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A Professional Packer Shares the 11 Best Carry-on Bags That Actually Fit a Week's Worth of Clothes — From $30

Never check a bag again.

Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

There are some travelers who are completely at ease with bringing just two or three outfits on a trip to skip checking a bag . I am not one of them. I like to pack as many options as my carry-on luggage will allow. While this may initially seem to contradict my title as a professional packer — I’m the founder of the Just Packed travel site and corresponding newsletter — the two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Instead, I define an expertly packed carry-on bag as one that contains everything that you may need on your trip (and still has the ability to close).

Before the actual packing process can begin, though, it’s critical to have luggage pieces that offer ample room to ensure its spot in the overhead bin or under the airplane seat in front of you. But, not every travel bag is up for the task. Over my years of research, both on the ground and in the air, these are the 11 roomiest carry-on bags that I've found. They include classic suitcases as well as travel totes, backpacks, and duffels that help you pack a week's worth (and even more) of clothes so you'll have everything that you need for your next trip.

Away Bigger Carry-on

In my line of work, I’m constantly testing different suitcase brands and styles. My 22-inch Away Bigger Carry-on has yet to be topped when it comes to how much it can hold. From the outside, it looks like a basic, albeit sleek , suitcase; there are no bells and whistles. That simplicity, however, is the key to its success. Every inch of the suitcase serves to get the job done (a.k.a. hold as much as possible). By using the interior compression system, I can fit about one week’s worth of clothes without trying too hard — but if I use a few of my tried-and-true packing hacks , I can make it work for a two-week trip.

It's also made with a polycarbonate hardshell, a sturdy material that I always look for when suitcase shopping because of its durability. Trust me, you'll appreciate it when your carry-on gets tossed around during takeoff and landing.

July Carry-on Pro

I might be loyal to my Away suitcase, but the 21-inch July Carry-on Pro recently caught my eye. It has a similar design, but it comes with a few more functional features. The front pocket can fit a 15-inch laptop and an iPad (although I tend to use compartments like this to hold a few items of clothing), and the Y-strap compression system helps keep the contents of the suitcase neatly packed down. I haven’t gotten a test to take mine out for a spin yet, but the luggage brand notes that it can hold six to eight outfits, or between five to seven days’ worth of clothing. 

Amazon Basics 20-inch Hardside Spinner

If you’re looking for a more affordable carry-on suitcase, the highly-rated Amazon Basics 20-inch Hardside Spinner might do the trick. Coming in at under $65 thanks to a limited-time deal, this best-selling carry-on is the perfect choice for anyone who wants a capacious bag but doesn’t travel enough to warrant one with a higher price tag. Several reviewers noted that it’s great for week-long trips with its expansion feature that adds 15 percent more packing space, the interior organizer, and the three smaller zippered pockets. 

MZ Wallace Deluxe Large Metro Tote

Overpackers who are actively trying to avoid bringing checked bags on their travels need the MZ Wallace Deluxe Large Metro Tote in their luggage repertoire. Not only is it, hands down, the most spacious tote that I’ve ever used, but it’s also pliable and filled with different pockets and compartments to keep everything organized in a designated spot. I think of it like a Mary Poppins-style bag. On a recent weekend trip, it served as my only piece of luggage, and I had no issue zipping it up while it held my pajamas, two outfits, a pair of sneakers, my laptop, a small toiletry bag, and a collection of other miscellaneous items (chargers, snacks, a hairbrush, etc). But when you're flying, use this as your personal bag along with your carry-on suitcase so you can get away with bringing more clothes on board. 

When buying a new travel tote to use as a carry-on, I always recommend paying close attention to how the bag is designed (and how it will keep your belongings secure). Does it zip, tie, or latch everything inside? The exact closure method, and how it’s implemented, can significantly affect how much can be carried inside. This one has a zip-top design, so I know that it will keep everything safe from spilling out if I put it in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of me.

L.L. Bean Medium Boat and Tote Zip-Top

The classic L.L. Bean Boat and Tote comes in a variety of sizes and colors, and there’s even the option to choose one with or without a zip-top closure. The extra-large tote is technically the largest, but I personally use the medium-sized zip-top version. Inside, I’ll fit my toiletry bag (which tends to take up too much space in my suitcase), laptop, chargers, a water bottle, and a smaller crossbody bag. I’ve also never had any issues fitting it under the seat in front of me on a plane, and it’s sturdy enough to stay upright during take-off or turbulence. 

Oeihuivt Weekender Bag

The Oeihuivt Weekender Bag is the more affordable twin of the steeper-priced duffel bag that I usually use. According to the brand, the bag can hold between two and four days' worth of essentials inside its six pockets, main compartment, and roomy shoe pouch. If I’m traveling with just a pair of shoes on my feet, I’ll often use the shoe pouch as a hack to store more clothes; it makes the perfect spot for my socks, Dopp kit, a sweatshirt, and a pair of jeans. 

Paravel Foldable Travel Duffel Bag

I always think of my Foldable Travel Duffel Bag from Oprah-loved brand Paravel as my “in case of packing emergencies” bag. On a trip to Jackson Hole last year, I knew that there was a possibility that I’d be leaving with a few more items than I’d arrived with — so I tucked this duffel into my suitcase to use on the journey home. It’s one of those bags that’s deceptively roomy, and it held the hiking boots, sneakers, puffer vest, and several sweaters that had been displaced from my suitcase by my new Wyoming purchases. In addition to being an M.V.P. for bringing back souvenirs, it can also be used as a tote when you're at your destination, and even a beach bag if needed. 

Bjlfs Weekender Carry-on

Some trips require a do-it-all kind of bag, one that can handle whatever you need it to hold. Enter the Bjlfs Weekender Carry-on. Its exact dimensions have it measuring in at around 10.7 inches by 22 inches by 7 inches, which means that it has more than enough room for a three-day weekend trip's wardrobe — and you’ll have no trouble fitting it in most overhead bins or under the seat in front of you should you use it as a personal bag. Interested in seeing how it would perform on a longer trip? According to one reviewer , they paired it with a small carry-on suitcase for an 11-day trip, and it was perfect.

Cuyana Classic Easy Zipper Tote

My vast collection of travel bags waxes and wanes on a regular basis, but there are a few extra-roomy styles that maintain their starting positions on my roster. One of those is my Cuyana Classic Easy Zipper Tote. The leather bag is a staple for work travel, and it holds more than you’d think upon initial glance. If you pair it with a carry-on for your next flight, you'll definitely be able to fit everything that you need for your trip. 

A foolproof way to wisely choose a spacious carry-on bag is to identify its purpose. As one of my allowed carry-on bags, this roomy tote is always reserved for my laptop, which means that it has to be strong and wide enough to hold my heavy, 16-inch MacBook Pro and my other essentials. I’ve gone on several trips where it’s managed to perfectly carry my laptop, a couple of books, an extra layer, a water bottle, and even a Dopp kit or crossbody bag.

Roam Continental Backpack

When I say that the Roam Continental Backpack holds just as much as a duffel bag, I mean it. It first accompanied me on a trip to Venice, and I was immediately blown away by the capacity of each compartment. There’s an exterior laptop compartment, which holds all of my chargers, a front pocket (and is great for snacks and smaller toiletries), and a large main compartment. The latter fit a pair of shoes, the rest of my toiletries, a light jacket, and a small purse. There are also two water bottle holders on the backpack’s sides; I used one for my Yeti and the other for a couple pairs of socks. 

Lo & Sons Large Rowledge Backpack

Lo & Sons

I’ve found that the Lo & Sons Large Rowledge Backpack is slightly less bulky than the above Roam style, but somehow, it’s almost just as spacious. If I’m using it as a secondary carry-on bag, the backpack always has extra room; if I’m bringing it on a short weekend trip, I typically don’t need to bring another bag. By using the rolling folding method, I can fit three to four outfits in the larger compartment, and the front compartment is perfect for a travel-sized toiletry bag and other essential accessories. 

Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag

This isn't a piece of luggage, but it's an essential item for making everything fit in a carry-on. There are a few things that I’ll sacrifice when packing — like extra pairs of shoes or an additional coat — but my beauty routine is not one of them. I’m a stickler for using my specific skin and hair care products, even while traveling, so I require a toiletry bag that can hold everything. The large Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag can carry all of my skincare, shampoo and conditioner, makeup, and other hygiene products. If it’s packed in my carry-on, I just have to make sure to use my TSA-sized products or transfer my liquids to my trusty Cadence capsules .

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The Best Travel Backpacks for Long Trips, According to Frequent Travelers

Hauling all of the clothing, toiletries, and gear you need for a monthlong trip in a backpack might sound like a nightmare, especially if you’re used to rolling luggage . But there are plenty of instances when traveling with a backpack is easier, especially if you’ve got plans to hop on buses or trains, or are going to cities where paved roads (and therefore surfaces for easy luggage-rolling) are in short supply.

The challenge is to find a travel backpack that’s big enough to fit everything you might need, yet is still comfortable to carry. So to help you find the best carry-on and travel backpacks for long trips, we spoke with 14 frequent and intrepid travelers , who spend weeks on the road (or the hiking trail) at a time, about the bags they’re most excited to pack up and strap onto their backs. While not as sleek as their wheeled counterparts, these backpacks will serve you much better on longer and more adventurous journeys. Just don’t forget the packing cubes .

Like several of the experts we talked to, JourneyWoman editor-in-chief and frequent backpacker Carolyn Ray is a longtime fan of Osprey’s backpacks for longer, more rugged trips. The Osprey Porter has been her “go-to pack” for years at this point, and she most recently used it during a three-month journey across Mexico. The 65-liter bag has a bucket-style opening, which gives you easy access to all your stuff with one quick zip around. It also has loops on which to attach a smaller day pack.

James and Susan Feess, bloggers at The Savvy Backpacker , have tried many backpacks in their time. But Osprey’s classic Farpoint is the one they keep returning to. It’s just about the perfect backpack for long-term travel,” they tell us. “It has some of the best and most comfortable shoulder straps and harness we’ve used. It’s lightweight, it has a detachable day pack, it looks nice, it is pretty affordable, and we like Osprey’s lifetime warranty.”

Washington Post reporter and inaugural New York Times 52 Places traveler Jada Yuan also cites Osprey as her top travel-backpack brand. When spending her year abroad reporting for the Times , she used the 40-liter Fairview, which is the women’s version of the Farpoint above — but not before trying and failing to travel with a set of rolling luggage. “I don’t know how I got through 16 stops of my trip before buying the Osprey Fairview,” she recalls. “My back and shoulders hurt all the time. I needed something with strong lumbar support, a waist belt, and a chest strap so that I could make it through the trip without getting crippled.” The Fairview, she says, is perfectly bare-bones: “Just one giant cavity, plus a zippered section for your laptop and a bunch of straps on the outside for carrying, say, a bulky jacket that won’t fit anywhere.” She took it across Europe, Africa, and Asia, noting that with the addition of zipper locks, it was relatively secure against thieves. Yuan traveled with the overhead-compartment-friendly 40l version of the bag, but non-minimalist packers could definitely upgrade to the 55l version. “Or go up to 65l,” Yuan suggests. “No one ever checks.”

Though loyal to Osprey, Ray also pointed us to Gregory’s line of travel backpacks, which she likes for their style, practicality, and fit. Her pick is the 60-liter Deva backpack, with a breathable back panel that makes multiday hiking more bearable. “Whether I’m hiking the Camino de Santiago or the new ‘Canadian Camino’ in Prince Edward Island, these packs are so comfortable that I almost forget I’m wearing one,” she says.

Award-winning CNN travel journalist Oneika Raymond swears by High Sierra’s affordable frame backpacks, which can be used for long trips as well as backpacking. She’s used hers while traveling from Bolivia to Botswana, and tells us that the pack is “lightweight, relatively inexpensive, sturdy, and stylish,” with an ergonomic design that fits her body perfectly. “I like it because it has a top compartment, which I typically reserve for undergarments, and the bottom front compartment, which I’ll reserve for shoes,” she adds. “Because the middle compartment is very large, it’s ideal for clothing. I can pack quite a lot of things in the bag, but because it’s tall and narrow, it still remains sleek and fairly easy to carry.”

Atlas Obscura senior editor and writer Gemma Tarlach ’s 55-liter Kelty has seen it all, and then some: New Zealand’s South Island wilderness, a hurricane in Iceland, and a trekking accident in Chile’s Torres del Paine national park. “I took a tumble off the trail and ended up sliding down a mountainside of scree with my pack dragging behind me,” she recalls. “By the time we came to a stop, the pack was in better shape than I was.” She even used the bag to carry provisions for a winter season on Antarctica’s McMurdo Station: “It performed the task with great dignity.” The pack, as Tarlach puts it, is “nothing super-fancy — just built for adventure.” While Tarlach has had her Kelty for so long that the exact model has been discontinued, this one has the same capacity and a similar design.

Atlas Obscura editor-in-chief Samir Patel , meanwhile, vouches for Mountainsmith packs, which are similarly designed for adventurous, off-the-beaten-path travel. He has two and says that this 45-liter pack is the closest in style to his since-discontinued models.

When traveling on assignment, photographer Daniel Rodrigues takes along his trusty Forclaz trekking backpack. He finds it particularly suited to rail travel — as in, crossing the Sahara on an iron-ore transport train. “After having suffered a lot, she is still like new, and that’s something I love about her,” he says of his pack. “The kind of trips I do can be rough and dirty at times, and she still holds up.” In addition to being comfortable — Rodrigues says the Forclas “adjusts perfectly to the body,” allowing hours of walking — the pack is also the perfect size for carrying clothes, a sleeping bag, and even a tent.

Adventure writer and blogger Ashley Gossens has a slightly older version of this Granite Gear pack — a sure sign that the brand’s designs are worth the investment. “I love it because it is lightweight with tons of space for multiday treks,” she says. “It is available in different torso lengths, which is great for me since I am short. It has extra-comfy padding on the hip belt, which is also adjustable. I also really like that it has a detachable top pouch that I can use for taking just the essentials to explore around camp.” On Gossens’s five-day, 45-mile trek in the Glacier Peak wilderness of Washington, she was easily able to fit her tent, sleeping bag, food, and more into the pack.

If you’re lugging expensive gear around — especially photography equipment — a discreet, secure pack is a must. XpatMatt blogger Matt Gibson upgraded to this bag after an ill-fated trek through Kyrgyzstan, and he hasn’t looked back. “I like that it looks good,” he says. “But more important to me is that it doesn’t scream ‘photography backpack,’ because that often makes you a target for robbery in certain places. It also has a ton of safety features that make it much more difficult for your average thief to get into, such as mesh wiring in the fabric and easily lockable zippers and pouches.”

Some long trips require a sturdier and more durable bag than others, as photographer Hunter McRae can attest. She has a couple of Lowepro bags, which are designed with camera storage in mind, that she swaps between for different adventures. Her waterproof pick, the cult-favorite Lowepro DryZone 200, has sadly been discontinued — but you might have luck finding one via secondhand resellers. McRae also recommends the Lowepro Photosport. “Even if I’m just bringing a single body and a lens or two, it’s the most comfortable way to lug them around, and it leaves me room for water, extra layers, and kids’ stuff.”

Rodrigues is also a Lowepro fan and will opt for one of the brand’s day packs to carry his photography equipment while on the road with his larger-capacity trekking rucksack. “Everything fits,” he declares. “And when I say everything, I mean everything: three cameras, three lenses, computer, drone, and sometimes even clothes.”

And here’s a no-nonsense carry-on option courtesy of Bess Carey , director of people and culture at Atlas Obscura — as well as America’s favorite traveler, Rick Steves. “I’m embarrassed about how much I like this backpack,” Carey says. “My parents got it for me when I was in high school and headed to Europe on a trip where we were supposed to travel with just a carry-on. Nearly 20 years later, I am still using it for certain types of travel, even though I have nicer, fancier suitcases and a hiking backpack that I didn’t have back then.” Today’s model is “basically the same” as the one Carey’s parents got her back in 2002, which is still in usable condition. “I like it because it’s bare-bones,” she adds. “I never worry about it getting dirty, it absolutely doesn’t look worth stealing, either.”

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best socks for traveling , travel shoes for men and women , dopp kits , rolling luggage , weekend bags , travel necessities , and portable speakers . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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11 Best Luxury Luggage Brands for Traveling in Serious Style

By Laura Lajiness Kaupke

The best luxury luggage brands are more than a status symbol—like many of the best designer bags , high-end luggage is a savvy investment that enhances your travel experience. While more affordable bag brands might suffice in a pinch or short-term, designer suitcases offer unparalleled craftsmanship, durability, and functionality that withstand the rigors of frequent travel. With key features like innovative design, high-quality materials, and thoughtful organizational compartments, a well-designed suitcase can take some (not all) of the stress out of packing and traveling—even if it’s just for a romantic weekend getaway .

Of course, luxury luggage has obvious aesthetic benefits. Whether your chosen bag is a carry-on roller, a stylish weekender , or a roomy checked suitcase, top-of-the-line iterations add a touch of sophistication to any travel ensemble. And let’s be real: A good-looking suitcase is genuinely an extension of personal style for those who take pride in curating snap-worthy airport looks.

From iconic monogram logos to durable aluminum and elegant leather, luxury luggage brands offer a range of timeless and modern designs that make a statement while navigating airports, train stations—and hey, maybe a private helipad (?!). Whether you’re a frequent jet-setter or an occasional traveler, treating yourself to the finest luxury luggage brands promises an elevated expedition every time you embark on a new adventure, starting with one of the 11 best pieces of designer suitcases ahead.

Our top picks

• Best Carry-On: Away The Bigger Carry-On , $335
• Best Checked Bag: Tumi Extended Trip Expandable 4-Wheeled Packing Case , $895
• Most Stylish: Rimowa Original Check-In M Suitcase , $1,650
• Most Sustainably Designed: Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus , $425
• Best Vintage-Inspired: Steamline Luggage The Explorer RattanRolling Carry-On , $850
• Best Lifetime Warranty: Antler Clifton Large , $345

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Tumi 19 Degree Extended-Trip Expandable Packing Case

Tumi 19 Degree Extended Trip Expandable Packing Case

Tumi is a renowned luggage label synonymous with elevated rollers, backpacks, and more, but this luxe spinner takes the cake in terms of luggage for an extended trip. With an expandable feature, you’ll have all the room you need for countless jet-setting looks (and far-flung finds) as well as savvy organizational components—prepare to turn heads at every terminal with this stunner by your side.

• Wheel type: Four recessed 360-degree swivel wheels
• Material: Titanium-aluminum with leather trim
• Size: 30½" x 20½" x 11"
• Pros: Telescoping handle system with push button, retractable top and side handles, two-way zip-around closure, integrated TSA-approved push-button locks, two interior mesh zip pockets, zip divider, compression straps, hanger bracket, Tumi Tracer 20-digit number affixed to bag
• Cons: This specific bag is check-in only (but you can find less pricey carry-ons)

Save on the best luxury luggage with these Nordstrom promo codes .

Away The Medium

Away The Bigger Carry-On

Founded in 2015 by Stephanie Korey and Jen Rubio, Away is an editor must-have, and the brand just revamped its Classic suitcase line, offering a fresh slate of colors in matte and glossy finishes. Also new? Upgraded features like an underside grab handle for easy lifting and new color-matched luggage tags and interiors made of 50% recycled leather and 100% recycled polyester respectively.

• Wheel type: Four 360-degree spinner wheels
• Material: Lightweight, flexible polycarbonate hardshell
• Size: 23" x 15.4" x 9.4"
• Pros: Lightweight, durable hardshell, interior compression system and pockets to help pack more in, new underside grab handle for lifting, laundry bag, TSA-accepted combination lock, drawstring laundry bag made of 100% recycled polyester
• Cons: None, only note is that both the regular and bigger carry-on options are carry-on-friendly (anything larger needs to be checked)

Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus

Paravel has become a favorite among discerning travelers since it was founded in 2016 by Indre Rockefeller and Andy Krantz. With a mission to create sustainable and stylish travel essentials, the luggage label uses premium materials, including recycled and upcycled fabrics, to minimize its environmental impact. The Aviator roller is at the top of our lists (and made even better with the leather-detailed Weekender riding along the top).

• Wheel type: Four 360-degree double spinner wheels with carbon-steel bearings
• Material: Recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminum handles, recycled zippers, vegan leather details, and Negative Nylon lining made from 15 recycled plastic bottles
• Size: 22.7" x 14.7" x 9.6"
• Pros: Larger carry-on size, fits four to seven days’ worth of clothes and two to four pairs of shoes, carbon-neutral design, interior compression board, scuff-hiding textured finish, smart interior pockets, removable laundry bag
• Cons: Fits in most airplane overhead compartments but may not on smaller aircraft or airlines with strict weight limits

Steamline Luggage The Explorer Rattan Rolling Carry-On (20 Inch)

Steamline Luggage The Explorer 20-Inch Rattan Rolling Carry-On

Steamline Luggage

Steamline Luggage is a delightful blend of vintage-inspired design and contemporary utility. With a nod to the golden age of travel, this heritage brand crafts exquisite suitcases and hat boxes that evoke a sense of wanderlust and luxury. Its iconic design features beautifully handcrafted exteriors, elegant leather detailing, and luxe accents. Whether you’re exploring exotic destinations or jetting off to a weekend getaway, SteamLine luggage epitomizes timeless elegance and refined travel—and this rattan take? A summer holiday dream! (Psst: Don’t miss this pink cutie that came along on Margot Robbie’s Barbie press tour.)

