travel suitcase reviews

American Tourister

Briggs & riley, bric's, luggage faqs, the 11 best luggage brands of 2024, tested by experts.

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The best suitcases let you roll through the airport quickly and confidently, with assurance that your items are well-protected and sturdily organized within.

We selected our picks for the best luggage brands based on years of hands-on testing by several travel editors who regularly take up to 50 flights a year. Since the size of luggage you'll need will depend on your specific travel plans, we focused on the best brands rather than specific pieces. Our top picks are known for making sturdy and reliable luggage, with smart extras to make packing and traveling a breeze. 

Read on for our top choices for the best luggage brands at various price points to consider. If you're specifically looking for hand-luggage, check out our guide to the best carry-on bags . 

Our top picks for the best luggage brands

Shop all luggage at Samsonite

When it comes to value, Samsonite makes excellent luggage at some of the best prices, which is why we named it our top overall pick for the best carry-on . Samsonite offers numerous options for roller bags, including both hard-side and soft-side carry-ons and checked luggage, as well as wheeled underseat bags and even roller duffels. 

Samsonite also sells several two- and three-piece sets if you want to pair small, medium, and large roller bags together. In addition to traditional roller luggage, Samsonite also offers classic backpacks, wheeled backpacks, duffels, briefcases, wallets, dop kits, and more. There are even some cool wheeled garment bags that can fit under your seat and will fit far more than your typical folding or hanging garment bag. I've owned a Samsonite bag for over three years now and it's held up incredibly well.

You can read our full Samsonite Centric Carry-On review for more info.

Worth a look:

Shop all luggage at Away

Away has multiple options for roller luggage, including hard-sided, expandable, and aluminum. Bags are available in both neutral hues and bright, eye-catching colors.

Away's stand-out feature used to be the removable battery pack for charging your electronics on the go, which was previously available as an add-on to its carry-on bags. While the brand retired that feature, we still think its bags have thoughtful extras like in-bag compression, built-in TSA-approved locks, and a removable washable lining. 

In addition to roller bags, the brand also a range of other bags and travel accessories, including backpacks, duffels, pet carriers, totes, packing cubes, and more. I've personally owned Away luggage for years and can attest to its durability and practicality. 

Read our full Away luggage review and Away Carry-On review for more.

Shop all luggage at Travelpro

Travelpro mostly makes soft-side luggage and rightfully earned its spot as our top pick for the best soft-sided carry-on . I personally love the clear attention to detail that comes with a Travelpro bag, from the whisper-quiet spinner wheels to the tear-resistant material and sturdy buckles.

In addition to rolling luggage, Travelpro has options for underseat bags (rolling and not), toiletry bags, backpacks, foldable duffels, garment bags (which often come included with a carry-on), luggage tags, laptop bags, and more.

Read our full Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On review for more.

Shop all luggage at Monos

Monos is a newer start-up that doesn't have as many suitcase options as the other luggage brands on our list, but it's worth mentioning since it's one of the best suitcases on the market with a hard front pocket that gives you an easy place to safely store laptops and extras. Monos suitcases are durable, come in an array of colors, and are well-priced. Plus, all of the luggage comes with a 100-day trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. The same brand also makes some of our favorite durable packing cubes .

Currently, Monos has two sizes of carry-on that either come with a front pocket or not depending on your preferences, plus a medium-sized roller bag and a checked luggage option. Monos also make a backpack, duffel, and folio kit.

You can read our full Monos luggage review for more.

Shop all luggage at American Tourister

Many of American Tourister's carry-ons start under $100, and while they may not last you a lifetime, they certainly won't break down anytime soon either. The hard-sided bags are made from a sturdy ABS material, and the spinner wheels aren't quite as high-end as premium options but still easily roll on most surfaces. While these suitcases don't come with tons of extras (be aware that some don't come with built-in TSA locks), the interiors are still thoughtfully designed for easy packing. 

American Tourister has numerous roller bag options in varying sizes, including both hard-sided and soft-sided suitcases. There is also a line of Disney luggage that kids especially might love. While there are also some nice wheeled underseat bags, American Tourister hasn't branched out much from classic roller bags, so you'll want to look elsewhere if a duffel or weekender bag is more your aim.

Shop all luggage at Rimowa

When it comes to high-end luggage, Rimowa is a consistent standout that uses premium materials to create long-lasting and recognizable pieces. Its ribbed aluminum luggage, which comes in every color from simple silver to a cherry red, is particularly popular — though it will cost you upwards of $1,000. However, thanks to heavy-duty construction that still manages to be lightweight, the rollers might be worth it if budget isn't an issue for you.

For a slightly more cost-effective (though still pricey) option, I particularly love the Essential Lite collection, which I named the best high-end hard-side carry-on thanks to the fact that it's incredibly durable but weighs less than five pounds. Unfortunately, if you're a fan of soft-sided suitcases, Rimowa is not the brand for you, and there aren't as many accessories available as some other brands. 

Read our full Rimowa Essential Lite carry-on review .

Shop all luggage at Briggs & Riley

We named Briggs & Riley our top pick for the best high-end soft-side carry-on. I particularly like the super-smart interior features that truly elevate these suitcases, from a special CX compression-expansion system that increases packing capacity by 25%, to making sure the adjustable handle is entirely on the outside of the bag so no packing room is lost to the poles. These suitcases are certainly investment pieces, but they're built to last and also come with a lifetime warranty.

While I find the soft-sided bags to be some of Briggs & Riley's best options, there are also some nice hard-sided carry-ons and checked bags for those who prefer to go that route. In addition to roller bags, Briggs & Riley also makes backpacks, duffels, weekends, laptop bags, and travel accessories of all types, including packing cubes, bag ID tags, laundry bags, and more.

Shop all luggage at Bric's

Bric's is probably best known for its high-end Bellagio collection of luggage, both recognizable and revered for its durable, but ultra-light polycarbonate exterior with leather trim that gives it a nostalgic trunk feel. It's the little details that set this Italian brand apart, including Hinomoto wheels, matching interior linings, and premium zippers. That's why you've likely seen a luxury travel guru wheeling this bag through the airport, or, if you're an eagle-eyed "Schitt's Creek" fan, may have caught Alexis Rose using this collection to pack up her belongings. 

However, for those not ready to spend $600 on a carry-on, Bric's also has several more affordable suitcases in both hard-sided and soft-sided options. The Capri collection features striking exterior detailing in a wide range of colors at a mid-tier price point, while B/Y Zeus will appear to soft-sided fans.

The brand also has a sale section where you can sometimes score premium collections that typically start at $650 or more for under $200. 

Read our full Bric's Capri luggage review .     

Shop all luggage at Tumi

Like Rimowa, Tumi luggage pieces are an investment. But they're a worthy one since these suitcases will likely last you years, if not decades. With numerous options of all sizes for both hard-sided and soft-sided suitcases, Tumi has bags to suit just about all tastes. 

Its well-thought-out suitcases include premium spinner wheels, heavy-duty zippers, scratch- and tear-resistant exteriors, and well-designed interiors that help travelers maximize every last inch of space. In addition to roller luggage, Tumi is also well known for its premium totes and briefcases, and also makes travel wallets, backpacks, duffels, care kits, travel umbrellas, and more. 

Shop all luggage at Victorinox

Victorinox luggage falls in the mid- to high-tier of pricing but its durability makes it a good value choice. The brand also frequently has luggage on sale during big shopping holidays when you can score suitcases for less. As you might expect from a Swiss Army company, the interiors of most suitcases are also thoughtfully designed to maximize packing space. 

Victorinox offers both hard-sided and soft-sided roller bags of numerous sizes including classic carry-ons, checked bags, medium-sized suitcases, and smaller wheeled underseat bags that can fit laptops and accessories. Beyond roller bags, Victorinox also offers briefcases, duffels, backpacks, totes, toiletry kits, garment bags, and more.

Shop all luggage at Delsey

If you like the look of Bric's cream suitcases with leather trim, you may also want to consider Delsey's Chatelet line of hard-sided luggage. While these suitcases start around the same price as Bric's, they can be found on sale more frequently, often for half the price. Delsey's Titanium suitcases are also a fan-favorite option since they are ultra-lightweight but incredibly durable. 

Delsey has numerous options for roller bags for domestic and international travel in both hard-sided and soft-sided variations (though more hard-sided), as well as several luggage sets. It even has an eco-friendly line of laptop bags and duffels using recycled materials.  

Is hard-sided or soft-sided luggage better?

There are pros and cons to each. In general, hard-sided luggage offers more protection for your belongings than soft-sided luggage.

For checked bags, you're best bet is hard-sided luggage, since it can withstand tough handling and having other items stacked on top. Soft-sided luggage may be a good option if you want more flexibility, since fabric-made suitcases have a lot more give. Soft-sided pieces are a good option for carry-ons because they can flex and compress to fit into tight overhead bins.  

What size luggage should I buy?

We think it's best to start with a carry-on size, since it offers the most flexibility, whether you want to keep it in the cabin or check it. Most US airlines cap carry-on size at 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high, including handles and wheels.

When it comes to buying a checked bag, you'll want something between 25 and 29 inches long. Airlines typically charge a fixed fee for checked bags up to a certain weight, so it may be tempting to think a bigger suitcase is always better. However, bigger pieces of luggage come with more weight of their own, don't protect your items well when they're underpacked, and encourage overpacking, which can lead to higher baggage fees (or the dreaded airport floor repacking). 

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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The Best Carry-On Luggage

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

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. 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’ m a senior staff writer at Wirecutter, and ha ve been covering luggage and travel bag design here for about a decade. I’ve written guides to everything from packing cubes and checked luggage to duffle bags and underseat luggage .

For this guide, I’ve done the following over the years:

• I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags.
• I’ve 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.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards .
• In accordance with Wirecutter standards and to avoid any conflict of interest, I don’t own stock or have any other financial interest in a company or industry that I cover or am likely to cover.

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).

It’s sized to maximize your space, but you do have options. Officially, the Platinum Elite measures 23 by 13.5 by 9 inches. Some sharp-eyed readers will notice that these actual dimensions, which include the handle height, exceed the 22-inch height limit for carry-ons on most domestic airlines. In reality, any luggage manufacturer maximizing its overhead allowances will push handles into the gray area between a case’s stated dimensions and its true overall dimensions. Travelpro, if anything, is being more honest in reporting the bag’s true 23.5-inch height than many other brands. As you can see in the photo below, the Travelpro’s frame fits into the American Airlines baggage caddy located at check-in, as it does in most standard-size caddies.

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 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 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.

In total, the Platinum Elite 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  and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the bag within 120 days of purchase). The sole other company we’ve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose carry-on suitcases start at about $500. Travelpro has 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.

It’s important to note that the Platinum Elite’s warranty coverage is “better” than the standard Travelpro warranty (including the one offered on our other pick from Travelpro, the Maxlite ) and most forum discussions we’ve read covering the subject over the years seem to agree that Travelpro’s service was prompt and painless. Of course, it’s better if nothing breaks in the first place.

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.
• Some vegan readers may dislike the leather accents.

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. For the most part, our online searches looking for user experiences with Away’s warranty have turned up overwhelmingly positive results.

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.
• Crain’s New York Business reported last year that Away is possibly exploring “strategic options including a sale,” which may muddy the waters around the brand’s overall future somewhat.

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.
• Like our top pick, the Carl Friedrik uses real leather accents, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

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. In fact, it’s this organization that separates the Yeti from—and makes it better luggage than—other top contenders in the duffle category, specially the Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel . However, Patagonia has a lifetime (and legendary) warranty. So if longevity is your priority, the Patagonia is our next best pick.

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 an adventure duffle with a lifetime warranty, but not much organization: Try the Patagonia Black Hole Matte Wheeled Duffel 40L . While more duffle than suitcase, this bag is sized for carry-on, comes with Patagonia’s excellent lifetime warranty , and it’s well constructed. It’s made of 100% recycled fabric, which includes the TPU laminate. And the wheel axle is easily repaired by anyone in the field, assuming they have spare parts. However, it lacks the organization of the Yeti Crossroads , with its many different compartments and pockets.

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 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 are the first and almost only choice.

What about Rimowa? I admit that over the last decade I’ve hadmthe occasional perverse urge to see if a $1,500 carry-on suitcase is worth the price. Rimowa is famous for a few things. The company has made aluminum luggage for nearly 100 years, and it invented the polycarbonate suitcase in 2008. So it is true that in many ways Rimowa has set the standard in two separate centuries.

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.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller : We considered this is a possible alternative to our Yeti hybrid pick . 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.

Travelpro Versapack+ and Crew Luggage lines: Both the Versapack+ and Crew luggage designs are absolutely fine: Consider them slightly stripped down versions of our top pick, the Platinum Elite. However neither have the extra warranty coverage—including against airline damage—that comes with the Platinum Elite.

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.

Level8 Voyageur series : This model features an extra-wide handle, which looks striking but doesn’t seem to offer many advantages over a regular handle—at least for carry-on luggage. In larger checked bags, we did notice that the wide handle offered a little more leverage when handling a bigger bag, but it seemed to hinder us with a carry-on.

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.

Paravel Aviator Carry-On:  Paravel is attempting to design luggage with recycled materials and some transparency as 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).

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

The Best Luggage Tags

We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases.

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is our backpack pick for most travelers. We also have picks for other travelers, including those who want to carry a bit more.

We’ve Loved Luggage From Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Line for a Decade. Here’s Why.

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 .

