The 13 Best Carry-Ons (2025): Away, Travelpro, and more

Compare the 13 best handbags

Honorable mentions

We try a a lot Of bags! Here are the others that didn’t earn a spot on our top picks.

Photography: Martin Cizmar

Karl Frederick bag for $645: This British brand positions itself as a quiet luxury bag. It has a distinctive look, with leather accents and typical upscale features like smooth-rolling Hinamoto wheels, a built-in lock, and well-functioning latches. This is what you get if you want a sleek look but don’t want disgruntled baggage handlers targeting your Rimowa.

Air bag for $299: Aer’s carry-on bag has very nice Hinamoto ball bearings as well as wheel locks, for when you take the shuttle to the rental car office.

Casetify Bounce Bag for $699: Casetify phone cases always have a place in our phone case collections because they are cute and customizable. It’s also the company’s first piece of luggage, and it’s cool and you can write a monogram on it. Unfortunately, it’s also smaller and much more expensive than most of our other picks.

Courtesy of Pace

Beis Carry-On Roller for $268: WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell tried the Beis Viral Bag and loved its sleek look, variety of colors, and extras like a built-in weight scale and a retractable strap that lets you clip a backpack or duffel to the front.

Amazon Basics Expandable Hard Case for $52: Are you getting on a plane in a couple of days and need a practical rolling bag that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on? This Amazon Basics bag will do just the job. Sure, the wheels don’t roll like the Rimowa and the zippers get stuck as often, but they’re very light and the textured ABS body doesn’t scratch easily.—Martin Cizmar

Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Bag for $210: This is a four-wheeled hard-side rolling suitcase made of a durable polypropylene outer shell. The interior fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, and has a “WetPak” storage pocket to keep wet items separate from the rest of your luggage.

Frequently asked questions

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What is the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on bags?

Rule 3-1-1 is a (supposedly) easy reminder from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that indicates what liquids you can carry in your carry-on luggage. You may bring liquids smaller than 3.4 ounces in one clear quart-sized bag, with one per person. I usually put my bag inside my toiletry bag, but many people put their belongings in the outside toiletry pocket for quick extraction if TSA needs to check.

Should I get a Softshell bag or a Hardshell bag?

Honestly, the quality of the hardware is much more important than the materials. Any more expensive suitcase with a better warranty will last longer than a cheaper suitcase. Soft shells usually have front pockets and are softer and easier to expand and crush into smaller compartments. However, the fabric can be water permeable and easy to open. Hardcovers are usually lighter, but you are less flexible when it comes to storage. I prefer soft covers, but I never leave my belongings unattended.

What size bag can I bring?

If you take one piece of advice from this guide, let it be this: Save yourself the hassle at the airport, check your airline’s size requirements, and get a tape measure. If in doubt, choose a bag with soft sides so you can put it in the airline’s size bin when you’re about to board the plane. Each airline has different requirements; We have listed many airlines here.

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