Get Away With The Best Luggage for Travel

Why you need a great suitcase, and why I know what to look for in the best luggage for travel

Choosing the perfect suitcase can be the most important investment you could make for your journeys. Your suitcase will be your trusty companion, carrying all the essentials you need to look and feel your best when you arrive at your destination. Whether flying, taking a train, a bus, a ship, or hitting the road in your car, a great suitcase is essential. But what is the best luggage for travel?

My favorite suitcase is the Away Bigger Carry-On Flex. I will tell you why you should listen to me, what criteria to consider when shopping for luggage, and how the Away luggage measures up. 

We all have different items to pack, from beauty supplies and toiletries to shoes and clothes, not to mention the weather at our destination. But I have tons of packing experience and am here to share it with you! For 15 years I was a road warrior, traveling for work by flight or car, roughly 28 weeks of the year. For the last 23 years, I have traveled in my spare time, whether on a weekend out of town or 3 weeks in a foreign country. The point is I’ve packed many bags, owned many suitcases, and had many broken suitcases, but I’ve learned a lot from each experience!

Now that you know you can trust my advice, it’s time to get excited about buying a suitcase!

Jump To A Section

• The 8 features I consider when looking for a new suitcase
  • Material
  • Wheels
  • Compartment organization
  • Zippers
  • Handles
  • Color
  • Size
  • Price
• Best suitcase (in my opinion)
• How does it measure up?
  • Polycarbonate
  • 360° spinner wheels
  • Fabulous organization and expansion
  • Ergonomic zippers and TSA lock
  • Grab and hoist handles
  • Classic and limited-time colors
  • Space for everything
  • My packing strategy
  • Reasonably priced
  • Limited lifetime warranty
• What are others saying about the best luggage for travel?
• What other brands can we recommend?

Tips For Choosing The Best Hard Shell Suitcase. These Are The 8 Features I Consider When Looking For a New Suitcase

1. Material

For many years, I used fabric (nylon or polyester) suitcases, always on the lookout for something that could expand and had one or two pockets on the outside. I thought this offered me the most flexibility and likelihood of jamming everything I could into it. After many years of believing these were the best solution for me, I finally tried a hard shell suitcase, I will NEVER go back. I’ve learned that hard shells are the best luggage for travel. The hard shells are more durable over time and to my surprise allow me to fit more, and organize better, than I did in the fabric ones.  Hard shells are also more likely to keep the rain out than some of the budget materials I’ve tried in the past. Moving forward the focus of this review is going to be hard shell suitcases.

Old luggage [stock image]

Common materials for a hard shell suitcase are ABS ( Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), polycarbonate, or polypropylene. All are considered durable, but polycarbonate is the best of the bunch. Polycarbonate is scratch, impact, and temperature fluctuation resistant – Think about what your suitcase is going through while you’re waiting to board your flight or reuniting with it in baggage claim. 

Polypropylene is lighter but not as strong. ABS isn’t as flexible as the other two materials, so it may crack under pressure. My first hard shell cracked on a flight home. The irony was that I had been laid off that week and a shelter-in-place order began the next day. I was pretty bummed. It felt like a sign that I may never travel for work again. I did though, and got an even better suitcase (polycarbonate, of course). Everything is fine now.

2. Wheels

Get four spinner wheels! Unless you want to drag your luggage around and give your arms a workout. All wheels aren’t created equal, though. Look for wheels that feel smooth and allow you to turn your suitcase easily. This is helpful if you’re running between terminals and dodging pillars to get there.

3. Compartment Organization

This category is going to differ from person to person. If you’re looking for a bag with outside pockets for quick access to items, some hard shells have this feature. I tend to avoid this because the space comes from inside. With a well-organized suitcase, you can still easily access some items even without outer pockets. Look at the internal compartments, the separation between the left and right sides, and a functional divider to see how much organization you can get. Expansion is a great feature. You might come home with more than you left with, so you don’t want to worry about needing a new bag to get home.

4. Zippers

There’s nothing worse than getting to your destination to find that a zipper was broken in transit and you’ll have to tape or bungee-cord it closed until you can get a replacement. Make sure the zippers unzip and zip smoothly. Models with TSA locks that you insert the zipper into will help protect your zipper pulls from being broken off. Just a heads-up: TSA locks might not be as secure when you’re abroad. The TSA is based in the US, so they might have a master key, but if you’re overseas, they probably don’t. So, you might want to avoid locking it if you don’t want it cut open during a search. If your bag is with you they will probably ask you to unlock it but if it’s checked you never know.

