The Best Carry-On Luggage

Kit Dillon

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage

A bag built for tough conditions.

A polycarbonate back and rugged wheels make this design suited for rougher travel over difficult surfaces. However, it has a limited warranty, and it’s somewhat unwieldy to handle.

What to consider

Four-wheel bags, aka spinners, are easier to maneuver down tight airplane aisles, but two-wheel bags will always be more durable .

Hard-sided looks better to most people, but soft-sided luggage withstands the bumps and knocks of travel for longer .

Plenty of reputable brands offer lifetime warranties; it’s generally worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind .

Depending on where you travel, you might need to look for specialty luggage sizes .

We’ve also included picks that stood out for their form and individual functionality: an upgrade with best-in-class compression, a pick made of polycarbonate , an upgraded hard-sided case with latch closures and an aluminum frame, a rolling soft-top hybrid , and a budget pick that’s also the best ultra-light suitcase we can find.

Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line of luggage is still our top pick after 10 years of testing. It addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price while offering the best warranty against potential airline damage in the industry (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase, which you can do in minutes).

The Platinum Elite features smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, as well as solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. Travelpro also provides a full catalog of other replaceable parts . Instead of chasing the smart-bag moment, Travelpro added an exterior pocket with a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And weighing less than 8 pounds when empty, the Platinum Elite is dead in the center of average weight for bags this size.

In our view, soft-sided luggage lasts longer and shows less wear, but if you prefer the look of a hard-sided bag, Away’s The Carry-On is our choice. Like our other picks, this bag stands out for its high-end components: YKK zippers, smooth-running wheels, and a well-braced handle. Its strong but flexible polycarbonate shell shows scratches—however, after seven years of using the Away Carry-On, our testers have found that it is capable of enduring most of the trials of travel with fewer knocks than other similar models we’ve tested.

Away also makes a slightly larger version of the same model: The Bigger Carry-On . It conforms to carry-on size for most major airliners, but you might be asked to gate-check it on smaller planes.

Similar to our soft-sided picks, this Away bag is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. And though the coverage doesn’t explicitly protect against airline damage, it does apply to any damage that an airline could possibly dish out—specifically, but not limited to, the shell cracking or wheels breaking off.

Some companies have tried to shave off a few pounds from their standard luggage designs to make so-called ultra-light luggage. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is the best of these bags we’ve seen, and it comes with the pedigree of our top pick but not quite as strong a warranty.

The Maxlite 5 is just over 2 pounds lighter than our top pick—that’s the weight of two or three pairs of jeans. It’s not a huge difference, but if you have trouble lifting luggage over your head and prefer an easier-to-manage suitcase, the Maxlite 5 may be your choice. This bag is also the best one we’ve found under $200, with almost all the benefits of luggage nearly twice the price.

For the more frequent flyer who is willing to invest in a higher-quality bag, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On . Every detail of this bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and it has a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested.

Briggs & Riley boosts this extra capacity with a ratcheting compression system that easily presses an entire extra outfit (if not more) into the same external dimensions as most other carry-ons. It’s simple, impressive, and unmatched by any other brand’s compression system.

The Expandable Spinner version is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder, which helps shirts and pants stay wrinkle-free if you pack them well. If things go awry, Briggs & Riley has a catalog of replaceable parts and a global network of repair centers , as well as a reliable lifetime warranty covering repairs for airline damage.

For some people, Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On may be worth the extra cost. Behind the maturity of Italian leather accents and polish of higher-end Hinomoto wheels, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On bypasses the biggest compromise in most polycarbonate designs: the stitched-in zipper. Incorporating an aluminum frame around the center of the case and two latch locks, it feels comfortingly secure and well structured where other luggage tends to sag or bend away.

There’s a potential catch, however: The flex in a polycarbonate design (and most luggage, incidentally) is its strength. The more robust a piece of luggage becomes—by replacing, for instance, a zipper with an aluminum frame—the greater the chance that if something hits the case hard enough, the frame can bend or break. That said, you need to hit a frame like this with an extreme amount of focused force for that to happen. And Carl Friedrik provides a lifetime warranty that appears to cover airline damage in the event that an airline doesn’t compensate you within 14 days.

The Yeti Crossroads 22”/35L Wheeled Luggage represents the best of a relatively niche type of luggage design. Call it a hybrid model—a blend of a soft-sided luggage on top and hard-sided luggage on the back—that lends itself to fairly specific circumstances. It’s ideal for tough roads, broken streets, and slamming your luggage into uneven curbs with abandon. Do most people need this kind of luggage for their day-to-day travel? Absolutely not, and it can feel heavier than it really is. But if you do, this is the best there is—at least for the moment.

The Yeti Crossroads has everything you might expect from a brand that has built its reputation for over-the-top toughness and durability. The two heavy-duty wheels are among the largest and broadest that we’ve seen. Externally, Yeti blends a polycarbonate shell back with a water-resistant 700-denier nylon front and waterproof zippers. However, Yeti backs its luggage with only a three-year warranty and no mention of airline damage. That’s very limited protection, especially for the conditions this bag was designed for and definitely in comparison with the standards that our other picks set.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, our pick for the best carry-on luggage: travelpro platinum elite, our pick for the best hard-sided carry-on luggage: away the carry-on, budget pick: travelpro maxlite 5 carry-on spinner, upgrade pick for the best carry-on: briggs & riley baseline essential, upgrade pick for the best hard-sided carry-on: carl friedrik the carry-on, also great for tough conditions: yeti crossroads 35l wheeled luggage, other good carry-on luggage, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve been covering luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade and have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. Over the years we’ve also spoken with plenty of experts: flight attendants for major airlines, product designers and creative directors for luggage and gear companies, and travel and gear writers. My conversations with these people have helped shape our coverage, and we owe much to their collective knowledge.

Six of the carry-on suitcases we tested, shown lined up.

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.

A person pouring white plastic balls into the Travelpro Platinum Elite Spinner.

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.

Women's clothes, shoes, and accessories packed for a five-day trip and a fancy gathering.

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?

An obstacle course and mock fuselage in Virgin America’s old training facility.

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.

The twenty carry-on suitcases we tested lined up against a fence.

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.

Our top picks for the best carry-on luggage, The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21-inch Carry-On Spinner and the Travelpro Platinum Elite 22-inch Carry-On Rollaboard.

The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner is our pick for a soft-sided carry-on; if you need a little more room, we also recommend the Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard .

It has a history of great performance. Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line has been our top pick for almost every iteration of this guide because it addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price: In addition to smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, it features solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid 7.8-pound internal chassis. Travelpro backs it all with a lifetime warranty that covers airline damage and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase). Additionally, Travelpro supplies a full catalog of other replaceable parts .

It moves well across most surfaces and through most situations. The spinner bag’s configuration stands out in particular because of its MagnaTrac wheels, which magnetically snap into a forward position when the bag is moving. The small tracking assistance makes a large difference when you’re navigating the Platinum Elite through a crowded airport or down a busy street. It also has an easy-to-use, removable garment bag. After years of testing, we think the superior maneuverability of spinner luggage, along with improvements in manufacturing processes, makes four-wheel bags a better choice for most people. However, if you prefer slightly more packing capacity (the equivalent of squeezing in two more sweatshirts), larger wheels that run more smoothly over rough terrain, and a more protective built-in garment folder, 4 you may appreciate the two-wheeled 22-inch version of the Platinum Elite. One of our paid testers, who’s 6-foot-6, told us that although he could see the appeal of a spinner, “I would still choose the two-wheeler. It has a little more space, and when you’re my size, packing is just so horrible.”

Our pick for best carry-on luggage sitting in front of an American Airlines carry-on size diagram to show that it will fit in the overhead bin.

