Photo: Marcus McDonald
As someone who hasn’t checked a bag in more than five years of travel across the U.S. and abroad, I’ve thought a lot about what makes a good piece of carry-on luggage. A summertime European vacation calls for a sturdy wheeled suitcase, whereas backpacks will suit more rugged trips. Either way, the best carry-ons should be both capacious and easy to keep organized, with handy pockets and compartments. I prefer a carry-on that looks good, too, as I often take it out and about with me on the last day of my trip.
When it comes to shopping for luggage — especially online — it’s tough to know where to look and whether a suitcase will fit everything that you need inside. Luckily, my colleagues and I have tested all of these suitcases and bags ourselves, while also seeking advice from travel experts and frequent fliers about what they recommend. While you’re here, I’ve also written guides to the best personal item bags, the best toiletry bottles, and the best Dopp kits for men.
Most major U.S. airlines agree on the limits of a carry-on’s size (22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches high, to be exact). All the luggage on our list meets those requirements, so I’ve instead specified liter capacity, as well as the weight of each piece when completely empty.
All the cases featured here have spinner wheels, making them easier to maneuver, and most of them are hard-sided. With bags (which on this list, are all soft-sided), I’ve specified which kinds of straps and padding they have, as you’ll need to think about how they distribute the weight of your stuff.
Again, this comes down to personal preference, and you may have your own system to keep your essentials organized. But if you’re anything like me and you need to frantically check for your passport every five minutes, various pockets are really handy. They’ll also help you easily grab your laptop and liquids when heading through security.
I’ve highlighted the warranty on each carry-on and the kinds of damage it covers. Most companies I’ve listed will fix faults that are due to manufacturing defects, but general wear and tear isn’t covered.
Weight and capacity: 7.5lbs, 7.9 lbs, 39.8 liter, 47.9 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 by travel experts time and time (and time) again, and several Strategist staffers are proud owners. I’ve been testing the Bigger Carry-on, which has a 50-liter capacity yet still fits in most overhead bins, over the past couple of months. Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths, who lives in Europe (where airline luggage requirements are much stingier), has been testing the original, smaller size and is surprised by how much she can fit into it. Both sizes are lightweight and minimalist, helping you avoid nasty extra fees at the check-in counter.
I think the Away carry-on’s spinner wheels are its most underrated design feature. Griffiths’s street in London is cobblestoned, so she previously dreaded lugging suitcases along it. “But the sturdy wheels meant the Away didn’t rattle as much as I’d anticipated,” she says. And on flat surfaces, just a flick from my finger sends the case gliding.
The brand’s warranty is also worth noting. Strategist editor Maxine Builder’s internal zipper broke in March 2019, and she emailed Away to ask if this damage was covered. “There was a fair bit of back-and-forth over the next four months,” she says. “But I ended up with a replacement suitcase in exactly the same limited-edition colorway with the same hand-painted monogram, all for free.”
The Away is even sturdy enough for sitting when you’re stuck at the airport.
Photo: Rachael Griffiths
Weight and capacity: 6.2lbs, 6.7 lbs, 40 liter, 48 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Organizational compartments, laundry bag | Warranty: Limited lifetime
Quince, the five-year-old start-up that seems to make a little bit of everything, recently added rolling luggage to its growing inventory (which also happens to include my favorite set of linen sheets). In terms of weight and feel, Quince’s affordable cabin suitcases are surprisingly similar to Away’s. They come in two sizes, both a smidge larger yet more lightweight than their more expensive competitors. Both are made from polycarbonate, which is the most durable form of suitcase plastic. When I nudged an Away Bigger Carry-on and Quince Carry-on across my apartment floor side by side, their wheels carried them about the same distance, and their retractable handles are almost identical in form and function. Both brands use YKK zippers and TSA-approved combination locks. Inside, the compression compartments and removable laundry bag are also essentially the same. And Quince recently introduced a limited lifetime warranty on its suitcases that offers protection against defects like broken handles and zippers — mimicking Away’s famous replacement guarantee.
