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

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

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

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

Our top picks for the best luggage brands

Shop all luggage at Samsonite

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

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

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

Worth a look:

Shop all luggage at Away

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

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

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

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

Shop all luggage at Travelpro

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

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

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

Shop all luggage at Monos

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

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

You can read our full Monos luggage review for more.

Shop all luggage at American Tourister

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

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

Shop all luggage at Rimowa

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

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

Read our full Rimowa Essential Lite carry-on review .

Shop all luggage at Briggs & Riley

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

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

Shop all luggage at Bric's

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

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

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

Read our full Bric's Capri luggage review .     

Shop all luggage at Tumi

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

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

Shop all luggage at Victorinox

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

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

Shop all luggage at Delsey

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

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

Is hard-sided or soft-sided luggage better?

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

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

What size luggage should I buy?

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

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

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

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10 Designer Luggage Pieces That Are Worth the Investment

By Madison Roberts

For some travelers, designer luggage is an airport staple. Suitcases by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Steamline pepper first class lounges and are often the first to be dropped on the baggage claim belt. But which ones are the best to add to your collection? We've rounded up 10 of our favorite designer luggage pieces to fit every type of luxury traveler, whether you're looking for something neutral or a bag that stands out. Across the board, though, these bags are designed to last a lifetime, with quality materials like aluminum and Italian leather keeping them intact. Read on for our top designer luggage picks.

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

Louis Vuitton Horizon 55

For decades, Louis Vuitton has been the choice designer luggage brand for many celebrities, from Jackie Kennedy to Rihanna . And even before that, the brand was an innovator in the luggage industry, making trunks stackable with the creation of the flat top back in the 1850s. While you can’t go wrong with any of Louis Vuitton’s classic pieces of luggage, the Horizon 55 is our favorite, as it pays homage to the original brown monogram branding, but adds functional details like four spinner wheels, a gold handle, a TSA-approved lock, and interior zip pockets and straps. 

Steamline Luggage The Starlet Carry-On

This chic black, cream, and gold suitcase gives us serious vintage vibes, but with the amenities of a modern piece of luggage, including a TSA-approved lock, silent-glide wheels, and a hanging travel organizer. Inside, the bag features a polka dot interior lining, while an included ripstop nylon cover will keep the outside safe from scratches in transit—though, honestly, this is the type of bag you’ll want on display. The collection has been known to sell out, so act quickly to get your hands on one. 

Off-White Arrow Motif Trolley

Emblazoned with two criss-crossed arrows and the phrase “For Travel” across the side, this all-black spinner suitcase is a must-have travel accessory for street-style devotees. Designed by Virgil Abloh , creative consultant for Kanye West and Louis Vuitton, the simple but unique design—from afar, it looks like a plain black suitcase; up close, you can see Virgil's details, like the gunmetal-tone hardware and raised logo—makes it the perfect staple for those who don’t like flashy and colorful luggage, but still want to make a statement with their carry-on. Inside, you'll find elastic compression straps, an important design element for overpackers.

Roam The Globetrotter Large Check-In

Completely customizable from its outer shell to the zipper color, Roam’s largest check-in size bag, The Globetrotter, provides a designer look at a more affordable price (the co-founders came from Tumi, where large bags hover closer to $1,000 apiece). Its large size makes it perfect for long, cross-country vacations; the lightweight (10.3 pounds), water-repellent spinner suitcase has plenty of interior space and zip pockets to store smaller items, or anything you want kept separate from the main compartment. 

Harrison Pierce

María Casbas

Jessica Puckett

Tumi Extended Trip Packing Case

This hard shell aluminum spinner is roomy—11 inches deep and 20 inches wide—making it the perfect packing solution for lengthy trips or times when you want to pack in the same bag as your travel partner (and avoid two checked bag fees). It rolls straight and smooth, even when full, and comes in four neutral colors—blush, silver, matte black, and texture silver—all of which are designed to look like waves. It also has a free monogram option, as well as three interior zip pockets to help keep your clothing organized. 

MCM Visetos Weekender Bag

This durable leather weekender is printed in MCM’s classic logo design, and its dimensions mean it fits effortlessly into an airplane’s overhead storage (or into the back of your rental car). The duffel features two interior compartments for storage (one zippered, one slip) as well as an exterior trolley sleeve. Your hands will appreciate the soft leather grab handles and adjustable shoulder strap. 

Disney x Gucci Donald Duck large suitcase

Leave it to Gucci to create the chicest Disney suitcase we've seen yet. The suitcase starts with Gucci's signature look—a beige and ebony GG canvas, brown leather trim—then adds on whimsical swirls of teal, drawings of Donald Duck and his nephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie, as Disney fans may recall), starbursts, and rocket ships. It's practical, too, with protective metal feet on the bottom, a clasp closure, and interior elastic straps for securing all your belongings.

Globe-Trotter Paul Smith Carry-On

Queen Elizabeth II brought a Globe-Trotter suitcase on her 1947 countryside honeymoon to the Broadlands, and in 2000 she knighted designer Paul Smith for his contributions in fashion. So it was only right for the two royal-approved designers to create a suitcase collaboration of classic black trolley bags—this time with more modern pops of color on each corner. Of the three bags, the mid-size 20" case is the most useful: The luggage doesn’t have wheels, so it’s not ideal if you’re packing heavy items, but it's perfect for a weekend or road trip and will fit in most aircraft cabin overhead compartments. (For longer trips, check out the extra-deep size .)

Prada Saffiano Leather Trolley

This high-tech designer suitcase is built with Bluetooth technology that allows you to track your bag within a 141-foot range, so you won’t ever have to wonder if your luggage made its way onto the plane. Designed by a fashion powerhouse, the bag is made with Saffiano leather—a stain-resistant and water-repellent leather patented by Prada—and features Prada-logo lining on the interior. 

Bric's MyLife Expandable Spinner

This soft-sided checked suitcase is weather-proof and easy to clean, meaning you won’t have to worry about the soft dusty color getting scuffed up. Bric’s has specialized in Italian leather goods since 1952, and the handle, zipper, and logo are covered in quality Italian leather—touches you'll appreciate when pulling it off the luggage carousel. Inside, the case has a large mesh pocket and garment straps for organization, while the outside features a large exterior pocket for last-minute items. 

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The Best Luggage Of 2024, Tried And Tested For Months By Our Editors

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No matter the trip, the best luggage should check three boxes: durability, functionality and style. With that in mind, we researched the myriad types of suitcases out there and asked our team of seasoned frequent-flyers—including Forbes Vetted senior travel editor Astrid Taran —to share their personal recommendations. Based on their extensive firsthand testing, we determined that the Monos Carry-On Pro is the best luggage overall and the Away The Bigger Carry-On is the best hardside luggage. We also found other top-notch options for specific travel needs, whether you want a sleek carry-on or an affordable spinner for more casual trips.

The best luggage for any trip should offer ease, durability, maneuverability and style.

Investing in well-made luggage is a smart move since it fulfills your travel needs for years to come. To round out your travel gear, check out our guides to the best hardside luggage , the best softside luggage and the best carry-on luggage .

• Best Luggage Overall: Monos Carry-On Pro
• Best Affordable Luggage: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner
• Best Carry-On Luggage: Carl Friedrik The Carry-On
• Best Hardside Luggage: Away The Bigger Carry-On
• Best Softside Luggage: Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-inch Carry-On
• Best Checked Luggage: Calpak Ambeur Large
• Best Luxury Luggage: Rimowa Original Cabin Plus
• Best Luggage For International Travel: Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner
• Best Stylish Luggage: Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus
• Best Luggage Set: July Classic Family Luggage Set

Best Luggage Overall

Monos: thoughtfully designed and built to last, monos carry-on pro.

Dimensions:  22 × 14 × 9 inches |  Weight:  7.8 pounds |  TSA-approved lock:  Yes |  Warranty:  100-day return policy and limited lifetime warranty

• Good packing space and durable carry-on design
• Stylish aesthetic and smooth wheels
• Short-to-moderate length trips (about 3 to 4 days)
• You need ample packing space for extended trips

Thanks to its unbreakable polycarbonate shell and versatile design, Monos’ Carry-On Pro earned the top spot on our list. Forbes Vetted updates writer  Francesca Sales thoroughly tested this pick on recent trips and highly recommends it. “It’s very easy to maneuver,” she says. “The spinning wheels are smooth, both when I’m rolling it upright or wheeling it via the handle. I also like that it has the tiniest bit of heft to it—it feels sturdier than other suitcases I’ve used.” Senior updates editor Karen Tietjen has also been using this suitcase and agrees, adding that the design is a stand-out. “Traveling with an attractive suitcase just makes the journey better,” she says.

The Carry-On Pro 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 15-inch laptop. For longer trips, the Check-In Medium offers more space without feeling too bulky.

Expert tip: 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. "But I still reach for my Monos before my other suitcases just because of how good the rest of the features are,” says Sales.

Best Affordable Luggage

Samsonite: excellent basic for less than $200, samsonite freeform carry-on spinner.

Dimensions: 21.25 × 15.25 × 10 inches | Weight: 6.5 pounds | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Limited 10-year global warranty

• Casual travelers who want a basic carry-on at an affordable price
• Modern design in fun colors
• You travel a lot; the polypropylene shell isn’t as impact-resistant as polycarbonate

If you want an affordable suitcase that gets the job done well, Samsonite’s Freeform Carry-On is a solid choice. 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. 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.”

This pick has interior pockets as well as a divider to keep everything in place, and its four smooth wheels make it easy to tote around. Other notable features include a push-button handle that pulls out and retracts as needed, and a built-in ID tag to prevent theft. If you need other sizes, our guide to the Best Samsonite Luggage includes larger checked bags as well as weekender bags.

Expert tip: This suitcase’s polypropylene shell is lightweight and wallet-friendly, but not as impact-resistant as polycarbonate or aluminum.

Best Carry-On Luggage

Carl friedrik: compact and well designed.

