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The Best Carry-on Luggage of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

For frequent fliers or light-packing vacationers, these are the best carry-on bags.

In This Article

Our Top Picks
Other Carry-ons We Liked

Our Testing Process

Tips for Buying
Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Every frequent flier needs a good carry-on. And even if you travel only occasionally, you'll be glad to have one on hand. But besides allowing you to bypass checked baggage , what makes a high-quality carry-on? If you ask us, it's about capacity, maneuverability, durability, and design.

With this in mind, we tested 452 carry-on bags, including suitcases, duffels, weekenders, backpacks, and underseat bags to see which models check all the boxes. We packed them up, spun them around, hoisted them overhead, rolled them over various surfaces, and whacked them with a baseball bat to see how they'd hold up in a real-life setting. We also built an airplane set in our New York City lab to hoist them into overhead bins before our editors bring each bag on real trips to see how they fare long-term. The results of these tests were considered — along with price, weight, dimensions, materials, and smart features — to narrow down the best carry-ons currently on the market.

Best Overall

Samsonite freeform carry-on spinner.

This all-star carry-on has a spacious capacity, a durable thermoplastic shell, and smooth-rolling wheels.

There's no designated zippered section for dirty clothes.

We tried lots of excellent suitcases, but the Samsonite Freeform Hardside Spinner was a clear winner as a lighweight, durable, expandable carry-on. We've now tested this bag twice in our lab, recently retesting it to make sure we still loved it as much as we did two years ago when we first tried it out. Exceeding expectations during both lab tests and when we took it out for real-world testing, too, we found that it's easy to maneuver on two or four wheels and rolls smoothly on various surfaces, including carpet, hard flooring, and over curbs. We also like that the aluminum telescoping handle extends and locks with the push of a button.

This all-star suitcase has various pockets within the main compartment, and it expands a couple of inches when you need extra space. We were able to pack enough clothes for a four-day trip, including two pairs of shoes, multiple jackets, and two toiletry bags — no expansion needed. And while it does have a separator to keep your shoes away from your clean clothes, we wish this carry-on had a zippered section or removable bag for dirty laundry, though your favorite travel pouch would do the trick.

We loved the sleek, minimalist-modern design of the Freeform, which comes in more than 12 hues ranging from white to mint to merlot. After hitting it with a baseball bat during both tests, the polycarbonate (high-strength thermoplastic) shell remained scuff-free and showed virtually no signs of damage. Even after six months of regularly traveling with this bag during our travels, it shows no signs of wear and tear, and we were able to easily buff out any minor scuffs it had accumulated. Considering the reasonable price, durable construction, and spacious capacity, we think it's a great choice for frequent fliers and anyone in need of a high-quality carry-on.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Best Overall, Runner-up

Tumi alpha international dual access carry-on.

This bag has two access points and a removable garment bag for a suit or dress.

When the front-access section is fully packed, it will eat into the space in the main compartment.

The Tumi International Dual Access carry-on was a close runner-up to the Samsonite Freeform. It moves like a dream on various types of flooring, thanks to the four smooth-gliding dual spinner wheels and comfortable telescoping handle. Even after using the bag for three months, the wheels never got caught on any surfaces, making it easy to run through the airport or navigate a new city. Made of the brand's signature ballistic nylon, it also passed our baseball bat test with flying colors.

We were able to pack everything into the bag’s various compartments and loved the flexibility of a removable suiter for trips with dressier attire. The clamshell design also features several interior pockets and compression straps on one half to easily hold our four-day-trip packing list. The front-access portion can easily fit a sweater or light layer when the main suitcase isn’t stuffed full, or you can use it for tech items or a small makeup bag instead. There are also two pockets on the exterior for smaller items like a travel umbrella , as well as a built-in USB port you can connect to a power bank (sold separately). Though the price is higher than many other carry-ons, this is an investment in an undoubtedly high-quality carrier that will last for years to come.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Leticia Almeida

Best Expandability

Away the carry-on flex.

This carry-on is pretty spacious to begin with, but you can unzip the expander for 2.25 inches of extra space.

It might not meet all carry-on sizing requirements when you fully expand it.

This durable carry-on manages to be compact and portable while still offering a ton of space inside thanks to two large interior compartments and a helpful compression system. You can zip your items in on one side and buckle them in on the other, using the mesh pockets to store smaller items for organization. As all overpackers know, sometimes you just need a few extra inches of space — and The Carry-on Flex features a zipper expander that adds an additional 2.25 inches if you happen to buy one souvenir too many on a trip and need to fit it all in on the way home. However, be wary of your airline’s overhead bin allowances because using the expander may make your carry-on one inch too large, and you may be forced to check it (the expanded dimensions of the bag are 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches).

Other highlights we loved during testing included the smooth wheels that can roll in any direction; the different height options of the handle; and the notch on the underside of the bag that makes it so much easier to lift out of a car trunk, into an overhead bin, or off of a luggage carousel. The bag also felt very sturdy and tough with no dents and barely a scratch after we threw it off counters and hit it repeatedly with a baseball bat during testing.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure/Jhett Thompson
PHOTO: Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Best Budget

Amazon basics expandable hardside 21-inch spinner.

This wallet-friendly carry-on has a scratch-resistant shell and a surprisingly spacious capacity.

It only comes in four colors and doesn't have any smart features or a combination lock.

For something more affordable , look no further than Amazon. We found that this budget-friendly hardside suitcase maneuvers really smoothly, even on carpet and over bumps, and the handles turn like a champ. Not only that, but the scratch-resistant shell held up surprisingly well through our bat and drop tests on more than one occasion — like the Samsonite Freeform Carry-on, we loved this bag so much that we tested it a second time recently to make sure it was still up to our standards. We did notice some minor scuffing after our second round of hitting the bag with a baseball bat, but we were able to buff them out with a finger easily.

During testing, we were able to fit four days worth of clothing, shoes, and toiletries without having to expand the bag, though we're comforted by the fact that there's room to spare. After six months of regularly using the bag, we found it to be the perfect size for weekend trips.

Travel + Leisure s enior editor Jasmine Grant noted that this carry-on is "an excellent choice for a budget suitcase. It's light, durable, and expands to fit way more than you might assume by just looking at it." The Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner exceeded our expectations in more ways than one. And while it only comes in four colors, we're big fans of the simple, sleek design.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik

Most Spacious

Briggs & riley 22 inch spinner.

The expansion system is easy to use and adds 10 more liters of space, making this the most spacious carry-on on this list.

The bottom of the bag scratched when it was pulled over a curb during testing.

While carry-ons typically have less room than checked bags, the 22-inch spinner from Briggs & Riley lets you get the most bang for your buck. It has the largest capacity on this list when fully expanded, offering up to 51 liters of space. Our favorite aspect of the bag, though, has to be the clever expansion system that adds 25 percent more room. Instead of using a zipper like a traditional suitcase, you simply press two buttons located inside the bag to raise panels that take it from a 41-liter bag to a 51-liter bag in seconds.

The bag is plenty spacious without the expander as well, and we were able to fit our full packing list with room to spare during testing. The bag has one large compartment inside that is pretty deep and becomes large enough to fit bulky items like boots once expanded. The top of the bag has a small compartment with two mesh pockets for storage, and there is a compression pad inside to pack down clothes. There is also a pouch on the back exterior of the bag that can store a power bank and a small electronic device for charging on the go. The carry-on rolled smoothly on various terrains when we wheeled it from carpet to concrete and through our obstacle course. The hardside shell seems quite durable and didn't dent after we hit it multiple times with a metal baseball bat, although it did scratch on the bottom when going over a concrete curb during testing. Overall, we think it's a sturdy bag that has plenty of space for overpackers.

Most Stylish

Delsey chatelet air 2.0 21-inch spinner.

The Chatelet Air 2.0 has a gorgeous vintage appeal, and despite the elevated aesthetics, it doesn't sacrifice functionality or durability.

It's not expandable, so the compact design is best for short trips.

If luggage aesthetic is a top priority, Delsey's Chatelet Air 2.0 might be your best bet. Inspired by traditional Parisian architecture with unique lines, contrast stitching, and a vintage appeal, this suitcase is a sight for sore eyes. Sleek design aside, it's exceptionally functional. There's a fully zippered compartment on one side and compression straps on the other, plus pockets throughout and even a handy USB port.

What's more, the zippers open and close smoothly, and it glides effortlessly with the four spinner wheels on carpet, hard floors, and even stone pavers. It's durable, too, sustaining no visible damage after three months of use including two international flights in which the bag was checked. This bag is a standard carry-on size, and we were able to fit everything on our packing list . However, it’s probably best for short trips as there wasn't really any room to spare when we finished.

Best Softside

Samsonite elevation plus carry-on spinner.

This bag is durable and full of smart organizational features.

It can get a little wobbly when turning tight corners.

We frequently recommend Samsonite luggage for its durability and design, and this carry-on is no exception. Voted our favorite bag in our softside luggage test , we were impressed with how well it performed in our tests. After pushing it off a table and hitting it with a baseball bat repeatedly, it showed no signs of damage — not even dirt or minor scuff marks. We rolled this bag over multiple terrains and found that it was easy to maneuver and reroute, although it wobbled a bit during tight turns.

This is a fairly small carry-on, but it fit our entire packing list during testing, although we did have to use some elbow grease to squish the last few things in (but then again, softside suitcases tend to have more flexibility to fit extra items). It comes with external bags to help with organization, which was a thoughtful detail we appreciated. The outside of the bag has two large zipper pockets, while the interior features a two-section pocket that you can detach and reattach with snaps. It also comes with a bag that you can use for shoes or dirty laundry, as well as another flat, removable pocket. The bag even has a built-in space for an Apple AirTag or another small luggage tracker . All the zippers worked well even when it was packed quite full. In the end, we think this is a great option for fans of softside luggage who want a durable bag that will last them a long time.

The Details: Softside | 22 x 14 x 9 inches | 6.7 pounds | Recycled rPET | 4 dual spinner wheels

Most Durable

Travelpro x travel + leisure carry-on spinner.

This 45-liter carry-on survived being dropped and hit by a baseball bat without a single scratch.

It may not fit in some overhead bins if you use the expander.

Durability is important with any bag, and we were impressed with how this 45-liter Travelpro carry-on stood up to being thrown around. Despite being slightly flexible, it was rock-solid when it came to durability, surviving our drop and bat tests without a single scratch. We think this makes an excellent investment for frequent flyers with top-notch organization inside, including two split-case compartments with two separate zippered divider panels, multiple accessory pockets, and a removable pouch. We were also impressed with the quality of the compression straps, which were adjustable and stylish without sacrificing durability. It's also quite spacious, providing plenty of room for our packing list during testing. Plus, it has a generous two-inch expander if you need more room. While some hardside bags are very rigid, we noticed that this one has a bit of give if you do need to pack it extra full.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang

July Carry On Trunk

We love this trunk for how sleek and stylish it looks while still having useful features like an ejectable power bank and a customizable handle height.

