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The Best Carry-On Luggage, Tested By A Travel Expert

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6 months ago

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The Best Carry-On Luggage, Tested By A Travel Expert

The best carry-on luggage is both efficient and stylish, letting you keep personal items by your side so you don’t have to worry about anything getting lost in transit. As a frequent flyer who always tries to avoid checking a bag, I traveled with 12 different hardside and softside suitcases from a number of highly-rated travel brands including Monos, Away and Béis. After testing these suitcases on multiple trips over the past six months, I selected the Away The Bigger Carry-On as the best carry-on bag thanks to its generous capacity, great organization and built-in compression. It provides enough packing space for a full week and feels solid and sturdy at a reasonable price.

Other luggage that scored high marks include the Monos Carry-On Pro—a hardside option with a spacious laptop compartment—as well as the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner, a durable softside suitcase with plenty of pockets. Below, I’ve rounded up the best carry-on luggage to bring with you on your next trip.

Our score: 10 | Dimensions: 22.7 x 15.4 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 7.93 pounds | Capacity: 47.9 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Best for:

  • Six-to-eight-day trips
  • A thoughtful interior compression system
  • A comfortable underside grab handle

Skip if:

  • You prefer a suitcase with a front pocket

I have been using Away suitcases since 2018, and I often recommend the brand’s bags to others as a great option for those looking to dip their toes into hardside luggage (first-time Away user and Forbes Vetted senior reviews editor Anna Perling tested The Carry-On on trips to Paris, Austin and New York earlier this year).

The brand’s Bigger Carry-On is the most-used suitcase in my carry-on collection. Its compression system is truly strong enough to squeeze multiple overstuffed packing cubes into the bag, and it has comfortable grab handles as well as great accessories, like a laundry bag. Away’s website states that this suitcase could fit up to nine outfits and enough clothing for up to seven days, but I feel its capacity is undersold. I traveled with this bag on a ski trip to Switzerland, where I couldn’t check a suitcase due to having back-to-back connections on different airlines (I wouldn’t recommend doing this, by the way). I was able to stuff the Bigger Carry-On with eight days worth of bulky sweaters and layers, with no zippers harmed in the process.

At almost 48 liters, it offers incredible capacity for being a carry-on suitcase—I’ve slid it into dozens of overhead bins on a variety of different airlines and never had a problem with its size. The only other suitcases on this list that beat it in terms of capacity is the Briggs & Riley Sympatico, which clocks in at 52 liters, and the Béis Carry-On Roller, which offers 61 liters of space—but only after you expand it. Since the Away Bigger Carry-On is not expandable, it’s all the more impressive that it can pack in so many things. It’s also one-third of the price of a Briggs & Riley bag, so when it comes to true bang for your buck, the Away Bigger Carry-On tops them all.

Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner

Our score: 10 | Dimensions: 21 × 14 × 9 inches | Weight: 7.8 pounds | Capacity: 46 liters | 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

Best for:

  • Five-to-seven-day trips
  • Durable material and sturdy zippers
  • Two large exterior pockets

Skip if:

  • You prefer a modern aesthetic

I mostly travel with hardside luggage due to it feeling more impact-resistant, but the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner’s exterior fabric feels so sturdy that it made me reconsider my aversion to softside bags. The chrome zippers, in particular, feel extra durable and tug-proof. After stuffing it with clothes on three different trips, I understood why this brand is a favorite of pilots and flight attendants.

The carry-on is outfitted with interior compression straps, accessory pockets, a water-resistant toiletry bag and a removable suiter system. The handle has a rubber contour grip and four adjustable heights plus a top handlebar with padding that helped me hoist the suitcase into overhead bins with ease.

Compared to other chic, minimalist options that made our list, like the Béis, Monos and Away hardside suitcases, this bag certainly looks more utilitarian than fashionable. Other softside options on the market have a bit more panache, like the Lipault Plume, which was named one of our best softside luggage winners. However, for a well-made bag that is built to last, fans of softside luggage would be remiss to cross this option off the list based on style alone.

Our score: 8 | Dimensions: 22 × 14 × 9 inches | Weight: 7.8 pounds | Capacity: 36 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Best for:

  • Three-to-four-day trips
  • Smart organization and built-in compression
  • Laptop users seeking a padded front pocket

Skip if:

At under 8 pounds, the Monos Carry-On Pro is fairly lightweight, yet feels far from flimsy. I’m so impressed by this suitcase’s satisfying heft that I asked several friends to roll it around to experience it themselves. They all agreed: This suitcase feels dependable enough to leave momentarily standing without fear of it rolling down a hill.

