Jul 6, 2024 8:30 AM

The Best Luggage for Wherever You’re Headed

We’ve traveled thousands of miles, carrying all sorts of stuff. These are our favorite suitcases, backpacks, duffels, and more.

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White rolling luggage on a green carpet and in front of a frosted security wall panel

Silver square luggage on wheels in front of a brick wall on the sidewalk

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When you're going on a trip, packing your bags scratches a very specific mental itch. Do you like breezing to your gate with only minutes to spare, bypassing the checked-baggage line and sweeping through the Global Entry prescreened traveler security lane? Are you on a business trip and bringing makeup and camera-ready clothes? Or are you traveling with small children and struggling to keep track of all their stuffies, snacks, grandparent gifts, and innumerable electronics cords for tiny headphones and remote-controlled sharks?

In the past year, I've flown and driven thousands of miles. I've hopped on quick flights for work, struggled through cross-country travel with my spouse and kids, and cinched duffel bags on the rooftop rack of my car for weekend trips. The WIRED Gear team and I have taken all these bags on at least two flights minimum, overstuffed them, checked them, shoved them into overhead bins, hastily unpacked and repacked them in car trunks and on airport floors, and most importantly, let our children ride on them from baggage claim to the Uber. 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, Best Laptop Totes, and the Best Recycled Bags, for more picks.

Updated July 2024: We added the Rimowa carry on, the Beis carry on, the Tumi Velocity backpack, the Lojel Cubo Large, the Aer carry on, the State Logan carry on, and the Calpak medium checked luggage. We also updated the information on sizing and checked links and prices.

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Photograph: Away
The Best Carry-On for Most People
Away 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.
The classic Away carry-on has a light, polycarbonate shell, so there's not as much give in the case. However, hardshell suitcases 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: We've tried similar suitcases by Monos ($255) and July ($295). July's aluminum bumpers protect fragile belongings, 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. I have checked both of these suitcases multiple times on multiple cross-country trips, and both have also been ridden by two small children with no damage.
$275 at Away Travel
Photograph: Adrienne So
An Upgraded Carry-On
Aer Carry-On
As the Away's ubiquity shows, it works perfectly well for the vast majority of people. But if you find flying to be as unpleasant an experience as I do, a few upgrades might be worth the expense to make it more endurable. We think two recent luggage launches are worth your attention. Reviewer Nena Farrell loves the viral Beis carry-on, which, in addition to coming in a variety of cute, distinctive colors, has extras like a cushy handle, a built-in weight gauge, and a retractable strap that lets you clip a backpack or duffel to the front, in case your personal item doesn't have a pass-through.
I also recently tested Aer’s latest luggage launch. I like Aer’s better than Beis' for a few reasons. The design is sleeker, without ridges to attract scratches and dirt. Although I rolled and spun it side by side with Calpak, July, and Monos luggage, I did not find that Aer's Hinamoto ball bearing system rolled more quietly or smoothly. However, Aer's carry-on has wheel locks. This was crucial when I found myself in the luggage section of a rental shuttle, trying to manage four four-wheeled suitcases on an overcrowded ride from the airport to the rental car outpost while my spouse and children relaxed in the last three remaining seats. As someone who tends to just toss an AirTag into the shoe pocket of their luggage, where it accidentally falls out halfway across the world, I also like the tiny dedicated AirTag pocket.
★ Alternative: If sustainability is your bag (haha), Paravel offers an Aviator carry-on ($425) 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. Reviewer Jaina Grey fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.
$319 at Aer

