external pocket at the top. These work well for smaller items like tissues, lip balm, or hand sanitizer that would otherwise get lost in the large compartment. The zippered external pocket is padded, making it a perfect place for sunglasses, a phone, or ear buds.
- It has good structure so even when it’s packed full, the bag stays slim and doesn’t bulge out.
- The Vaga is lightweight and designed to fit inside Arcido’s larger Akra 35L backpack. It doesn’t pack up as small as a stuff bag, but it can easily nest inside a larger bag. Though it’s designed to pair with the Akra, it could be packed flat in some other backpacks depending on the size.
- The handle on the top is a bit small, too small to grip with more than a couple of fingers and not large enough for some wall hooks.
- There are two outside pockets for water bottles, but they’re a bit small, and the material isn’t stretchy enough to keep them secure or accommodate larger water bottles.
Ali Garland is a full-time blogger at Travel Made Simple where she shares packing tips, layover advice, travel planning and itineraries, and more. Check out her review of the Arcido Vaga Day Pack.
- Weight: 194 g / 6.84 oz
The Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack is a lightweight, packable backpack, perfect for one-bag travel. It works well as a personal item and day bag, and its packability means it can nest inside another travel bag when necessary. It features one large interior compartment, a zippered front pocket with a small security pocket that is the built-in storage pouch, and two external side pockets.
- The zippered front pocket has an aqua-guard zipper and protective flap. It’s water resistant, not waterproof. However, anything packed inside the main compartment stays dry, even when the bag is submerged.
- It can be used as a day bag in all kinds of weather, and it doesn’t need a rain cover.
- The roll and clip closure allows for the main compartment to be secured in two ways – at the top or the sides (the sides being my preference).
- Many water bottle pockets on minimalist bags aren’t secure enough to keep water bottles in place. The cinch straps are a much appreciated feature, making the side pockets more secure for water bottles or other items.
- It’s large enough to carry what’s needed for a day out and about.
- The height-adjustable sternum strap (with a whistle) helps keep the shoulder straps in place and makes for a more comfortable carry.
- There’s a handle at the top for hanging the bag on a hook, and several attachment points on the shoulder straps (and bottom of the bag) for carrying lightweight items.
- The small security pocket has a key clip and fabric hook for tethering a wallet or phone.
- It’s a challenge (and takes practice) to fit the bag in its attached pouch/inside pocket.
- Dimensions: 60 x 30 x 20 cm / 24 x 11.8 x 7.9 in
- Weight: 1.1 kg / 2.4 lb (S) 1.27 kg / 2.8 lb (L)
- Volume: 20 L
- Although the Quechua MH500 is tailored towards hikers, the bag is a good choice for packing light travellers. It’s well-made, sturdy, and built to last. Despite the costs of testing, research, and many attractive design elements, the price represents great value. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty.
- The mesh back and slits on the hip belt aid in ventilation, and padded straps promote comfort. Adjustable shoulder, sternum, hip, and load-lifter straps, and two thumb loops, enhance carrying comfort.
- The coated waterproof fabric and integrated rain cover offer protection during wet weather.
- With the easy-to-open main compartment, packing is a breeze. There are nine pockets including two side pockets for water bottles, an inside sleeve for a laptop, an inside top pocket for smaller items, and accessible belt pockets for a phone, wallet, and passport.
The main compartment lacks internal organization except for the sleeve for a laptop or tablet, and one small, zippered pocket.
- Dimensions: 43 x 28 x 17 cm / 17 x 11 x 6.5 in
- Weight: 1.3 kg / 2.8 lb
- Volume : 21 L (25 L with the roll-top fully extended)
If the 21-litre bag is appealing, WANDRD has a 31-litre size, and the 41-litre version could work as a standard carryon for travellers with photography equipment and electronics.
- The WANDRD PRVKE 21L carry-on backpack comes with all the bells and whistles expected of a good travel bag. It provides comfort with padded waist straps, convenience with a key garage and accessory straps for external carry, and security with hidden passport and cash pockets.
- The PRVKE bag is perfect for commuters and digital nomads as it comes with two padded laptop and technology sleeves that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop and a tablet.
- For photographers, the WANDRD PRVKE backpack comes with an optional camera storage cube that fits up to one digital camera, a drone, and two lenses. It has padded and moveable cube walls for customization. For extra convenience, the bag has a camera quick-draw side access.
- For rainy days, the waterproof nylon material and weather-resistant zippers offer a measure of protection. And to take it up a notch, the PRVKE comes with a rain cover that stores easily at the base of the bag.
- The PRVKE is one of the very best durable yet stylish carry-on bags out there. Its sleek design, structured interior, and roll-down top for flexible storage make for a great bag for any type of traveller.
The waist straps are comfortable, yet they can be quite cumbersome when wearing the bag without buckling them up.
Haley Blackall is a full-time travel blogger, photographer, and digital nomad at Haley Blackall Travel . She provides detailed travel guides for millennial women while she slow travels the world.
- Dimensions: 29 x 16 x 42 cm / 16.54 x 11.4 x 6.3 in
- Weight: 1.03 / 2.2 lbs
- Volume: 23 litres
- An integrated power bank allows for charging a phone directly from the backpack.
- With a spacious main compartment and lots of little storage compartments for easy organization, it fits more than what might be expected at first glance.
- A fleece-lined pocket keeps sunglasses scratch-free and easily accessible.
- A padded sleeve protects a laptop (up to 15.6”), and smaller electronic devices such as tablet and phone.
- An external anti-theft pocket is hidden from view as it sits against the wearer’s back. It’s large enough for a passport, wallet, and phone.
- A rain cover (at an additional cost) protects the bag and its contents during wet weather.
- A luggage strap allows it to be attached to the handle of a rolling suitcase.
- The materials are durable and of a high quality.
- The box-like design keeps its shape when the bag is empty or full.
- The shoulder straps could be more comfortable.
- The external water bottle holder could be a bit larger. It doesn’t fit large bottles.
- It’s not washable since the power bank access is permanently integrated.
- Dimensions: 41 x 32 x 18 cm / 16 x 12.5 x 7 in
- Weight: 0.636 kg / 1.4 lb
- Volume: ~23L
One of the best features of the Biaggi Zipsack Backpack is that it folds away for easy storage, and the Biaggi line includes larger carry-on sizes. The Zipsack Backpack folds down to 32 x 16.5 x 8 cm / 12.5 x 6.5 x 3 cm.
- A trolley sleeve on the backpack makes it compatible with rolling bags.
- The Zipsak Backpack is lightweight. An empty weight of less than a kilogram means that the bulk of the weight of a packed bag is in what’s packed.
- The cushioned back contributes to a comfortable carry, even for long periods.
- The four zippered outside pockets are convenient for easy access to important documents. The open side pocket is perfect for carrying a water bottle. An inner cushioned pocket accommodates a laptop or tablet up to 15 inches.
- It fits easily under a seat or in an overhead compartment on most planes.
- The fabric is water resistant, durable, and designed to resist tearing. The bag comes with a two-year warranty.
- A variety of colours means that each family member can have a differently coloured bag. Plus, it’s easier to locate a bag when it’s surrounded by other luggage.
Available colours change and are not always the same as what’s available in the larger bags. A matching set of luggage can be hard to achieve with the Biaggi line.
- Dimensions: 60 x 28 cm / 20 x 11 in
- Weight: 156 g / 5.5 oz
- Volume: 24 litres
The Sea to Sky is a packable, lightweight, and waterproof bag. It works well for destinations and activities where a considerable amount of rainfall is expected. The minimalistic design means it’s small enough to ‘nest’ inside a main travel bag. Where every gram or ounce counts, it’s a good choice for carry-on travellers who are working with stringent carry-on restrictions.
- The 30 Denier Cordura ripstop nylon is a highly durable fabric.
- Two deep external side pockets help create a balanced load when carrying two water bottles.
- The roll-top system is secured with buckles, like that found in the design of most dry bags. The roll top must be properly rolled and secured to keep the main compartment waterproof.
- The vertical zipper on the front pocket is reflective.
- The mesh material on the adjustable shoulder straps is surprisingly comfortable, aided by the adjustable load-lifter straps. Complementing the harness is an adjustable sternum strap (both height and width) and a detachable hip belt. The sternum strap has a built-in whistle.
- There are loads of attachment points for lightweight objects such as a personal alarm , lightweight compass , or doohickey tool . These include the zipper pull, daisy chain loops, and D-rings on the shoulder straps.
- The stuff sack isn’t attached to anything so keeping track of it requires attention.
- The front pocket does a decent job of keeping things dry, but it isn’t 100% waterproof. This can be remedied by packing items in small dry sacs.
- Like other minimalist packable bags, there’s no internal organization.
- There are quite a few straps creating excess webbing. However, these can be easily tamed with web dominator clips .
- Dimensions: 50 x 24 x 20 cm / 20 x 9 x 8 in
- Weight: 1.16 kg / 2.5 lb
- Volume: 24 litres
The lightweight, versatile Deuter Trans Alpine 24 backpack is perfect for daily commuting, weekend getaways, a ‘personal item’ and day pack for longer trips, and hiking and biking excursions.
- As a ‘personal item,’ it fits nicely under a plane seat (or in an overhead compartment).
- It is a comfortable and secure fit, thanks to a well-designed harness system with padded shoulder straps, air-mesh padded back, and many adjustment features involving load lifters and an adjustable sternum strap. The internal foam backing can be removed and used as a seat cushion.
- The many practical compartments keep items well-organized: a bottom compartment, a frontal compartment with a hidden pocket for valuables, the main compartment with two sections, a back compartment that fits a 15’’ laptop, two adjustable side pockets, and large zippered belt pockets.
- It has a removable rain cover, and for cyclists, a stowable helmet holster, rear light mount, and a pump compartment accessible from the outside.
- A removable hydration sleeve carries up to three litres.
SHORTCOMINGS
- The back can get sweaty during challenging hikes, despite the well-designed Airstripes ventilation system.
- The hydration sleeve needs to be bought separately.