Carl Friedrik

Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

Dimensions:  21.6 × 14.5 × 9 inches  | Weight:  8.6 pounds  | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty:  Lifetime warranty

• Sophisticated style and design, minus the Rimowa price tag
• Travelers who like the ease of not having to check bags but want enough space for the essentials
• Mid-length trips (about 5 to 7 days)
• You prefer a traditional zip-around suitcase; this pick opens and shuts with a lock

For those who travel frequently and want to skip the checked baggage area, Carl Friedrik’s carry-on has quickly gained a loyal following thanks to its sleek aesthetic and Italian leather trimmings (several of the brand’s bags have been featured on “Succession.”) This pick has 360-degree silent spinner wheels, two zippered interior pockets and is sized to fit in the overhead bin of domestic and European cabins.

Inside, there’s a set of compression straps and a pad for maximizing packing space. Forbes Vetted’s senior travel editor  Astrid Taran has used this Carry-On for several recent trips and highly recommends it for both its style—“I got a lot of compliments as I rolled it through the airport,” she says—and build—“the ribbed texture means any scuffing will be hard to spot.” Just note that instead of a traditional zip-around design, the Carry-On opens and closes with a lock that, as Taran notes, “is incredibly easy to use.”

Expert tip: One side of the bag’s interior only has a compression strap in place of a zippered pocket, which is not ideal if you need space for many loose items.

Best Hardside Luggage

Away: well-priced, reliable favorite, away the bigger carry-on.

Dimensions:  22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches |  Weight:  7.4 pounds |  TSA-approved lock:  Yes |  Warranty:  100-day return policy and limited lifetime warranty

• Long-lasting hardside luggage at an affordable price
• Lightweight design
• 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. The brand’s Bigger Carry-On can easily be tucked in an overhead bin while still offering enough interior packing space. Taran has used the Bigger Carry-On on dozens of trips to Europe, Mexico and beyond.

“This is a true utility suitcase,” she says. “It’s sturdy enough to get tossed around, has a comfortable grip handle and can be stuffed it to the absolute brim without the zippers breaking. Shockingly, for as many times as I’ve used it, it only has a few barely visible scratches.” Taran also appreciates the brand’s accessible price point. “For friends who are just beginning to build out their luggage collection, I always recommend starting with an Away bag. It’s very hard to find this level of quality for less than $300 these days.” This suitcase also has quiet, easy-to-use wheels, an underside grab handle and a laundry bag for storing dirty clothes while on the road.

Expert tip: If you need a little more room, we recommend 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 Softside Luggage

Briggs & riley: top-quality with a lifetime warranty.

Briggs & Riley

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-inch Carry-On

Dimensions:  22 × 14 × 9 inches |  Weight:  9.7 pounds | TSA-approved lock:  Yes |  Warranty:  Lifetime warranty

• High-mileage travelers who prefer flexible softside luggage over hardside
• Generous warranty that covers any damage
• You’re on a budget—this is one of the pricier suitcases out there

A top pick in our Best Carry-On Luggage story, Briggs & Riley is known for its durability, reliability and accommodating lifetime warranty. Forbes Vetted’s branded content editor Luke Fater tested the brand’s Baseline Essential 22-inch Carry-On and considers it “the suitcase of my dreams.” Fater says, “I used it on a plane, train and bus, and the spinner rolled like butter. It has no signs of fraying in the stitching or zippers, either. The ballistic nylon material seems super-resistant to wear and tear.”

With a spring-loaded handle, flat interior and built-in compartment configuration, this suitcase is carefully thought out to make using it as seamless as possible. While this pick is definitely an investment, its compressive technology, built-in garment folder and shock-absorbent wheels warrant the luxury price tag.

Expert tip: 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.

Best Checked Luggage

Calpak: large and spacious at an affordable price, calpak ambeur large.

Dimensions:  30 x 19 x 12 inches   |  Weight:  10.3 pounds   |  TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

• Ample packing space and non-bulky design that doesn’t cost a fortune
• 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

Forbes Vetted executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers has traveled extensively with the Calpak Ambeur Large and counts it among her favorite checked bags. “I have several large pieces of luggage and I find myself reaching for this suitcase most often,” she says. “It’s super lightweight and so roomy, and as a chronic over-packer, I never have an issue fitting everything I need.” Despite its spacious size—it has a packing capacity of 77 liters—Boyers hasn’t found it heavy or bulky. “It has a compact design and wheels effortlessly, so I never feel like I’m lugging an enormous bag through the airport.”

Clocking in at under $300, the 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.

Expert tip: Consider your color choice carefully—Boyers recommends a shade other than black. “I do wish I got it in a different color,” she says. “The black that I have seems to scuff fairly easily.”

Best Luxury Luggage

Rimowa: timeless classic you can't go wrong with, rimowa original cabin plus.

Dimensions:  21.7 × 15.8 × 9.1 inches |  Weight:  9.5 pounds |  TSA-approved lock:  Yes |  Warranty:  Lifetime warranty

• Sleek aluminum suitcase that’s stylish and built to last
• Easy-to-maneuver, lightweight luggage
• Mid-length to longer trips (about 5 to 7 days or more)
• 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.

Forbes Vetted’s executive director of business development and partnerships, Alexis Caldwell, swears by Rimowa’s Original Cabin Plus, having used it on both short and long trips, and particularly appreciates the built-in compression. “I can squeeze so much into it that I’ve never needed a larger suitcase, even on multiple three-week trips to various destinations,” she says. Caldwell is also a fan of the ball-bearing mounted wheels, which provide a seriously smooth glide. “My luggage literally floats through the airport,” she says.

Expert tip: 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 .

Best Luggage For International Travel

Travelpro: sized for international airline cabins, travelpro platinum elite carry-on spinner.

Dimensions:  21 × 14 × 9 inches   |  Weight:  7.8 pounds   |  TSA-approved lock : Yes   |  Warranty:  5-year limited warranty; covers cost of repair for damage by an airline if registered within first 120 days of purchase

• Those who travel abroad but don’t want to check their bags
• Sturdiness and a compact design
• You prefer a modern aesthetic—this pick has a more traditional look

Named our top overall winner for the Best Luggage For International Travel , Travelpro’s carry-on spinner is the perfect size for international airline cabins, meaning you’ll never need to worry about your bag being snagged for a gate check. The softside suitcase is smartly outfitted with compression straps, accessory pockets and a water-resistant toiletry bag. It also has eight self-aligning spinner wheels and a contoured-grip rubber handle with four adjustable heights.

Forbes Vetted’s editorial director, Brinda Ayer , tested this bag and praised its functionality. “It’s very simple to maneuver around, even on concrete,” she says. “For a softside bag, it’s pretty sturdy. I haven’t had any tearing or scuffing yet, even after a few trips, and the handle has a comfortable grip.” Ayer does note that its style may not be appeal to those who want a high-design Monos or Away. “It’s not super sleek or minimalist like other trendy luggage brands out there,” she says, but for an excellent, all-around basic, it scores high marks.

Expert tip: If you prefer extra durability, this suitcase also comes in a hardside version .

Best Stylish Luggage

Paravel: accessible luxury and eco-friendly, paravel aviator carry-on plus.

Dimensions:  22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches |  Weight:  8.5 pounds |  TSA-approved lock:  Yes |  Warranty:  10-year limited warranty

• 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 proprietary its materials, like Negative Nylon, which has garnered Paravel a loyal following among eco-conscious travelers. Our top pick, the Aviator Carry-On Plus, is chic, sturdy and comes with a compression board and a laundry bag for dirty clothing.

Taran traveled with the Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus on a recent trip and was impressed by its style and maneuverability. “Simply put, this is one of the best-looking bags I’ve traveled with,” she says. “While some of these design-forward bags can feel pretty flimsy, this one is very sturdy. The wheels are extremely smooth and never get snagged in airport carpets, and the faux leather wrap around the handle is super comfortable.”

Expert tip: For longer trips, the Aviator comes in a larger, checked size .

Best Luggage Set

July: great for families and frequent travelers, july classic family luggage set.

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) |  Weight: 7.4 pounds (Carry-On), 8.3 pounds (Checked), 10.5 pounds (Checked Plus) | Warranty:  Lifetime warranty

• Families and those who travel frequently
• Lightweight pieces you can easily transport
• Multiple trips with a variety of different lengths
• You prefer heftier luggage for rugged travel

Luggage sets are smart if you’re a family or 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.

Taran is a big fan of July, having used the Carry-On and Checked bags on several trips. She notes that the brand’s designs are lightweight and stylish. “Their aesthetics really stand out from the rest of the pack, and their bags are super well-made. The wheels, in particular, are incredibly smooth. They provide a buttery glide, no matter how much stuff I’m carrying.”

Expert tip: For longer trips, Taran likes July’s Checked Trunk , which won for the best overall pick in our Best Trunk Luggage round-up. “Trunks can be clunky and bulky, but July’s are slim and look great,” she says. “I have used my trunk several times and love how lightweight and smooth it rolls through the airport, despite being packed to the brim.”

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How much should you spend on a mattress here’s what we found, why trust forbes vetted.

• The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of luggage stories , covering not only the best suitcases, but the best weekender bags , totes , duffel bags , carry-on backpacks and more.
• This story was written by Forbes Vetted’s senior travel editor, Astrid Taran , a 7-year industry veteran who’s visited over 35 countries and traveled with all types of bags, totes and suitcases—including many on this list—on planes, trains, buses and boats.

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

• All of the picks on this list have been tested by Forbes Vetted editors and staffers, including senior updates editor Karen Tietjen , senior deals editor Kara Cuzzone , editorial director Brinda Ayer , executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers and more.
• This story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible. During its latest March 2024 update, Taran re-evaluated all selections and added in new selections that were recently tested by our editors, such as Carl Friedrik The Carry-On and the Calpak Ambeur Large .

How We Chose The Best Luggage

• We relied on expert advice, independent reviews, research and personal experience to make all of our recommendations. For this tested story, we asked Forbes Vetted editors and staffers to test multiple suitcases, then give us their opinions on the pieces of luggage they felt truly stood apart from the pack.
• 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.

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

• We’ve taken the time to compare luggage options, examining their features to determine which pieces are well-suited for travel and which ones you can do without.

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.

Extra Features

Many suitcases are designed with added features that make traveling more convenient. For extra security, look for a carry-on with a built-in TSA-approved lock. These are usually combination locks that TSA agents can open with a master key so they don’t have to damage your luggage if it must be inspected. 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.

A bright color will make your bag stand out at the airport carousel, but keep in mind that lighter shades can be more likely to show scuffs and spots. If black feels too generic, opt for another dark shade—the Away The Bigger Carry-On comes in several deep hues. If you prefer more neutral colors, investing in a colorful luggage tag can provide the best of both worlds.