It’s sized to maximize your space, but you have options. Measuring 23 by 13.5 by 9 inches, the Platinum Elite carry-on bag (in either wheel configuration) hits the upper margins of actual carry-on size limits and could get you gate-checked by an overzealous agent. However, it fits into most standard-size baggage caddies at check-in, including that of American Airlines and United Airlines. I’ve personally traveled with Travelpro carry-ons this size for more than 45,000 miles spread across 50 flights, from regional to long-haul to international routes, and I’ve never had an issue fitting within gate-side luggage sizers. If you’re nervous about getting caught at the gate or often fly in very small regional planes, Travelpro makes a 20-inch Platinum Elite as well as a slimmer international size, but they hold less (naturally) and lack a suiter insert.

An opened Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner next to its removable garment bag.

It keeps clothes compacted but not creased. Inside, the Platinum Elite has a pair of tie-down straps and two broad panels with pockets that cinch down, similar in design and function to what you’d find in much more expensive Briggs & Riley luggage . Compared with the simple tie-down straps you often find in cheaper luggage, the panels do a great job of keeping things compacted without creasing clothes—a problem we’ve encountered in numerous other bags we’ve tested. Beyond that, the Platinum Elite’s internal organization system is about average. It will be familiar to anyone who has used a suitcase before, which means there’s no learning curve for optimizing the storage capacity. One long mesh pocket sits on one of the bag’s sides, and a smaller removable transparent plastic bag sits on the other side for easy TSA inspection of toiletries.

It’s tough yet flexible. The exterior is made of a hard-wearing nylon fabric, a key feature of all the bags we’ve tested. It hides scuffs and scratches, and it’s much more versatile than hard-sided bags. An expansion zipper lets you increase storage by about 30% in a pinch—although the bag is no longer carry-on compliant at that point. We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad-hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight. The Platinum Elite carry-on also has a variety of convenient exterior pockets, including two in the front, suitable for a sleep mask and other small miscellaneous items, and one on the side for a battery, though it can fit a bit more if necessary. It also has an accordion pocket on the front for magazines and electronic tablets.

It’s well balanced and spacious. This luggage has an 1,856-cubic-inch interior, which we measured using hundreds of Ping-Pong balls . In real-world terms (the needs of Ping-Pong champions notwithstanding), the Platinum Elite swallowed up five days’ worth of clothes with no problem and had a good deal of room to spare—and that’s without our resorting to the expansion zipper.

It has an excellent warranty. Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpro’s generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage . The sole other company we’ve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose carry-on suitcases start at about $500. Travelpro bags have owner-serviceable parts and multiple repair centers . To get repair service, you can either drop the bag off at a repair center or ship the bag to Travelpro, the cost of which the company will cover. Keep in mind that the warranty doesn’t cover cosmetic wear.

Travelpro has a history of fixing production errors remarkably quickly. In 2019, we noticed a small uptick in Wirecutter reader complaints about zipper tabs breaking. We reached out to Travelpro, and a representative told us that a production error expanded the capacity of the front pocket of the Platinum Elite; this allowed travelers to overpack the pocket, which put excessive strain on the zipper. Travelpro identified and fixed the issue before it had reached the threshold of more than a few comments online.

Dimensions: 23.5 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.8 pounds Volume: 46 liters

How the Platinum Elite has held up

After nearly a decade of testing the Platinum Elite line of bags from Travelpro, we have yet to encounter a single serious issue. The fabric exterior brushes off scrapes and is easy enough to clean. Simply, it is a remarkably built bag that continues to travel well, year after year.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The back of a Travelpro Platinum Elite carry-on suitcase.

  • 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.

Close-up of the battery pocket on the side of the Travelpro Platinum Elite.

  • 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.

Our picks for the best hard-sided carry-on luggage, an Away The Carry-On and the Away The Bigger Carry-On.

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.

An opened Away The Carry-On suitcase.

You have options if you need extra space. Away makes a similar model of suitcase with an expandable zipper, The Carry-On Flex . The Flex is the same bag as the standard Carry-On except for the expanding center zipper and the price (it’s about $50 more). Personally, I’m not a fan of expanding zippers on suitcases. It feels like just one more thing to break. But some people may prefer having the extra flexibility.

It feels great to use. The bag itself feels good in the hands, and the wheels are noticeably better than those on any of the hard-sided competitors we tried. Away also uses YKK zippers, outclassing our top pick in that regard (Travelpro moved to Supra zippers in 2015). At this point, we’re pretty comfortable saying that years of debate over the best zipper are largely redundant, but YKK still sets the standard.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Away has sparked more imitators and outright duplicates than any other brand in the past decade, in part due to its appeal with younger travelers. I’ve thought about why, and as best as I can guess, a simple polycarbonate cube dripped in limited-edition soft hues does exude a certain calm; the fact that some of those same colors also coat the exteriors of pills ending in suffixes -ax and -il is not, one assumes, accidental.

It has a great warranty. The Away Carry-On is backed by a limited lifetime warranty that protects against defects and parts breaking. Though the warranty doesn’t specifically mention airline damage, the damages it does list—cracks or breaks in the shell, wheels or handles becoming unusable, zippers that don’t work, fabric tears that render any pocket unusable—basically outline anything an airline could possibly dish out.

Dimensions (for The Carry-On): 21.7 by 14.4 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.5 pounds Volume: 40 liters

  • The Carry-On’s sleek style comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks.
  • It lacks certain amenities, such as external pockets and a suiter, that our top picks have.
  • The clamshell design, which splits down the middle and opens into two parts, can make the bag frustrating to pack and unpack. Packing cubes help, but after years of packing and unpacking soft-sided luggage with a single lid, I personally find a clamshell design to be more finicky when packing.

Our budget pick for best carry-on luggage, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21-inch Carry-On Spinner.

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.

Top view of an opened Travelpro Maxlite 5 21-inch Carry-On Spinner.

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.

Two Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-inch Carry-On Expandable Spinners, the four- and two-wheeled versions, shown side by side.

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.

Close-up of the plastic handle of the Briggs & Riley’s CX expansion and compression system.

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.

The inside of a Briggs & Riley and a Travelpro Platinum Elite spinners.

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.

A Carl Friedrik The Carry-On, our upgrade pick for the best hard-sided carry-on.

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.

An opened Carl Friedrik The Carry-On suitcase showing its removable compression pad.

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.

A Yeti Crossroads 22-inch/35-liter Wheeled Luggage.

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.)

View of the inside of a Yeti Crossroads 22-inch/35-liter Wheeled Luggage.

The Crossroads comes in only a two-wheeled design, which is usually able to withstand more damage than a four-wheeled design. The wheels are also easier to service on the road and often replaceable. 5

It’s well organized. It includes a front panel organizer, similar to that of modern laptop backpacks, with two slots for your laptop and tablet plus a mesh pocket for spare gear. Fully packed, it still has room for a few magazines as well, if you like. Internally, the soft top has a zippered main compartment with a decent amount of packing space, as well as two mesh organizing pockets.

It’s a pleasure to pack. As the Crossroads is built around a molded polycarbonate base, the entire suitcase becomes, in essence, a large tray to pack and then zip shut. It’s a very satisfying design—easier to manage than many of the clamshell designs that are currently popular. Yeti’s packing cubes are designed to fit snugly in the Crossroads’s main compartment, and the bag does come with one small cube. But if you choose these, you’re spending a premium for additional packing cubes when almost any packing cube will work.

Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8 pounds Volume: 40 liters

  • We’d love to see a better warranty. Three years is very limited when compared with other luggage brands selling similarly priced suitcases—especially for a bag that claims to be as tough as the brand’s reputation.
  • Occasionally, Yeti’s tough-gear reputation veers almost into absurdity, as with the inclusion here of self-sealing zippers on a bag that isn’t actually waterproof—merely weather resistant. They’re top-of-the-line zippers. But self-sealing zippers can be hard to operate and require regular lubrication, which most people aren’t used to providing.
  • The front-facing laptop organizer is woefully unshielded. If you’re traveling with a laptop, place it deep within the bag if you want it properly protected.
  • The bag feels heavy—by our measurements, it weighs about a half pound more than Yeti’s 7.5-pound estimation. It’s not the heaviest of our picks, but something about the weight distribution and shape of the bag makes it feel heavier when you’re swinging it around.