You have to be more intentional about what you pack since the trunk has no expandability.

This stylish carry-on trunk features a clamshell design that opens right down the middle rather than the 30/70 design that many trunks typically have . It feels like a luxury bag thanks to the zipperless clasp closures, ejectable power bank, and multi-stop rubber handle (you can customize the handle to sit at any height you want). We found the trunk super easy to maneuver over different surfaces like carpet and concrete pavers during testing, and it rolled effortlessly on four wheels. When we rolled it on two wheels, it did slow down slightly, but it was still easy to move, and the weight felt evenly distributed through the bag and handle.

The trunk had no scuffs after we pushed it off a counter three times, though it did collect black marks during our real-world travels, but we were able to easily wipe them away without permanent damage. We did manage to give it a few very small dents after hitting the trunk with a baseball bat, but they were barely noticeable. One thing to note is that this trunk has no give because of its hard shell and clasp closures, so you cannot overstuff it, and you have to be more picky with your packing list.

Best With Laptop Compartment

Samsonite just right carry-on spinner.

It’s packed with organization features, including a padded laptop sleeve, a wireless charging pocket, and removable packing cubes.

There was some peeling and scratching on the outer material and wheels of the bag after our durability tests.

If you tend to travel with a laptop and other devices, the Samsonite Just Right Carry-on Spinner is especially handy with a tech organizational panel that you can unzip and unfold at the front of the bag to easily store and access your valuables. This panel features a 15-inch laptop sleeve, a padded tablet sleeve, a document sleeve, a wireless charging pocket, a USB charging port, and plenty of zippered storage pockets. There are locks for both the main compartment and the laptop compartment, and the bag also comes with removable packing cubes for additional organization.

Though the suitcase felt a bit heavy after we packed it, it was very easy to maneuver, gliding through turns and different terrains beautifully. It suffered some minor marks after we threw it off counters and hit it with a baseball bat, including some peeling and scratching on the exterior and the wheels. One of the top corners was ever so slightly dented as well, but chances are you’ll stick this carry-on in the overhead bin rather than checking it so it won’t get banged around as much, especially if you have your laptop inside. All of the built-in tech compartments, elastic compression straps, and bonus packing cubes are an excellent way to keep all of your valuables in place.

Best With Brakes

Aer carry-on.

This unique carry-on has a brake system to prevent it from rolling away.

Choose a darker color if you’re worried about dirt and marks.

If you’ve ever had a bag roll away from you like a runaway train (forcing you to run after it so it doesn’t hit someone), you know it’s a humbling experience. The most noteworthy thing about the Aer Carry-on is that it has a Hinomoto wheel brake system to stop it in its tracks. “It's such a unique feature and helpful if on public transport or stopping on an incline with bags since it securely holds the bag in place,” says T+L associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker , who owns this bag. The wheels spin easily and soundlessly, and then you can pop the brake on to stop them from rolling. In fact, Parker says it has “some of the smoothest wheels I've used in a carry-on, even when packed full.”

The 48-liter capacity is quite large for a carry-on — perfect for those who need all the space they can get — and the bag feels sturdy all-around, from the double-layer zippers to the internal compression system. The top and side handles have a hole to which you can attach other bags and belongings with a carabiner. The bag comes in five colors; we traveled with a white one, and though it got beat up a bit, we were able to buff out most of the scuff marks.

PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao

Best Aluminum

Tumi 19 degree aluminum international carry-on.

This sleek aluminum bag is just as durable as it is beautiful.

Weighing more than 11 pounds, this is heavy for a carry-on.

This stunning Tumi carry-on will make a statement in any airport, with four metallic colors to choose from and a durable aluminum shell to protect your belongings. As the priciest option on this list, you are paying for the Tumi label, but we can confirm that this is a high-quality piece that is worth the investment. This 31-liter bag is on the smaller size for a carry-on — and like most aluminum bags , it feels quite heavy (weighing more than 11 pounds) — but we were impressed by the built-in organization that makes it easy to pack. Both halves of the suitcase have fully zippered closures and compression straps — an ideal combination because you can use the compression straps to get the contents as tightly packed as possible and put less strain on the zippers when you ultimately zip each side closed. There are two smaller zippered flaps on each half of this suitcase so you can fit smaller items in there, as well as an internal card pocket and a hanger bracket to hang garments. We thought the wheels were very sturdy (both when rolling the bag and when hitting the wheels directly with a baseball bat), and the leather-wrapped handles are comfortable to pull. The latches feature two TSA-approved combination locks with push buttons to open them, and you can also monogram the bag with custom initials.

Best Compression

Paravel aviator carry-on plus.

A compression board makes it easy to fit everything into the zippered compartments, and there's a removable laundry bag for dirty clothes.

This suitcase isn't expandable, but it's one of the larger carry-ons we tested.

For highly organized travelers that want to fit a lot in a carry-on, we recommend the Paravel Aviator. After regularly traveling with the bag for six months, we really love the exceptional capacity and organizational features. Even though it's not expandable, the built-in compression board makes it easy to fit everything into the zippered compartments. It also comes with a removable laundry bag for dirty clothes.

Inspired by retro luggage with a modern twist, this classy carry-on is gorgeous. Not only that, but the durable polycarbonate exterior feels sturdy and sustained just a few minor scuffs during our tests. It's super easy to maneuver, too. Although the Paravel Aviator is somewhat steep in price, we think it's a worthwhile investment for those in the market for a high-quality suitcase. While updating your luggage collection, lovers of vintage-inspired design and organization should also consider a train case .

Best Waterproof

Rains texel cabin trolley.

The padded laptop sleeve on the front is completely waterproof.

It's on the larger side and may not fit in the overhead bins when packed full.

No traveler wants their stuff to get wet unexpectedly, so be prepared for surprise rainstorms with this carry-on from Rains. Both the hardside shell and the front pocket of this bag are fully waterproof, making this a safe way to transport your belongings. Tough polycarbonate forms the majority of the outer shell, while a padded laptop pocket in the front is made from waterproof PU fabric that can safely store laptops and tablets up to 15 inches. There is also a large strap on the front of the bag that attaches with a buckle closure to keep the front pocket nice and secure.

We found the capacity of this bag to be impressive during testing. The inside compartments were deep enough to fit everything on our packing list, and the mesh dividers allowed plenty of room for things like underwear and socks. Even though there is no expandable feature, we didn't feel like we were tight on space. The compression strap on the other side of the bag helped to pack down clothing and was easy to use. We did notice that when fully packed, this suitcase is a tight squeeze into the overhead compartment on our test plane set, so we would be careful not to overpack it to make sure it fits. The bag rolled smoothly during testing on two wheels and four, and the weight of the suitcase felt evenly distributed. As long as you're mindful of the packed sized of this bag, we think it's a great option for anyone who wants to make sure their things stay dry.

Other Carry-on Bags We Liked

While we tested plenty of high-scoring carry-on bags, there were many items that almost made our list but didn’t quite make the cut due to several weaknesses with maneuverability, capacity, design, durability, and/or overall value revealed during testing.

Delsey Paris Cruise 3.0 Carry-on : We appreciated the large capacity and expandability of this bag, allowing us to easily fit everything on our packing list. But the wheels are somewhat large, which makes it hard to fit into an overhead bin.

Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-on Max With Front Pocket : Even though it doesn't expand, this suitcase fit everything on our packing list, did well rolling over bumps, and showed no signs of damage from our bat swings. Plus, like some of the other Arlo Skye luggage pieces , it comes with a removable power bank. While we have few complaints. we were concerned about this bag fitting in the overhead bins.

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Samsonite Tru-frame Carry-on Spinner : We loved this carry-on for its futuristic, zipperless design and durability, though it felt a bit more compact than some of the more spacious carry-ons on this list.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

July Carry On Pro : We found this suitcase to be aesthetically pleasing, plenty spacious, and easy to maneuver. While the feature-rich design is enticing, it was pretty similar to the Away Carry-on, which compressed a little better.

Calpak Ambeur Front Pocket Carry-on Luggage : This is a stylish option that comes in a handful of metallic colors for under $300. We love that it has a laptop compartment on the front of the suitcase, though it seems to poke out from the suitcase the more we packed it, and we found the zipper of the compartment to be stiff.

Zero Halliburton Classic Aluminum 3.0 International Carry-on : This is one of the most durable suitcases we've ever tested, though it felt a little small for a carry-on. Ultimately we preferred the Tumi option on our main list as our favorite aluminum carry-on.

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Away The Softside Bigger Carry-on : This suitcase from popular luggage brand Away 's new softside collection is sleek and stylish, so we have no complaints about the way it looks. The outside material felt durable, and we had no problem fitting all of our things inside, although it is pretty large and heavy for a carry-on bag.

The T+L team performed various luggage tests in our New York City lab to evaluate the capacity, maneuverability, durability, and design of each carry-on. We filled each carry-on bag with enough clothing and essentials for a four-day trip, including six shirts, three pairs of pants, five pairs of socks, five pairs of underwear, two jackets, and two pairs of shoes, plus one small and one large toiletry bag. We then analyzed how well the bags handled the cargo.

After packing them up, we rolled the bags around on different surfaces (when possible) to see how well they maneuvered over pavement and carpet, and we maneuvered them through human obstacle courses to see how they can handle sharp turns in tight spaces. We also recreated an airplane set in our lab to lift the bags into real overhead bins and push them underneath seats. We whacked the fully packed bags with a metal baseball bat and pushed them off a table to see how well they held up to wear and tear.

After testing these bags in the lab, we sent them home with our T+L editors to travel with the bag for a period of six months to continue evaluating the luggage in the real world. Keeping price, size, adjustability, features, and standout quirks in mind, the carry-ons with the highest scores in all testing categories were ultimately chosen for this roundup, and we will continue to update it as we test more carry-ons.

Tips for Buying Carry-on Luggage

Consider hardside vs. softside luggage.

When buying carry-on luggage , you'll see a range of hardside and softside options. Suitcases with hard shells can be better for protecting things from crushing and are generally easy to wipe clean. However, depending on the color and material, they can be prone to scuffing.

Softside luggage, on the other hand, is typically a lighter weight, more flexible if you tend to be an overpacker, and often just as durable as its hardside counterpart. While a textile shell can be trickier to clean, it may not show as much dirt or scuffs either, and it likely won't dent like a hardside bag can. See our rundown of how to choose between hardside and softside bags for more information.