Its polycarbonate shell feels equally tough. I traveled with this suitcase on three different domestic trips and noticed barely any scuffing afterward, despite the fact that I was using one of the lighter colors, Sage Green. That durable exterior provides a layer of confidence around the suitcase’s laptop compartment, which is spacious enough to hold a 15-inch laptop along with a few other small travel accessories. The bag’s 360-degree spinner wheels are incredibly smooth, and I appreciate that its telescopic handle stayed firm after blocks of bouncing across Boston’s cobblestone streets. This suitcase also comes with a helpful laundry bag and two shoe bags to make packing easier.

The brand’s website advertises this bag as spacious enough for five-day trips, but the bag’s laptop pocket does subtract some of that space, which is why I deducted points. After multiple trips, I would recommend three-to-four days as the sweet spot. Another thing to note is that the handles tend to lock up if you pack this suitcase to the brim, so overpackers may want to opt for an expandable bag, like the Briggs & Riley or Béis suitcases that also made this list.

Our score: 10 | Dimensions: 22 × 14 × 9 inches | Weight: 8.8 pounds | Capacity: 52 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

Best for:

  • Six-to-eight-day trips
  • Durable exterior
  • Pop-up expansion system

Skip if:

As a premium travel brand, Briggs & Riley suitcases don’t come cheap, but there’s a reason the brand’s bags have sustained a loyal following. These suitcases are well-made, durable and long-lasting—meaning that one investment can serve you on many trips for years to come.

The brand recently released a redesign of one of its classic suitcase styles, the Sympatico, which I traveled with on recent trips to London and Portland, Maine. Built with a sturdy, shock-absorbing Makrolon polycarbonate, the bag’s exterior shell has an aesthetically pleasing gloss to it and feels solid and durable. After my trips (both of which involved dragging the suitcase up and down many curbs and sliding it into overhead bins), the bag showed no signs of any scratches or dents. Aside from a durable shell, this bag had the most space of any of the hardside bags I’ve recently used. This is because the bag’s handle is latched onto the back of the suitcase, rather than built in through the suitcase, which would have taken up valuable packing room. In addition to that extra space, this bag is also expandable. Using its pop-up expansion feature, I was able to squeeze over a week’s worth of clothing for my Portland trip—and could have even squeezed in another shirt or two.

Compared to other contenders on this list, the only suitcases that come close in terms of capacity are Away’s Bigger Carry-On and Béis’ Carry-On Roller. While both of those bags are also made of polycarbonate, Briggs & Riley’s Makrolon polycarbonate is far more scratch- and dent-proof, making it worth the investment if you want your bag to stay pristine.

Our score: 9 | Dimensions: 21 × 14.5 × 9.8 inches | Weight: 8.36 pounds | Capacity: 61 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Best for:

  • Five-to-seven-day trips
  • Built-in weight indicator and two inches of expansion
  • A soft and comfortable handle

Skip if:

  • You need a lightweight option

For cold weather trips or vacations that call for layers, an expandable suitcase is key. Béis makes one of the best expandable carry-on suitcases on the market today, with two inches of extra space to allow you to stuff in what you need (and maybe even what you don’t). I’ve traveled with this bag on several week-long trips and filled it with sweaters, jackets and more—and still had room left over after I zipped open its expandable space. The suitcase also comes with a built-in weight limit indicator: When you lift it by its side-carry handle, a red mark will appear if the luggage is over 50 pounds, meaning you’ll know in advance if your bag exceeds most airlines’ weight limit, giving you a chance to take a few items out rather than pay a fee.

The suitcase’s cushioned handle is another reason why this bag has earned its spot in my permanent rotation. Oftentimes, I’ll find myself lugging a heavy suitcase for blocks and blocks, and the soft, plush fabric attached to this handle eases the journey. Factor in smooth-rolling wheels and a variety of great colors, and this bag is a true winner. At over eight pounds, this bag is just a bit heavier than Away’s The Bigger Carry-On, which is why I didn’t select it as my best overall pick.

While the Away The Bigger Carry-On is also incredibly spacious, travelers who don’t trust themselves enough to not squeeze in one more thing will want to opt for an expandable option, which is far more forgiving. Beis’ Carry-On Roller offers far more capacity than the Away The Bigger Carry-On Flex, which comes in at 47.9 liters at its largest size. And after expansion, Beis’ roller is more spacious than the Briggs & Riley Sympatico. Take note that this suitcase’s hardshell is more prone to scuffs and scratches than the Sympatico bag, though.