The Absolute Best Carry-On Luggage of 2024

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Carry-ons are arguably the piece of luggage travelers pull out most often, whether it's the only bag coming on a long weekend trip or used in tandem with a checked suitcase . It also spends the most time with us in transit, which means the functionality is even more important: Are your belongings easy to get to if you need to retrieve something while waiting at your gate? Is there a space to stash whatever item you remember on your way out the door? These are a few of the things Traveler editors considered when sifting through the seemingly endless carry-on options on the market. We set out to find the best of the best—bags that are lightweight but still sturdy, have enough space to house clothes , shoes , toiletries , and accessories , and will hold up for many trips to come. After months of testing, these are the pieces we've deemed the best carry-on luggage of 2024.

How we tested

To help us recommend the absolute best luggage to our readers, more than a dozen Condé Nast Traveler editors and contributors spent months (and in some cases, years) road-testing the newest and best-selling bags from top travel brands. These bags accompanied us near and far on planes, trains, buses, and cruises, from local staycations and Hamptons getaways to the Paris Olympics and Marlon Brando’s private island in French Polynesia. We packed these bags to the brim, lifted them into overhead bins, rolled them down cobblestone streets, and inspected every bump and scuff they endured. We considered each bag's weight, capacity, functionality, price point, and how well it held up after several trips. We also identified smart design features that make a bag stand out from its competitors, like having weight indicators, separate shoe compartments, or ample pockets. After traveling with each bag, we carefully reviewed them, keeping the aforementioned criteria in mind to determine which ones are worth the cost and a spot in our Luggage Week lineup.

This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler' s second annual Luggage Week , for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors.

What size can a carry-on bag be?

It depends on which airline you're flying with, but typically, dimensions are limited to 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches high for domestic airlines (Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines adhere to these figures; American Airlines allows for an extra inch of height, while and Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines's max is 24" x 16" x 10" and Spirit Airlines's allotment is 22" x 18" x 10"). Some airlines provide a single number; dimensions must add up to that number or below to be considered compliant.

International airlines tend to have slightly different size requirements; 21.5" x 15.5" x 9" is typical, but here are some exact specifications by airline:

• Air Canada: 21.5" x 15.5" x 9"
• Air France: 21.6" x 13.7" x 9.8"
• British Airways: 22" x 18" x 10"
• Emirates: 21.6" x 15" x 8.6"
• Lufthansa: 21.6" x 15.7" x 9"
• Qatar Airways: 20" x 15" x 10"
• Singapore Airlines: 45 total inches

What can’t I take in my carry-on?

Liquids over 3.4 ounces (100mL) are not allowed in your carry-on. Additionally, firearms and other potentially hazardous items are prohibited. Check TSA's website for specific items you may have questions about.

Are carry-on bags free?

Again, it depends on which you're flying with and what kind of ticket you purchase. These airlines offer one free carry-on (and one personal item), regardless of what level ticket you bought:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines

While these airlines offer one free carry-on (and one personal item) to all travelers except those who purchased a base fare:

• United Airlines

Top recommendations:

• Best overall carry-on: Paravel The Aviator Carry-On
• Best lightweight carry-on: July Carry-On Light
• Best budget carry-on: Béis The Carry-On Roller
• Best soft-side carry-on: TravelPro Crew Carry-On
• Best expandable carry-on: Monos Expandable Carry-On

Hard-shell carry-ons

Soft-sided carry-ons.

The Béis Carry-On Roller in beige, and MZ Wallace's Metro Tote Deluxe in black

Weight: 8.2 lb. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" Capacity: 43.7L Expandable: No

Luggage brand Paravel has built a dedicated following thanks to its retro Wes Anderson–style designs and use of sustainable materials. The Aviator Carry-On is no different: Available in shades like Scout Tan, Safari Green, and Scuba Navy, it has a recycled polycarbonate shell, recycled zippers, and an interior lining made from 15 upcycled plastic water bottles. It's a favorite of associate articles director Megan Spurrell : “This is one of two carry-on roller bags I have used regularly for nearly three years—we’ve traveled everywhere from Lisbon to Mexico City to Los Angeles together.” Spurrell has used it for weeklong trips, and notes that it's still in good shape after years of use: “It has definitely gotten scratched up from being thrown into the hull of planes (I have checked it before, even though it’s carry-on), but it has held up well otherwise—there are no cracks in the shell, zipper issues despite how much I have stuffed it, nor sticky wheels.” The one minor flaw: The top handle placement is a bit counterintuitive, placed on the side of the suitcase further from your body.

Pros: Glides smoothly even when fully packed, unique look and feel Cons: No external phone charger included, could use an interior pocket along the length of the bag

Weight:  7.8 lb. Dimensions: 22" × 14" × 11  Capacity: 53L Expandable : Yes

Before Monos launched its expandable collection this summer, commerce editor Meaghan Kenny's most-used, most beloved carry-on was the brand’s original carry-on . And while it got top marks for its durability, smooth wheels, and interior organization, her one qualm was that it wasn't expandable. “I overpack my suitcase every time, whether I’m traveling for two weeks or two days, so that extra wiggle room means a lot to me.” When an expandable version launched this summer, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on it. Since then, it's come with her on a few weekend trips, including a four-day girls trip to Montauk in which she packed four daytime outfits, a few sundresses for dinners, a few bathing suits, cover-ups, sandals, and heels. Inside, there is a zippered compartment with a large mesh section that lets you keep some items separated; this comes in handy on the way back from your trip if you want to separate dirty clothes or liquid products. The other side of the suitcase features a built-in, removable compression pad with a zippered pocket for flat items. “The compression pad really helps keeps items secure, and flattens them so I can fit even more clothing.” At $305, it’s reasonably priced—especially when considering its expandability, durability, and sleek look, Kenny says. “I’ve tried out much more expensive carry-ons that quickly become scuffed up after one trip. This carry-on is sturdy enough to handle some wear and tear and offers lots of internal organization, making it well worth the price point for me.”

Pros:  TSA-approved lock, expandable, compression pad, dent-resistant Cons: Not the lightest carry-on I’ve ever used; bulky to lift when expanded

Weight: 8.36 lbs. Dimensions : 23" x 16" x 10" Capacity: 49–61L Expandable: Yes

With a pretty, ribbed design and thoughtful features like a cushioned silicone grip on the handle, you wouldn't guess this is one of the most affordable suitcases on our list. It's been tested by commerce writer Paris Wilson , who used it to pack for her and her boyfriend on a weeklong trip to the Florida Keys; with the help of the expandable zipper, it fit at least 14 outfits as well as four pairs of shoes and two purses. The wheels have stood up to bumpy roads—“We live in downtown Manhattan where cobblestone streets are a staple and we still managed to make it to the subway without any hangups”—and the included pouches come in handy for dirty clothes or even souvenirs. “I’m tempted to buy the remaining luggage to create a set; I would recommend this to anyone who's interested in building their luggage collection but might not know where to start.”

Pros: Comfortable handle, fairly easy to clean Cons: Although the beige color is incredibly pretty, it gets dirty very quickly; I would recommend a darker color

Weight: 7.9 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 9.5" Capacity: 47.9L Expandable: No

Tested by editorial assistant Jessica Chapel , who has taken it on a flight to New Mexico, a bus ride to New Jersey, and in cars on weekend trips from New York, Away's Bigger Carry-On is one of the lighter bags on the list at under eight pounds. Compared to her previous suitcase, “It does wonders. Prior to this luggage I often traveled with a checked bag. I can fit almost as much in this suitcase, and it's way more practical—and feels more swift, given the 360-degree wheels.” This bestseller comes with a laundry bag and features interior compression straps that helps you fit extra clothing.

Pros: Durable wheels, easy to lift, compression straps Cons: Because of its size, it may be checked on smaller planes or flagged to be checked on planes at full capacity

Weight:  8.6 lb. Capacity: 40L Dimensions: 22" x 15" x 9.5" Expandable: No

“This suitcase is absolutely gorgeous,” says associate editor Matt Ortile . “The Carl Friedrik tagline really means it: You walk around with this dashing thing, rolling along the way, whether in Montmartre or Union Station, and you fully carry it and yourself with confidence.” Ortile has brought it to Saudi Arabia, Portofino, Washington DC, and Paris (twice). “I am a serial overpacker and this has me covered for anywhere from two days to five days max,” Ortile says. “I think it will be good for much lighter packers , covering them for an average of a week, especially if you’re traveling with just this and a personal item.” The biggest reason to get this trunk-style suitcase: the way it rolls. “It moves beautifully, smoothly rolling over hard floors and carpet alike.” Also, it's so sturdy, it's basically a chair. “I sit on it whenever I’m waiting in line at the airport and I don’t worry about it caving in or collapsing,” he says. Really, though, it's the kind of suitcase made for a luxury traveler. “It's the kind of bag that will look right at home as the valets at a five-star hotel load it into your Uber Black; someone who doesn’t have to worry about the weight because they’re flying business or first class.”

Pros:  Incredibly good-looking and sturdy; moves on all terrain like a dream Cons: Heavy

Weight: 3.9 lb. Dimensions: 21" x 14" × 7.5" Capacity: 32L Expandable: No

July calls this the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world , and it is the lightest we've tested here at Traveler at just under four pounds when empty. Research director Alexandra Sanidad has brought it on planes to Phoenix, Arizona, and Portland, Oregon, and on an Amtrak to Woodstock, New York; she says “it's very cute and fits nicely in tight spaces,” and is a “good price for a sturdy, colorful, functional suitcase.” As for what it fits, light packers can fit a week’s worth of clothing in here; if you’re bringing multiple day and night outfits, plan for a weekend’s worth.

Pros: I enjoy the ease with which you can move this piece of luggage around; it feels very zippy Cons: The telescopic handle sometimes sticks

Weight: 8.1 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 10.3" Capacity: 47L Expandable: No

This Arlo Skye zipper-front suitcase has gone on many trips with Spurrell —she alternates between this and the Paravel carry-on, and this one has been to Peru, upstate New York, and Montauk: “I take it as a carry-on for most flights—from weekend trips to weeklong getaways—because it’s surprisingly roomy, with an organized front pocket that I can easily stow essentials like my laptop, book, and magazines in.” Sleek yet durable, it comes with a removable charger (boasting both USB C and USB A ports), two shoe bags, a laundry bag, and a cotton storage cover. The aesthetics are a plus, too: “I love the design of this bag—it feels like a reliable, sleek rolling bag, with design you’ll never get tired of.”

Pros: The front zipper is such a plus, with lots of sections for organizing Cons: The color range isn’t huge—I wish they alternated in more shades

Weight: 6.3 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 14.5" x 9.5" Capacity: 46L Expandable: Yes

Recommended by associate social media manager Kayla Brock , this expandable carry-on has a mesh zip compartment and zip-lock compartments inside, which make organizing clothes, accessories, and toiletries easy. She has brought it to North Dakota, Europe, New York, Zanzibar, Seattle, Jamaica, Chicago, Colorado, and the Cayman Islands, packing for as long as three weeks with it (though in winter time, it's better suited for weekend trips). “Although it originally looks like my clothes wouldn’t fit (I’m guilty of overpacking), the suitcase closed with ease,” Brock says. In the year-plus that she's been using it, it has gotten some scuffs and discoloration on certain parts of the body, and the zippers have bent a little; however, Brock still strongly recommends it: “Out of all the suitcases I have this is my absolute favorite and without a doubt the one that I take with me on a trip.”

Pros: Lightweight and fits a lot of clothing and shoes Cons: Hard to lift when heavy; hard to clean/get scuffs out

Calpak's Hue carry-on in the lobby of The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

Weight: 7.6 lb. Dimensions: 21" x 14" x 9" Capacity: 39L Expandable : Yes

“This is the first hard-shell carry-on I’ve used, and I've really enjoyed it,” says destinations editorial assistant Kat Chen . “My loyalty to the soft-sided bag came from the belief that I needed flexible and expandable luggage, but the Hue hard-shell is that and more, with its added bonus of being easier to dust off and endure more wear and tear.” On trips to Massachusetts and Tennessee, she's found it easy to maneuver and lift into overhead compartments, which Chen says she “sometimes struggles with as a shorter person.” The interior of the bag is pretty standard—“This is a bag that isn’t trying to do anything new—it's just mastering the basics,” Chen says—with a couple of mesh zips in front of a bigger pocket that opens into one half of the luggage shell. “On my last trip, I added some extra clothing items to pad my devices in this pocket, and it really lightened my backpack’s usual load.” Colors range from straight-out-of-a-crayon-box shades to deeper gem tones, Chen says. “The glossiness of the shell and its beveled corners remind me of an ice pop.”

Pros: Lightweight, spacious for its size, easy-to-use TSA-approved lock, expandable Cons: No padded pocket for devices

Weight:  7.74 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 10" Capacity: 44L Expandable: No

“This bag looks so good and is so easy to use that I may be officially converted from a stringent duffel backpack proponent to wheeled-suitcase lover,” says associate editor Hannah Towey . She brought the suitcase on a trip to Paris for the Olympics , as well as on several train rides between NYC and Connecticut. “For how sturdy the suitcase is, it’s incredibly lightweight, with a gorgeous Vermilion interior with dual compartments, compression cross straps, a zippered divider, and a mesh pocket for storing your delicates.” On her trip to Paris, she was able to fit a week’s worth of clothing and three pairs of shoes (loafers, sandals, and kitten heels). It's exceptionally easy to both carry and wheel, she says. “These wheels have survived the potholes and cracks of New York City sidewalks and effortlessly glide across the terminal floor,” Towey says. “As a New Yorker who lives in a six-floor walkup, I almost always prefer a carry-on duffel bag with backpack straps because rolling a suitcase up and down the stairs and over the sidewalk, then down to the subway is a major pain. But with two handle options (one on the top and one on the side), carrying this lightweight carry-on was much less arduous—and saved my back the strain.

