Our Editors Share Their Picks for Best Carry-On Luggage
If you like to keep your belongings close or skip baggage claim when you land, you likely rely on a carry-on bag. Whether it’s a sleek hard-shell spinner or a soft-sided roller, a great suitcase can make traveling more organized and efficient both on and off the aircraft.
Choosing a cabin-friendly suitcase is personal, but we’ve determined the best ones are perfectly sized, easy to maneuver, and, in most cases, have some sort of internal divider or pockets for keeping belongings organized. For recommendations on the best carry-on luggage, we tapped our well-traveled Wade Review editors as well as expert adventurers: Helene Sula, travel blogger at Helene In Between and author of Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain, and Jackie Rezk, solo traveler and blogger at Jou Jou Travels.
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It’s lightweight, features a TSA-approved lock, and comes in plenty of great-looking colors.
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The outside may scuff with airline travel, and it’s not expandable.
Away's The Carry-On is beloved for its sleek appearance and trendy colors. Made of 100% polycarbonate, it features an interior compression system (a must for overpackers), three mesh pockets and one hanging pocket, a water-resistant laundry bag, and enough room for three to five days of travel or five to seven outfits.
Not one, but four of our editors chose this as their favorite carry-on bag. “The hype around these bags is real,” says Lisa Freedman, executive editor at Wade Review. “I’ve had mine for almost 10 years (maybe more?!) and it still amazes me.” Editorial shopping director Nicole Lund, who’s had hers for seven years now, agrees. “I have gotten a ton of use out of this suitcase for a variety of trips, and it’s definitely a workhorse,” she says. “I love that it can be compressed—I’ve been able to fit a lot more than expected in it!”
Let’s hear it for the 360-degree, smooth–gliding wheels that pivot on a dime and keep up with in-a-rush travelers moving haphazardly through the terminal. The adjustable trolley handle extends to two different heights, the underside grab handle makes it easier to lift into the overhead bin, and the TSA-approved combination lock keeps your items right where they belong for the duration of your trip.
“It’s a classic for a reason,” says senior home editor Hannah Baker. “I’ve had it for years, it holds up to lots of wear and tear, and thankfully even if it’s stuffed to the gills, it still zips closed. The zipper hasn’t even come close to breaking, which I can’t say for other luggage I’ve tested.”
Material: Polycarbonate outer, polyester inner | Size: 21.7 by 14.4 by 9 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds
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It’s simply designed but performs really well at a great price, and it expands to offer more space.
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It doesn’t have a TSA-approved lock.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune, this pick from Target’s Open Story line costs much less than competitors with many of the same features. “It has protected my belongings and held up extremely well through all the different plane, train, and automobile rides,” says Wade Review senior shopping editor Taylor Rock, who purchased this luggage three years ago for a month-long trip across Europe. It was the right size for every overhead bin, but it’s sturdy enough that if it needed to be checked, we wouldn’t worry about anything inside getting crushed.
This polycarbonate hard-sided model has a roomy polyester-lined interior with a divider featuring a zippered pocket to keep belongings organized. “The separate zippered side is great for storing shoes and toiletries or stashing dirty clothes separate from your clean items on a slightly longer trip,” says Kate Geraghty, VP of the commerce home group. It can even expand 2 inches to offer space when you need it. Four double spinner wheels and a telescoping handle make it easy to roll through the airport, and although it doesn’t come with a built-in lock, you can easily purchase one to thread through the zipper pulls.
Material: Polycarbonate/ABS plastic outer, polyester inner | Size: 21.75 by 13.5 by 8 inches | Weight: 7.3 pounds
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