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

Which Suitcase Brand Is Best?

The luggage landscape has drastically evolved in recent years. As a result, we find ourselves with more brands to choose from than ever before, which makes it all the more difficult when the time comes to invest in new luggage. There are also a variety of great suitcases that work for different budgets. Our best overall pick is the Monos Carry-On Pro , but for travelers on a budget, we recommend Samsonite and Travelpro , which are trusted brands favored by pilots and flight attendants, but there are some great newcomers out there as well, like Monos , Away and July .

What’s Better: Softside Or Hardside Luggage?

While luggage carousels around the world are still overflowing with softside luggage, hardside luggage has quickly been gaining popularity. When deciding which type of bag you need, consider what you’re carrying and where you’re going. Soft-sided 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.

More Travel Stories To Shop:

• Best Luggage Tags
• Best TSA-Approved Luggage Locks
• Best Packing Cubes
• Best Passport Holders
• Best Travel Accessories

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The Best Away Luggage Pieces, According to Esquire

We've tried the whole lineup—here's what's worth it.

That said, are Away suitcases worth it? We say yes. With the popularity, you might get a slightly inflated price, but you can't deny these are the best of the affordable polycarbonate suitcases. Even if our travel experts might steer you towards top-of-the-line Rimowa carry-ons , lightweight duffel bags , or travel-hack garment duffels , you can't deny the affordable function of Away.

The One You Should Buy

Away carry-on flex.

The Largest Suitcase in the Lineup

Away the trunk.

The Most Versatile Away Suitcase

Away the medium flex.

The Other Large Checked Option

Away the large flex.

A Great Packable Tote

Away packable carryall.

Away's Standout Travel Backpack

Away everywhere zip backpack.

Within the lineup, what Away suitcase should you buy? There's now a handful of offerings—some big checked luggage pieces , expandable carry-ons , packable tote bags , and travel backpacks . We've tried pretty much all of it, so we felt primed to give you a little rundown. This is our handy shopping guide to the lineup. These are the six best Away suitcases, the ones we'd tell you to buy.

If there were ever an Away suitcase we'd say everyone should buy, it'd be this one. The Carry-On Flex is the perfect middle ground within the Away lineup. It's the best thing the brand makes.

It's light, fits in an overhead bin, and can pack a weekend's worth of clothes. Then, if you're bringing home extra stuff, a second zipper expands the bag to about the same size as the Bigger Carry On . Away says unzipping the expanding zipper gives you an extra 2.25" of space, but I don't know what the fuck that means. In practice, it's given me space for an extra outfit or two, a handful of t-shirts, or a bunch of underwear. Think of it as getting an extra day or two into a suitcase.

I do have to address one thing, though. When that second zipper is expanded, there is the chance that your plane might not have enough overhead space. Personally, it's never happened to me, even on tiny regional flights. But just know it's a possibility.

For checked luggage, I say go for the Trunk. Some people claim it's too big, but with checked luggage that's not really your problem. Sure, if you've got a lot of walking to do in a city, it a smaller bag would be nice. But, if you're doing a long stay anywhere, you need space. This has a ton of it.

The main design benefit of the Trunk is the deeper main compartment. It's a gem when you're traveling with a lot of footwear, especially if you've got boots and don't want to wear them on the flight.

Among the checked sizes that Away sells, the Medium Flex is the most versatile. Away says it's big enough for one to two weeks' worth of clothing, but it can extend into the two-and-a-half or three weeks range if you're economical.

It's not a massive bag, though. Cutting a few inches off in all directions has a real impact. It doesn't get heavy on the wheels, and you can maneuver it through a city center somewhat comfortably. Add the ability to flex up in size, and you've just got a great do-it-all checked bag.

If you like all the space of the trunk but prefer the shape of a case, we'd recommend the Large Flex. It's got slightly less space than the trunk, but you're still able to pack multiple weeks' worth of clothes.

As I've already said (and will continue to say) we love the ability to expand and compress the flex options. The Large Flex gives you just under two inches of expanded space, which equals another couple of days worth of clothing.

The only downside to this suitcase is how wide the square shape makes it. The trunk is tall and slim, which makes it a bit easier to move around. The Large Flex is incredibly square, which makes it a bit more cumbersome in crowded areas.

Away's packable tote bag takes the flex concept in a different direction. On the way to your destination, it's not even big enough to factor into how you pack. It stuffs down into a sack that you can toss away in the bottom of a different bag. On the way home, expand it into a 44L tote to use as a personal item.

This one is a great option for the traveler that brings a lot of souvenirs home, or it's an option if you find yourself getting lazy with return flight packing. And beyond all that, it's just nice to know you've got extra packing space stored away.

If we're talking Away travel gear, we are of course going to call out the brand's cult favorite backpack. In New York City, I'll see five finance guys a day with this backpack. It's not a great look for a formal job, but it's the perfect backpack for travel.

The Everywehere Zip is sleek, especially if you opt for the monochrome black version. It's practical, with plenty of compartments and a trolley sleeve. The long zipper and elasticized opening allows it to open quite wide, so you can really take advantage of every bit of space. It's the perfect personal item, especially for a work trip.

Things to Consider When Buying Away Luggage

What Away Does Best

• The brand is amazing with price v.s. quality. It's where Away really shines. Among the mid-tier luggage brands, no other makes suitcases as durable as Away.
• It makes incredible expanding options. Away's Flex series is one of our favorite travel lines. Plenty of brands make expandable suitcases, but the nylon Away uses is just a cut above.

What to Look Out For With Away

• The suitcases scuff really easily. If you lean into the world traveller look, it's fine. If you want to keep it spotless, you'll have to do some scrubbing.

Why Trust Esquire?

Because we travel more than anyone ever should. Every week out of the year, one of our editors or writers is wheels up to somewhere. We get a lot of miles in, and with that comes an immense amount of travel product knowledge . Plus, we test a lot of suitcases—from top-of-the-line Rimowas to cheap plastic suitcases . If there's a suitcase you're looking at, we've already put it through its paces. Trust our experience.

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The Best Carry-On Luggage

By Kit Dillon

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everything we recommend

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

The best soft-sided carry-on.

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

Buying Options

Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard

A bit more capacity and extra wheel durability.

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

Away The Carry-On

The best hard-sided carry-on.

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

Away The Bigger Carry-On

Slightly more room, but you might get checked.

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

Budget pick

Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Lightweight and appealingly inexpensive.

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

Upgrade pick

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

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

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

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

More room, bigger wheels, less maneuverability.

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

Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

A more luxe hard-sided carry-on.

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

Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage

A bag built for tough conditions.

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

What to consider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The research

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

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

In the 10 years we’ve been covering this category, luggage has evolved, and so has our thinking about what makes the best carry-on for most people. After spending well over 200 hours doing research and interviews and easily twice that time conducting hands-on testing, we’ve seen a few truths become clear. First, at a certain threshold—roughly over $200—most luggage is fine. It will more than likely get you from point A to point B without incident many times a year for many years. What distinguishes great luggage from everything else is mostly an attention to detail—the quality of a bag’s handle, its wheels, the frame, and stitching—and a company’s guarantee that it will stand behind its product.

Every year we try to refine our testing and find new ways to consider what it means to be the best luggage. We’ve weighed and measured suitcases, comparing our results with company claims. We’ve calculated true internal capacity with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls 2 and some decently complex math for a writer to scratch out. We’ve packed and unpacked more bags than I care to remember. We’ve studied and compared wheel bearings, wheel sizes, pocket counts, pocket quality, the curious subtleties of garment bags that will (or more often won’t) keep your clothes wrinkle-free, the strength of warranties, and repairability.

We believe that any maximally sized carry-on should be capable of holding enough clothes to last you five days with room to spare for miscellaneous necessities. Most years we aim to have two testers, one male and one female, pack two bags individually as if headed to the same wedding. 3 What we included isn’t representative of a family traveling or a couple splitting a bag, but we erred on the side of bulky, and we hope it gives you a clear idea of how much of your own stuff these bags will hold.

We looked at how each bag loaded. Was there an easy way to keep smaller items (such as socks and underwear) organized? Did it have compression straps to keep things in place? Were the straps thick enough to avoid creasing the clothes? Just how much would the bag compress? How much room was left over? Once packed, was the bag prone to tipping over?

Over the years I’ve torn bags apart to see how the frames were put together, taken apart wheels, dismantled handles, and more or less treated luggage as poorly as one person could. I’ve wheeled loaded bags around many neighborhoods, looking at how well each bag rolled and how well it handled broken sidewalks, uneven pavement, grass, bricks, dirt, and curbs. I’ve dragged bags up and down two flights of concrete stairs, noting how easy this task was and how much damage the bags sustained. For our finalists, I’ve repeated the torture test along a second, even rougher route because I like the sound that polycarbonate luggage makes when it bounces down cavernous stairwells.

In fall 2023, we asked a panel of paid testers with a wide range of body types, dexterities, and mobilities to examine our picks and share their perspectives. We’ve incorporated their feedback in this review.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How the Platinum Elite has held up

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

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Though the Platinum Elite rolled well in general, we are still concerned when dragging the bag up stairs. Some of the other bags we tested had long plastic bumper strips running most of the way up the length of the bag; this Travelpro model’s skid plate isn’t as big or as protective. I haven’t had an issue, but if you’re particularly rough on your luggage or uncomfortable lifting the bag over curbs or up stairs, it’s something to be aware of.

• In 2018, Travelpro added a USB-A pass-through cable to the Platinum Elite as a way to compete with so-called smart bags. We like the battery pocket, but the built-in cable itself, which routes from the pocket to a USB port less than 6 inches away, is an unnecessary item, which at best adds a potential point of failure to the bag—USB cables do not last forever. Does it ruin the bag? No. Is it a feature? Not really.

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.

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.

The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is one of the lightest pieces of luggage we’ve tested, at a great price.

It’s lightweight. We have a hard time imagining how anyone could make a suitcase much lighter than this without breaking certain laws of physics. A few years ago, I took apart a Maxlite suitcase to see how the internal frame was built. What I found beneath the fabric was a clever lattice of plastic supporting the frame, which offered the best balance between weight-saving and structure.

