From the outside looking in, most suitcases look the same.
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They come in similar shapes, similar sizes, and with a comparable number of features. Most often, the difference between a luxury suitcase and a budget option comes down to the materials used in production and the final design—little else.
So how can you tell a pretty good suitcase from a fantastic one that will last you years? You need a blend of recommendations from industry experts, frequent flyers, and diehard travelers.
Want a closer look at the best luggage picks across a range of categories? You’ve got everything you need here—then some. Keep reading to uncover my top luggage picks from this year, along with the metrics I used to make selections. As an added bonus, I’ve also included my favorite luggage accessories.
Get the best luggage picks and luggage accessories while they’re hot. It’s Black Friday savings season!
Best luggage at-a-glance:
- Top checked luggage: Away The Large
- Best budget checked luggage: Amazon Basics Expandable Hardside
- My favorite carry-on suitcase: Briggs & Riley Essential Carry-on
- Best budget carry-on: Muji Carry-On
- A near-perfect weekender bag: CALPAK Luka Duffel
- Best budget option for weekender bag: Baggu Cloud Carry-On
- Industry’s favorite underseat carry-on: CALPAK Hue Mini Carry-On
- Best budget underseat carry-on: Rockland Melrose Underseater
- Top pick for travel backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
- Best budget travel backpack: Coowoz Large Travel Backpack
Our metrics
- Durability and quality of materials—even a budget option should last you years
- Ergonomics—if a suitcase isn’t comfortable to handle, it’s a dud
- Style and functionality—all those pockets and compartments should translate to a more seamless journey
Best luggage for travelers: carry-ons, checked bags, weekenders, & more
Checked luggage pick: Away The Large
Away is one of the most celebrated brands to enter the luggage industry. I’d say a lot of its hype comes down to its sleek design and innovative features.
When Away luggage first hit the market, that ejectable charging bank was pretty groundbreaking.
Today, you can expect functionality, durability, and style with your Away the Large. Not only is its polycarbonate shell built to last, but Away the Large comes with a lifetime warranty. It doesn’t get any more reliable than that.
Best budget checked luggage: Amazon Basics Expandable Hardside
Don’t feel like shelling out hundreds for your first checked piece of luggage? Stick with Amazon Basics. This expandable option is one of the best-selling suitcases on the market, which should tell you that it’ll get the job done.
In fact, despite its rampant popularity and budget price, it’s one of Amazon’s most highly rated products in the marketplace.
While it won’t survive a safari in the outback, it’ll definitely handle years of standard air travel.
Carry-on pick: Briggs & Riley Essential Carry-on
How and why would someone pay so much for a carry-on, you might be asking? The devil is in the details for Briggs & Riley.
This brand uses top-quality materials and has a well-thought-out design. So, while it might not look much different from other carry-ons, there’s a palpable distinction.
First, you can use every square inch of a Briggs & Riley carry-on. Second, it’s wheels and handle are highly ergonomic, letting you zip around an airport. Lastly, it comes with a lifetime warranty like Away products, meaning you shouldn’t feel shy about the price tag.
Best budget carry-on: Muji Carry-On
Muji is a Japanese stationery brand that somehow made a nearly unbeatable carry-on. I’ve been using mine for years without a single hiccup. The hard shell is durable and scratch-resistant, even though I’m not a gentle handler.
There’s also a lock so that the suitcase doesn’t roll away on an incline.
The only drawback (I’m trying desperately to be objective) is its size. This carry-on is a little bit smaller than other carry-ons.
Weekender bag pick: CALPAK Luka Duffel
Similar to Away, CALPAK has taken the luggage industry by storm. Once again, it offers a similar range of benefits as Away: its designs are sleek, its materials are top-notch, and they’re made to last.
I think CALPAK is especially great for mini, weekender trips. (Below, I also recommend the CALPAK Hue Mini Carry-On as an underseat suitcase.)
In terms of a weekender bag, this lovely and simple duffel option gives you an insane amount of space—this thing basically opens up like a clown car, letting you pack shoes, tablets, toiletries, electronics, and more into special compartments. There’s even a separate slot for your shoes.
Best budget option for weekender bag: Baggu Cloud Carry-On
My Muji pick might have surprised you—and I’ve got another shocker in the works. Baggu is a global brand that specializes in barely-there totes made from recycled plastic. It also offers a great carry-on that’s perfect for weekend trips.
The magic here is that you can use the Baggu Cloud Carry-On for anything—whether trips to the mall or last-minute sleepovers. It doesn’t look like luggage, so you can use well beyond the bounds of the airport.
But it also comes with a suitcase sleeve, so you can attach it to a rolling carry-on if you ever need a backup piece of luggage.
Best underseat carry-on: CALPAK Hue Mini Carry-On
Underseat carry-ons are becoming more popular because they fit on just about any plane—no more worrying about finding space in the overhead bins. CALPAK should be your first stop for all things mini-luggage.
Its hard-shell underseat carry-on is tiny but mighty if you like to go on short getaways and can’t stand the idea of lugging around a backpack.
It’s got mesh dividers and interior pockets for easier packing. It even has a TSA-approved lock in case you need to check it.
Best budget underseat carry-on: Rockland Melrose Underseater
This soft-shell carry-on isn’t the prettiest piece of luggage I’ve ever seen, but it’s one of the most robust and reliable underseat options on the market.
It’s also highly affordable—which makes the Rockland Melrose a great starter piece for anyone who wants to sample the art of minimalist packing.
Best travel backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
Nailing a great travel backpack is a much higher charge than creating a functional rolling suitcase. What you get from Cotopaxi is a highly ergonomic and streamlined backpack that’s made to distribute weight evenly with a specialized harness system.
In short: You can pack this thing to the brim and it won’t break your back.
The Cotopaxi also stands out for its blend of rugged and urban features. For example, it’s nylon lining protects your belongings from rain and dirt, but the laptop and tablet sleeves make it a solid choice for digital nomads and similar professionals.
Best budget travel backpack: Coowoz Large Travel Backpack
Coowoz is deceptively cheap for the number of features that come with it. It has a shoe compartment for clean packing; cable channels so you can charge your devices from an internal battery pack; an anti-theft zipper pocket; and a horizontal compartment for easy packing.
At such a low price, it almost sounds too good to be true. But reviews back this budget travel backpack, raving about its durability, the large amount of space, and how comfortable it is to carry.
Best luggage accessories for travelers
Once you’ve found your perfect suitcase and have fulfilled your travel needs, treat yourself to a little luggage accessory. These are the products I’ve found most useful as a frequent traveler. Once again, most are on-sale for Black Friday – don’t miss out.
- Knog Scout Smart Travel Tag If the Apple Air Tag doesn’t work for you, this is a fantastic alternative. Just attach it to your suitcase so you can track that bad boy in case you get on separate planes.
- Explore Land Luggage Protector I’ve used luggage protectors when borrowing suitcases from friends—but you might find you prefer them to avoid scratching your precious new war pony.
- Untethered Luggage Straps There are three reasons you might need luggage straps. First, to combat your chronic overpacking. Second, to get one last use out of a suitcase with failing zippers. Third, to protect and identify your luggage.
- Vitscan Bamboo Air Purifying Bags I like to keep things nice and fresh in my suitcase without filling it with a weird smell; these charcoal bags do the trick perfectly.
- Etekcity Portable Scale Once again, chronic overpackers will find this useful. Portable scales let you weigh your luggage before you head to the airport so you can avoid overweight fees.
- Riemot Luggage Drink Caddy This handy little caddy will help you keep your hands free while sprinting around the airport or leisurely meandering toward your gate.