Look for lightweight construction

Lightweight luggage is crucial when choosing a carry-on. Be sure to note the empty weight of the suitcase or bag before buying it, as heftier designs will make a jam-packed carrier all the more cumbersome. Weight affects not only maneuverability, but also your ability to hoist it into the airplane's overhead bin. The wheeled carry-on suitcases we tested ranged in weight from 4.36 to 12.9 pounds. Anything heavier than that is going to be too heavy for many people.

Decide if you want extra organizational features

Some carry-on luggage is relatively basic, with a main compartment and a pocket or two. However, many suitcases, weekenders, and duffel bags have additional organizational features that make packing and accessing your stuff much easier. This may include a laptop sleeve, a shoe separator, a laundry bag, various zippered sections, exterior pockets, and even charging capabilities .

Choose between handheld, spinner, or two-wheeled luggage

When it comes to choosing the best carry-on bag for you, first consider your traveling style and packing needs. Spinner luggage, which features four wheels that can spin 360 degrees, is easy to maneuver whether you're running to your airport gate or making your way through a new city. Bags with spinner wheels are generally quite easy to roll over various surfaces, making them a great option if you plan to walk for long periods of time with your luggage. They allow you to maneuver well-stuffed expandable luggage more easily. Two-wheeled bags, however, may be less sturdy, but they'll give you a few more inches of extra space when packing. Bags with only two wheels also tend to be slightly lighter than their four-wheeled counterparts. Lastly, opting for a weekender or carry-on backpack means you can dash around as needed, and your bag will be more compact, but you will have to manage all the weight on your back or shoulders instead of rolling it.

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Frequently Asked Questions

Rules vary among airlines , but most allow carry-on luggage no larger than 24 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. Some are slightly stricter, setting the limit at 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Keep this in mind when using your suitcase's expander, as the additional couple of inches could put you over the size limit. When in doubt, check the airline's website.

Some airlines have a carry-on weight limit of roughly 35 pounds. However, this is often not strictly enforced, and many domestic airlines don't have a limit at all. Bear in mind some international flights may restrict carry-ons over 22 pounds. Either way, make sure you are able to lift your bag on your own, otherwise, it's probably too heavy.

All liquids, including makeup, lotion, and other cosmetics, must be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces in carry-on luggage. (For checked baggage, you can bring pretty much any size.) Powdered makeup, bar soap, and solid deodorant are usually allowed in larger containers. Lighted makeup mirrors are also permitted in carry-ons. You'll also want to put all liquid beauty and personal hygiene products in a clear plastic bag before going through airport security. You can review the TSA's official liquids rules here .

AirTags are allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage. These luggage trackers use such low energy Bluetooth that they're safe and TSA-compliant. For other GPS trackers, you should check with your individual airlines to make sure that your device is allowed, especially if they use a higher level of power.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, commerce writer Theresa Holland pored over in-house testing insights for dozens of bags, then cross-checked product descriptions and manuals to compile a comprehensive list of the best carry-on luggage currently on the market. She also has an extensive writing background, writing for top brands about traveling must-haves among several other commerce areas. Of the above brands, she owns carriers and on-the-go accessories from Away, Tumi, Paravel, Amazon Basics, Monos, and July.

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Protect Your Trip »

13 best carry-on luggage pieces 2024 - we tested them all.

Discover the best carry-on luggage for your unique travel style and needs.

The Best Carry-on Luggage

Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original – Large.

Rachael Hood | U.S. News

Things aren't always as they seem – especially when it comes to luggage. In our quest to find the best carry-on bags, we discovered that while some suitcases look good, they don't always hold up to the demands of travel. Some designs have attractive features that add bulk but not additional functionality, while others just don't live up to the hype.

To determine the best carry-on luggage, we tested dozens of bags on countless trips to find the ideal bag for every travel need. Read on to find the best option in a variety of categories, tested and reviewed by our team of experts.

Best Overall: Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original – Large

Jump to features and expert insights ↓
Overall Runner-up: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-on Hardside Spinner

Best Hard-sided: Away The Carry-On

Best soft-sided: samsonite solyte dlx carry-on spinner, best lightweight: july carry on light, best for international travel: delsey paris helium aero international carry-on - expandable spinner, best affordable: amazon basics 20-inch hardside spinner.

Best Expandability: Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner
Best Underseater: CALPAK Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-On Luggage

Best for Business Travel: Amazon Basics Expandable Softside Carry-On Spinner – 20.4 Inch

Best luxury: carl friedrik the carry-on pro.

Best Carry-on Duffel: The North Face Rolling Thunder–22"

Best Carry-on Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

(Note: Prices were accurate at the time this article was published; they may fluctuate due to demand or other factors. Original photos were taken by our editors during luggage testing.)

Price: $315 or less

Dimensions: 22.4 x 14.6 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds; 8.85 pounds with closet insert Packing capacity: 4-7 days | Color options: Red, purple, navy or 6 others, plus precious metals options Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Lifetime

Sturdy and attractive, this suitcase is set apart from the rest by its patented and removable shelving system. This unique design feature makes packing easier, keeps items in place and removes the need for unpacking at your destination. Rather than a zippered clamshell design, the Solgaard Carry-on Closet has two latches that open with just the squeeze of two levers together; it secures with a TSA-approved lock.

The waterproof polycarbonate exterior has an aluminum frame and corner guards so this suitcase can withstand all the rigors of travel. There's also an ergonomic handle and frictionless wheels, which make it easy to maneuver on all types of terrain. What's more, this sustainable suitcase helps to repurpose 6 pounds of plastics that may have ended up in the ocean.

What our editors say:

This carry-on suitcase has it all! From the power bank (sold separately) to the super sturdy and comfortable handle to the removable closet feature – not to mention the attractive yet functional appearance – this suitcase packs a punch. I really like how easy it is to pull on a variety of surfaces, including carpet and brick. – Rachael Hood, Senior Editor

Best Overall Runner-up: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner

The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner in cream on a pathway outside.

Leilani Osmundson | U.S. News

The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner in cream.

Price: $369.99 or less

Dimensions: 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 8.1 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 10 days; 45 liters | Color options: White, red, blue, green or gray Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Limited lifetime

The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner is a truly well-rounded carry-on with a plethora of unique features. USB A & C ports on the outside of the bag give easy access to charging. (A power bank is not included, though the bag does have a pocket for one inside the expansion zipper.) Self-aligning magnetic wheels – a reviewer-favorite feature – allow painless travel through the airport as well as on roads, sidewalks, uneven surfaces and more. A built-in TSA zipper lock offers ultimate protection for your possessions.

Even without the features listed above, this Travelpro spinner is, at its core, a high-quality piece. The hard outer shell is ultra-strong and 100% polycarbonate; aluminum corner guards further protect your belongings. The clamshell-style suitcase has two large interior compartments along with three extra pockets, one of which is water-resistant, and the expansion zipper allows for an extra 2 inches of packing room. Plus, this carry-on is made with genuine leather trim, so you can travel in style as well as comfort.

There are some amazing features on this carry-on, but my favorite is the wheels – as someone who typically prefers hands-free travel (primarily backpacks), I found that the way this suitcase easily glides around everywhere absolutely changed my mind about wheeled luggage. Just know that since this is one of the larger bags on this list, I would still check your airline's carry-on size requirements before traveling (though it's been tested for most major domestic airlines, and it fit perfectly on Delta). – Leilani Osmundson, Senior Digital Producer

Amanda Norcross | U.S. News

Price: $275 or less

Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 5 days; 39.8 liters | Color options: Black, navy, blue gray or olive, plus 2 glossy options Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Limited

When it comes to hard-sided carry-on luggage , nothing beats The Carry-On by Away. The bag is lightweight yet indestructible thanks to a 100% polycarbonate exterior. Plus, you can easily wipe away most scratches with a magic eraser.

In late 2023, Away launched a new iteration of The Carry-On that somehow made it even more efficient. The most notable new features are an additional underside grab handle, three extra interior compartments, and an enhanced compression system that upholds the bag's ability to accommodate nearly a week's worth of clothing. The bag's 360-degree wheels are also slimmer than those of its predecessor for improved maneuverability. While Away has long been known for its neutral colored matte options, glossy options of this bag are now available.

The Away Carry-On is my ride or die. I've taken it on so many trips over the past five-plus years and it's still in perfect shape. I know I'll have it with me for many years to come. – Amanda Norcross, Senior Content and SEO Strategist

Samsonite SoLyte DLX Carry-On Spinner in blue in an alley.

Catriona Kendall | U.S. News

The Samsonite SoLyte DLX Carry-On Spinner in blue.

Price: $199.99 or less

Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 32 liters | Color options: Black, gray, green, aqua blue or royal blue Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: 10-year limited

This classic soft-sided option from Samsonite offers everything you need for a smooth trip. There are three spacious pockets and a trolley strap on the outside so you can stack it on top of another rolling suitcase, as well as a USB port for charging your phone (though you'll have to purchase a battery separately).

Inside the suitcase, three more zippered pockets – including one for wet items – help you stay organized, while buckles keep the main compartment's tie-down straps out of your way while packing. This spinner can conveniently expand by 0.75 inches, but keep in mind if you're flying that overpacking may put it over your carry-on size allowance.

I've used other spinner suitcases in the past, but none of them glide as smoothly as this bag, with its 360-degree dual-spinner wheels. I also love the high-quality, lightweight material, but my favorite part is its organizational features – especially the WetPak pocket. I'd highly recommend the Samsonite SoLyte DLX for anyone who needs a trusty soft-sided carry-on for a flight; it definitely fits more than I thought it would. – Catriona Kendall, Editor

July Carry On Light in black against a sunny window.

Price: $245 or less

Dimensions: 21.25 x 14.17 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 3.9 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 32 liters | Color options: Beige, light green, dark green, lilac, charcoal or 3 others Hard- or soft-sided: Hard | Warranty: Lifetime with 100-day returns

Weighing just under 4 pounds, this bag is the lightest hard-sided carry-on we found on the market. It's constructed with an extremely durable German polycarbonate shell, and the interior has two mesh zippered compartments to keep your belongings from shifting. The inner nylon lining is also resistant to water and stains. To make the suitcase easy to maneuver, there's a top carry handle, a telescoping handle and dual-spinner wheels.

I was absolutely shocked by how light this suitcase is. While some lightweight designs can be extremely flimsy, this July carry-on is very durable and holds a good amount of clothing. With compression packing cubes I was able to pack enough clothing for a week. It was extremely easy to put in the plane's overhead compartment, and the wheels rolled very smoothly for my entire journey. The only thing I noticed is that since the bag is so lightweight, the trolley bag I had was making it want to topple. Next time, I'd use a smaller tote or a north-south design to avoid that issue. – Rachael Hood

The DELSEY PARIS Helium Aero International Carry-On - Expandable Spinner in blue.