Pros:  Perfect balance of luxury aesthetics and functionality Cons: The shell did get a small dent after I checked it on a flight

Weight:  6.8 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 16" x 11.5" Capacity: 57L Expandable : Yes

“The Quince Expandable Carry-On may be my new favorite carry-on,” Brock says. “I love the beautiful tan color, but the best part is how smoothly it rolls.” While testing it out, she took the suitcase on a two-and-a-half-week domestic trip, fitting all the clothes she needed, including a few pairs of shoes. “I had plenty of room in the two mesh pockets for smaller items even with it full, and the suitcase was lightweight and easy to carry and place in the overhead bins.” It did get scratched fairly easily, so if that'll bother you, opt for one of the darker colors, rather than the tan hue shown above. For those who prefer to travel a little lighter, Chapel recommends the non-expandable carry-on from Quince, too.

Pros:  Expandable, comes with a laundry bag and compression panels Cons: Just four color options

Weight:  6.4 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 10" Expandable : Yes

Among the lighter suitcases on this list, the Samsonite Outline Pro carry-on is easy to lift when needed, associate social media manager Emily Adler says. She brought it on two road trips this summer, and appreciated how nicely it rolled when full. She's experienced no scratches or issues with the hardware so far, and counts the eco-conscious Recyclex fabric, TSA-approved lock, and extra inch of space when expanded as standout features. There aren't a ton of bells and whistles here, but if you're looking for a good solid workhorse for weekend trips, it's “very sturdy, well-made, and gets the job done well,” Adler says. “It’s not the most stylish piece of luggage, but it is definitely practical.”

Pros:  Rolls nicely, easy to use, no tricky features Cons: Not the most aesthetically pleasing luggage for someone who is more fashion-forward

Weight: 6.53 lb. Dimensions: 21.5" x 15" x 9.5" Expandable: Yes

This hard-shell carry-on with spinner wheels and a built-in TSA lock has racked up rave reviews on Amazon, like this one: “It fit an odd amount of stuff in it. It's like a clown car. It has compartments and zippers that keep things separate and organized. It holds up well and is really good looking. It's absolutely worth every penny. I'm purchasing more for the rest of the family.” Kenny agrees, calling it an overpacker's dream bag. The hardside spinner comes in black, navy, bright blue, and orange.

Pros: Budget-friendly, very lightweight Cons: Since its design is pretty plain, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing suitcase on our list

TravelPro's color options range from basic black to this gorgeous elemental blue

Weight: 10 lb.  Dimensions: 20" x 14" x 7.9" Capacity: 37-48L Expandable: Yes

Senior features editor Rebecca Misner calls this suitcase “a professional travelers” dream carry-on: very sturdy, and full of bells and whistles that actually make packing easier.” Briggs & Riley's signature expansion system allows travelers to press a button and pull up on a lever in the main compartment to expand the suitcase sides vertically. “Once you’re packed and zipped, you just push down on the exterior sides to compress.” Other notable features include mesh interior pockets, a built-in garment folder with a foam roll bar that keeps clothes from wrinkling, and unassuming SpeedThu pocket pockets on the exterior made to fit a passport and boarding pass—with a bright orange lining that signals when the pocket is open (meaning your important docs are at risk).

Pros: Built-in garment folder, interior compression system, exterior pockets Cons: Doesn't roll as easily when full

Weight:  7.17 lb. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" Capacity: 37L Expandable: No

Visuals editor Andrea Edelman has taken this versatile suitcase to and from New York City on three separate occasions. She appreciates how light it is on its own, and the separate mesh compartments inside that help keep your things organized. It is best sized for three to five days' worth of clothing, with an exterior half-size compartment to holds accessories or small items (though, unfortunately, not a laptop). “So far I have not had any scratches or issues and the material seems very durable,” Edelman says. “The best part about this bag is how smooth the wheels are—it is so easy to wheel around an airport.” It's also easy to pick up, thanks to a discreet side handle.

Pros:  Smooth-gliding wheels Cons: Outer pocket doesn't fit a laptop

Weight:  9.2 lb. Dimensions: 23" x 16" x 9" Capacity: 43L Expandable: Yes

Away may be best known for its hard-shell bags , but the brand has recently stepped over to the soft side. Senior destinations editor Shannon McMahon put the new Softside Bigger Carry-On to the test on two plane trips and one road trip, saying the soft-sided suitcase held up well. “I’d recommend this for a long weekend’s worth of clothes as a rule of thumb,” she says. “I depended on it for some spring weather layers on a weeklong trip to the Pacific Northwest and got by thanks to its expandability—but because of the weight of the bag itself, it can get heavy fast.” The zippers open and close smoothly, and the wheels are just as effortless. “Its 360-degree wheels swivel and roll seamlessly, and the interior pocket that compresses everything down keeps it from getting front-heavy and toppling over, even with a laptop in the front cushioned sleeve,” she says.

Pros:  Style, compartments, stability, and add-ons like the portable charger Cons: Overall weight, non-waterproof outer

Weight:  6.8 lb. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" Capacity: 38L Expandable: Yes

Sanidad has brought this suitcase on a trip to the Bahamas and two trips to upstate New York , and says of its size, “there’s ample room to pack options for shorter trips.” Of the construction: “One side has a mesh zippered compartment for flatter items, and the other part is a deep section for clothes,” she says. “It also comes with a removable flap-like organizer with two zippered pouches for storing smaller things like toiletries and rolls of socks.” She describes it as a bag that's “suitable for anyone who wants a sturdy, thoughtful piece of luggage for short trips,” and particularly liked the removable interior flap that can be used to store smaller items and keep them in their own separate space.

Pros:  Expandable; durable enough to check Cons: Only comes in three “traditional” colors; tends to roll away on its own

Weight: 6.14 lb. Dimensions: 12" x 14" x 22" Capacity: 38L Expandable: No

Adventure travelers looking for a new soft-sided suitcase will appreciate Cotopaxi's Allpa 38L Roller Bag. I brought this suitcase on a weeklong trip to Panama earlier this summer, and it fit easily into airplane overhead bins (even on a small inter-country flight), Ubers, and a shuttle bus. I was able to fit eight days' worth of clothes inside, though to be fair, since it was warm climate, I mostly packed smaller, lightweight pieces like sundresses, shorts, and tank tops. For colder climate, I think it’d be best for three- or four-day trips. The only downside to it was its two wheels—I've gotten used to four-wheel bags, and of placing my backpack or tote bag over the handle while moving through the airport. Since you have to roll this one at an angle, it gets a bit difficult if you try to put something on top. Something I loved: The outside compression straps are great shrinking down the width of the bag.

Pros: Water-resistant exterior; durable; great for adventure travel Cons: Only has two wheels

Weight:  6.5 lb. Dimensions: 21" x 14" x 9" Capacity: 37L Expandable: No

Wilson brought this bag on two separate weekend trips to Maine this summer, and recommends it as a great option for college students starting to build out their luggage set. The fabric is thick, durable, and made of recycled materials, and the interior is simple, with one large compartment with a mesh pocket inside the top flap. It's on the smaller end of carry-ons featured, with room for a weekend's worth of clothes and one pair of shoes, so it's best suited to light packers. It's also super easy to roll, even with just the two wheels, and easy to pick up thanks to the soft but sturdy handles.

Pros:  Durable fabric, easy to store at home Cons: Only one main compartment for clothes; on the smaller side

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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The best check-in suitcases for your next getaway, tried and tested

Lighten the load with these tried-and-tested travel heroes from antler, samsonite and more, article bookmarked.

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Need some new luggage for your travels ? We’ve rounded up the best suitcases with clever features that will enable you to pack pretty much everything except the kitchen sink.

With a growing number of airlines imposing increasingly strict regulations when it comes to luggage , the good news is suitcase brands are here to help, with some ingenious designs and features.

For every traveller who wants to test the limits of their luggage allowance, there are others who have mastered the art of packing light and simply want a practical suitcase without any bells and whistles, so, we’ve included a range of different options in our line-up. If you’re a fan of the aforementioned bells and whistles, you won’t be disappointed, either.

There are (slightly) fewer restrictions relating to checked baggage than there are to cabin bags , but bear in mind budget airlines in the UK will almost always charge to check in your suitcase. Easyjet, for example, charges a minimum of £6.99 for a suitcase weighing up to 15kg (the price depends on the flight booked), while Ryanair charges between £11.99 and £29.99 for a checked bag weighing up to 10kg.

Larger airlines are generally less restrictive. The allowance for economy passengers flying with British Airways is one item with a maximum weight of 23kg, while Singapore Airlines’ allowances are famously generous – even if you’re travelling on lite (the cheapest category) you’ll be allowed a suitcase with a weight of up to 25kg.

Whichever airline you’re travelling with, keep reading to discover the best suitcases for your trip.

Best cabin bags for travel in 2024, from small suitcases to overnight backpacks

16 best travel backpacks, tried and tested during hiking holidays and city breaks

14 best packing cubes to keep your suitcase organised when travelling in 2024

12 best weekend bags that are stylish yet practical

How we tested the best suitcases

Our tester is a travel writer, so, they had plenty of opportunities to put a wide range of suitcases through their paces, paying particular attention to the elements that are often the first to fail. Extra points were awarded to suitcases with additional reinforcement around the wheels, as this can be the first area to suffer damage as bags are chucked from trolleys to carousels.

As well as taking the suitcases on various trips, our tester spent hours playing around with different features, road-testing everything from compression panels to expansion zips. Long story short, you can rest assured these suitcases are the very best – which means all you need to worry about is enjoying your holiday.

The best suitcases for 2024 are:

• Best suitcase overall – Antler soft stripe cabin suitcase: £170, Antler.co.uk
• Best budget suitcase – Tripp new world ice blue cabin suitcase: £39.50, Amazon.co.uk
• Best lightweight suitcase – Samsonite C-LITE spinner: £389, Samsonite.co.uk
• Best check-in suitcase – Carl Friedrik the check in: £495, Carlfriedrik.com
• Best suitcase for kids – Micro Scooter suitcase and light-up wheels: £109.95, Micro-scooters.co.uk

Antler soft stripe cabin suitcase

• Best : Suitcase overall
• Size : 55cm x 35cm x 20cm
• Weight : 1.9kg
• Plenty of room
• Great internal design

This suitcase does it all – it’s got a low weight but still has the added extras that are often skipped by brands trying to create feather-light luggage. There’s a large padded pocket on the front, surprisingly sturdy wheels and thick fabric (bonus points for the use of recycled polyester), which feels as though it can easily survive its fair share of knocks and scrapes.

Inside, there’s just one main compartment, which has cross straps to keep contents in place. Although, a much thinner pocket has been built in to the suitcase’s lid – a zippered mesh cover makes this ideal for documents. We loved how this pocket was accessible from the exterior, too. Meanwhile, the small flap-style pocket on the inside of the main compartment was perfect for smaller items such as keys.

Tripp new world ice blue cabin suitcase

• Best : Budget suitcase
• Size : 55cm x 37cm x 21cm
• Weight : 2.5kg
• Gets the basics right

Tripp’s cheap and cheerful suitcases do what they say on the tin – they come in a range of sizes, have a simple design that makes access easy, and (most importantly) they cost next to nothing. This isn’t the most hi-tech suitcase (although, we were grateful to see the Transportation Security Administration-approved locks) but the lack of bells and whistles – there’s just one handle, for example – is partly what helps keep the weight down, and this is a brand that gets the basics spot-on. The telescopic handle, for example, slides out incredibly smoothly. This particular case has a clamshell opening with a mesh zippered cover on one side and X-shaped compression straps on the other – more than enough to keep all our essentials in order.

Victorinox Spectra 3.0 expandable large case

• Best : Hard-sided suitcase
• Size : 75cm x 32cm x 51cm
• Weight : 6.8kg
• Lightweight

We’re constantly flabbergasted by brands that churn out cases that come with sky-high price tags but are basic at best. Victorinox’s offering might be one of the pricier cases (although, trust us, it’s by no means the most expensive) but it’s worth every single penny.

There’s nothing we don’t love about this suitcase’s wonderfully innovative design, whether it’s the lightweight material (something known as sorplas – a recycled polycarbonate), the extendable luggage tag with a built-in pen and SIM card tool, or the way in which the expansion zips are clearly marked as such, which meant no more fumbling around with the wrong zip.

Like a growing number of suitcases, it’s expandable (in this case, by a supersized 20 per cent) but what sets this one apart is the side straps, which help maintain the case’s rigidity when expanded. Oh, and did we mention the raised Victorinox logo on the side contains a hidden pair of tweezers?

Aerolite large lightweight hard shell luggage suitcase

• Best : Supersized suitcase
• Size : 79 x 58 x 31cm
• Weight : 4.85kg
• It’s supersized

Aerolite is an appropriate name for this brand – its suitcases are surprisingly light and incredibly manoeuvrable. The ease with which the handle slides in and out makes wrestling it onto luggage belts a breeze, and the top handle’s slimline profile means it’s easy to hook backpacks over it, minimising the risk of back ache.

There’s no TSA-approved lock although we’re perfectly happy with the alternative – a three-digital combination lock which secures the zips together (at this point we’ll flag that we’ve never had our luggage searched by the TSA, which is why we’re firm believers that TSA-approved locks aren’t the be all and end all).

Samsonite C-LITE spinner

• Best : Lightweight suitcase
• Size : 55cm x 40cm x 20cm
• Weight : 2.1kg
• Tough and flexible material

This four-wheeled spinner suitcase is incredibly light, thanks to the use of woven polypropylene, which is tough but flexible – as we’re prone to cramming more than we should into our suitcases, we appreciated the extra give. Plus, when expanded, there’s an additional 3cm of space. We also loved the design of the interior – one side has a zippered opaque cover, while the other has elasticated straps. These (like many similar straps) form the shape of a cross, but we loved the buckle-free catch – the straps simply hook around a central plastic disc.