- Dimensions: 30 x 22 x 53 cm / 9 x 8.6 x 21 in
- Weight: 1.45 kg / 3.2 lb
- Volume: 25 litres
- This bag is perfect for anyone carrying lots of electronics. It’s especially useful for camera equipment, including drones. Or, it can be used as a carry-on backpack for general use.
- The Lowepro Fastpack Pro has three main zones: device, camera, and ‘open.’
- The device zone can accommodate a laptop up to 15 inches. The padded laptop sleeve is elevated so the device can’t slip all the way down when the bottom of the bag touches a surface.
- The camera zone has adjustable dividers for protection and organization.
- The open zone has pockets and space for personal items.
- Both the camera zone and open zone can be accessed separately.
- The bag comes with a lightweight waterproof cover to protect what’s packed inside.
- The camera zone can be secured by fastening the zippers to the buckles, making it very difficult for pickpockets to access.
- The backpack is quite heavy so it might not be suitable for those looking for minimalistic solutions.
- It doesn’t have a hidden pocket at the back which is always useful to have in a carryon.
Victoria Heinz is a travel blogger and writer from Germany. Her blog, Guide your Travel focuses on budget trips and backpacker experiences from around the world.
- Dimensions: 18 x 28.5 x 49 cm / 7 x 11.25 x 19.25 in
- Weight: 1.0 kg / 2.2 lb
- Volume: 25 litres
- The large top-load opening makes it easy to pack.
- The protective inner laptop sleeve with padding is large enough to accommodate documents as well as a laptop.
- The flap-over top is large and magnetizes in front. With the drawstring closure, this backpack is quite secure, more so than any front- or side-zip bag.
- The flat bottom helps the bag stay upright when it’s placed on the ground.
- It’s very light!
- Quilted straps and back padding make for a comfortable carry.
- It’s stylish, and in an enormous range of prints and colours.
There is nothing major that Celeste doesn’t like about the bag, but if we’re being picky:
- There’s just one small pocket on the front and it’s too accessible to store anything important. It’s a glorified hair tie holder!
- A water bottle holder on the side would be nice.
- For someone who likes inner compartments, this bag doesn’t have them! The laptop sleeve is the only inside ‘pocket.’
Celeste Klassen is a freelance writer, carry-on traveller, and the author of slowtravelblog.com . She is based in Edmonton, Canada, but would always prefer to be in the Balkans.
- Dimensions: 50 x 26 x 19 cm / 19.7 x 10.2 x 7.5 in
- Weight: 580 g / 1.28 lb (Cordura Ripstop version)
The Able Carry Daybreaker 25 is Dean’s current favourite as a standard carry-on bag. For travellers who need larger luggage, this would work well as a personal item. Loaded with features, it’s promoted as an ultralight, water-resistant, durable daypack for active travellers.
- The lightweight Cordura Ripstop fabric and water-resistant zippers means that it travels well in light rain showers when water will run off the surface.
- It works well in compact spaces given the tall, slim, and sleek design.
- The backpack straps and adjustable sternum strap makes carrying heavy loads a breeze.
- A discreet zippered side pocket is perfect for a wallet or passport. An external side pocket with drainage holes is designed for a water bottle. A hidden internal pocket works for financial cards and it’s large enough for a passport.
Dean Roberts is a lightweight minimalist traveller who blogs at Packing Less . He writes reviews on the best backpacks and gear for travelling lighter with just one carry-on bag. Check out his Able Carry Daybreaker 25 review .
- Dimensions: 19 x 10.5 x 5 in / 48 x 27 x 13 cm
- Weight: 1.2 lb / 520 g
- Volume: 28 litres
The Patagonia Arbor Lid Pack is a lightweight and simple top-loading backpack designed and manufactured by the sustainability focussed outdoor clothing and gear brand Patagonia. It represents a perfect balance between weight and durability.
- The bag’s one large cavity can hold a significant amount of clothing and gear, whilst still conforming to the weight and size limits of commercial airlines.
- A built-in raised, padded sleeve fits most 15-inch laptops. A pocket in the flap and a single exterior pocket are convenient for storing things requiring quick access.
- Comfortable straps make the bag easy to wear for extended periods of time, even when full.
- The drawstring closure and buckled top flap diminish the risk of pickpocketing and offer better protection during wet weather.
- Although not entirely waterproof, the water-repellant finish helps water bead on the surface.
- A top-loading design can be convenient, but it can be difficult to access things at the bottom without emptying the bag entirely.
- No sternum strap or hip support means this bag isn’t suitable for extended hiking trips.
- There’s no side pocket for a water bottle.
Delilah Hart is a traveller, photographer, and blogger for Our Travel Mix . She travels the world and writes guides to help others get more from their trips.
If you’re interested in one-bag travel, see How to travel with just one carry-on bag using the nested approach .
Are you researching carry-on bags If so, you might be interested in 31 Features of a perfect carry-on bag: a buying guide to choosing the right luggage
If you have, or are looking for, a travel backpack, see Tame dangling straps with Web Dominator . With the Web Dominator clips, dangling straps are suitably constrained and dangle no more.
And finally, if you own an Osprey bag, or are considering a purchase, check out Is the Osprey warranty any good? It’s so good, I’m now a customer for life. It profiles two experiences putting Osprey’s warranty to the test. My Osprey Farpoint 40 fell off a motorcycle in New Zealand and a friend’s bag wore itself out after many years of faithful service. Both bags were replaced free of charge.
If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Care to weigh in? What’s your favourite personal carry-on bag? What features do you like, and what are its shortcomings? Please add your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.
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- Pinterest 13
My wife and I used Osprey 20 litre Talon and Tempest packs as our only luggage on Ryanair, thereby avoiding their ridiculous baggage fees. Like the Deuter bags featured here, they have proper hip straps to take the load, water bottle holders, hydration sleeves and 2 small internal pockets. And they are height adjustable and come in 2 lengths. We mostly were staying in AirBnbs so could wash our clothes as required in the evening and dry them overnight. We also had small collapsible Osprey daypacks for wandering around town. Worked great.
Lufthansa still limits a personal item to the old standard of 40cm x 30cm x 10cm (15.7×11.8×3.9in) and has made me check a normal carry-on when my personal item didn’t quite fit in their 12L sizer. I have four laptop cases the right size which were easy to find before 2010, but they’re worn out and duct-taped. My choices are uselessly small 2-inch thick or oversized 6-inch with all 4-inch options violating the 15.7-inch dimension. Any ideas where to get a Lufthansa-compliant laptop briefcase/bag/backpack that isn’t uselessly small or slightly oversized?
How frustrating. I rarely travel with a laptop but when I do, it goes in a protective sleeve before being packed in my personal item, a packable backpack: Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack. I googled ‘Lufthansa-compliant laptop bag’ and found responses in Reddit and Rick Steves forums (in the latter were a couple of Tom Bihn suggestions). There are several active groups on Reddit and asking for recommendations there are bound to produce results. Try r/ManyBaggers, r/onebag, r/HerOneBag. Good luck!
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The 9 Very Best Pieces of Rolling Luggage
“it has survived being dragged across sand, dirt, and cobblestones.”.
In this article
Best rolling luggage overall.
- Best less expensive
- Best for frequent fliers
- Best mixed material
- Best aluminum
- Best for overpackers
Best rolling-luggage set
- Best soft-side
Although I cover all kinds of luggage in my reporting as a travel writer , when it comes to personal preference, it’s rolling luggage all the way. Whether I go for two or four wheels, I want my luggage to glide with me through the airport (and beyond, as much as possible.) And the best rolling luggage has to have easy-to-organize compartments, sturdy handles, and plenty of space — while also being made of truly resilient material to endure baggage handling (it’s the type of luggage that I use as a checked bag).
Over the past few years, I’ve tested a dozen or so pieces of rolling luggage. From stretchy nylon cases with warranties that last a lifetime to bash-resistant plastic luggage that I can use to charge my phone, I’ve learned that I prefer a hardside case over a softside, and that a compression divider (I’m an overpacker) is nonnegotiable for me. My favorite — the Away carry-on — ticks all these boxes. While some pieces may cost more than others, I’ve also learned that if you’re not fussy about the type of plastics used (ABS costs less than polycarbonate but can withstand some real rattling in transit), there are bargains to be found.
Read on for my recommendations, as well as the expertise of the most well-traveled people I know, from travel writers to those that have to fly almost weekly for work. (And if you’re looking for other types of luggage, you can read my guide to the best carry-ons , weekenders , and I’ve also written an explainer here on what counts as a personal item .)
What we’re looking for
Hard-shell vs. soft-side.
Most experts I spoke to prefer hard-shell luggage, and I agree. It’s durable and easy to clean, it protects your clothes if it rains, and it’s harder for bedbugs to penetrate if you encounter any on your trip. The hard-shells on this list are made from either ABS, an inexpensive but less durable plastic; polycarbonate, a more durable but also lightweight material; or aluminum, which is slightly heavier, but the most durable. Most on this list are polycarbonate, but there are a few soft-sided pieces too, for those who haven’t made the switch yet. While they aren’t as durable, “from a repair standpoint, we always feel that the canvas soft-sided luggage is better than the hard-side luggage because you can repair canvas,” Tony Pecorella, president and CEO of Modern Leather Goods, a repair shop in Manhattan, says. He’s an authorized repairman for many of the luggage brands below and says someone comes in with a cracked hard-shell every day and “there’s no repairing them at all.” So in addition to soft-side suitcases being fixable, they’re also overpacking-friendly because you can stuff more in them than a rigid polycarbonate case (and finesse a larger carry-on to fit in an overhead bin, too.)
Our experts continuously raved about the wheels on their favorite suitcases, describing them as smooth and sturdy. Most were talking about their four spinner wheels, which make the suitcase much easier to push along as it can glide in all directions. For comfort and ease of use, four wheels is definitely the way to go and is our recommendation, but again, Pecorella says it’s not the best choice from a repair standpoint. “It is always stronger to have the case that has the two wheels on it,” he says. “Those wheels are encased, so the only thing that can really happen on those wheels is that they wear out eventually like tires on your car.” With the four spinners — which Pecorella fully admits to using personally — he says because they aren’t encased and just are attached to the bottom of the suitcase, you run the risk of them being banged off. “If you’re rolling off a curb or if you hit the escalator too hard, it’ll just snap the wheel right off,” he says. “That’s one of the biggest repairs we do here all day.” However, a good warranty should cover this (more on that below.)