• Wheel type: Two silent-glide wheels
• Material: Fiberboard, rattan, plastic, goldtone plate
• Size: 12½" x 9½" x 7"
• Pros: Carry-on friendly, top and side handles, three-tier telescoping handle, flip-lock closure with two TSA-approved key locks, interior zip wall pockets, hanging system with clips, protective ripstop nylon cover

By Daniel Rodgers

By Sam Reed

By Héloïse Salessy

Rimowa Original Check-In M Suitcase

Bloomingdales

Rimowa suitcases are the epitome of sleek durability—specifically ,the iconic aluminum designs are built to handle wear and tear. Consider the German label your go-to if you’re all about functional statement pieces made to last. The Original Check-In M Suitcase is a total showstopper with its lustrous shell, smooth multiwheel system, and spacious interior to fit five days’ worth of fire outfits.

• Wheel type: Four ball-bearing-mounted wheels
• Material: Aluminum, plastic,polyester
• Size: 26.4" x 17.8" x 9.5"
• Pros: Sleek, durable, telescopic handle, TSA-approved locks, interior flex-divider, five-year limited warranty
• Cons: Expensive

Antler Clifton Large Spinner

Antler Clifton Large

A more entry-level luxury luggage maker, Antler has a rich heritage that dates back to 1914. The London-based brand is known for its elegant and durable suitcases crafted with cutting-edge technology and premium materials that won’t totally break the bank. With a focus on timeless design and attention to detail, Antler’s designs are subtle and sophisticated, with dynamic color options from the prettiest jewel tones to delicious neutrals.

• Wheel type: Four 360-degree wheels
• Material: Polycarbonate
• Size: 31.89" x 20.08" x 13.78"
• Pros: More accessible price, twist-grip handle, expander zip, TSA combination lock, lifetime warranty, comes with a dust bag
• Cons: Medium and large size are check-in only

FPM Bank Light Trunk Suitcase

Saks Fifth Avenue

FPM (Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano) is a prestigious luxury luggage brand established in Milan in 1946, with a storied history of crafting fine leather goods and travel accessories, combining traditional Italian craftsmanship with contemporary design. Aluminum suitcases known for their durability, lightweight construction, and distinctive style are a brand signature, as is the incredible attention to detail.

• Wheel type: Four multidirectional wheels
• Material: 100% aluminum
• Size: 28.74" x 16.93" x 14.17"
• Pros: Durable, sleek design, multiple carrying handles, side locks, interior zip pocket, clothing straps

Save on the best luxury luggage with these Saks Fifth Avenue promo codes.

Globe Trotter Safari Carry-On Suitcase

Globe Trotter Safari Carry-On suitcase

Globe-Trotter luggage is a testament to timeless elegance and British heritage. With a history dating back to 1897, this luxury brand has been crafting exquisite travel companions that stand the test of time. Its distinctly designed suitcases feature sturdy vulcanized fiberboard construction, leather trimmings, and iconic brass hardware.

• Wheel type: Four roller wheels
• Material: Leather
• Size: 22" x 16.5" x 8.5"
• Pros: Elegant heritage design, carry-on friendly, lock-and-key closure, top handle, comes with a box
• Cons: Expensive, made of fine materials you may not want to check

Gucci Small Cabin Trolley

Gucci Small Cabin Trolley with Interlocking

If you’re a Gucci girl, a suitcase by the Italian label is a must. From monogrammed travel bags to elegant suitcases adorned with the iconic interlocking G pattern, Gucci luggage exudes sophistication and charm, like this roller inspired by vintage travel and Guccio Gucci’s beginnings at the Savoy Hotel in London.

• Material: Beige and ebony canvas, brown leather, cotton linen lining
• Size: 20.1" x 15" x 8.3"
• Pros: Carry-on friendly, oval interlocking-G leather tag, detachable identification tag and key holder, padded front exterior zip pocket, interior compartment with two elastic straps, retractable leather telescopic top handles, double zip-around closure with lock
• Cons: Very expensive, plus you probably don’t want to check this bag

Bric’s Firenze 32" Compound Spin Suitcase

Bric's Firenze 32" Compound Spin Suitcase

Bric’s is an Italian luxury luggage brand founded in 1952; its rich heritage is rooted in the Tuscan region, where skilled artisans meticulously create each piece using premium materials. Each travel piece, like this water-resistant and easy-to-clean trolly, blends timeless elegance with modern functionality, and the brand’s commitment to an exquisite aesthetic has earned it a reputation as a symbol of luxury and refinement in the world of travel accessories.

• Wheel type: Four 360-degree swivel wheels
• Material: 95% flocked PVC, 5% leather, 100% polyester lining, leather trim
• Size: 32" x 20" x 13"
• Pros: Water-resistant, crush-resistant, easy-to-clean, retractable handle, top zip closure with TSA-approved lock, exterior zipper pocket, two interior zipper pockets

Aviteur Leather Carry-On Suitcase

Matchesfashion

Inspired by aviation and French design, Aviteur marries style with function with designs that cater to the needs of luxury-loving travelers. Crafted by skilled artisans using the finest materials, the brand’s collections evoke a sense of refined nostalgia. Case in point: this intricately woven leather roller carry-on suitcase with a retractable handle carved from a solid block of Lucite— chic .

• Wheel type: Four 360-degree quiet spinner wheels
• Material: Calfskin leather, Lucite handle, Alcantara lining
• Size: 20.5" x 15" x 9.5"
• Pros: Carry-on friendly, structured, intricate design, retractable Lucite handle, leather top handle, sound-absorbing air chamber in wheels
• Cons: Carry-ons can can be on the smaller side, crafted from delicate materials you may not want to check

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The Best Travel Bags for Wherever You’re Headed

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Best Soft-Shell Carry-On Yeti Crossroads 35L Read more

Best Bag for a Lifetime Briggs & Riley Baseline CX Read more

Whew! You've made it all the way across the globe. But have your toothbrush, pajamas, and running shoes made it, too? If you're a frequent traveler, it's easy to obsess over the logistics of getting your stuff clean, organized, and in good working condition upon arrival. Paying for a decent travel bag and a few useful accessories means buying a little peace of mind, especially when a few yards of zippers and some nylon are the only barriers between your precious belongings and the belly of an airliner.

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 and the Best Recycled Bags , for more picks.

Updated April 2024: We reorganized this guide and added new picks, such as the Yeti Crossroads, Tom Bihn Aeronaut and Trinity, the Frame Carry-On Max, the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, the Camelbak A.T.P. 20, the Calpak Luka Duffel, and the Rux 70. We also updated the information on sizing and checked links and prices.

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Best Carry-On for Most People

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.

Best Hard-Shell 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.

Hard-shell suitcases tend to be heavier. There's also not as much give in the case, so you may find it hard to squeeze in more items than in a soft-shell bag, bu they 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: So many companies now offer a direct-to-consumer, stylish, hard-shell carry-on similar to the Away's. We've tried ones by Monos ($255) and July ($295) . Besides price, the differences are mostly negligible. I like July's aluminum bumpers, 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. Both have survived multiple cross-country trips, being checked as baggage, and being ridden on by two small children with no damage.

Paravel also offers an Aviator carry-on ($395) 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. Product reviewer Jaina Grey fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On

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

Best Bag for a Lifetime

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.

Gabrielle Caplan

Adrienne So

Medea Giordano

Best Backpack

When I reviewed the Cotopaxi Allpa in 2018 ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ), it had only recently launched. Now, a half-dozen years later, it is one of the most popular travel backpacks that I see online and in airports all over the world. It's a combination of a camping backpack, a suitcase, and a soft, frameless duffel. You can splay it open like a sandwich to pack it easily; access items through a side zip; put it on your backpack and secure its weight with a sternum strap; or squash or stomp it into any overhead compartment or corner of your car trunk. The use case for this bag is extremely specific—the same people who are bopping around Thailand for several weeks in one backpack are not the same people trying to look professional at a work conference. But it is sturdy and comfortable.

★ Alternative: I took the Ekster Packable Duffel ($250) on several weekend trips this spring, and found that it more than upheld its claims of being built for “smoother journeys, on and off the grid.” This travel bag converts from a backpack to a duffel, with two separate compartments that also splay open for easier packing. The 600-denier exterior and water-resistant zippers are so sturdy that when we ran out of space in the car, we lashed it to the roof rack with surf straps and drove for hours in the rain. It, and its contents, remained pristine.

Best Convertible Bag

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.

Best Personal Item

Some airlines are not content with charging you extra for checking a bag and now charge you for overhead bin space . The Tom Bihn Trinity ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) addresses that problem by providing a space for you to pack everything you need while still fitting underneath the seat in front of you. As the name suggests, it has three main compartments and three ways to carry—either as a briefcase with padded grab handles, a backpack, or as a shoulder bag with two attachment points.

It has three main compartments which can be arranged to your liking; for example, on one of the side compartments, you can zip a water bottle holder into place or unzip it for more room. It wasn't quite as versatile as I expected; I found that I prefer a small duffel with one main compartment that I can organize as I like. However, it does fit under the seat in front of me, even with clothes, laptop, and four (four!) hardcover books that I somehow stuffed inside it.

Best Work Bag

I've been traveling a lot for work and for family reasons in the past few months, and the bag I prefer for my personal item 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 , but we love Lo & Sons. The Catalina Supreme Tote ($338) is also great for weekend trips. Again, there's also a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes, or anything else you need to keep separate.

The Best Hiking Daypack

The Camelbak A.T.P. is so useful that I’m always startled to realize it only has a 20-liter capacity. I have it in the 100 percent recycled white color, which saves water and only emits half the greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the dying process. It’s a panel loader, which means you can unzip the top and see exactly where everything goes, like a duffel. This is convenient when packing for trips—I was able to fit clothes, a Dopp kit, and electronics for an overnight trip. (I know these types of zippers fail more often than top loaders, but it does make it easier to arrange and sort items near the bottom of the pack.)

I particularly like how narrow it is. It fits my back and goes under airplane seats that even my children’s backpacks can’t. The bottle pocket has a zipper that makes it expandable so it can fit a little coffee thermos or my giant Yeti water bottle . Exterior compression straps also help squeeze my clothes even smaller. This is a great backpack if you want something that looks sleek enough for a work bag but is durable enough to take on a weekend trip to Yosemite.

★ Alternative: I also love the Patagonia Black Hole Backpack ($149) . This 25-liter bag is the perfect combination work/adventure bag. The suspended 15-inch laptop pocket clips shut, and the rest of the pockets are thoughtfully placed. It’s extremely light (a little over a pound) and is made from 100 percent recycled ripstop fabric.

Best Duffel Bag

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.

The Best Expedition Bag

If you like outdoor sports, you probably need a good expedition bag—that is, a huge, burly duffel that you can just throw all your pointy ice axes, trekking poles, or camp chairs into that you can take anywhere and everywhere. Reviewer Matt Jancer's expedition bag of choice is the Red Oxx PR5. He's used it for whitewater paddling trips and to lug mountain climbing equipment from coast to coast without a single frayed thread. Everything about Red Oxx is overbuilt. The zippers are huge, its thick pieces of nylon webbing are robustly sewn, and chunky metal rings hang the detachable carrying strap. All that said, it's not abominably heavy. At 3.4 pounds it's still lighter than many wheeled bags.

★ Alternative: 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; I also have a Mountain Hardware duffel ($180) and after 20 years, the coating has finally started to peel.

Best for Camping

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.

The Best Aluminum Suitcase

Perhaps you've seen those Instagram-friendly, shiny aluminum suitcases and wonder whether it's worth the investment. Aluminum is extremely durable and can be machined with precision. That means it will protect your belongings better, and you can close them with latches instead of zippers. Your suitcase will last longer and be more secure— zippers are pretty easy to break into —and generally have fewer points of failure.

In my opinion, the cost-benefit analysis generally weighs against them. Aluminum suitcases are usually heavier and won't flex as much if you have overpacking tendencies, and I find them painfully conspicuous. Any suitcase with a decent warranty policy will painlessly cover any repairs. If you must have one, we like Arlo Skye's the Frame. Arlo Skye was founded by alumni from Louis Vuitton and Tumi, and reviewer Matt Jancer says that everything about the Frame screams robust quality, from the leather grab handles to the combination-lock latches. It also comes with a removable battery bank and has a few more liters of carrying capacity than the similarly-sized Away. The main disadvantage is that the interior organization is a bit lacking.

★ Alternative: Do you want the benefits of an aluminum suitcase without the drawbacks? You might want to consider Monos's Hybrid Carry-On ($325) . You won't fool anyone into thinking you've shelled out for a 100 percent aluminum suitcase, but Jancer notes that it's only a pound or so heavier than the competition and the aluminum frame offered better protection than any 100 percent polycarbonate suitcase that he tried.

A Good Emergency Go Bag

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.

Other Bags We Like

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.

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 $149 : 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 $160 : 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 $345 : 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.

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.

Adidas Defender Duffel for $40 : If you're looking for an inexpensive duffel that'll handle some light-duty traveling, this is a good way to save $100. The fabric is significantly thinner and less sturdy than that of other duffels in this guide, and it lacks backpack straps. But for taking on the train or tossing into a car trunk, it'll do the trick.

Bags We Don’t Like

Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.

Peugeot Voyages Carry-On Spinner for $595 : What a price tag for a plastic-case suitcase. You can see where Peugeot tried to imbue the Voyages with some luxury, such as the metal riveting and built-in travel locks, but the case felt no more solid than a budget hard-sided bag, and the USB charging port felt cheap, like an outlet you'd find built into a seat in an airport terminal.

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.

Ebags CTS Carry-On Spinner for $200 : This one wasn't awful, but there are much better options for the money. Its hard plastic sides felt more brittle than the hard-sided plastic Away suitcases. The handle rattles a lot and it didn't roll quite as smoothly as other bags.

A Few Travel Accessories

Once you've got your bag, you'll want to pack it with a few more useful items:

Apple AirTag for $24 : If you have an iPhone, it's one of the best ways to keep a digital eye on your bags. 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 allowing you to separate it into different cubes, so you won't ever have to hunt through seven pairs of socks to find your bathing suit again.

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.

Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15 is handy when you're packing a heavy bag for an upcoming trip. Use it to weigh your luggage and make sure it's within the weight limits. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.

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.

How to Pick the Right Size Bag

Every airline sets its own dimensional requirements for carry-on baggage, so if you want to be safe, you should check your airline's requirements before packing. But broadly, they're split into two categories: domestic and international.

Domestic flights by US airlines (and a few others) have standardized on 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

International carry-on bag sizes tend to be about 21 inches tall and a bit narrower, but they're all over the place. It's tough, because many international airlines will measure your bags at the airport and reject anything even slightly bigger than the allowed size. If you fly outside the US a lot, you may as well buy a bag sized for international flights.

You'll also want to check each airline's weight limits. They vary wildly, but some international airlines restrict you to 15 or 20 pounds, including the weight of the bag itself. For example, there are some East Asian airlines that limit carry-on bags to 11 pounds. Once you subtract 6 or more pounds for the bag, you're not left with much wiggle room to put stuff inside.

When to Remove Battery Banks

Battery banks, also known as power banks, are a travel must-have. Whether you're using a tablet to watch movies on your flight or relying on your phone to coordinate rideshares, hotel check-in, and handle your boarding passes, you've got to keep those devices charged and topped up. Many bags offer a removable battery bank that slides into a special pocket or notch of the suitcase.

For carry-on luggage on a flight in the US, you're allowed to bring a lithium-ion battery of 100 watt-hours or less. You don't need to remove it from the suitcase's pocket if you're storing your bag in the overhead bin.

Lithium-ion battery banks are not allowed in checked luggage. If you check your bag or have to gate-check it, make sure to remove the battery bank before you give your suitcase to the gate agent. Slip the battery bank into your purse, backpack, or pocket for the duration of the flight.

Brenda Stolyar

Scott Gilbertson

Eric Ravenscraft

Louryn Strampe

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22 Best personal carry-on bags according to travel bloggers

by Anne Betts | Aug 2, 2023 | Luggage and Packing | 3 comments

Updated August 2, 2023

Most carry-on travellers have two bags. Their personal item is stashed under the seat in front while their standard carry-on bag is stowed in the overhead locker. For insights on the best personal carry-on bags , I reached out to travel bloggers. What follows is an eclectic collection of 22 tried-and-true bags in the 15 to 30-litre range that could qualify as a personal carry-on item.

For recommendations from travel bloggers on standard carry-on bags, see:

The best standard carry-on bags according to travel bloggers

What is a personal item?

The personal bag carries what’s needed for a comfortable flight without any need to access the standard item. A personal item earns its keep if it can work as a day bag at the destination.

A personal item can be a handbag, backpack, camera bag, or computer case. Like a standard carry-on, a personal carry-on needs to meet an airline’s size and weight restrictions, where they exist. As a guideline, a personal item shouldn’t exceed 45 x 35 x 20 cm / 18 x 14 x 8 in. The most important characteristic is that it needs to fit under the seat in front. Some airlines have no restrictions on the weight of a personal item.

For dedicated one-baggers, their one and only bag is both a standard and personal item. For others who favour one-bag travel, they might have a small packable bag that can be packed away in the main bag after the flight and later used as a day bag at the destination. Photographers and digital nomads with a considerable amount of camera equipment and electronics have made specialty bags work as a personal item. The same applies to hikers and cyclists who use a bag designed for hiking or cycling as their personal carry-on.

Table of Contents

1. NEATPACK VERSATILE CANVAS SLING BAG (15L)

2. osprey farpoint 55 / 70 detachable day pack (15l), 3. fjällräven kånken classic (16l), 4. osprey ultralight stuff pack (17l), 5. away front pocket backpack (17l), 6. solgaard lifepack backpack (18l), 7. tom bihn synapse 19, 8. cabin max metz stowaway 20l, 9. travel hack backpack (20l), 10. deuter women’s trail 20 sl hiking pack, 11. arcido vaga day pack (20l), 12. osprey ultralight dry stuff pack, 13. quechua mh500 20l, 14. wandrd prvke 21l, 15. nordace siena (23l), 16. biaggi zipsak backpack (~23l) , 17. sea to sky 24l pack, 18. deuter trans alpine 24 (24l), 19. lowepro fastpack pro (25l), 20. herschel little america classic (25l), 21. able carry daybreaker 25, 22. patagonia arbor lid pack 28l, 22 best personal carry-on bags.

• Dimensions: 18.5 x 12.5 x 4 in / 47 x 32 x 10 cm
• Weight: 408 g / 14.4 oz.
• Volume: 15 litres

A sling bag offers some of the best features of a crossbody purse and a backpack. Like many backpacks, a sling bag tends to have a roomy main compartment and a water bottle holder. Unlike a backpack, the bag doesn’t need to be removed to access anything inside. Like many purses, it can be worn in front, and features internal organization to keep items secure.

• Between the four compartments and two external pockets, the NeatPack Versatile Canvas Sling Bag holds a lot of stuff.
• Aligned with the triangular shape of the bag, the water bottle pocket has a toggle strap that can be cinched to keep a water bottle in place. Depending on the size of the water bottle there may be enough room to include a travel umbrella.
• The external pocket on the strap is large enough for sunglasses or a phone. There’s a slotted grommet on the pocket for the cords of wired headphones.
• The compartment that rests against the body has RFID-blocking capabilities so it’s ideal for a slim wallet, passport sleeve, and a phone.
• In the roomy main compartment is a laptop/tablet sleeve with elasticized trim. It’s rated to accommodate a 12-inch device. There’s no other internal organization in the main compartment so it’s perfect for clothing layers, small first-aid kit, pocket shopping bag, and other travel essentials.
• The other two compartments are much smaller and can hold a pocket camera, keys, small flashlight, pen, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and small miscellaneous items.
• The metal D-rings at the base permit easy changeover of the strap from one shoulder to the other.
• The loop at the top is convenient for hanging the bag on a hook.

SHORTCOMINGS

• The pocket on the shoulder strap is a good size but it should be able to slide along the shoulder strap so it can be correctly positioned when the bag is worn in different ways.
• The fabric isn’t waterproof; however, its water-repellent properties mean the contents stay dry in periods of light rain.

Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel. Is a sling bag a good travel bag provides  more information on sling bags and a detailed review of the NeatPack.

• Dimensions: 10 x 17.5 in / 25 x 44 cm
• Weight: 1.3 lb / 590 g

The Osprey Farpoint Day Pack is a removable backpack that comes attached to the Osprey Farpoint 55-litre and 70-litre travel bags. It has several small, useful pockets, a padded sleeve to protect a laptop, and a padded zippered pocket that will keep smaller electronics secure. Keys can be attached to the conveniently located key ring. A scratch-free stash pocket protects eyewear. Two external mesh pockets accommodate one-litre or smaller water bottles; Nalgene one-litre bottles fit perfectly by design. This bag zips neatly to the main bag but can be easily detached to slide under the seat in front on a plane.

• It’s lightweight and perfectly sized: small enough not to be cumbersome but large enough to hold a day’s worth of essentials.
• Breathable mesh backing and padded straps make for a comfortable carry.
• The sternum strap prevents the shoulder straps from slipping or shifting.
• The zipper has a lockable closure to prevent pickpocketing or pilfering if sleeping in hostels or dozing off in other public areas.
• It comes with a lifetime unlimited warranty.
• It is difficult to remove and return a water bottle or other items into the two water bottle pockets when the main compartment is full.

Kaidon Nickel and Natasha Karcz blog at Planes, Trains, and Karcz

• Dimensions: 5.1 x 10.61 x 15 in / 38 x 27 x 13 cm
• Weight 300 g / 10.6 oz
• Volume: 16 litres

The Fjällräven Kånken Classic backpack is lightweight and durable. It’s simple yet recognizable, and this combination makes it appealing to a wide audience.