We made full use of the internal power bank pocket, too. All too often, the lightest suitcases are the sparsest, but Samsonite has proved that reducing weight doesn’t have to mean skimping on essentials.

Kipling spontaneous S

• Best : Suitcase for easy storage
• Size : 33cm x 53cm x 21cm
• Weight : 2.8kg
• Plenty of pockets

This might not be the lightest of cabin suitcases but it feels reassuringly sturdy (the main materials are recycled polyamide and polyester) and it has plenty of pockets – we found the large padded one on the interior of the case’s lid particularly suitable for electronics and documents.

On the inside, there are two similarly sized compartments – one covered by compression straps while the other is open-access. The smaller cases in the range are designed to fit inside the largest ones, minimising the amount of space they take up when not in use.

Katie Loxton Oxford cabin case

• Best : For seriously sophisticated travellers
• Size : 53cm x 39cm x 21cm
• Weight : 2.23kg
• Sophisticated design

There’s a reassuring sturdiness to this vegan-leather suitcase (particularly its sidewalls), which can be personalised – either with a personalised luggage tag or with embroidered initials on the exterior. There’s not an abundance of features but everything feels top quality – even the extendable handle, which has plenty of cushioning, making it a joy to grip.

The suitcase, which is made with animal-friendly PU (polyurethane leather) comprises one main compartment, while the brand’s top-quality approach extends to the X-shaped compression straps – the ones on this particular suitcase have a wonderful stretchiness, which kept our items in place while making the most of the space available.

Carl Friedrik the check in

• Best : Check-in suitcase
• Size : 65cm x 44.5cm x 27cm
• Weight : 4.5kg
• Ultra-smooth spinner wheels
• Two TSA-approved locks

For a check-in suitcase, we found this surprisingly portable, thanks to smooth-rolling wheels paired with top and side handles, which made it easy to heave on and off luggage belts. Everything about this case feels top-quality, whether it’s the ultra-soft leather handles or the presence of not one but two TSA-approved locks.

The killer combo of lightweight aluminium and polycarbonate made this a breeze to roll across a particularly crowded Heathrow airport (with minimum noise, thanks to the ultra-silent wheels designed by Japanese brand Hinomoto). On the inside, both sides of the case have compression straps – one side has a zippered cover, too. One aspect that sets this case apart is the lack of zips – it seals shut using two lockable clamps, which feel incredibly secure.

HB personalised suitcase

• Best : Personalised suitcase
• Size : 56cm x 36cm x 23cm
• Weight : 3.4kg
• Great range of designs

There’s a reason the UK’s most popular influencers are regularly spotted wheeling this suitcase through airports. This is thanks to the personalisation options and the range of designs – there are dozens to choose from, spanning everything from on-trend marbleised styles to images of hearts, rainbows and florals. We opted for a small cabin bag with a blue camouflage design bearing our initials in black, and we loved the result.

The range of sizes is also impressive – choose from business (the smallest), kids’ size (slightly larger), small, medium or large. The bag came with all the essentials, including a TSA-approved lock, a two-stage extendable handle and an easily accessible side handle. Studs on the side allowed us to rest it on the ground without worrying about unintentional damage, and there’s extra reinforcement around the wheels, too.

Marks and Spencer Oslo 4 wheel hard shell large suitcase

• Best : Large suitcase
• Size : 77cm x 50cm x 27.5cm
• Weight : 3.8kg
• Reinforced zip
• Plenty of pockets on interior dividers

Trust Marks and Spencer to come through with a sturdy, lightweight suitcase that doesn’t disappoint. This suitcase isn’t about extra bells and whistles, it’s about simply doing everything well, whether it’s the tactile top and side handles, the ultra-smooth three-stage extendable handle or raised side studs that offer protection when the case is placed on the ground.

The interior is designed with easy organisation in mind – one half is covered with a zippered panel with a built-in pocket, while the other side has a mesh panel with two built-in pockets. We appreciated the reassurance provided by the reinforced exterior zip, too – who isn’t prone to a bit of overpacking, after all?

IT Luggage legion extra large

• Size : 85cm x 61cm x 34cm
• Weight : 5.76kg
• Relatively low price tag

This suitcase means business – upon clapping eyes on this, a friend’s first comment was: “It looks large enough to fit a human.” What’s more, its exterior has clearly been designed to cope with the full-capacity weight of this bag – side and top handles make lugging it onto luggage belts a breeze, and we were able to minimise the risk of bumps and scrapes by resting it on the four raised points on one side of the case.

Inside, it’s relatively simple – one half has a zippered mesh cover with three built-in pockets, while the other features cross straps. For seasoned over-packers, this colossus is a dream come true.

Marvel wavebreaker, 67cm

• Best : Suitcase for teens
• Size : 67cm x 47cm x 26cm
• Weight : 3.6kg
• Spiderman theme on interior and exterior

Yes, we’ve described this as being a brilliant suitcase for teens (which it is) but it’s also perfectly suited to grown-up Marvel fans. Spidey doesn’t just adorn the outside of this case – we love the way the interior lining is covered with various Marvel-related images, although a special shout-out has to go to the fabulous zipper pull on the interior cover – it’s in the shape of Spiderman’s head.

The interior is simple but well-designed – one half has an opaque cover, while the other has X-shaped compression straps. A TSA-approved lock and premium spinner wheels ramp up the quality, and the use of ABS (a type of plastic) keeps the weight low.

The verdict: Suitcases

Antler’s roomy soft stripe cabin suitcase was rugged, spacious and tactile, while Tripp’s suitcase is proof that you don’t need to offload all your cash (which, let’s face it, is better spent on holidays) on a decent suitcase. Finally, most people don’t even know that Victorinox do suitcases, but this legendary brand’s top quality, fantastically innovative offering is proof that its expertise applies to much, much more than Swiss army knives.

Now your suitcase is sorted, our guide to the best packing cubes will help keep your belongings organised

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The 14 best luggage brands of 2024.

These brands offer suitcases and travel gear with standout features and proven reliability.

The Best Luggage Brands

Courtesy of Travelpro

While you can't control everything on your journeys, embarking with the right luggage for your type of adventure certainly makes things go more smoothly. But with the variety of brands, styles and types of bags available, making a choice on what to purchase can feel overwhelming.

To make it easier to find your perfect travel companion, U.S. News compiled this list of the best luggage brands for carry-ons, checked luggage, weekender bags, backpacks and more. Based on testing by our editors and consumer reviews, these brands are consistent traveler favorites.

The Top Luggage Brands for 2024

Best overall: travelpro.

• Jump to features and expert insights ↓

Best Hard-sided: Away

Best soft-sided: samsonite, best lightweight: july, best customizable: roam, best for organization: solgaard, best for fashionable function: béis, best affordable: amazon basics, best for international travel: delsey paris, best for business travel: tumi.

• Best Expandable: Briggs & Riley

Best Luxury: Carl Friedrik

Best for style: calpak, best for minimalists: monos.

(Note: Styles, return policies and warranty information were accurate at the time this article was published; they may fluctuate due to supply chain issues, retailer policies and other factors.)

Price range: $130 to $695 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Lifetime limited

Founded by a commercial airline pilot, Travelpro invented the Original Rollaboard – a two-wheeled upright suitcase with an extendable handle. For more than 30 years, this brand has continued to bring innovation to its entire collection of luggage, which includes carry-on bags, rollaboards, totes and checked suitcases – as well as accessories like packing cubes , luggage tags and toiletry bags .

Travelpro has become a perennial favorite among airline crew members worldwide, with employees from more than 90 airlines using Travelpro luggage, according to the brand's website. Combining durability and functionality with elements like exterior organizational pockets, the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner (one of U.S. News' top carry-on luggage picks) is popular with travelers, who say they appreciate the spinner wheels and extendable handle for easy maneuverability through airports.

What our editors say:

I'm a big fan of the Travelpro Maxlite Air Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner . I purchased the suitcase in 2022 and have used it for multiple trips. It is incredibly light, fits an impressive amount of clothing and is easy to maneuver with super smooth spinner wheels that you can pull or push. The textured, wavy design also makes it less likely to see scratches or scuffs, and the slate blue version I got (Ensign Blue) is a color that's easy to pick out off the luggage belt. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor

Courtesy of Away

Price range: $295 to $745 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Limited; ranges from 1-year to lifetime

Designed for travelers by travelers, Away is an online retailer that offers suitcases, bags and accessories. Created to make journeys easier and inspire more travel, Away suitcases are constructed with high-performing and lightweight materials, with a focus on intentional and functional details that matter, like double buckle compression pads and color-matched leather luggage tags. The Carry-On is highly rated by travelers and was chosen as the best hard-sided carry-on by the editors at U.S. News.

I always recommend Away luggage to fellow travelers. The Carry-On has been with me on countless trips over the past few years, and it's still in great shape. For checked luggage, The Medium is my go-to because it's big without being bulky and holds plenty for a long trip. You don't need anything larger or more expensive than this. – Amanda Norcross, Content and SEO Strategist

Read: The Best Hard-Sided Luggage

Courtesy of Samsonite

Price range: $63 to $1,150 Return policy: 90 days Warranty: Limited; ranges from 3-year to lifetime

Offering a range of travel bags, luggage and accessories for business and leisure travelers, Samsonite has been a leading luggage brand for more than 100 years. Samsonite is known for focusing on durability and innovative design, and today's travelers can find a range of hard- and soft-sided luggage along with a variety of travel accessories.

I love traveling with Samsonite's SoLyte DLX Carry-On Spinner . I'm a big fan of soft-sided luggage in general, and this suitcase feels particularly well made and durable. I've found it to be more spacious than it looks, even when I don't use the expansion zipper. The brand's organizational features are my favorite part — especially the wet pocket and the buckle system that keeps the tie-down straps out of my way when packing. – Catriona Kendall, Editor

Courtesy of July

Price range: $245 to $595 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Lifetime limited

Inspired to create well-built luggage that combines form and function, July has hard-sided luggage as well as a range of totes and bags. Constructed using aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, the suitcases feature an eggshell design to optimize function and durability. There are anodized aluminum bumpers on the corners of the suitcases (except for the light designs), and the brand offers expandable and trunk luggage as well.

For travelers seeking lightweight options, the July Carry-on Light is the U.S. News pick for best lightweight carry-on. In addition to suitcases, July makes a variety of bags, including the Carry All Weekender Plus with a clamshell design for easy packing as well as the machine-washable Everyday Large Tote .

I am extremely impressed by the quality and craftsmanship of July luggage and bags. The Carry-on Light is truly lightweight, and the construction exceeds any of the other lightweight designs I've tried. I also appreciate that the cotton canvas Everyday Totes are machine-washable (and they fold up to save space when you're not traveling). – Rachael Hood, Senior Editor

Price range: $550 to $695 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Lifetime limited

Created with an emphasis on the journey, each piece of Roam luggage is hand-finished in the U.S. From the front and back colors to the zippers and the wheel color, purchasers can choose from a variety of options to create a custom hard-sided carry-on or checked bag. The interiors of the luggage include compression panels with mesh pocket insets, and there are expandable designs.

The quality construction, customization and attention to detail make this brand a good option for those seeking unique and personalized luggage. In addition to suitcases, the brand offers customizable backpacks, duffels and tote bags, including the Everyday Tote .

The extremely smooth wheels and the option to choose the colors of every aspect of the carry-on or checked suitcase really sets ROAM luggage apart from other brands. I also love the multiple zippered compartments in the Everyday Tote, which can be customized to coordinate with a ROAM suitcase. – Rachael Hood

Courtesy of Solgaard

Price range: $265 to $375 Return policy: 30 days Warranty: Lifetime

Launched in 2016 with the Lifepack – a solar-powered anti-theft laptop bag with Bluetooth speakers – Solgaard has revolutionized luggage with its innovative approach to bag and suitcase design. In 2017, the brand launched its award-winning Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original , the U.S. News winner for best overall carry-on for 2024. This piece became a traveler favorite for its patented built-in shelves, which eliminate the need to unpack while traveling yet keep clothes and essentials in place. The brand continues to add to its offerings with checked luggage, weekender bags and backpacks outfitted with Solgaard's built-in closet system.

The quality construction combined with a sleek external aesthetic really makes Solgaard luggage stand out from the crowd. The closet system truly is a game changer, and the ergonomic handle is extremely comfortable and easy to maneuver, even on long travel days. – Rachael Hood

Courtesy of BÉIS

Price range: $218 to $348 Return policy: 45 days Warranty: Lifetime limited

Inspired by her own travels, actress Shay Mitchell started BÉIS to make travel bags and accessories that are both fashionable and functional at attractive prices. BÉIS'  The Weekender  is U.S. News'  top weekender bag  pick, and the brand offers fashion-forward hard-sided luggage sets, backpacks, duffels and travel accessories. Travelers can choose to pair luggage like  The Carry-On Roller  with coordinating bags and totes for a chic coordinated look.

BEIS is worthy of all the hype it gets. I'm impressed with the overall quality and design of the luggage, and The Weekender is my go-to bag for short trips. − Amanda Norcross

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Price range: $36 to $150 Return policy: 30 days Warranty: 1-year limited

This brand of luggage by Amazon is designed to offer exceptional value. Amazon Basics luggage options include hard- and soft-sided rolling luggage and underseat bags. What's more, Amazon Basics sells a variety of travel accessories, including packing cubes, waist and neck wallets, and toiletry bags.

