- Checking a bag can be a pain and even cost you money, so you need reliable carry-on luggage that you can bring onboard the plane.
- Of all the carry-on luggage we’ve researched and tested, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright is the best bag with its sturdy wheels, smart compression technology, and lifetime warranty.
As the popularity of air travel has increased, the associated sense of luxury and ease has decreased. Even though overhead bins are shrinking and regulations are tightening, travelers still want to be able to love their gear. You need to be able to rely on your luggage no matter where your travels take you and feel secure that your carry-on is going to fit in the compartment without starting an international incident.
Many airlines these days have their own unique regulations for carry-on luggage size, but we searched the web for the best options that should get you where you’re going without a headache. In addition to size, we also took into consideration, weight, mobility, internal and external packing features, price, and more to come up with a list of the best carry-on luggage options available.
There are lots of different reasons people fly these days and just as many ways to approach packing all the necessities. If you’re a business traveler with a laptop and other tech devices in your carry-on, you may be looking for features that make passing security checkpoints a little smoother. If you’re tired of your suitcase’s wheels spinning the wrong way or tripping up en route, it’s time to upgrade with some eight-wheeled magnetic technology. Or if you’re looking to skip the wheels completely, we’ve got an elegant option for the backpacker in you. No matter your needs, we’ve got the carry-on luggage for you in our guide.
Here are our top picks for the best carry-on luggage:
- Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright
- Travelpro Platinum Magna Express Spinner Suiter
- Incase EO Travel Hardshell Roller
- Timbuk2 Co-Pilot Luggage Roller
- American Tourister iLite Max Softside Spinner 21
- Delsey Chalet Wheel Spinner Carry On
The best overall
The Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright bag expands and compresses so you can pack in more than meets the eye, and mesh garment panels keep your clothes fresh for arrival.
The Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright looks like an ordinary carry-on from the outside, but it’s really the internal components that make it our number one choice. Briggs & Riley’s compression and expansion technology allows you to expand the bag while packing so you can cram in that extra pair of shoes, and then compress everything inside back to normal size once you’ve zippered the bag closed. The interior is lined with mesh garment panels that strap down to hold clothes in place without shifting or wrinkling.
Because the bag uses an outsider handle system that tucks the rails on the bag’s exterior, there aren’t any awkward or uneven ridges at the bottom of the bag. Pack everything flat and make better, more efficient use of the space when you’re packing for a longer trip or for multiple climates. With ballistic nylon as the bag’s outer material, there’s room for a little give without being vulnerable to the dents and nicks of frequent travel.
The best offering that comes with the Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright is its lifetime warranty, which is a no-questions-asked policy and even covers airline damage.
Pros: Compression/decompression technology to pack more, internal mesh garment panels for wrinkle-free clothes, lifetime warranty
Cons: Expensive
The best four-wheeled carry-on
The Travelpro Platinum Magna Express Spinner Suiter solves all those pesky directional problems with four dual wheels and magnets that align them no matter which way you're going.
When rollaboards were popularized with just two wheels on bags so you could tip your bag and go, mobility may have been limited, but at least it was straightforward. Travelpro's Platinum Magna Express Spinner Suiter carry-on bag with four wheels allows you to push and pull your bag in any direction without tipping it behind you.
The company's own "MagnaTrac" technology uses a system of magnets to keep all four of the suitcase's dual wheels tracking in the same direction and rolling in a straight line. Although MagnaTrac is really the standout feature of this Travelpro bag, there are plenty of other reasons it's a great carry-on option.
The bag itself is lightweight and features plenty of zippered mesh compartments on the inside for smaller accessories, dirty laundry, or even wet bathing suits. It comes with a garment bag, a piece for which Travelpro has also been praised widely by business travelers.
A contoured handle is designed to be more ergonomic and easy on the arm and shoulder, and it stops at three different heights for easy navigation. The expandable main compartment adds another two inches to the bag's interior if you're planning to do some shopping while abroad.
The bag measures 21 x 14 x 9 inches, which should suit most but not all airline regulations for carry-ons these days. A ballistic nylon exterior protects the suitcase from wear and tear, and the bag is covered by Travelpro's standard worry-free warranty.
Pros: Magnets align all four dual wheels to roll in the same direction, easy to pull, expandable compartment
Cons: Limited color options, carry-on dimensions may be too big for certain airlines
The best for travelers with a laptop
For business travelers or anyone flying with a laptop, the Incase Eo Travel Hardshell Roller makes passing security checkpoints a breeze with its easy-to-access briefcase section.