Erin Evans | U.S. News

Price: $179.99 or less

Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 10 inches | Weight: 8.16 pounds Packing capacity: 5-7 days; 41 liters | Color options: Black, blue, red or gray Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 10-year limited

This DELSEY PARIS carry-on is a well-built piece of hard-sided luggage. It meets carry-on suitcase size restrictions for most international airlines and offers an easily accessible front compartment – ideal for a laptop up to 15.6 inches or other items you want to be able to grab quickly. The suitcase has a TSA lock and two spacious internal compartments for clothing, shoes and travel gear. The double-spinner wheels glide smoothly across all types of surfaces, and the handle pulls out and retracts with ease.

I was incredibly impressed by this little workhorse of a carry-on bag. There are so many different pockets and compartments within it for organization, and it fits a surprising amount of clothes, shoes and accessories. The handle and wheels make it easy to maneuver, and the glossy exterior makes it look sleek and chic. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor

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Textured exterior of Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner.

Price: $80 or less

Dimensions: 21.46 x 14.76 x 9.45 inches | Weight: 7.34 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 23 liters | Color options: Black, navy blue, orange or light blue Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 1-year

The Amazon Basics 20-inch Hardside Spinner is similar to many other hard-sided luggage products on the market, but it's available at a fraction of the price. The ABS shell is textured, so even if you – or luggage handlers – bang it around a bit, it does not show scuffs or scratches easily. The double-spinner wheels (a must, honestly, in today's luggage landscape) make the bag effortless to maneuver.

Inside, one side of the bag features a compression strap, while the other has a large fabric zippered closure, complete with a few organizer pockets for smaller items. Thanks to its availability on Amazon Prime, the carry-on luggage ships quickly, so it's also a great option if you need new luggage in a crunch.

This carry-on bag is a superb selection for the budget-conscious traveler. I appreciated how much I was able to get into this bag (it doesn't look huge, but it fit quite a lot), and the textured exterior really ups the durability factor. The compression straps and the interior organizer even helped me squeeze in a bit more. – Erin Evans

Best Expandability: Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner

Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner in blue against stone wall.

Price: $699 or less

Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 (up to 11.5) inches | Weight: 10 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 7 days; 37-48 liters | Color options: Black, navy or olive Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Lifetime

The Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner has a standout feature that other bags on this list don't: one-touch CX expansion. Exclusive to Briggs & Riley, this technology allows your bag to expand and compress in one swift motion. Simply press and pull up on the red levers found at opposite ends of the bag, and it will grow 2.5 inches. Once you've packed your belongings, push down on the buttons to compress the bag before zipping it up.

This bag also features a garment folder to reduce wrinkles in a suit or dress, as well as cinch-down garment panels to secure the clothing in place. Other convenient features include interior mesh compartments for organization, an exterior pocket for airport essentials (or even your laptop) and a signature PowerPocket where you can charge your smartphone.

While the bag is undoubtedly an investment at $700, its "simple as that" guarantee (free repairs forever, no questions asked) – plus sturdy features like impact-resistant corner guards and self-repairing zippers – means you'll have it for life.

When it comes to quality, this is the best luggage I've ever used – period. The compression/expansion system is just the icing on the cake. – Amanda Norcross

Best Underseater: CALPAK Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On Luggage

The CALPAK Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On Luggage in black.

Price: $165 or less

Dimensions: 16 x 14.5 x 9 inches | Weight: 5.1 pounds Packing capacity: 2-4 days; 34 liters | Color options: Chocolate, oatmeal or rose quartz Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: 2-year limited

Compact and filled with useful features, this CALPAK underseater has a water-resistant exterior, a TSA-approved lock, and side and top handles for easy lifting into the overhead or pushing under the seat. There's a telescoping handle, a luggage trolley sleeve and two exterior pockets for stowing small items like your passport, boarding pass and earbuds.

On the inside, there's a padded laptop sleeve, multiple interior pockets and compression straps. For added convenience, the main panel can be secured via built-in snaps to get your laptop out while traveling (and keep your other belongings from spilling out), or you can unsnap it while packing to maximize the interior storage space.

When I'm traveling on a quick trip with my laptop, this is my go-to bag. Its compact size glides easily under the seat, and it's also compact and light enough to fit into the overhead bin even on the smallest regional planes. I love the laptop sleeve and the zippered exterior pocket for my book, earbuds and wipes. To maximize the interior space, I use compression cubes from Lug , and I'm able to squeeze in four to five outfits, a pair of shoes and daily necessities. – Rachael Hood

The Amazon Basics Expandable Softside Carry-On Spinner – 20.4 Inch in black.

Price: $83 or less

Dimensions: 20.4 x 14.9 x 8.2 inches | Weight: 6.35 pounds Packing capacity: 2-3 days; 26 liters | Color options: Black, olive, gray, red, blue or purple Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: 1-year

This simple but sturdy carry-on piece from Amazon is a great option for business travelers, thanks to its front pocket for easy laptop access, smooth double-spinner wheels and TSA lock. This Amazon Basics soft-sided carry-on also features a handle on the bottom between the wheels, which makes it easy to put the bag up into and pull it out of the overhead bin. On some airplanes, it may even be small enough to fit under the seat.

The interior of the bag features one large compartment with two compression straps, plus two zippered pockets on the opposite site. The 20.4-inch option is ideal for shorter trips, but this style is available in larger sizes as well. Another bonus: It's available on Amazon Prime, so it ships quickly.

This Amazon Basics option is on the smaller side for a carry-on, but that's what makes it a solid choice for business travelers going on short trips who only need to pack a few things. The laptop pocket is easily accessible, and the handle on the bottom of the bag is super useful for hauling it out of an overhead bin. The black color is professional, and the price can't be beat. – Erin Evans

Carl Friedrik The Carry-on Pro in black against chair.

Price: $565 or less

Dimensions: 21.7 x 15 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 9.5 pounds Packing capacity: 5-7 days; 43 liters | Color options: Gray/cognac, gray/chocolate, gray/black or black Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Warranty: Lifetime with a 100-day trial

Constructed with premium materials, this luxury carry-on has Italian leather accents, Japanese spinner wheels and a polycarbonate exterior with an aluminum metal frame for stability. It closes via two secure latches with combination locks (rather than a zipper). There's a front laptop compartment with a smaller pocket and pen slots to keep business essentials or travel documents easy to access.

The interior has leather details, compression straps and a removable compression pad with a pocket – ideal for small items like ties, fashion jewelry or silk scarves. Travelers can also purchase an additional compression pad to have a pad on each side of the interior compartment.

This suitcase exudes luxury with its Italian leather trim and understated elegance. The design of it looks very sleek, the interior is spacious, the handle is very sturdy and the wheels glide with ease. I especially liked that the top of the suitcase is very flat, which gave my trolley bag a secure base so it wasn't moving around while I was at the airport, and the front compartment was ideal for accessing my laptop on the go. It feels very sturdy, but the only downside is it weighs more than a typical carry-on. – Rachael Hood

Best Carry-on Duffel: The North Face Rolling Thunder – 22"

The North Face Rolling Thunder – 22" in black on rooftop.

Price: $270 or less

Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 7.34 pounds Packing capacity: Up to 5 days; 40 liters | Color options: Black Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Limited lifetime

The North Face's 22-inch Rolling Thunder duffel doesn't have the bells and whistles of other carry-on options, but it's a sturdy and reliable option for those who want a duffel style on wheels. The duffel has a hard-sided back panel, two wheels that can withstand various terrain and plastic bumpers for abrasion resistance. The soft-sided top of the bag is made of water-resistant Base Camp material and nylon for extra durability. There are two zippered pockets on the outside to stash small items and a mesh pocket inside for some added organization.

I brought this duffel on a trip to New Zealand, and it held up very well. The Rolling Thunder had no issues after being checked on six different flights, and the flexibility of the style allowed me to easily store it out of the way in my campervan once I had unpacked. It's definitely a simpler style, but it does its job well. Be aware, though, that this wheeled style doesn't have straps that would allow you to carry it like a duffel; it can only be rolled. – Catriona Kendall

Price: $200 or less

Dimensions: 22 x 12 x 10 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds Packing capacity: 5-10 days; 35 liters | Color options: Multiple options but color availability changes frequently Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Warranty: Lifetime

When it comes to hands-free and adventure travel, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L can't be beat. This lightweight carry-on backpack comes with a sternum strap, a removable waist belt and a weight-distributing harness system, all to make for a comfortable carry (since sore shoulders can be a concern when it comes to carrying backpacks through time-consuming airport experiences).

Organization is a breeze with a top zippered pocket – perfect for storing travel documents or a Cotopaxi hip pack – and a padded laptop sleeve on the outside. Internally, you'll find two mesh compartments, one large and one subdivided, that work great with Cotopaxi packing cubes . The backpack's straps can be tucked away for more streamlined travel, and the bag even comes with a rain cover (though the Allpa is already TPU-coated to be water-resistant).

Furthermore, Cotopaxi is dedicated to sustainability : 94% of Cotopaxi products contain repurposed, recycled or responsible materials. The vibrant, one-of-a-kind Del Dia Allpa backpacks , for example, use remnant fabric.

I've taken my Cotopaxi Allpa on countless adventures and it's survived everything – wind, rain, being shoved into tiny rental cars, you name it. Besides being incredibly durable, I love how much this backpack can fit; my longest trip so far with only the Allpa 35L as my luggage has been a comfortable nine days, and that included packing bulky cold-weather gear. I just wish it had a water bottle pocket like the Allpa 42L does! – Leilani Osmundson

Also Recommended

Solo New York Re:Serve Carry-On Spinner: While the Solo New York Re:Serve Carry-On Spinner is a solid (and sustainable) carry-on bag for less than $200, it doesn't offer quite enough space – especially for someone who may be traveling for longer.

Away The Aluminum Carry-On Bag: This is a well-built carry-on bag. The only downfall is that it's on the heavier side, weighing nearly 11 pounds. Away's Aluminum Carry-On is also more than twice the cost of the standard carry-on by Away, which works just as well.

Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner: This is a great soft-sided option if you're looking for a lightweight suitcase. Featuring a sleek nylon construction, a large front exterior pocket and internal zippered pockets, the Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner works well but isn't as lightweight as the July Carry-on Light.

Monos Carry-on Plus: It's a high-quality suitcase with a lot of internal details, but given its larger size this bag doesn't fit in the overhead compartment on multiple planes (especially regional jets). That said, if you're traveling domestically on larger planes, the Monos Carry-on Plus could be an option to consider. Or, the smaller standard Monos Carry-on could be a good option as well.

Pros and Cons of Hard-sided Luggage

Pros and cons of soft-sided luggage, frequently asked questions.

Aside from traditional rolling suitcases, the following items can be used as carry-on luggage provided they meet carry-on size limitations (which vary by airline) and fit in the overhead bin or fully under the seat (not sticking out) in front of you.