I love how budget-friendly and durable the Amazon Basics brand is. I have both the 20-inch Hardside Spinner and the Expandable Softside Spinner carry-on bags. If you need a cheap, lasting carry-on, you can't go wrong with one of these pieces of carry-on luggage – both are less than $100. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these shipped straight to your house within one to two days. – Erin Evans

Courtesy of DELSEY PARIS

Price range: $100 to $545 Return policy: 30 days Warranty: Limited; ranges from 2-year to lifetime

Founded in 1946, DELSEY PARIS began creating suitcases for travelers after the postwar birth of tourism. Combining French elegance and style with quality construction, this 75-years-and-counting heritage brand produces iconic luggage styles like the Chatelet collection in carry-on and checked sizes. Owners of the Chatelet luggage like the vintage-inspired styling and ease of use. In addition to luggage that combines fashion and function, the brand continuously adds travel must-haves like duffel bags , backpacks , weekender bags and more.

DELSEY makes some quality, good-looking luggage. The DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero International Carry-On is one of my go-to pieces. The bag's interior is spacious and has many different compartments for organization, and the double-spinner wheels make sure it easily glides across various surfaces. – Erin Evans

Courtesy of TUMI

Price range: $518 to $4,500 Return policy: Items must be unused and returned in original packaging Warranty: 5-year limited

TUMI is an iconic international brand offering high-end luggage, bags and a variety of travel accessories, including passport holders, toiletry bags, portfolios and eyewear. The brand focuses on high performance and quality materials in its luggage offerings. Along with luggage, other TUMI travel products and accessories include wallets, travel purses and luggage tags.

I really appreciate the feel and quality of TUMI's nylon travel bags and purses. My go-to crossbody for trips is from the Voyageur collection that I've had for several years. The sleek black nylon construction with gold hardware looks like the day I got it, and the style can be dressed up or dressed down depending on my needs. When I need additional room, I toss the Just In Case Tote in my carry-on – I packed an Irish sweater and wool throw, along with several other finds on my trip to Ireland! – Rachael Hood

Best Expandable: Briggs & Riley

Courtesy of Briggs & Riley

Price range: $419 to $1,049 Return policy: 30 days Warranty: Lifetime

Focused on creating innovative luggage and bags to make the journey easier, Briggs & Riley is a high-quality luggage brand with a lifetime warranty. The brand's "simple as that" exclusive guarantee covers all repairs and functional damage to Briggs & Riley luggage with no receipt needed or questions asked.

By learning from customer feedback and research, Briggs & Riley offers luggage and travel gear with innovative features like CX Expansion, which allows you to expand your bag to pack and then compress it to fit the carry-on into the plane's overhead compartment. The unique technology landed the Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-On Expandable Spinner on the U.S. News' best carry-on luggage list in the category of best expandability.

There's a reason Briggs & Riley luggage doesn't come cheap. In terms of overall quality and features – expandability, in particular – it's the best luggage I've ever tested. – Amanda Norcross

Courtesy of Carl Friedrik

Price range: $495 to $745 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Lifetime

Based in London, Carl Friedrik was founded in 2013 by two brothers. Blending functionality with high-quality construction and premium materials, the brand offers luggage, wallets, bags and travel essentials. Carl Friedrik products are designed for durability and practicality, then constructed with time-honored methods and bespoke finishings. Take The Carry-on as an example, with its polycarbonate hard-shell exterior and Italian leather accents. In addition to luggage, the brand has an extensive collection of fine leather briefcases , weekender bags, backpacks and more.

I love the refined elegance and craftsmanship of Carl Friedrik luggage and travel goods. There are smart and functional details throughout each piece, and the feel of the materials is sleek and sophisticated. – Rachael Hood

Courtesy of CALPAK

Price range: $165 to $275 Return policy: 30 days Warranty: Limited; ranges from 1- to 5-year

California Pack, which started as a handbag and wallet company in Los Angeles in 1989, evolved into CALPAK – a top-selling luggage and accessories brand. Designed to be both functional and affordable, CALPAK is a destination for hard- and soft-sided suitcases, the iconic Luka Duffel , packable tote bags, and a variety of accessories. Selected by U.S. News as the top underseat option , the CALPAK Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On has a laptop sleeve, a front pocket and a luggage trolley strap.

When I'm packing for a short trip, CALPAK's Mini Carry-ons are my go-to. I always pack a tech organizer, and the Luka Duffel and Luka Mini Backpack are perfect for traveling or running around town. – Rachael Hood

Courtesy of Monos

Price range: $255 to $455 Return policy: 100 days Warranty: Lifetime

Valuing simplicity with an emphasis on sustainability , Monos luggage and travel bags are created to be timeless. The brand's premium suitcases like the Carry-On are constructed with lightweight, aerospace-grade German Makrolon polycarbonate to withstand the demands of travel. There are a variety of nylon and vegan leather bags and accessories, including the Metro Duffel and the Metro Backpack , with a unique modular system where kits can be removed or changed depending on travel needs.

The durability and sleek styling of Monos luggage are incredible. I appreciate the focus on sustainability, and I find the brand's modular system to really be a standout feature. – Rachael Hood

Read: Monos vs. Away: Luggage Comparison Charts

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Rachael Hood is a senior travel editor with a passion for luggage. Always shopping for luggage and testing different suitcases for various needs, she rarely checks a bag. Having traveled the world with top finds from CALPAK, TUMI and ROAM, she used her traveling experience along with her retail merchandising background to curate this list of the top luggage brands.

You might also be interested in:

• Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline
• What to Pack in a Carry-on Bag
• The Top Luggage Sets
• The Top Travel Accessories, Chosen by Our Editors
• The Best International Travel Insurance

Tags: Travel , Travel Gear

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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 aluminum
• Best for overpackers
• Best soft-side

Whether I’m running frantically toward the gate or strolling through security at a more leisurely pace, my trusty spinner suitcase makes travel so much easier. It’s helpful for keeping me organized once I arrive at my destination, too. Unlike most backpacks or duffels, the best rolling luggage has storage compartments, sturdy handles, and plenty of space. There’s something so pleasing about packing your items neatly before a trip, especially if your suit case has built-in compression storage.

To find rolling luggage for every kind of traveler, fellow Strategist travel writer Rachael Griffiths and I tested a dozen or so different pieces, from stretchy nylon cases with warranties that last a lifetime to bash-resistant plastic luggage. We tended to prefer hard-side cases over a soft-side, and especially those with the aforementioned compression dividers, which allow for a bit of overpacking. While some pieces may cost more than others, we’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. While you’re here, you may want to check out my guides to the best  Dopp kits  and the best  refillable toiletry bottles . And here’s an explainer on what counts as a personal item .

Update on August 30, 2024:  Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

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 most 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.

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: From 7.4 pounds  

If you’re after a relatively affordable suitcase that doesn’t have to be babied on cobbled streets and will survive being dragged up several flights of stairs, I’m not sure you can do much better than Away. The brand’s sturdy spinner wheels can truly take a battering, and they’ll also glide joyfully across flat surfaces when given the opportunity. I’ve been testing the Bigger Carry-on, which has a 50-liter capacity yet still fits in most overhead bins, over the past couple of months. Griffiths, who lives in Europe (where airline luggage requirements are much stingier), tested the original, smaller size and was surprised by how much she could fit into it. All of the brand’s rolling-luggage pieces feature the same qualities essential to a modern suitcase and come highly praised by travel experts. Stephanie Be from travelbreak.net and Buena calls out the “TSA-approved lock, 360-degree wheels, tough hardware, and sleek design.” Kelly Farber , founder of KF Literary Scouting, took only the larger size on a three-week, seven-city business trip, and says, “That thing just would not quit.”

Best less expensive polycarbonate rolling luggage

Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime | Weight: From 6.2 pounds

Quince , the five-year-old start-up that seems to make a little bit of everything, recently added rolling luggage to its growing inventory . I’ve been testing out the brand’s carry-on-size suitcase as well as its larger, checked one, both made from the same durable polycarbonate that Away uses. In terms of weight and feel, Quince’s affordable suitcases are surprisingly similar to Away’s in particular. When I nudged an Away Bigger Carry-on and Quince Carry-on across my apartment floor side by side, their wheels carried them about the same distance, and their retractable handles are almost identical in form and function. Both brands use YKK zippers and TSA-approved combination locks. Inside, the compression compartments and removable laundry bag are also essentially the same. And Quince recently introduced a limited lifetime warranty on its suitcases that offers protection against defects like broken handles and zippers — mimicking Away’s famous replacement guarantee.

Best less-expensive ABS rolling luggage

Hard-shell vs. soft-side: ABS hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited warranty | Weight: 7.3 pounds

This Amazon Basics case is made from the less durable plastic ABS, but it’s still one of Griffiths’s favorites. “In my experience, it’s rare to find a case that costs under $100 that can compete with more expensive brands,” she says. “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 is excellent; more than ten experts we spoke with recommended the brand, but its extravagant price prevents it from taking the top spot on this list. If you do have the money to spare, it comes in 11 colors and two finishes and works like a dream. Owners especially 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 , says. 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 also pointed out 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 lasts for only two.

Best rolling luggage for budget airlines

Hard-shell vs. soft-side: ABS hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: One-year limited | Weight: 6 pounds

I first learned about this teeny-tiny rolling case when researching the best personal-item-size luggage . It came recommended by Jasmine Anderson and Natasha Wilson , travel agents and co-hosts of the podcast  Travel Fly Sexy , as well as packing expert  Lauren Kelly . They all praise its snap-off spinner wheels that can slide miraculously into the cruelest of budget-airline baggage-sizers. (“Frontier lately is charging people for wheels and handles sticking out of the sizers,” says Kelly. “That means $100 extra for each leg of the trip.”) Measuring 18 by 14 by eight inches, the suitcase’s rectangular shape maximizes space and allows you to use packing cubes: “I have put a laptop and a week’s worth of clothes in the Take Off,” says Anderson. Kelly agrees that “it will give you the most packing space if your goal is a weeklong trip where you pack a personal item only.” The suitcase comes with a small bag to put its wheels in while your bag is being sized by airline staff; you can also just stash them in your pockets.

Best customizable rolling luggage

Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Polycarbonate hard-shell | Wheels: 360-degree spinner wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 7.9 pounds

Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell calls July 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.

Best soft-side rolling luggage

Hard-shell vs. soft-side: Nylon soft-side | Wheels: Encased wheels | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty | Weight: 9.6 pounds

I’ve recently been testing Travelpro’s new VersaPack+ suitcase, which is more aesthetically pleasing than some of the brand’s other durable but rather utilitarian-looking luggage pieces.   It has additional design features too: Each suitcase comes equipped with an internal compression packing cube system, two shoe bags, and a laundry bag.   There’s also a completely waterproof compartment for toiletries. I like that this suitcase is fully equipped for adventure and that you don’t need to purchase additional  packing cubes  to complete your system.   I’m also very impressed by the sturdy metal telescoping handle and smooth spinner wheels, which also happen to match the exterior fabric color. This is a nice touch that makes the suitcase look much more elevated.   Travelpro is a brand that’s used and recommended by flight crews around the world because its products last a long time and can also be easily repaired. I feel really confident that mine will last me a long, long time.

Additional reporting by Rachael Griffiths .

Some more rolling luggage we’ve written about

Our experts

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9 great suitcases worth the checked-bag fee

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

We're clearly going places now. But choosing which suitcase you're going to purchase for an upcoming trip remains no easy task.

Whether you're a road warrior who hasn't stopped moving or your luggage game could simply use an upgrade after the great pandemic pause, you'll want to make sure you do some research before sliding your credit card. And as eager as we all are to get back out there in the world, it's worth taking the time to read reviews and comparison shop before settling on your next suitcase.

Since this is a bag that will be stored under the plane and tossed on luggage carts, sturdiness is key. Your bag is going to be thrown around quite a bit, so you'll want to make sure it's up to the task.

You'll also want a suitcase with plenty of compartments and organizational components. You're likely packing for more than just a few days if you're checking a bag, so it's important that all your items can fit neatly inside.

But be sure to have some fun with this purchase, too! Your suitcase is an expression of your personality, so you'll want to get one that you feel matches your travel style and goals (luckily, there's a color and style for that).

Related: What your luggage brand says about you

Before you finalize your order though, do yourself a favor and check out our guides to airline shopping portals as well as the best credit cards for online shopping . That way, the gear you're buying for your next trip is helping you actually get there, too.

Our favorite suitcases right now:

Arlo skye the frame check-in, monos check-in large, delsey paris, clavel collection, 30" spinner, travelpro platinum elite 25" expandable spinner, briggs & riley sympatico large expandable spinner, samsonite winfield 2 hardside luggage, rimowa original check-in, nomatic check-in, away the large.

Why we love it: Arlo Skye was founded by Tumi and Louis Vuitton alums, so you know it's going to be good. It's sleek and stylish, complete with an aluminum frame and an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell. Our favorite feature, though, might be the two TSA-approved clasp locks that keep your belongings safe and secure, all without a zipper. Just be sure to remember your combination.

The details: 26.6 inches by 17.7 inches by 11.0 inches and weighs 10.5 pounds

Pricing: Arlo Skye bags are only available on their website — The Frame Check-in sells for $495.

Related: Luggage review: Arlo Skye The Check-In

Why we love it: Not only does the Monos Check-In Large come in ten different colors and patterns, but it has plenty of room to pack every essential for the whole family and has an ultra-sturdy telescopic handle that makes it a cinch to push and pull. It's so tough to decide which is or favorite feature, but it might just be that ergonomically designed handle and those whisper-quiet wheels that make you feel like you're on a catwalk in the airport. Monos is also the only Certified Neutral travel brand, so you can feel like you're doing a good travel deed, too, purchasing one of these babies.

The details: Mono's largest suitcase measures 30 inches by 21 inches by 11 inches, and weighs only 10.58 pounds

Pricing: Monos luggage is only available on the Monos website, and the Check-In Large starts at $367 (on sale now for a limited time for $330). Get 15 percent off luggage essentials like packing cubes and a protective luggage cover with every suitcase purchase.