Almost none of the suitcases on this list go the easy-repair route of being soft-side and having two wheels, and that’s because they all have pretty good warranties. The biggest phrase you want to avoid is “limited to manufacturer’s defects,” which Pecorella says means they basically cover nothing and will attribute damage to wear and tear, or say it’s your fault or the airline’s fault. “Lifetime warranty” is ideal, and he says most of them offer it.
If you’ve checked an overweight bag before, you’ll know how much those extra charges can sting. Lightweight suitcases are ideal for overpackers — including myself — so I’ve included each case’s weight when empty.
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 7.4 pounds
I’ve recommended Away’s suitcases many times before (they’re my top pick for carry-on luggage and hardside luggage , and they get an honorable mention in my piece on the best weekenders ). For me, the wheels are a stand out: I’m used to tentatively hauling my suitcases up and down my cobbly London road, but the Away can truly take a battering — and when it meets flat surfaces, it glides. Although the bigger carry on has a 50-liter capacity, it still fits in most overhead bins, and is perfect for a longer trip. Kelly Farber , founder of KF Literary Scouting, took only this on a three-week, seven-city business trip, and said, “That thing just would not quit.” I tested the slightly smaller carry on, simply because I live in Europe, where airlines are much stingier about carry-on allowances. No matter what size you get, though, each one features the same desirable qualities our experts and I were looking for in a modern suitcase. “It’s sturdy but light, and has a USB charger so I can charge my phone just enough to order an Uber,” writer and photographer Nicholas Gill said. “Plus, inside it has a nylon bag where I can toss in my clothes after getting caught in a sudden jungle downpour, which always seems to happen.” Stephanie Be from TravelBreak.net and BUENA also calls out the “TSA-approved lock, 360-degree wheels, tough hardware, and sleek design.” Strategist editor Maxine Builder also has experience with the Away warranty, after her internal zipper broke in 2019: “There was a fair bit of back-and-forth over the next four months, but I ended up with a replacement suitcase in exactly the same limited-edition colorway with the same hand-painted monogram, all for free.” Five years later, she’s still traveling with it. (The Away lifetime warranty doesn’t extend to the removable portable charger in the rear of the case — that’s only covered for two years.)
Best less expensive rolling luggage
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited ten year | Weight: 7.9 pounds
Usually, cheaper hardside suitcases are made from ABS, a less durable plastic than the polycarbonate more expensive brands use. That’s why this case is such a rarity: It costs less than $200 (usually far less, as it’s often on sale), and it’s made from the more durable polycarbonate. It also includes all of the features I’d expect from more expensive brands, like four 365-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved locks, and a built-in USB port to use with a power bank. Travel blogger Courtney Vondran told me that “it’s a great option for budget travelers or first-timer carry-on travelers who want nice pieces for more affordable prices,” and I’d have to agree. So far, Vondran has taken her case with her on “road trips throughout the Midwest, a work trip to Egypt, vacation to L.A. , travel conference in Memphis, romantic getaway to Maine,” — and it’s all been protected by the case’s limited ten-year warranty, which covers any major damages beyond reasonable wear and tear.
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: ABS hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited warranty | Weight: 7.3 pounds
This AmazonBasics case is made from the less-durable plastic ABS, but it’s still one of my favorites. In my experience, it’s rare to find a case that costs under $100 that can compete with more expensive brands. As it is made from a cheaper plastic, I was surprised by how thick and sturdy the suitcase feels — it has a nice thud when you knock against the exterior. As well as being thick, the exterior is also scratch resistant , and the case also has a well-designed handle, smoothly rolling wheels, handles for comfort, and a built-in lock. The warranty is where this bag falls slightly short, though (and may explain the cheaper price tag): it’s only a three-year limited warranty that protects against defects in materials and workmanship — which Pecorella says is the type to avoid.
Best rolling luggage for frequent fliers
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Five -year manufacturer’s guarantee | Weight: 7.1 pounds
The Rimowa Essential line of suitcases comes in a very close second to the Away. More than ten people mentioned the brand, but I ultimately didn’t award it the top spot because of the price. But if you have the money, those who recommend it say it’s worth it. It comes in 11 colors and two finishes and works like a dream, according to owners, almost all of whom praise the wheels. “I won’t pretend to understand all the physics behind the bearings and axles on Rimowa’s bags, but I do know they spin amazingly well through the airport,” Summer Hull, director of travel content at the Points Guy , told me. Fellow travel writer Hillary Eaton also told me she had no problem lugging the case on a 48-hour journey from Vancouver to Machu Picchu by “tiny floatplane, three long-haul flights, a five-hour bus, and a two-hour train ride.” Several owners told me how easy it is to get this suitcase repaired if anything goes wrong. However, while there’s a manufacturer’s guarantee of five years, it only applies if you remember to register your product when you purchase it. Otherwise, it only lasts for two.
Best rolling luggage with mixed materials
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 7.9 pounds
I was introduced to July by Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell: she calls it the “the Away of the Down Under.” And while the July Carry-on offers a lot of the same features as the Away, it has the added perk of a USB-C port so you can charge your iPhone or your laptop straight from the bag. July’s smallest carry-on weighs about half as much as Away’s, even though they both have similar liter capacities, and you can personalize it. This particular case sets itself apart with a removable fabric front pocket, which came in handy for Christine Wang, founder of TheSkiGirl who is generally a fan of soft-side luggage. If you’re traveling for work, everything you need is easily accessible, and instead of digging through your bag to remove your laptop at TSA, you can easily just snap this pouch off instead.
Best aluminum rolling luggage
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Aluminum hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 10.1 pounds
Aluminum cases are as tough as they come: unlike with plastic cases, you don’t need to worry about them cracking and spilling all your belongings. They often have the added security of a clamp rather than a zip, which again is less likely to burst. This case comes from Away and has all the same specs as my favorite case overall, though it’s slightly heavier, so you may have to pack a bit lighter if you’re checking it in. Despite this, travel writer Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon says there’s plenty of space for all the essentials she’d need for a three- or four-day trip. Swede White, who works for Amazon and has to travel monthly for his job, told me the only downside to this case is that he finds it scuffs easily. Away acknowledges that this will happen, alluding to it as developing a patina over time — if you prefer a pristine case, it all boils down to personal taste.
Best rolling luggage for overpackers
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 8.36 pounds
If, like me, you can’t travel without taking your entire closet, Béis’s luggage is for you. By unzipping an internal section, the bag expands by up to three inches — meaning you can shove that extra sweater inside. More stuff means a heavier bag, but Béis’s built-in weight-limit indicator ensures you don’t teeter over the 50-pound weight restriction for many checked bags. A red mark will appear if the luggage is over, which should save you some stress and money at the check-in counter. As well as a water-resistant zipper, travel blogger HeyCiara told me she appreciates how the case also has a TSA lock, a handle with ergonomic support, and a built-in laundry and shoe bag to prevent your clothes from getting soiled.
Material: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Lifetime | Weight: Various
If you’re traveling as a family, a set of luggage can be the most efficient and economic way to go. This suitcase set has accompanied Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone’s family on trips for two years. Aside from having everything you would expect from a great quality suitcase — “smooth wheels, extremely comfortable handle, more than enough space,” Malone says — these cases are eminently easy to store. That’s because they slot inside one another, meaning you can stash a whole family’s worth of luggage in the space of a single suitcase. The polycarbonate cases come in a range of 11 pleasing colors, and thanks to their construction, any scratches or scuffs will appear as the same shade as the case, no matter how deep. For bigger concerns, the set comes with a lifetime warranty, which covers the wheels, handles, and shells.
Best soft-side rolling luggage
Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Nylon soft-side | Compression strap | Wheels: Encased wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 5.4 pounds
From a repair standpoint, this suitcase is a dream. It’s made from easy-to-repair nylon and has just two encased wheels that won’t snap off. It expands up to two inches and has multiple compartments. None of this is groundbreaking, but that’s why I like this bag: It’s simple, effective, and on the less expensive side at under $200. TripSavvy ’s former general manager Molly Fergus told me she’s traveled with the bag across Miami, Cancun, and all over Europe: “It’s survived being dragged across sand, dirt, and cobblestones,” she says. Travelpro’s limited lifetime guarantee covers defects to the wheels, zippers, extension handles, and carrying handles, and this lasts for however long you own it. On top of that, for the first year, your product is backed by its Trusted Companion Promise, which covers the cost of repair for damage caused by an airline and covers the shipping cost for any product that needs to be shipped to one of its repair facilities.
Some more rolling luggage we’ve written about
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Guide to International Carry-On & Luggage Standards
International flights differ significantly from domestic flights. For one thing, while you can often travel with only a carry-on domestically, most travelers require at least two pieces of luggage for international travel. Individual airline policies determine fees for international luggage, your international flight baggage allowance, and the luggage weight limit for international flights. Your destination and origin point also play a role in determining baggage allowance and fees, as does your frequent flier status and whether you’re flying first class, business, or economy.
A general overview of how airlines handle luggage for international flights follows. Before you travel, it’s best to contact your airline and confirm their luggage policies, as airline regulations for luggage change frequently.
Luggage Weight Limits
The luggage weight limit for international flights differs from domestic US weight limits, which can become a problem if you need to switch between domestic and international flights to reach your destination. Check airline regulations carefully, and pack with the lowest weight allowance for your carry-on and checked luggage for all flights.
Carry-on Weight Limits
Carry-on baggage weight limits for international travel differ significantly from domestic carry-on rules. Most domestic flights limit carry-on suitcases , bags, and backpacks to 35 lbs.
The allowable weight of carry-on luggage differs from airline to airline, but your carry-on luggage generally cannot weigh more than 16 to 18 lbs for international flights. British Airways is an exception and sets its carry-on weight limit at a whopping 51 lbs.