Weight and capacity: 7.3 lbs, 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 the options above because it’s made from ABS, which is a less durable plastic than polycarbonate. But when Griffiths tested it, she 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 Griffiths found that its compartments and 360-degree spinner wheels perform very well. “It’s really perfect for a weekend or a four-to-five-day trip,” Reetz 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 Griffiths was attempting to squeeze her boots inside, she did find herself longing for the extra few liters of her Away case.
Weight and capacity: 7.5 lbs, 46 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Hidden laundry bag | Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Meanwhile, Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell favors this polycarbonate case from July that’s slightly larger than Away’s The Carry-on and slightly smaller than Away’s The Bigger Carry-on. “I’ve never had an issue with mine fitting in an overhead cabin, and it’s been roomy enough to hold clothes for an outfit-change-heavy weekend in Miami and a weeklong trip to my parents’ house over the holidays,” she says. She’s also impressed by the bag’s silent wheels: “I used to only Uber to JFK because dragging my suitcase to the subway and getting stuck on every uneven patch of sidewalk in Brooklyn was infuriating. Now I have no problem rolling it wherever.” Even though it’s on the larger side — when Griffiths tested it, she had room for an extra pair of boots as well as her regular packing list — the bag just about squeezes through airline carry-on restrictions. It also comes with an ejectable battery (which had more than enough juice to fully recharge my iPhone 13). Much like the Away, the July case is easy to wipe clean, but its color range has a little more to offer — particularly its seasonal shades, which right now include a dreamy sky blue and neon green.
Weight and capacity: 7.1 lbs, 37 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Flexible compartments | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
A Rimowa case is like the Frette sheets of luggage: luxurious but expensive. Part of the luxury is how it streamlines common annoyances. It slots seamlessly into overhead bins and glides through the airport on its resilient spinner wheels. Taymoor Atighetchi, the founder and CEO of Papier, put it simply: “Nothing beats Rimowa’s smooth wheels.”
You also get the brand’s Multiwheel system, adjustable dividers, a sturdy telescopic handle, and TSA-approved locks. The Essential Cabin’s polycarbonate shell makes it much lighter than a classic aluminum Rimowa. This means you can almost treat it like a checked bag, without the weight, according to fashion content creator Isabel Tan, who recently squeezed 15 outfits into hers for a trip to Bali. Stylist Tina Leung, who fills her case to the brim, agrees. Like Away, Rimowa offers a lifetime guarantee on its cases, and Leung told us that almost every destination she has traveled to has a place to pop in for repairs. “If the wheels break off or something, it’s so easy to just go and get it fixed,” she says. “There’s pretty much one in every major city.”
Capacity: 8.25 lbs, 39-liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Compression shelving | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
Solgaard’s polycarbonate closet 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 that unfold to create a makeshift closet — eliminating the need to unpack into a real closet. The Solgaard had space for the weekend essentials that Griffiths 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 hair dryer).
But it had an added bonus: When she tested it, she could clearly see where everything was. And compressing the clothes is satisfying, too. “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.
Weight and capacity: 10.1 lbs, 35 liter | CaseHard-sided or soft-sided: Hard-sided | Compartments: Laundry bag and compression bands | Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Aluminum cases have plenty of attractive qualities. They’re far more durable than both polycarbonate and soft-side cases, there’s less chance they’ll crack, and they often use clamps instead of zips, making them even more secure. Less attractive, though, is their price point — the classic Rimowa aluminum case is an eye-watering $1,500.
But just like its polycarbonate case, the Away aluminum version is worth the money: It actually has the same features as the more expensive Rimowa for a fraction of the price. That includes the sturdy shell and clamp closing — which travel writer Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon says are ultra-secure — as well as the spinner wheels, telescopic handle, and built-in lock that I like so much about the original Away case. All in all, it’s a great more affordable option for any travelers who have their heart set on aluminum. Just remember that metal suitcases are a few pounds heavier than their plastic counterparts.
Weight and capacity: 6.6 lbs, 46 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft sided | Compartments: Zip pockets and removable toiletry bag | Warranty: Ten years
Victorinox is best known for knives (we’ve featured several on the Strategist), but its luggage is also known for being equally utilitarian — simple and durable. “I swear by a soft-shell bag over a hard shell,” says Jessie Hyman, co-founder of Pruzan Running. “It takes up less space in the hotel room because you don’t need to lay it flat to access what’s inside.” Hyman travels with the Victorinox specifically because of its roomy capacity and squishy recycled polyester exterior. “I have always managed to squeeze in a vacation purchase inside this bag since it expands and compresses,” she says. “It’s actually converted me to be more of a carry-on gal than before.”