Why we love it: DELSEY PARIS' CLAVEL collection is the lightest and brightest assortment of luggage the brand has touted yet. The company pioneered the use of polypropylene in luggage manufacturing — a material known for its resilience to heat, wear and tear. And the CLAVEL collection keeps things ultra-airy and spacious, with nine color options, too, and three sizes to choose from (we say go large). Unique features include the patented zip SECURITECH® technology that's far more durable than a conventional zipper and the bag's expandable main compartment that allows for maximum packing flexibility. We love the two separate packing compartments with tie-down straps, shoe pockets and a mesh divider to keep all your belongings in place while on the move.

The details: The CLAVEL collection 30" spinner measures 32.5 inches by 21.5 inches by 31.25 inches and weighs just 9.8 pounds.

Why we love it: Travelpro bags are beloved by road warriors near and far — seriously, just ask the next flight attendant you see. Travelpro makes a number of different designs, but we have a soft spot for the Platinum Elite (and not only because of its lifetime warranty against airline damage and fun color options like Bordeaux and Coastal Blue). The eight self-aligning spinner wheels roll like butter and you can easily pack two weeks' worth of wardrobe essentials and then some inside.

The details: The Travelpro Platinum Elite 25" Expandable Spinner measures 25 inches by 18 inches by 11.25 inches, and weighs 9.8 pounds, extra light considering all you can cram inside.

Why we love it: Part of the sleek, resilient, tech-friendly Sympatico collection, the Large Expandable Spinner is the bag for the traveler who can't bear to leave anything behind. The Makrolon® polycarbonate case is extremely durable, built to protect contents and stay scratch-and-scuff-free. The brand's innovative CX® compression-expansion system allows you to expand the bag for 25 percent more space — and then compress it back down to its original size. Additionally, Briggs & Riley's simple as that® guarantee means if the bag is ever broken or damaged, the company repairs it free of charge (no proof of purchase needed, no questions asked).

The details: The Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner measures 30 inches by 20 inches by 12 inches and weighs 13.5 pounds.

Why we love it: We have a feeling you're going to love this bag so much, you might feel a twinge of guilt after you leave it with the check-in agent. This four-wheeled spinner has a polycarbonate shell that makes it extremely durable. It also expands as needed, if you just have to stuff that extra sweater or pair of shoes in. If that's the case, the full-zip interior divider and organization pockets will really come in handy. The bag comes with a limited 10-year warranty and is available in a slew of shiny colors that include charcoal, deep blue, orange, purple, arctic pink and brushed carbon color, among others.

The details: 31 inches by 20 inches by 12.75 inches, and weighs just over 11 pounds.

Why we love it: This list wouldn't be complete without a mention of Rimowa. It's a cult favorite for a reason — well, a few reasons. Its design is iconic, yes, but this four-wheeled suitcase is also designed to withstand trip after trip. There's no zipper on this bag, either; just two TSA-approved locks to keep your belongings in check, as well as a height-adjustable flex-divider inside. If you do encounter bumps in the road, though, you're entitled to a five-year guarantee as well as hotel repairs at participating properties around the world (yes, really).

The details: 26 inches by 17.8 inches by 9.5 inches and just shy of 12 pounds.

Pricing: Such accolades don't come cheap. Expect to drop $1,270 to put one of these in your travel closet.

Related: Your guide to the Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue credit

Why we love it: This isn't your standard check-in bag. This four-wheeled suitcase uses a magnetic compression system and full-perimeter expansion to keep your items secured and extremely organized. It has silent Hinomoto wheels, TSA-locking YKK zippers and a sleek, yet unusual design. It's virtually indestructible, too — just see what happens when you throw something at it. Go on, try it out.

The details: The Nomatic Check-in bag measures 29 inches by 18.5 inches by 9 inches, and weighs 12.3 pounds, making it one of the heavier suitcases on the list.

Related: Say goodbye to checked bag fees with our 7 favorite travel backpacks

Why we love it: You just can't go wrong with an Away bag . It's designed with frequent travelers in mind — with two compartments to house clothes and harder belongings, like shoes — and can withstand even your most rigorous trips, with its sturdy polycarbonate shell. As an added bonus, if you also have one of Away's carry-on suitcases, you can easily stow it inside the suitcase when you're not traveling, freeing up some storage space at home. Away bags also come in every possible color you could dream up — everything from classic black and white to light pink, brick red and deep hunter green. There are also a handful of limited edition colors and schemes, like the retro ski "Chalet" collection and an asphalt-colored suitcase with a mint-green zipper created in collaboration with the American Express® Green Card. Get them while you can. (These may no longer be available so be sure to check the Away site).

The details: Away's largest suitcase measures 29 inches by 20.5 inches by 12.5 inches and weighs 11.6 pounds.

Pricing: You can only buy Away's bags online , and The Large sells for $375.

The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Keep calm and carry on: Our 13 favorite travel carry-ons

Frequently Asked Questions

How to select the best checked luggage.

Since your checked luggage will likely get thrown around and banged up quite a bit, durability is key here. You'll want to make sure it's large enough to hold all of your belongings but not too large that you can't comfortably wheel it around the airport with you.

You'll also want to choose a suitcase that fits your travel style. If you're planning on more adventurous, rugged trips, you might be better off with a duffel. If you're staying in a luxury hotel with white-glove service, you won't mind leaving your luxury suitcase with a bellhop.

As you've seen here, suitcases can vary greatly in price. Keep in mind your budget as well as your personal style to find your perfect match.

Benefits of traveling with a checked bag

While many people love traveling with carry-ons due to their efficiency and ease, there's something to be said for checked bags, too.

They really come in handy for longer trips, especially ones where you're traveling for an extended period of time or require clothes and accessories for more than one type of trip. Checked bags allow you more flexibility, and not just in terms of the clothing you pack — you won't have to abide by TSA's 3-1-1 liquid rule , either.

But many airlines will charge you for checking a bag , so be sure to keep that in mind. Arm yourself with one of these credit cards to help avoid paying pesky fees for your suitcase.

Additional reporting by Terry Ward.

The Best Checked Luggage of 2024, Tested by Experts

Spacious, durable and easy-to-maneuver suitcases for checking.

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 you identify as an over-packer (like me!), a larger suitcase from one of the best luggage brands is the key to bringing everything you'll need and more while you travel . Plus, you won't have to lug it through security, worry about gate-checking it on a packed flight or hoist it into an overhead bin. If you're concerned about losing your bag once it's out of your hands, try one of our expert-approved luggage trackers to pinpoint its location.

With so many luggage brands to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which suitcases are worth it, especially since bigger bags can cost bigger bucks. That's why, at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we test luggage for all types of travel. In recent years, we've evaluated more than 100 suitcases, testing them in our Lab and sending them to consumer testers who take them on real trips to test for durability, appearance and performance properties.

Our top picks:

• Best Overall: Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Spinner
• Best Value: Amazon Basics 30-Inch Hardside Spinner
• Most Popular: Away The Large
• Best for Minimalists: Monos Check-In Large
• Best for Business Travel: Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Spinner

Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Spinner

After more than fifteen years of evaluating Samsonite luggage, its bags continue to stand out in our Textiles Lab tests. This style in particular is one of our favorite models, thanks to its l ightweight design and easy-to-use features . At 9.6 pounds, it's one of the lightest suitcases we tested, but it's still durable. In our drop tests, the hardside polypropylene material performed well without major dents or damages.

It's a favorite of our consumer testers who say the suitcase has smooth rolling wheels that make it easy to maneuver around corners and turns. When I evaluated the suitcase in the Lab, I was impressed by the sturdy telescopic handle that locks into place at different heights for comfortable pushing and pulling. Our testers said the carrying handles felt a little tight, but they still thought the bag was easy to pick up.

The suitcase has a butterfly opening and unzips into two primary packing compartments: one with a stretch compression strap for flexible security and one with a zippered panel to keep all of your belongings in place. You'll also find a smaller zippered pocket for additional storage. We were able to fit our entire packing load in the suitcase with room to spare. For even more room to bring home souvenirs on your vacation, the checked bag can be expanded by almost another inch.

Weight: 9.6 lbs | Listed dimensions: 13.78" x 20.95" x 31.1" | Material: Hardside polypropylene | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

Amazon Basics 30-Inch Hardside Spinner

With more than 46 ,000 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.5 stars , this hardside spinner suitcase from Amazon Basics is solid evidence that you don't need to break the bank to buy a quality piece of luggage.

In addition to impressing tens of thousands of online reviewers, this collection of bags also wowed us and our consumer testers. The suitcase is made with ABS plastic, which isn't as durable as polycarbonate material, but it helps keep the cost low (and it's usually on sale). Plus, it performed well in our durability assessments, showing some marks in our scratch test but resisting major dents and damage in our drop test.

When our testers rolled the carry-on model through our obstacle course setup, they loved the smooth-rolling wheels, and one tester said the bag was "very easy to move." However, they shared that the telescopic handle felt notably less sturdy than other suitcases they tested. Packing it was a breeze, thanks to its spacious interior with a large zippered compartment, smaller pockets to help with organization and a compression strap to secure your things. You can even expand the bag for extra packing space.

Weight: 12.2 lbs | Listed dimensions: 30.7" x 12" x 20.47" | Material: Hardside ABS | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

Away The Large

After conducting tests for our Away luggage review , we have to say that the trendy bags are worth investing in.

Its hard-shell polycarbonate material proved to be durable in our tests, but it's still lighter than even some of the soft fabric suitcases we reviewed . When we repeatedly dropped the carry-on model from our drop tester, there was no noticeable damage. It even aced our scratch tests with minimal scuffs. The bag unzips into two roomy compartments. One side closes with a zipper, and the other features compression straps that made the packing process simple in our evaluations. Our consumer testers said the telescopic handles could feel sturdier, but they gave the handle high scores for comfort, and they loved the smooth wheels.

The bag comes with a genuine leather luggage tag to help you identify your suitcase and a removable laundry bag to stash your dirty clothes. It's currently available in six on-trend colors including the featured red, navy, cloud gray and sea green. There's even an option to customize your bag with your initials for an added fee. Away offers a generous 100-day trial period, so you can gently test it out at home and return or exchange it if you decide it's not for you.

Weight: 12.1 lbs | Listed dimensions: 29" x 20.5" x 12.5" | Material: Hardside polycarbonate | Expandable: No | Returns: Within 100 days, unused

Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Spinner

Travelpro was founded by a pilot who wanted to create luggage for frequent fliers who are rough on their bags, so the brand's suitcases are perfect for regular business travel.

This luxe softside bag comes in six traditional colors like rich espresso brown and Bordeaux red, and although some of our testers said the style was a bit old-fashioned, I appreciate the bag's sophisticated design elements, like chrome zippers and genuine leather carrying handles and trim . Other impressive features include a removable garment bag that's ideal for storing a work suit or dress, a TSA-compliant toiletry bag and plenty of internal and external pockets for organization, as well as a 2-inch zippered expansion that's tapered to help prevent your bag from becoming top-heavy and tipping over.

When we evaluated the carry-on model, the nylon fabric proved durable in our abrasion tests, resisting wear. In other tests, it showed no major signs of damage after being dropped repeatedly, and the zippers were water-resistant, keeping the contents inside the bag nice and dry. During our packing test, we could fit our standard load and had plenty of room to spare. Our testers said the cushioned telescopic handle had great grip. Even better, the bag's double spinner wheels are self-aligning to help you roll smoothly through the airport.

Weight: 11.5 lbs | Listed dimensions: 32.5" x 21" x 13.25" | Material: Softside nylon | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

Monos Check-In Large

Ideal for someone who prefers a sleeker, more minimalist aesthetic, this checked bag from popular luggage brand Monos wowed both GH analysts and our consumer testers during our evaluations.

The durable polycarbonate luggage follows the brand's "less is more" design philosophy, but it isn't lacking in space or organization . We rated it highly for being easy to pack, with a roomy interior that's divided into two compartments: One is zipper-enclosed and the other has an adjustable compression panel to keep contents secure. Plus, there are three spacious mesh zippered pockets for additional organization, and you'll also receive a laundry bag and two shoe bags.

When testers rolled the suitcase through our obstacle course, they were wowed by how easy it was to maneuver and how smoothly the spinner wheels rolled. "I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this bag was to travel with," shared one tester who took the bag on a trip. "I didn't have to roll it behind me; I could roll it next to me." In our durability assessments, the suitcase managed to hold up to repeated drops without suffering major dents, but the shell did show some marks and scuffs in our scratch test. The brand sends an "eco-friendly eraser sponge" to clean more stubborn marks.

Monos also offers a 100-day trial period, which means you can test the bag at home for up to 100 days before committing.

Weight: 10.6 lbs | Listed dimensions: 30" x 21" x 11" | Material: Hardside polycarbonate | Expandable: No | Returns: Within 100 days, unused

Delsey Paris Helium DLX Softside Expandable Checked Large

Weighing in at just 10.2 pounds, this checked bag from Delsey is one of our lightest picks, but just because the bag is light doesn't mean it isn't durable or spacious.

In our durability tests, the carry-on model held up well to repeated dropping without major dents or damages, and the polyester-and-nylon-blend material withstood rubbing from our abrasion machine. During consumer evaluations, our testers said the bag wasn't as easy to maneuver as others they tried, but they gave it good scores overall during use and rated the handle highly for feeling comfortable and sturdy.

The suitcase we evaluated aced our packing tests, receiving perfect scores for being easy to fill and for holding our standard load of belongings for a long trip. We did have some difficulty opening and closing the zippers while packing the carry-on-size bag, and I personally find Delsey's zippers to be stubborn, but our testers appreciated all of the zippered compartments for organization, with one sharing, "I love the pockets." The suitcase unzips into one large opening, complete with compression straps to secure your belongings, a large mesh zippered pocket and a removable bifold toiletry bag.