• The Fjällräven Kånken was designed as a school bag. While only 16 litres, the boxy rectangular shape makes the bag ideal for carrying a laptop, binder, and A4-sized notebooks and folders. However, it also works well as a carry-on personal item and travel day pack.
• The lightweight wax-like Vinylon F fabric is both water and dirt resistant. There are over 50 colours to choose from, including darker shades that obscure dirt and stains.
• The roomy main compartment and outside front pocket have zippers protected by rain flaps. The double zipper on the main compartment extends almost to the base of the bag, allowing it to be opened clamshell style.
• Within the main compartment is a small pocket to insert a name tag, and an open pocket with a thin piece of foam that can be removed and used as a seat pad. When carried as a backpack, the seat pad provides extra padding for the wearer.
• The two open side pockets can accommodate a water bottle, travel umbrella, or smaller objects.
• There aren’t many compartments for internal organization.
• Fjällräven Kånken is not machine washable. In fact, it loses its colour and structure if it’s laundered in a washing machine.

Una is a blogger at Wandernity . Check out her  Fjällräven Kånken Classic backpack review  after four years of using the backpack for travel, work, and everything in between.

• Dimensions: 43 x 23 x 18 cm / 17 x 9 x 7 in
• Weight: 113 g / 4 oz
• Volume: 17 litres

About the size of a fist in its stuff sack, the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack works well as personal carry-on bag while in transit and a day bag while exploring a destination. At other times, the minimalist design means it’s small enough to ‘nest’ inside a main travel bag. Where every gram or ounce counts, it’s a good choice as a second bag for travellers who are working with stringent carry-on requirements.

• It’s well built with reliable YKK zippers and 40 Denier ripstop nylon, and like other Osprey products, it’s protected by Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee .
• There are two compartments. The top compartment is a stash pocket with a handy security clip for tethering small objects such as keys or a pouch containing a phone. The large main compartment is dual zippered.
• The dual zippers on the main compartment and the single zipper on the top compartment have Osprey pulls. The three zippers can be lined up for attaching a lock, cable, or clip to deter pickpockets.   
• A stretch mesh external side pocket is large enough for a water bottle and travel umbrella.
• It’s not possible to lose the stuff sack; it’s integrated in the top stash pocket.
• The mesh straps are adjustable and if the pack isn’t overloaded, they’re surprisingly comfortable.
• It comes in a range of bright and neutral colours.

• The minimalist design means compromises such as very little internal organization, no sternum strap or hip belt, and minimal padding on the shoulder straps. Zero organization in the main compartment can be overcome with packing cubes.
• Just one external side pocket containing a full water bottle may contribute to an unbalanced carry. A tall skinny water bottle may slip out when bending over.  

Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel. Check out  Is the Osprey warranty any good? It’s so good, I’m now a customer for life that describes an experience that tested Osprey’s unlimited warranty.

• Dimensions: 30 x 15 x 39 cm / 11.8 x 5.9 x 15.3 in
• Weight: 1 kg / 2.2 lb
• Volume: 17 litres
• The Away Front Pocket Backpack is a sleek, lightweight bag that fits way more than it seems at first glance.
• A trolley sleeve allows the bag to slide easily over the handle of rolling luggage.
• It has many organizational features with several pockets and compartments for storing travel essentials.
• Near the trolley sleeve is a hidden pocket that is large enough for a wallet, passport, financial cards, identification, or similar documents requiring extra security.
• The namesake front pocket has a few organizational features including a pen holder, small open pocket, detachable leather key leash, and space for smaller items such as tissues, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and items requiring less security.
• The full wraparound two-zipper feature allows the spacious main compartment to be opened bucket style. This space has several pockets including a padded sleeve for a tablet, mesh pocket for a water bottle, open pockets for packing organizers containing chargers, comfort items, sunglasses, phone, earbuds, or snacks, and an open area for a lightweight rain jacket or a discarded layer of clothing.
• Behind the main compartment is a padded 15″ laptop pocket for a laptop and a drop pocket for a tablet. The magnetic locking zipper offers extra security.
• The harness system consists of adjustable shoulder straps and a breathable mesh back panel. 
• An outside pocket for a water bottle could be more secure in case of leakage.
• The colour selection is limited.
• It’s expensive, but boasts many features not found in cheaper backpacks of a similar size.

Keri Baugh is a family travel blogger who blogs at Bon Voyage with Kids .

• Dimensions: 11.6 x 18.5 x 7 in / 29.5 x 47 x 17.8 cm
• Weight: 4 lb / 1.81 kg
• Volume: 18 litres

The Solgaard Lifepack Backpack is a solar-powered, anti-theft bag designed to be an all-in-one carry-on solution. There are separate compartments for electronics and clothing for staying organized, protecting belongings, and charging devices while on the move.

LIKES 

• The fabric is made from upcycled plastic.
• With the adjustable shoulder straps, the bag fits a variety of body types. The plush shoulder straps with back support make it comfortable for wearing for long periods.
• Solgaard offers optional extras (Solarbank, Juicebox, and the Bluetooth speaker called the Solarbank Boombox).  The Solarbank can also be charged via a micro-USB cable by plugging into a wall outlet with USB charging capability.
• It has an integrated quick-access USB port in an outer pocket for charging devices.
• It’s designed to fit up to a 15″ laptop, but some 17″ laptops can be accommodated.
• The bag features a patented anti-theft lock with a stretchy coil design that resembles a miniature bike lock, and the zippers can be easily locked for additional security.
• A ‘suitcase seatbelt’ allows it to be attached to the handle of a rolling bag .
• There are lots of pockets for smaller items, including a hook for car keys. Four secret pockets hold passports, financial cards, or a transit card.
• Durable water-resistant vinyl lines the bottom, and the bag stands upright on its own.
• It’s not fully waterproof and doesn’t come with a rain cover.
• The exterior water bottle pocket is very small and doesn’t fit most bottles.
• Solgaard customer service is excellent but sometimes it takes a while to receive a response.

Brodi Cole is a full-time digital nomad and blogger at Our Offbeat Life . She travels full time with her family and offers international travel guides to adventurous families who want to explore the world.

• Dimensions: 29 x 41 x 20 cm / 1.4 x 16 x 7.9 in
• Weight: 708 g / 1 lb 9 oz (400 Denier Halcyon/420 Denier ripstop nylon); 752 g / 1 lb 11 oz (525 Denier Ballistic)
• Volume: 19 litres

Tom Bihn has attracted a band of loyal customers of its well-designed and high-quality bags and accessories produced in Seattle, USA. The older Synapse 19 (and the larger Synapse 25) backpacks have been joined by the Synik 22 and Synik 30 that incorporate additional design elements for larger laptops and feature a full clamshell opening of the main compartment.

• The Synapse 19 is a paragon of organization with a well-designed pocket system that holds an astounding amount of gear with excellent weight distribution.
• The curved, padded shoulder straps are robust enough to carry a heavy load. The adjustable sternum strap, removable waist belt, and padded foam-and-mesh back panel contribute to a comfortable carry.
• The large main compartment extends from the top to the bottom of the pack, accessed by dual YKK zippers. It has an open sleeve for a laptop.
• Complementing the large main compartment are five strategically placed zippered pockets.
• Unusual in a backpack is a zippered water bottle pocket in the centre of the bag. It’s large enough for a one-litre bottle that slides out easily and keeps the weight in the centre of the pack.
• A unique and appreciated feature, most pockets have plastic O-rings sewn into the seams for tethering packing cubes and valuables in packing organizers.
• Every zipper has a pull cord that can be lined up with other zipper cords and secured with a lightweight cable or carabiner to deter pickpockets.
• Tom Bihn describes the features of the Synapse 19 (and others) in detail. This is a refreshing contrast to the summaries of other bags that leave potential customers with lingering questions.

The Synapse 19 is expensive for a small backpack. While understandable given the quality of materials and workmanship, it’s not a budget-friendly option.  

Anne Betts is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs at Packing Light Travel .

• Weight: 0.5 kg / 1.1 lb
• Volume: 20 litres
• The Metz Stowaway meets the new, more stringent Ryanair rules for free under-seat cabin baggage.
• The suitcase-style opening permits packing much more than would be expected with such a small bag. There’s plenty of room for everything needed for a short trip, especially if compression packing cubes are part of the packing strategy. 
• Coralie and her son have used these bags dozens of times for short ‘carry-on-only’ breaks, enabling them to book cheap budget-airline fares.
• It looks smart, even after years of use.
• There are lots of pockets to help organise packing, and compression straps help compress what’s packed and create more space.
• It’s lightweight with comfortable padding and straps — perfect for getting on and off public transportation and wandering around a new destination.

There’s no external pocket suitable for a water bottle.

Coralie Thornton is the writer and photographer at  Grey Globetrotters  where she offers mature travellers practical travel advice and inspiration.

• Dimensions: 15.7 x 7.8 x 9.8in / 40 x 20 x 25cm
• Weight: 0.6kg / 21.1oz

The Travel Hack Backpack is a collaborative effort between Cabin Max and Monica, a frequent traveller and travel blogger from The Travel Hack. The functional, yet stylish bag meets the under-seat carry-on dimensions of the budget airline Ryanair, so it’s guaranteed to fly for free on their flights.

• There’s an expandable water bottle pocket, a padded laptop compartment (to fit up to 13-inch devices), a front pocket, side pocket, and a floating top pocket for items requiring easy access. Inside are two 3D mesh pockets.
• It opens fully like a suitcase.
• The shoulder straps and back panel are made from padded mesh so it’s comfortable to carry for long periods.
• The showerproof external shell has rose gold detailing and an eco-leather ID holder
• It works well as a personal item for flights, but the stylish design makes it a lovely versatile day bag, whether using it for a beach trip or wandering around a city.
• There’s a strap on the back so it can be slipped over the handle of rolling luggage.
• The backpack is now part of a larger Travel Hack range, so it can be paired with a matching suitcase destined for the overhead locker or a large tote bag.

As the internal pockets are located on the opening, you do need to leave space in the main compartment to be able to shut the backpack. Alternatively, only fill them with small items, rather than completely filling them.

Kylie is a dedicated carry-on traveller who blogs about outdoor adventures at  Between England and Everywhere . Check out  Travel Hack Backpack Review , for her detailed review.

• Dimensions: 54 x 28 x 18 cm / 19.7 x 9.45 x 7.9 in
• Weight: 1.02 kg / 2.65 lb

The Deuter Women’s Trail 20 SL Hiking Pack is an excellent choice for minimalist travellers who want a reliable carry-on bag that doubles as a hiking pack. The carrying system in the SL model is somewhat shorter than the standard Deuter packs as it’s adapted to the female anatomy.

• The pack is very comfortable to carry, with adjustable sternum, shoulder, and load adjuster straps that help to effectively distribute the weight. The stowable, anatomically formed pull-forward hip fins hug the body while allowing for freedom of movement.
• It has excellent ventilation with contoured shoulder and hip straps with air-mesh lining, and an additional ventilation channel between the two Aircontact pads on the back panel.
• There are several loops and attachment points to hang various items, adding to its appeal as a hiking pack.
• It’s well organized with front panel access and two-way zippers on the main compartment to open the pack suitcase style. There’s an interior pocket for valuables, two side pockets, a wet pocket for damp items, a small lid pocket, and an ice/axe/walking pole holder, as well as an attachment point for a helmet. The rain cover is easily accessible, and the water bottle pocket can be reached without removing the pack.
• It accommodates a three-litre hydration bladder.
• It’s quite small for a winter destination requiring bulky winter clothing.

Giorgy blogs at G-Extreme Travel where she writes about her travels around the world with her beloved Deuter travelling companion.

• Dimensions: 50 X 34 X 15 cm / 20 X 14 X 6 in
• Weight: 600 g / 1 lb 5 oz

Arcido makes backpacks that look more professional than the typical backpacker style bags. The Arcidio Vaga Day Pack is made from durable material, it’s water resistant, and comes in a stylish grey colour. Arcido sells a laptop harness with a pull tab that can accommodate a 15.4” laptop or adjusted for smaller laptops or tablets.

• The classy grey colour is less flashy than the average brightly coloured backpack.
• The curved, padded shoulder straps are comfortable on the shoulders, especially when carrying heavier items. There’s a place to attach a sternum strap (purchased separately).
• The main compartment occupies the length of the bag and opens clamshell style. It’s large enough for anything that might be needed while out for the day, such as a jacket, snacks, or camera.
• It has two small pockets on the inside of the bag and a small external pocket at the top. These work well for smaller items like tissues, lip balm, or hand sanitizer that would otherwise get lost in the large compartment. The zippered external pocket is padded, making it a perfect place for sunglasses, a phone, or ear buds.
• It has good structure so even when it’s packed full, the bag stays slim and doesn’t bulge out.
• The Vaga is lightweight and designed to fit inside Arcido’s larger Akra 35L backpack. It doesn’t pack up as small as a stuff bag, but it can easily nest inside a larger bag. Though it’s designed to pair with the Akra, it could be packed flat in some other backpacks depending on the size.
• The handle on the top is a bit small, too small to grip with more than a couple of fingers and not large enough for some wall hooks.
• There are two outside pockets for water bottles, but they’re a bit small, and the material isn’t stretchy enough to keep them secure or accommodate larger water bottles.

Ali Garland is a full-time blogger at  Travel Made Simple   where she shares packing tips, layover advice, travel planning and itineraries, and more. Check out her review of the Arcido Vaga Day Pack.

• Weight: 194 g / 6.84 oz

The Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack is a lightweight, packable backpack, perfect for one-bag travel. It works well as a personal item and day bag, and its packability means it can nest inside another travel bag when necessary. It features one large interior compartment, a zippered front pocket with a small security pocket that is the built-in storage pouch, and two external side pockets.

• The zippered front pocket has an aqua-guard zipper and protective flap. It’s water resistant, not waterproof. However, anything packed inside the main compartment stays dry, even when the bag is submerged.
• It can be used as a day bag in all kinds of weather, and it doesn’t need a rain cover.  
• The roll and clip closure allows for the main compartment to be secured in two ways – at the top or the sides (the sides being my preference).
• Many water bottle pockets on minimalist bags aren’t secure enough to keep water bottles in place. The cinch straps are a much appreciated feature, making the side pockets more secure for water bottles or other items.
• It’s large enough to carry what’s needed for a day out and about.
• The height-adjustable sternum strap (with a whistle) helps keep the shoulder straps in place and makes for a more comfortable carry.
• There’s a handle at the top for hanging the bag on a hook, and several attachment points on the shoulder straps (and bottom of the bag) for carrying lightweight items.
• The small security pocket has a key clip and fabric hook for tethering a wallet or phone.   
• It’s a challenge (and takes practice) to fit the bag in its attached pouch/inside pocket.
• Dimensions: 60 x 30 x 20 cm / 24 x 11.8 x 7.9 in 
• Weight: 1.1 kg / 2.4 lb (S) 1.27 kg / 2.8 lb (L)
• Volume: 20 L

• Although the Quechua MH500 is tailored towards hikers, the bag is a good choice for packing light travellers. It’s well-made, sturdy, and built to last. Despite the costs of testing, research, and many attractive design elements, the price represents great value. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty.
• The mesh back and slits on the hip belt aid in ventilation, and padded straps promote comfort. Adjustable shoulder, sternum, hip, and load-lifter straps, and two thumb loops, enhance carrying comfort.
• The coated waterproof fabric and integrated rain cover offer protection during wet weather.  
• With the easy-to-open main compartment, packing is a breeze. There are nine pockets including two side pockets for water bottles, an inside sleeve for a laptop, an inside top pocket for smaller items, and accessible belt pockets for a phone, wallet, and passport.

The main compartment lacks internal organization except for the sleeve for a laptop or tablet, and one small, zippered pocket.

• Dimensions: 43 x 28 x 17 cm / 17 x 11 x 6.5 in
• Weight: 1.3 kg / 2.8 lb
• Volume : 21 L (25 L with the roll-top fully extended)

If the 21-litre bag is appealing, WANDRD has a 31-litre size, and the 41-litre version could work as a standard carryon for travellers with photography equipment and electronics.

• The WANDRD PRVKE 21L carry-on backpack comes with all the bells and whistles expected of a good travel bag. It provides comfort with padded waist straps, convenience with a key garage and accessory straps for external carry, and security with hidden passport and cash pockets.
• The PRVKE bag is perfect for commuters and digital nomads as it comes with two padded laptop and technology sleeves that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop and a tablet.
• For photographers, the WANDRD PRVKE backpack comes with an optional camera storage cube that fits up to one digital camera, a drone, and two lenses. It has padded and moveable cube walls for customization. For extra convenience, the bag has a camera quick-draw side access.
• For rainy days, the waterproof nylon material and weather-resistant zippers offer a measure of protection. And to take it up a notch, the PRVKE comes with a rain cover that stores easily at the base of the bag.
• The PRVKE is one of the very best durable yet stylish carry-on bags out there. Its sleek design, structured interior, and roll-down top for flexible storage make for a great bag for any type of traveller.

The waist straps are comfortable, yet they can be quite cumbersome when wearing the bag without buckling them up.

Haley Blackall is a full-time travel blogger, photographer, and digital nomad at Haley Blackall Travel . She provides detailed travel guides for millennial women while she slow travels the world.

• Dimensions: 29 x 16 x 42 cm / 16.54 x 11.4 x 6.3 in
• Weight: 1.03 / 2.2 lbs
• Volume: 23 litres
• An integrated power bank allows for charging a phone directly from the backpack.
• With a spacious main compartment and lots of little storage compartments for easy organization, it fits more than what might be expected at first glance.
• A fleece-lined pocket keeps sunglasses scratch-free and easily accessible.
• A padded sleeve protects a laptop (up to 15.6”), and smaller electronic devices such as tablet and phone.
• An external anti-theft pocket is hidden from view as it sits against the wearer’s back. It’s large enough for a passport, wallet, and phone.
• A rain cover (at an additional cost) protects the bag and its contents during wet weather.
• A luggage strap allows it to be attached to the handle of a rolling suitcase.
• The materials are durable and of a high quality.
• The box-like design keeps its shape when the bag is empty or full.

• The shoulder straps could be more comfortable.
• The external water bottle holder could be a bit larger. It doesn’t fit large bottles.
• It’s not washable since the power bank access is permanently integrated.

• Dimensions: 41 x 32 x 18 cm / 16 x 12.5 x 7 in
• Weight: 0.636 kg / 1.4 lb
• Volume: ~23L

One of the best features of the Biaggi Zipsack Backpack is that it folds away for easy storage, and the Biaggi line includes larger carry-on sizes. The Zipsack Backpack folds down to 32 x 16.5 x 8 cm / 12.5 x 6.5 x 3 cm.

• A trolley sleeve on the backpack makes it compatible with rolling bags.
• The Zipsak Backpack is lightweight. An empty weight of less than a kilogram means that the bulk of the weight of a packed bag is in what’s packed.
• The cushioned back contributes to a comfortable carry, even for long periods.
• The four zippered outside pockets are convenient for easy access to important documents. The open side pocket is perfect for carrying a water bottle. An inner cushioned pocket accommodates a laptop or tablet up to 15 inches.
• It fits easily under a seat or in an overhead compartment on most planes.
• The fabric is water resistant, durable, and designed to resist tearing. The bag comes with a two-year warranty. 
• A variety of colours means that each family member can have a differently coloured bag. Plus, it’s easier to locate a bag when it’s surrounded by other luggage.

Available colours change and are not always the same as what’s available in the larger bags. A matching set of luggage can be hard to achieve with the Biaggi line.

• Dimensions: 60 x 28 cm / 20 x 11 in
• Weight: 156 g / 5.5 oz
• Volume: 24 litres

The Sea to Sky is a packable, lightweight, and waterproof bag. It works well for destinations and activities where a considerable amount of rainfall is expected. The minimalistic design means it’s small enough to ‘nest’ inside a main travel bag. Where every gram or ounce counts, it’s a good choice for carry-on travellers who are working with stringent carry-on restrictions.

• The 30 Denier Cordura ripstop nylon is a highly durable fabric.
• Two deep external side pockets help create a balanced load when carrying two water bottles.
• The roll-top system is secured with buckles, like that found in the design of most dry bags. The roll top must be properly rolled and secured to keep the main compartment waterproof.
• The vertical zipper on the front pocket is reflective.
• The mesh material on the adjustable shoulder straps is surprisingly comfortable, aided by the adjustable load-lifter straps. Complementing the harness is an adjustable sternum strap (both height and width) and a detachable hip belt. The sternum strap has a built-in whistle.
• There are loads of attachment points for lightweight objects such as a personal alarm , lightweight compass , or doohickey tool . These include the zipper pull, daisy chain loops, and D-rings on the shoulder straps.
• The stuff sack isn’t attached to anything so keeping track of it requires attention.
• The front pocket does a decent job of keeping things dry, but it isn’t 100% waterproof. This can be remedied by packing items in small dry sacs.
• Like other minimalist packable bags, there’s no internal organization.
• There are quite a few straps creating excess webbing. However, these can be easily tamed with web dominator clips .

• Dimensions: 50 x 24 x 20 cm / 20 x 9 x 8 in
• Weight: 1.16 kg / 2.5 lb 
• Volume: 24 litres 

The lightweight, versatile Deuter Trans Alpine 24 backpack is perfect for daily commuting, weekend getaways, a ‘personal item’ and day pack for longer trips, and hiking and biking excursions.