Duffel and weekender bags: This includes weekenders and duffel bags with wheels . Just note that wheels are included in carry-on dimension restrictions.
Garment bags: These are also considered carry-on baggage by most airlines. You can place your garment bag in the overhead bin, or in some cases, a small closet on the plane.
Pet carriers: Some airlines consider pet carriers to be carry-on luggage. Check with your chosen airline when preparing for your trip with Fido.
Backpacks: If your carry-on backpack fits under the seat, it will count toward your personal item allowance on most major airlines. This means you'll have the option to bring an additional bag for the overhead bin.
Diaper bags: If you're traveling with a baby, diaper bags and other baby travel gear generally don't count toward either allowance – meaning you can bring these items in addition to your carry-on bag and personal item.

Purses , briefcases and camera bags can be carried on the plane as well, but usually aren't considered carry-on bags and are instead labeled personal items. Underseater bags – often designed specifically to fit comfortably under a plane seat – are also ideal as a personal item.

Typically, travelers can bring one carry-on bag (for the overhead bin) and one personal item (for under the seat) on the plane, free of charge.

Carry-on luggage sizes can vary by airline. Several major U.S. carriers, such as American Airlines and United, impose a 22 x 14 x 9-inch rule. If you're buying new carry-on luggage, this is a good default size to choose – especially if you fly with a variety of airlines.

For international airlines, it's often 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches. To be sure about dimensions as well as any weight restrictions, see our guide to Carry-on Luggage Size & Weight by Airline . It usually doesn't matter how heavy your carry-on bag is, though some airlines do monitor the weight.

Hard-sided: The hard-sided July Carry On Light weighs less than 4 pounds, making it one of the most lightweight carry-on bags on the market. Other lightweight carry-on bags we recommend include the hard-sided Away The Carry-On (7.5 pounds) and the Amazon 20-Inch Hardside Spinner (7.3 pounds).
Soft-sided: If you're looking for a lightweight, soft-sided carry-on bag, consider the Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner (4.8 pounds) and the Samsonite SoLyte DLX Carry-On Spinner (7.1 pounds).

Hard-sided luggage is often heavier than soft-sided luggage – but only by a few pounds. If you're planning to purchase a hard-sided carry-on bag, look for something that's made of polycarbonate or polypropylene, both of which are lightweight yet durable materials.

How We Tested

Our team tested 26 carry-on bags across several price points and on a variety of trips spanning overseas flights, weekend getaways, overnight trips and more. We traveled by car, plane, train and cruise and packed for a variety of climates and activities, from shore excursions in Mexico to rainy road trips around Iceland. For bags with wheels, we tested their maneuverability on multiple surfaces, including gravel, pavement, grass, moving walkways, cobblestone and carpet. After four months of testing, we deem these carry-on bags the best of the best for 2024.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

The following editors personally tested the luggage recommended in this article:

Erin Evans , Managing Editor: Evans loves a durable bag and also can't say no to a good deal. Considering how banged up luggage can get, her picks on this list are both well-made and affordable.

Rachael Hood , Senior Editor: Hood rarely checks a bag, yet she loves to pack a lot and pick up some new finds along her journey. She looks for a combination of durability, functionality, interior space and overall appearance.

Catriona Kendall , Associate Editor: Kendall opts for convenient and versatile carry-ons that can work well for weekend and weekslong trips alike.

Amanda Norcross , Content & SEO Strategist: Norcross has mastered the art of traveling with a carry-on bag only, but believes this is only possible with the right luggage.

Leilani Osmundson , Digital Producer: Osmundson prefers lightweight, streamlined luggage that's ideal for adventure travel.

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The Best Luggage Of 2024, Tested And Scored By Travel Experts

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The best luggage should offer durability, functionality and style. We researched the highest rated suitcases out there and tasked Forbes Vetted’s team of seasoned frequent flyers to travel with 20 of the top contenders over nine months. Our testers determined that the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On is the best luggage on the market today. Other top selections included the Monos Carry-On Pro Plus as our overall hardside pick, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On as our best softside option and the Rimowa Original Cabin as the best aluminum luggage.

We researched the highest rated suitcases out there and tasked Forbes Vetted’s team of seasoned ... [+] frequent flyers to travel with 20 of the top contenders over nine months.

Our testers selected 12 of the best luggage pieces based on size, weight, warranty, thoughtful features, material and quality of construction. Every travel need was considered, from compact carry-on luggage great for short getaways to larger checked bags ideal for longer excursions. We considered hardside suitcases , softside options and duffel bags , all from established luggage brands with stellar ratings, like Samsonite , Travelpro and more. Below, the best luggage to travel with in 2024.

The Best Luggage For International Travel 2024, Tested By Our Editors

The 10 best passport holders to keep travel documents safe and secure, best luggage at a glance:.

Best Luggage Overall: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On
Best Carry-On: Away The Bigger Carry-On
Best Checked: Calpak Ambeur Large
Best For International Travel: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On
Best Hardside: Monos Carry-On Pro Plus
Best Softside: Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On
Best Lightweight: Travelpro Maxlite 5
Best Aluminum: Rimowa Original Cabin
Best Compact: Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner
Best Stylish: Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus

Best Luggage Overall

Travelpro: well-sized, sturdy and weather-resistant, travelpro platinum elite carry-on.

As Forbes Vetted’s senior travel editor, I oversee coverage on hotels, cruises, luggage and related travel accessories. I have been writing and editing travel content for over 7 years, during which I have visited over 40 countries, stayed at numerous hotel properties and sailed on all types of cruise lines. Prior to joining Forbes, I was a senior editor at TripSavvy, editing robust destination guides and writing daily travel news and features. I have also served in editorial roles at ABC News and Good Morning America. 

For product reviews, gift ideas, and latest deals, Subscribe to the Forbes Finds newsletter .

I’m a deputy editor covering women's and men's fashion, accessories and athletic apparel. My writing has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Prior to joining Forbes, I wrote two books, including The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture, and Fashion . I've studied fashion styling and hold certificates in jewelry essentials from the Gemological Institute of America and design history from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. A native New Englander, I grew up in Rhode Island and was—and remain—a sneaker obsessive with far too many pairs of white sneakers. 

Our score: 10 | Dimensions: 21 × 14 × 9 inches | Weight: 7.8 pounds | Capacity: 46L | Colors: 8 total, including Shadow Black and Bordeaux | Warranty: 5-year limited warranty; covers cost of repair for damage by an airline if registered within first 120 days of purchase

Weather-resistant
Sturdiness and a compact design
Mid-length trips (about 5 to 7 days)
You prefer a modern aesthetic—this pick has a more traditional look

Travelpro’s Platinum Elite carry-on spinner won high marks from our testers across the board. It’s made from sturdy and weather-resistant material, offers generous capacity and compact design and has smooth-rolling wheels that never snag and are easy to maneuver. The softside suitcase is also smartly outfitted with compression straps, a USB port, accessory pockets and a water-resistant toiletry bag. Its contoured-grip rubber handle was one of the most comfortable handles we tested, and it comes with four adjustable heights for travelers of all sizes.

If you prefer extra durability, this suitcase also comes in a hardside version . Those embarking on long-haul trips can also find it in a medium or large checked size.

The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner offers a durable exterior, sturdy zippers and the ... [+] ideal size for international travel.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted editorial director, Brinda Ayer , tested this bag and praised its functionality. “It’s very simple to maneuver around, even on concrete,” she says. “I haven’t had any tearing or scuffing yet, even after a few trips, and the handle has a comfortable grip.” She continues, “It’s not super sleek or minimalist like other trendy luggage brands out there,” but for an excellent, all-around basic suitcase, it scores high marks.

Best Carry-On

Away: sleek, modern and dependable, away the bigger carry-on.

Durable polycarbonate shell that can withstand impact
Thoughtful extras, like a laundry bag for storing dirty clothes
Mid-length trips (about 6 to 8 days)
You like to stand out—this popular suitcase is carried by many travelers (in which case, you might opt for a bright color or use a luggage tag)

Away’s polycarbonate shell suitcases are lightweight, highly functional and relatively well-priced. Named Forbes Vetted’s top pick for Best Carry-On Luggage , the brand’s Bigger Carry-On can easily be tucked in an overhead bin while offering a bit more extra packing space than the Away The Carry-On . It also has quiet, easy-to-use wheels, an underside grab handle and a laundry bag for storing dirty clothes while on the road. Not to mention, Away’s signature compression system—complete with adjustable straps—allows you to pack an impressive amount inside. As for color variety, there’s something for everyone, from muted Cloud Gray to vibrant Sorbet Orange.

Our senior travel editor rolled the Away Bigger Carry-On with ease through the St. Moritz railway ... [+] station in Switzerland.

What our testers say: This is a true utility suitcase that I have personally used on over a dozen trips to Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico. It’s sturdy enough to get tossed around, has a comfortable grip handle and can be stuffed to the absolute brim without the zippers breaking. If you need a little more room, look into the Carry-On Flex , which unzips to create an extra 2.25 inches of space. Away also provides personalized monogramming, which is handy for identifying your luggage on the carousel.

Best Checked

Calpak: spacious suitcase with a lustrous finish, calpak ambeur large.

Ample packing space and comfortable, grippy handles
Traveling with liquids (such as larger sizes of skincare) or items that require checking
Lengthier trips (more than 7 days)

Skip if:

You need exterior pockets on your suitcase

Clocking in at under $300, the Calpak Ambeur Large is a relatively affordable suitcase with high-quality features: It expands up to two inches for extra packing room, for example, and has easy-to-maneuver dual spinner wheels. There are also four zippered interior compartments (although no exterior pockets), plus a cross compression strap to make sure belongings remain in place, even when transported over bumpy cobblestone streets. Of the suitcases on this list, the Ambeur Large features some of the most comfortable grip handles, made with a rubber lining that won’t hurt your hands as you’re lugging heavy baggage around town.

Our executive strategy editor filled the Calpak Ambeur Large to the brim and still found it easy to ... [+] transport.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers has traveled extensively with the Calpak Ambeur Large and counts it among her favorite checked bags. “It’s super lightweight and so roomy, and as a chronic over-packer, I never have an issue fitting everything I need,” she says. “It has a compact design and wheels effortlessly, so I never feel like I’m lugging an enormous bag through the airport.” Boyers does note, however, that darker color versions of this suitcase can be prone to scuffing. “After about a dozen or so trips with it, there are very obvious white scratches in the black exterior,” she says. “It's not enough to make me stop using it—the roominess of the suitcase trumps the cosmetic issue—but I would recommend getting one of the lighter colors so scuffs are not as obvious.”