Checked Bags
The checked luggage weight limit for international flights is usually the same as for domestic flights: 50 lbs. Most airlines set 50 lbs as their weight limit to reduce the risk of injury to baggage handlers.
As with carry-on luggage, there are exceptions to checked luggage weight limits. International flights in the US and European Union set a maximum weight of 70 lbs for checked luggage, although you may have to pay fees if you exceed the 50 lb limit guideline. Individual airlines can also set lower weight allowances for international checked luggage. Once again, check with all airlines on your flight itinerary to verify their luggage weight limits.
International Suitcase Sizes
International luggage sizes are just as important as weight limits when choosing your travel luggage. Size restrictions for international airlines may be expressed in inches or centimeters by height, width, and depth. Alternately, all three measurements are added together to equal a single dimension expressed in linear inches or centimeters. Be aware that most airlines outside of the US will measure bags in centimeters.
Personal Items
Many international airlines don’t have exact size restrictions for personal items. But the most common size limit is 40 inches (102cm) (length, plus width, plus height) or 18 x 14 x 8in (46 x 36 x 20cm). If it can safely fit under the seat in front of you or in the seat back pocket without being a hazard, it’s considered the appropriate size.
This will, however, vary depending on the airline. Smaller planes won’t have as much room under the seats as larger planes. Of course, double-check your chosen airline before you go.
International Carry on
Carry ons for international flights are usually a maximum of 22 inches (55cm) tall, 15 inches (40cm) wide, and 10 inches (25cm) deep. Be aware that this can cause difficulties at the boarding gate, because carry-ons accepted by domestic airlines in the USA are too big for international routes and are likely to be checked at the departure gate. Also note that s ome limits will even vary if you fly between two cities in the same country.
Many airlines also limit how much your carry-on can weigh with the most common maximum weight limit of 22 pounds (10kg). Your luggage might be weighed at the gate, and if it exceeds the requirements, you may have to pay a fee to check it at the gate.
Related: Be fully prepared by knowing the size of carry on luggage for your specific airline.
Carry-on Luggage Sizes: International Airlines
Checked luggage.
Checked luggage on an international flight has to meet size restrictions just as it would on a domestic flight. When transferring from a domestic airline to an international one, ensure that your luggage meets the smallest requirements to avoid unwanted oversized bag fees.
Although checked luggage varies by airline, the standard size is 62 linear inches (156cm). This typically corresponds to 27 inches (68cm) x 21 inches (53cm) x 14 inches (35cm). The international flight baggage weight limit averages 50 pounds (23kg), but some airlines allow up to 70 pounds (32kg) for their business-class and first-class passengers.
International Flight Baggage Allowance
Your international flight baggage allowance, and any associated fees, will vary depending on the individual airline’s regulations for luggage. If you’re a frequent flier, hold elite status, or traveling first-class or in business, you may be able to board with extra carry-on or avoid baggage fees. Check with your airline to see if this applies to you.
Personal Item and Carry-on
Most international flights allow you to board with one personal item and one piece of carry-on. There are exceptions, most notably Bolivia’s Amaxonas, which only permits carry-on luggage and does not allow personal items.
Related: Explore our entire line up of carry-on luggage to find sizes that’ll meet both regional and international luggage sizes.
In some airlines, such as Royal Dutch Airlines, first class and business passengers can board with two pieces of carry-on with a combined weight of 40 lbs and one personal item.
In addition to personal items, most international airlines allow you to board with jackets, coats, and baby strollers.
International flights allow one, and often two, pieces of checked luggage per passenger. International luggage allowance is often influenced by whether the flight is intracontinental (within the same continent) or intercontinental (across the ocean or spanning different continents).
For instance, American Airlines allows passengers two checked bags when flying to or from Japan, South Korea, and China, but only one bag when traveling between the USA and Mexico. Plane size, the airport infrastructure at your destination, and how much luggage passengers typically pack for a particular flight also impact baggage allowances.
Most airlines allow you to check additional bags for a fee, with each extra bag costing more than the last. Your airline might offer an international flight baggage allowance of two free checked bags, for instance, with a $125 fee for a third bag and $200 for each additional bag after that.
For oversized, extremely heavy, or oddly shaped items, check airline regulations for luggage before flying. Some airlines have separate weight and size limits for skis, surfboards, golf bags, and other items. For heavy items, the airline will probably have a maximum weight allowance. United, for example, has a 100 lb. limit for any checked item. Necessary medical equipment may or may not be treated as checked luggage, depending on the airline.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
Airline regulations for luggage change frequently, often in response to fluctuating fuel costs. Check out the Travelpro Airline Guide for information on individual airline policies, international flight baggage allowances, weight limits, and size of carry-on luggage .
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What are the Best Travel Bags with Trolley Sleeve?
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We recommend the best travel bags with trolley sleeve, because a trolley sleeve is one of the most helpful features a bag can have for travel! You’ll never struggle in the airport again with these top picks.
Travel Bags with Trolley Sleeve
Table of contents.
Travel Fashion Girl help! A reader asks:
I’m looking for suggestions for a personal bag with trolley sleeve to slip over the handle of a roller bag. I usually take a backpack but I am looking for another option. What are your recommendations?
What is a trolley sleeve on luggage?
A trolley sleeve is a feature on a bag that slides over the luggage handle so you can keep your bag balanced on your carry-on or checked wheeled bag.
If you’ve ever wanted to know how to attach backpack to rolling suitcase, a trolley sleeve is the answer! Instead of carrying a tote on your arms or wearing a backpack, you simply put the tote bag with luggage slide over the handle, allowing it to attach securely.
From wheeled suitcases to backpacks and weekenders to totes — there are a variety of “personal item” travel bags with trolley sleeves.
Our readers chose the best travel bags with trolley sleeve. Take a look at their top recommendations!
Best Travel Tote with Trolley Sleeve
Baggallini Avenue Carry-on Tote
Baggallini with Trolley Sleeve
This bag may not look like much, but it packs a punch! The Baggallini Avenue makes the best carry-on tote, with plenty of room for your personal travel accessories.
One reader says, “This bag has traveled the world with me and has the sleeve to hook over wheeled luggage. I love it. It’s small enough to fit easily under seat but can be stuffed. My MacBook Pro laptop can fit, too, if needed. Mine has lasted forever and still looks great.”
Sounds like a good candidate for the best tote bag with trolley sleeve!
Packing cubes help you organize and maximize your space!
Vera Bradley Cotton Deluxe Travel Bag
Vera Bradley with Trolley Sleeve
We love this Vera Bradley bag for its sophisticated style that can take you from the gym to the airport. With signature cotton construction, tons of organizational space, and, most importantly, a helpful charging port inside, this bag has it all for travel. With its add a bag sleeve, it connects easily to your carry-on suitcase or checked bag.
If you need the best packable tote , read our list!
Tumi Voyageur Everyday Nylon Tote
Tumi Nylon Tote with Trolley Sleeve
TFG readers rave about this classy Tumi Voyageur tote for its versatility and trolley sleeve. Use it for your trip or the office, either way, it has everything you need!
A satisfied traveler says, “Great travel tote! It has the typical Tumi craftsmanship along with some nice features. The straps are long enough to carry the tote comfortably on your shoulder and it also has a sleeve that allows you to attach it to your rolling luggage. The inside pocket for a bottle of water is also a nice perk.”
Briggs & Riley Luggage Tote
Briggs & Riley with Trolley Sleeve
One reader favors her Briggs & Riley tote due to its roominess. This large travel tote with luggage sleeve is made from ballistic nylon, which provides the ultimate in durability. Comfortable and luxurious leather shoulder straps make this one easy carry-on.
Plus, the dual purpose slip-through back pocket helps so that the tote bag slides over luggage handle for easy transport.The roomy main compartment allows the tote to be easily packed and organized, as it also has a zipper pocket and two elastic pockets to organize smaller items.
Looking for new luggage? See expert recommendations !
Best Weekender Bag with Trolley Sleeve
Nomad Lane Bento Bag
Nomad Lane Bento Bag with Trolley Sleeve
The Nomad Lane Bento bag is a super choice to accompany your carry on suitcase. It opens up like a suitcase and has several organizational pockets where you can store all your in-flight essentials from a 15” laptop, to notebooks, pens, or electronic accessories like earphones. It even has room to fit a small bag of toiletries or an extra pair of shoes you may want to slip into on board!
Editor-in-chief Alex with her Bento bag
The handy trolley sleeve allows you to hang it over luggage and It fits under many standard US airline seats. Made of nylon and vegan leather, the bag measures 17” x 8” x 10” and also has a detachable shoulder strap if you want to carry it like that.
Read my full review on the Nomad Lane Bento bag to find out why TFG readers and I have become such great fans of this bag!
Unisex Travel Weekender Bag
ECOSUSI with Trolley Sleeve
If you’re looking for a classic looking and cost-friendly tote, this ECOSUSI weekender travel bag is a great choice.
One reader says, “This is one of my favorite personal bags with a sleeve. It’s really sturdy but lightweight, and it can hold quite a bit if needed.”
Made of water-repellent nylon fabric, this travel bag has secure double top handles and solid gold hardware. It also has an adjustable padded shoulder strap for satchel or cross body style.
Plus, there’s a panel on the back so you can slide it onto your suitcase handles, which makes your travel easy and free from fatigue. This is one of the best tote bags with luggage sleeve.
Find out why the ECOSUSI duffle bag is one of the most popular under-the-seat trolley bags!
Bagsmart Carry On Weekender
Bagsmart Weekender with Trolley Sleeve
The Bagsmart Carry On Weekender is the perfect sized bag for your weekend trip. It has multiple compartments for organization, a trolley sleeve for easy transportation through the airport, both short and long straps for carrying on your shoulder, and it’s carry-on compliant!
This bag has a roomy space with 1 waterproof pocket, 1 shoe bag, 1 padded laptop compartment, 1 dedicated tablet pocket, a file section and multiple accessory compartments.
Read how to choose the best travel purse !
Vera Bradley Iconic Travel Weekender Bag
Vera Bradley Weekender with Trolley Sleeve
Our readers love Vera Bradley travel bags with trolley sleeve, and so many recommended the Iconic Weekender bag .
