Luggage is the keystone of your travel experience. You use it from the moment you leave your home, throughout your travels, and then back to home base again. It makes sense to identify and buy the most appropriate suitcase to meet your unique needs — it has to be spacious enough to hold all your stuff, light enough to easily carry around, and durable enough to last year after year. Well, we’ve done the work of combing through the many options of carry-on luggage out there and have narrowed our choices down to 10 exceptional bags that will help make your globetrotting experiences stress-free and memorable.
Floyd Cabin Luggage
With its signature, bright red, 360° spinning wheels, this carry-on could only belong to Floyd. The brand’s Cabin Luggage line is inspired by 70s skateboarding culture and Venice Beach. While Floyd takes a youthful approach to design, it doesn’t skimp when it comes to quality and this suitcase’s hard, impact-resistant Makrolon® polycarbonate shell proves just that. A perfect travel companion, the bag has a TSA-approved combination lock and telescopic handle. The vibrant orange interior contains two main zipped compartments, along with three interior pockets to keep all your belongings safe and secure. In typical Floyd fashion, an array of vibrant colorways is available to choose from.
Horizn Studios H5 Essential Cabin
Horizn Studios created the H5 Essential Cabin carry-on with the contemporary explorer in mind. The case’s exterior is constructed with an aerospace-grade polycarbonate hard shell and Horizn has added 360° spinner wheels and a four-stage telescopic handle for ease of movement. The interior boasts a water resistant nylon lining and contains two main zip closure compartments for secure transport of your essentials. Horizn’s production process of the H5 Essential Cabin carry-on is 99% waste-free with all leather details being 100% vegan. The case’s exterior is made with recycled components, and is complete with a recycled polyester lining and recycled zippers. Available in Black, Night Blue, and Dark Olive.
Tumi International Carry-On
As part of Tumi’s lightweight Latitude collection, the brand’s International hardside carry-on is a perfect example of a suitcase that doesn’t need to sacrifice style for durability. Built to withstand hundreds of trips, it boasts a new, reinforced spinning wheel system, bumpers to guard common impact zones, and a sturdy three-stage telescoping handle made of aircraft-grade aluminum. The case incorporates Tumi’s SRPP BALLISTIC woven material that’s designed to flex and bend on contact. Inside are two fully-lined packing compartments with a hanger bracket, mesh tie-down straps, two zip pockets, and a mesh zip pocket. To top it all off, the company offers Tumi Tracer®, an exclusive, complimentary program that helps reunite Tumi customers with their lost or stolen items. The carry-on comes in three colorways including Black, Blush, and Navy.
Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-On Max
Founded by Louis Vuitton and Tumi alums, Arlo Skye has designed its Frame Carry-On Max with an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell and an aircraft-grade aluminum frame to take durability to the next level. With four spinner wheels that are, according to the brand, 15% quieter than the industry standard, the carry-on has two TSA-approved integrated clasp locks in place of an outer zipper. The bag’s interior, which has two compartments for your belongings, features an antimicrobial lining that is infused with natural silver fibers to neutralize odor-causing bacteria and prevent germ growth. Another notable feature of this carry-on is the airline-compliant removable charger that allows you to charge your phone to 50% in under 30 minutes. This handsome bag is available in an array of colors.
Roam Luggage The Jaunt
Customization is the name of the game with ROAM’s luggage line. Before we talk about the luggage, one of the most important and enjoyable parts to ROAM is the design process. The customization all happens online via the ROAM website. After selecting the size of your luggage, you land on a page that lets you play around mixing and matching colors across six of the case’s main components. The customizable parts are a combination of big elements like the shell, down to little details like the zip bumper. Now, for our carry-on pick: the hardside spinner Jaunt XL. Inside of its tough polycarbonate shell are two compartments, both with ROAM’s interior compression system to keep your essentials tightly packed. The bag sports a telescoping handle with four height settings and you can’t beat the brand’s guaranteed 100-day trial period.
Samsonite Lite-Box Carry-On Spinner
The Samsonite Lite-Box Carry-On Spinner offers a sleek design with an appealing balance of form and function. Weighing a mere 4.85 lbs., this is among the lightest weight carry-ons out there. The shell is constructed with sturdy Hardside Woven Polypropylene and sports prominent outside corner protectors. With both top and side handles and multi-directional spinner wheels, the Lite-Box is super easy to maneuver. A TSA-approved lock system is also included. The two compartment interior is fully lined with soft touch premium fabric and has zippered closures on each side. The Samsonite Lite-Box is available in Deep Blue and Eclipse Grey.
July Carry-On
The Australia-based luggage company, July, takes a “tough to break, beautiful to look at” approach to luggage design and construction. The July Carry-On offers a crush-proof German polycarbonate shell, along with anodized aluminum corner bumpers for extra protection from the rigors of airline travel. Also included is a multi-stop telescoping handle, as well as a TSA-approved integrated lock. July has also added an ejectable battery on its carry-on with standard USB and USB-C docks that can charge both your phone and your laptop. The bag’s interior contains a water-resistant and stain-proof nylon lining and two compartments, one zippered and the other with a Y-Strap compression system. July offers a wide array of colors to choose from, as well as free personalization.
Filson Rugged Twill Rolling 4-Wheel Carry-On Bag
With Filson’s long-standing reputation for producing incredibly durable products, it’s no surprise that the brand’s Rugged Twill Rolling 4-Wheel Carry-On Bag is built to withstand the rigors of travel. Constructed with abrasion-resistant Rugged Twill, Filson has also thoughtfully included a light wax treatment to the exterior for added weather protection. The carry-on is outfitted with Bridle Leather straps and side and top grab handles. With its four-wheel rotating design, the bag also offers a retractable handle that extends to 22”. A spacious main compartment is lined with a durable cotton and has adjustable straps for added load management. The main compartment also has a large zippered pocket to add miscellaneous EDC. Filson is offering its 4-Wheel Carry-On Bag in Otter Green and Tan.
Away The Carry-On
Considered the darling of the Millennial travel set, the Away Carry-On is a cleverly designed, well-constructed case. With its lightweight feel, minimalist look, convenient compartments, and ejectable battery (this is an add-on), loyalists swear by this carry-on. Made with a durable polycarbonate hard shell and 360° spinner wheels that ensure a smooth ride, this carry-on is built to last. To ensure the safety of your belongings, the bag has a TSA-approved combination lock. The Away Carry-On features two internal compartments, one with a zipper and the other with a compression system and hidden laundry bag that make it even easier to pack all of your essentials. Away offers a nice selection of colors, so you’re sure to find one that suits your particular style.
Monos Carry On Pro Plus
Monos is a newer luggage brand that makes simple yet sleek bags in chic colors like Rose Quartz and Ocean Blue that stand out on the airport carousel. The brand’s Carry On Pro Plus is a hard side bag with a hard front zippered polycarbonate pocket that offers a place for a laptop as well as space to organize other small essentials from headphones to charging cords. Featuring four smooth, multi-directional wheels, a telescopic handle, and YKK zippers, this bag will make your travels a breeze. Inside is a luxuriously soft 350D anti-microbial fabric, a large zippered compartment and a facing compartment with compression straps. Monos has also added an antimicrobial laundry bag and two shoe bags, plus a vegan leather luggage tag.