Our score: 9 | Dimensions: 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches | Weight: 8.5 pounds | Capacity: 46.6 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: 10-year limited warranty

Best for:

  • Five-to-seven-day trips
  • Those looking for a bag that’s both stylish and durable
  • Smooth wheels and a comfortable handle grip

Skip if:

  • You need a wide variety of color options

Paravel’s carbon-neutral suitcases not only do good, they look good, too. The brand has gained a loyal following among eco-conscious travelers thanks to the post-consumer recycled materials used in the manufacturing of its bags. But Paravel’s focus on eco-friendly materials doesn’t mean it’s ignored the fashion aspect. The Aviator Carry-On Plus is one of the better-looking carry-on bags on the market today; after traveling with it to Mexico City, I got more than a few compliments leaving the airport.

While there are plenty of fashion brands out there leaning into design-forward luggage, this carry-on actually feels very sturdy and well-made. It features a vegan leather wrap around its handle that makes for a comfortable grip, it comes with built-in compression that allows it to hold up to a week’s worth of clothing and its wheels never snagged on any of the carpets in the airports I passed through (a major pet peeve of mine).

While Paravel’s Aviator may not have as many color options as other suitcases on this list, like Away and Monos, the six color palettes that the brand does offer are incredibly elegant in person. I own the Scout Tan color, which I feel elevates the traditional white suitcase with a vegan leather lining. I also think the brand’s Safari Green and Boxcar Red colors are much more sophisticated-looking than the more playful shades of green and red on other hardside suitcases I’ve used.

Our score: 9 | Dimensions: 21.6 × 14.5 × 9 inches | Weight: 8.6 pounds | Capacity: 40 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

Best for:

  • Five-to-seven-day trips
  • Travelers who like the security of a snap locking system
  • Business trips that call for sophisticated design

Skip if:

  • You prefer a traditional zip-around suitcase

Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On stands out for its high-end craftsmanship (that chic trimming is Italian leather) as well as 360-degree spinner wheels that are silent as a whisper. Part of its sleek look is thanks to the absence of a zipper; it’s built with a snap locking system that means it clicks open and closed instead. While I usually only use zippered bags (I’m terrified of accidentally getting locked out of my things), this lock felt both super secure and easy to open when it was time to unpack. With just a click of a sturdy button, I was confident that my bag wasn’t going to swing open on the stairs of the airport.

While this suitcase’s stylish exterior makes it an excellent gift for the business traveler in your life, it’s a good fit for any type of excursion, as it’s sized to slide into the overhead bin of both domestic and European cabins. For overpackers, it comes with durable compression straps as well as a pad that helps maximize packing space. While this carry-on only features a zipped interior on one of its sides, you can store your clothing in packing cubes and secure them inside the bag using the compression straps.

For other suitcases with a lock closure, Away’s Bigger Carry-On comes in an aluminum version that also features easy-to-use snap lock closures (you can find a full Forbes Vetted review of that bag here). Take note that the aluminum Bigger Carry-On clocks in at 10 pounds, which is much heavier than this Carl Friedrik.

Our score: 9 | Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Capacity: 31.2 liters | TSA-approved lock: Yes | Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

Best for:

  • Overnights or weekend trips
  • Sliding under a plane or train seat
  • Budget flights where only a personal item is allowed

Skip if:

  • You need more than two days’ worth of clothes

The Calpak Hue Mini Carry-On is just the right size to slide under most airline and train seats (but make sure to check your airline’s cabin dimensions beforehand). It comes with wheels and a top-mounted handle that make it easy to maneuver around at the airport or train station, and its hardshell exterior means it won’t snag on an aircraft or train’s carpet as you’re sliding it.

I used this bag on a recent Amtrak trip to Boston and found it to be a smooth-rolling alternative to a heavy backpack or weekender bag. I packed it with three shirts and two pairs of pants and still had space to squeeze in a pair of shoes. It easily slid underneath the train seat in front of me; it would make a great bag alternative on budget airlines where only one personal item is allowed on board. And when not using it themselves, parents can also lend this bag to children for quick trips.

While this is the only underseat bag that I travel with, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Underseat Bag is another rolling option that earned top marks in our round-up of the best underseat luggage.