If you need a hard-sided budget bag: Look at the Gregory Quadro Hardcase 22″ , an unexpectedly high-quality suitcase from an outdoor-gear company. Gregory offers a lifetime warranty with service and repair. Although the warranty doesn’t explicitly mention airline damage, Gregory’s good reputation speaks for itself in this matter. However, the Quadro Hardcase is a pound heavier (at 6.5 pounds) and about $60 more than our budget pick.

If the Away Carry-On is sold out: Consider the Monos Carry-On Plus . Picking between these two models came down to splitting some very fine hairs. Both use YKK zippers. Both have lifetime warranties. The handles and interiors are almost identical. Monos even hides the stitching that attaches the zipper to the polycarbonate frame, which is a nice aesthetic touch. The difference came down to the Away Carry-On’s wheels, which spun just that much more freely in our testing, and the underside handle, which made it easier to pull out of overhead bins. And we’ve tested the Away Carry-On for longer. However, if it’s unavailable, the Monos model is a good, nearly identical substitute.

If you want a bag made of recycled materials: We suggest the Paravel Aviator Carry-On . Paravel is attempting to design luggage with recycled materials and some environmentally minded transparency to the company’s production methods. However, you pay a premium for the effort. Quality-wise, the bag is similar to our other hard-sided picks, for about a hundred more dollars. And much of the Paravel branding is built on carbon offsets, which we are deeply skeptical of (though we wish they worked).

If you’re an infrequent adventurer: Try the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller , which could almost be an also-great pick under our hybrid pick . It’s cheaper, has a better warranty (but no explicit coverage for airline damage), and is made from recycled materials. However, the overall build quality is wanting. For example, the polycarbonate shell doesn’t fully cover the tubes for the extendable handle as it does with our hybrid pick. It seems an oversight for bags that are built to knock around.

If the best possible suit-packing experience is all you want, and money is no object: The Vocier C38 Carry-On Luggage is worth a look, despite a few flaws and an $800 price tag. The C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes. Rather than folding garments in on themselves to fit in the bag, it bends the suit around the outside of the luggage frame in a U shape. This packing method creates no creases and therefore no wrinkles. The case is protected by a limited lifetime warranty that doesn’t cover airline damage.

We hope to take a look at the European brand Floyd , which is currently popular on Instagram. At first glance, it’s another piece of luggage looking to appeal to a younger mass audience. But the easy-to-replace polyurethane wheels and bearings—similar to skateboard wheels—do have “user-serviceable parts inside” curb appeal.

We’re currently testing Level8’s Voyageur series of luggage, which features an extra-wide handle. It’s a design trend we’re starting to track with a few lesser-known brands (and, incidentally, a Louis Vuitton case costing several thousand dollars). A wide handle should do two things: It should free up a little more space inside the luggage, and it should improve handling.

Lastly, we’re considering expanding our coverage to include equipment cases like those made by Pelican . Though their appropriate use is very specific, when you need to travel with high-end gear or fragile valuables, Pelican cases more or less set the standard.

Soft-sided carry-on luggage

Cotopaxi Allpa 38L Roller Bag : We’re generally fans of Cotopaxi’s Allpa line, but this two-wheeled bag falls short. Specifically, the bottom of the bag is split by the zipper, which gives the bag an unstable feeling when it’s standing upright.

Eagle Creek Tarmac XE 4-Wheel 22″ Carry On Luggage : If this bag were about $150 cheaper, it would be a good price for the quality. We like the recycled materials, but the bag lacks framing.

Solo Re:Treat Carry-On Spinner : I appreciate any bag made entirely out of recycled materials, but this model (from a brand owned by the same company that manages Briggs & Riley) felt awfully flimsy. Even with its five-year warranty, I just don’t trust that this bag can go the distance.

Thule Subterra : The clamshell design—similar to the ones you find on hard-sided bags—makes this bag difficult to close if you’re trying to fill it to its full capacity. It just isn’t as easy to use as our soft-sided picks.

Timbuk2 Copilot Luggage Roller : The balance on this bag was decent, and it stood up well unloaded or loaded. Its wheels had a cheap ball-bearing rhythmic chatter, though, and the abundance of zippers and internal compartments made it tedious to pack.

Tumi Aerotour International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On : At about half the price, this would be a great bag. But paying nearly $700 for a five-year warranty and a bag that doesn’t do nearly as much as a Briggs & Riley suitcase seems a bit silly.

Hard-sided carry-on luggage

Amazon Basics 24-Inch Hardside Spinner : This bag is a surprisingly good carry-on for about $90. However, its ABS plastic shell is not as tough as a polycarbonate shell. It’s worth investing more in your luggage—the bag you choose will last longer and work better.

Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-On : The Arlo Skye carry-on is a decent piece of luggage, but it’s hard to square the bag with its cost: $200 more than our pick from Away .

Away The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition : 10 pounds! At this weight, you’ve lost a quarter of your allowable luggage weight to the suitcase alone, unpacked. And it’s nearly as expensive as our upgrade pick, with a much less satisfying compression system.

Briggs & Riley Torq and Sympatico : Though these collections seek to solve a different problem, neither is as impressive as the Baseline series.

Calpak Ambeur Carry-On Luggage : We preferred sturdier polycarbonate shells over Calpak’s blended ABS polycarbonate shell. Also, the bag’s handling felt jittery against normal airport floor surfaces.

Delsey Rempart Expandable Spinner Carry-On : At just around $200, the Rempart is a decent budget option. However, the external styling (like layers of pressed sheet pans) is an odd choice. It has some practicality, but only if you’re stacking identical Delsey cases one on top of another, which might happen, I suppose, at some point … maybe.

July Carry On : In the lineup between July, Monos, and Away, July falls just short. We appreciate the lifetime warranty, YKK zippers, and flexible but dense-feeling polycarbonate. But the overall design doesn’t do much to improve on the category (as the Monos bag subtly does).

Level8 Road Runner Pro Carry-On 20″ : This is potentially a decent budget pick at just around $200. But the one-year warranty and the somewhat fiddly TSA lock and front latching panel give us pause.

Lojel Cubo Medium : Although we liked the uncommon top-loading design, the internal organization of the lid made packing this carry-on difficult. We also weren’t impressed by the zippered expansion system, which made the suitcase feel bulkier than our picks.

Lojel Voja Medium : An odd suitcase, this would be a great children’s suitcase or a budget pick—especially if it were under $200. But its current price is steep for a polypropylene blend with a couple of latches.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Chris Ryan.

Airline policies vary, but a general rule is that the bag must be under 45 linear inches—the total sum of the bag’s length, width, and depth. Here’s the current sizing breakdown among the major US airlines:

  • Alaska Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
  • Allegiant Air: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
  • American Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (the dimensions of soft-sided garment bags are allowed to add up to 51 inches)
  • Delta Air Lines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
  • Frontier Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches (and less than 35 pounds)
  • Hawaiian Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
  • JetBlue Airways: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
  • Southwest Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches
  • Spirit Airlines: 22 by 18 by 10 inches
  • Sun Country Airlines: 24 by 16 by 11 inches
  • United Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches

We double-checked the measurable packable space of our top picks against the manufacturers’ listed volumes by filling each piece of luggage with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls: 144 Ping-Pong balls weigh exactly 0.5 pound, and each Ping-Pong ball represents approximately 2 cubic inches (PDF) . After weighing each piece of luggage three times to establish an average empty weight, we filled the bags as full as we could with Ping-Pong balls and measured the change in weight. For every half-pound increase in weight we estimated 288 cubic inches of packable space.