Best For International Travel

Samsonite: sturdy, smooth-rolling and affordable, samsonite freeform carry-on.

Lightweight and easy to roll
Modern design in fun colors
Short-to-moderate length trips (about 3 to 4 days)
You travel a lot; the polypropylene shell isn’t as impact-resistant as polycarbonate

Samsonite’s Freeform Carry-On is a solid choice for international trips thanks to its size (the correct size for most overheard bins across a number of international airlines), great storage capacity and reasonable price. The brand has been producing high-quality suitcases since 1910, and its spinner is compact but expandable by one inch when you need more packing room. While this option might not have the sleek, trendy look of a Monos or Away suitcase, its functionality more than makes up for it.

The Samsonite Freeform Carry-On is well-priced, lightweight and easy to roll, making it a great ... [+] option for those who travel one to three times a year.

One thing to keep in mind: While this suitcase’s polypropylene shell allows it to be lightweight and easy to lift, it’s not as impact-resistant as polycarbonate or aluminum. If you need to check a bag on your trip, it also comes in medium and large sizes.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted senior deals editor Kara Cuzzone has traveled with the Freeform Carry-On on countless trips and highly recommends it. “I took this suitcase with me on short weekend trips as well as longer flights,” says Cuzzone. “As an overpacker, I found the expandable panel very convenient for squeezing in extra clothes.”

Best Hardside

Monos: smart design with a laptop pocket, monos carry-on pro plus.

Hefty feel and durable polycarbonate shell
Exterior pocket that can hold a 16-inch laptop
You need ample packing space for extended trips

Thanks to its heft, unbreakable polycarbonate shell and versatile design, Monos’ Carry-On Pro Plus was named the best hardside option on this list. It features TSA-approved locks, quiet wheels, vegan leather accents and a built-in front compartment for easy access to your essentials. The suitcase easily fits into the overhead bin, and this particular model features a front pocket that can hold a 16-inch laptop. Those who like to express their personality through their suitcase selection are in luck—the Carry-On Pro comes in 11 stylish shades, including Rose Quartz and Olive Green.

The Monos Carry-On Pro Plus offers heft, an unbreakable polycarbonate shell and a modern, stylish ... [+] look.

Keep in mind that the telescoping handles can get stuck at certain heights if the suitcase is packed too tightly, so this may not be the best option for overpackers. For longer trips, the Check-In Medium offers more space without feeling too bulky.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted contributor Chloe Berge tested this bag over five months and selected it as the brand’s best carry-on suitcase in her wider guide to the Best Monos Luggage . “I was impressed with its durability, size and thoughtful design details,” she says. “I especially appreciated its built-in front compartment—the easy access was a big time-saver as I went through security.”

Best Softside

Briggs & riley: durable and long-lasting pick.

Briggs & Riley

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On

Durable yet flexible exterior made with ballistic nylon
Built-in compression and a generous warranty that covers any damage
You’re on a budget—this is one of the pricier suitcases out there

Another of Forbes Vetted’s top luggage selections, Briggs & Riley is known for its durability, reliability and accommodating lifetime warranty. For those who prefer the flexibility of softside luggage, the Baseline Essential Carry-On has a lot to offer. It’s made of a ballistic nylon fabric that resists wear and tear and comes available in four rich shades that maintain their style over time.

Briggs & Riley's Baseline Essential Carry-On offers compressive technology, a built-in garment ... [+] folder and shock-absorbent wheels that warrant its luxury price tag.

This pick is definitely an investment, but its compressive technology, built-in garment folder and shock-absorbent wheels warrant the luxury price tag. Plus, Briggs & Riley’s lifetime warranty is one of the best on the market, covering repairs for any sort of damage, free of charge for as long as you own the bag.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted branded content editor Luke Fater tested the brand’s Baseline Essential 22-inch Carry-On and considers it “the suitcase of my dreams.” After traveling with it on a plane, train and bus, “the spinner rolled like butter,” says Fater. “It has no signs of fraying in the stitching or zippers, either.”

Best Lightweight

Travelpro: lightweight and expandable, travelpro maxlite 5.

Our score: 10 | Dimensions: 22 × 14 × 9 inches | Weight: 5.4 pounds | Capacity: 46L | Colors: 5 total, including Orchid Pink and Slate Green | Warranty: 5-year limited warranty; covers cost of repair for damage by an airline if registered within first 120 days of purchase

A lightweight yet durable exterior
Smooth-rolling wheels
Comfortable, telescoping handle with multiple heights
You want a lot of interior pockets and zippers for organization

At just over five pounds, Travelpro’s Maxlite 5 scored high marks as the best lightweight option that we tested. Its polyester exterior is flexible (read: great for overpackers) but it still maintains a classic, structured shape. Like the Platinum Elite, it comes coated with a water- and stain-resistant DuraGuard material; it’s also one of the more affordable options on our list.

The lightweight Travelpro Maxlite 5 is easy to lift and maneuver.

For travelers who want a bag that’s especially easy to lift and maneuver, the Maxlite 5 has two secondary handles on top and the right side. Its wheels were among the smoothest we tested, and its ergonomic handle is incredibly comfortable. This is a suitcase that’s made to be pushed around—light as a feather but durable enough for impact. If you need to check a bag, it also comes in medium and large sizes.

What our testers say: “Even as an adult woman, I was having too much fun spinning and flipping this suitcase through the airport. I was amazed at how lightweight and easy it was to maneuver,” says senior content strategy analyst Catie Jaffe, who took this bag on a recent trip to Madrid. “The rolling was superior—smooth on any surface. The four wheels allowed for seamless turns, spins and pulls.”

Best Aluminum

Rimowa: sophisticated pick that stands out, rimowa original cabin.

Durable aluminum suitcase that is also stylish
Smooth wheels that won’t snag on carpets
You’re on a budget—Rimowa luggage is pricey
You’re not careful since aluminum is prone to denting

German luggage brand Rimowa is a calling card in the world of luxury luggage . Durable and lightweight, its bags are known globally for their craftsmanship and innovation, and its classic Original Cabin is stylishly recognizable in any airport. It has a high-end anodized aluminum exterior and a lifetime guarantee that covers any damage, meaning this is a suitcase you’ll keep for life. An impressive interior compression system allows you to pack in at least a week’s worth of clothing, making this pick ideal for longer trips. Keep in mind that the shell is closed with two TSA-approved combination locks rather than a zipper; for more details, read our full review of the Original Cabin here .

The Rimowa Original Cabin offers a durable aluminum exterior, an impressive compression system and a ... [+] generous warranty that makes it worth the investment.

Those looking for something lighter (and easier on the wallet) should check out the Essential Lite Cabin , which features a polycarbonate shell and T-bar telescopic handle and claimed the top spot on our list of the Best Lightweight Luggage .

What our testers say: I traveled with the Rimowa Original Cabin on a recent trip to Portland, Oregon and found it to have some of the smoothest wheels I’ve tested. I’ve been on many trips where I come home with a sore wrist after struggling to lug my suitcase over carpets and cobblestones, but this suitcase rolled like silk across every surface it encountered. It also has an impressive compression system that uses heavy-duty Velcro straps instead of the usual buckles. I was able to fit so much more into this suitcase than many of my other carry-on bags.

Best Compact

Lipault: space-saving suitcase for shorter trips.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers

Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner

Weather-resistant nylon exterior
Padded handles for easy lifting
Shorter weekend trips (2 to 3 days)
You tend to overpack or bring home lots of souvenirs

While many softside suitcases have a reputation for looking a bit too traditional or mundane, French brand Lipault's Plume Cabin Size Spinner stands out from the crowd. Its sophisticated nylon shell features a single front zippered pocket and padded side handles for easy lifting. This suitcase is slightly smaller than your average carry-on, making it ideal for short weekend getaways. (We're less likely to recommend it for longer trips or instances where you need to pack bulky gear for cold weather.) The color selection also deserves a nod: Shades like Dry Sage and Rosewood are tasteful yet eye-catching.

The Lipault Plume Cabin Sized Spinner is slightly smaller than your average carry-on, making it ... [+] ideal for short weekend getaways.

What our testers say: "I love this bag for shorter weekend jaunts," says updates writer Claire Epting , who tested this suitcase on a recent summer trip. "It's definitely one of the most compact suitcases I've used; I had to be very strategic about what I packed, but I love how easy it is to maneuver through the airport and lift into the overhead bin." She also appreciates the bag's aesthetic qualities, noting, "As someone who's drawn to sleek, stylish suitcases, I was easily won over by this carry-on's minimalistic, cool look."

Best Stylish

Paravel: aesthetically pleasing and accessible, paravel aviator carry-on plus.

Stylish, durable luggage made from sustainable materials
Smooth wheels and a comfortable handle grip
You need a lot of built-in interior pockets

Paravel has quickly risen in popularity due to its timeless aesthetics and commitment to creating the first truly carbon-neutral suitcases. The brand recycles post-consumer plastic bottles and aluminum to produce its proprietary materials, like Negative Nylon, which has garnered Paravel a loyal following among eco-conscious travelers.

The Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus traveled stylishly and smoothly through the Denver airport.

The brand’s Aviator Carry-On Plus offers smooth wheels, a comfortable handle grip and comes with a compression board and a laundry bag for dirty clothing.

What our testers say: After taking this suitcase with me on two trips to Colorado and Montana, I found it to be one of the best-looking bags I’ve traveled with. While some of these design-forward bags can feel pretty flimsy, this one is very sturdy. The wheels are extremely smooth and never get caught on airport carpets, and the faux leather wrap around the handle is super comfortable. The suitcase’s textured finish lends it a sophisticated look, but it also works to conceal inevitable scuffs and markings. For longer trips, the Aviator comes in a larger, checked size .

July: Matching Trio In Three Sizes

July classic family luggage set.

Our score: 9 | Dimensions: 21.5 x 15 x 8.5 inches (Carry-On), 26 x 18.75 x 11 inches (Checked), 30.25 x 19.75 x 12.5 inches (Checked Plus) | Capacity: 232L (combined) | Colors: 7 total, including Sand and Moss Green | Weight: 7.4 pounds (Carry-On), 8.3 pounds (Checked), 10.5 pounds (Checked Plus) | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

Lightweight pieces you can easily transport
Smooth-rolling wheels that are easy to maneuver
Multiple trips with a variety of different lengths
You prefer heftier luggage for rugged travel

Luggage sets are smart choices for families or those who hit the road a lot, since you’ll spend less up front than buying each piece separately. Australian brand July’s Classic Family Set won as the top overall pick in our Best Luggage Sets round-up and includes the Carry-On , Checked and Checked Plus suitcases. The variety of sizes can accommodate everything from weekend getaways to medium-length vacations to serious long-haul travel. The entire set is outfitted with smooth-rolling wheels, retractable handles, laundry bags and TSA locks.