For some people, especially those with limited upper-body strength, a lighter bag—even by just a few pounds—may be easier to lift or manage. That said, most people don’t need extremely light luggage, but just to pack less. For all the innovative design, the Maxlite 5 shaves only 2.4 pounds off the weight of our top pick. That’s the equivalent of a couple of pairs of jeans.

It’s inexpensive. My general advice to friends is to spend more than $200 but less than $500 to get good, if not great, luggage. The Maxlite 5 is the one piece of luggage I’ve found that breaks that rule. You can usually find it for about $150 or less, which is a remarkable price considering the bag’s quality.

Simple is good. This model doesn’t have any real bells or whistles—no battery pass-throughs or magnetically tracked wheels, as with our other Travelpro picks. Instead you’ll find two simple front pockets, a few well-placed handles, and a cavernous main compartment with a couple of pockets and two light straps to hold your stuff in place.

It comes from a trusted brand. We haven’t covered, examined, and interrogated a single luggage brand at Wirecutter for as long as we have Travelpro. For a decade, Travelpro has done a premier job of maintaining trust with its customers and with us—we’ve watched the company make small changes in design, catch flaws quickly, and address warranty concerns promptly. This is not something we say lightly: Travelpro is a name you can trust.

Dimensions: 23 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 5.4 pounds Volume: 46 liters

• The Maxlite 5’s warranty isn’t as robust as that of our top pick: Manufacturing defects in the wheels, zippers, and handles are covered for as long as you own the bag, but airline damage and shipping to a Travelpro repair center are covered only for the first year. (And you do need to register the bag.) Considering that this bag costs half the price of the Platinum Elite, this makes sense, but it’s something to be aware of.

If you’re a frequent flyer and willing to invest in higher-quality gear, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner (also available in a two-wheeled version with more capacity).

It’s the best of the best. Every detail of this top-rated bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and we found that it had a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested. Briggs & Riley keeps its design consistent, adding, at most, small improvements such as this year’s upgraded lifting handle. Our 6-foot-6 paid tester pointed out that the Baseline Essential’s handle extended an inch and a half farther than that of the Travelpro Platinum Elite, which made it less likely to hit his heels as he pulled it.

Although the wheels don’t snap into alignment, they are exceptionally smooth-rolling and easy to maneuver. If you fly more than 25,000 miles per year, it’s worthwhile to invest in luggage that goes beyond merely being sturdy and actually improves your overall travel experience. That’s why we’ve been recommending it since we first covered this topic in 2014. The Baseline Essential is one of the best carry-on luggage options available today.

Its compression system is truly a marvel. The most ingenious part of the Baseline Essential bag is its CX expansion and compression system. Pull upward on two plastic handles inside the bag, and you can extend its depth a full 2.5 inches. Load the bag as full as you need to, and zip it closed. Then you push down on the bag, which compresses it as a clip mechanism secures it in place. Unlike other expansion systems, which are either open or closed, this one locks into incremental positions. It’s a unique design and very satisfying to use.

It’s the easiest to pack. Briggs & Riley placed the tracks for the Baseline Essential handles on the outside of the bag, which allows for a flat surface in the interior of the bag, with no small crevices to work around for simple packing. And in our tests, after packing 10 bags and trying to figure out strategies for each nook and cranny, packing on a broad flat surface felt like a luxury. According to our measurements, the bag, unexpanded, offers 1,905 cubic inches of storage room (and that accounts for the space occupied by the wheel wells and such). Expanded, it can stow 2,110 cubic inches. That’s remarkably efficient for a bag that does so much. All of these features add up to a carry-on that is easier to pack than any other bag we tested.

The Baseline Essential spinner is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder. It’s similar to the folder in Travelpro’s two-wheeled Platinum Elite bag, and that’s a good thing. It’s easy to pack and has an anchor point for hangers. Each of the three folds has a bit of padding that helps to keep a suit from pinching onto itself and creasing, though much of that depends on how well you pack. You can fit a week’s worth of clothes in the Baseline Essential, including some puffy gear for colder weather. A wide, wrinkle-free tie-down system completes the package.

It’s understated. On the outside, the Baseline Essential is pretty unremarkable. There’s nothing eye-grabbing about the bag, which is good if you’re trying to avoid being gate-checked (or having it stolen). Its outer, nylon fabric seems to be of a tighter weave than that used on the other bags we’ve tested. We also noticed a robust feel to the zippers, which are a self-repairing type made by YKK.

Similar to our top pick, the Baseline Essential includes a charging pocket. However, Briggs & Riley skipped the internal USB wiring, instead opting for a simple pocket arrangement (video) on the back of the bag for discreetly storing a charge pack and your phone. It’s an elegant solution.

It comes with an excellent warranty. All Briggs & Riley bags come with a lifetime warranty that covers any damage to the “functional aspects” of the bag, even if caused by an airline (like Travelpro, Briggs & Riley does not cover cosmetic wear or cleaning). Although Briggs & Riley handles warranty-covered repairs at no extra cost, you do have to pay to ship the bag to the company to carry out any repairs; it will ship your bag back to you for free. Or you can drop off the bag at one of the many repair centers . Briggs & Riley emphasizes that returning your bag to you in its original condition, even after repairs, is not always possible. The bags are easy to service and repair, so you can also order the parts you need and replace them yourself at home.

We’ve put in the miles, and the Baseline Essential is in a separate league. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter founder Brian Lam carried a two-wheeled Baseline Essential carry-on while traveling 150,000 miles and farther. After considering all the bags in our test and logging an additional 40,000 miles with a similarly priced bag by Tumi, he was convinced that this model is the best for anyone who’s always on the move. “I love this bag. It carries so much,” Brian said. “Sometimes I check it. Sometimes I carry it. It always fits.”

Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 (expands to 11.5) inches (HWD) Weight: 10 pounds Volume: 37 liters (expands to 48 liters)

• Despite the plastic shielding, the exposed rails on the exterior could use more protection. While dragging the bag up stairs (which we don’t advise doing), we felt more scraping than we’d like.
• At first glance, the handle feels too loose for a roughly $700 bag. We spoke to Briggs & Riley representatives, and they explained that this is a deliberate choice: The looser tolerances allow for the handle to retract by itself when you click its button, without your having to force it down. In practice, this is very helpful for scaling stairs and could save you some hassle in tight quarters, such as in the aisle of an airplane.
• At 10 pounds, the Baseline Essential is the heaviest bag we recommend. In this price range, weight often equals durability, which equals quality. But if you’re uncomfortable with a heavier bag, this isn’t the best pick for you.

Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On is an impressive polycarbonate case that improves in areas where most other companies tend to cut corners.

It’s robust and durable. It improves the usual hard-case design primarily by replacing the zipper with an aluminum frame sealed with two metal latches incorporating TSA locks. This trim makes the case feel far more robust, which is a very satisfying feeling when you’re wheeling luggage around an airport.

Clasping shut an aluminum frame with a metal lock is pleasing—it feels like closing a safe and locking it tight. The polycarbonate shell has an equally rigid feeling but exhibits plenty of flexibility under strain. Although it’s difficult to compare polycarbonates between brands, higher-end polycarbonate feels dense to the touch even as the material flexes; in this piece of luggage, Carl Friedrik offers impressive quality.

Additionally, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On has YKK zippers internally and Hinomoto spinner wheels from Japan—both considered the top of their class.

It’s thoughtfully styled. The soft leather accents and bolted frame all have a certain maturity that’s often lacking in other, competing cases. This look carries to the inside of the luggage as well. A simple gray polyester lining accompanies two sets of compression straps and a removable compression pad, which has a zippered pocket.

It has an excellent warranty. As you might expect for the price, Carl Friedrik backs up its luggage with a lifetime warranty that protects against airline damage (assuming the airline hasn’t responded to your request for compensation within 14 days).

Dimensions: 21.6 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8.6 pounds Volume: 40 liters

• This is a brand-new pick—so far we haven’t found any flaws, but we’re keeping an eye on the latches. Luggage latches are small, complicated mechanical devices that have a myriad of ways to fail.
• The handle feels just a touch loose, which, as with our upgrade pick from Briggs & Riley , can be a benefit. It can also sometimes be a hazard. Again, we’ll continue testing it.

Hybrid designs like the Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage aren’t for everyone, but if you like the flexibility of a soft-sided luggage with the hard-hitting ruggedness of a polycarbonate back and two large fixed wheels, then this bag is just right.

It’s made from tough materials and easy-to-repair parts. Yeti has a reputation for using tough, sometimes cutting-edge, materials in all its gear. The Crossroads is no exception. The 700-denier nylon is one of the better nylons we’ve tested—tightly woven and exceptionally durable. (Denier is a measure of the fiber thickness in a fabric.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soft-sided carry-on luggage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hard-sided carry-on luggage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Chris Ryan.

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

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

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

His five-day travel kit included the following:

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

Her five-day travel kit included the following:

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

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

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

Meet your guide

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

Further reading

Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022

by Wirecutter Staff

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

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.

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

by Kit Dillon

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

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

Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then   View saved stories .

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The Best Travel Bags for Wherever You’re Headed

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Best Carry-On for Most People Travelpro Maxlite 5 Read more

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On Away Carry-On Read more

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On Yeti Crossroads 35L Read more

Best Bag for a Lifetime Briggs & Riley Baseline CX Read more

Whew! You've made it all the way across the globe. But have your toothbrush, pajamas, and running shoes made it, too? If you're a frequent traveler, it's easy to obsess over the logistics of getting your stuff clean, organized, and in good working condition upon arrival. Paying for a decent travel bag and a few useful accessories means buying a little peace of mind, especially when a few yards of zippers and some nylon are the only barriers between your precious belongings and the belly of an airliner.

Whether you're slinging a duffel into a car trunk for a weekend trip or packing for a whirlwind jaunt across Asia, we've got you covered. Need a bag for your passport or groceries? Don't forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Recycled Bags , for more picks.

Updated April 2024: We reorganized this guide and added new picks, such as the Yeti Crossroads, Tom Bihn Aeronaut and Trinity, the Frame Carry-On Max, the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, the Camelbak A.T.P. 20, the Calpak Luka Duffel, and the Rux 70. We also updated the information on sizing and checked links and prices.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED. com. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Carry-On for Most People

Look around any airport—if you see flight attendants or pilots, they will probably be rolling around a Travelpro suitcase. We like Travelpros because you get a lot of bang for your buck. They're durable, light, and not too expensive.