Capacity: 5.4 lbs, 46 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft sided | Compartments: Two exterior compartments, lid pocket, and device pocket | Warranty: Five years
TripSavvy’s former general manager Molly Fergus is a big fan of this “basic but effective” suitcase. Strategist readers are too: It’s one of the best-selling picks in our story on the best rolling luggage, while also being a best seller from our Travel 100 (a list of all the best travel items we’ve ever written about.) As it’s a soft-side, Fergus is able to squeeze her clothes and essentials inside, and she says that the wheels are tough enough to be “dragged across sand, dirt, and cobblestones.” If the wheels aren’t up to scratch, though, they and the zips and handles are covered under the Travelpro five-year warranty.
Capacity: 8.25 lbs, 45 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: 2.7 lbs, 40 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft-sided with handles and shoulder straps | Compartments: Various handy pockets | Warranty: Lifetime warranty
We recently named the Black Hole by Patagonia the best overall weekend bag as praised by Strategist editors and frequent travelers. To give you an idea of how much you can fit inside, Pruzan Running co-founder Lexy Copithorne told us she packed “everything for a two-week trip, including city and surfwear” inside her Black Hole. “That included two sweaters, several fitted tanks and running sets, two pairs of sneakers, boots, a few swimsuits, and my toiletry bag,” she says. While the bag is lightweight (at less than three pounds) and water resistant thanks to a waxy coating, the strap design is what makes it a thoughtful travel companion. If you’ll be trekking far, the over-the-shoulder strap can be switched out for backpack straps to give your shoulders a respite.
Capacity: 3.7 lbs, 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
The Cotopaxi Allpa is one of those rare products that’s as good as the people on TikTok say. Essentially a soft suitcase with backpack straps, it’s easy to organize as it has built-in packing cubes made from colorful see-through mesh and, unlike most backpacks that just unzip at the top, a butterfly opening allows you to see and rummage around those cubes easily. I took mine on a train trip through Morocco last summer, and it earned many admirers on the journey. Writer Margaret 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.
Capacity: 4.5 lbs, 40 liter | Hard-sided or soft-sided: Soft-sided with shoulder straps | Case vs. bag: Bag with shoulder straps | Compartments: Large main compartment, adjacent zipped mesh compartment, laptop sleeve | Warranty: Lifetime
Tortuga is another brand that makes excellent suitcase-style backpacks that are ideal for using as carry-on luggage. I’ve recently been testing out this bag, which lacks the Allpa’s built-in packing cubes but does include a more built-out laptop sleeve with a few zips and compartments for small items. It is also larger in capacity without being too heavy or unwieldy. The sternum straps are comfortable and can be tucked away when not in use, the bag’s rectangular shape means it slots easily into overhead lockers, and I like that the exterior fabric is waterproof and easy to wipe down.
• Brittany Allyn, digital creator behind Thirty Waves
• Taymoor Atighetchi, the CEO and founder of Papier
• Gabby Beckford, travel blogger
• Lexy Copithorne, co-founder of Pruzan Running
• Lauren Chan, the CEO and founder of Henning
• Margaret Eby, writer
• Molly Fergus, TripSavvy’s former general manager
• Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, travel writer also known as Jet Set Sarah
• Summer Hull, Points Guy travel content director
• Jessie Hyman, co-founder of Pruzan Running
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor
• Briona Lamback, Buoyant Travel founder
• Tina Leung, stylist
• Heather Morris, actress, producer, and host of podcaster The Bystanders
• Robin Reetz, Strategist contributor
• Kiki Reginato, New York Magazine senior director of e-commerce operations and strategy
• Isabel Tan, fashion content creator
• Jenna Milliner Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Andres Zuleta, travel expert and founder of Boutique Japan
Update on June 27, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Additional reporting by Rachael Griffiths.
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