What our testers say: I traveled with July’s Carry-On suitcase on trips to San Antonio and North Carolina and found it to be slim, lightweight and easy to maneuver. The set is available in several unique hues, including Clay and Forest. Another bonus: These suitcases are designed to nest inside one another, so you only need enough storage space to stash one piece of luggage, not three.

Best Duffel

Calpak: weather-resistant with plenty of pockets, calpak luka duffel.

Comfortable handle and nine pockets, including shoe compartment
You want a bag with wheels

When it comes to a travel-friendly duffel bag, Calpak’s popular Luka Duffel checks every box. It’s lightweight and made from weather-resistant polyester that protects your belongings in various climates. It features nine pockets, including a spacious shoe compartment that makes it easy to stash in an extra pair of sneakers or boots when your suitcase is at capacity. And it’s constructed with some of the softest and most comfortable handles of any of the duffel bags we tested, meaning you can stuff it to its absolute fullest without feeling like your shoulder is about to cave in.

Aside from being relatively affordable, this bag also comes in a variety of stylish colors (16, to be exact), ranging from eye-popping Rouge and Green Apple to a metallic Gold and Copper.

The Calpak Luka Duffel features an impressive nine pockets, including a spacious shoe compartment.

What our testers say: Forbes Vetted deputy editor Jane Sung used this bag on multiple trips and praises its versatility. “I love this bag as both as a weekender or carry-on item,” she says. “I like how lightweight it is, and its soft and cushiony fabric makes it that much more comfortable to carry. Most of all, I'm a big fan of all the pockets—there are a ton—as they help keep everything so organized and easy to reach for through the hustle of airport travel.”

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The Forbes Vetted travel team has written and published dozens of luggage stories , based on rigorous research and firsthand testing.

The Forbes Vetted travel team has extensive experience covering not only the best suitcases, but the best weekender bags , travel totes , carry-on backpacks and more travel must-haves.
This story was written by Forbes Vetted’s senior travel editor, Astrid Taran , a seven-year industry veteran who’s visited over 35 countries and travels at least twice each month. She has used all types of suitcases on her journeys—including many on this list—and tested them on planes, trains, buses and boats.
All of the picks on this list have been tested by Forbes Vetted contributors or staff editors, including senior deals editor Kara Cuzzone , editorial director Brinda Ayer , executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers , branded content editor Luke Fater , deputy editor Jane Sung and more.
This story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible, and is updated regularly with new testing insights. During its most recent October 2024 update, Taran reassessed all superlatives and added in one new selection based on recent testing: the Travelpro Maxlite 5 , which was tested by senior content strategy analyst Catie Jaffe. Taran also added in details on luggage our editors have recently tested, as well as luggage that is currently being tested.

How We Chose The Best Luggage

We relied on expert advice, independent reviews, research and personal experience to select our top recommendations for the best luggage.

For this story, we asked Forbes Vetted editors and staffers to test 20 different suitcases from established luggage brands like. Our editors traveled with these suitcases over a period of nine months; upon their return, we asked then give us their opinions on the pieces of luggage they felt truly stood apart from the pack and score them on a scale of 1 to 10. We narrowed down our final selections by focusing on the luggage that scored a 9 or higher.
We took into consideration the factors that separate one piece of luggage from the rest. This includes not only common variables such as size, weight, build quality and features, but also how you intend to use the luggage, what kind of trip you have booked and what you’ll be carrying.
Our testers packed each suitcase to the brim to test capacity, tugged on every zipper to test construction, weighed every suitcase to determine how heavy or light it is, and dragged each suitcase through different types of terrain to test maneuverability. Additionally, testers were asked to take note of each suitcase’s weather-resistance and durability, using them in a variety of climates.
Safety features were extensively compared to determine which pieces are well-suited for trips. For example, all of our picks are designed with TSA-approved locks so you can travel with peace of mind.
We researched all of the brands featured on this list to ensure each has a strong reputation among its peers. We included established brands like Samsonite and Travelpro along with relatively newer options like Away and Monos.
Customer ratings were also considered; every suitcase on this list holds an average rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars. (The Rimowa website doesn’t feature customer reviews, but we featured the Rimowa Original Cabin based on the brand’s longstanding stellar reputation.)

What to Consider When Buying Luggage

The best luggage for you depends on the type of trip you’re packing for and how long that trip will be. Here are some things to consider when you’re researching.

The size of the luggage you buy will vary with the type of trip you take. For trips one week or shorter, we recommend a carry-on suitcase, but if you plan to bring items that cannot be carried on, a larger checked suitcase is a great investment. The size of your suitcase will need to comply with airline rules, so make sure to check the guidelines of whichever airline you usually fly. If it varies, it may be smarter to go with a smaller option that’s likely to work across the board. Some airlines have different size rules for domestic versus international flights, so make sure to research them before you purchase.

It’s worth looking into the benefits and drawbacks of each suitcase’s material. For hardside luggage, polycarbonate weighs and costs less than aluminum, but aluminum is more durable and hard-wearing. Meanwhile, a softside suitcase with a nylon or polyester shell will weigh less than a hardside suitcase when emptied (which is great for those concerned about checked luggage weight restrictions), but its soft exterior may not be as good at protecting fragile items. We’ve written a detailed breakdown of hardside versus softside materials here .

Quality Of Construction

Not ever suitcase is constructed equally. You’ll want to make sure that any suitcase you choose can be tossed around the baggage carousel and slid into the overhead bin without falling apart. Make sure to give the zippers on your suitcase a sturdy tug to test their durability. You’ll also want to roll the wheels of your suitcase in a variety of different directions and on a number of different surfaces to see how they hold up. Our testers were impressed by the zippers on the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On , the durability of the ballistic nylon on the exterior of the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On and the smooth rolling wheels of the Rimowa Original Cabin .

Useful Extras

Many suitcases are designed with added features that make traveling more convenient. For extra security, all of the suitcases on our list are designed with a built-in TSA-approved lock . (This is a combination lock that TSA agents can open with a master key so they don’t have to damage your luggage if it must be inspected.) Remote workers may find an external zippered front pocket to be useful, providing easy access to a laptop or charging cables while waiting in the airport. If you have the tendency to overpack, find a piece with an expandable zippered panel for extra room—these suitcases can also be helpful if you plan on bringing souvenirs home.

If you’re traveling on an airline that has weight restrictions for carry-on or checked bags, you’ll want to factor in the weight of your suitcase before you commit to it. Keep in mind that certain hardside materials, like aluminum, tend to be heavier than others. If you already know you’re going to be stuffing your suitcase with heavy items like shoes or hair tools, you may want to opt for a lightweight softside bag, like the Travelpro Maxlite 5 , which is just over five pounds.

To make sure you’re able to enjoy your suitcase for years to come, several companies offer warranties on their products. While each policy is different, these warranties generally cover the cost of repairs should your suitcase become damaged within the designated window. Depending on the brand, warranties may last two to five years; some, like Briggs & Riley’s, will cover your suitcase for a lifetime. A suitcase with a lifetime guarantee may cost more up front, but you can be confident that you won’t have to replace it every couple of years.

Other Luggage We Tested

Our editors test a wide variety of top-rated luggage. While the options below didn’t make the final cut for the best luggage of the year, they each offer specific features that could make them a good fit for certain travel styles and preferences.

Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-On Spinner : “This suitcase is well-designed, durable and attractive,” says Ayer, who traveled with the bag on a recent trip to Seattle. However, she notes, “Its wheels are fairly maneuverable but definitely not the most user-friendly of all of the spinners I've used.”
Quince 21-inch Carry-On Hardshell : “This is a nice bag to look at and stroll with,” says deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala , who traveled with this suitcase on a summer road trip to Maine. “Ultimately, there just aren't many extras to make this carry-on stand out from others I’ve used.”
Calpak Luka Soft-Sided Carry-On Luggage : “I think this product was very thoughtfully designed—I kept discovering new pockets and storage spaces as I used it,” says sleep and mattress editor Bridget Chapman , who traveled with this bag on a work trip to Las Vegas. She notes that it may not be best for overpackers: “It did feel a touch too small at times, so I used the front zippered pocket to fit additional stuff.”

Other Luggage We’re Currently Testing

We’re constantly testing new bags and suitcases to make sure we recommend the best luggage for every travel style. Below, see the luggage we’re currently reviewing as of October 2024:

Sterling Pacific 35L Cabin Travel Case
Travelpro Maxlite 5 25-inch Medium Check-In Spinner
Samsonite Elevation Plus Softside Large Spinner
Delsey Clavel Hardside Spinner

Latest Luggage News

To provide the most relevant recommendations and buying advice, the Forbes Vetted travel team keeps tabs on the latest developments from the best luggage brands. Below, we rounded up some of the most recent news worth knowing about.

July released the Carry-On Max , its largest carry-on ever, with 12 extra liters of space thanks to an expandable zipper. Read more here .
Monos released its first line of expandable luggage. These suitcases can be expanded up to 1.6 extra inches and come in a variety of sizes and colors. See the full collection here .
Away just launched a fall line of products, called the Café Edit , that features new pebbled leather accessories and autumnal colors. We wrote about our favorite pieces here .
Briggs & Riley released a redesign of its popular Sympatico luggage collection . These suitcases now feature one-touch CX compression-expansion technology that allows you to expand your suitcase by popping up its expansion plate, as well as shock-absorbing wheels and a more eco-friendly outer shell made with recycled polycarbonate. Check it out here .
Aer launched its first luggage line, complete with a break system to ensure your suitcase never rolls away. We took a closer look here .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What brand of luggage is most durable.

All of our luggage selections are designed to withstand rough handling through security, boarding and baggage claim, but one stands out in terms of durability—the Rimowa Original Cabin . Its hard-wearing aluminum shell is weather-resistant and built to last; the brand’s lifetime guarantee covers any damage. While this pick is on the expensive side, it’s a worthy investment piece for frequent travelers who want something that will stand the test of time.

What Is The No. 1 Suitcase Brand?

For travelers who are looking to invest in long-lasting and durable luggage, we recommend Travelpro and Samsonite , both trusted brands favored by pilots and flight attendants.

What Is The Best Type Of Luggage To Take On A Plane?

All of our carry-on luggage selections can easily fit into the overhead bin of any flight, making them all great choices to take on a plane. For a lightweight option, we recommend the Samsonite Freeform Carry-On , while the spacious Away The Bigger Carry-On and pocketed Monos Carry-On Pro Plus are also easy to store. For international travel, the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On is an ideal size for all international airline cabins.

Is Hardside Or Softside Luggage Better?