For only a little over $100, the Maxlite 5 is one of the more affordable Travelpro suitcases, and at 5.4 pounds, it's very light! The exterior toiletry pocket is a nice touch for when you go through security and need to take out your liquids, and the zippers are also quite strong and don't tend to get stuck. The wheels also rolled nicely on both the spinner and roll-aboard versions. Reviewer Matt Jancer did note that the aluminum handle extensions did sometimes stick and the main grab handle on the bag is only single-stitched, which may cause durability issues farther down the line. However, he has seen no issues yet. This probably the best bag you can get in the $100 to $150 price range.

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On

Away's business practices may have raised some eyebrows , but there's no denying that this company changed the travel market entirely. It has increased in price since we first tested it, but multiple WIRED staffers still use the classic Away hard-shell carry-on ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) as their travel suitcase.

Hard-shell suitcases tend to be heavier. There's also not as much give in the case, so you may find it hard to squeeze in more items than in a soft-shell bag, bu they look a lot sleeker than their soft-shell counterparts and protect fragile items better. The Away weighs 7.5 pounds, which is pretty standard for a hard-shell carry-on. When I tested it, I liked that it had multiple height settings and that the polycarbonate shell wiped clean and stayed mostly scuff-free (it helped that my tester was in the darker navy color). Away's suitcases also come with a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, four spinner wheels capable of rotating 360 degrees, and an included laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate from the rest of your stuff. The handle did feel a bit wobbly, though.

★ Alternatives: So many companies now offer a direct-to-consumer, stylish, hard-shell carry-on similar to the Away's. We've tried ones by Monos ($255) and July ($295) . Besides price, the differences are mostly negligible. I like July's aluminum bumpers, but they do add weight. The Monos's handle rolls out more smoothly, but the July's pebbled surface doesn't show scuffs as badly. Both have survived multiple cross-country trips, being checked as baggage, and being ridden on by two small children with no damage.

Paravel also offers an Aviator carry-on ($395) that touts itself as the world's first carbon-neutral carry-on; it has an interior lining made of recycled plastic bottles, a telescoping handle made of recycled aluminum, and vegan leather trim to help it stand out from all the plain black bags at the airport. Product reviewer Jaina Grey fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On

Yeti's coolers and cups are famous for being bomb-proof. The company recently launched a luggage line that's similarly overbuilt. The Yeti Crossroads 35L is a 22-inch roller bag that's carry-on size for most major airlines. It weighs 7.7 pounds, on par with soft-sided competitors of the same size.

I recently spent a week dragging the Crossroads up and down grimy subway station escalators, thumping it across cobblestones, and scrunching it into overfull overhead bins during a trip to London, Paris, and Brussels. The blue 700D nylon on the front and sides looks just as fresh as it did out of the box while the molded polycarbonate shell on the back has a few well-earned battle scratches. The two extra-large fixed wheels are rolling as smoothly as ever and hopped up curbs so well that I grew to favor them over smaller spinner wheels. The Crossroads has a half-dozen well-placed pockets and sturdy zippers that didn't give me any anxiety even as I tugged them hard while smooshing down to fit souvenirs into a carry-on with 8 days of clothing. —Martin Cizmar

Best Bag for a Lifetime

Do you only want to buy one suitcase and never think about it, ever again? Briggs & Riley is one of the few companies with a lifetime unlimited warranty. I bought a Briggs & Riley carry-on as my first and only post-college purchase. Right now, it has lasted over 20 years. Periodically, I bring it into the one Briggs & Riley-approved dealership in my town to get a zipper pull put back on, and it's fixed for free in a few days. Its components are top-of-the-line. The face fabric is a heavy-duty ballistic nylon that’s water-repellent and abrasion-resistant. After having been dragged all over the globe, from the Philippines to Turkey to Iceland, the gleaming red is just as bright.

The low-profile wheels nor handles have never broken. The grab handles are also luxuriously smooth and padded, and there's an interior folding garment bag for my husband's suits. The only downside is that at 9.3 pounds, it’s pretty heavy.

★ Alternatives: If you need an absolutely bomber-tough rolling suitcase and don't mind its 9.6-pound weight, the Pro Front-Access Carry ($799) will stand up to more abuse than most rolling bags, with its aluminum frame and 70-percent-recycled polycarbonate body. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam says it's his favorite rolling bag in years. Jancer also likes Travelpro's Platinum Elite carry-on ($315) , which he calls one of the most high-end polycarbonate bags on the market.

Nena Farrell

Brenda Stolyar

Best Backpack

When I reviewed the Cotopaxi Allpa in 2018 ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ), it had only recently launched. Now, a half-dozen years later, it is one of the most popular travel backpacks that I see online and in airports all over the world. It's a combination of a camping backpack, a suitcase, and a soft, frameless duffel. You can splay it open like a sandwich to pack it easily; access items through a side zip; put it on your backpack and secure its weight with a sternum strap; or squash or stomp it into any overhead compartment or corner of your car trunk. The use case for this bag is extremely specific—the same people who are bopping around Thailand for several weeks in one backpack are not the same people trying to look professional at a work conference. But it is sturdy and comfortable.

★ Alternative: I took the Ekster Packable Duffel ($250) on several weekend trips this spring, and found that it more than upheld its claims of being built for “smoother journeys, on and off the grid.” This travel bag converts from a backpack to a duffel, with two separate compartments that also splay open for easier packing. The 600-denier exterior and water-resistant zippers are so sturdy that when we ran out of space in the car, we lashed it to the roof rack with surf straps and drove for hours in the rain. It, and its contents, remained pristine.

Best Convertible Bag

Every serious traveler knows the name of Seattle-based Tom Bihn, manufacturer of bomber bags that will last you a lifetime. The Aeronaut 45 is the classic Tom Bihn convertible carry-on, which the size of the maximum allowable carryon bag on a plane.

You get everything from a Tom Bihn bag that you pay for. It’s made of incredibly sturdy 1050 denier ballistic nylon with bombproof YKK zippers and has both hidden backpack straps and an extremely comfortable cross-body strap. This is commerce director Martin Cizmar's bag, and he's tossed it around and lugged down rough streets and through crowds where roller bags are a liability. He owns two and the first lasted for more than a decade. This is the bag that both and I would only fly with if we didn't have to constantly test other bags.

Best Personal Item

Some airlines are not content with charging you extra for checking a bag and now charge you for overhead bin space . The Tom Bihn Trinity ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) addresses that problem by providing a space for you to pack everything you need while still fitting underneath the seat in front of you. As the name suggests, it has three main compartments and three ways to carry—either as a briefcase with padded grab handles, a backpack, or as a shoulder bag with two attachment points.

It has three main compartments which can be arranged to your liking; for example, on one of the side compartments, you can zip a water bottle holder into place or unzip it for more room. It wasn't quite as versatile as I expected; I found that I prefer a small duffel with one main compartment that I can organize as I like. However, it does fit under the seat in front of me, even with clothes, laptop, and four (four!) hardcover books that I somehow stuffed inside it.

Best Work Bag

I've been traveling a lot for work and for family reasons in the past few months, and the bag I prefer for my personal item is the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, which is the larger version of the brand's Nouvelle purse ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). It comes in a medium and a large version; the medium is adequate as an everyday bag, but the large turns it into a versatile work/travel bag. It’s low-profile and has both smooth leather grab handles as well as a shoulder strap. I have kicked it under plane seats and around airports, and the nylon doesn't show any damage. There's a hidden separate compartment if you spill water on yourself, and it has sturdy feet so you can put it on an airplane bathroom counter and dig for your makeup without it falling over or getting the bottom of the bag too disgusting. The toothed zippers do tend to crinkle and snatch at your knuckles when the bag gets overstuffed, but I suppose you could always, uh, avoid overstuffing your bag.

★ Alternatives: We have plenty of recommendations in our guide to the Best Laptop Totes , but we love Lo & Sons. The Catalina Supreme Tote ($338) is also great for weekend trips. Again, there's also a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes, or anything else you need to keep separate.

The Best Hiking Daypack

The Camelbak A.T.P. is so useful that I’m always startled to realize it only has a 20-liter capacity. I have it in the 100 percent recycled white color, which saves water and only emits half the greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the dying process. It’s a panel loader, which means you can unzip the top and see exactly where everything goes, like a duffel. This is convenient when packing for trips—I was able to fit clothes, a Dopp kit, and electronics for an overnight trip. (I know these types of zippers fail more often than top loaders, but it does make it easier to arrange and sort items near the bottom of the pack.)

I particularly like how narrow it is. It fits my back and goes under airplane seats that even my children’s backpacks can’t. The bottle pocket has a zipper that makes it expandable so it can fit a little coffee thermos or my giant Yeti water bottle . Exterior compression straps also help squeeze my clothes even smaller. This is a great backpack if you want something that looks sleek enough for a work bag but is durable enough to take on a weekend trip to Yosemite.

★ Alternative: I also love the Patagonia Black Hole Backpack ($149) . This 25-liter bag is the perfect combination work/adventure bag. The suspended 15-inch laptop pocket clips shut, and the rest of the pockets are thoughtfully placed. It’s extremely light (a little over a pound) and is made from 100 percent recycled ripstop fabric.

Best Duffel Bag

The Big Haul ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite duffel because it hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. The standout feature of the Big Haul series, which comes in 28-liter to 120-liter options, is the ability to easily reposition the carrying straps, which feature plastic fishhook-style ends that slip into fabric loops. You can connect one strap end-to-end or double up on two straps in an H pattern for more stability with heavy loads. Adding and removing the straps isn't super fast, but it's not difficult, either, and six low-profile loops seems less intrusive than six rattling plastic buckles.

Two small interior pockets and an exterior pocket keep small things organized, and its water-resistant fabric is thick and tough without being stiff. All the sewing around the grab handles feels very robust too. Padded backpack straps hide away under a padded pocket on the top of the bag. This means that when you sling the Big Haul over your shoulders to give your arms a rest, your back is against the relatively clean top of the duffel, rather than a wet, dirty bottom side that's been set down on the ground. The current iteration of the Big Haul is also made with recycled nylon. What's not to love? —Matt Jancer

★ Alternative: For slightly more money, the classic duffel in this category is the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel ($159) , which also comes in a variety of colorways and sizes. You can either carry it by the grab handles or with the shoulder straps, and it's made from 100 percent recycled polyester with a TPU-film laminate. I (Adrienne) have had the 40-liter version for almost 15 years now and the laminate has yet to peel. It also fits as a carry-on on flights.