• As a ‘personal item,’ it fits nicely under a plane seat (or in an overhead compartment).  
• It is a comfortable and secure fit, thanks to a well-designed harness system with padded shoulder straps, air-mesh padded back, and many adjustment features involving load lifters and an adjustable sternum strap. The internal foam backing can be removed and used as a seat cushion. 
• The many practical compartments keep items well-organized: a bottom compartment, a frontal compartment with a hidden pocket for valuables, the main compartment with two sections, a back compartment that fits a 15’’ laptop, two adjustable side pockets, and large zippered belt pockets. 
• It has a removable rain cover, and for cyclists, a stowable helmet holster, rear light mount, and a pump compartment accessible from the outside. 
• A removable hydration sleeve carries up to three litres.

SHORTCOMINGS 

• The back can get sweaty during challenging hikes, despite the well-designed Airstripes ventilation system.
• The hydration sleeve needs to be bought separately.

• Dimensions: 30 x 22 x 53 cm / 9 x 8.6 x 21 in
• Weight: 1.45 kg / 3.2 lb
• Volume: 25 litres
• This bag is perfect for anyone carrying lots of electronics. It’s especially useful for camera equipment, including drones. Or, it can be used as a carry-on backpack for general use.
• The Lowepro Fastpack Pro has three main zones: device, camera, and ‘open.’
• The device zone can accommodate a laptop up to 15 inches. The padded laptop sleeve is elevated so the device can’t slip all the way down when the bottom of the bag touches a surface.
• The camera zone has adjustable dividers for protection and organization.
• The open zone has pockets and space for personal items.
• Both the camera zone and open zone can be accessed separately.
• The bag comes with a lightweight waterproof cover to protect what’s packed inside.
• The camera zone can be secured by fastening the zippers to the buckles, making it very difficult for pickpockets to access.
• The backpack is quite heavy so it might not be suitable for those looking for minimalistic solutions.
• It doesn’t have a hidden pocket at the back which is always useful to have in a carryon.

Victoria Heinz is a travel blogger and writer from Germany. Her blog, Guide your Travel focuses on budget trips and backpacker experiences from around the world.

• Dimensions: 18 x 28.5 x 49 cm / 7 x 11.25 x 19.25 in
• Weight: 1.0 kg / 2.2 lb
• Volume: 25 litres

• The large top-load opening makes it easy to pack.
• The protective inner laptop sleeve with padding is large enough to accommodate documents as well as a laptop.
• The flap-over top is large and magnetizes in front. With the drawstring closure, this backpack is quite secure, more so than any front- or side-zip bag.
• The flat bottom helps the bag stay upright when it’s placed on the ground.
• It’s very light!
• Quilted straps and back padding make for a comfortable carry.
• It’s stylish, and in an enormous range of prints and colours.

There is nothing major that Celeste doesn’t like about the bag, but if we’re being picky:

• There’s just one small pocket on the front and it’s too accessible to store anything important. It’s a glorified hair tie holder!
• A water bottle holder on the side would be nice.
• For someone who likes inner compartments, this bag doesn’t have them! The laptop sleeve is the only inside ‘pocket.’

Celeste Klassen is a freelance writer, carry-on traveller, and the author of  slowtravelblog.com . She is based in Edmonton, Canada, but would always prefer to be in the Balkans.

• Dimensions: 50 x 26 x 19 cm / 19.7 x 10.2 x 7.5 in
• Weight: 580 g / 1.28 lb (Cordura Ripstop version)

The Able Carry Daybreaker 25 is Dean’s current favourite as a standard carry-on bag. For travellers who need larger luggage, this would work well as a personal item. Loaded with features, it’s promoted as an ultralight, water-resistant, durable daypack for active travellers.

• The lightweight Cordura Ripstop fabric and water-resistant zippers means that it travels well in light rain showers when water will run off the surface.
• It works well in compact spaces given the tall, slim, and sleek design.
• The backpack straps and adjustable sternum strap makes carrying heavy loads a breeze.
• A discreet zippered side pocket is perfect for a wallet or passport. An external side pocket with drainage holes is designed for a water bottle. A hidden internal pocket works for financial cards and it’s large enough for a passport.

Dean Roberts is a lightweight minimalist traveller who blogs at Packing Less . He writes reviews on the best backpacks and gear for travelling lighter with just one carry-on bag. Check out his Able Carry Daybreaker 25 review .

• Dimensions: 19 x 10.5 x 5 in / 48 x 27 x 13 cm
• Weight: 1.2 lb / 520 g
• Volume: 28 litres

The Patagonia Arbor Lid Pack is a lightweight and simple top-loading backpack designed and manufactured by the sustainability focussed outdoor clothing and gear brand Patagonia. It represents a perfect balance between weight and durability.

• The bag’s one large cavity can hold a significant amount of clothing and gear, whilst still conforming to the weight and size limits of commercial airlines.
• A built-in raised, padded sleeve fits most 15-inch laptops. A pocket in the flap and a single exterior pocket are convenient for storing things requiring quick access.
• Comfortable straps make the bag easy to wear for extended periods of time, even when full.
• The drawstring closure and buckled top flap diminish the risk of pickpocketing and offer better protection during wet weather.
• Although not entirely waterproof, the water-repellant finish helps water bead on the surface.
• A top-loading design can be convenient, but it can be difficult to access things at the bottom without emptying the bag entirely.
• No sternum strap or hip support means this bag isn’t suitable for extended hiking trips.
• There’s no side pocket for a water bottle.

Delilah Hart is a traveller, photographer, and blogger for Our Travel Mix . She travels the world and writes guides to help others get more from their trips.

If you’re interested in one-bag travel, see How to travel with just one carry-on bag using the nested approach .

Are you researching carry-on bags If so, you might be interested in 31 Features of a perfect carry-on bag: a buying guide to choosing the right luggage

If you have, or are looking for, a travel backpack, see Tame dangling straps with Web Dominator . With the Web Dominator clips, dangling straps are suitably constrained and dangle no more.

And finally, if you own an Osprey bag, or are considering a purchase, check out Is the Osprey warranty any good? It’s so good, I’m now a customer for life. It profiles two experiences putting Osprey’s warranty to the test. My Osprey Farpoint 40 fell off a motorcycle in New Zealand and a friend’s bag wore itself out after many years of faithful service. Both bags were replaced free of charge.

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Care to weigh in? What’s your favourite personal carry-on bag? What features do you like, and what are its shortcomings? Please add your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.

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My wife and I used Osprey 20 litre Talon and Tempest packs as our only luggage on Ryanair, thereby avoiding their ridiculous baggage fees. Like the Deuter bags featured here, they have proper hip straps to take the load, water bottle holders, hydration sleeves and 2 small internal pockets. And they are height adjustable and come in 2 lengths. We mostly were staying in AirBnbs so could wash our clothes as required in the evening and dry them overnight. We also had small collapsible Osprey daypacks for wandering around town. Worked great.

Lufthansa still limits a personal item to the old standard of 40cm x 30cm x 10cm (15.7×11.8×3.9in) and has made me check a normal carry-on when my personal item didn’t quite fit in their 12L sizer. I have four laptop cases the right size which were easy to find before 2010, but they’re worn out and duct-taped. My choices are uselessly small 2-inch thick or oversized 6-inch with all 4-inch options violating the 15.7-inch dimension. Any ideas where to get a Lufthansa-compliant laptop briefcase/bag/backpack that isn’t uselessly small or slightly oversized?

How frustrating. I rarely travel with a laptop but when I do, it goes in a protective sleeve before being packed in my personal item, a packable backpack: Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack. I googled ‘Lufthansa-compliant laptop bag’ and found responses in Reddit and Rick Steves forums (in the latter were a couple of Tom Bihn suggestions). There are several active groups on Reddit and asking for recommendations there are bound to produce results. Try r/ManyBaggers, r/onebag, r/HerOneBag. Good luck!

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The Best Carry-On Luggage

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

Traveling well is not always easy. Keeping your suitcase with you when you fly not only protects your belongings from loss or damage but may help you avoid extra fees as well.

If you decide to do so, you need a good carry-on bag.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve handled, tested, and traveled with 67 bags from more than 35 brands, and we remain convinced that the Travelpro Platinum Elite offers the best balance of value and quality for most travelers.

It packs five days’ worth of clothes into standard US carry-on dimensions 1 and has premium touches you might expect from a $600 bag at about half the price.

It’s a bag that you can rely on for life, even if it’s damaged by airlines —a rarity at any price.

Everything we recommend

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

The best soft-sided carry-on.

This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, plus high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Buying Options

Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard

A bit more capacity and extra wheel durability.

This two-wheeled carry-on bag isn’t as maneuverable, but it offers slightly more space, a garment folder, and larger, more durable wheels.

Away The Carry-On

The best hard-sided carry-on.

This great-looking and relatively resilient piece of hard-sided luggage has top-of-the-line components—including wheels as smooth-rolling as any we’ve tested.

Away The Bigger Carry-On

Slightly more room, but you might get checked.

With more capacity than Away’s standard carry-on, this suitcase is sized appropriately for most flights. On smaller planes, though, you may get gate-checked.

Budget pick

Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Lightweight and appealingly inexpensive.

Remarkably well priced for a reputable brand, this is an ideal lightweight pick and provides many features of luggage costing nearly twice as much.

Upgrade pick

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner

A soft-sided carry-on that fits more in less.

This carry-on bag offers superlative build quality, plenty of expandable room, and a uniquely effective compression system. It’s a buy-it-for-life suitcase.

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ 2-Wheel Expandable Carry-On

More room, bigger wheels, less maneuverability.

If you’re willing to give up maneuverability for more space and bigger wheels, this is also a great option.

Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

A more luxe hard-sided carry-on.

Luxury touches and a strong polycarbonate and aluminum design give this bag a standout look with exceptional feel and performance. It does cost nearly $200 more than the comparably sized Away bag, though.

Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage

A bag built for tough conditions.

A polycarbonate back and rugged wheels make this design suited for rougher travel over difficult surfaces. However, it has a limited warranty, and it’s somewhat unwieldy to handle.

What to consider

Four-wheel bags, aka spinners, are easier to maneuver down tight airplane aisles, but two-wheel bags will always be more durable .

Hard-sided looks better to most people, but soft-sided luggage withstands the bumps and knocks of travel for longer .

Plenty of reputable brands offer lifetime warranties; it’s generally worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind .

Depending on where you travel, you might need to look for specialty luggage sizes .

We’ve also included picks that stood out for their form and individual functionality: an upgrade with best-in-class compression, a pick made of polycarbonate , an upgraded hard-sided case with latch closures and an aluminum frame, a rolling soft-top hybrid , and a budget pick that’s also the best ultra-light suitcase we can find.

Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line of luggage is still our top pick after 10 years of testing. It addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price while offering the best warranty against potential airline damage in the industry (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase, which you can do in minutes).

The Platinum Elite features smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, as well as solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. Travelpro also provides a full catalog of other replaceable parts . Instead of chasing the smart-bag moment, Travelpro added an exterior pocket with a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And weighing less than 8 pounds when empty, the Platinum Elite is dead in the center of average weight for bags this size.

In our view, soft-sided luggage lasts longer and shows less wear, but if you prefer the look of a hard-sided bag, Away’s The Carry-On is our choice. Like our other picks, this bag stands out for its high-end components: YKK zippers, smooth-running wheels, and a well-braced handle. Its strong but flexible polycarbonate shell shows scratches—however, after seven years of using the Away Carry-On, our testers have found that it is capable of enduring most of the trials of travel with fewer knocks than other similar models we’ve tested.

Away also makes a slightly larger version of the same model: The Bigger Carry-On . It conforms to carry-on size for most major airliners, but you might be asked to gate-check it on smaller planes.

Similar to our soft-sided picks, this Away bag is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. And though the coverage doesn’t explicitly protect against airline damage, it does apply to any damage that an airline could possibly dish out—specifically, but not limited to, the shell cracking or wheels breaking off.

Some companies have tried to shave off a few pounds from their standard luggage designs to make so-called ultra-light luggage. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is the best of these bags we’ve seen, and it comes with the pedigree of our top pick but not quite as strong a warranty.

The Maxlite 5 is just over 2 pounds lighter than our top pick—that’s the weight of two or three pairs of jeans. It’s not a huge difference, but if you have trouble lifting luggage over your head and prefer an easier-to-manage suitcase, the Maxlite 5 may be your choice. This bag is also the best one we’ve found under $200, with almost all the benefits of luggage nearly twice the price.

For the more frequent flyer who is willing to invest in a higher-quality bag, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On . Every detail of this bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and it has a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested.

Briggs & Riley boosts this extra capacity with a ratcheting compression system that easily presses an entire extra outfit (if not more) into the same external dimensions as most other carry-ons. It’s simple, impressive, and unmatched by any other brand’s compression system.

The Expandable Spinner version is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder, which helps shirts and pants stay wrinkle-free if you pack them well. If things go awry, Briggs & Riley has a catalog of replaceable parts and a global network of repair centers , as well as a reliable lifetime warranty covering repairs for airline damage.

For some people, Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On may be worth the extra cost. Behind the maturity of Italian leather accents and polish of higher-end Hinomoto wheels, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On bypasses the biggest compromise in most polycarbonate designs: the stitched-in zipper. Incorporating an aluminum frame around the center of the case and two latch locks, it feels comfortingly secure and well structured where other luggage tends to sag or bend away.

There’s a potential catch, however: The flex in a polycarbonate design (and most luggage, incidentally) is its strength. The more robust a piece of luggage becomes—by replacing, for instance, a zipper with an aluminum frame—the greater the chance that if something hits the case hard enough, the frame can bend or break. That said, you need to hit a frame like this with an extreme amount of focused force for that to happen. And Carl Friedrik provides a lifetime warranty that appears to cover airline damage in the event that an airline doesn’t compensate you within 14 days.

The Yeti Crossroads 22”/35L Wheeled Luggage represents the best of a relatively niche type of luggage design. Call it a hybrid model—a blend of a soft-sided luggage on top and hard-sided luggage on the back—that lends itself to fairly specific circumstances. It’s ideal for tough roads, broken streets, and slamming your luggage into uneven curbs with abandon. Do most people need this kind of luggage for their day-to-day travel? Absolutely not, and it can feel heavier than it really is. But if you do, this is the best there is—at least for the moment.

The Yeti Crossroads has everything you might expect from a brand that has built its reputation for over-the-top toughness and durability. The two heavy-duty wheels are among the largest and broadest that we’ve seen. Externally, Yeti blends a polycarbonate shell back with a water-resistant 700-denier nylon front and waterproof zippers. However, Yeti backs its luggage with only a three-year warranty and no mention of airline damage. That’s very limited protection, especially for the conditions this bag was designed for and definitely in comparison with the standards that our other picks set.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, our pick for the best carry-on luggage: travelpro platinum elite, our pick for the best hard-sided carry-on luggage: away the carry-on, budget pick: travelpro maxlite 5 carry-on spinner, upgrade pick for the best carry-on: briggs & riley baseline essential, upgrade pick for the best hard-sided carry-on: carl friedrik the carry-on, also great for tough conditions: yeti crossroads 35l wheeled luggage, other good carry-on luggage, what to look forward to, the competition.

I’ve been covering luggage and travel bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade and have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. Over the years we’ve also spoken with plenty of experts: flight attendants for major airlines, product designers and creative directors for luggage and gear companies, and travel and gear writers. My conversations with these people have helped shape our coverage, and we owe much to their collective knowledge.

In the 10 years we’ve been covering this category, luggage has evolved, and so has our thinking about what makes the best carry-on for most people. After spending well over 200 hours doing research and interviews and easily twice that time conducting hands-on testing, we’ve seen a few truths become clear. First, at a certain threshold—roughly over $200—most luggage is fine. It will more than likely get you from point A to point B without incident many times a year for many years. What distinguishes great luggage from everything else is mostly an attention to detail—the quality of a bag’s handle, its wheels, the frame, and stitching—and a company’s guarantee that it will stand behind its product.

Every year we try to refine our testing and find new ways to consider what it means to be the best luggage. We’ve weighed and measured suitcases, comparing our results with company claims. We’ve calculated true internal capacity with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls 2 and some decently complex math for a writer to scratch out. We’ve packed and unpacked more bags than I care to remember. We’ve studied and compared wheel bearings, wheel sizes, pocket counts, pocket quality, the curious subtleties of garment bags that will (or more often won’t) keep your clothes wrinkle-free, the strength of warranties, and repairability.

We believe that any maximally sized carry-on should be capable of holding enough clothes to last you five days with room to spare for miscellaneous necessities. Most years we aim to have two testers, one male and one female, pack two bags individually as if headed to the same wedding. 3 What we included isn’t representative of a family traveling or a couple splitting a bag, but we erred on the side of bulky, and we hope it gives you a clear idea of how much of your own stuff these bags will hold.

We looked at how each bag loaded. Was there an easy way to keep smaller items (such as socks and underwear) organized? Did it have compression straps to keep things in place? Were the straps thick enough to avoid creasing the clothes? Just how much would the bag compress? How much room was left over? Once packed, was the bag prone to tipping over?

Over the years I’ve torn bags apart to see how the frames were put together, taken apart wheels, dismantled handles, and more or less treated luggage as poorly as one person could. I’ve wheeled loaded bags around many neighborhoods, looking at how well each bag rolled and how well it handled broken sidewalks, uneven pavement, grass, bricks, dirt, and curbs. I’ve dragged bags up and down two flights of concrete stairs, noting how easy this task was and how much damage the bags sustained. For our finalists, I’ve repeated the torture test along a second, even rougher route because I like the sound that polycarbonate luggage makes when it bounces down cavernous stairwells.

In fall 2023, we asked a panel of paid testers with a wide range of body types, dexterities, and mobilities to examine our picks and share their perspectives. We’ve incorporated their feedback in this review.

The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner is our pick for a soft-sided carry-on; if you need a little more room, we also recommend the Travelpro Platinum Elite 22″ Carry-On Rollaboard .

It has a history of great performance. Travelpro’s Platinum Elite line has been our top pick for almost every iteration of this guide because it addresses the concerns of most travelers for an affordable price: In addition to smooth-rolling, replaceable wheels, it features solid and comfortable telescoping handles and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid 7.8-pound internal chassis. Travelpro backs it all with a lifetime warranty that covers airline damage and shipping to the repair facility (as long as you register the luggage within 120 days of purchase). Additionally, Travelpro supplies a full catalog of other replaceable parts .

It moves well across most surfaces and through most situations. The spinner bag’s configuration stands out in particular because of its MagnaTrac wheels, which magnetically snap into a forward position when the bag is moving. The small tracking assistance makes a large difference when you’re navigating the Platinum Elite through a crowded airport or down a busy street. It also has an easy-to-use, removable garment bag. After years of testing, we think the superior maneuverability of spinner luggage, along with improvements in manufacturing processes, makes four-wheel bags a better choice for most people. However, if you prefer slightly more packing capacity (the equivalent of squeezing in two more sweatshirts), larger wheels that run more smoothly over rough terrain, and a more protective built-in garment folder, 4 you may appreciate the two-wheeled 22-inch version of the Platinum Elite. One of our paid testers, who’s 6-foot-6, told us that although he could see the appeal of a spinner, “I would still choose the two-wheeler. It has a little more space, and when you’re my size, packing is just so horrible.”

It’s sized to maximize your space, but you have options. Measuring 23 by 13.5 by 9 inches, the Platinum Elite carry-on bag (in either wheel configuration) hits the upper margins of actual carry-on size limits and could get you gate-checked by an overzealous agent. However, it fits into most standard-size baggage caddies at check-in, including that of American Airlines and United Airlines. I’ve personally traveled with Travelpro carry-ons this size for more than 45,000 miles spread across 50 flights, from regional to long-haul to international routes, and I’ve never had an issue fitting within gate-side luggage sizers. If you’re nervous about getting caught at the gate or often fly in very small regional planes, Travelpro makes a 20-inch Platinum Elite as well as a slimmer international size, but they hold less (naturally) and lack a suiter insert.

It keeps clothes compacted but not creased. Inside, the Platinum Elite has a pair of tie-down straps and two broad panels with pockets that cinch down, similar in design and function to what you’d find in much more expensive Briggs & Riley luggage . Compared with the simple tie-down straps you often find in cheaper luggage, the panels do a great job of keeping things compacted without creasing clothes—a problem we’ve encountered in numerous other bags we’ve tested. Beyond that, the Platinum Elite’s internal organization system is about average. It will be familiar to anyone who has used a suitcase before, which means there’s no learning curve for optimizing the storage capacity. One long mesh pocket sits on one of the bag’s sides, and a smaller removable transparent plastic bag sits on the other side for easy TSA inspection of toiletries.

It’s tough yet flexible. The exterior is made of a hard-wearing nylon fabric, a key feature of all the bags we’ve tested. It hides scuffs and scratches, and it’s much more versatile than hard-sided bags. An expansion zipper lets you increase storage by about 30% in a pinch—although the bag is no longer carry-on compliant at that point. We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad-hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight. The Platinum Elite carry-on also has a variety of convenient exterior pockets, including two in the front, suitable for a sleep mask and other small miscellaneous items, and one on the side for a battery, though it can fit a bit more if necessary. It also has an accordion pocket on the front for magazines and electronic tablets.

It’s well balanced and spacious. This luggage has an 1,856-cubic-inch interior, which we measured using hundreds of Ping-Pong balls . In real-world terms (the needs of Ping-Pong champions notwithstanding), the Platinum Elite swallowed up five days’ worth of clothes with no problem and had a good deal of room to spare—and that’s without our resorting to the expansion zipper.