One reader says, “I have the Vera Bradley weekender bag with trolley sleeve. I love it and used it for my trip to Vancouver and Vancouver Island. It worked great.”
Another reader adds, “It’s what I used last week when I had to do an overnight in the hospital with one of my small humans. It’s a great bag for travel or ‘weekender’-esque stuff.”
This bag has a fully zippered front compartment and two back slip pockets, along with a wide opening with double zippers and a sturdy, removable base. Plus, it has a trolley sleeve to slip over your roller luggage.
If you’re looking for a briefcase with trolley sleeve, this style bag would be a great option.
Traveling with a laptop? Check out these business backpacks!
MZ Wallace Medium Metro Deluxe Tote
MZ Wallace with Trolley Sleeve
One reader calls this MZ Wallace bag a “great bag that checks all the boxes.” This bag has many compartments to make organized travel a breeze.
This weekender bag with trolley sleeve is packed with amazing unique details, such as a built-in jewelry/cosmetic organizer, quick access cell phone pocket, and an optional crossbody strap.
Lightweight quilted nylon in a mix of colors and stitching detail a roomy and rugged tote with double handles. Plus, the bag comes in so many fun colors, including jute and lilac.
Need to pack light, carry-on only? Watch this video !
Lo & Sons O.G. 2.0 Tote Bag
Lo & Sons with Trolley Sleeve
The Lo & Sons O.G. 2.0 Tote Bag is a reader favorite and a must-get item for its handy trolley sleeve, numerous organizational pockets for essentials, and 13” laptop sleeve. It even has a side shoe compartment!
Made from a fine weave nylon, the bag is well constructed and chic, having leather accents and water-resistant zippers. Rabid lovers of this bag say it’s excellent as an overnight option for a short trip, or ideal as a personal onboard carryon item. The consensus is the O.G 2 is the “ Perfect size, thoughtful use of pockets, has quality materials, and is very beautiful!
I myself bought the O.G. 2 tote in the Grey/Silver Azure color in the large size and used it for a conference in Nashville. It went perfectly with my Away Carry On suitcase and the trolley sleeve fit over the handle with no problem!
Best Carry-on Bag with Trolley Sleeve
Tumi Voyager Celina Nylon Backpack
Tumi Nylon Backpack with Trolley Sleeve
The highly popular lightweight Tumi backpack is easy to carry and because it’s made of nylon, spills will easily wipe off. The back trolley sleeve is thick enough so it’ll stay strapped to your suitcase even if you’re running to catch your flight!
One user says, “ Got it two weeks ago and it’s been on two flights so far. Easily holds my laptop and my tablet. Roomy extra pockets for chargers, earbuds, phone, bottle water, etc. When empty it’s very lightweight so no added bulk. Nylon feels strong enough to hold up to regular wear.”
The small zippered compartment has plenty of pockets to keep you organized and the interior has extra cushioning to keep your laptop protected. And the trolley sleeve is handy to slide over luggage handles at the airport! Also available in Tumi websire.
Samsonite Softside Luggage Under-Seater
Samsonite with Trolley Sleeve
Samsonite makes some of our favorite luggage, and one reviewer calls this rolling tote a wonderful bag, saying “I was able to fit everything I needed for a whole week trip. This bag is smaller than a carry-on, but you can pack it full of stuff.”
And, the best part is that it’s a bag that slides over your luggage handle so you can take a regular size carry-on without needing to wheel them separately.
This tote is one of the best carry-on bags with trolley sleeve with multiple pockets for organization. The inside has a roomy main compartment with a foam padded pocket that offers protective storage for your iPad or laptop, interior pockets to organize toiletries, personal items, and small accessories, and side pockets to hold water bottles or magazines. A slip through band on the back allows this bag to be slipped over the handles of your upright luggage, too.
Learn how to choose a carry-on personal item !
Matein Daypack with Trolley Sleeve
This travel daypack by Matein is definitely one of the most stylish travel bags with trolley sleeves on our list. It comes in a variety of colors, and it has a classic look.
The best part about this bag is that it’s actually a backpack with luggage handle sleeve! When you’re traveling, you can wear this bag on your back, and it will go well with any of your cute outfits from your capsule wardrobe . Then, when you’re running through the airport, just slip this backpack with luggage sleeve over your suitcase handle.
Check out these cute backpacks for travel !
Travelpro Lightweight Underseater Tote Bag
Travelpro with Trolley Sleeve
The Travelpro Lightweight Underseater Tote Bag is a great compact option if you’re looking for the best travel totes with trolley sleeve. This bag can work as a carry-on and fits nicely under the airplane seat or in the compartment above.
It has a pull up handle as well as a Velcro strap to make taking it on and off your luggage simple.
This bag also comes in a variety of colors to match your luggage and keep you stylish on your travels!
See our list of the best carry-on luggage !
The Everywhere Carry On Bag with Trolley Sleeve
Away Everywhere Bag with Trolley Sleeve
Away’s Everywhere Bag is conveniently compact, yet incredibly packable with help from its stellar organizational features! This bag is equipped with tons of useful pockets designed for everything from water bottles to notebooks, plus it has a padded 15” laptop sleeve and a key clip to keep your valuables safe and secure.
Its beautifully sleek exterior is made of water-resistant nylon and is accentuated with leather details. A reader shares more, “Love it. Plenty of room and not heavy. It also has a back pocket that’s great for a passport and tickets when going through TSA.”
Best Alternative to a Trolley Sleeve
Bag Strap Carry On Bungee Travel
Travelon Bag Bungee
Have a travel bag you love but it doesn’t have a trolley sleeve? There’s a solution for that!
Add a bag bungee, like this one from Travelon! With this bungee, you can connect two items as one. You can fix one bag, laptop case, or other item to your wheeled travel luggage handle.
One reader says, “I’ve been using the Bag Strap Carry On Bungee Travel all week. It makes my XL Longchamp Pliage bag work fine with my IT hardside carry on.” Another adds, “I love mine!”
The key to simplified packing is to create a capsule wardrobe .
Here’s a quick summary on the best travel bags with trolley sleeve:
What are your recommendations for the best travel bags with trolley sleeve? Share in the comments below!
For suggested travel gear, please read:
- Best Under Seat Luggage
- How to Choose the Best Luggage Organizer
- Top 10 Toiletry Bags for Travel
- Best Hanging Toiletry Bag for Women
- Anti-theft Travel Accessories 2017
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20 comments.
I am the person who uses the sleeve and the bungee. I like the bungee that snap close better than the ones that slip over the handle.
Many Lug bags have trolley sleeves. The bags are extremely well made and reasonably priced.
Thank you for sharing your recommendation with us Sandy!
I was gifted a Rimowa Essential Lite and it has one handle instead of two. I had an underseat bag with a trolley, but it just swings around the handle. I bought a new one thinking it was my underseat bag, but the new one does the same thing. I’ve searched for something to use that would be more secure, but I haven’t seen anything. A call to the company (Rimowa) was of little help. They can’t change the handle and since I used the bag (once), they won’t exchange. Any suggestions?
Hi Charlene, I am really sorry to hear about the problems you have been having. To get the best help with your predicament, I would highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/ It’s a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that love to share their advice and recommendations. And I am sure someone in the community will be able to help you out.
Love this info! Thanks
This is super helpful. I didn’t know bags with trolley sleeves even existed.
I am looking for a lightweight trolley bag. I think some of them are rather heavy and I need light weight due to my back issues. Which of these bags mentioned is the latest one. Thank you very much for your help.
I bought a new suitcase that has a wide pull up handle. The luggage sleeve needs to be 10 inches. Is there anything offered that will fit?
I adore both my Tumi Carson backpack and my Vera Bradley bag collection. I could run away from home permanently with just the Vera Bradley deluxe travel tote, the bottom zippered compartment is amazingly large! Love this blog too! We travel one week out of the month at minimum and I have field tested a million bags (it seems). I keep coming back to my Rimowa trolley and one of my Tumi bags (I have a “doctors bag” style that is no longer in production that holds more than the backpack) or a Vera Bradley. Trolley sleeves are non-negotiable for me.
I am a “bag” lady. I have so many. I travel quite a bit and have been in search of the perfect travel bag specfically for my personal item on my flight. I own a Bagallini tote with trolley sleeve, Longchamp Le Pliage (large) tote, Briggs & Riley rolling tote, etc. I purchased a Knomo brand Grosvenor Place bag just before my 2 week trip to Europe and love it. It has a built in RFID pocket on the outside, lots of separate pockets inside and out that help keep my stuff organized during flight and it has zippers on the sides so if I need it to expand out no problem. When I’m not traveling I use it for my work bag and keep the sides zipped in. Its very well made and yes, they are expensive but worth it to me. The best part – all Knomo brand bags have an ID number that you can register so if you ever lose it and someone finds it all they have to do is type in your specific code listed on the inside label and Knomo will assist to get the bag returned to you. It has a trolley sleeve as well that you can zip closed so when not using for travel it can be used as another pocket. The sleeve fit over my Briggs & Riley carry on – no problem. (not all of the trolley sleeves are wide enough for that handle.) The Knomo is very chic looking. It is currently my go to bag because it is so multi-purpose. However, I take the Longchamp as my roll-up tote in my suitcase for my purchases when I travel. It works great for that or as a weekender.
FYI – For my travel purse, I use the Lululemon All Night Festival Bag. It is a very lightweight crossbody, easy to stuff into your carry-on or personal item, and it saved me from a pickpocket on a crowded Paris Metro due to its fold-over design.
Hi Marlaine, thank you for sharing your great reviews of the purses you use to travel with. Really enjoyed reading your comment, love reading about our readers favorite products. Happy travels! ?
I also have the Lo&Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote, and its amazing! I traded in my regular canvas one for the recycled poly black bag, which is better for me because I tend to be hard on my bags when travelling. It fits perfectly on my carry-on and under airplane seats. The best feature is the bag has a separate (though, it can become part of the upper bag if needed) compartment for shoes on the bottom. It fits my motorcycle ankle boots perfectly. And, it holds a ton!