The Best Expedition Bag

If you like outdoor sports, you probably need a good expedition bag—that is, a huge, burly duffel that you can just throw all your pointy ice axes, trekking poles, or camp chairs into that you can take anywhere and everywhere. Reviewer Matt Jancer's expedition bag of choice is the Red Oxx PR5. He's used it for whitewater paddling trips and to lug mountain climbing equipment from coast to coast without a single frayed thread. Everything about Red Oxx is overbuilt. The zippers are huge, its thick pieces of nylon webbing are robustly sewn, and chunky metal rings hang the detachable carrying strap. All that said, it's not abominably heavy. At 3.4 pounds it's still lighter than many wheeled bags.

★ Alternative: If you've ever gone to a popular outdoor destination, like Yosemite or Everest, you've probably seen stacks of North Face Base Camp duffels . This is the quintessential expedition bag. My own personal bag is the OnSight Tarmac EPO , but the company no longer exists; I also have a Mountain Hardware duffel ($180) and after 20 years, the coating has finally started to peel.

Best for Camping

We love everything from Rux; I'm currently testing the waterproof adventure tote ($150) and I use it for everything from my climbing gear, to picnic gear, to bringing my kids' roller skates and soccer balls to the park. I have also leaked an entire water bottle in it and it stayed contained and out of the bottom of my car.

But for camping (or any outdoor pursuit, really), what you need is a Rux storage system , which, as the artist and filmmaker Van Neistat puts it, will help you kit your shit . It holds its frame shape, which means you can stack and organize inside of it just like a box, but it folds down like a bag for easy storage once you're at your destination. It's also light and waterproof and comes with a wide array of accessories . This is an upgrade for everyone who currently sorts their camping, climbing, or snowboarding gear in a series of $5 plastic totes and stacks them in their trunk.

The Best Aluminum Suitcase

Perhaps you've seen those Instagram-friendly, shiny aluminum suitcases and wonder whether it's worth the investment. Aluminum is extremely durable and can be machined with precision. That means it will protect your belongings better, and you can close them with latches instead of zippers. Your suitcase will last longer and be more secure— zippers are pretty easy to break into —and generally have fewer points of failure.

In my opinion, the cost-benefit analysis generally weighs against them. Aluminum suitcases are usually heavier and won't flex as much if you have overpacking tendencies, and I find them painfully conspicuous. Any suitcase with a decent warranty policy will painlessly cover any repairs. If you must have one, we like Arlo Skye's the Frame. Arlo Skye was founded by alumni from Louis Vuitton and Tumi, and reviewer Matt Jancer says that everything about the Frame screams robust quality, from the leather grab handles to the combination-lock latches. It also comes with a removable battery bank and has a few more liters of carrying capacity than the similarly-sized Away. The main disadvantage is that the interior organization is a bit lacking.

★ Alternative: Do you want the benefits of an aluminum suitcase without the drawbacks? You might want to consider Monos's Hybrid Carry-On ($325) . You won't fool anyone into thinking you've shelled out for a 100 percent aluminum suitcase, but Jancer notes that it's only a pound or so heavier than the competition and the aluminum frame offered better protection than any 100 percent polycarbonate suitcase that he tried.

A Good Emergency Go Bag

To be clear, any bag here could be considered a go-bag—even a grocery bag works when you have to leave the house imminently. But reviewer Nena Farrell used Calpak's duffel for an emergency surgery, and she is kicking herself for not getting it sooner. It was big enough for everything from makeup bags and extra outfits to a massive book and Nintendo Switch, and was comfortable to carry thanks to the large straps.

The shoe compartment was big enough for sandals and slides, but not big enough for shoes with an ankle. It was also a great place to stash haphazard Ziplocs of emergency toiletries and medications. There are some side pockets inside too, plus an exterior side pocket and a pass-through panel to place it on top of your luggage. It was a great hospital companion, but Farrell can't wait to take the Luka somewhere a little more fun.

Other Bags We Like

Not every good product can snag a best-in-category title, but there are several more bags we've tested that get our thumbs-up.

Osprey Ozone 40L for $280 : At 4.47 pounds, Osprey claims this bag is the lightest carry-on suitcase. It's also made from 400D recycled bluesign-approved nylon and is treated with DWR. This bag is light enough to easily hoist above my head and has also been checked multiple times.

Gregory Alpaca 40 Duffel for $140 : This duffel weighs a scant 2.7 pounds, but the water-resistant fabric and extraordinarily beefy (though plastic) buckles make it a solid bag for adventuring. There's an exterior pocket for storing shoes or dirty clothes. The backpack straps don't tuck away for storage—you have to unclip them—but might be the most well-padded, comfortable straps I've encountered on a duffel. Exterior daisy chains and an interior zippered pocket round out the impressive features list.

Land's End Waxed Canvas Duffel for $180 : Most duffel bags these days are made of nylon, and while it's tough to call a material that's been popular since the 1940s “modern,” nylon bags don't have the old-school charm that this waxed canvas bag does.

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 40L for $149 : This bag weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces, which is only slightly heavier than air. It also has backpack straps that stow away in a front pocket.

Skyway Epic Carry-On for $160 : At 7.1 pounds, the Epic is an average weight. The handle is a wee bit more finicky than our top pick, and the Travelpro's wheels glide a little more nicely. Still, the Epic is a solid choice.

Target Signature Weekender Bag for $81 : Looking like a cross between a duffel and a handbag, the Weekender has a structure that product reviewer Louryn Strampe says can become overfilled, so keep that in mind if you plan to bring it onto a plane as a carry-on. She appreciates its durability and the many internal pockets for organization, though, and its rather long five-year warranty.

Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus for $345 : It's a tiny bit over what most airlines list as the maximum dimensions, but the difference is so small that it's accepted 95 percent of the time. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe praises its optional clip-in closet clothing organizer, which makes for efficient packing. The built-in TSA lock is easy to use, and there's an internal power-bank pocket. This suitcase is included in our Favorite Recycled Products guide.

Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On for $200 : This is a hard-side, four-wheeled spinner carry-on made from an outer shell of durable polypropylene. Standout features include an interior fabric made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and a “WetPak” storage pocket for keeping damp items separated from the rest of your luggage.

Adidas Defender Duffel for $40 : If you're looking for an inexpensive duffel that'll handle some light-duty traveling, this is a good way to save $100. The fabric is significantly thinner and less sturdy than that of other duffels in this guide, and it lacks backpack straps. But for taking on the train or tossing into a car trunk, it'll do the trick.

Bags We Don’t Like

Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.

Peugeot Voyages Carry-On Spinner for $595 : What a price tag for a plastic-case suitcase. You can see where Peugeot tried to imbue the Voyages with some luxury, such as the metal riveting and built-in travel locks, but the case felt no more solid than a budget hard-sided bag, and the USB charging port felt cheap, like an outlet you'd find built into a seat in an airport terminal.

Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On for $469 : At 6 pounds, 2 ounces, this bag is a bit heavy. There's a zip-off 19-liter backpack that you can separate from the rest of the 37-liter bag, but when they're zipped together, the combined size doesn't meet carry-on restrictions.

Ebags CTS Carry-On Spinner for $200 : This one wasn't awful, but there are much better options for the money. Its hard plastic sides felt more brittle than the hard-sided plastic Away suitcases. The handle rattles a lot and it didn't roll quite as smoothly as other bags.

A Few Travel Accessories

Once you've got your bag, you'll want to pack it with a few more useful items:

Apple AirTag for $24 : If you have an iPhone, it's one of the best ways to keep a digital eye on your bags. Drop an AirTag into an interior pocket to make sure you and your luggage are reunited at your destination. Don't have an iPhone? We suggest the Chipolo in our guide to the Best Bluetooth Trackers .

Eagle Creek Specter Pack-It Cubes Three-Pack for $35 keep everything inside your bags organized by allowing you to separate it into different cubes, so you won't ever have to hunt through seven pairs of socks to find your bathing suit again.

Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case for $75 : Calpak’s viral clear cases come in three sizes and a ton of colors for the edge trims. Reviewer Nena Farrell loved the small size for my gym bag and traveling with a smaller carry-on bag, while the medium was a great size for my daily makeup or larger suitcases.

Troubadour Buddy 2.0 Tech Case for $75 : You probably need a case to organize your spare charging cables and power banks. I've been testing this compact, waterproof, and recycled bag that fits neatly into my personal item.

UrPower Portable Steamer for $24 beats a travel iron because it's far lighter and you don't need to hunt down an ironing board at your hotel. WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano and I both have been using UrPowers for years. For a tiny thing, it's powerful and effective at steaming practically anything. You just need to refill it often.

Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15 is handy when you're packing a heavy bag for an upcoming trip. Use it to weigh your luggage and make sure it's within the weight limits. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.

InCase MacBook Sleeves for $50 will keep your laptop from bearing the damage caused by airport security lines. Travel through an airport without a case and it's only a matter of time before a bare laptop or tablet picks up nasty scratches and dents. Check our guide to the Best MacBook Accessories for more.

How to Pick the Right Size Bag

Every airline sets its own dimensional requirements for carry-on baggage, so if you want to be safe, you should check your airline's requirements before packing. But broadly, they're split into two categories: domestic and international.

Domestic flights by US airlines (and a few others) have standardized on 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

International carry-on bag sizes tend to be about 21 inches tall and a bit narrower, but they're all over the place. It's tough, because many international airlines will measure your bags at the airport and reject anything even slightly bigger than the allowed size. If you fly outside the US a lot, you may as well buy a bag sized for international flights.

You'll also want to check each airline's weight limits. They vary wildly, but some international airlines restrict you to 15 or 20 pounds, including the weight of the bag itself. For example, there are some East Asian airlines that limit carry-on bags to 11 pounds. Once you subtract 6 or more pounds for the bag, you're not left with much wiggle room to put stuff inside.

When to Remove Battery Banks

Battery banks, also known as power banks, are a travel must-have. Whether you're using a tablet to watch movies on your flight or relying on your phone to coordinate rideshares, hotel check-in, and handle your boarding passes, you've got to keep those devices charged and topped up. Many bags offer a removable battery bank that slides into a special pocket or notch of the suitcase.