5. Handles

Is it going to be easy to pull up or push the handle down when you’re short on time? Flimsy handles can get stuck open and break easily, so it’s important to choose a durable option. A solid handle will also hold extra luggage, laptop cases, and bags better than a flimsy one. Most suitcases have a fixed handle on top, even if there’s a telescoping one. Look for one that also has a handle on the side. 

Handles on both sides make it easier to get your luggage on a train and off the baggage claim carousel, even if it’s been jostled around on the belt (I mean have you ever seen luggage get loaded onto a plane?? not pretty.) Look for a pocket handle on the bottom, too. That’ll make it easier to hoist your bag up to put it in an overhead bin or shelf on the plane or train. These features are convenient but also provide some safety for your back. I used to go to the chiropractor on the way home from the airport nearly every other week. Unfortunately, I can’t help you with the discomfort of sitting on the plane. 

If you plan to be lifting your luggage on a train, in Italy, read our Guide to Navigating Italy by Train.

6. Color

While colors might seem like a fun, personality-type feature, colors are really important for helping you find your luggage. I know you’ve noticed nearly every piece of luggage that isn’t black or navy blue, at the luggage carousel. Why? Because the majority of people have black or navy blue luggage. So you notice the ones that aren’t. Additionally, airline and airport staff are more likely to overlook a black or blue one, and it may not make it on/off the plane. Having a unique color makes it easy for you to spot your luggage and for the airlines to find it if it doesn’t make it on your flight. If you must have black or navy blue, put some sort of brightly colored sticker or luggage tag on it. 

Finally, don’t assume that your color is so unique that no one else has it. I had a bright teal suitcase, and I usually saw one or two other teal suitcases, but they weren’t quite the same shade. Well, one time my suitcase didn’t come out. I went to the baggage claim help desk, and their records showed that my suitcase had arrived but wasn’t in the pile waiting to be picked up. There was, however, a very similar color and size suitcase that wasn’t mine. The airline representative was really helpful and called the phone number on the luggage tag. Sure enough, that person had just left the rental car lot and didn’t realize they had the wrong bag—my bag! I got lucky because they came right back, and we swapped the bags. 

Baggage Claim Carousel [stock image]

7. Size

This is another category that is up to you. Do you need something large that you will check-in, something smaller for carry-on, or a full set? If you plan to use your bag for a trip that involves a flight you’ll want to check with each airline for their size restrictions (they aren’t all the same). Furthermore, if you plan to travel abroad you will find different restrictions there as well. On average you will need something 22” or smaller to carry on in the United States, but in Europe, you might find restrictions as small as 40cm (15”).

If you are planning a trip and need tips on booking a flight read our Essential Guide to Flight Booking Like a Pro.

8. Price

This category is up to you. Think about how price-sensitive you are and how often you travel. If you don’t travel often, you can probably get away with a lower-priced model. When I first started buying luggage, I’d often head to outlet malls or a reseller store (like Ross, TJ Maxx, or Marshalls) to get more expensive brands at a discount. If you travel more often, you’ll probably know that spending less could mean buying more often. We’re big fans of quality one-time purchases whenever possible. Remember, this is going to carry all the valuable toiletries/meds you can’t go a day without, and your favorite outfits.

So What Is The Best Suitcase (In My Opinion)?

Away! My sister (and travel companion) and I each have the Bigger Carry-On Flex and have loved it since the first time we rolled it into an airport. We each have two.

Away Wheels

Away Compartment Organization

Unlike most fabric suitcases the zipper is in the middle of the suitcase rather than at the top. This makes it easier to separate your clothes, shoes, and toiletries into two halves. One side has a mesh zipper cover, and the other has a divider with a mesh pocket for even more separation of items. You can use the folding laundry bag, which snaps in place between the wheel fenders, to store dirty items. 

The real star of the organization show is the compression straps. The interior compression straps are like no other clothing strap you’ve ever experienced. They go across the divider piece to compress all of your clothes down. Most internal straps will keep clothes in place but not compress them. The divider has a rounded metal bar around the perimeter of it, which assists in compressing the clothes and maintaining organization.

 The wrap-around zipper expansion makes it easy to fit everything in. The Flex expansion provides 2.5″ more space. Sometimes we use the flex zipper to get everything in, zip the luggage closed, and then zip the expansion zipper closed – this maximizes compression. Bonus: the wrap-around in the zipper allows you to close it with ease, like putting a lid on it versus closing a book.

Other luggage reviews tend to leave out the Away models that expand. So if you are looking to see how this model ranked among others you likely will not find the Flex version.