It has an excellent warranty. Should anything go wrong, you can take advantage of Travelpro’s generous lifetime warranty, which covers airline damage . The sole other company we’ve seen offering this extensive a warranty is Briggs & Riley, whose carry-on suitcases start at about $500. Travelpro bags have owner-serviceable parts and multiple repair centers . To get repair service, you can either drop the bag off at a repair center or ship the bag to Travelpro, the cost of which the company will cover. Keep in mind that the warranty doesn’t cover cosmetic wear.

Travelpro has a history of fixing production errors remarkably quickly. In 2019, we noticed a small uptick in Wirecutter reader complaints about zipper tabs breaking. We reached out to Travelpro, and a representative told us that a production error expanded the capacity of the front pocket of the Platinum Elite; this allowed travelers to overpack the pocket, which put excessive strain on the zipper. Travelpro identified and fixed the issue before it had reached the threshold of more than a few comments online.

Dimensions: 23.5 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.8 pounds Volume: 46 liters

How the Platinum Elite has held up

After nearly a decade of testing the Platinum Elite line of bags from Travelpro, we have yet to encounter a single serious issue. The fabric exterior brushes off scrapes and is easy enough to clean. Simply, it is a remarkably built bag that continues to travel well, year after year.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Though the Platinum Elite rolled well in general, we are still concerned when dragging the bag up stairs. Some of the other bags we tested had long plastic bumper strips running most of the way up the length of the bag; this Travelpro model’s skid plate isn’t as big or as protective. I haven’t had an issue, but if you’re particularly rough on your luggage or uncomfortable lifting the bag over curbs or up stairs, it’s something to be aware of.

• In 2018, Travelpro added a USB-A pass-through cable to the Platinum Elite as a way to compete with so-called smart bags. We like the battery pocket, but the built-in cable itself, which routes from the pocket to a USB port less than 6 inches away, is an unnecessary item, which at best adds a potential point of failure to the bag—USB cables do not last forever. Does it ruin the bag? No. Is it a feature? Not really.

If you prefer the look of hard-sided luggage or the security of knowing that you can’t overpack your suitcase, Away’s The Carry-On is the carry-on we recommend. If you want to maximize your available carry-on space, it also comes in a slightly larger size: The Bigger Carry-On .

It can take wear and tear. Most travelers are still better off with one of our soft-sided picks than a hard-sided carry-on; soft-sided luggage shows less wear and typically lasts longer than hard-sided luggage. But the Away Carry-On’s wheels and zipper are as well made as those of our soft-sided picks, and its polycarbonate showed fewer scratches than that of hard-sided competitors.

We’ve tested the Away Carry-On for six years, traveling with it ourselves across the country and lending several units to testers and frequent travelers to see how they enjoyed using the bag. Its polycarbonate feels similar to that used on more high-end (and significantly pricier) suitcases such as the Rimowa Essential Cabin , which is more than three times as expensive.

You have options if you need extra space. Away makes a similar model of suitcase with an expandable zipper, The Carry-On Flex . The Flex is the same bag as the standard Carry-On except for the expanding center zipper and the price (it’s about $50 more). Personally, I’m not a fan of expanding zippers on suitcases. It feels like just one more thing to break. But some people may prefer having the extra flexibility.

It feels great to use. The bag itself feels good in the hands, and the wheels are noticeably better than those on any of the hard-sided competitors we tried. Away also uses YKK zippers, outclassing our top pick in that regard (Travelpro moved to Supra zippers in 2015). At this point, we’re pretty comfortable saying that years of debate over the best zipper are largely redundant, but YKK still sets the standard.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Away has sparked more imitators and outright duplicates than any other brand in the past decade, in part due to its appeal with younger travelers. I’ve thought about why, and as best as I can guess, a simple polycarbonate cube dripped in limited-edition soft hues does exude a certain calm; the fact that some of those same colors also coat the exteriors of pills ending in suffixes -ax and -il is not, one assumes, accidental.

It has a great warranty. The Away Carry-On is backed by a limited lifetime warranty that protects against defects and parts breaking. Though the warranty doesn’t specifically mention airline damage, the damages it does list—cracks or breaks in the shell, wheels or handles becoming unusable, zippers that don’t work, fabric tears that render any pocket unusable—basically outline anything an airline could possibly dish out.

Dimensions (for The Carry-On): 21.7 by 14.4 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 7.5 pounds Volume: 40 liters

• The Carry-On’s sleek style comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks.
• It lacks certain amenities, such as external pockets and a suiter, that our top picks have.
• The clamshell design, which splits down the middle and opens into two parts, can make the bag frustrating to pack and unpack. Packing cubes help, but after years of packing and unpacking soft-sided luggage with a single lid, I personally find a clamshell design to be more finicky when packing.

The Travelpro Maxlite 5 21″ Carry-On Spinner is one of the lightest pieces of luggage we’ve tested, at a great price.

It’s lightweight. We have a hard time imagining how anyone could make a suitcase much lighter than this without breaking certain laws of physics. A few years ago, I took apart a Maxlite suitcase to see how the internal frame was built. What I found beneath the fabric was a clever lattice of plastic supporting the frame, which offered the best balance between weight-saving and structure.

For some people, especially those with limited upper-body strength, a lighter bag—even by just a few pounds—may be easier to lift or manage. That said, most people don’t need extremely light luggage, but just to pack less. For all the innovative design, the Maxlite 5 shaves only 2.4 pounds off the weight of our top pick. That’s the equivalent of a couple of pairs of jeans.

It’s inexpensive. My general advice to friends is to spend more than $200 but less than $500 to get good, if not great, luggage. The Maxlite 5 is the one piece of luggage I’ve found that breaks that rule. You can usually find it for about $150 or less, which is a remarkable price considering the bag’s quality.

Simple is good. This model doesn’t have any real bells or whistles—no battery pass-throughs or magnetically tracked wheels, as with our other Travelpro picks. Instead you’ll find two simple front pockets, a few well-placed handles, and a cavernous main compartment with a couple of pockets and two light straps to hold your stuff in place.

It comes from a trusted brand. We haven’t covered, examined, and interrogated a single luggage brand at Wirecutter for as long as we have Travelpro. For a decade, Travelpro has done a premier job of maintaining trust with its customers and with us—we’ve watched the company make small changes in design, catch flaws quickly, and address warranty concerns promptly. This is not something we say lightly: Travelpro is a name you can trust.

Dimensions: 23 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 5.4 pounds Volume: 46 liters

• The Maxlite 5’s warranty isn’t as robust as that of our top pick: Manufacturing defects in the wheels, zippers, and handles are covered for as long as you own the bag, but airline damage and shipping to a Travelpro repair center are covered only for the first year. (And you do need to register the bag.) Considering that this bag costs half the price of the Platinum Elite, this makes sense, but it’s something to be aware of.

If you’re a frequent flyer and willing to invest in higher-quality gear, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner (also available in a two-wheeled version with more capacity).

It’s the best of the best. Every detail of this top-rated bag, from the zippers to the wheels to the wrinkle-resistant suit compartment, is made to the highest standards, and we found that it had a higher proportion of usable space than any other spinner bag we tested. Briggs & Riley keeps its design consistent, adding, at most, small improvements such as this year’s upgraded lifting handle. Our 6-foot-6 paid tester pointed out that the Baseline Essential’s handle extended an inch and a half farther than that of the Travelpro Platinum Elite, which made it less likely to hit his heels as he pulled it.

Although the wheels don’t snap into alignment, they are exceptionally smooth-rolling and easy to maneuver. If you fly more than 25,000 miles per year, it’s worthwhile to invest in luggage that goes beyond merely being sturdy and actually improves your overall travel experience. That’s why we’ve been recommending it since we first covered this topic in 2014. The Baseline Essential is one of the best carry-on luggage options available today.

Its compression system is truly a marvel. The most ingenious part of the Baseline Essential bag is its CX expansion and compression system. Pull upward on two plastic handles inside the bag, and you can extend its depth a full 2.5 inches. Load the bag as full as you need to, and zip it closed. Then you push down on the bag, which compresses it as a clip mechanism secures it in place. Unlike other expansion systems, which are either open or closed, this one locks into incremental positions. It’s a unique design and very satisfying to use.

It’s the easiest to pack. Briggs & Riley placed the tracks for the Baseline Essential handles on the outside of the bag, which allows for a flat surface in the interior of the bag, with no small crevices to work around for simple packing. And in our tests, after packing 10 bags and trying to figure out strategies for each nook and cranny, packing on a broad flat surface felt like a luxury. According to our measurements, the bag, unexpanded, offers 1,905 cubic inches of storage room (and that accounts for the space occupied by the wheel wells and such). Expanded, it can stow 2,110 cubic inches. That’s remarkably efficient for a bag that does so much. All of these features add up to a carry-on that is easier to pack than any other bag we tested.

The Baseline Essential spinner is also the only spinner luggage model we tested with a built-in garment folder. It’s similar to the folder in Travelpro’s two-wheeled Platinum Elite bag, and that’s a good thing. It’s easy to pack and has an anchor point for hangers. Each of the three folds has a bit of padding that helps to keep a suit from pinching onto itself and creasing, though much of that depends on how well you pack. You can fit a week’s worth of clothes in the Baseline Essential, including some puffy gear for colder weather. A wide, wrinkle-free tie-down system completes the package.

It’s understated. On the outside, the Baseline Essential is pretty unremarkable. There’s nothing eye-grabbing about the bag, which is good if you’re trying to avoid being gate-checked (or having it stolen). Its outer, nylon fabric seems to be of a tighter weave than that used on the other bags we’ve tested. We also noticed a robust feel to the zippers, which are a self-repairing type made by YKK.

Similar to our top pick, the Baseline Essential includes a charging pocket. However, Briggs & Riley skipped the internal USB wiring, instead opting for a simple pocket arrangement (video) on the back of the bag for discreetly storing a charge pack and your phone. It’s an elegant solution.

It comes with an excellent warranty. All Briggs & Riley bags come with a lifetime warranty that covers any damage to the “functional aspects” of the bag, even if caused by an airline (like Travelpro, Briggs & Riley does not cover cosmetic wear or cleaning). Although Briggs & Riley handles warranty-covered repairs at no extra cost, you do have to pay to ship the bag to the company to carry out any repairs; it will ship your bag back to you for free. Or you can drop off the bag at one of the many repair centers . Briggs & Riley emphasizes that returning your bag to you in its original condition, even after repairs, is not always possible. The bags are easy to service and repair, so you can also order the parts you need and replace them yourself at home.

We’ve put in the miles, and the Baseline Essential is in a separate league. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter founder Brian Lam carried a two-wheeled Baseline Essential carry-on while traveling 150,000 miles and farther. After considering all the bags in our test and logging an additional 40,000 miles with a similarly priced bag by Tumi, he was convinced that this model is the best for anyone who’s always on the move. “I love this bag. It carries so much,” Brian said. “Sometimes I check it. Sometimes I carry it. It always fits.”

Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 (expands to 11.5) inches (HWD) Weight: 10 pounds Volume: 37 liters (expands to 48 liters)

• Despite the plastic shielding, the exposed rails on the exterior could use more protection. While dragging the bag up stairs (which we don’t advise doing), we felt more scraping than we’d like.
• At first glance, the handle feels too loose for a roughly $700 bag. We spoke to Briggs & Riley representatives, and they explained that this is a deliberate choice: The looser tolerances allow for the handle to retract by itself when you click its button, without your having to force it down. In practice, this is very helpful for scaling stairs and could save you some hassle in tight quarters, such as in the aisle of an airplane.
• At 10 pounds, the Baseline Essential is the heaviest bag we recommend. In this price range, weight often equals durability, which equals quality. But if you’re uncomfortable with a heavier bag, this isn’t the best pick for you.

Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On is an impressive polycarbonate case that improves in areas where most other companies tend to cut corners.

It’s robust and durable. It improves the usual hard-case design primarily by replacing the zipper with an aluminum frame sealed with two metal latches incorporating TSA locks. This trim makes the case feel far more robust, which is a very satisfying feeling when you’re wheeling luggage around an airport.

Clasping shut an aluminum frame with a metal lock is pleasing—it feels like closing a safe and locking it tight. The polycarbonate shell has an equally rigid feeling but exhibits plenty of flexibility under strain. Although it’s difficult to compare polycarbonates between brands, higher-end polycarbonate feels dense to the touch even as the material flexes; in this piece of luggage, Carl Friedrik offers impressive quality.

Additionally, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On has YKK zippers internally and Hinomoto spinner wheels from Japan—both considered the top of their class.

It’s thoughtfully styled. The soft leather accents and bolted frame all have a certain maturity that’s often lacking in other, competing cases. This look carries to the inside of the luggage as well. A simple gray polyester lining accompanies two sets of compression straps and a removable compression pad, which has a zippered pocket.

It has an excellent warranty. As you might expect for the price, Carl Friedrik backs up its luggage with a lifetime warranty that protects against airline damage (assuming the airline hasn’t responded to your request for compensation within 14 days).

Dimensions: 21.6 by 14.5 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8.6 pounds Volume: 40 liters

• This is a brand-new pick—so far we haven’t found any flaws, but we’re keeping an eye on the latches. Luggage latches are small, complicated mechanical devices that have a myriad of ways to fail.
• The handle feels just a touch loose, which, as with our upgrade pick from Briggs & Riley , can be a benefit. It can also sometimes be a hazard. Again, we’ll continue testing it.

Hybrid designs like the Yeti Crossroads 22″/35L Wheeled Luggage aren’t for everyone, but if you like the flexibility of a soft-sided luggage with the hard-hitting ruggedness of a polycarbonate back and two large fixed wheels, then this bag is just right.

It’s made from tough materials and easy-to-repair parts. Yeti has a reputation for using tough, sometimes cutting-edge, materials in all its gear. The Crossroads is no exception. The 700-denier nylon is one of the better nylons we’ve tested—tightly woven and exceptionally durable. (Denier is a measure of the fiber thickness in a fabric.)

The Crossroads comes in only a two-wheeled design, which is usually able to withstand more damage than a four-wheeled design. The wheels are also easier to service on the road and often replaceable. 5

It’s well organized. It includes a front panel organizer, similar to that of modern laptop backpacks, with two slots for your laptop and tablet plus a mesh pocket for spare gear. Fully packed, it still has room for a few magazines as well, if you like. Internally, the soft top has a zippered main compartment with a decent amount of packing space, as well as two mesh organizing pockets.

It’s a pleasure to pack. As the Crossroads is built around a molded polycarbonate base, the entire suitcase becomes, in essence, a large tray to pack and then zip shut. It’s a very satisfying design—easier to manage than many of the clamshell designs that are currently popular. Yeti’s packing cubes are designed to fit snugly in the Crossroads’s main compartment, and the bag does come with one small cube. But if you choose these, you’re spending a premium for additional packing cubes when almost any packing cube will work.

Dimensions: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (HWD) Weight: 8 pounds Volume: 40 liters

• We’d love to see a better warranty. Three years is very limited when compared with other luggage brands selling similarly priced suitcases—especially for a bag that claims to be as tough as the brand’s reputation.
• Occasionally, Yeti’s tough-gear reputation veers almost into absurdity, as with the inclusion here of self-sealing zippers on a bag that isn’t actually waterproof—merely weather resistant. They’re top-of-the-line zippers. But self-sealing zippers can be hard to operate and require regular lubrication, which most people aren’t used to providing.
• The front-facing laptop organizer is woefully unshielded. If you’re traveling with a laptop, place it deep within the bag if you want it properly protected.
• The bag feels heavy—by our measurements, it weighs about a half pound more than Yeti’s 7.5-pound estimation. It’s not the heaviest of our picks, but something about the weight distribution and shape of the bag makes it feel heavier when you’re swinging it around.

If you need a hard-sided budget bag: Look at the Gregory Quadro Hardcase 22″ , an unexpectedly high-quality suitcase from an outdoor-gear company. Gregory offers a lifetime warranty with service and repair. Although the warranty doesn’t explicitly mention airline damage, Gregory’s good reputation speaks for itself in this matter. However, the Quadro Hardcase is a pound heavier (at 6.5 pounds) and about $60 more than our budget pick.

If the Away Carry-On is sold out: Consider the Monos Carry-On Plus . Picking between these two models came down to splitting some very fine hairs. Both use YKK zippers. Both have lifetime warranties. The handles and interiors are almost identical. Monos even hides the stitching that attaches the zipper to the polycarbonate frame, which is a nice aesthetic touch. The difference came down to the Away Carry-On’s wheels, which spun just that much more freely in our testing, and the underside handle, which made it easier to pull out of overhead bins. And we’ve tested the Away Carry-On for longer. However, if it’s unavailable, the Monos model is a good, nearly identical substitute.

If you want a bag made of recycled materials: We suggest the Paravel Aviator Carry-On . Paravel is attempting to design luggage with recycled materials and some environmentally minded transparency to the company’s production methods. However, you pay a premium for the effort. Quality-wise, the bag is similar to our other hard-sided picks, for about a hundred more dollars. And much of the Paravel branding is built on carbon offsets, which we are deeply skeptical of (though we wish they worked).

If you’re an infrequent adventurer: Try the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag Roller , which could almost be an also-great pick under our hybrid pick . It’s cheaper, has a better warranty (but no explicit coverage for airline damage), and is made from recycled materials. However, the overall build quality is wanting. For example, the polycarbonate shell doesn’t fully cover the tubes for the extendable handle as it does with our hybrid pick. It seems an oversight for bags that are built to knock around.

If the best possible suit-packing experience is all you want, and money is no object: The Vocier C38 Carry-On Luggage is worth a look, despite a few flaws and an $800 price tag. The C38 takes a unique, fold-free approach to packing clothes. Rather than folding garments in on themselves to fit in the bag, it bends the suit around the outside of the luggage frame in a U shape. This packing method creates no creases and therefore no wrinkles. The case is protected by a limited lifetime warranty that doesn’t cover airline damage.

We hope to take a look at the European brand Floyd , which is currently popular on Instagram. At first glance, it’s another piece of luggage looking to appeal to a younger mass audience. But the easy-to-replace polyurethane wheels and bearings—similar to skateboard wheels—do have “user-serviceable parts inside” curb appeal.

We’re currently testing Level8’s Voyageur series of luggage, which features an extra-wide handle. It’s a design trend we’re starting to track with a few lesser-known brands (and, incidentally, a Louis Vuitton case costing several thousand dollars). A wide handle should do two things: It should free up a little more space inside the luggage, and it should improve handling.

Lastly, we’re considering expanding our coverage to include equipment cases like those made by Pelican . Though their appropriate use is very specific, when you need to travel with high-end gear or fragile valuables, Pelican cases more or less set the standard.

Soft-sided carry-on luggage

Cotopaxi Allpa 38L Roller Bag : We’re generally fans of Cotopaxi’s Allpa line, but this two-wheeled bag falls short. Specifically, the bottom of the bag is split by the zipper, which gives the bag an unstable feeling when it’s standing upright.

Eagle Creek Tarmac XE 4-Wheel 22″ Carry On Luggage : If this bag were about $150 cheaper, it would be a good price for the quality. We like the recycled materials, but the bag lacks framing.

Solo Re:Treat Carry-On Spinner : I appreciate any bag made entirely out of recycled materials, but this model (from a brand owned by the same company that manages Briggs & Riley) felt awfully flimsy. Even with its five-year warranty, I just don’t trust that this bag can go the distance.

Thule Subterra : The clamshell design—similar to the ones you find on hard-sided bags—makes this bag difficult to close if you’re trying to fill it to its full capacity. It just isn’t as easy to use as our soft-sided picks.

Timbuk2 Copilot Luggage Roller : The balance on this bag was decent, and it stood up well unloaded or loaded. Its wheels had a cheap ball-bearing rhythmic chatter, though, and the abundance of zippers and internal compartments made it tedious to pack.

Tumi Aerotour International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On : At about half the price, this would be a great bag. But paying nearly $700 for a five-year warranty and a bag that doesn’t do nearly as much as a Briggs & Riley suitcase seems a bit silly.

Hard-sided carry-on luggage

Amazon Basics 24-Inch Hardside Spinner : This bag is a surprisingly good carry-on for about $90. However, its ABS plastic shell is not as tough as a polycarbonate shell. It’s worth investing more in your luggage—the bag you choose will last longer and work better.

Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-On : The Arlo Skye carry-on is a decent piece of luggage, but it’s hard to square the bag with its cost: $200 more than our pick from Away .

Away The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition : 10 pounds! At this weight, you’ve lost a quarter of your allowable luggage weight to the suitcase alone, unpacked. And it’s nearly as expensive as our upgrade pick, with a much less satisfying compression system.

Briggs & Riley Torq and Sympatico : Though these collections seek to solve a different problem, neither is as impressive as the Baseline series.

Calpak Ambeur Carry-On Luggage : We preferred sturdier polycarbonate shells over Calpak’s blended ABS polycarbonate shell. Also, the bag’s handling felt jittery against normal airport floor surfaces.

Delsey Rempart Expandable Spinner Carry-On : At just around $200, the Rempart is a decent budget option. However, the external styling (like layers of pressed sheet pans) is an odd choice. It has some practicality, but only if you’re stacking identical Delsey cases one on top of another, which might happen, I suppose, at some point … maybe.

July Carry On : In the lineup between July, Monos, and Away, July falls just short. We appreciate the lifetime warranty, YKK zippers, and flexible but dense-feeling polycarbonate. But the overall design doesn’t do much to improve on the category (as the Monos bag subtly does).

Level8 Road Runner Pro Carry-On 20″ : This is potentially a decent budget pick at just around $200. But the one-year warranty and the somewhat fiddly TSA lock and front latching panel give us pause.