For carry-on luggage on a flight in the US, you're allowed to bring a lithium-ion battery of 100 watt-hours or less. You don't need to remove it from the suitcase's pocket if you're storing your bag in the overhead bin.

Lithium-ion battery banks are not allowed in checked luggage. If you check your bag or have to gate-check it, make sure to remove the battery bank before you give your suitcase to the gate agent. Slip the battery bank into your purse, backpack, or pocket for the duration of the flight.

Matt Jancer

Martin Cizmar

Medea Giordano

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The air travel system is as much about moving luggage as it is about moving people.

Design decisions.

“Monitoring of our luggage at airports is probably one of the most visible methods of surveillance” [3].

Effects on passengers.

• International Air Transport Association. “ Passenger Baggage Information .” Passenger Baggage Information. IATA. Accessed October 1, 2019.
• Leasca, Stacey. 2017. “ Suitcase Locks Are Basically Useless, but There Is One Way to Keep Your Stuff Safe .” Travel Leisure, August 5, 2017.
• Adey, Peter. 2003. “ Secured and Sorted Mobilities: Examples from the Airport .” Surveillance & Society 1 (4).
• Gladwell, Malcolm, and Paco Underhill. n.d. “ New Yorker Conference: Deconstructing the Airport .” The New Yorker Videos.
• Kraal, Ben, Vesna Popovic, and Philip J. Kirk. 2009. “ Passengers in the Airport: Artefacts and Activities .” In Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference of the Australian Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group on Design: Open 24/7 - OZCHI ’09, 349. Melbourne, Australia: ACM Press.
• Arup. 2016. “ Future of Air Travel .” Arup & Partners, Intel Corporation.
• “The World's First Auto-Follow Robotic Suitcase.” The world's first auto-follow robotic suitcase. Accessed October 20, 2019. https://cowarobotrover.com/ .
• Forward Robotics. “ Ovis: 1st AI-Powered Suitcase Following by Side .” Indiegogo, May 29, 2018.
• “ Gita .” My Gita. Accessed October 20, 2019.
• Kaminski-Morrow, David. 2019. "ANALYSIS: Superjet fire puts focus on evacuation threat". FlightGlobal.

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Mindore Carry on Luggage - Ride On Suitcase with Seat for Kids, 20 Inch Expandable Hardside Suitcase with Spinner Wheels for Women Men, Built-in TSA, Airport Travel Made Easy

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• 【Detachable & Foldable for Air Travel】Our ride on luggage with child seat can be detached and used as a kids separate trolley or suitcase. Its foldable design not only saves space, but also fits easily into the overhead compartment on the plane. It's perfect for weekend trips, child can be sit on the little seat on top of trunk during travel, making it more convenient for parents to take their kids on trips. Strong trunk as good traveling tool with your baby/toy children.
• 【Roomy Capacity & Compartment】Inside the carry-on luggage is a smartly designed zoning feature that includes zipped mesh pocket and waterproof compartment allow you to storge clothes,toys, books and snacks, make items neatly organized, meets most carry-on size restrictions for your traveling and business.It is the ideal checked luggage for longer trips.
• 【Steering & Braking Control】The kids luggage is adopt PU infusion spinner wheels, which is silent and wear-resistant. When the hard shell expandable carry on luggage is fully unfolded, the two wheels on the front can perform a 360° rotation system, which makes the steering smooth and easy, and the child sitting on the case feels more comfortable.
• 【Built-In TSA Code Lock with Smooth Zipper】Built in TSA Combination lock, complying with the regulations of most domestic and international airlines. And it is equipped with high-quality zippers, making it easy for you to take out items.
• 【Extra Packing Capacity】The outermost side of the carry-on suitcase is equipped with a zipper-release extension that provides extra packing capacity for more travel!
• 【High Quality & Durable】This 20-inch hardside luggage is made of ABS+PC+EVA material, which is waterproof and wear-resistant, and durable. The side handle allow you to easily lift when you can't use the wheels. A sturdy frame can be fitted to the aluminum rod to ensure safety for children when riding. Dimensions: 17.71" x 14.96" x 9.84", Weight: 9.92 lbs, Volume: 21.8 liters, maximum payload 50kg.

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Carry On Luggage with Spinner Wheels

20 Inch Ride on Suitcase for Kids

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Airport Travel Design Luggage

(600 products available)

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Choosing the right airport travel design luggage can be hard but on Alibaba.com there is a variety of travel luggage in a range of colors and sizes. Whether someone needs to travel for business or pleasure purposes, having safe, secure airport travel design luggage for personal belongings gives that traveler better peace of mind.

There are a lot of price points depending on the type of airport travel design luggage chosen but all products on Alibaba.com have the benefit of being durable. These products are made from softer materials that can absorb any impact during transit. There are also some bags that are suitable for carrying fragile items such as cameras, laptops, and tablets. These items offer reliable protection for the user against rough handling and hard knocks. They are also a lot easier to keep dry in weather such as rain and snow.

Another big advantage with the range of airport travel design luggage is that they are easy to keep clean. Many of these suitcases feature hard shells that are simple to wipe clean with a wet or dry cloth on the go. These products are also easier to carry around busy airports and crowded train stations. They feature wheels which makes maneuvering then so much simpler, which is a huge plus for anyone who needs to move quickly through airports to catch connecting flights. Find attractive airport travel design luggage offers and reliable options on Alibaba.com. These products come from various suppliers and manufacturers who supply hard-wearing baggage for their customers. Enjoy better quality luggage and shop online today. 

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Best Luggage in 2024: Save $375 on a 3-Piece Luggage Set

You're going to look like a travel pro with these luggage options from calpak, royce & rocket, and paravel..

The products featured in this article are from brands that are available in the NBCUniversal Checkout Marketplace. If you purchase something through our links, we get a commission.

Your spring and summer travel plans deserve the best luggage . No matter if you're gearing up for business travel, international travel, or just a quick weekend trip across state lines, you need carry-on luggage and checked luggage that can stand the test of time and trends.

Travel with the best luggage in 2024! Our shopping experts have rounded up the best luggage, including the best luggage brands, to help you create the best luggage set for you and your journey.

These suitcases, rolling luggage, and travel bag options will help keep your things organized and safe while helping you look put together at the airport or on the road.

Below, you'll find customer-loved rolling luggage, carry-on bags, hard-side luggage, soft-side luggage, bags with a TSA lock, packing cube options to maximize organization, and so much more .

These travel must-haves from bestselling luggage brand options offer more than just wheels. We chose rolling luggage and travel bag carry-ons that include tons of pockets and pouches for toiletries, electronics, pet supplies , and wet items like swimsuits.

Many of our selected suitcase options offer expandable capacity, which is a great option for travelers who tend to bring a souvenir (or 10) home for friends and family.

Shop a must-see luggage set from Badgley Mischka, a fun patterned luggage set from CalPak, as well as editor-loved soft-side luggage options, including bags that are pink!

Discover an on-sale suitcase from the luxury travel brand Royce & Rocket, plus the best travel backpack option, with a peak design that features space for a laptop, and a duffel bag option that's actually easy on your shoulders.

It's time to ditch your old, broken suitcase. Upgrade to the best carry-on luggage and checked luggage with the options below.

Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) transfer to Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO)

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"Horrible Baggage Damage, Transit via Moscow with Aeroflot" - Air Travel Forum

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"Horrible Baggage Damage, Transit via Moscow with Aeroflot"

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My boyfriend and I made a trip to Spain(Hong Kong-Madrid and Madrid- Hong Kong). We flied with Aeroflot and had both trips scaling in Moscow. Both going(30th Aug) and coming back(15th Sep), the luggages were spot checked as the suitcase locks were open when we got the luggages back (which we think by Russia Airport Authority as this has never happened since I have transited and been traveling around to any other countries). The going trip to Spain, both suitcase locks were open, broken lock for my boyfriend's case which he bought a new suitcase in Spain later. However, the real disaster was actually the coming back trip!!

When we picked up the luggage, we found out that both luggages were broken, there are also 2 breakage spots on my luggage itself, the luggage handle came off and the locks were totally forced broken(so my boyfriend lost totally 2 suitcases for this trip). I have locked them before check-in and my suitcase is the type that came with international lock that can be opened by international key in case the luggage would be spot checked by any airport authority so it should not be forced open in such manner!

That aside, when we got home, I opened the luggage just to find out that the things inside were totally flipped over in a big mess! The zipped compartment inside was open and the clothes are all messed up(as messy as a 80% sale basket in the shopping mall), the wrapped present was torn open, wrapping paper and the pieces of present scattered around everywhere in the luggage.

Furthermore, my boyfriend's mobile phone(old one with problem which we was thinking to get it fixed in China) and his suit (together with necktie and belt) were stolen! The box of mobile phone was left behind together with the torn open plastic suit bag but both of the items were no where to be found!

So this post is only an example and a warning for you guys to be careful and choose the airline wisely (we bought it because it was the cheapest flight ticket, an obviously resulted as an expensive lesson).

For us, this is the first and will be the last time we will ever fly with Aeroflot or transit via Russia. With what had happened, we would not hesitate to pay 100-200 EUR more to get a better flight that transit elsewhere!!!

Secondly, flying with a different carrier won't change anything, because it's not the airline staff, it's either security or baggage, the same guys will probably handle your case, whomever you fly with.

The airlines usually all say don't pack valuables in the hold, it genuinely never ceases to amaze me that people still do, there has been a lot of media focus on this in many countries.

Lastly, without wishing to start the old debate, I don't lock my bag and I use an old bag, I also don't pack anything of value, other than my clothes and shoes. The thought process is, even though I know it's not random usually and bags are scanned so they can see if valuables inside, but the thought process for me is that thieves will be more attracted to a locked bag, particularly a good one, on the suspicion something good in there to steal,,,as that could very well be why it's locked. Rather than wasting time on an old tatty unlocked one,,,

So far, fingers crossed and touch wood, I've encountered no issues.

The following day I brought my suitcase to one of the designated locations. I was told it would be repaired or replaced at their discretion. It was beautifully repaired. My point is, as a passenger I spent the time and made the effort to figure out how the process worked. I didn't wait until back in NY to post a rant.