Away Zippers

The zippers on these suitcases are smooth and ergonomically designed, making it easy to unzip or zip them up without rotating the suitcase. The wrap-around zipper has a different shape than the ones that can be inserted into the TSA lock, so you don’t accidentally grab the wrong one when packing. The TSA lock is on the top of the suitcase, which we like because it’s convenient. An added bonus is that you can protect your zippers, anyone ever had a zipper pull break off on a suitcase in an otherwise perfect condition? Ya me too.

Away Handles

This suitcase can handle it all. The telescoping handle is quick to release, smooth, and sturdy. The top and side fixed handles are soft and flexible, so you can grab your bag off the luggage carousel and step off curbs, stairs, or trains with ease. It also has a large underside pocket handle, so you can easily hoist this suitcase into your trunk or the overhead bin/shelf.

Away Colors

Away Size

As previously mentioned the size of the luggage you choose depends on your needs. When I selected the Away Bigger Carry-On Flex I was looking for something that would be easy to take on trains in Europe (specifically Italy) and would hold everything I needed. I typically check my suitcase due to the restrictions on liquids and I have a carry-on backpack. Since I wanted something small enough to hoist into luggage racks and to carry almost everything, I knew I needed a carry-on but the largest I could get. I tried the regular-size carry-on and it was too small for my needs but would have been perfect if I was one of those superhumans that can carry on everything and pack really light. I’m not.

My Packing Strategy

With the Bigger Carry-On-Flex, I am able to fit any and all toiletries on the left side, occasionally a pair of shoes too. I keep a pair of flip-flops and sometimes a pair of sandals in the divider pocket. 

Moving to the right, I fill the space in between the telescoping handle with rolled-up underwear and socks. I then place one or two pairs of shoes, and a bra or two, in the bottom part. With the remaining space, on average, I can fit 4 sets of PJs, 1 outfit to travel in, 2 pairs of jeans (or shorts), 5-6 tops, and  2-3 dresses. Lastly, I place 1-2 outerwear jackets or sweaters and a scarf across the top of the clothes and shoes. Pull the compression straps and divider over and magically it all fits. If it’s warm weather season I swap the outerwear for beach wear and put the dress across the top. There is usually a little bit of space between the two sides, I can fit an empty purse or my beach bag there. Don’t let capacity numbers fool you, they don’t account for compression straps!

Away Pricing

This brand of luggage is in the ‘pricier, but you won’t have to replace it anytime soon‘ category. Their prices range from $275 to $435 for individual hard-sided suitcases. They often have discounts when you buy a set. They’ve got a great range of sizes, and most come in a standard version and an expandable one (called the Flex). If you’re not convinced about the hard shell with the zipper in the middle, you can opt for a trunk style with the zipper on one side (like the classic fabric suitcase). We’re all about hard-sided luggage, but if you prefer fabric, you can enjoy many of these features with the ‘Softer Side’ line by Away. 

The Softer Side is made with high-strength water-resistant nylon and has an exterior pocket. These are a little less expensive and have fewer color options. The hard-sided line also comes in aluminum for ultimate durability, but at a premium price (over $600 for all models) and has fewer color options than the other two lines. When we purchased our luggage they offered a built-in power bank for charging your phone. We didn’t opt for this because it takes up some valuable packing space and we carry a power bank in our backpack or purse. It’s highly possible others felt the same since they no longer offer this.

Being the Best Luggage for Travel, Away Has you Covered

Away has a limited lifetime warranty, covering cracks and breaks in the hard shell, wheels, handles, and zippers that stop working. Their customer service is incredible too. It’s worth noting that they are mostly only available online, with 14 brick-and-mortar locations in the United States, 1 in London, and 1 in Toronto. They currently ship to the US, UK, and Canada.

What Are Others Saying About the Best Luggage for Travel?

I’m not the only one who loves this suitcase, it’s an award-winning suitcase with glowing reviews. Travel + Leisure Magazine said that this bag is perfect for over-packers, Good Housekeeping said it is the best carry-on luggage, and customer reviews are gushing about this brand.  

What other brands can we recommend? 

We see the Away luggage line as a luxury item. We tried other brands, but this was the first one we wanted to buy again (in different sizes because the first one is still rolling). That said, we haven’t tried other luxury brands. If we lost interest in Away, we’d probably look at TUMI. 

If you’re on a budget, consider Delsey and Samsonite. You can often find good deals at outlet malls and resellers. Be aware that if you buy an off-brand or something exclusive to a retailer like Walmart or Target, it probably won’t survive too many flights without looking like it’s traveled (or breaking). 

Is there another luggage brand you prefer? What makes it your favorite? We’d love to hear from you! We’re luggage geeks and want to know what you use.

-XO, The Twins

---

---