Photograph: Amazon
Best Budget Carry-On
Travelpro Maxlite 5
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.
$144 at Amazon
$144 at Travelpro
Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Aluminum Bag
Rimowa Original Cabin
The publicist who sent me the iconic Rimowa carry-on for testing warned me that it had been used for promotional photos and might have "some minor patina." This comment was offered with mild apology which I assured her was unnecessary; getting a Rimowa with a few scratches and dings is like buying a preseasoned cast iron pan. Rimowa cases have a cult following among travelers precisely because of how elegantly they wear their miles. The whole point of these nearly indestructible anodized aluminum boxes is to batter them in Bali, scrape them up in Sicily, then cover the wounds in stickers. In fact, a vintage Rimowa with dings and vintage stickers will probably cost you more on eBay than new, though it's more fun to make every dent yourself. I tested the bag on a trip to New York and appreciated the fine-tuned details in construction (the seal is tight enough I had no qualms about it sitting on a rainy tarmac) and, especially, the uncommon confidence and balance of the roller wheels. The Rimowa feels indestructible, and every attempt to break it only improves that patina, which makes it an ideal travel companion. —Martin Cizmar
$1,430 at Rimowa

Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Checked Bag
Lojel Cubo Large
For a large checked bag, Lojel's Cubo Large has one feature that was invaluable. It has a flat-top opening, which means you can open it like a box, instead of swinging out both sides like a clamshell. I could not believe how much easier this made it to access all of our stuff. On a recent family vacation, I checked the Cubo Large, put it in the trunk of a Chrysler Pacifica, drove to my brother's house, drove to the beach, and kept four peoples' items organized in one hotel room for a week. I could open the suitcase and grab my kid's sandals without pulling the whole suitcase out of the trunk. Once we got to our destination, it took up half as much floor space as any other suitcase. When it weighed about a pound over the checked bag weight limits, I could discreetly unzip it and take out my Chacos without opening a clamshell and displaying all my belongings for all of United's employees to see.
Granted, the stitching on the interior organizational pockets is not so solid for the price. My kids almost instantly busted the button that holds the lid up. Also, a 10-year warranty sounds good, but almost every other manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty that covers common problems, like broken zippers. However, this flat-top opening is a great feature that's worth recommending, especially if you have large, awkward items that wouldn't fit in one side of a clamshell suitcase.
★ Alternative: On this trip, I also checked the Calpak Evry Medium Luggage ($245), and it did the job for half the price. It has a polycarbonate shell, interior organizational pockets, and a TSA-approved lock.
$430 at Lojel
Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Backpack
Tumi Velocity Backpack
Tumi’s iconic, expensive backpacks are the platonic ideal for airplane travel. The latest one is the Velocity, which is a collaboration with McLaren Automotive, and the sleek design is meant to evoke the aerodynamic lines of McLaren's racing cars. The shell is made from CX6, a type of woven carbon fiber that is engineered to be both super strong and incredibly light. This means that the bag has a firm structure that doesn't look saggy when it's empty, or stuffed like a turkey when it's full. It can fit a surprising amount of stuff—just unzip the front panel and it swings open like a glove compartment.
Like a lot of Tumi's backpacks, it comes with a bunch of travel-related extras, like a luggage tag, an add-a-bag sleeve, and a luggage-inspired leather grip handle. The padded laptop compartment fits laptops up to 15 inches (although surprisingly, the compartment is not suspended, so be careful putting it down). I filled it full of books and dragged it on our concrete walk, and I still couldn't scratch the surface. In keeping with the bag's slim profile, however, the water bottle pockets are extremely tight. It's also a little embarrassing flying with a $1,600 backpack in economy. Tumi has a wide array of equally attractive and useful laptop backpacks for less than half the price.
$1,695 at Tumi