Lojel Cubo Medium : Although we liked the uncommon top-loading design, the internal organization of the lid made packing this carry-on difficult. We also weren’t impressed by the zippered expansion system, which made the suitcase feel bulkier than our picks.

Lojel Voja Medium : An odd suitcase, this would be a great children’s suitcase or a budget pick—especially if it were under $200. But its current price is steep for a polypropylene blend with a couple of latches.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Chris Ryan.

Airline policies vary, but a general rule is that the bag must be under 45 linear inches—the total sum of the bag’s length, width, and depth. Here’s the current sizing breakdown among the major US airlines:

• Alaska Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
• Allegiant Air: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
• American Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches (the dimensions of soft-sided garment bags are allowed to add up to 51 inches)
• Delta Air Lines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
• Frontier Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches (and less than 35 pounds)
• Hawaiian Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
• JetBlue Airways: 22 by 14 by 9 inches
• Southwest Airlines: 24 by 16 by 10 inches
• Spirit Airlines: 22 by 18 by 10 inches
• Sun Country Airlines: 24 by 16 by 11 inches
• United Airlines: 22 by 14 by 9 inches

We double-checked the measurable packable space of our top picks against the manufacturers’ listed volumes by filling each piece of luggage with hundreds of Ping-Pong balls: 144 Ping-Pong balls weigh exactly 0.5 pound, and each Ping-Pong ball represents approximately 2 cubic inches (PDF) . After weighing each piece of luggage three times to establish an average empty weight, we filled the bags as full as we could with Ping-Pong balls and measured the change in weight. For every half-pound increase in weight we estimated 288 cubic inches of packable space.

His five-day travel kit included the following:

• 1 two-piece linen suit on a hanger
• 1 dress shirt on a hanger
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pair of khakis
• 5 medium-weight to lightweight shirts
• 1 heavy sweater
• 2 flannel shirts
• 5 pairs of boxer briefs
• 5 pairs of sport socks

Her five-day travel kit included the following:

• 1 dress on a hanger
• 1 blazer on a hanger
• 1 blouse on a hanger
• 1 pair of heels
• 2 pairs of jeans
• 1 pair of light sneakers
• 5 pairs of underwear and 3 bras
• 1 pair of yoga pants
• 1 flannel shirt
• 1 hair dryer
• 1 curling iron
• 1 jewelry/makeup kit
• 3 pairs of sport socks
• 4 lightweight shirts

You use a garment folder by laying a suit or dress across the panels, folding them into themselves, and zipping up the inner compartment. A folder should be wide enough that a suit isn’t cramped, and it should include hanger straps (which should fit around everything, even larger plastic hangers) to keep things from shifting around too much. Some folding boards have 0.75-inch-diameter foam rolls in them to help prevent creases along the packed clothes’ fold lines. When you aren’t traveling with fancy clothes, you can take the whole apparatus apart and use it as luggage dividers in the main bag itself, or leave it at home, converting the suit/dress compartment into an extra packing cube.

Yeti doesn’t seem to have an easy way to order replaceable wheels. But the 3.5-by-1-inch wheels are fairly common, and we’re looking at the best possible alternatives.

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Further reading

The Best Luggage Tags

by Geoffrey Morrison

We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases.

Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022

by Wirecutter Staff

These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in September 2022.

The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks

by Kit Dillon

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is our backpack pick for most travelers. We also have picks for other travelers, including those who want to carry a bit more.

We’ve Loved Luggage From Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Line for Nearly a Decade. Here’s Why.

Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

The Best Carry-On Luggage for Every Budget And Destination

By Avidan Grossman , Gerald Ortiz , and Tyler Chin

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The quest to find the best carry-on luggage shouldn’t be as onerous as your search for the perfect vacation destination —Instagrammable, but not, like, too Instagrammable—but it absolutely is. And though vacation destinations might feel beholden to your limited budget and even more limited OOO days, suitcase options abound at every price point.

The Best Carry-on Luggage, at a Glance

Gotta get to the airport ASAP? Don't run through the airport like a fool—our top picks for the best carry-on luggage are right here.

• The Best Softside Luggage : TravelPro MaxLite 5 Expandable Spinner , $170
• The Best Hard Shell Luggage : Away Carry-On , $275
• Another Solid Hardside Spinner : Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-On Max , $375
• The Best Duffle Bag, Overall : Lotuff No.12 Weekender , $1,200
• The Best Travel Backpack: Topo Designs Global Travel Bag , $415
• The Best Do-Everything Duffel : Peak Design Travel Duffel , $140
• The Convertible Travel Bag : Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag , $159
• The Best Budget Carry-On Bag : Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner , $83

Even the most cursory search for a good carry-on turns up a bewildering mixture of products from established luggage brands to agile fashion houses to venture-capital infused juggernauts. So, we've drummed up a short guide on how to shop for the best carry-on luggage, from indestructible aluminum-shell bags to slightly squishier softside luggage that you can squeeze under an airplane seat, then outlined some of our top-tier winners below.

Your Luggage-Related FAQs, Answered

→ What's the Difference Between Hardside and Softside Luggage?

→ What Makes a Good Carry-On Bag?

→ How We Tested

The Best Softside Luggage: TravelPro MaxLite 5 Expandable Spinner

Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Spinner

Big on practicality and low on cost, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 offers the best value of any softside bag out there. It's the brand's lightest four-wheel spinner suitcase at five pounds, maximizing on maneuverability for when you're sprinting to catch your flight. The cavernous, expandable interior includes tons of weird little zippered sections and mesh pockets for you to cordon off your toiletries, small items, dirty clothes, and shoes from your clothes without busting out the packing cubes. And after you've racked up plenty of miles on those wheels, the Platinum Elite comes with a limited lifetime warranty for repairs and replacements.

The only ding against the TravelPro is its humdrum looks, which evoke the dated carpeting of one of the airports it'll be dragged through. But that hasn’t kept it from becoming a favorite of frequent flyers. If the TravelPro logo looks familiar, it's probably because you’ve spotted it on the luggage of the flight attendants and pilots that spend most of their lives in the sky.

The Best Hard-Shell Luggage: Away The Carry-On

The Carry-On

There are plenty of good reasons why the Away team has just about upended the luggage industry since it launched. Instagram-ready looks? Check. Durable shell? Check. Smooth Hinomoto spinner wheels, top and side handles, clothes straps, a mesh zip pocket, a laundry bag, sturdy YKK zippers, and—maybe most game-changing of all—a built-in USB charger so you don't have to screw around with airport outlets? Yeah, check. At just under three hundred bucks and spanning a range of handsome, low-key colorways, Away's carry-on means you don't have to choose between getting something cheap and ugly and spending a rent check on something luxe. For an industry that never really did the low-to-mid-tier thing well, that's a very welcome change of pace. Our testers have taken theirs on planes across the country and halfway across the world, and never run into issues. Provided you do , there's a limited lifetime warranty that'll cover any functional damage.

Another Solid Hardside Spinner: Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-On Max

"The Zipper" Carry-On Max

The Arlo Skye Zipper carry-on is a winner for a couple reasons. The bag’s polycarbonate shell isn’t as hearty as the fabric on the TravelPro or the aluminum of a Rimowa, say, but we found the suitcase a bit more capable of withstanding regular use than many other hard-shelled suitcases we’ve tested. (It's also much cheaper.) All of Arlo Skye’s carry-on sized suitcases boast internal pockets for organizing your travel gear, including a few zippered areas for separating out dirty clothes and shoes. The company also makes a version with an easy-access front pocket, presumably for a laptop or magazines, but we’d imagine you’d rather store those things in a backpack or tote rather than in the suitcase you're hauling into an overhead bin. Arlo Skye’s luggage features a removable external charger, but unlike the USB port from Away that can only juice up your phone, it comes with a USB-C connection for keeping your laptop charged up, too. Still, the five-year warranty that Arlo Skye offers doesn’t compare to Away’s limited lifetime warranty, which is why the latter is still our top choice for long-hauler luggage that you'll want to keep dragging around a decade from now.

The Ultimate Travel Flex: Rimowa Classic Carry-On

Classic Cabin Suitcase

Rimowa, the storied German luggage company founded in the late 1800s, has been a powerhouse in the luggage space for over a century, with a litany of perks to its name: A single-stage telescoping handle, a hinged double latch lock by the main compartment, elastic compression straps with magnetic pull-release fastenings, its signature ridged exteriors, the works. Couple that with some choice collabs with the likes of Dior, Off-White, Moncler, and beyond, and you'll see why Rimowa's become a status symbol among elite travelers and celebs like Rihanna and LeBron James. Each bag will set you back at least a grand, but if you've ever been stuck traveling with a lackluster piece of luggage and thought, Man, I wish my suitcase could do that , chances are Rimowa's can, and masterfully. We went deep on the legacy brand's signature bag here in case you want to hear more about the intricacies of how it maneuvers and exactly how it compares to something more pedestrian like the Away.

The Best Luxury Duffle Bag: Lotuff No.12 Weekender

No. 12 Weekender

Lotuff's handsome, all-American No. 12 duffle bag is our favorite of the genre , with all the details that matter (or matter enough to justify this $1,200 price tag). Take the zipper closure for one, which runs from end to end for extra security, and a wide opening that allows you to shove in a glut of your equally fancy sweaters and toiletries without breaking a sweat. Unlike other cheaply-made and poorly-designed duffles, the vegetable-tanned leather also gives it a first-class patina that only gets better with every trip. But should the leather break or that zipper snag, Lotuff will repair it for a fee, so this bag will stay in your family for many, many flights to come. The interior of the bag features a zip pocket for corralling your loose miscellanea, and the bottom of the bag is also reinforced with double leather for durability. With this bag, you're looking at an investment piece that, if you're treating it right, won't ever need to be replaced.

The Best Travel Backpack: Topo Designs Global Travel Bag

Topo Designs

Global Travel Bag 40L

Backcountry

Topo Design has built up a loyal following of rugged adventurers over its 16 years of business. The Colorado-based brand is making some of the best mountaineering, hiking, and travel packs and gear in the Mountain Standard Time zone, and we've found its Global Travel bag to be an excellent pack for doing exactly as the name implies. The bag actually offers three ways to carry it—whether you use it as a backpack, briefcase, or shoulder bag—but what it really has going for it is its plethora of pockets and U-shape entry, which means the bag unzips to fold in half.

That means no longer having to blindly and aimlessly rummage through your bag in the overhead compartment for one tiny thing before takeoff. Topo Designs put padding almost everywhere this bag touches your body, which also makes running through the airport with two minutes to board less torturous on your frame. Almost everything about the Global Travel bag has been configured to allow you to customize it with the brand's assortment of packing gear: The daisy chain lets you hook on accessory packs; the sizing of the compartments is perfectly measured to accommodate storage cubes; and attachment clips further turn you into a pack mule for even more baggage options.

The Best Do-Everything Duffel: Peak Design Travel Duffel

Peak Design

Travel Duffel 35L

If you have duffels reserved for specific purposes—travel, the gym , schlepping your everyday goods—then you have more space than us, friends. Peak Design, a brand that's become famous for its ingenious storage solutions for hauling camera and video gear, makes a travel duffel that fits the bill for every purpose. Available in 35- and 65-liter options (only the former can be used as a carry-on), the Travel duffel is one of the nicer bags we've seen in the sub-$150 price bracket.

There's also something every satisfying about the way the hand-carry straps snap together with a magnet, and if your arms are getting tired, those straps can be work on your back. The extra-wide zipper allows for great access to your goods, and some internal pockets make it easier to know where you've put your chargers, passports, and other miscellaneous travel goods. While the duffel doesn't fold into itself like the Patagonia bag below, it does fold down fairly flat. One of our staffers brings this duffel with him on his travels and stores it in his other carry-on in case the travel shopping bug bites him and one bag isn't enough to get his goodies home.

The Best Convertible Travel Bag: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag

Black Hole Duffel Bag, 40L

Remember that hapless kid in fifth grade the whole class mocked for showing up with a rolling backpack the first day of school? ( People don't forget! ) Well, if you still holding onto some secondhand trauma from the incident, Patagonia's streamlined duffel might be good enough to risk straining your back to carry. Late last year, Patagonia updated its popular line of Black Hole bags , swapping out the high-gloss finish for a new matte look that makes good on the eco-conscious brand's commitment to sustainable sourcing. Aside from the new 100% recycled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) finish, essentially everything about this bag is the same. While we miss the look of the OG bags, we're happy to say the duffel loses none of the specs or details that made the originals so damn great.

The body fabric, lining, and webbing are all made out of water-resistant recycled materials designed to keep your valuables dry, while two padded straps make for an easy switch if you'd rather sling it over your shoulders like a carry-on backpack . The bag's handles are also specially reinforced to make for comfortable hand-carrying so your lower vertebrae will hold up fine no matter how far your terminal is from the gate. Best of all, the whole thing folds into itself for storage. With all due respect to your childhood classmate (who you definitely owe an apology), sometimes carrying your bag just looks cooler than wheeling it around.

The Best Truly Budget Carry-On: Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner

Amazon Basics

20-Inch Hardside Spinner

We've all been there: You forgot to pack for your trip in two days, and wait, you don't have a suitcase. Take advantage of that Prime membership burning a monthly hole in your credit card statement, and scoop up the most popular carry-on Amazon from its namesake brand. With over 45,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews to its credit, this 20-inch hardside spinner has earned more than its fair share of compliments like “perfect for the price,” “light and sturdy,” and “great, all-around suitcase.” For an suitcase that costs less than a Benjamin, this spinner is built pretty well and features everything you'd want from a quality spinner: an expander, interior zippered pocket with additional storage, and smooth-rolling wheels for breezing through that moving walkway like you're The Flash.

4 More Carry-Ons We Like

We've also assembled a number of other worthy alternatives that'll help you jet off in style, even if you're on a Frontier budget. These may be slightly less accessible or less well-rounded than our top picks—and some of these we haven't had the luxury of testing ourselves—but they boast many of the same features you'd hope for in a well-traveled suitcase, from easy-gripping telescoping handles to a roomy, organized interior.

22-Inch 19 Degrees International Expandable Spinner Carry-On

Perhaps no other suitcase brand on the planet has the same name recognition as a Tumi, the workhorse luggage of choice for business travelers, and plenty of celebrities, since it first came on the scene in the ‘70s. Beyond the absolute basics—trustworthy zippers, a bevy of pockets and dividers, and locks for keeping everyone else out except the TSA—this shellacked spinner has style in spades. Add to that a Lever Lock system that fully enables your overpacking tendencies, and Tumi's tracing system (in case you ever lose sight of your bag), and you have hardly any reasons not to scoop one. The polished diagonal ridges on this spinner give it some subtle Rimowa vibes, too, without entreating you spend more than $1,000.

The North Face

Base Camp Duffel

Upgrading from the $30 Carhartt duffel you've had since college to something slightly more distinguished? North Face's base camp bag is the next logical progression, with a similar rugged style for outdoorsy folks, plus a water-resistant, recycled exterior that can handle a little dirt and distressing. It's extremely generous with a 50 liter capacity for tucking in gear, clothes, and beyond. Plus, the price point at under $150 is just right. It's probably the next best thing if for some reason Patagonia's high-vis logos aren't to your liking and you'd prefer something stealthier to haul your stuff into the great outdoors or onto the main cabin.

In the war between direct-to-consumer suitcases, Away is the clear winner by sheer popularity. But for anyone trying hard to not cave into peer pressure, Monos makes a comparable hardside suitcase that doesn't scream Instagram-obsessive-millennial. It's built with nearly the same specs as Away's carry-on and features nearly all the same design details from the interior compression, included laundry bag, 360-degree spinner wheels, and ribbed exterior. It's a whole Andrew Jackson less than the Away if that's enough to sway you to shop a suitcase from a lesser-known brand.

Cabin Luggage

Help your suitcase stand out in a sea of black nylon by copping a polycarbonate spinner in robin's egg blue. Floyd's retro carry-on spinners are inspired by ‘70s skating culture (peep the wheels!), with a breezy, laid-back sensibility that’ll help ease you into the vacation mindset. The glaringly orange, well-apportioned storage section inside only amplifies the brand's ethos of good vibes and great design. If you want swervier luggage that doesn’t look like everyone else's in the terminal, this one's a solid bet that perfectly blends high-vis colorblocking and design chops.

What's the Difference Between Soft and Hardside Carry-On Bags?

Hardside luggage used to be a bit of a novelty. If you had any 15 years ago, you might have been one of the few people in the airport hauling around their characteristic sleek shells—which made finding your bag at the luggage carousel a lot easier. But as these models started to become available in polycarbonate plastics, hardside options become just as ubiquitous as their soft shell counterparts.

By Robert Leedham

By Tyler Chin

On the other hand, the main advantage of soft fabric luggage is its durability. That might seem counterintuitive because shouldn't something with a hard protective shell last longer? But in our experience, after the same amount of use, softside luggage looks more or less like it did when you bought it. Think about it: If you toss a soft fabric cube back and forth against a wall for a year, it might look a little bit busted on the corners, but its stretchy-soft surface would probably absorb much of the impact. But if that cube was made out of a thin, hard substance, you'd probably see a dent or nick in the paint basically anywhere it hit the wall.

That said, a bunch of fabric luggage options (save for the super expensive models) leave a lot to be desired aesthetically. Even when they're new, pulling a fabric suitcase behind you makes you look, at best, like someone who knows their way around a day planner. At worst, especially when they're covered in all sorts of metal rivets and extra zippers, they can look dinky—the tuxedo T-shirt of things to put your clothes in. So it makes sense that hard shell luggage almost always looks much better. Their glossy shells catch the light nicely as they float alongside you. And in recent years, companies have gotten a lot better at making them as durable as can be.

Fabric luggage does have one other advantage over hard shells, though. Thanks to their stretchiness, soft suitcases tend to be a little bit more accommodating to over-packers, while still maintaining the same carry-on size. You'll find it a little bit easier to actually zip them shut, even when they're filled to the brim with extra pairs of clothes. Hard shell suitcases offer a lot less give in terms of packing space, which makes them less than ideal if you tend to accumulate endless tchotchkes while you're traveling. It might not be a dealbreaker, but still something to consider.

What Makes a Good Carry-On Bag?

Size : According to the TSA, carry-on size restrictions vary by airline, but generally, the dimensions max out at 22 by 14 by 9 inches. Another important number to note regarding carry-on sizes is the capacity, usually denoted in liters. Considering size restrictions, the most capacity you'll have is around 40 liters, which is good for a week-long trip, but we did find one duffel bag that has a 50-liter capacity but can fly under the size restrictions because of its shape.

Style : Rolling bags, suitcases, luggage—those are probably the most popular style of carry-on bag. They easy to move around and don't require a rock-hard body to transport around the airport. However, some folks might prefer a lighter-weight duffel bag or backpack to trek into the great outdoors or keep close at home for short weekend sojourns. It all depends on where you're traveling, how much you're hauling, and

How We Tested

We here at GQ have been scanning the wild world of luggage retailers to find the carry-on bags you can comfortably roll up the cobblestone steps of Lisbon, zip-line with through the canopies of Belize , or begrudgingly leave at the gate on the way home for your nephew’s “graduation” from elementary school. We’ve combined our knowledge of the best luggage across a range of prices, styles, and construction types—ones that we've taken on planes, trains, and automobiles—to figure out which offer the best combination of solid construction, useful features, and magnificent looks.

We also added some runner-ups that we haven't had the pleasure of testing, but think combine the right features, price point, and reputation to go toe-to-toe with other contenders in their price range. Not so into the Away? Spring for a slightly more innocuous Monos. Want a heritage bag without blowing more than a grand? Tumi's got your back. After all that, here are our top picks that we’d be happy to drag behind and beside us on every single one of our upcoming trips.

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The Best Crossbody Bags for Easy Travel

Keep your belongings safe and accessible while traveling with these lightweight, stylish purses.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

When it comes to carrying a purse while traveling, a crossbody bag is your best bet to stay hands free while keeping your belongings secure on your body. But not all crossbody travel bags are the same, and it's important to consider what matters most to you, whether that's style, accessibility, safety, spaciousness, comfort or other factors.

The good news is that we've rounded up the best options for every style preference, budget and travel need.

Our top picks

Best Overall Crossbody Travel Bag

Lululemon everywhere belt bag large 2l.

Best Value Crossbody Travel Bag

Uniqlo round mini shoulder bag.

Best Lightweight Crossbody Travel Bag

Vera bradley featherweight crossbody purse.

Best Sling Crossbody Travel Bag

Baggallini central park sling crossbody.

Best Leather Crossbody Travel Bag

Leatherology meadow large satchel.

Best Anti-Theft Crossbody Travel Bag

Travelon anti-theft classic mini shoulder bag.

Best Waterproof Crossbody Travel Bag

Nite ize runoff waterproof hip pack.

Best Modular Crossbody Travel Bag

Athleta revive modular crossbody bag.

Best Crossbody Travel Bag With Bottle Holder

Beis the sport sling.

Best Spacious Crossbody Travel Bag

Lululemon all night festival bag 5l.

You can learn more about how we chose these styles and what to consider as you shop at the end of this article, but first, here's everything you need to know about the best crossbody bags for travel.

Best Travel Backpacks | Best Luggage | Best Carry-On Luggage | Best Underseat Luggage | Best Tote Bags | Best Weekender Bags | Best Duffel Bags | Best Fanny Packs | Best Packing Cubes | Best Travel Gear

This fan-favorite belt bag has a loyal following of both men and women (including several GH staffers!) thanks to its comfortable fit, lightweight materials and spacious interior — all for a reasonable price. The nylon fabric is water-resistant, while the strap is fully adjustable so you can get a close fit around your torso (or waist if you prefer to wear it as a fanny pack).