His five-day travel kit included the following:

  • 1 two-piece linen suit on a hanger
  • 1 dress shirt on a hanger
  • 1 pair of jeans
  • 1 pair of khakis
  • 5 medium-weight to lightweight shirts
  • 1 heavy sweater
  • 2 flannel shirts
  • 5 pairs of boxer briefs
  • 5 pairs of sport socks

Her five-day travel kit included the following:

  • 1 dress on a hanger
  • 1 blazer on a hanger
  • 1 blouse on a hanger
  • 1 pair of heels
  • 2 pairs of jeans
  • 1 pair of light sneakers
  • 5 pairs of underwear and 3 bras
  • 1 pair of yoga pants
  • 1 flannel shirt
  • 1 hair dryer
  • 1 curling iron
  • 1 jewelry/makeup kit
  • 3 pairs of sport socks
  • 4 lightweight shirts

You use a garment folder by laying a suit or dress across the panels, folding them into themselves, and zipping up the inner compartment. A folder should be wide enough that a suit isn’t cramped, and it should include hanger straps (which should fit around everything, even larger plastic hangers) to keep things from shifting around too much. Some folding boards have 0.75-inch-diameter foam rolls in them to help prevent creases along the packed clothes’ fold lines. When you aren’t traveling with fancy clothes, you can take the whole apparatus apart and use it as luggage dividers in the main bag itself, or leave it at home, converting the suit/dress compartment into an extra packing cube.

Yeti doesn’t seem to have an easy way to order replaceable wheels. But the 3.5-by-1-inch wheels are fairly common, and we’re looking at the best possible alternatives.

Meet your guide

travel case walmart

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

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The Best Luggage Tags

by Geoffrey Morrison

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

A person standing outside in a light blue short sleeve shirt wears the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack, in black with a gray llama-head logo and aqua accents.

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

by Kit Dillon

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.

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Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022

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These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in September 2022.

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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.

11 Best Walmart Luggage Deals to Shop Before Your Next Getaway

Find affordable carry-ons, weekenders, and suitcase sets.

walmart luggage

Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Our Top Picks

Protege Pilot Case 18-Inch Softside Carry-On Luggage

Best Budget

Protege pilot case 18-inch softside carry-on luggage.

Showkoo Hard-Shell 3-Piece Luggage Set

Best Hard-Shell Set

Showkoo hard-shell 3-piece luggage set.

American Tourister Fieldbrook XLT 4-Piece Softside Luggage Set

Best Softside Set

American tourister fieldbrook xlt 4-piece softside luggage set.

First, you need to determine your basic needs. Are you someone who packs a lot or travels with a family? Then opt for a set. Do you prefer to just get out of your seat and go? Then maybe a carry-on, duffel, or weekender bag is more your style. (That means you can also skip the baggage fees!) We've got all those and more. We've also included picks from the two main categories of suitcases: hard-shell (more durable) and softside (more flexible).

Whichever option you decide on, know that these bags will be able to pass airport requirements so you can easily go from car to train to plane without having to worry about switching bags. The other thing these bags have in common? They all have great prices! Seriously, we even found a bag for under $7. So no matter your budget, you'll be able to find something that fits your lifestyle. Now get packing!

$20 for a carry-on suitcase? Yes! It doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, but it is lightweight, has an extra storage pocket on the outside, and has a durable polyester construction. If you're looking for something on a budget, this one is a no-brainer.

Get ready for that family trip! Included in this set is a 20-inch carry-on along with a 24-inch and a 28-inch for checking in. The expansion zipper on the side provides 20% more space if you need it, and each suitcase has a mesh storage pocket on one side for all your little items. Plus, they all have multi-directional wheels that swivel 360 degrees, making them super easy to maneuver.

The benefit of softside luggage is you can easily stuff them if necessary, and they squish down better to fit in tight spaces. This extra large set is perfect for multiple travelers who all overpack! Included you will find a 21-inch and a 25-inch upright case, a wheeled duffel bag, and a smaller boarding bag that will fit under a seat. They are all made of durable but lightweight polyester.

iFLY Hardside Fibertech Carry-On Luggage

iFLY Hardside Fibertech Carry-On Luggage

Is this bag worth the price? More than 37,000 five-star reviews say yes! It is a 20-inch carry-on with an expansion zipper that gives two extra inches of space. With a full lining pocket on the inside and 360-degree wheel navigation, this bag is easy to pack and go! It comes in four fun colors and can be purchased alone or as part of a set.

iFLY Hardside Luggage Fibertech 2-Piece Set

iFLY Hardside Luggage Fibertech 2-Piece Set

You get an even better deal if you buy a carry-on and a larger suitcase together. This 20- and 28-inch matching set has the same swivel wheels, extra expansion capacity, and extra compartments on the inside. They also have a 20-year warranty!

Protege Ashfield 29-Inch 8-Wheel Spinner Luggage

Protege Ashfield 29-Inch 8-Wheel Spinner Luggage

Get ready for long journeys with this 29-inch large capacity suitcase. It's extra sturdy thanks to double the wheels (that all swivel 360 degrees) and gives a ton of space with an expansion zipper and two outside pockets. If you really like it, you can grab it in 20- and 25-inch models, too.

Large Capacity Overnight Shoulder Bag

Large Capacity Overnight Shoulder Bag

The great thing about an overnight or weekender bag is its versatility. It's just as great for going to the gym as it is going on a quick getaway. It has a separate compartment at the bottom for your shoes, a cosmetics bag for toiletries, and a large capacity inside for everything else. It has a comfy shoulder strap and a trolley sleeve to attach to a bigger suitcase. It's also waterproof and folds for easy storage!

Rockland Luggage 20-Inch Hard Sided Spinner Carry-On Luggage

Rockland Luggage 20-Inch Hard Sided Spinner Carry-On Luggage

If you've got a little one coming with you, they'll be so excited to have their own suitcase! The swivel wheels make it much easier for them to maneuver and the internal mesh pockets will help keep them organized. Plus, it comes in three fun prints!

Wrangler Rolling Duffel

Wrangler Rolling Duffel

Duffels are durable, versatile bags that make great carry-ons and weekenders. The large U-shaped zipper allows you to easily pack and unpack, and it also has outside compartments for quick access to small items. The best part? You can wheel it like a suitcase if it feels to heavy to carry.

Windfall Travel Foldable Waterproof Duffel Bag

Windfall Travel Foldable Waterproof Duffel Bag

This is a great go-to if you want to have an extra bag ready for all those souvenirs. It folds up into a little carrying case, it's waterproof, it's tear-resistant, and it can attach to the handle of your suitcase for easy transport. And yes, you're reading that price correctly!

Pavilia Hanging Toiletry Bag

Pavilia Hanging Toiletry Bag

Nothing is worse than your shampoo bottle exploding in your suitcase. Do yourself a favor and get a toiletry bag! It will keep everything organized and protected. Plus, it hangs so when you're at your final destination, it can display everything for easy access. That's $20 well spent.

Headshot of AnnMarie Mattila

AnnMarie Mattila is the Commerce Editor for The Pioneer Woman, covering products ranging from home, fashion, beauty, and more. 

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  • Travel Products
  • Luggage + Bags
  • Organizers + Accessories

The 9 Best Travel Jewelry Cases of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Keep your jewelry safe with one of these protective and stylish travel cases.

travel case walmart

In This Article

Our Top Picks

  • Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

  • Tips for Buying
  • Why Trust T+L

Traveling with jewelry can be risky business, so it’s important to pack your accessories thoughtfully. Sure, you can always use Ziploc baggies and tissue paper, but the easiest and safest way to keep your jewelry safe is by using a handy travel-size jewelry case.

Since travel jewelry cases come in all different shapes and sizes, we tried 25 options from trusted luggage and jewelry brands. After loading the cases up with jewelry, we tossed, dropped, and shook them to see how safe the jewelry would be in situations like traveling where rough handling can be expected. From testing, we selected the winning jewelry cases that will keep your jewelry safe and organized whether you’re a jewelry minimalist or maximalist.

Best Overall: Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case

Best budget: bagsmart jewelry organizer bag.

  • Best Roll-Up: Bagsmart Peri Folding Jewelry Organizer

Best Personalization: Mark & Graham Small Travel Jewelry Case

Best large capacity: kendra scott medium travel jewelry case, best for long trips: calpak jewelry case, best compact: vee & co. small travel jewelry case.