Photograph: Adrienne So
Best Kids Suitcase
State Logan Carry-On
For the past two years, I've found myself being the lone parent while flying with my two children, now 7 and 9. Unfortunately, trying to cheap out on my kids' suitcases has resulted in a garage full of dead luggage. My children busted the zippers on this generic rolling backpack off Amazon (which was much cheaper than when I bought it) almost instantly. The Target version is only 6 pounds and very cute, but the plastic shell and hardware is as fragile as a bird egg.
I would've saved so much time, aggravation, and money if I'd just bought them both State bags at the start. The Logan comes in a mini, carry-on, and checked size, and the carry-on has more or less the same dimensions as my carry-on. However, it has a number of child-friendly features. The prints are amazing; my kids love theirs. The front pocket is big enough for a snack box and their iPads, which means I can quickly usher them to their seats and unpack everything into the front pocket. There are two straps on the side that are ideal for tucking in Yellow Blanky and Truck Blanky when we have to move quickly at the gate. And it still weighs less than my own carry-on.
$220 at State
Photograph: Tom Bihn
Best Convertible Bag
Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45
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. It 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 it 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 he and I would use, if we didn't have to constantly test other bags.
$340 at Tom Bihn

Photograph: Amazon
Best Lifetime Bag
Briggs & Riley Baseline CX
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.
$659 at Briggs & Riley
Photograph: Amazon
Best Soft-Shell Carry-On
Yeti Crossroads 35L
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
$450 at Amazon
$450 at Yeti

Photograph: Lo & Sons
Best Work Bag
Lo & Sons The O.G. 2
The bag that I prefer for my personal item on work trips 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. L.L. Bean's boat tote ($35) is the iconic affordable, durable pick, but gear director Michael Calore's pick is the roomy zip hunter's tote ($55).
~~$378~~ $284 at Lo & Sons (medium)
~~$398~~ $298 at Lo & Sons (large)
Photograph: REI
Best Duffel Bag
REI Co-op Big Haul
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.
Duffels are a huge and ever-expanding category. We also like durable Red Oxx duffels ($300), and 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.
$119 at REI

Photograph: Rux
Best for Camping
Rux 70L Storage Container
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.
$298 at Backcountry
$298 at Moosejaw
$298 at Rux
Photograph: Nordstrom
A Good Emergency Go Bag
Calpak Luka Duffel
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.
$128 at Nordstrom
$128 at Calpak

Photograph: Solgaard
Other Bags We Like
More Bags
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.
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.
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 $107: 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 $80: 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 $275: 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.
Photograph: Eagle Creek
Bags We Don’t Like
Even More Bags
Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.
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.

Photograph: Supakit Sawaengnil/Getty Images
How to Pick a Bag
Domestic vs. International Sizes
Nowadays, there are so many baggage options that narrowing down which bag you need can be difficult. Here are a few factors that might make a difference:
Two or four wheels? Very few people who try the maneuverability of a four-wheeled spinner suitcase want to go back. Four-wheeled spinners are so much easier to maneuver in crowded airports or down airplane aisles. However, two wheels are easier if you're pulling it over rough terrain. Also, they don't roll away.
Hard-shell or soft-sided? Fabric bags tend to be lighter. They're also more flexible, so they can squish down to fit tighter overhead bins or stretch to accommodate that souvenir sweatshirt that you couldn't resist. A hard-shell suitcase provides more protection, but has no give. If you travel with a lot of fragile items, consider an aluminum suitcase, which offers the most protection of all.
Use a tape measure and a scale. Whether your bag fits in the overhead bin increasingly depends on both where you're flying (domestic or international) and what airline you choose. Always check the airline's weight and dimension requirements before packing your bag.
Photograph: Amazon
A Few Travel Accessories
Travel Gadgets
If you're packing a bag, a few of these items are helpful.
Craftsman Measuring Tape for $14: Always measure the dimensions of your bag! There's nothing worse than trying to walk on a plane and having to get out line because the gate attendant decided your bag was too big.
Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15: Weigh your bag before you leave the house, too. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.
Apple AirTag for $24: 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 separating it into different cubes. You shouldn't have to hunt through a pile of socks to find your bathing suit.
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.
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.

Adrienne So is a senior commerce editor for WIRED, where she reviews health and fitness gear. She graduated from the University of Virginia with bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish and runs, rock climbs, and sings karaoke in her free time. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, two ... Read more

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