Just note that unlike some crossbody bags that sit at the hip, this one lies flat against your torso, so it's not quite as easy to access the contents. Though its smaller 1L version is more popular, we think this larger size is great for travel because it can hold more while you're on the go.

Dimensions: 8.3" x 2.2" x 5.7" | Colors: Over 15 options

Despite its low cost, this bag wowed our experts and consumer testers with its comfort, style and spaciousness. In fact, it can even hold a water bottle along with a phone, wallet, keys and other essentials — all with room to spare.

One tester told us, "I love how lightweight it is and how much I can fit inside it!" Beyond that, the curved shape helps it feel comfortable at your side, even when you're walking for miles. Though its materials aren't quite as luxe as pricier bags, it still looks sleek and neutral enough to wear with a variety of outfits.

Dimensions: 11" x 6.7" x 3.9" | Colors: 7 options

Though the style looks and feels substantial, it's s urprisingly lightweight thanks to its performance fabrics that also happen to be water-repellent. Each bag features a quilted design and is easily packable so it doesn't take up valuable space in your suitcase.

The bag is on the larger size for a crossbody with one big main compartment, plus a small zippered pocket in the front so you can quickly find your essentials. It's also worth noting that the adjustable strap is longer than some other crossbodies, meaning it can also be carried as a low-hanging shoulder bag.

Dimensions: 12" x 122" x 4" | Colors: 7 options

Sling bags are ideal for anyone who wants the functionality of a backpack with the wearability of a crossbody bag. This one in particular is made with smart travel features, including RFID protection and an extra strap to stop pickpocketing.

It also has plenty of compartments, including ones on the back (facing your body) and an easily accessible pocket in the front. One GH staffer that swears by this bag saying, "It's super comfortable and feels secure to wear while in big cities or crowded areas."

Dimensions: 7" x 12" x 2.5" | Colors: 10 options

For those who prefer leather bags over ones with synthetic performance fabrics, this fashion-forward pick is great for a more elevated luxury look, especially when you're dressed to impress on vacation.

While most stylish leather crossbodies have sky-high designer price tags, this one is on the more affordable end. Worn by celebrities like Serena Williams and Kristen Bell, it's not as lightweight as other travel crossbodies, but our testers say it's not too heavy, either. It has two zippered pockets, each with organizational compartments inside. It's also available in smaller sizes at lower costs.

Dimensions: 10.25" x 7.25" x 4" | Colors: 9 options

If safety is a big concern for your trip, consider a bag that has smart features to keep your belongings protected. This one in particular is equipped with five standout anti-theft features , including zippers that clip closed to prevent pickpocketing, slash-resistant fabric, slash-resistant straps, RFID-blocking pockets and a strap clip that lets you secure it to a chair when you're dining.

Travelon makes a variety of anti-theft crossbody bags , but this one is Amazon's Choice with nearly 10,000 reviews and an average 4.6-star rating. It has a slim design with interior pockets to carry essentials like your passport, phone and wallet, though it doesn't hold quite as much as other styles.

Dimensions: 8.5" x 8.5" x 2" | Colors: 15 options

If you'll be traveling in wet conditions — including going underwater — consider a waterproof pouch that you can wear as a crossbody. This one even has a waterproof zipper and is designed to keep your contents dry ; you can even carry your phone and money into a pool while wearing it! A clear front screen allows you to use a touch-screen phone without taking it out. Plus, the crossbody strap can adjust to be worn as as a belt bag.

Dimensions: 8.58" x 4.92" x 1.77" | Colors: 2 options

If you prefer a smaller crossbody but worry that it's not big enough, consider this unique style from Athleta that has add-on compartments in the strap.

The main pouch is a foam-like material with a water-repellent finish and it lies flat against the body. The strap contains pouches designed to hold sunglasses and AirPods. As an added bonus, the strap is removable and can be attached onto other bags, while the pouch can be used as an organizer inside larger purses.

Dimensions: Not listed | Colors: 2 options

For those that always carry around a water bottle, this sporty sling bag has a hidden bottle pouch that you can tuck away whenever you don't need it.

Besides its two zippered compartments, it also has a microfiber-lined pocket in the front for your cell phone or sunglasses. Plus, there's a small zippered compartment in the back in case you need your phone or other essentials kept safe. It's not super spacious, but it has card organizers inside a zippered pocket in case you just want to bring a credit card and ID without a full wallet.

Dimensions: 6.7" x 8.2" x 2.7" | Colors: 3 options

Like a modern-day messenger, this style has a wide opening so you can easily sift through everything you packed inside. Once it's zippered shut, the top folds over and secures with a magnet. (Just note that Lululemon warns the magnet can interfere with certain electronic devices and bank cards.)

One GH staffer said she uses it every day and noted that the flap "feels secure while commuting or traveling and allows for a quick retrieval for items inside." Like other Lululemon bags , it has a lightweight and water-resistant performance fabric.

Dimensions: 7.9" x 3.9" x 8.3" | Colors: 3 options

Dange Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Bag (Extra Small)

Available in five sizes, this style's largest options make perfect weekender bags while the smaller ones are more ideal as crossbody purses. This extra-small size still has a five-liter capacity, making it spacious enough to carry on-the-go essentials, even holding a small tablet or notebook.

We especially love this one's organizational features: inside the main zippered compartment are three pockets and a key leash, while the outside has a phone sleeve for easy access (though keep in mind: It's not zippered, so it's less secure). We also love its soft neoprene fabric and wide straps to support a heavier load.

Dimensions: 9" x 4.75" x 6.25" | Colors: 9 options

MZ Wallace Crossbody Belt Bag

When fashion is the first and foremost priority, consider a splurge-worthy style like this quilted belt bag. Despite its large size, it's still fairly lightweight thanks to its nylon material. It's also functional for travel with two zippered compartments and built-in pockets for organization.

We love its versatility thanks to its three detachable straps: Two wide ones for your waist or across the body and one chain strap to dress it up. Online reviewers call it "perfect for international travel," with one saying she found it especially useful on a trip to London and Paris.

Dimensions: 10" x 8.5" x 2" | Colors: 4 options

Bandolier Crossbody Bag

For a simple, chic and timeless style, this small crossbody is described as a "sleek look with a ton of functionality packed in" by one GH analyst who personally uses it. For starters, the adjustable strap can be swapped for other straps from the brand , plus the bag can expand a bit to pack in more when you need it. The flap secures with a magnet (there's no zipper) and it's made with real pebbled leather for an elegant look that can be dressed up.

Dimensions: 8" x 6" x 3" | Colors: 3 options

Madewell The Medium Transport Tote

Combining the capacity of a tote with the convenient strap of a crossbody, Madewell's bag is a tester favorite thanks to its supple leather and spacious interior.

A GH analyst that carries this bag while traveling said it's especially useful if you're going to be shopping so you don't have to carry around extra bags as you explore new cities. It's also ideal if you need to carry a bulky load, like an umbrella, water bottle and layers of clothing, but be aware that there's no zippered closure for protection.

Dimensions: 12.25" x 11" x 5.5" | Colors: 2 options

Coach Willow Bucket Bag

If you're willing to invest in a well-made crossbody, this luxury bag from Coach looks stylish and uses high-end construction. One GH staffer that recommended this style said, "I own a variety of Coach bags and they continue to stay in great condition," adding that the Coach Outlet is a great option for more affordable versions.

She likes this bag in particular because of how roomy it is, calling it "just the right size." Just note that it has multiple sections, some of which are unzippered, making contents less secure while traveling.

Dimensions: 9.25" x 8.75" x 4.25" | Color: Black

How we chose the best crossbody travel bags

The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab are passionate about finding the best products at the crossroads of fashion and function, constantly testing to find apparel and accessories that perform well, feel (and look) great and last for years to come.

To find the best crossbody bags for travel, we considered our staff's personal favorites from the dozens of styles that we've tested in our Lab and personally tried out in real life. We also asked other Good Housekeeping editors and analysts to weigh in with their recommendations, plus we performed market research using our product expertise to find new and popular styles from brands we know and love.

How to shop for travel-friendly crossbody bags

The one thing all crossbody bags have in common is that they're worn across your body. Other than that, here's what to consider when choosing the best crossbody bag for your next getaway:

• Size: Smaller dimensions typically mean the bag is more totable, but will hold less. Alternatively, larger bags may fit more inside but can be cumbersome to wear, depending on your type of travel. Besides the dimensions, also consider the capacity: 1-2 liters will be smaller, while 5 liters will be more spacious yet still comfortable to wear.
• Compartments and pockets : Some crossbody bags have one main compartment, while others have several compartments to help you stay organized. Also check for pockets inside the compartments, including pouches to hold your phone, keys and cards for easy access.
• Closures: Most crossbody bags for travel have zippers to keep everything safe and secure inside. However, some have magnet closures and others have no closures at all. Consider how secure you need your belongings to be and whether you'll be at risk for things falling out or being pickpocketed.
• Materials: Many styles are made of synthetic performance fabrics (like nylon and polyester) because they're lightweight and water-resistant. If you prefer a more luxurious bag, opt for leather (or even faux leather). Also keep in mind that bags with metal hardware will be heavier to carry around.
• Adjustability: To ensure your crossbody bag will fit comfortably around your torso, check for an adjustable strap so you can find the right fit. Some crossbody bags are also convertible, meaning you can change the straps or change how you wear them on your body.
• Packability: If you'll be packing your crossbody bag in your suitcase, consider opting for a lighter and thinner style instead of one that's more structured. If you do prefer a structured bag for style, consider wearing while en route to your destination or filling it with smaller items (like socks and underwear) in the suitcase so you don't waste valuable packing space.
• Safety features: Certain trips require you to pay closer attention to the risk of people that prey on tourists. In these cases, look for anti-theft features like secure zippers, straps that can attach onto your seat and RFID-blocking technology.
• Appearance: Last, but certainly not least, it's okay to choose a travel bag based on how it looks without sacrificing other important features. Consider what you'll be doing and wearing throughout your trip. Some of our recommendations are especially good at transitioning from daytime exploring to nighttime dining while matching a wide range of outfits.

Why you can trust Good Housekeeping

Lexie Sachs is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has been reviewing travel bags for over 10 years. Lexie also oversees the annual Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards and regularly reports on categories like the best luggage and the best backpacks . She has personally used many of the crossbody bags featured in this article.

Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.

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15 Best Tote Bags To Carry All Your Travel Essentials

by Amanda Wilkinson

Anyone with some experience in traveling knows how valuable a good tote bag is. The part of the travel bag ensemble with the highest utility, this is the ideal bag for all your needs. Everything can be tossed in one spacious bag (talk of phones, tablet, passport, wallet, headphones, toiletry bags, water bottle, sweater, scarf, snacks, and even your travel pillow), pick it up, and go.

However, many standard totes usually come with a main compartment and two straps, and just that. Though these are quite suitable for everyday use, you need something that makes the organization much easier for travel. You want to reach your chapstick (the most important in-flight essential) without wasting time searching the depths of your bag. You don’t want to deal with a tangled mess of your keys, charging cords, and headphones, or worse still, stall the security line while trying to find your boarding pass or ID.

So while you can use any traditional tote for the gym or grocery store, some totes are more efficient than others when you have to travel. We need our loyal travel bags to go the extra mile for us on the go. And for people like me who always run to the gate in the final minutes before the doors are shut, anything that is helpful with the organization is very much welcome.

We have made a list of the best tote bags that we recommend for travel. They are stylish without compromising on durability, utility, or portability. So continue reading to find your new go-to travel companion. You wouldn’t leave the house without it.

The following are the best tote bags for traveling:

• Dagne Dover Signature Legend Coated Canvas Tote – The Business Bag
• Cuyana Leather Zipper Tote – The All-around MVP
• Baggu Cloud Bag – The Packable Pick
• Paravel Cabana Tote – The Monogrammable Option
• Ecosusi Laptop Tote Bag – The Laptop Lugger
• Longchamp ‘Large Le Pliage’ Tote – The Classic
• Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote – The Flight Chaser
• L.Bean Waxed-Canvas Tote Bag – The Budget-friendly Pick
• Mali + Lili Ashely Vegan Leather Everyday Tote – The Eco-friendly Pick
• Madewell Leather Transport Tote – The Convertible
• Senreve Voya Tote – The Worthy Splurge
• Briggs & Riley Rhapsody Nylon Tote – The Water Resistant Warrior
• MZ Wallace Large Metro Quilted Tote – The Carry-all
• Street Level Reversible Tote – The Faux Stow
• Poolside Bags Essaouira Beach Bag – The Beach Bum

1. Dagne Dover Signature Legend Coated Canvas Tote

For fast-paced individuals shuttling between a business meeting, dinner with a client, and a flight, this bag holds all items in their proper place. On the interior, it has padded slots for a 14 inch laptop and a tablet, along with special pockets the perfect sizes for your phone, subway card, water bottle, wallet, sunglasses, and even loops to keep your lip balm and pens in place. On arriving home, reach into the end of the in-built key leash and get your keys with no trouble.

2. Cuyana Leather Zipper Tote

According to the Cuyana motto of “fewer, better things,” the company manufactures beautiful, simple products which become wardrobe staples in no time. This bag is made of soft, exotic Argentinian leather and comes in a range of discreet, sophisticated tones. It conveniently fits into work, brunch, and the farmer’s market. The open-top is the most common feature on most classic leather totes but this one has a zipper closure which particularly helps to keep off pickpockets during international trips. Perhaps we would also recommend that you get the Tote Organization Insert for even more structure.

3. Baggu Cloud Bag

These are lightweight bags that can be downsized into a pouch the size of your palm, so you can simply fit one into your luggage anytime you might return home with a number of items more than you arrived with. Shopping is after all an important aspect of your adventure.

4. Paravel Cabana Tote

Paravel made this eco-friendly tote out of recycled plastic bottles. It has a protective silicone coating which makes it pill-proof and water-resistant. It features a roomy main compartment, an interior pocket with zippers, and a pouch slip on the exterior to keep essential items that you would need often. In addition, the bag can be customized with embroidered or hand-painted initials for extra charges.

5. Ecosusi Laptop Tote Bag

A perfect blend of form and function, this rectangular-shaped Ecosusi bag is designed to comfortably carry laptops up to size 15.6 inches. It comes with adjustable shoulder straps, large interior pockets, and has studs attached to the bottom to prevent the bag from getting dirty when you place it on the ground.

6. Longchamp ‘Large Le Pliage’ Tote

If you find black too basic, there are tons of beautiful shades of this cult-favorite bag such as olive green and vibrant red, which are both great colors to add without contrasting with your travel outfit (which will include comfy black stretch pants if you’re like us). The material is water-resistant nylon, which means that your day of boutique trips won’t be ruined by a little rain.

7. Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote

Popular among travelers with experience, this sturdy bag is suitable as a carry-on or a weekender bag. It has a special exterior pocket that unzips into a sleeve which lets you fit the bag on the handle of a rolling suitcase, so you can run to your gate less clumsily. There is a separate compartment on the bottom that can hold a pair of slippers for a long flight away from the other numerous things you have in the bag.

8. L.L.Bean Waxed-Canvas Tote Bag

L.L.Bean’s Boat and Tote bag has been popular for years, which is proof of its quality and durability. However, those who want the Nantucket watered down and a little more organization can go for the Waxed-Canvas Tote Bag as an alternative. Even with everyday use, this tote will serve you for several years. Its material is weather-resistant, which makes it suitable for use at the beach or pool, and its strong handles can endure heavy items. It also comes with an interior pocket, an exterior compartment, and a key clip to hold your wallet, phone, and keys for easy access.

9. Mali + Lili Ashely Vegan Leather Everyday Tote

This bag produced by Mali + Lili is a favorite because it feels and looks like real leather, but is in reality made out of a vegan leather material certified by PETA. You can carry more than the bare essentials in its spacious interior. It also has a detachable crossbody strap which lets you wear it in different ways.

10. Madewell Leather Transport Tote

Sometimes you need your arms to be free and would just like to throw your tote over your shoulder or go cross-body style. This simple tote has a longer removable strap to serve on those occasions.

11. Senreve Voya Tote

Senreve’s bags are produced in Italy and are made to be used, not kept aside in a dust bag. This tote has a pebbled leather exterior that is resistant to scratch and stains (the microsuede interior also doesn’t get stained). It comes with more pockets than you can ask for on the inside, as well as two tech sleeves, and slip pockets on the side for small-sized accessories. There’s also a zip-top which comes in handy for traveling.

12. Briggs & Riley Rhapsody Nylon Tote

This tote is produced from hard-wearing, water-resistant nylon and is suitable for traveling with pets or kids (as they may be spills) or traveling to someplace where snow, sleet, or rain may ruin the leather. Luggage producer Briggs & Riley didn’t miss anything during the design of this tote: multiple interior and exterior pockets, a laptop compartment, as well as snap and zipper closures to prevent things from sliding out of place.

13. MZ Wallace Large Metro Quilted Tote

Big tote bags for traveling are essential to hold all the items you need on a trip. This one has enough space to fit just about anything — a laptop, tablet, neck pillow, gym wear, baby accessories, and so on — but is still light enough to not weigh you down on the move. This rather high utility tote has a little signature flair thanks to the quilting. It is quite compact, washable, and can withstand wear and tear. Also, it comes with removable interior zip pouches which are ideal for organizing small items. Convert one into a clutch if the whole bag will be a burden.

14. Street Level Reversible Tote

This best seller is for anyone who wants an animal-friendly option for a decent price. It is made of completely vegan material but looks like a lustrous leather item. It has a wristlet to store small items conveniently. It is also fully reversible, so it feels like you have packed two bags in one.

15. Poolside Bags Essaouira Beach Tote

This tote gives you a bohemian style with its woven design that easily transitions from sea to Terminal C. It is a fully lined straw bag with soft leather straps and a canvas interior with enough room to hold your essentials and other items. It also has zip closes so that your personal effects are safe and secure.

Choosing the Best Loyalty Programs for You in 2024

Here are the best ways to get rewarded by airlines, hotels—even credit card companies—this year..

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Airline and hotel loyalty programs are free to join, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up.

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A new year means new opportunities to rack up points and acquire elite status in the myriad loyalty programs of the travel industry. Whether you’re new to the game in 2024 or simply looking to switch your brand allegiance, there’s plenty of good news. Despite a trend of more stringent elite qualifications and the overall inflation of points and miles, select programs still reward travelers with plenty of perks, points, and VIP benefits. Here are the top travel loyalty programs to consider joining in 2024—and some tips on how to get started.

Important basics of loyalty programs

The first thing to know about airline and hotel loyalty programs is that they are free to join, meaning you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up. Points and miles expire in some programs but not all—so in many cases they can lie dormant in an account for extended periods. It’s a myth that you can’t belong to multiple loyalty programs. You can—and you should!—belong to numerous ones, including international programs. For example, I am a huge fan of the Air France/KLM Flying Blue program and Air Canada’s Aeroplan program. If you plan to join multiple programs, it’s a good idea to track points and miles in a single spreadsheet or use an app such as AwardWallet , which tracks the balances of your loyalty programs in a single place.

For those looking to attain elite status, note that qualification years for elite programs vary among hotel and airline programs. For hotel programs, the elite status qualification year follows the calendar year (i.e., January 1 to December 31). This is also true for the airline loyalty programs of Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. But the elite qualification year for Delta runs from February 1 to January 31, and for American Airlines from March 1 to February 28. Additionally, if you earn elite status in one qualifying year for any of these programs, it will extend for the rest of that year and through the entire next qualifying year.

In many cases getting a cobranded credit card boosts your points balance for a specific airline or hotel group and offers options for achieving elite status faster. Getting a general travel credit card can also lead to significant points accrual plus the freedom to transfer points to multiple hotel and airline programs.

Finally, all points and miles aren’t created equal. Points and miles of every program should be viewed as different currencies. Just as the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso, and the Euro carry different values, so do the points and miles of, say, American Airlines, United, and Delta.

Choosing a hotel loyalty program

Of the four big hotel loyalty programs —Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, and World of Hyatt— Marriott Bonvoy is the biggest, but not necessarily the best. It’s great if you can achieve Platinum Elite status or higher, but that requires staying at Marriott Bonvoy hotels a minimum of 50 nights per year. Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at about one cent each (i.e., 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points typically covers a hotel valued at $500). Also, Marriott Bonvoy charges taxes and resort fees on award bookings. Loyalty program newcomers or those who have been at the points game only a few years should instead consider World of Hyatt or Hilton Honors.

World of Hyatt is the most highly regarded hotel loyalty program in the world of points and miles because its points are the most valuable of any hotel or airline loyalty program. Thanks to World of Hyatt’s fixed, published award chart—versus the dynamic pricing of competitors—it’s not uncommon to score an award booking for which points are valued more than two to three cents apiece. For example, I successfully booked the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme for 40,000 points per night for an April 2024 stay (versus €1,450 per night), yielding a points value of more three cents per point. World of Hyatt also rewards travelers as they climb the elite ladder with Milestone Rewards , and its top status, Globalist, requires only 60 nights per year. (To give you some perspective, Marriott’s top status, Ambassador Elite, requires more than 100 nights per year and more than $23,000 of qualifying spend per year.) World of Hyatt waives taxes and resort fees on award bookings, which can amount to significant savings, especially at posh beachfront properties.

If you don’t feel like working (or booking overnights) for elite status in 2024, fast-track to Gold or top-tier Diamond status with Hilton Honors by getting one of its cobranded credit cards. While most hotel cards give you an elite bump, Hilton goes all out, granting top Diamond elite status to those who have the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Gold status with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card . These cards often carry welcome offers of more than 150,000 bonus points, which is enough to experience several free nights to test out elite status. Another fast track to hotel elite status is through The Platinum Card® from American Express . Just by being a card member, you’ll be granted Gold status in Hilton Honors and Gold status in Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required).

