The Very Best Carry-on Luggage

Dimensions: 39.8 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Organizational compartments, laundry bag | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

The Away carry-on has been recommended to us time and time (and time) again, prompting me to try it for myself. I already knew it had 360-spinner wheels, a polycarbonate shell, built-in dividers, an integrated USB charger, and matched the airline guidance for a carry-on-size case, but I was interested in how it actually felt to lug around. On a recent trip home to my parents, I put it to the test with my weekender packing list: On the one side, I rolled and packed three tops, a pair of jeans, a skirt, a dress, two bikinis, underwear, socks, and pajamas. On the other, I put a bulkier sweater, a weekend’s worth of toiletries (including my entire skincare routine), some trainers, and my AirWrap. Not only did it all slot in with plenty of space, but I also appreciated the built-in laundry bag for my dirty clothes (often, I’ll pop them in my hamper at my parent’s house, and forget to pack them again when it’s time to go home.)

As my street in London is cobblestoned, I usually dread lugging a suitcase along it. But the sturdy wheels meant the Away didn’t rattle as much as I’d anticipated. Flat surfaces are where the wheels work the best, though — just a flick from my finger sent the case gliding along the train platform. After a few trips, my case is still new and scuff free, but Strategist editor Maxine Builder says that buffing her own Away case clean — a white one that she’s owned since 2017 — just takes a little dish soap, sponge, and elbow grease. When I’m not traveling, the case is convenient to store, too: I simply unzip and slot it underneath my bed where it acts as storage for a few bulkier bits of clothing. It’s worth mentioning that Away’s warranty is also robust. Builder says her “internal zipper broke in March 2019” and she emailed Away to ask if this damage was covered by the lifetime warranty. “There was a fair bit of back and forth over the next four months, but I ended up with a replacement suitcase in exactly the same limited-edition colorway with the same hand-painted monogram, all for free.”

Capacity: 37 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Compressed compartments | Warranty: Three-year warranty

This budget-friendly case is a favorite of writer Robin Reetz. It’s cheaper than many polycarbonate options because it’s made from ABS, which is a less durable plastic. But when I first received a sample to test in the mail, I was struck by how durable the shell felt (and even punched it a few times for good measure, to a satisfying thud sound.)

Although the case is made of cheaper materials, both Reetz and I found that the case performs very well. “It’s really perfect for a weekend or four-to-five-day trip,” she says. “I’ve traveled recently with friends who have Away and Delsey luggage, and all of them are now thinking about getting this bag.” It feels noticeably smaller, though, and as I was attempting to squeeze my boots inside, I did find myself longing for the extra few liters of my Away case. But with its compartments and 360-degree spinner wheels, the case offers a lot of the same features as ones costing twice as much — it does come with a shorter warranty of three years, though. 

Capacity: 39-liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Compression shelving | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

This case is an absolute revelation. I first heard about it from Kiki Reginato, New York Magazine’s senior director of e-commerce operations. “This case has space — and then some. I have the smallest one, and I’ve taken it on many ten-day trips,” she says. The case has a set of compression compartments which unfold to create a makeshift closet — eliminating the need to unpack into a real closet. The Solgaard had space for the weekend essentials that I packed in the July and the Away (to recap: three tops, jeans, a skirt, a dress, two bikinis, underwear, socks, pajamas, a bulkier jumper, toiletries, trainers, and a hairdryer). But it had an added bonus over the Away: I could clearly see where everything was with the closet decompressed, which meant I never had to rummage in search of a clean pair of socks. “The thing that I find very satisfying is that once you pack everything, you can pull the straps on the side and it presses everything into this compact mass of clothing,” says Reginato. “It’s kind of like a vacuum seal.” Most airlines worldwide accept her medium 39-liter bag, and you can take the large-size case on most U.S. airlines.

Capacity: 40.9 liter | CaseHard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Laundry bag and compression bands | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

This aluminum case from Away is travel writer Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon’s “workhorse.” She mostly travels to the Caribbean for three- or four-night short stays and says the case fits everything she needs. “One side of the bag is practically always ready-to-go packed. It has my essentials in it: a shoe bag (with three pairs of shoes), another packing cube with stuff like glasses, exercise bands, and a Nike raincoat, and then my toiletries bag.” Zips always felt vulnerable, so Greaves-Gabbadon wanted a bag with clamps for extra security. Its wheels are smooth too: “I feel like I could just push it with my middle finger and it would glide along the concourse.”

Capacity: 38 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided shell with soft-sided pockets | Compartments: Dedicated laptop pocket | Warranty: Two-year warranty for manufacturing faults

This case’s shell and wheels are hardy, and the pocket is “great to quickly tuck in your laptop and get it out fast through security,” says Brittany Allyn, founder of Thirty Waves. It also rolls along quickly and smoothly. As Allyn puts it, “having a bag that can fit as much as possible (because I’m an overpacker and not afraid to say so) and can get me to my gate ASAP is most important.” The bag is also a tried and tested favorite of Strategist deals editor Sam Daly, who’s been traveling with it since 2019. Daly appreciates the steadfast lock and a small but mighty selection of colorways (the sage green looks similar to Rimowa’s Bamboo).

Capacity: 18 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft-sided with handles and shoulder strap | Compartments: Laptop pocket | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

“Most of my travel these days is for modeling jobs, which last only a few days and — here’s the kicker — for which I don’t need to bring many of my own clothes,” says Lauren Chan, the CEO and founder and CEO of Henning. This means she often opts for a backpack. “It’s so much easier to move around the airport with, and when the overhead compartment is small or full, I can just throw it under my seat.” If you too like to pack light, this backpack is ideal, and, like Kipsta’s Essential bag, it won’t incur any extra charges. “I’d say it’s big enough to fit all of my tech, toiletries, and about three outfits,” says Chan. “What more could you need?”

Capacity: 24.5-liter, 27.5 liter expanded | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft-sided | Case vs. bag: Bag with shoulder straps | Compartments: Laptop pocket | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

I’ve been using this as my personal item for trips across Europe this summer. It was a squeeze, but for a seven day trip to Marbella, Spain, I managed to pack all my essentials (listed above), as well as my laptop (and charger), two books (including the new, rather lengthy Hunger Games novel), and a notepad. It does have an expandable zip, but as that would have made it too large to count as a personal item, I kept mine firmly fastened. The dedicated padded laptop sleeve made airport security a doddle: Instead of having to rummage around for my essentials, I could simply slide it out, and on to the tray. The padded straps were also a savior, so even though I was carrying seven days’ worth of clothes and toiletries on my back, my shoulders didn’t start pinching until I’d had the bag on my back for upwards of an hour.

Capacity: 35 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft-sided with shoulder straps | Case vs. bag: Bag with shoulder straps | Compartments: Mesh packing cubes | Warranty: One-year return period

If you like the sound of a backpack but want something a little roomier, writer Margaret Eby recommends this clamshell pack from Cotopaxi. “Unlike most backpacks that only zip at the top,” she says, this one unfolds into a butterfly formation, “allowing you to make better use of all the space.” And while we love how much space is inside, the built-in mesh packing cubes make it a dream for keeping everything in check. Eby used it to take a change of clothes, a laptop, snacks, a sun hat, a jewelry case, a day purse, and even a crochet project on a ten-day trip to Italy. And she says it fits comfortably under the seat in front of you — no squishing required.