  • Best for Everyday Use: Levenger Mini Jewelry Organizer

Best Sustainable: Paravel Jewelry Case

The small, oval container is the perfect size for a weekend getaway.

It could use a few more organizational features.

Cuyana’s oval-shaped case is deceptively spacious in comparison to its smaller design. Perfect for minimalist jewelry wearers, the interior has plenty of room and designated spots for several rings and earrings, but there aren’t specific latches for necklaces or bracelets. The two slip pockets on each side of the case can hold bigger or longer pieces of jewelry, but they run the risk of getting tangled without a latch so we wish the organization was a bit better. Made with genuine leather, the case has a protective exterior with a soft suede interior to further guard the jewelry against scratching or other damage. Throughout six months of tests, we loved this case for weekend getaways and longer trips alike and found it to be the perfect size to toss in a backpack or personal item.

The Details: Italian leather | 5 in. x 3.5 x 1.25 inches

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

The bag is spacious yet compact and comes with a handle to carry it easily.

The quality feels a bit lower than other cases we tried.

Designed similarly to a toiletry bag, we love that this wallet-friendly jewelry case comes with a top handle to transport it to and from a suitcase with ease. The compact bag is also a great deal considering how much jewelry it can hold while still being easy to pack. The polyester material is protective and flexible so the bag can pack down to a smaller size depending on how much jewelry is inside. The interior has an earring panel, ring bands, necklace clips, and various zippered pockets for storing all of the jewelry you want to pack for a trip. While we didn’t notice any issues with quality during testing, the materials feel less durable than other pricier cases we tried. We tossed the packed jewelry case around a bit during our tests and the items remained perfectly safe without any tangling or damage. Even after traveling with the case on seven flights, trains, and throughout more than four roadtrips during our six months of tests, nothing became tangled and the case is proving to be durable and sturdy.

The Details: Polyester | 6.1 x 9.8 x 1.9 inches

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best Roll-up: Bagsmart Peri Folding Jewelry Organizer

The compartments roll out, which makes it easier to pack jewelry.

It was slightly difficult to put the earrings on the designated card.

Bagsmart impressed us a second time with their roll-up jewelry organizer, which was the easiest bag to pack with jewelry during testing. After six months of use, we love that it can fit a lot of jewelry and has compartments big enough for even the biggest hoops and other dramatic earrings. The envelope-style case unrolls and lies flat so you can easily see all of the pockets, latches, and hooks for storing every piece of jewelry you could ever need for traveling thanks to the larger capacity. We had some slight difficulty getting earrings into the holes in the earring card, but it was just a minor inconvenience, and there are plenty of other spots to place hoops and studs. Made with cotton fabric, the case may feel a bit flimsy, but is soft and protective, and it’s very compact since it can lie fairly flat even after it’s packed with jewelry.

The Details: Cotton | 9.06 x 6.3 x 5.75 inches

Mark & Graham

It comes in 28 color and pattern options — plus it's monogrammable.

After six months of using the case, we wish it had more space for necklaces, bracelets, and larger earrings.

Looking for the perfect gift for a traveler? You can monogram this Mark & Graham jewelry case with up to three letters for a personalized touch that makes the gift all the more thoughtful. The square-shaped case has a sturdy exterior that feels like it will hold up perfectly in a packed carry-on and the pebbled vegan leather gives the box a sophisticated look while sitting on a desk or dresser. The interior is split into two sections with a mirror divider to separate the box, which makes it slightly difficult to fit larger jewelry pieces like a watch or chunky necklace, but after six months of testing, we did like that the separate sections help you access all your items without spilling everything out. We also love that there are tons of ring pillow slots so if you’re a big ring wearer, this jewelry case is an excellent option. In addition, there are several necklace or earring latches as well as a slip pocket and sections for bracelets or broaches.

The Details: Vegan leather, linen | 4.5 x 4.5 x 2.25 inches

Kendra Scott

The large size of this jewelry box makes it useful for heavy packers or at-home use.

It doesn’t have any necklace hooks.

Jewelry maximalists will appreciate the bigger size of Kendra Scott’s jewelry case. It looks like a traditional jewelry box that sits on a dresser, but it’s also very portable thanks to its lightweight materials and design. The interior has four large compartments to easily drop in bracelets, necklaces, or watches without any hassle and there are over 10 ring pillow slots for rings or earrings. To keep all the packed jewelry safe, the case comes with a divider to prevent items from jostling around on the go. The case also comes with a small matching zippered pouch that you can keep in the box or remove for extra storage. We found this separate pouch to be perfect for use on shorter trips when you may not need to bring the full case. While we wish the box had a few more organizational features like necklace hooks or earring holes, the jewelry remained perfectly intact after we shook it around, so we’re confident that the box keeps items safely tucked away. Plus, after six months of use, the stylish case still looks new and is a great option for home storage, too.

The Details: Polyurethane, polyester | 8 x 5.5 x 2.5 inches

After six months of traveling with this case, not one necklace became tangled thanks to the plentiful hooks.

We wish it had more storage options for studs.

If you’re embarking on an international trip that includes a checked bag, we recommend this jewelry case from Calpak to weather the journey. Since the rectangular jewelry case is bigger, it can easily store enough jewelry for several weeks of traveling. The structured design makes it ultra-durable and our favorite part is that it has a built-in drawstring bag that does an excellent job of keeping bracelets, watches, or earrings safely secured in the bottom section of the jewelry case. The top part has a variety of necklace latches and a ring holder for even more security. When we rigorously shook the container, none of the jewelry budged from its original spots, so we feel confident that this case will protect your valuables in a checked bag with no issues.

The Details: Faux leather, faux suede | 7 x 5 x 2.5 inches

The square-shaped box is small enough to easily fit in a carry-on or backpack.

The jewelry might scratch up the mirror on the divider.

The lower price and superior functionality make this petite jewelry case an excellent option for anyone looking for a place to store their accessories. It’s smaller than a lot of the options we tested, so we think it’s ideal for travelers needing to save space in a backpack or suitcase. Despite its compact stature, this jewelry box can fit tons of jewelry from studs to a leather watch. It’s intuitive to pack the case with rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more since there are designated latches, slots, and compartments for virtually everything. When we shook the case, all of the jewelry remained packed away in its original spot without any damage occurring. The box has a divider with a mirror on one side and our only worry is that the mirror could get scratched by the metals or vice-versa, so you may want to put a small piece of fabric between the mirror just in case.

The Details: PU vegan leather | 3.94 x 3.94 x 1.97 inches

Best for Everyday Use: Levenger Carrie Mini Jewelry Organizer

The small design makes it easy to store the case in a purse.

It can’t fit large jewelry pieces.

Jewelry minimalists will love this tiny jewelry case for keeping track of just a few pieces of jewelry while on the go. After six months of use, we love that this Levenger mini jewelry case has latches, hooks, and pockets to protect and organize rings, bracelets, and necklaces. It is on the small side with minimum space for studs, but light packers will appreciate the hard, durable exterior that still looks new after six months. The genuine leather exterior and suede interior feels luxurious and looks elegant, so this also makes a great jewelry case for newlyweds going on a honeymoon . We especially love the tiny zippered pocket in the middle of the case for storing extra small jewelry items like studs or stacking rings.

The Details: Leather, microsuede | 4.25  x 4.5 x 1 inches

All of the materials used to make this case are recycled.

The organizational features could be better and, after six months of use, we think it's a bit too large to pack in a carry-on.

Paravel is one of our favorite luggage brands , so we’re pleased to report that its jewelry case impressed us, too. The circular case is made entirely of recycled materials from post-consumer plastic water bottles and upcycled zippers to create an eco-friendly accessory for travel. Besides the sustainability factor, the case comes with a large drawstring pouch that makes it easy to drop in larger pieces of jewelry like bracelets or watches. The top flap of the case has a ring holder and earring post to store smaller pieces of jewelry, but we wish there were a few more organization features like necklace latches or zippered pockets. However, we love the vintage-style design and, like most Paravel bags, you can monogram the case with initials for a special touch.