Choosing an airline loyalty program

In the past few years, much has changed within the loyalty programs of the “big four” domestic airlines in the United States: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines. (They collectively account for 74 percent of U.S. airline seats sold per year.)

A lot of attention has been given to the unpopular modifications Delta recently made to its SkyMiles program . However, United made comparable changes in previous years—it just happened to be better timed and thus flew under the radar. Even considering Delta’s elite status qualification changes, Delta’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum statuses are still easier to achieve than similar tiers on United in 2024. Since both Delta and United’s elite statuses remain tied to spending requirements with each airline, they’re sure to remain popular among business travelers whose companies are paying for their tickets.

But if you are trying to get status on your own dime, status with American Airlines is easier to achieve. Why? Elite status on American Airlines is based on Loyalty Points, which can be accrued in so many ways beyond flying. With American’s shopping, dining, hotel, and event platforms, it’s easy to rack up Loyalty Points. Plus, all purchases using the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard count as Loyalty Points (at a rate of one point per dollar spent), and 10,000-point bonuses are awarded after hitting 40,000 Loyalty Points and 90,000 Loyalty Points levels in a membership year. Personally, I was able to earn 77,404 Loyalty Points in the last quarter of 2023 alone, and I’m now looking at top-rung Executive Platinum status for 2024, even though I flew only three times on American in 2023.

Then there’s Southwest, which made elite status easier to earn in 2024 compared to 2023. However, elite status on Southwest is separate from Companion Pass status; and since Southwest already gives free bags and does not have class differences, it makes elite status changes a bit of a non-event. For those who do seek elite status, here’s what you’ll get: A-List perks include same-day flight change and same-day standby benefits, priority lanes, and a dedicated phone line. A-List Preferred benefits are the same as A-List’s, plus two drinks per flight, free internet, and 100 percent bonus points on flights.

In general, if you live near a hub for a specific airline, it might make sense for you to attempt to earn elite status with that airline (like Delta in Atlanta or United in Denver). The catch, however, is that with so many people using that strategy, you’ll probably never get upgraded in a hub city if you have a lower-tier elite status (as you’ll be competing with so many fliers with higher status).

Going beyond airline and hotel loyalty programs

Points programs through credit card companies can also be considered loyalty programs—and they’re the most straightforward. You are part of the loyalty program just by having the card—no elite ladder to climb. The best examples are the travel credit cards from American Express, Chase, and Capital One, all of which have their own respective rewards programs. You earn based on your spending and often score bonus points in specific categories. These credit card rewards programs partner with hotel and airline loyalty programs so that you can transfer your credit card points to select hotels and airlines. Moreover, these credit cards function as loyalty programs do: Cardholders have access to VIP events and elite-like offerings given through proprietary booking engines. To get these perks—plus welcome offers and other benefits such as generous statement credits—consider applying for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve® , or The Platinum Card® from American Express .

While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.

Best 28 Travel Makeup Options: Pack These in Your Travel Makeup Bag

Y ou may have your beauty routine perfected. You’ve found your favorite products, you’re brand loyal and you know what works. Heading on a trip though? That can change everything. Beauty products may only be optimal for specific climates. We’re here to run you through the very best travel makeup products to add to your makeup collection. And of course we’ll share travel size options that are TSA-friendly.

If you’ve ever stood in the beauty aisle at a major drugstore you know how overwhelming all of the choices can be. We’ve rounded up the ones that work well for travel, have great ratings and that we buy again and again. Most of these items can be found on Amazon. Don’t forget to put together multiple makeup items in one order and click Subscribe and Save for sizable discounts!

1. e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Skin Daily Moisturizer

E.l.f. is a fantastic easily accessible brand that can be found in most drugstores. When you’re traveling, especially by air, your skin can suffer. It’s super important to practice good skincare and lock in extra moisture whenever possible.

Why e.l.f. Holy Hydrations! is the Best Travel Moisturizer

• TSA-friendly 2.6 oz size (larger ones are available if traveling by car)
• Very lightweight and perfect for your nighttime routine
• Aloe vera and jojoba ingredients are soothing to dry or sunburnt skin
• Great for sensitive skin

2. RunnerUp: CeraVe Ultralight Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen

If you’ve got sensitive skin or want to make sure you’re getting SPF on your face when you moisturize, CeraVe is a fantastic choice. This gentle formula is the perfect beauty essential to pack in your travel makeup bag.

Why CeraVe Ultralight with Sunscreen is a Must-Have Moisturizer

• SPF 30 protects your face from UVA and UVB rays
• Paraben-free, fragrance-free and noncomedogenic formula
• Not greasy and won’t leave a white residue
• Moisturizes and contains ceramides to promote continued hydration of the skin

3. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Primer and Serum

Have you ever spontaneously bought a new primer or foundation and then been disappointed when you used them? Maybe they seemed to react to each other? I know I’ve had this happen. That’s because primers and foundations need to be matched. The ingredients in some gel-based foundations and mattifying formulas may flake on top of certain smoothing primers. Always test your picks together before packing your cosmetic bag for a trip.

Primer can lay down a great base for the best looking makeup however make sure you’re matching your primer to the climate as well. Using a putty-type or gripping primer in a hot destination can cause it to settle into pores and imperfections giving your skin the texture of an orange peel (yuck). We’ll give out two Bests in this category – one for hot climates and one for chillier vacays.

Why Neutrogena Hydro Boost is the Best Primer for Cold Weather

• Pulls double duty as a primer and a serum, saving room in your makeup bag
• Dropper with vial top seals tightly to prevent spills in transit
• Contains hyaluronic acid which moisturizes and gives a light glow
• Perfect for under makeup or on days you want to look healthy, dewy and fresh without makeup

4. e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Primer

This product glides on so smoothly and feels so luxurious that you would never guess that it’s a $10 bargain buy. It’s ideal for neutralizing redness and masking skin imperfections. When visiting a humid climate it’s pretty common to have minor skin flair ups or redness. The green tones will make you picture perfect despite what the sun is attempting to do to you!

Why e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Primer is the Best Primer for Hot Climates

• Good for both dry and oily skin
• Can be used as a base with no makeup on top just to even redness
• A little goes a long way! One pump is enough.
• e.l.f. as a brand has a fair trade certified factory, produces vegan products and is certified cruelty-free
• Slightly smaller travel size is available but we love that the larger size is also under 3.4 oz

5. Bonus: Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

While you don’t need an eyelid primer, it is a good idea if you’ll be wearing eye shadow. This primer is the superglue of the makeup world. It essentially coats your eyelid so that shadow sticks to it and doesn’t move. Looking for a version with no shimmer? This Too Faced option  has a natural finish but is applied with a wand.

Why Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer is the Best Primer for Times You Might Cry

• Locks down your eye shadow – trust me it isn’t going anywhere
• A must if your plans include shimmery eyeshadow- you don’t want glitter in your eyeball
• Expecting a proposal? Heading to a big emotional event? Or going to be in the cold with watery eyes? This one step will save your eye makeup appearance in photos.
• Don’t want to do full eye makeup? Use a bit by itself, it will give lids a neutral shimmer  
• Fantastic for mature or oily skin to keep shadows from settling into creases in an obvious way

6. Ecotools Retractable Makeup Brush  and Eye Enhancing Set

When traveling there are two “categories” of makeup brushes that I bring with me. I take a shadow brush and angled brush to do eye shadow and liner. I also carry a large fluffy brush for powder and blush. Over the years I’ve discovered that finding the perfect travel version of each in the same set is not likely. Finding the best one individually though? Easy. These brushes work well with a huge variety of makeup. Just be sure to clean them both regularly.

Why These Two Ecotools are the Perfect Travel Makeup Brush Combo

• Soft cruelty-free bristles on the retractable makeup brush
• Retractable bristles with a cover ensure that the brush stays intact and clean during travel
• Eye enhancing set comes with two brushes that are perfect for lining and shadow
• Having two lets you bring one and save one as a backup for later
• Bristles stay in place and don’t shed on all brushes

7. RunnerUp: 4-in-1 Physicians Formula Makeup Brush

If you want one brush that does it all the 4-in-1 Physicians Formula Makeup Brush is a great pick. Personally, I like having a full handle to hold onto but this brush is one I’ll occasionally make an exception for when space is tight.

Why Physicians Formula 4-in-1 Makeup Brush is our RunnerUp

• The softest synthetic bristles ever that won’t fall out
• Easy screw-on, screw-off sections last longer than ones that snap on and off
• Great price point
• Brushes don’t have covers so grab a  silicone container  to carry it in, especially if it will be in your purse

8. Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation

Surely I’m not the only one who seeks out makeup produced in countries with more stringent regulations than the US? This Italian-made liquid foundation adheres to EU cosmetic regulations, ensuring that more than 1,500 banned ingredients aren’t utilized. By contrast, the US only bans 11 ingredients!

Why Catrice HD Liquid Coverage is A Favorite for Travel

• Vial and dropper screws on tight preventing leaking during adventures
• Long-lasting with a finish that’s matte but looks airbrushed
• Since you only need a few drops the container lasts a long time
• 23 colors available

Read More:   How Many Ounces Can You Bring on a Plane

9. Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Powder Foundation

Powder foundation can be a great option for travel. You don’t have to fit it into your liquids bag if you aren’t checking luggage and you don’t need to worry about the item oozing out after air pressure impacts it. This pigmented mineral-based powder allows you to build to the level of coverage that you desire.

Why Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten is Our RunnerUp Foundation

• Apply with different brushes to get different coverage levels ( kabuki for light,  dense  for more coverage)
• Light, silky feel for a no-makeup makeup look
• Runs a bit darker in almost every shade we’ve seen so order a shade lighter than your normal foundation
• Fantastic for people who don’t want to pack concealer and are looking for a color balancing foundation

Makeup Tip:  Compacts can be messy if they get banged around during travel breaking the powder. Put a  foam applicator  (or several cotton rounds ) between the cover and the powder to fill the space and prevent breakage. You can also put them into small squeeze purses to protect them more. We love  these ones , which are also great for earbuds and jewelry.

10. Mally Beauty Plush Pen Brightening Concealer Stick

Concealer is one of those makeup items that either makes or breaks your look. There are so many cheap concealers out there that actually impact your final look negatively! If you’re going to use concealer spend a little more for a quality formula. It will pay off in the long run.

Why Mally Beauty Brightening Concealer Stick is the Best Travel Concealer

• Sponge-like applicator tip won’t tug on delicate under eye area like a wand applicator
• Ideal for those with olive, yellow or warm undertones
• Perfect travel size
• Amazing at concealing under eye circles and giving you an awake look, even when you’re not

11. RunnerUp: Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer

If your skin tone veers closer to neutral or cool, the Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer is a better choice. The formula changed in the last couple of years and is thicker. You don’t need much but I’d recommend dabbing it on your finger to swipe on versus using the applicator.

Why Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer is Also a Favorite

• Heavy coverage for problematic undereye circles
• Formula creates a dewy appearance giving a youthful and refreshed look
• Lasts a surprisingly long time because you need so little

12. Rimmel London Natural Bronzer

Looking for a sun-kissed head start? Rimmel London’s Natural Bronzer is a great, affordable bronzer to have on standby.

Why Rimmel London Natural Bronzer is our Favorite

• Natural-looking shades that work for most skin tones

13. Han Skincare 3-in-1 Multistick

This product can pull triple duty in your travel makeup kit as blush, lip color and eye color. Sticks are a great option for blush because they’re easy to pack.

Why Han Skincare 3-in-1 Multistick is the Best Blush for Travel

• 8 shades available
• Darker shades can also be used for contouring
• Cruelty-free, vegan and made in the USA
• Smooth texture
• Lasts for a long time – a little goes a long way

14. RunnerUp: Covergirl Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush Palette

If you’re looking for options or contouring from your blush, this Covergirl palette is a great choice. Pair it with one of our makeup brush recommendations. 

Why Covergirl Instant Cheekbones is our RunnerUp Blush

• Dermatologist tested to be safe for sensitive skin
• Blendable formula
• 3 complementary shades

15. L’Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara

Years ago I was told I had long lashes and “wasn’t I lucky that I’d never have to worry about mascara!” Well, I didn’t wear mascara until my late 20s and that’s when I learned that mascara isn’t all about long lashes. It’s about looking awake! Mascara has been in my makeup bag ever since so that I look like I’m bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The best mascaras provide a lift and definition to your eyes without clumpy, raccoon-like side effects.

Why Lash Paradise by L’Oreal Paris is the Best Travel Mascara

• Doesn’t flake or clump
• Washable formulas are great for travel so you don’t have to pack heavy-duty cleansers
• Water fun on the list? Pick a waterproof option of Lash Paradise.
• Goes on incredibly smoothly and doesn’t require extra brushing or fussing

16. RunnerUp: e.l.f. Clear Brow and Lash Mascara

If you’re headed to an off-the-beaten-path destination or a super-humid destination sometimes mascara is more work than it’s worth. Humidity and sweat combine to make mascara fight to stay in place. Don’t have black smudged eyes in photos. When you want to look put together but not worry about looking like a bandit in photos, turn to clear mascara.

Why We Love e.l.f. Clear Brow and Lash Mascara

• Clear formula defines eyelashes but doesn’t smudge
• 2-sided wand allows you to also have brow gel available
• 100% cruelty-free and vegan
• Super affordable price point

17. L’Oreal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner

When it comes to eyeliner, you want a product that’s easy to use, hard to smudge and that lasts. This L’Oreal Paris eyeliner checks all of those boxes. It might be just me but if I’m going to lose or ruin a product on a getaway, it’s eyeliner. The price point on this one makes it a good pick to keep several colors (or backups) on hand.

Why L’Oreal Infallible Grip Precision Felt is the Best Eyeliner

• 4 Star and above rating by 92% of purchasers
• Waterproof formula
• Pointy felt tip gives you a precise application
• Comes in black, brown, grey, green and blue
• Good for sensitive eyes/skin

18. RunnerUp: Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner

In travel, anything that saves space or eliminates another item is a win for us. Covergirl has been around forever. For many of us, it might even be the first brand we ever used. Their Perfect Point Plus eyeliner comes with a smudge stick on one end for those smoky eye looks on the go!

Why We Also Love Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner

• Self-sharpening design eliminates the need to pack an eyeliner pencil sharpener
• Five color options
• Blendable formula can create both precise and smoky looks
• Super easy to apply

19. Revlon Illuminance Creme Eye Shadow Palette

Eye shadow is always one of the trickier travel makeup items, especially if you’re a traveler who loves variety. If you’ve got eye shadow palettes at home where you use only one or two colors, the space they take up can seem like a waste. In addition, the makeup cases on traditional palettes can bust open and leave a mess. Cream eye shadow can be a great choice for travel!

Why We Love Revlon Illuminance Creme Eye Shadow

• Pocket-sized and easy to pack
• Ophthalmologist-tested and good for sensitive eyes and skin
• Eight great color options including shimmer, neutral and bold
• Buildable pigmented shades- just add more layers for more saturated results
• All palettes contain a mirror

20. RunnerUp:  Sephora Golden Hour Eye Shadow Palette

Sephora palettes can be a great travel option. They’re constantly putting out new color options and themed palettes. One of the other great things is that they aren’t hard plastics they’re less prone to shatter and leave you with a powdery mess. You can pop them into a ziplock bag for safekeeping.

Why We Love Sephora Eye Shadow Palettes

• Great mix of matte, shimmer and metallic shadows in one palette
• Perfect size for travel
• 6 shades to choose from
• Palette slides in and out of heavy cardboard case

Read More:   22 Best Travel Eye Shadow Palettes

21. Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip Gloss

As a huge fan of lip gloss, I’ve tried hundreds over the years. While I prefer a tube of lip oil in my daily life, they aren’t ideal for travel. Tubes pressurize on flights and when you open them they start uncontrollably oozing. It’s not a headache you want to deal with. Wanded lip glosses are great for travel and this Rimmel one is the best of the bunch.

Why Rimmel Stay Glossy is the Best Travel Lip Gloss

• Wide range of color choices that look good on many skin tones
• Stays on for 6 hours with no touch-ups
• The wet look is great for when you want to give the impression that you did your makeup without wearing a full face
• When choosing a color, assume it’s slightly lighter than pictured

22. NYX Professional Butter Gloss in Sugar Glass

If you’re looking for the perfect clear gloss this is it! Most of us have used NYX for years. With its affordable price point, you can keep one in every cosmetic case and makeup bag you have so you’re always ready for your next trip.

Why NYX Professional Butter Gloss is the Best Clear Lip Gloss

• Smooth formula that isn’t sticky
• Cruelty-free company
• Super light scent and no harsh taste if you accidentally lick your lips
• Sheer colors are also available

23. Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm

Yes, we’ve got lip gloss and lip balm on the packing list! Did you know your lips can sunburn? Whether you’re in a hot climate or a cold one, sore lips are never fun on a vacation! We swear by Aquaphor for quick relief.

Why Aquaphor Lip Repair is a Must-Have for Travelers

• Seals in moisture and provides long-lasting relief
• Slanted tip provides easy application
• #1 dermatologist recommended lip brand

24. Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder

Y’all I didn’t even have to think about what my favorite setting powder was. It is Beauty Bakerie Flour powder hands down. Their translucent powder sits on top of a made-up face locking all of your hard work in like nothing else I’ve found. It’s smooth and works every time. You only need a little bit so splurge!

Why Beauty Bakerie Flour is the Best Setting Powder

• Lightweight and super smooth
• Adorable themed packaging
• Matte finish kicks your look up a notch
• Vegan paraben-free ingredients
• Wide range of powders available to match all skin tones
• Black-owned business

25. Skindavia- The Makeup Finishing Spray 16+ Hour Setting Spray

Setting spray is a makeup must-have for me. Honestly, I don’t know how I lived for so long without it. My first exposure to it was when it came in a Beauty Bakerie mystery box I ordered. Living in Texas the humidity would melt my face off on some days. Not when I locked it all in with setting spray though! Unfortunately, they discontinued theirs so I’ve had to test out other brands to find a replacement.

The best setting sprays use an even fine mist. You don’t want one wet spot on a cheek and no spray on your forehead. A lot of travel sizes have pump sprayers vs pressurized so be sure to “practice” before your trip.

Why Skindavia Makeup Finishing Spray is the Best Travel Setting Spray

• Used by makeup artists to lock in looks for long days and nights
• Great for all climates – moisturizing helps on ski trips and oil control helps with hot and humid spots
• Doesn’t settle into wrinkles and imperfections like some setting sprays
• Convenient travel size

Makeup Tip: Tropical getaway  in a super humid climate? Spray after applying your foundation, concealer and contouring. Let it dry. Complete the rest of your makeup and spray it again. It will keep your makeup in place all day and night!

26. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes

An important part of a makeup routine is removing your makeup at the end of the day. However, makeup-removing wipes are usually packaged in a way that is anything but travel-friendly. They are bulky, have flaps that don’t actually reseal and sometimes leak liquid. For quick trips where you only need three or four wipes, bringing a big full-size pack seems like overkill. These individually packaged wipes are perfect to keep on hand for trips as they come up.

Why Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes are Perfect for Travel

• Individual packages make it easy to pack only what you need for the trip, saving space
• Wipes remove even waterproof and water-resistant makeup
• Ophthalmologist, dermatologist and allergist tested
• Compostable
• Full-sized wipe

27. RunnerUp: Juno & Co Exfoliating Face Wash

If you have never tried a powder-to-foam cleanser as a part of your skincare product routine, you’ve been missing out! The first time I saw a powder-to-foam product was when one showed up in a subscription box. You shake a little powder into your hand, add some water and lather it into a creamy foam. It’s perfect for travel. You can dose out a little bit into travel containers  based on how long you’ll be gone.

Why Juno & Co Exfoliating Face Wash is the RunnerUp Makeup Remover

• Removes makeup, cleanses and exfoliates at the same time
• Hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin
• Leaves skin feeling clean and fresh
• Great for travel since it doesn’t have to go in your toiletry bag of liquid products

28. Majestic Bombay Fine Point & Slant Tweezer Set

Tweezers are a must-have for any trip. Whether you need to tame some eyebrows or pull out a splinter, they’re good to have with you. You may think that all tweezers are created equal, but they’re not. A lot of the generic drugstore ones don’t get the best grip on hair. We have a favorite set that locks onto any hair they find.

Why Majestic Bombay is our Favorite Tweezer Set

• Set comes with slant tweezers and point tweezers
• One of the best pair of point tweezers we’ve found, super accurate
• Fun bright colors available

Picking the Best Travel Makeup For Your Style

Makeup is a deeply personal decision. Different people like different looks, have different skin tones, have aversions to different textures or have different skin needs. In the long run, you are the one who needs to be happy with your choices. Hopefully, this list gets you started as you pack the carry-on for your next adventure. Happy travels!

The post Best 28 Travel Makeup Options: Pack These in Your Travel Makeup Bag appeared first on She Buys Travel .

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Things to Do in Elektrostal, Russia - Elektrostal Attractions

Things to do in elektrostal.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Electrostal History and Art Museum

2. Statue of Lenin

3. Park of Culture and Leisure

4. museum and exhibition center.

5. Museum of Labor Glory

7. Galereya Kino

8. viki cinema, 9. smokygrove.

10. Gandikap

11. papa lounge bar, 12. karaoke bar.

• Statue of Lenin
• Electrostal History and Art Museum
• Park of Culture and Leisure
• Museum and Exhibition Center
• Museum of Labor Glory

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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