Hi Ellen, so pleased to hear you are so happy with your Lo&Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote. Thank you for sharing your awesome review with us! Happy travels! ?
I was looking for a bag with a trolley sleeve before your article came out . After reading another site for reviews, I purchased a Lo & Sons: Catalina Deluxe Tote. I have not tried it yet on my carry-on but have used it as a stand-alone weekend bag. I like that it relatively lightweight & it has a second compartment underneath the bag which is handy for shoes or other items.
Hi Maureen, thank you for sharing your great review of your Lo & Sons bag with us! Happy travels! ?
The Sasha (used to be called Sherpa) Kipling tote is awesome!
Hi Julie, thank you for sharing your recommendation for a bag with a trolley sleeve, we love hearing about our readers favorite go to product!!! Happy travels!
I purchased my Vera Bradley Weekender based on feedback here. I’ve taken it on three trips. What I love about it is the ability to squish down for under the seat storage as long as I don’t overpack it. It’s a softside, so you can easily squeeze it in this bag size checkers if you need to. I bring it onboard along with my carryon and I’ve never been stopped. It is slightly larger than allowable personal bag sizes, so don’t let that scare you.
Hi Emilyn, thank you so much for your feedback! Thank you for sharing it 🙂
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Geeky Gadgets
Outdoor Gear
February 17, 2022
Written by: Subhasish Adhikary
Best Travel Trolley Bags in India – Reviews & Buyer Guide
Trolley bags are one of the most comfortable luggage to travel with, especially when one needs to travel with a lot of stuff that the backpacks cannot hold.
Remember back in time during the suitcase era, you almost lost your breath while struggling to carry it all along with the platform of the station?
Well! Trolley bags came to our rescue.
This simple machine consists of two/four wheels which are quite amazing to move from one place to another.
Traveling with lightweight trolley bags is quite convenient and comfortable, especially when it can be dragged by even a 10 years old kid.
List of Top 10 Best Trolley Bags for Travel in India
To the travelers who will settle for nothing less than the best quality travel trolley bags, check out our handpicked recommendations just for you.
Skybags Rubik Polyester Softsided Cabin Luggage
Skybags needs no introduction. It is prominent for its stylish range of backpacks, trolleys, duffle bags, and luggage bags.
This soft-shelled blue color trolley bag is made up of polyester material. It has four medium-sized plastic wheels that can rotate to an angle of 360 degrees.
The bottom consists of the base, which helps in supporting the trolley bags in case one has loaded them with a lot of stuff.
It has a capacity of 43 liters and weighs, 3800 grams . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 37 cm x 31 cm x 58 cm (LxWxH). This bag is perfect for a weekend trip.
This trolley bag comes with a domestic warranty of 5 years.
It has a push-button trolley that has kissing pullers. Its handle is nicely padded and locked which makes it easy for the person to carry it when it cannot be dragged. It has corner guards and a spacious interior.
The trolley bag is 33% expandable and comes with a combination lock . It has 2 zippers on the top for easy access which has a lot of space and you can easily keep your documents in it.
- 2 zippers on the top for easy access
- Cost efficient
- 5 years warranty
- Customer reviews: 4.2/5
- No laptop compartment.
Skybags Westport Polycarbonate Hardsided Suitcase
My second recommendation is again Skybags.
This hard-shelled purple color trolley bag is made up of polycarbonate material.
It is scratch-resistant and is water-resistant. It has four lightweight spinner wheels for effortless mobility and stability, which can rotate to an angle of 360 degrees.
It has a capacity of 57 liters and weighs 3324 grams . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 47 cms x 27 cms x 65 cms (LxWxH). This bag is perfect for a weekend trip.
This trolley bag comes with a domestic warranty of 5 years from the date of purchase.
It has a push-button mechanism and comes with an international TSA Locking system . It has retractable handles that are nicely padded and locked.
It has two compartments which make the interior quite spacious.
- 2 main compartments
- Customer review: 4.1/5
American Tourister Polycarbonate Hardsided Suitcase
American Tourister is another well-known company for bags. Its variety ranges from small school bags to large luggage carrying bags.
This hard-shelled midnight blue color trolley bag is made up of 100% polycarbonate material and has a matte texture. It is scratch-resistant and is water-resistant.
It comes with four wheels that can rotate to an angle of 360 degrees which makes it excessively simple to deal with.
It has a capacity of 71 liters and weighs 3.4 kilograms . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 50 cms x 29 cms x 68 cms (LxWxH).
This bag is perfect for a vacation of about 10-15 days.
This trolley bag comes with a domestic warranty of 3 years which is valid for 3 years.
This trolley bag is ideal for check-ins for both men and women, our pick for one of the best polycarbonate trolley bags in India.
It has a push-button mechanism and comes with a 3 digit combination lock to guarantee wellbeing.
It has two compartments and comes with a divider and interior packing straps which makes the packaging organized on both sides.
- Scratch resistant
- 2 main compartment
- Interior packing straps
- 3 years International warranty
Safari Thorium Stubble Polycarbonate 4 Wheels Hard Suitcase
Safari is an Indian company which is well-known to manufacture travel goods and luggage.
This might be a perfect opportunity to go atmanirbhar and use made-in-India products.
This silver-colored solid pattern trolley bag is made up of hard casting material, polycarbonate . It has 4 wheels.
It comes with multiple zip closures that help in organizing your clothes and other essentials easily.
Its inner material is fabric. It is scratch-resistant and is water-resistant. It comes with four wheels that can rotate to an angle of 360 degrees, which makes it excessively simple to deal with. It is shock absorbent.
It has a capacity of 82 liters and weighs 3.75 kilograms . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 66cms x 46 cms x 27 cms (LxWxH). This bag is perfect for a long vacation.
This trolley bag comes with a domestic warranty of 5 years which is valid from the original date of purchase.
It is scratch-resistant and water-resistant. It comes with a handle of comforting grip. It is ideal for both men and women.
It has a push-button mechanism and comes with a number lock framework to guarantee security.
It has two compartments which make it quite spacious which can store 10 shirts, 2 toiletry bags, 4 pairs of shoes, 3 pairs of trousers and 1 coat.
- Water resistant
- Shock Absorbant
- Has 2 main compartment
- Customer review: 4.2/5
Mi Hardsided Cabin Luggage
Mi is well known for providing cost-efficient products with more features and better quality.
This grey-colored scratch-resistant honeycomb surface trolley bag is made up of hard casting material, polycarbonate which makes it scratch resistant.
It is made up of a 3-layered composite compressive structure, which makes its suitcase resilient and reduces wear and tear.
The vertical stripes and grooves on both sides of the luggage provide additional support and reduce stress during impact.
It comes with 4 high-quality spinner wheels which make it overly simple to deal with. It consists of 2 compartments.
The luggage handle is made of reinforced aluminum alloy material which makes it sturdier.
The handle has been anodized to provide a premium metallic look and is adjustable up to 4 stature .
It has a capacity of 36 liters and weighs 3100 grams . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 37.5 x 22.3 x 55 cm (LxWxH) with wheels and 35 x 22.3 x 49 cm (LxWxH) without wheels.
This bag is perfect for a weekend trip.
This trolley bag comes with a domestic warranty of 1 year which is valid from the original date of purchase.
It has a push-button mechanism and comes with TSA (Transportation Security Administration of US) combination locks which make your valuables safe and secure.
- Noise-minimizing and shock-absorbent wheels
- Customer review: 4.6/5
- Only 1-year warranty
Also Read: 11 Best things to buy on Amazon India under 1000
American Tourister Cruze ABS Hardsided Carry-On
This black-colored matter surface trolley bag is made up of hard casting material, ABS which makes it scratch-resistant, wear-resistant, and waterproof.
It is made up of strong and lightweight polycarbonate shells. It has interior packaging straps and multi-pockets in the interiors which make the packing organized.
It has side lugs. It comes with 4 high-quality spinner wheels which make it overly simple to deal with.
It has a capacity of 42 liters and weighs, 2900 grams . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 36 cm x 24 cm x 65 cm (LxWxH).
This bag is perfect for a weekend trip. It has a push-button mechanism and comes with a number lock framework to guarantee security.
This trolley bag comes with 3 years of international warranty in over 100 countries. A serious contender for one of the best trolley bags for International travel.
- International warranty
- Water proof
- Customer review: 4.4/5
- No laptop compartment
Hey there, check this out: Best Trekking Bags in India
American Tourister Ellen ABS Hardsided Check-in Luggage
This grey-colored trolley bag is made up of hard casting material, ABS, which makes it water-resistant.
It has a stylish logo and unique pattern on its exterior.
It is lightweight and looks stylish. It has interior packaging straps and multi-pockets in the interiors which make the packing organized. It has side lugs.
It comes with 4 high-quality spinner wheels which are smooth and noiseless.
It has a capacity of 65.5 liters and weighs, 3600 grams . The dimensions of this trolley bag are 68 cm x 46 cm x 30 cm (LxWxH).
This bag is perfect for a vacation of 10-15days.
It has a push-button mechanism and comes with a number of TSA lock frameworks to guarantee security.
This trolley bag comes with 3 years of international warranty for over 100 countries.
- Lightweight
- Not wear-resistant
You may also like: Best Duffle Bags For Travel
American Tourister Crete Polyester Softsided Suitcase
This black colored trolley bag is made up of soft casting polyester material. It is a combination of rich and shiny polyester fabrics.
It has a spacious main pocket for storing last-minute packing and has a top quick-access pocket for storing travel essentials.
It is expandable. It has 4 sturdy 360-degree wheels for easy maneuverability. Not only that, but it has jumbo volume, a fixed combination lock, a retractable top, and side handles.
It has a capacity of 44 liters . The external height of this trolley bag is 67 cms and the external depth of this trolley bag is 32 cms .
This bag is perfect for a weekend trip. It is equipped with side and top handles for convenient carrying.
It has a number lock.
This trolley bag comes with a 3 years domestic warranty .