The Details: Recycled canvas, vegan leather | 5.6 x 3.6 inches

Other Travel Jewelry Cases We Liked

The jewelry cases below get an honorable mention since they still performed well in testing, but fell slightly short compared to our top performers.

Benevolence Plush Velvet Travel Jewelry Box Organizer : This jewelry box can fit a ton of items, but you’ll want to make sure everything is secure before traveling since we noticed most of the jewelry became dislodged during testing.

Mejuri Travel Case : The case looks elegant and sleek on the outside, but the interior doesn’t offer much in the organizational department, so it’s best for minimalist travelers.

After thoroughly researching jewelry cases from trusted brands, we selected 25 options to first test out in our New York City lab. We packed each case with every type of jewelry you can think of, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, watches, and more to get a feel for the usefulness of the organization features. Then, we tossed, dropped, and shook the cases (think Kourtney Kardashian level of salad bowl shaking) to see if the jewelry remained safely secured in place or if the pieces moved around. We also examined the cases for any scuffing or damage.

With our lab testing portion complete, we then rated the jewelry cases based on ease of use, capacity, design, and quality to determine the winners. We continued to test the jewelry cases for an additional six months so we could see how each one performed while traveling in a more natural setting after the lab testing, and then added those insights.

Tips for Buying a Jewelry Case

Buy the right size case for your needs.

First, you’ll want to think about how much jewelry you travel with to determine the best size for your needs. For those who travel with bigger pieces of jewelry like watches or chunky necklaces, consider getting a more structured case with large compartments. Delicate or minimalist jewelry will pack better in an envelope or binder style of jewelry case. And if your jewelry collection consists of just a few pieces, opt for a mini jewelry case to save space in your luggage.

Consider organization

Most jewelry cases come with latches, hooks, pockets, and pillows to hold pretty much any piece of jewelry you can think of. Like other types of travel organizers , some jewelry cases are more barebones than others, so you’ll want to buy a case according to your organization preferences or based on the type of jewelry you travel most with. If most of your jewelry consists of earrings, be sure to get a box that has pockets and hole cards with spots for hoops, studs, and dangling earrings.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best way to keep your jewelry safe and organized is to use a jewelry case. The best thing about travel jewelry cases is that they often come with designated slots for all types of accessories to make packing intuitive and quick. If you want to add an extra layer of protection, you can always place tissue or fabric between your jewelry to prevent the pieces from rubbing against one another in transit.

Once your jewelry is packed into the case, we recommend placing the jewelry case between soft clothing for safekeeping or in a personal item in case you have to gate-check your bag when flying. It can be risky to place a jewelry case in a checked bag since you may run the risk of the bag getting lost, but it depends on your comfort level for flying with potentially valuable items.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L commerce writer Anna Popp writes most of the team’s articles where all of the products were tested in our lab or in a real-world setting. She participated in this lab test and tested the Cuyana jewelry case for six months. Anna sifted through testing notes and used her expertise in traveling with jewelry to recommend the best travel jewelry cases for all types of trips.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

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11 Best Travel Pillow Cases [2020]

Just because you are on a plane or in a car does not mean that you have to sacrifice comfort when it comes to your pillow cases. There are many high-quality and comfortable pillowcases that you can bring with you and place on your travel pillows wherever you go.

In this article, I will cover the different types of travel pillows you might encounter and provide you with some recommendations of some of the most highly reviewed travel pillow cases around.

Table of Contents

Travel pillows overview

Travel pillows come in a variety of sizes and shapes but there are some standardized versions of travel pillows that you will probably see at stores in the airport and when shopping online for travel pillows. 

Standard travel pillow

The standard travel pillow will likely be rectangular and 12″ x 16″ or 14″ x 20″. They might be filled with a variety of fillers like feathers, down, gel fiber, etc. Travel pillows are usually pretty cheap so you don’t have to splurge to find a decent pillow. And likewise, travel pillowcases are also pretty cheap.

A standard travel pillow is the type of pillow that you might bring along on a flight, road trip, or in your luggage for random times when you need some extra support from a pillow.

They are also very handy when traveling with toddlers or with babies. In fact, many pillows that are “travel sized” are actually toddler sized pillows that you would use for every day use with a toddler or a baby. 

And when you are not traveling, these types of pillows can come in handy for added support for your various body parts. For example, I have seen people use smaller travel pillows to help provide them with some additional back support. Or they might plop their legs on top of them when lying down.

Since travel pillows are so popular, it is not that difficult to find a travel pillow case for them. By the way, if you are also interested in finding some quality travel blankets be sure to check out the article here.   

The travel neck pillow

Neck pillows also come in a few varieties but the standard neck pillow comes in a U-shape. This is the type of pillow that wraps around your neck and provides questionable comfort for a lot of people. They also have U-shaped pillows that have additional “arms” for support and other types of neck pillows that provide support in different types of ways. 

You don’t always use a pillowcase for these type of pillows but you can in some instances. The tricky thing with pillows like these is that you have to find a U-shaped pillow case that will fit and the U-shaped pillows often have different dimensions and different fillings which can make it difficult to match them with a pillowcase. 

Standard hotel pillows

When some people are shopping for travel pillow cases, they are not looking for pillowcases for smaller neck and travel pillows.

Instead, they are interested in finding pillowcases that they can take with them to use at hotels.

This gives a lot of people an extra level of comfort and security, knowing that their pillowcases are clean and perhaps more protective of things like allergies. If you fall into this boat, you will be looking to buy pillowcases that are in a standard size or perhaps a queen/king size since many hotel beds are larger.

The issue with this is that hotels use pillows that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Therefore, you may not always be able to use your travel pillowcase unless you travel with several different sizes. 

The best travel pillowcases

Below are some of the top-rated travel pillow cases that you will find online.

ALASKA BEAR – Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase

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The ALASKA BEAR – Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase is a very highly rated silk travel pillowcase that comes in a variety of sizes including toddler which is 14″ x 18,” a standard size which is 20″ x 26,” and also queen and king sizes. These pillowcases feature 100% 19 momme mulberry silk and a 600 thread count, allowing for an incredibly smooth feeling on the skin.

Silk pillows may actually have a lot of health benefits . Silk can help reduce allergic reactions to materials and substances that might otherwise be stuck in your cotton pillows. Silk can also help with issues like dry skin and perhaps even help to reduce wrinkles. Finally, it is probably one of the best options for protecting your hair while you sleep. So if health and beauty or at the top of your mind, a pillowcase like this might be perfect for you.

TILLYOU Toddler Travel Pillowcases

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The TILLYOU Toddler Travel Pillowcases are some of the most popular travel pillowcases.

These are 100% silky soft microfiber polyester and they are extremely popular with kids and babies due to their smooth texture. They are 14″ x 20″ and come with a pack of two. The pillow cases will fit pillows in the following sizes: 13 x 18, 14 x 19, or 12 x 16 and from the following brands: TILLYOU, Dreamtown Kids, Little Sleepy Head, PharMeDoc, A Little Pillow, My Pillow, and others. 

AmazonBasics Light-Weight Microfiber Pillowcases

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AmazonBasics Light-Weight Microfiber Pillowcases are pretty cheap but highly reviewed. It is made with 100% polyester and it includes two 20″ x 30″ pillowcases, so these are a little bit bigger than standard travel pillows.

What is nice about these pillowcases is that they have so many different colors and patterns. You should not have an issue finding a color that matches or compliments whatever look you are going for.

NTBAY Satin Pillowcases

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If you are looking for satin travel pillowcases then you might want to check out the NTBAY satin pillowcases . These have fantastic reviews and come with a toddler size of 13″ x 18.” They also come in a variety of colors as well. These pillowcases come with a 90 day return and replacement service so they guarantee your satisfaction which is nice.

Satin pillowcases also have a lot of health benefits just like silk . Satin can help reduce wrinkles and lines in your face by reducing the amount of friction against your face that you would experience with a typical cotton pillow case. It might also help to protect your eyelashes and to keep your hair in good condition as well.  