Plus, there are two outer pockets, and the suitcase can be expanded by up to 2 inches for more room. The inner lining is fully removable, which makes it simple to clean, since you can just take it out and throw it in the washing machine.

Weight: 10.2 lbs | Listed dimensions: 32.75" x 20" x 13.5" | Material: Softside polyester-and-nylon blend | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

Briggs & Riley Baseline Extra Large Expandable Spinner

What sets this bag from Briggs & Riley apart is its innovative design that simplifies packing for longer trips .

When you unzip the bag, it exposes one large, lined compartment to store your belongings and two mesh zippered pockets for smaller items and accessories. Hidden inside the lid of the suitcase is a built-in trifold garment folder with a hook for hangers that's perfect for storing formal attire. Our testers who tried a smaller model of this bag were impressed by how much they could fit inside, sharing that there was way more space than they expected. Plus, a unique push-button expansion system allows you to easily expand the bag for extra packing space and then compress it down to its standard size once it's been filled.

For a softside bag, it's on the heavier side, weighing 15.6 pounds, but it's made with high-quality materials and is reinforced at the corners to protect your valuables. When I put the nylon material to the test with our abrasion machine, I was impressed that it showed no major signs of wear or scratches. It was the top performer in our most recent round of drop testing; I found no major dents or damage after loading it into our drop tester and releasing it repeatedly. Our testers said the bag was easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and rated the telescopic handle as sturdy too.

Weight: 15.6 lbs | Listed dimensions: 31" x 22" x 13.8" | Material: Softside nylon | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

Calpak Ambeur Large Luggage

A favorite of our testers, Calpak's Ambeur collection of luggage is the ideal combination of fashion and function . It's available in four trendy metallics: silver, gold, black and rose gold, along with a limited copper color. This high-quality checked bag is made of polycarbonate and ABS composite material that's lightweight and held up well to repeated drops in our tests. It did show some signs of wear in our scratch test, but that's common with ABS composites.

When our testers rolled the carry-on model through our obstacle course, they were happy with its easy-to-use telescopic handle, with one describing it as "the smoothest handle by far," compared to other luggage being tested. Other testers said the padded handles were comfy to hold and easy to steer and lift with.

The interior of the bag is also impressive, and I find it easy to pack full of everything I need for a two-week trip. Inside, there are two large areas for storing larger belongings, complete with a compression strap and a zippered panel, as well as two additional zippered pockets and a handy removable toiletries bag. You can even expand the spacious bag by 2 inches to bring souvenirs back with you on your trip home, but there's so much packing space already that you may not even need the extra room.

Weight: 11.75 lbs | Listed dimensions: 30" x 19" x 12" | Material: Hardside polycarbonate and ABS composite | Expandable: Yes | Returns: Within 30 days, unused

How we test luggage

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we regularly test all kinds of luggage — including larger checked luggage — with our specialized Lab equipment and by setting up obstacle courses for testers to navigate . We also share our luggage with consumer testers who try the bags on their own trips. Here's how we evaluate checked bags and other luggage:

✔️ Size and weight : We've found that listed specs for luggage aren't always accurate, so we weigh each piece of luggage while it's empty. Then we measure the luggage to see if it complies with dimension restrictions put in place by most U.S. airlines.

✔️ Ease of use : We rate how easy it is to zip and unzip (pictured) and consider the accessibility of the packing compartments.

We also evaluate important features like the telescopic handle and the wheels. After packing the bag, we practice rolling it over different surfaces, such as tile, carpet and hardwood, and lift it onto countertops to try out the handles.

✔️ Packing capabilities : We pack each suitcase with a standard load of items for a week-long trip, including shoes, clothes and toiletries (pictured). We score the suitcase based on how much it can hold and how easily we can fill it.

✔️ Abrasion resistance: We cut swatches of fabric from softside luggage and load them into our abrasion machine (pictured) which rubs the material against an abrasive surface 15,000 times to simulate extended use. We then assess the material and grade it for signs of wear.

✔️ Scratch resistance : To determine scratch resistance, we drag a wire over hardside luggage material and then visually assess any scratches, ridges, scuffs or markings left behind.

✔️ Drop durability : We fill each suitcase with a standard weight and load it into our drop tester (pictured). The drop tester releases each piece of luggage from a set height of three feet. We repeat the test in various directions, noting and scoring any damages, dents or imperfections that result.

✔️ Consumer tests: To simulate actual use, we set up a standard course that features a variety of surfaces and obstacles that testers must navigate, such as pulling the suitcase through sharp turns, lifting the bag over curbs, transitioning to different types of flooring (pictured) and more. To mimic a real travel load, each suitcase is filled with weight before being put to the test. Testers also rate factors like ease of use, comfort and sturdiness of the handles, as well as the performance and smoothness of the wheels and overall maneuverability.

We also share suitcases with testers, editors and analysts who take them on their own trips and provide us with real-user feedback about their experiences. Plus, we take the luggage on our own trips, and I have personally used several of the bags featured on my vacations and trips abroad.

What to look for when shopping for the best checked luggage

Here are some things to keep in mind while searching for the best checked luggage for your needs:

✔️ Wheels : In our evaluations, 360-degree wheels — called spinner wheels — have consistently received the best scores for maneuverability. Larger checked luggage should have four wheels, making it easier to roll, push and pull in all directions.

✔️ Telescopic handle : It may not seem like a huge deal, but a solid, sturdy handle can have a big impact on the performance of your luggage, especially when you're lugging around a heavy checked bag. If you get to examine the luggage in person, we recommend testing how easy it is to raise and lower the handle and checking to see if it can be adjusted to different heights for comfortable toting. Consider the feel of the handle as well, and note if it has a good grip or extra padding. Be sure to use the handle with care because jerking or rough use can lead to damage over time.

✔️ Top and side handles : Look for luggage that has easy-to-grip top and side handles, which can be helpful when lifting and lowering bags from higher surfaces. You may not be placing your checked bag into an overhead bin, but you'll still need to carry it down stairs, lift it into trunks or place it on a scale at the airport.

✔️ Compartments: Most larger hardside checked bags unzip and open into two sections, but softside bags tend to have one large open space for packing your belongings. For more organization, opt for a bag with plenty of compartments, whether they're larger mesh storage spaces, small zippered pockets or exterior pockets for easy access while traveling. Many checked bags will also include a built-in garment bag, toiletry bag and/or laundry bag for even more organization.

✔️ Zippers: Try out the zipper by opening and closing the bag a few times to determine if it's easy to use or if you find it to be finicky and difficult to grip. If possible, also try assessing water resistance by placing a small drop of water on the zipper to see if the water seeps through or beads on the surface.

✔️ Weight: Checked luggage can be pretty heavy, even when empty. Most checked bags, hard and soft, weigh between 10 and 13 pounds, but some weigh upwards of 15 pounds. Most airlines have a 50-pound weight limit for checked luggage with belongings inside, so a heavier suitcase can eat up valuable weight you'd normally use for your packing load.

✔️ Returns and warranties: Warranties tend to only cover manufacturer defects, which can be difficult to prove. If you're worried about committing to a piece of luggage, instead of focusing on the warranty, check to see if the brand offers an extended trial period and/or an any-reason return policy. This can be especially helpful if you're buying your suitcase online and can't try it out in person first.

Which is better: Hardside or softside luggage?

Choosing either hardside or softside luggage is really up to your personal preference. Both types of checked luggage have advantages and disadvantages, so keep these things in mind while you're making a decision: ✔️ Hardside luggage: Hardside suitcases tend to be durable, stylish and lightweight. Not all hard suitcases are the same, though. These are the most popular types of hard material:

• Polycarbonate : This is the most common material for hardside luggage because it's typically lighter than aluminum but also more durable than ABS plastic. It's able to resist high-impact drops but is more susceptible to scratches and scuffs, so manufacturers will sometimes add a special coating to prevent scratching.
• ABS plastic: It's a more affordable material to use, so most lower-cost hardside luggage is made with ABS. The material is super lightweight but not as durable as polycarbonate or metals.
• Polycarbonate/ABS composites : Some suitcases combine polycarbonate and ABS, so you can reap the benefits of both. Typically with composites, there will be a layer of ABS plastic under a coating of polycarbonate. It's not quite as strong as a suitcase made of only polycarbonate, but it's typically more affordable than solid polycarbonate.
• Aluminum: Metal suitcases made of aluminum are more durable than other materials, but they're heavy and can be pretty pricey, so it's not as commonly used.

✔️ Softside luggage: Fabric-based suitcases are more malleable than hardside bags, so they can be easier to store in tight spaces or stuff completely full while you're packing. The material is also less susceptible to scratches and dents, but it's subject to abrasion over time. These materials are often used for softside luggage:

• Nylon : Most softside suitcases are made of nylon, which is a synthetic fiber that's durable and resists wear, and it's fairly water-resistant. It's a great option for frequent fliers who might be rough on their luggage.
• Polyester : Another synthetic fiber, polyester tends to be less expensive than nylon and more lightweight. It's not usually as durable, but we have tested many polyester bags that are abrasion-resistant.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Amanda Constantine has tested and written about luggage of all kinds including carry-ons, duffels, travel backpacks and hardside luggage . Amanda also conducted some of the luggage testing for Good Housekeeping's Family Travel Awards program. For this article, she reviewed former testing data and used her related expertise and personal experience to make recommendations for the best checked luggage.

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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The Best Carry-On Luggage 2024, Tested and Reviewed by Travel Editors

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto : "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at [email protected] .

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Packing for a trip can be stressful, especially if you’re trying to fit everything you need into a carry-on bag. With increasingly strict airline baggage allowances and common occurrences of lost/mishandled checked bags, finding the right carry-on suitcase is key to avoiding expensive checked baggage fees and ensuring your stuff makes it to your destination. 

No one understands this struggle more than the SmarterTravel team. As travel editors, we travel a lot (and are firm carry-on only flyers.) We tested and reviewed the top carry-on luggage over hundreds of trips to help you find one perfectly suited for all your travels.

The carry-on bags we reviewed underwent rigorous testing to see how they held up to the realities of travel. We evaluated important factors like size and weight, wheeled performance, ease of packing, durability, and special features. Our testing process included packing each bag to capacity, carrying it through airports, stowing it in overhead bins, and taking it on planes, trains, and automobiles during real-world trips.

Ranging in price from affordable to splurge-worthy, the best carry-on suitcases earned top marks across all our tests for their optimal size, seamless maneuverability, handy organization, stylish looks, and resilience.

From a lightweight hard-sided spinner that fits easily in tiny overheads to a large carry-on that expands for over-packers, these are our travel editors’ picks for the best carry-on suitcases of 2024. 

Best Carry-On Suitcase Overall: Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Suitcase

The Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Suitcase was our favorite of all the carry-on suitcases we tested. This smart and sleek suitcase is made from a durable polypropylene shell that helps contribute to its light weight of 6.4 lbs. Smooth spinner wheels and an adjustable handle make this bag easy to wheel even when fully packed.

The interior is just as nice, lined with a fabric made from 100 percent plastic bottles. There’s also a multi-functional panel divider that can compress clothes to create more space while providing pockets for organization. One of the pockets is water-resistant, so you can use it to separate swimsuits or wet clothing on the journey home.

Our favorite feature of the Samsonite Outline Pro is the antimicrobial handle technology used on the trolley grip and side handles, which helps keep us healthy while traveling. 

Dimensions: 15” x 10” x 23”

Weight: 6.4 lbs

Best Large Carry-On Suitcase: Roam Large Carry-On Suitcase

If you want to test the limits of an airline’s carry-on policy, we recommend the Roam Large Carry-On Suitcase as the best large carry-on suitcase. We’ve taken this suitcase on hundreds of flights and have only ever had to check it on very small puddle-jumper planes. This roomy carry-on can hold up to 42 liters, making it a great suitcase for chronic overpackers. 

This suitcase comes with two compression boards, which can be used to divide the two halves of the suitcase and help you fit even more in. The boards have large pockets perfect for packing cords and other small items. 

We also love that all Roam luggage can be customized to suit your style—you can choose the color of every part of this suitcase, right down to the wheels, to create a unique bag that definitely won’t get mixed up at baggage claim.

Dimensions:  9” x 16.25” x 22”

Weight: 7.7 lbs

Best Expandable Carry-On Suitcase: Delsey Rempart Carry-On Suitcase

An expandable suitcase is like having two bags in one—keep it small and compact for a short trip or open it up for a longer journey (or for the return trip when you buy lots of souvenirs to bring home). Delsey’s Rempart Carry-On Suitcase is our favorite expandable bag due to its patented Securitech Zipper that’s three times more resistant than a standard zipper (so you don’t have to worry about it ripping open, even when it’s expanded to its maximum capacity).

Other thoughtful features include an integrated TSA-combination lock, two packing compartments with compression straps, zippered pockets, and a lined divider. We also love that the interior lining can be removed and washed—an innovation you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever come home with a sandy suitcase after a beach trip.

Three carrying handles allow this bag to be carried in various ways. If you have other Delsey suitcases, the Rempart’s modular design allows it to stack on top for easy carrying and storage. 

Dimensions: 13.75” x 10.25” x 21.75”

Weight: 6.7 lbs

Best Soft-Sided Carry-On Suitcase: Travelpro Maxlite 5

The best soft-sided carry-on suitcase is also one of the lightest weight options on our list. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 lives up to its name, weighing just 5.4 lbs. This model is the brand’s latest and is a full half-pound lighter than the previous iteration, the Travelpro Maxlite 5. 