- Front zippers
- 3 years warranty
- Not water resistant
Skybags Mirage Polycarbonate Hardsided Check-in
This orange-colored trolley bag is made up of hard casting polycarbonate material.
It has stylish graphics on the front body. Its handle type is telescopic.
It is expandable. It has 8 sturdy 360-degree wheels for easy maneuverability. Not only that, but it has jumbo volume, a fixed combination lock, a retractable top, and side handles.
It has a capacity of 70 liters and weighs 3300 grams . dimensions of this trolley bag are 47.7cms x 27.6 cms x 69 cms (LxWxH). This bag is perfect for a long vacation. It has a TSA locking system .
This trolley bag comes with a 5 years domestic warranty .
Check this out: Best Rucksack Bags in India [Editor’s Pick]
Kamiliant by American Tourister KAM Kiza Polypropylene Hardsided Cabin Luggage
This is one of the cheapest trolley bags available. It is even lesser than what we normally pay for the backpacks. This is mostly used for cabin bags and is best for 2-3 days’ travel.
This ruby red colored trolley bag is made up of hard casting polypropylene material.
It is durable and stable and can withstand rough handling during travel. It is very lightweight and enables you to carry extra luggage.
The dual texture makes it resistant to scratches. It is wear-resistant and water-resistant.
It is extendable and has adjustable straps. It has 8 sturdy 360-degree wheels for easy maneuverability.
It has jumbo volume, a fixed combination lock, a retractable top, and side handles.
It has a capacity of 35 liters and weighs 2360 grams . dimensions of this trolley bag are 36cms x 24.5 cms x 55 cms (LxWxH).
It has one compartment and has a number lock system .
This trolley bag comes with 3 years of international warranty .
- Wear resistant
- 3 years international warranty
One needs to know the advantages and disadvantages of trolley bags before investing in one.
Some advantages & disadvantages of traveling with a trolley bag:
- Easy to handle.
- Lightweight as compared to the traditional luggage bags.
- Available in all sizes.
- Effortless mobility.
- Stain Resistant.
- Comfortable and smooth roll.
- Zipper heads make it convenient to open and close the bag.
- Trolley bags are expensive as compared to the normal ones.
- The wheels might break when dragged on the rough surface.
- The bags might just slip away on a sliding platform.
- There might be a situation when the rolled bags weigh more than your actual luggage.
Buying guide for a trolley bag – Choose the right type & size
Size – The first thing that you should check is the size of the bag. The size of the trolley bags depends upon the kind of vacation you are going and the requirement of space will differ accordingly.
The usual measurement says that –
- Weekend trip – 30 to 50 liters
- 10 to 15 days trip – 50 to 75 liters
- Long vacation – 70 to above 100 liters
Material – The trolley bags are available in various materials like polyester, aluminum, ballistic nylon, polycarbonate, leather, polypropylene, etc.
There is no single best material for the trolley bags. It depends upon the type of travel.
Types – There are two types of trolley bags – soft and hard-shelled trolley bags.
- Soft Shell – More durable for a longer period of time. These are more flexible and can fit into smaller spaces. Due to the flexibility, more items can be put into it. More accessible with more pockets
- Hard Shell – These are useful when you are traveling with laptops, iPads, cameras, and other delicate electronics. These are water-resistant and there are no weird smells. These are more likely to protect the items kept in the luggage from the accident liquid spills. Easier to keep the luggage clean.
Weight – It is one of the most important factors to consider, especially if you are looking for an easy, independent journey where you have to carry the bag on your own. Usually, heavier ones are more durable than the lighter ones of the same capacity.
The number of compartments – Though the size, type, and the number of compartments depends on the brands, most of the traditional luggage bags have one large zippered compartment.
However, the soft-shelled ones have more zippers than the hard-shelled ones. But the hard-shelled ones mostly have a laptop compartment inside, which is better for work travel.
The different compartments help in the organized packaging of the luggage.
Zippers – Zippers are a very important feature while deciding to buy a trolley bag. Its placement plays an important role.
The zippers present on the top of the trolley bags enable easy access to the products packed inside the placement of the zippers is also important in a luggage bag.
It affects the compactibility of the trolley bag. The various compartments lead to organized packing and are easier to search for the items while unpacking them.
Also, lockable zippers are preferable, so that your luggage is secure and you can travel carefree about your luggage.
Overall these are the few points that you should mainly consider a trolley bag.
Now we will check some of the best trolley bags available online in India.
Best Trolley Bags Brands in India
Below-mentioned are currently the best trolley bags company in India.
Safari Bags
This Indian company is one of the largest companies in the luggage bag section. Over the years, they are one of the most popular brands among travel enthusiasts.
Vip bags is the most popular made in India luggage bag maker, with footprints all over the world. They are won numerous awards and recognizations all over the world.
American Tourister
American Tourister is a popular school & luggage bag maker brand among the younger generations in India.
This is a sister brand of VIP bags, just like the previously mentioned company, Skybags also enjoy huge popularity among the younger generation people.
Some commonly asked questions:
Are trolley bags good for traveling.
Yes, they are good for traveling. These are lightweight, easy to carry, and are perfect for all kinds of travel be it vacation or work travel.
What are the best trolley bags?
Some of the best trolley bags have been mentioned above. You can always go for brands like Skybags, American Tourister, Safari, etc.
What is TSA?
TSA stands for T ransportation S ecurity A dministration lock. TSA lock is a luggage lock that can be opened by both the owner of the luggage as well as by TSA agents at U.S. airports.
The agents have the power to inspect the contents of all checked baggage.
If a suitcase is secured with an ordinary lock then the officials have the power to cut open and destroy the lock.
If it’s a TSA lock the agents have a TSA-approved master key for it. Source PCMag .
Which brand is best for trolley bags?
Skybags & American Tourister are some of the best in the market luggage bag manufacturers that you can consider for buying trolley bags.
Which trolley bag is better hard or soft?
Well, it depends. Soft bag means they are more durable and long-lasting. They have some space for luggage. And for hard surface bags, it is good for carrying delicate items like laptops, tablets, cameras, etc.
Which trolley bag is the best polycarbonate or polyester?
Polycarbonate bags are no doubt the best because they are more durable, hard, and flexible. That’s why polycarbonate is bags are much more expensive than ABS & polyester.
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The 8 Best Duffel Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
These bags will save you space, time, and headaches from overly complicated backpacks and suitcases.
In This Article
Jump to a Section
- Our top picks
Our Testing Process
- Others We Liked
- Tips For Buying
- Why Trust T+L
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .
Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
We’ve all been there: gearing up for a long weekend trip with friends or a significant other. Or maybe a quick work trip for that special client. Either way, it’s not a long enough duration to justify a carry-on suitcase or checked bag, but you still need to make sure you have enough room for a few changes of clothes and accessories.
We gathered up 56 of the best duffel bags available and are putting them to the test in the Travel + Leisure lab. We judged them based on capacity, organization, design, portability, durability, and value, and will continue to test them for an additional six months to make sure they stand up to real traveling. These are the best duffel bags for any trip you may be taking, whether skiing or jetting off to a sunny destination.
Best Overall
Bellroy classic weekender 45l.
This weekender is lightweight and easy to pack.
We wish the clips that attach the crossbody strap to the bag were made of metal rather than plastic.
We think the Bellroy Classic Weekender 45 is the overall best duffel bag you can buy. It’s more affordable than many of its counterparts and earned a perfect score during testing. While measuring its storage capacity, we found that it easily had space for four days of clothing and shoes, and we made special note of the accessibility of the wide mouth. Other bags on our list may have more pockets, but the storage of the Bellroy Classic Weekender is extremely useful, including a huge outer pocket that has a key leash and internal organization for small items like passports, wallets, or a phone. The three inner pockets are modest but are ideal for keeping all of your knick knacks close by. Snacks, chargers, sunglasses, or anything else you may need to find are all available with just a quick glance.
Another other area that the bag accels in is portability. It comes with two hand straps and a longer crossbody strap, the latter of which kept it secure against our body when fully packed but also made it comfortable to carry with just a few items in it. When compared to another bag we tested that was the same exact size and packed with the same exact items, this Bellroy duffel felt so much lighter and easier to carry. Some large duffels get bulky and cumbersome on the shoulder, but this was not the case for the Bellroy — it stayed magically lightweight, and we can picture carrying this long distances through airports and train stations.
The Details: 14.96 x 25.59 x 15.75 inches | 2.16 pounds | 45-liter capacity | Polyester | Water-resistant
Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao
Monos Metro Carry-All Duffel
This vegan leather bag won’t break the bank.
It would function better as a supplement travel companion than a do-it-all bag.
If you’re on the hunt for a duffel bag that won’t make you look like you’re just leaving the YMCA, pick up the Monos Carry All Duffel, our pick for the most stylish of the bunch. It comes in four colors, each of which looks exceptionally fashion-forward and is made from vegan leather that will only get better with time. (Without completely draining your wallet like real leather would.)
We were big fans of the roomy interior and the thoughtful organization, which we think kept the large main compartment from becoming too much of a mess, even when fully packed for a four-day trip. If this four-day trip involves a lot of walking, we aren't worried. We loved the comfort of the two hand straps and were impressed by the versatility and comfort of the shoulder strap — the shoulder pad was plush and didn’t fall up and down the strap.
The Details: Dimensions: 20 x 12 x 10.4 inches | 4.14 pounds | 27.3 liters | Vegan leather
Watch How We Test Travel Products
Best for commuters, july carry all weekender.
This versatile bag shines in crowded places where space is at a premium.
It may not be able to hold enough for a full weekend away.
Ideal for the commuter that travels by plane, train, or automobile, the compact, super portable Carry All Weekender from July is a great pick for short trips, either to work, the gym, as a personal item on a plane, or on a quick two-day vacation. The bag has an internal laptop sleeve and pockets to keep small items in their rightful place, while the easy-to-pack main compartment holds onto the clothes you’re toting along with you. We do wish it had a bit more storage, though, just to be safe.
The bag comes with a pass-through band so you can easily add it to your rolling luggage when trips go beyond a few days, while the brand’s signature QuickPass pocket uses a powerful magnet as its closing mechanism, meaning you won’t have to fuss with a zipper each time you reach for your passport or wallet. It also features a removable padded shoulder strap and external D rings to use as attachment points.