Bedsure Satin Pillowcase

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If you are in the market for a larger satin pillowcase then you might go with the queen size Bedsure Satin pillow case . These measure 20″ x 30″ so they are significantly larger than the satin pillow cases above. These satin pillow cases are highly regarded and have nearly 10,000 reviews averaging close to five stars which is pretty amazing. The satin is 100% polyester satin and will provide you with a smooth and soft feeling.

NTBAY Velvet Pillowcase

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If velvet is more your style then look into the NTBAY Velvet Pillowcases . These are super comfortable pillows that come in a toddler size of 13″ x 18.” These pillows come in a number of solid colors and they feature wrinkle, shrink, and fade resistance . 

NTBAY Organic Cotton Toddler Pillowcases

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NTBAY Organic Cotton Toddler Pillowcases are good choices for anybody looking for some solid cotton travel pillow cases. These come in toddler size of 13″ x 18″ and will provide you with a set of two pillowcases. You can find these pillows in a variety of different patterns and colors.

Empyrean Bedding Hotel Luxury Set

Walmart has some pretty high-quality travel pillowcases that you can find. The Empyrean Bedding Hotel Luxury Set comes with two pillowcases and the king size pillowcase measures 20” x 40.” The pillowcases are pure microfiber linen, which unlike cotton, is more breathable and durable.

AllerEase Allergy Protection Zippered Travel Pillow Protector

If you are in search of a travel pillow case with an enclosed zipper then consider the AllerEase Allergy Protection Zippered Travel Pillow Protector. It comes in a 14″ x 20″ size and is made of 100% polyester microfiber fabric. The pillowcase only comes in a handful of colors, however.

If you struggle with allergies this might be the type of pillow case that could help you out by blocking dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens .

Travel neck pillowcase

If you are traveling with a neck pillow, there is a chance that you would want to use your own pillow cover for the pillow. Maybe the pillow is a little bit worn and in bad condition or you just want a pillow case that is more comfortable, if you are looking for a good plush pillow cover for a neck pillow then try out Cloudz Washable Travel Neck Pillow Cover .

This pillow case is 100% polyester and slips right over your Cloudz pillow. It even comes with a pocket where you can store your cell phone. 

Personalized travel pillow cases

Some people are really into personalization, especially when it comes to things like travel products. If you would like to find a personalized travel pillow I would head over to Etsy because there are endless customizable products on that website including travel pillows.

There are a lot of high-quality travel pillow cases out there for you to choose from. The first thing you need to figure out is what type of travel pillow you want a pillowcase for and what size. Then look at all of the different fabrics and decide on what type of texture you find most comfortable. Once you have narrowed that down, it will not be very difficult to find the perfect travel pillow case for you!

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Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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7 travel pill cases to keep your meds organized

Travel pill cases with individual compartments for each day of the week can help you track whether or not you’ve taken your medication.

Whether you are going on a trip or just need a way to keep your medications straight, a travel pill case can help. “They keep you organized so you can more easily remember to take your medications as prescribed each day,” says Dr. Karla Robinson , a board-certified family physician and medical editor at GoodRx.  “They can also help you keep track of medication you’ve already taken for the day, to prevent taking extra doses by mistake.” 

Travel pill cases or organizers can especially be helpful on a trip because they are easier to pack than multiple pill bottles, says Robinson. Don’t take prescription medication? They can also be used for supplements and vitamins. 

SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best travel pill cases | The best travel pill cases of 2024 | How to shop for a travel pill case

Selected Our top picks.

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select 34 top-rated Amazon travel accessories for your next trip

How we picked the best travel pill cases.

The right travel pill case for you will have to do with your specific needs. However, the experts we spoke with did say there are some universal things that everyone should look for. Those characteristics include: 

  • Delineated compartments: Most travel pill cases come with different areas to hold at least a week’s worth of medication and our experts recommend paying close attention to the way those compartments are situated. Look for clearly delineated compartments for each day if you take medication once a day or enough compartments for multiple times of day (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) if you take things at different times over 24 hours, says Alice Benjamin, a nurse practitioner and founder of the lifestyle website Ask Nurse Alice . 
  • Closing mechanism: If you plan on traveling with your pill case, chances are it may get jostled around your suitcase. “Ensure your pill case has a secure closure mechanism to prevent accidental spills or openings, which could lead to medication mix-ups,” says Benjamin. “And if you have small children or pets at home, a pill case with a child-resistant or secure locking mechanism is important for safety.”
  • Clear labeling: “For people with visual impairments, larger markings, clear labeling or high-contrast design can be very helpful,” says Benjamin. “Some pill cases even have braille or raised text for tactile identification.” Even if you don’t have visual impairments, clear labeling can make it quick and easy to grab the medication you need and go.

The best travel pill cases of 2024

We consulted with medical professionals about what to look for when shopping for a travel pill case. Then, using their guidance, we rounded up highly rated options from top retailers. 

Auvon Weekly Pill Organizer

Auvon Weekly Pill Organizer

This case stores up to seven days’ worth of medication and each compartment has a different colored lid and is labeled with the day of the week. Each compartment can hold up to 12 large vitamins and the lids stay firmly shut until you push the button to open them, according to the brand. Because this case has one large compartment for each day, it’s best for people who take all their pills at the same time of day. This option has a 4.8-star average from over 47,800 reviews on Amazon.

Zannaki Metal Travel Pill Organizer 

Zannaki Metal Travel Pill Organizer

Zannaki Metal Travel Pill Organizer

This aluminum pill organizer is made up of seven compartments that screw together to form a larger vessel that’s shaped like, well, a big pill. Each compartment is labeled with the day of the week and can hold up to eight fish oil pills or 16 large vitamins, according to the brand. When closed, the compartments are airtight and keep out moisture, according to Zannaki. This pill organizer has a 4.5-star average from over 1,350 reviews on Amazon and comes in six colors — including matte pink , ice blue and midnight black .

Zoksi Weekly Pill Organizer

Zoksi Weekly Pill Organizer

If you need to take medication or supplements in the morning and then again at night, this pill organizer may be a good option for you. Inside a larger box that locks shut with a plastic clasp sits seven smaller containers that each have two compartments. Each container comes in a different rainbow hue and is labeled with a day of the week on the side. When pulled out and laid flat, each container is split down the middle and can be opened on either side.You can take the larger container if you will be away for a week or can just select a few of the smaller containers if you are taking a shorter trip. This pill organizer has a 4.8-star average from over 8,600 reviews on Amazon. 

Koviuu Weekly Pill Organizer

Koviuu Weekly Pill Organizer

My husband recently bought this to keep his daily vitamins and supplements in and I love how chic it looks sitting on our bathroom counter. Made from BPA-free plastic, there are seven individual canisters (each labeled with a day of the week) that slot into a larger container to keep them all together and secure. Each canister is shaped like a skinny tube and can be opened from either end. Inside, there is a divider. So, you can put your morning medication in the top and your evening medications in the bottom. The larger container everything fits in has a rotating handle. When closed, it keeps the canisters locked in place and when opened, it props up the container at an angle so you can easily see your canisters. 

Ezy Dose Push Button Pill Case 

Ezy Dose Push Button Pill Case

Ezy Dose Push Button Pill Case

Made for people who take medications twice a day, this pill case has two removable trays. Each one has seven compartments labeled with the day of the week and one tray has moons on each compartment to denote the medication you take at night, while the other has suns for the medication you take in the morning. Each compartment has a push button that opens it and can fit up to 60 Aspirin, according to the brand. This pill case has a 4.6-star average from over 89,000 reviews on Amazon.

Mossime 2-Pack Weekly Large Pill Organizer

Mossime 2-Pack Weekly Large Pill Organizer

If you need to be able to travel with two weeks’ worth of medications or want to buy a one-week organizer for both you and your significant other, this two-pack is for you. For under $10, you get two separate pill cases that have seven separate compartments, each marked with a day of the week. Each container is a different color, making it easy to differentiate them. The compartments can each hold up to eight large supplements and the lids snap closed, according to the brand. This two-pack has a 4.6-star average from 2,900 reviews on Amazon.