The suitcase has a unique tapered design that helps prevent it from tipping over when upright (a common problem with soft-sided suitcases). It also has a solid bottom tray design that helps increase the bag’s durability. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 can expand to 2 inches to provide extra space when needed. The interior is lined with a waterproof protectant that helps keep the bag dry. 

This suitcase comes with Travelpro’s limited lifetime warranty, which will cover the cost of repairs if it’s damaged for one year after purchase. 

Dimensions: 23” x 14.5” x 9” 

Weight: 5.4 lbs

Best Luggage Trackers

Best Small Carry-On Suitcase: Eagle Creek Gear Warrior XE 4-Wheel Carry-On Luggage

We love the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior XE 4-Wheel Carry-On because it’s deceptively spacious for its small size and light weight. It even expands slightly to give you a little bit of extra space when you need it. We’ve packed for week-long trips with just this bag and had no issues fitting everything in. Despite the diminutive size, this suitcase is packed with organizational features, like an exterior laptop sleeve and interior zippered pockets. 

Made from 100 percent recycled, water-resistant fabric, this carry-on-sized spinner bag is easy to wipe clean and great for rainy destinations. 

The Warrior is equipped with heavy-duty wheels that allow you to roll this bag over rough terrain—a perfect pick for navigating the cobblestone streets of Europe.

Dimensions: 21.65” x 14” x 10”

Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz

The Best Hardsided Carry-On Suitcase: Away The Carry-On

Away’s The Carry-On Suitcase has won many awards and is beloved by travelers, and for good reason—it’s smartly designed. The Carry-On is Away’s smallest suitcase and will fit in most overhead compartments and pass all but the strictest baggage sizers at the gate.

This durable carry-on suitcase is crafted from 100 percent polycarbonate for maximum impact resistance. It glides smoothly on premium 360-degree spinner wheels and features a telescoping trolley handle with two height settings for ergonomic maneuvering. The water-resistant shell safeguards your belongings, while convenient features like the TSA-approved lock, laundry bag, and color-matched luggage tag help streamline your packing routine. 

Thoughtfully designed, the suitcase maximizes storage with a double-buckle compression pad and extensive interior organization like three mesh pockets and a handy hanging pocket. Reverse coil zippers grant easy access to the wide opening, and an underside grab handle aids lifting. 

As a bonus, Away’s carry-on suitcase comes in a variety of beautiful colors, including glossy and matte options. 

Dimensions: 21.7″ x 14.4″ x 9″

Weight: 7.5 lbs

The Best Luxury Carry-On Suitcase: Tumi Continental Dual Access 4-Wheeled Carry-On

The Tumi Continental Dual Access 4-Wheeled Carry-On is an organized packer’s dream. The design of this suitcase keeps suits, shoes, clothes, and toiletries neatly separated and wrinkle-free. Convenient amenities like the built-in USB port and built-in TSA lock maximize functionality. 

This is a great suitcase choice for business travelers, as the interior features a removable garment sleeve and fiberglass rod that allows you to hang a suit or dress inside the case without getting crushed or wrinkled. 

The Continental Dual Access features Tumi’s signature smooth-rolling wheels and a 3-stage telescoping handle for easy maneuverability. Protective features like molded bumpers and side panels guard against impacts, while built-in tracers and TSA-approved locks keep valuables secured. With options for top, side, or bottom access via well-designed zippers, this suitcase optimizes packing efficiency for several days of travel. 

Dimensions: 22.0″ X 16.0″ X 9.0″

Weight: 11.1 lbs

The Best Carry-On Backpack: L.L. Bean Approach Travel Pack

A carry-on doesn’t have to be limited to a suitcase. For the ultimate in mobility, opt for a backpack as your carry-on. You won’t have to worry about climbing stairs or pulling a bag over rough sidewalks, and a backpack can fit under your seat on a full plane when necessary, avoiding the dreaded gate-check. 

Our favorite carry-on backpack is the L.L. Bean Approach Travel Pack . Use it on its own for a short trip, or combine it with a checked bag (put all the essentials in the backpack and carry it on the plane) for longer journeys.  

The Approach Travel Pack opens flat and can be packed like a suitcase, unlike a traditional backpack where you’ll have to shove everything in through the top and dig through the entire bag to find something buried at the bottom.

Dimensions: 20” x 12.5” x 10”

Weight: 3.3 lbs

5 Simple Ways to Make Travel Easier in 2024

How We Tested These Carry-Ons

These are the carry-on suitcases that the SmarterTravel team uses on their own trips. We’ve taken them on countless flights, train trips, road trips, and cruises to find out the pros and cons of each bag. 

When testing a carry-on, we consider the following factors:

• Size and weight
• Ease of transportation
• Organizational features

We’ve tested out numerous suitcases that didn’t make the cut, which helped us narrow the list to the best carry-ons worth investing in. 

What Size is a Carry-On Suitcase

The dimensions for a carry-on suitcase vary by airline and generally change depending on if it’s an international or domestic flight. For flights within the United States, the most common size limit for a carry-on suitcase is 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches high. 

The international carry-on suitcase size limit is usually 21.7 inches by 15.7 inches wide by 9 inches high, but this will vary by airline.

Note that airline carry-on size limits include all aspects of the suitcase, including the handles and the wheels, so be sure to check the total dimensions of your bag and not just the interior measurements. If your suitcase meets the size limit but the wheels don’t, it will not pass the carry-on sizer test.

Always check with your airline for the correct carry-on size for your trip, as it can change by destination. 

Is There a Weight Limit for Carry-Ons?

There usually isn’t a weight limit for carry-ons on domestic flights within the United States (unless you’re flying on a very small plane). However, you must be able to lift the suitcase into the overhead bin without assistance.

International flights are generally stricter with weight limits and will weigh your carry-on bag when you check-in. These weight restrictions vary quite a bit by airline but generally range from 15 to 35 lbs. 

What Can’t You Pack in a Carry-On Suitcase?

Remember, carry-on suitcases are subject to stricter security restrictions than checked bags. You can’t pack these items in carry-on suitcases, but you can pack them in your checked luggage:

• Liquids or gels bigger than 3.4 ounces
• Sharp objects (including knives, hiking poles, and large scissors) 
• Certain sporting goods (such as baseball bats and hockey sticks)
• Self-defense items (including pepper spray and brass knuckles)
• Weapons (including firearms) 

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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MICROSOFT EDGE

Adventure Rolling Duffle Bag, X-Large, 95L

Adventure Rolling Duffle Bag, X-Large, 95L 0.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 0 Reviews | Write a Review

Save 20%: Purchase price is $127.20 upon approval of the L.L.Bean Mastercard. Learn More

FREE SHIPPING with $75 Purchase.

Product Details

We've improved our most popular large rolling duffle, loved since 1996 for its durability, fun colors and great price. Now made of 100% recycled fabrics, with a new U-shaped zipper that opens wider for easier access and an innovative folding design.

• Capacity: 95L.
• Dimensions: 13.25"H x 29.5"W x 15.25"D.
• Weight: 8.2 lb.

Introducing our best-ever Rolling Adventure Duffle, redesigned using customer feedback, product reviews and tests from our own in-house lab. We chose a rugged fabric that's 100% recycled--and just as strong as before. Next, we packed it with improvements, including a wider opening and a new folding design we created by customer request, making it easier to stow away when you're not using it. Available in sizes and colors for every member of the family!

• PFC/PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR).
• 100% recycled 600-denier polyester on body, with 100% recycled 1000-denier polyester on base that's twice as abrasion resistant for added durability.
• Fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles; this 95L bag uses 39 plastic bottles.
• Waterproof fabrics. Zippers and seams not waterproof.
• Coated interior for added weather protection; tested for 24 hours in our deep freeze with no signs of cracking, flaking or peeling.
• Spot clean.
• New U-shaped zippered opening offers 50% more access to contents inside.
• Zipper flap adds weather protection.
• Grab handles at either end for easy maneuvering, with low-profile lash points and one rigid handle that helps stabilize bag.
• Roomy main compartment.
• Internal kickstand lets duffle stand upright for travel, then collapse for storage.
• Handles have wrap closure for comfortable carrying.
• Outside zip pocket.
• Compression straps with side-release buckles help stabilize contents.
• Features small L.L.Bean logo on either side of bag.

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I’m a Carry-on-only Traveler, and This New Monos Bag Has a Genius Feature That’s Changed the Way I Pack

This new expandable bag made me love Monos even more.

Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

As a seasoned travel writer, I’m always dashing from place to place, zipping through airport terminals, waiting in line for car rentals, and checking into hotels. The last thing I want to worry about is checking a bag and waiting at the baggage claim. I haven’t checked a bag in over ten years , and I love the convenience it affords me when traveling. Needless to say, reliable carry-on luggage makes a world of difference.

That’s where my favorite luggage company, Monos , comes in. Founded in 2018, the Canadian company designs and manufactures high-quality luggage products. Its hardcase shells are made with aerospace-grade, water-resistant polycarbonate materials. All its cases feature 360-degree spinner wheels, which makes navigating through airports and hotel lobbies (and over carpets!) a breeze. I also love how they offer matching toiletry kits , laptop sleeves , and bags to pair with the luggage. As a fan of color coordination, I can stay stylish when traveling with these matching pieces.

I’ve been using the Monos Classic Carry-on for several years now, so when they launched the Expandable Collection early this summer, I jumped at the chance to give it a try. Since getting the new Monos Expandable Carry-on , I’ve used it on a glamping adventure , domestic trips to Tahoe and Big Sky, Montana, and even an international work trip to Paris. Overall, it has been a sleek, efficient, and spacious addition to my carry-on-only traveling.

Monos Expandable Carry-on

Because I’ve used the original Monos Carry-on bag for years, I can vouch for what a big difference this new expandable version makes. Before expansion, it has just under 10 inches of depth; once expanded, it allows for an additional 1.6 inches of space for packing. You’d be surprised at how much more you can squeeze into this amount of space! On one side of the luggage is a zipped panel, which is where I like to pack my shoes and items that don’t fold flat. The other side features an interior compression pad, along with nylon straps that keep my items compact and organized. 

The main difference between the new Expandable Monos carry-on bags, the Carry-on and the Carry-on Pro, is the latter’s built-in front compartment. This pricier version (it comes in at $345) has two interior sleeves that can store a laptop and any other items you’d like to have quick access to. There’s also an interior zippered pocket to fit smaller items such as a cell phone, wallet, or passport. Both pieces of luggage come with an antimicrobial laundry bag and two shoe bags, along with a vegan leather luggage tag. I typically carry my laptop in the Cuyana System Tote , which is why I opted for the standard carry-on.

Unlike most luggage handles, the Monos handle is made of high-grade aluminum, with the release on the underside, so it's more ergonomically efficient (basically, it’s much more comfortable than a standard luggage handle). Additionally, it has four easily adjustable height settings for easy maneuverability. The company ensures its products go through rigorous testing for quality so they’ll be long-lasting (which I can attest to since I’ve used my Monos luggage for so long).

I also liked the TSA-approved lock system that is easy to use and keeps items safe. I got this bag in the simple Storm Grey hue, but there are two others to choose from: Ocean Blue and Midnight Black. And, keep in mind that there’s also the Expandable Check-in Medium available in this new line if you need a bigger bag.

In addition to my own positive experience using this bag, the Expandable Carry-on has received rave reviews from others. Many praised its sleek design and high-quality, indestructible material. Some five-star reviewers couldn’t believe how much space they could get in a carry-on with the expandable feature. “It has lots of space without interior add-ons that get in the way,” wrote one person. Others agreed with me when it comes to the efficiency of the wheels. One reviewer said, “It’s easy to roll on both pavement and tile; it’s very smooth overall.” 

Expandable Carry-on

Ultimately, for me the final test for any carry-on is whether it fits easily into most overhead bins; I’m here to say that this Monos carry-on does. Although you’ll want to check with your airline and the type of plane you’re flying on, I haven’t had a problem so far. Monos has a generous 100-day trial on suitcases , so you can test it out in your home and send it back if you aren’t completely satisfied. All its products have a limited lifetime warranty, too, so if the shell cracks, the zippers burst, or the wheels break, they’ll send either a replacement part or luggage, depending on the situation. 

While I highly recommend this Monos luggage, I also found similar-style carry-ons that are more affordable at Amazon if you want to spend a little less.

Shop More Expandable Carry-on Luggage:

Luggexpc expandable hard shell suitcase.

This expandable carry-on is made of polycarbonate, featuring aluminum corner protectors for hard-wearing travel adventures. Once expanded, it offers 15% more space for loading up your necessities. 

Bagsmart Hardside Expandable Luggage

I own several Bagsmart products, like its packing cubes and tote bags. Its products are super reliable and long-lasting, and this expandable luggage is no exception. Weighing in at 6.8 pounds, it’s lightweight and allows for an additional two inches of packing space. With high-quality, smooth wheels to move through airports, this luggage is just what you need for your next trip. 

Rockland Hardside Expandable Luggage 

Lightweight and durable, Rockland’s Expandable Carry-on helps travelers navigate seamlessly on their journeys with rotating spinner wheels. It’s offered in nine colors and is a great deal at just $56, so be sure to get it before it’s gone.

Pagosa Indestructible Hardshell Expandable Spinner Luggage

Not only is this hardshell abrasion and scratch-proof, it’s also water-resistant. Once fully expanded, it provides an additional two inches of luggage real estate. Consumers give it mostly five-star ratings, praising its sturdiness and maneuverability, along with having great internal compartments.

Rollink Flex 360 Carry-on Fully Collapsible Suitcase

For storage-saving benefits while traveling, this hardshell option weighs only 6 pounds and features 360-degree double spinner wheels. When expanded, it should fit most carry-on size requirements, but when collapsed, it’s only five inches deep, perfect for storing in small spaces.

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