I'm like froggy - never lock my suitcase. With all the trips I've done - nothing ever been stolen (I never pack expensive things in my suitcase, no damage (apart from normal wear and tear) and no "80% sale bin at the mall - hahahhaa

This post was determined to be inappropriate by the Tripadvisor community and has been removed.

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The 6 Best Luggage Scales of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Avoid overweight luggage fees with one of the best travel hacks around: luggage scales.

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Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang

Traveling is already stressful enough as is, but when you tack on unwanted baggage fees — or the pressure of having to re-pack and shove things into your personal bag at the luggage counter — it can put a damper on your vacation. Luckily, there is an easy (and affordable) solution to this problem: a luggage scale. Portable, accurate, and multi-functional, it’s the best travel hack to save you time and money while packing.

There are so many luggage scales out there, it can be stressful to choose one. Since they range in size, price, and shape, we took it upon ourselves to put 15 options to the test. Some proved to be perfectly accurate when we weighed 10- and 25-pound kettlebells, while others were not accurate at all, and others even broke en route to our lab, showing that shopping for a simple luggage scale may not be as easy as you think.

Here are the six reliable luggage scales that we tested and can’t recommend enough for travelers looking for peace of mind when it comes to weighing a suitcase.

Best Overall

Travel inspira digital luggage scale.

The handle has a non-slip grip for lifting heavy luggage easily.

The backlit screen could be a bit brighter.

Lifting luggage requires a lot of effort so we love that this handy digital scale has a non-slip grip material on the inside of the handle to make it easier to hold on to the scale while you measure the weight. The scale turns on with a simple click of a button that also controls the settings from pounds to kilograms — and it also has a temperature gauge in both Celsius and Fahrenheit options. We had no issues hooking the loop through a luggage handle and securing the clip back onto the scale, and we found that the scale was extremely accurate, varying just a few ounces from the kettlebell weights we used. We also like that the screen holds the final weight so you have time to read the number. It’s also super compact, which makes it easy to toss into your bag after you weigh it to have the scale on hand for your return trip home.

The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, Fahrenheit, Celsius | Backlit

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang

Most Durable

Etekcity digital luggage scale.

Our team uses this scale in the lab to test hundreds of pieces of luggage.

It’s compact and doesn’t have the best grip.

Our Travel + Leisure team has tested hundreds of suitcases in our lab, and we always measure the weight of the suitcases with this handy scale. A testament to the durability of the device, this scale can withstand time and rough handling, especially if you stuff it into your checked bag after making sure it’s underweight. It’s intuitive to use with two buttons to turn the device on and off or to switch between units of measurement, and the fabric loop with a metal clip is easy to attach to a luggage handle. With just a few ounces of weight difference using several kettlebells, we think it’s mostly accurate, but we always think it’s smart to give yourself some wiggle room with luggage weight, just in case. Designed to be pocket-size, we love the compact shape, but it does make it slightly difficult to get a good grip while lifting a suitcase.

The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, Fahrenheit, Celcius

Best Budget

Dr. meter 110 lb luggage scale.

It’s the most accurate scale we tested under $10.

It doesn’t have a non-slip grip like other scales we tested.

If you’re in a hurry to get a few last-minute items before a trip (like a luggage scale, of course), this wallet-friendly one is a great option that can arrive quickly thanks to Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping. In testing, senior editor Jasmine Grant loved how intuitive the scale is to use with the no-frills design. There are two buttons on the scale: one for turning the device on and off and the other for switching between pound and kilograms or to use the temperature gauge. Similar to our overall pick, this scale was accurate with the 10- and 25-pound kettlebell weights we used with just a few ounces of discrepancy. The scale is extremely lightweight and compact for storing at home or in a suitcase, but because of its compact size, it was slightly less comfortable to grip — which isn’t a deal-breaker for us.

The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, fahrenheit, celsius | Backlit

Best Built-in Measuring Tape

Kingon digital hanging luggage scale.

The handle is made from steel with a rubber coating, which feels extremely durable.

The metal hook could be a bit bigger to accommodate large luggage handles.

Airlines have been cracking down on luggage requirements and baggage fees , so we love that this scale comes with a built-in tape measure. This can be particularly useful for expandable luggage, as you can use the tape measure to see if your carry-on is small enough to fit the airline restrictions for the overhead bins. Besides the helpful extra feature for measuring size, the scale also impressed us with an ultra-durable design that feels like it can endure even the roughest of luggage handling at the airport. The handle is made with steel metal coated in rubber for a superior grip, and the screen is much bigger than other scales we tested so you can easily see the weight in kilograms or pounds. The scale was no more than five ounces off when we measured the kettlebells, and the hook makes it easy to lift luggage from the handle (unless the handle is super thick, then it might be more difficult). T+L testing editor Jackie Cucco also appreciated that the scale screen says “hi” and “bye” when she turned it on and off with the press of a button.

The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms | Backlit | Built-in tape measure

Best Battery-free

Ozeri twist-and-go kinetic kitchen and luggage scale.

All you have to do is twist the device to light up the screen.

The loop doesn’t have a clip, which makes it difficult to attach luggage.

The beauty of this motion-powered device is that you won’t have to worry about batteries dying when you’re traveling. We twisted the device about four times to activate the digital screen, which has a little battery icon to depict when it’s low on power and needs kinetic energy to charge up. Like other scales we tried, this one read just a few ounces off from the kettlebells we weighed, so we think it’s as accurate as possible. The small, circular shape makes it easy to store in a drawer at home or in a pocket of a carry-on backpack since it’s very compact. Because it doesn’t have an ergonomic handle, the grip isn’t as good as T-shape luggage scales, but this one is quite a bit smaller, which is a plus for packing. Another thing to note is that the loop doesn’t have a clip that comes off of the rope, so you’ll have to snake the device through the loop to get it to attach to luggage.

The Details: Kinetically charged | 77-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms

Best Manual

Samsonite manual scale.

This was the only device we tested with perfect weight accuracy.

It’s a bit larger and heavier than digital scales.

The most accurate luggage scale we tried, this manual one from Samsonite provided the most accurate reading for our 10- and 25-pound weights. All of the digital scales we tested were just a few ounces off — which isn’t unusual when it’s not a large discrepancy — but we were pleased to see this one depict an exact “10” and “25” on the weight scale. The scale is large enough to read quickly but when we picked up a 50-pound suitcase, it was a little harder to read with shaky hands. However, the handle is comfortable to hold, and you can safely secure the hook to a suitcase once you shimmy it under the handle. It’s a bit bigger than a digital scale, but we think it’s worth it for a durable and completely accurate scale (that also doesn’t require any batteries or extra effort to turn on).

The Details: Manual | 80-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms | Built-in tape measure

Other Luggage Scales We Liked

Out of the 15 luggage scales we tried, there were a few that didn’t quite make our list of best scales due to some minor inconsistencies noted below.

Taylor Ultra Light Digital Luggage Scale : It’s easy to use, and we love that it beeps once the reading is complete. However, the materials feel a bit flimsy, and that made us question the durability of the scale.

Travelon Stop & Lock Luggage Scale : Similar to the best manual scale we tested, this one was spot-on accurate, but the handle is uncomfortable to hold and the materials feel cheaply made.

Tumi Electronic Luggage Scale : This scale is sleek and compact, but it didn’t have the most accurate reading and comes at a premium price tag ($75).

A luggage scale may seem like a simple product to purchase, but trust us when we say there are some less-than-ideal options on the market. After researching and purchasing a variety of luggage scales, we had all of them shipped to our New York City lab and some showed up broken, cracked, and one was even leaking oil. However, after testing the 15 scales that were usable, we found six that stood out from others for several reasons. While numerical accuracy is extremely important, we didn’t fault any scales that were just a few ounces off from the 10- and 25-pound kettlebell weights and 50-pound suitcase we lifted.

We also judged the scales on how easy it was to use and operate each one and noted how durable and functional the buttons, loops, hooks, screens, and handles were. Since the scales came in different sizes, materials, and shapes, we also took note of how comfortable they were to lift heavy objects and if the materials felt built to last.

Tips for Buying Luggage Scales

Decide if you want something digital or manual.

Based on our testing experience, there are pros and cons to both manual and digital scales. The digital scales were generally more lightweight and easier to read than the clunkier manual scales without backlit LCD screens. However, the manual scales are the most accurate ones and don’t require batteries or charging, so you’ll never have to worry about the device dying while traveling.

Look for preferred units of measurement

While the U.S. uses the imperial system, the rest of the world uses the metric system, so be sure to get a luggage scale with your preferred unit of measurement. Since some international airlines will list their weight restrictions in kilograms, it might be nice to have a scale that has both so you don’t have to attempt mental math while in a hurry to weigh and check your bag. Additionally, some digital scales also come with a temperature gauge in Fahrenheit or Celsius, which could be helpful for travelers.

Pay attention to additional features

Luggage scales might seem like they only have one job, but some come with special features for more than one task. Some devices have tape measures and temperature gauges built in, and some luggage scales are motion-powered, which uses kinetic energy to charge the digital screen of the scale without needing batteries. Also, be sure to double-check the weight limit of luggage scales, as that can vary as well, and you don’t want to break your scale by overloading it.

A luggage scale will usually come with instructions, but in general, all you have to do is attach the scale to a suitcase via the hook or loop on the scale, and then turn on the device before lifting up the luggage. Once you lift the luggage by the scale, wait for the scale or screen (if digital) to hold a number to get the accurate reading. Most digital scales have the ability to tare if you’re looking to do some specific weight measurements.

Scales are allowed on airplanes in checked or carry-on bags. If you measure your bag before getting to the airport and you’re right on the cusp of the weight limit, you might want to put the scale in your personal item to avoid going over the weight limit by accident.

A bathroom scale can work to measure luggage at home. However, if your hotel or accommodations doesn’t have a scale for the journey home, then you’ll be left guessing, which is risky. One of the best parts of a luggage scale is that it’s specifically designed with portability in mind so you’ll never have to worry about luggage limitations or the fees that come with it.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer at T+L, where she writes about and reviews travel products. After paying over $500 in overweight luggage fees for one flight, Anna learned her lesson and invested in a luggage scale — and never travels without it now. She participated in this test and pulled from her own (unfortunate) experience with luggage restrictions to recommend the best luggage scales we tried.

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