Med-E-Lert Premium Locking Automatic Pill Dispenser

Med-E-Lert Premium Locking Automatic Pill Dispenser

Benjamin recommends a locking pill case for anyone with children and says choosing one with an alarm can be helpful for those who tend to forget to take their medication. This pill case delivers on both fronts. This pill organizer has 28 compartments, which equates to four weeks worth of once-a-day doses or two weeks worth of twice-a-day doses. You can program up to six alarms and set it so that when the alarm goes off, only the medication you are supposed to take at that time is accessible. In between uses, you can lock the case with a key. This case has a 4.3-star average from over 3,200 reviews on Amazon.  

Questions to ask yourself when shopping for a travel pill case

Shopping for a travel pill case is highly personal, as everyone has different needs when it comes to medications and supplements. To ensure you select a travel pill case best suited for you, experts recommend asking yourself these questions. 

What are your storage needs?

If you take only a few pills a day, you may be fine with a smaller case. If you take more medication or need to take things at different times of the day, a larger option with more compartments will serve you better. “That said, if you are traveling, I always recommend packing more than you will technically need,” says Robinson. “That way you are covered if something happens.” With this in mind, selecting something that will fit a bit more than you think you’ll need is wise.

How will you be using your pill case? 

Will you only be using your pill case when you travel? Or do you want something to put on your counter at home so your pills are organized and easy to remember? This may influence your choice. If you are just throwing it in a suitcase, you may not need to worry about aesthetics as much. But if it will be sitting out on your counter, consider something that you won’t mind looking at every day. 

Are your medications light-sensitive? 

The potency of some medications can be impacted if they are exposed to moisture and light, says Benjamin. Since bathrooms can get humid thanks to hot showers, you want a pill case that closes tightly so your medications aren’t exposed to that humid air. If you are taking a medication that shouldn’t be exposed to light, you’ll want to look for an opaque or darkly tinted pill case. In terms of maintaining the integrity of your medications, washing your pill case with soap and water regularly is also important — it ensures you aren’t transferring bacteria or residue to new medication you add in there, says Robinson.

Meet our experts

At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

  • Dr. Karla Robinson i s a board-certified family physician and medical editor at GoodRx. 
  • Alice Benjamin is a nurse practitioner and founder of the lifestyle website Ask Nurse Alice .

Why trust Select?

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she spoke to two medical professionals about what to consider when shopping for a travel pill case.

Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Bethany Heitman is a contributing editor at NBC Select.

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  4. Plano Golf Guard Deluxe Travel Case

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  6. iFLY Online Exclusive Hard Sided Luggage Fibertech 20" & Travel Case

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COMMENTS

  1. All Luggage & Travel in Luggage

    Options from $16.19 - $25.99. 24" Large Travel Duffle Bag for Men, 65L Foldable Travel Duffel Bag with Shoes Compartment, Overnight Bag for Men Women Waterproof & Tear Resistant, Travel Bag for Traveling Camping Touring, Gray. 428. Save with. Shipping, arrives in 2 days.

  2. The 6 Best Carry-On Luggage of 2024

    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 ...

  3. Travel Over to Walmart for These Great Luggage Deals

    It is a 20-inch carry-on with an expansion zipper that gives two extra inches of space. With a full lining pocket on the inside and 360-degree wheel navigation, this bag is easy to pack and go! It comes in four fun colors and can be purchased alone or as part of a set. Now 21% Off. $158 at Walmart. Credit: Walmart.

  4. Walmart travel essentials: Luggage, travel pillows, and more

    Equate Travel Kit. $4. Image: Courtesy of Walmart. This set of eight containers makes sticking to the TSA limits simple. With two 3-ounce flip-top bottles, a 3-ounce tube, a 2-ounce spray bottle, and three various sized jars, the lightweight containers are easy to refill between every trip. Labels are included for easy identification.

  5. Travel Accessories

    Shop Walmart.ca for a variety of essential travel accessories, including toiletry supplies, fanny packs, travel pillows and much more at everyday low prices! Skip to Main Content. ... Lolmot Skin Feel Retro Passport Case with Multi-Card Slot Rfid Anti-Scanning Waterproof Card. Clear out deal. Options + Now $7.08. current price Now $7.08. $21.20 ...

  6. Walmart Has Packing Cubes and More Travel Essentials Up to 58% Off

    Walmart's travel section includes hundreds of deals for up to 58 percent off essentials like packing cubes, hardside luggage, weekender bags, cosmetic cases, and more. Plus, you can find Apple ...

  7. The 11 Best Travel Tech Organizers of 2024

    Bevegekos Tech Organizer Travel Case at Walmart ($19) Jump to Review. Best Roll-up: ... The 9 Best Makeup Cases for Travel in 2024, Tested and Reviewed. Best Everyday Use Dagne Dover Tech Organizer.

  8. The 9 Best Travel Jewelry Cases of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

    Best Overall: Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case. Best Budget: Bagsmart Jewelry Organizer Bag. Best Roll-Up: Bagsmart Peri Folding Jewelry Organizer. Best Personalization: Mark & Graham Small Travel ...

  9. Bar Soap Travel Case to securely keep your soap contained

    Bar Soap Travel Case to securely keep your soap contained. (4.7) 22 reviews. Free 90-day returns. $4.68. Price when purchased online. Actual Color: Emerald Green. You get 30 days free! Choose a plan at checkout. Arrives Jun 13.

  10. 11 Best Travel Pillow Cases [2020]

    ALASKA BEAR - Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase. The ALASKA BEAR - Natural Silk Travel Pillowcase is a very highly rated silk travel pillowcase that comes in a variety of sizes including toddler which is 14″ x 18," a standard size which is 20″ x 26," and also queen and king sizes. These pillowcases feature 100% 19 momme mulberry silk ...

  11. The Best Insulin Coolers and Travel Cases

    4ALLFAMILY 7 Pen Insulin Cooler Travel Case. $139.99. This travel case delivers three cooling settings to accommodate a variety of travel needs, from simple city trips to extreme temperature settings. The first cooling method uses the Biogel. This needs to be frozen for a minimum of six hours beforehand.

  12. The best travel pill cases of 2024

    Amazon. $ 22.99. Walmart. This aluminum pill organizer is made up of seven compartments that screw together to form a larger vessel that's shaped like, well, a big pill. Each compartment is ...

  13. Walmart Plus Travel

    From exciting attractions and theme parks to the nation's top museums and wildlife parks, your next vacation's activities and tickets can be booked in the same place as your flights and hotel with Walmart+ Travel deals. Walmart+ members get up to 5% Walmart Cash on hotel bookings, vacations, car rentals, tours, activities & more.

  14. Toiletries & Travel Size Toiletries

    Billie 5-Blade Women's Razor Travel Case - Lilac Pop, Travel Case. 21415 4.2818 out of 5 stars. 21415 reviews. Available for Pickup, Delivery or 1-day shipping Pickup Delivery 1-day shipping. Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo, 100 mL. ... About Toiletries & Travel Size Toiletries | Walmart Canada

  15. Zelenograd, Russia: All You Must Know Before You Go (2024)

    29. Beaches. Zelenograd State Historical Local Lore Museum. 21. History Museums. Temple of the Prelate Nikolay Mirlikiysky. 22. Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks. Bust Alexander Pushkin.

  16. Moscow/Zelenograd and New Moscow

    Zelenograd and New Moscow are two large parts of Moscow city, that lie (often far) outside consolidated residential zone of the city, which lies within and just beyond the MKAD (Moscow Ring Road). Zelenograd was added in Moscow in 1968 as one of the leading scientific centers. New Moscow was added to Moscow in 2012, forming Novomoskovky and ...

  17. 4 ways to travel via train, rideshare, taxi, and car

    There are 4 ways to get from Moscow to Zelenograd by train, rideshare, taxi, or car. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. best.

  18. 3 ways to travel via train, rideshare, taxi, and car

    Drive • 46 min. Drive from Zelenograd to Moscow 50.4 km. RUB 380 - RUB 600. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between.