The Details: 10.5 x 18 x 8.5 inches | 2.2 pounds | 28 liters | Nylon | Water-resistant
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best Convertible
Dagne dover lagos convertible duffel bag.
Dagne Dover
It’s one of the most versatile bags we tested.
It’s much pricier than other bags on this list.
If you prefer a duffel bag that you can wear in any which way, the Lagos Convertible Duffel is an excellent choice. It’s got hard-wearing hand straps, just like your average duffel, but you can also transform it into a crossbody or a backpack depending on where you’re going, what you’re doing and if you might need to use your hands.
While its cavernous, pocket-laden interior is easily able to fit all of your gear, we loved that it still could be made small enough to count as a personal item on an airplane, leaving your carry-on slot for something bigger. The bag weighs just over two pounds when empty, so it’s easy to fold up and stow in that carry-on if you think you might be bringing home more than you left with. We also found that it was exceptionally durable and water-resistant.
The Details: 16 x 11 x 11 inches | 2.15 pounds | 32-liter capacity | Polyester
Best With Shoe Compartment
Calpak luka duffel bag.
The shoe compartment makes this an essential bag for sneakerheads.
This might not be big enough for longer weekend trips, but it does come in a larger size.
We found that the Calpak Luka was perfect for two-day trips, but could easily be used on longer trips as a supplemental bag or personal item. The multiple interior pockets are ideal for socks and underwear, while the shoe compartment holds either two pairs of regular shoes or one pair of boots — a must have feature for a shoe aficionado.
The thick polyester material is nice to the touch, but we suspect that it won't be as long-lasting as some of the other bags on this list. However, at just over $100, this bag is chic enough to turn heads and spacious enough to keep all your gear in one place, including that ever important extra pair of kicks. It also comes in an impressive color range no matter what your taste.
The Details: 12 x 16 x 7 inches | 2.1 pounds | 22-liter capacity | Polyester | Water-resistant
Best for Camping
Yeti crossroads duffel bag.
- Capacity 5 /5
- Design 5 /5
- Portability 3.5 /5
- Value 4.5 /5
- Durability 5 /5
It has helpful organizational features and was built to last.
The shoulder strap could be more comfortable.
Like all Yeti products, this duffel looks and feels like it was built to last. It's made of a proprietary TuffSkin nylon that helps the bag keep its shape and resist damage and dirt. The bottom of the bag is made of a harder shell for extra protection (though this means it can't pack down teeny tiny for storage). The Crossroads's interior organization features really stood out with two dividers that create three sections for separating different types of items and several smaller pockets for belongings like phones, wallets, and chargers. Two exterior pockets on the top provide yet more slots for your stuff (though these two pockets are pretty small).
The bag has three handles for carrying — one on each end and another on top — as well as a detachable shoulder strap. The strap has a firm, flat section meant to mold to your shoulder area, but it could be a little more comfortable. Overall, it's a sturdy, durable piece with good organization, and it's a great choice for longer trips or outdoor adventures.
The Details: 24 x 12.5 x 12.5 inches | 4.3 pounds | 60-liter capacity | Nylon
Travel + Leisure / Nick Kova
Tripsavvy / Nick Kova
Best Budget
Gonex canvas duffel bag.
- Capacity 4.5 /5
- Design 4.5 /5
- Portability 4.5 /5
It's comfortable to carry and has generous side pockets.
Because you can pack so much in it, this bag becomes heavy quickly and can be difficult to carry.
Our favorite things about the Gonex Canvas are the price, flexibility, pockets, and durability. We love the sheer number of pockets and zippered compartments that it has. Aside from the main compartment, there are five additional zippered compartments on the outside, and the inside has an additional zippered pouch and two pockets for holding your wallet, keys, phone, and other small items. Plus, it's one of the best lightweight luggage options on the market.
The strap handles for this bag can be secured together under a flap, and the shoulder strap is nicely padded; carrying it was comfortable. The exterior canvas won't attract dirt, and the bag protected all cargo and showed no damage or scuffs during our durability testing. We also love that there are several color options and patterns to choose from.
The Details: 17 x 11 x 10 inches | 2.8 pounds | 50-liter capacity | Cotton canvas
Best for Long Trips
Thule chasm sport duffel bag.
- Capacity 4 /5
- Design 4 /5
- Portability 4 /5
It comes with a packing cube, and it's made of strong materials.
It doesn't have any external pockets.
Thule is best known for its car top carriers, but the brand brings its knack for sturdy cargo storage to this duffel bag as well. We were all impressed with the durable, waterproof tarpaulin exterior and the spacious, pocketed interior — though an exterior pocket or two would have been nice. It even comes with a packing cube that can be used for clothing, toiletries, or a smaller pair of shoes.
Coming in four sizes, we also loved that the bag can be held either by the handles or by the very comfortable backpack straps. It's a bit strange that there's no shoulder strap option, but we did not find ourselves missing it. The Chasm nailed our durability tests and is a great option for longer trips or even weekends in the outdoors.
The Details: 29 x 17 x 13 inches | 4.4 pounds | 90 liters | Nylon | Water-resistant
The Spruce / Nick Kova
We ordered 25 of the most popular duffel bags on the market and tested them in our New York City lab. First, we weighed each duffel bag with a luggage scale and noted whether the weight was the same as the weight listed by the manufacturer or if it was more or less (and by how much). Then we measured the length, width, and depth (height) of each bag and made the same comparison.
Next, we got packing. We ordered dozens of identical outfits and packed three pairs of pants (a mix of jeans and sweats), two coats (one fleece, one jacket), five shirts, two pairs of shoes, a full toiletry bag, and a coffee mug into each bag. Our testers answered questions including: How well does everything fit? Is there enough space to keep the clothes tidy, or do you really have to jam them in there? Can you zip it up easily? We also took careful notes of the organizational and structural features of each bag as we packed, looking for useful pockets, compartments, sleeves, and other features.
Then we walked around carrying each bag after it was packed, spending several minutes trying out each possible carrying method and noting comfort and ease levels.
Finally, with the bags fully packed and zipped closed, we pushed them off of a ladder several times each, trying to make them land on different parts of the bag each time. We examined them for scratches, marks, scuffs, etc., and we opened the interior to be sure everything held up. We then carried the bags around again to check for any changes or problems.
After this in-person testing process, we collected feedback from testers and analyzed their information to give each product a rating up to five stars to ensure we only recommend the highest quality products.
Other Duffel Bags We Liked
Some of the duffel bags we tested did not make our list of recommendations. They all had positive attributes, but a few things held them back.
The North Face Base Camp Medium Duffel Bag : This bag performed so-so on most of our tests, but a finicky zipper that kept getting stuck kept it off our winners list.
Tumi Double Expansion Travel Satchel : The bag looks good but it's a little too expensive for the very limited capacity.
Baboon to the Moon Go-Bag Big : While spacious, we found it awkward to carry for longer than a minute or two.
Carhartt Trade Series 2-in-1 Packable Duffle with Utility Pouch : It was fine overall, but the near-complete lack of organizational features meant it was not a standout.
Briggs & Riley Weekender Duffle : This straightforward bag has everything you need for a weekend trip. It’s not packed with features or fashion, but if you’re looking for a standard, no-fuss option, this duffel may be for you.
Herschel Bennett Duffle : With a special shoe compartment and a suite of pockets, this bag from Herschel is one of the most spacious duffels we tried. While we wish it had a dedicated laptop sleeve, we think it’s great for someone who’s looking for a large duffel bag.
Tips for Buying a Duffel Bag
Comfort is key.
If your duffel bag doesn't roll, then you will be carrying it, so you want to make sure it's comfortable to do so. Look for duffels that are lightweight and have padded straps, as well as different carrying options. Many duffels come with a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap so you can ensure your bag is the perfect length for you. Consider a convertible duffel with backpack straps if carrying by hand or perhaps a rolling duffel with wheels. A good goal may also be to find a bag under three pounds so it starts out lightweight and won't minimize the amount of items you can pack.
Know your organization needs
Some duffels are simply single compartments, some have dividers, some have lots of pockets. For business travel, look for bags with laptop sleeves and pouches for things like chargers, keys, and wallets. If you're more of the spur-of-the-moment roadtripping type, a simple one-compartment bag lets you throw all your belongings in with ease and without too much thinking. If you want to keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones or your shoes away from your shirts, look for a bag with interior dividers. It's a matter of personal choice; just be sure to pay attention to details about pockets, pouches, shoe bags, and other special features before making your purchase.
Look for durable materials
Whether your travels include packing for an Irish vacation or a hike to your local campground, you need a bag that will survive the journey. Bags made of materials like nylon, polyester, and most vinyls are likely to be waterproof, protecting your bag from the elements. Meanwhile canvas and leather bags may not be water-resistant, but the thick and durable materials should prevent against rips and tears.
It all depends on the size. There’s no hard-and-fast rule because duffel bag sizes widely vary. But as a general rule, if your duffel bag can fit beneath the seat in front of you, it’ll be considered a personal item. If it’s too big to fit underneath the site, you will then need to place it in the overhead bin, and it will be counted as a carry-on.
Yes, in almost all cases you can check a duffel bag. Just be sure to secure the straps and handles so they don’t get caught during processing. If you have a high-end duffel bag, just be careful as checked baggage is susceptible to rough handling during transit. And keep in mind that if the duffel bag does not have a lot of protective padding, your items inside may break, so be sure to keep any fragile or valuable items in your carry-on.
It’s best to pack your heavier items first so that they act as an anchor and keep your bag in position. Apparel such as shirts and pants should be rolled up in the shape of a cylinder to prevent wrinkling. Then you can store smaller items such as socks or accessories in the extra free space or in dedicated pockets.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this story, writer Joe Niehaus went through T+L testing feedback and data, read through customer reviews, and consulted the manufacturer’s product descriptions. Joe is also an experienced traveler, and recognizes common pain points when searching for travel baggage like duffel bags.
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COMMENTS
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