Softside bags are great because they flex and compress, making them a suitable option for the overhead bin or the storage space on a bus, though the material wears over time and might rip. Hardside luggage, on the other hand, protects fragile contents that could break or become damaged in transit, but the material could scratch or scuff easily. What’s right for you is simply a matter of personal preference. We broke down the pros and cons of each here .

Editorial Standards
Forbes Accolades

The Best Carry-On Luggage

By Kit Dillon

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

Traveling well is not always easy. Keeping your suitcase with you when you fly not only protects your belongings from loss or damage but may help you avoid extra fees as well.

If you decide to do so, you need a good carry-on bag.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve handled, tested, and traveled with 67 bags from more than 35 brands, and we remain convinced that the Travelpro Platinum Elite offers the best balance of value and quality for most travelers.

It packs five days’ worth of clothes into standard US carry-on dimensions 1 and has premium touches you might expect from a $600 bag at about half the price.

It’s a bag that you can rely on for life, even if it’s damaged by airlines —a rarity at any price.

Everything we recommend

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

The best soft-sided carry-on.

This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, plus high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Buying Options

Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard

A bit more capacity and extra wheel durability.

This two-wheeled carry-on bag isn’t as maneuverable, but it offers slightly more space, a garment folder, and larger, more durable wheels.

Away The Carry-On

The best hard-sided carry-on.

This great-looking and relatively resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line components—including wheels as smooth-rolling as any we’ve tested.

Away The Bigger Carry-On

Slightly more room, but you might get checked.

With more capacity than Away’s standard carry-on, this suitcase is sized appropriately for most flights. On smaller planes, though, you may get gate-checked.

Budget pick

Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Lightweight and appealingly inexpensive.

Remarkably well priced for a reputable brand, this is an ideal lightweight pick and provides many features of luggage costing nearly twice as much.

Upgrade pick

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner

A soft-sided carry-on that fits more in less.

This carry-on bag offers superlative build quality, plenty of expandable room, and a uniquely effective compression system. It’s a buy-it-for-life suitcase.

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ 2-Wheel Expandable Carry-On

More room, bigger wheels, less maneuverability.

If you’re willing to give up maneuverability for more space and bigger wheels, this is also a great option.

Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

A more luxe hard-sided carry-on.

Luxury touches and a strong polycarbonate and aluminum design give this bag a standout look with exceptional feel and performance. It does cost nearly $200 more than the comparably sized Away bag, though.

Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage

Best for tough conditions.

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

What to consider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, top pick for the best carry-on luggage: travelpro platinum elite, top 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, best for tough conditions: yeti crossroads 35l wheeled luggage, other carry-on luggage worth considering, what to look forward to, the competition.

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

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

I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags.
I’ve spoken with plenty of experts: flight attendants for major airlines, product designers and creative directors for luggage and gear companies, and travel and gear writers. My conversations with these people have helped shape our coverage, and we owe much to their collective knowledge.
Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards .
In accordance with Wirecutter standards and to avoid any conflict of interest, I don’t own stock or have any other financial interest in a company or industry that I cover or am likely to cover.

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

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

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

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.

I’ve personally traveled with Travelpro carry-ons this size for more than 45,000 miles spread across 50 flights, from regional to long-haul to international routes, and I’ve never had an issue fitting within gate-side luggage sizers. If you’re nervous about getting caught at the gate or often fly in very small regional planes, Travelpro makes a 20-inch Platinum Elite as well as a slimmer international size, but they hold less (naturally) and lack a suiter insert.

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

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

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

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

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

It has an excellent warranty. Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpro’s generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the bag within 120 days of purchase). The sole other company we’ve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose carry-on suitcases start at about $500. Travelpro has multiple repair centers . To get repair service, you can either drop the bag off at a repair center or ship the bag to Travelpro, the cost of which the company will cover. Keep in mind that the warranty doesn’t cover cosmetic wear.

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

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

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

How the Platinum Elite has held up

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

Flaws but not dealbreakers

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.
Some vegan readers may dislike the leather accents.

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.

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

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

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

It has a great warranty. The Away Carry-On is backed by a limited lifetime warranty that protects against defects and parts breaking. Though the warranty doesn’t specifically mention airline damage, the damages it does list—cracks or breaks in the shell, wheels or handles becoming unusable, zippers that don’t work, fabric tears that render any pocket unusable—basically outline anything an airline could possibly dish out. For the most part, our online searches looking for user experiences with Away’s warranty have turned up overwhelmingly positive results.

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

The Carry-On’s sleek style comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks.
It lacks certain amenities, such as external pockets and a suiter, that our top picks have.
The clamshell design, which splits down the middle and opens into two parts, can make the bag frustrating to pack and unpack. Packing cubes help, but after years of packing and unpacking soft-sided luggage with a single lid, I personally find a clamshell design to be more finicky when packing.
Crain’s New York Business reported last year that Away is possibly exploring “strategic options including a sale,” which may muddy the waters around the brand’s overall future somewhat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’re considering expanding our coverage to include equipment cases like those made by Pelican . Though their appropriate use is very specific, when you need to travel with high-end gear or fragile valuables, Pelican cases are the first and almost only choice.

We’re also going to look at the very “millennial core” carry-on from Dagne Dover . It’s pretty expensive for what it appears to be, but the brand’s presence online and general reputation for other high-quality products warrants a look.

The ever-popular AER, a backpack company responsible for picks in several of our guides, has broken into the luggage game with its own hard-sided carry-on . We’ve generally found AER gear to be well made and well priced, especially for the quality, so we’ll be testing this bag.

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

Soft-sided carry-on luggage

Away The Softside Carry-On : Away’s first attempt at a soft-sided suitcase has the same high-end hardware of its hardsided case: great wheels, handle, and YKK zippers. But it misses the mark in almost every other way. The mistake, I think, is Away’s attempt to compel a soft-sided bag to fit into the company’s trademark form. Using this bag is simply uncomfortable. Its handles are too tight to grab easily. It feels surprisingly heavy. And the framing around the bag’s lid seems to fight you every step of the way. It’s a decent first version, but we think if you really want a soft-sided bag from Away, wait for the inevitable later iterations.

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

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

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

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

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

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller : We considered this is a possible alternative to our Yeti hybrid pick . However, the overall build quality is wanting. For example, the polycarbonate shell doesn’t fully cover the tubes for the extendable handle as it does with our hybrid pick. It seems an oversight for bags that are built to knock around.

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

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

Hard-sided carry-on luggage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Chris Ryan.

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

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

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

His five-day travel kit included the following:

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

Her five-day travel kit included the following:

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

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

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

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

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.

Three carry-on backpacks pictured together.

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

by Kit Dillon

Whether you’re planning a week or a weekend away, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Dia can keep you organized and comfortable on the road.

A Travelpro rolling suitcase, next to clothes and a purse.

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.

The Away Carry-On in front of a pink field, surrounded by a globe, a beige duffel, and some paper cacti.

Are Away Carry-Ons Worth the Hype?

Although we still prefer the better durability of soft-sided luggage, if you want the look and feel of a hard-sided case, we recommend the Away Carry-On .

IMAGES

NONSTOP NEW YORK Luggage Expandable Spinner Wheels hard side shell Travel Suitcase Set 3 Piece
Zimtown 3-Piece Nested Spinner Suitcase Luggage Set with TSA Lock, Navy Blue
Urhomepro
20" Travel Luggage Carry On Bag Trolley Fashion Suitcase ABS 360° Rolling Wheels
3-in-1 Multifunctional Large Capacity Traveling Storage Suitcase Pink
Away Luggage Is Having Its First-Ever Sale on Suitcases & Accessories

VIDEO

Customising my travelling luggage with Sanrio stickers ❤️

COMMENTS

The 10 Best Luggage Brands of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - Travel
We tested underseat luggage, checked luggage, and carry-on luggage as well as duffel bags, garment bags, and backpacks, and gave each individual bag a score based on its capacity, design ...
The 6 Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks for 2024 | Reviews by ...
Best large carry-on travel backpack for most situations: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L. Best backpack for working out of: Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L. Best backpack for long journeys...
The Best Carry-on Luggage of 2024, Tested and Reviewed - Travel
With this in mind, we tested 452 carry-on bags, including suitcases, duffels, weekenders, backpacks, and underseat bags to see which models check all the boxes.
13 Best Carry-on Luggage Pieces 2024 - We Tested Them All
Tested by our travel editors in real world scenarios around the globe, these are the top carry-on luggage picks to accommodate your specific travel needs.
Best Luggage 2024, Tested And Scored By Travel Experts ...
Best For International Travel: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On. Best Hardside: Monos Carry-On Pro Plus. Best Softside: Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On. Best Lightweight: Travelpro...
The 6 Best Carry-On Luggage of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter
Top pick for the best carry-on luggage: Travelpro Platinum Elite. Top pick for the best hard-sided carry-on luggage: Away The Carry-On. Budget pick: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner. Upgrade...

The Best Carry-on Luggage of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our Testing Process

Best Overall

Best Overall, Runner-up

Best Expandability

Best Budget

Most Spacious

Most Stylish

Best Softside

Most Durable

July Carry On Trunk

Best With Laptop Compartment

Best With Brakes

Best Aluminum

Best Compression

Best Waterproof

Other Carry-on Bags We Liked

Tips for Buying Carry-on Luggage

Look for lightweight construction

Decide if you want extra organizational features

Choose between handheld, spinner, or two-wheeled luggage

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Related Articles

Protect Your Trip »

Best Overall: Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original – Large

Best Hard-sided: Away The Carry-On

Best for Business Travel: Amazon Basics Expandable Softside Carry-On Spinner – 20.4 Inch

Best Carry-on Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

Best Overall Runner-up: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Hardside Spinner

Best Expandability: Briggs & Riley Essential 22" Carry-on Expandable Spinner

Best Underseater: CALPAK Luka Soft-Sided Mini Carry-On Luggage

Best Carry-on Duffel: The North Face Rolling Thunder – 22"

Also Recommended

Pros and Cons of Hard-sided Luggage

How We Tested

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

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The Best Luggage Of 2024, Tested And Scored By Travel Experts

The Best Luggage For International Travel 2024, Tested By Our Editors

Best Luggage Overall

Best Carry-On

Best Checked

Best For International Travel

Best Hardside

Best Softside

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On

Best Lightweight

Best Aluminum

Best Compact

Lipault Plume Cabin Size Spinner

Best Stylish

July: Matching Trio In Three Sizes

Best Duffel

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

How We Chose The Best Luggage

What to Consider When Buying Luggage

Quality Of Construction

Useful Extras

Other Luggage We Tested

Other Luggage We’re Currently Testing

Latest Luggage News

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is The No. 1 Suitcase Brand?

What Is The Best Type Of Luggage To Take On A Plane?

Is Hardside Or Softside Luggage Better?

The Best Carry-On Luggage

Everything we recommend

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

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