Why You Can Trust Our Carry-On Luggage Advice

Since 2020, the Forbes Vetted team has researched and published dozens of luggage stories informed by rigorous research and firsthand testing.

About The Author

  • This story was written by senior travel editor Astrid Taran, who has seven years of experience writing and editing travel content, from hotel reviews to in-depth luggage guides. Taran has visited over 35 countries throughout the course of her career and flies twice a month. She always tries her best to never check a bag—meaning she knows her way around a carry-on suitcase.
  • Over the past six months, every carry-on bag on this list was tested by Taran on multiple domestic and international trips, ranging from a weekend in Boston to a week spent traveling through Paris and London.

About About Our Editing And Reviewing Process

  • This story was reviewed by Forbes Vetted executive editor Dave Johnson, who edited the article for accuracy, information flow and adherence to our style guide and editorial policies. As an avid scuba instructor and recreational diver, he has traveled across Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Pacific with what one might charitably call an extraordinary amount of checked and carry-on luggage. He has owned both Paravel’s Aviator Carry-On Plus and Away’s The Bigger Carry-On and has written reviews of various luggage pieces as well. (He prefers the Away for its excellent compression system.)
  • Cory Baldwin, who provided an additional layer of review for this story and provided input on product selection, is an editorial leader with more than a dozen years of experience editing product reviews and shopping guides. She is currently the director of commerce content and strategy for Forbes and spent a long chunk of her 15-year career editing travel guides and reviewing hotels, so she knows what shoppers look for in a carry-on bag. (She currently uses a Calpak Ambeur and loves the full Away luggage line.)
  • We continuously monitor new developments in the travel gear industry, keeping tabs on recently released products as well as product recalls to ensure our shopping guides bring you the most current and useful information. Our latest version of this guide took packing capacity into greater consideration when comparing testing insights and selecting a best overall winner.

How We Tested And Chose The Best Carry-On Bags

To determine a list of contenders for the best carry-on luggage, we first researched top brands and took into consideration the key factors that distinguish a carry-on from other luggage. We sought out a wide variety of carry-on luggage pieces, both hardside and softside, to accommodate different preferences.

Taran personally tested these 12 suitcases on a variety of different trips, from weekend train getaways to week-long European escapes. Here is the criteria she used during testing:

  • Packing capacity: How much stuff can we fit in each suitcase? We attempted to put at least five days worth of belongings into each suitcase and took note of how much more or less we could fit comfortably.
  • Ease of use: How each suitcase felt rolling through an airport and how the wheels and handle functioned over a variety of different terrains, from bumpy cobblestone streets to snowy or rainy sidewalks.
  • External size and maneuverability: Each suitcase’s ability to fit into a range of airline overhead bins, and how easy or difficult they were to lift overhead and wheel down an airplane aisle.
  • Durability: Whether each suitcase handled the same way after a few trips and if there were any obvious scratches or dings after reasonable use.
  • Features: How many special features each bag offers and how well they work, such as TSA-approved locks, internal compression functions, phone-charging batteries, expandable zippers, etc. Bags with more and better features were considered for best overall.
  • Style: How nice (or not) each bag looked and whether we felt stylish when wheeling them around. We took note of any compliments received while in transit.
  • Value: Based on how well the bag functions, how sophisticated it looks, how well it holds up to travel and the special features it offers, does the bag justify its price tag?
  • Overall impression: How much we liked using each suitcase, and whether we found ourselves reaching for it again after testing.

Wondering what didn’t make the cut? Here are the bags Taran tested that she decided not to name as winners:

  • July Carry-On Trunk ($445): Australian luggage brand July is known for its sleek aesthetics, and this carry-on trunk in a sand color was one of the first trunk-style suitcases I’ve ever tried. Its glossy exterior looks ultra-elegant in person, and its glide is extremely smooth. This style comes with a lock that is stylish but not as intuitive to use as Carl Friedrik’s Carry-On, which is why I left it off my list.
  • Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 ($264): Delsey was one of the first luggage brands I traveled with; I took a Delsey bag on my first ever solo trip to Amsterdam over ten years ago. It features a sturdy hardshell, is relatively lightweight and lasts for years. Compared to many of the other ultra-minimalist hardside options on this list, it’s not as stylish, which is why it didn’t make my final cut.

We will continue to update this story with new information after our next round of testing is complete, which will consider classics like the Rimowa Essential Cabin, the newly released line of luggage from the San Francisco-based travel brand Aer, the popular Icon Stripe from British luggage brand Antler and others.

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