The polycarbonate exterior of the Incase Eo Travel Hardshell Roller does more than protect whatever is packed inside your bag. It's also an easy-to-access laptop sleeve that allows you to pass through TSA checkpoints without using separate plastic bins for your tech gadgets and devices. Just unzip the polycarbonate sleeve layer, lay it in the bin that goes through the x-ray belt, and TSA has access to everything they need and nothing they don't.
Along with the large laptop sleeve and one designed for tablets, the easy-access tech section of the Eo Travel Hardshell Roller features a bunch of small accessories pockets to keep track of business tools like charging cords, adapters, and even file folders, notebooks, and pens.
Only one of the suitcase's internal sides has a hard molded structure, so the cotton-and-polyester-blend fabric allows for a little extra give while you're cramming your belongings into your carry-on. The main compartment does expand if you need a checked luggage option on one leg of your trip or both.
While we've been singing the praises of four-wheeled (and eight-wheeled) roller carry-ons so far, there are also plenty of reasons to love a two-wheeled carry-on instead. Personally, I know I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of rolling my perfectly upright bag alongside me like I'm walking a dog - but that's only because I've traveled with my two-wheel roller for as long as I can remember.
If you're a two-wheel loving business traveler, the Incase Eo Travel Hardshell Roller is a great option. And at 15 x 8 x 23 inches, it fits in with most airlines' carry-on dimensions rules.
Pros: Easily accessible laptop sleeve, two-wheeled rolling system, if you're into that
Cons: Scratches easily, two-wheeled rolling system, if you're not into that
The best for charging your phone
The Away Carry-on has a TSA-approved, removable battery to charge your phone and it comes in lots of fun colors.
If you've ever been at the airport frantically searching for an outlet to charge your phone, you should get the Away Carry-on. This smart suitcase has a built-in, removable battery that can charge an iPhone five times and an iPad more than once.
You simply plug your charging cable into the USB port near the handle and juice up. To charge the suitcase's battery, you just plug it into the wall with the included charging cord. The battery is TSA, FAA, and DOT approved, so you can fly with it as long as you pop the battery out of the bag before boarding, which is as easy as pressing a button.
Even though it has a battery inside, this hardshell suitcase isn't too heavy at just seven pounds. It measures 21.7 by 13.7 by 9 inches, so it works as a carry-on bag in most planes. It has spinner wheels, too, so it's easy to roll along with you.
Away sells the bag in 13 fun colors to suit any style and has a lifetime warranty in case you have problems with it.
Pros: Fun colors, removable battery to charge your phone
Cons: Expensive
The best for organized packers
The Timbuk2 Copilot Luggage Roller unzips into a butterfly style interior that lets you pack in zippered units on both sides of the case, instead of stacking everything from top to bottom in a single garment compartment.
Packing all your clothes in solid stacks or rolling them into bundles doesn't make for easy dressing or garment selection once you've arrived at your destination. The Timbuk2 Copilot suitcase features two separate clamshell compartments that meet in the middle, so you can separate clean from dirty, clothes from shoes, or even jeans and t-shirts from sweaters and jackets. The possibilities are endless, but the convenience of easy access compartments of varying sizes is seriously appealing.
The bag's front-facing pocket is the perfect size for a laptop, and a top quick-access pocket is great for the things you know you'll need during your flight. If you don't have room to open the full clamshell interior, beneath the laptop pocket is a zip pocket that reaches directly into the suitcase's main compartment.
Skateboard wheels are the most unique feature of the Timbuk2 Copilot Luggage Roller. At first, I thought featuring skateboard wheels was a questionable marketing angle, but if you think about how skateboard wheels are designed to function over uneven roads or bumpy sidewalk terrain, it starts to make sense. It also makes the wheels easily replaceable or even customizable if you wanted to show a little flair alongside the various color options that Timbuk2 offers.
The bag is backed by Timbuk2's lifetime warranty as well, so repairs and replacements are easy.
Pros: Deep easy-access pockets, separate clamshell compartments, skateboard wheels, lifetime warrany
Cons: Zippers can get a little sticky, two-wheeled suitcases aren't for everyone
The best on a budget
The American Tourister iLite Max Softside Spinner 21's good wheel mobility, zipper extensions, and fun color choices make this budget-friendly carry-on luggage a great choice.
The American Tourister iLite Max is a back-to-basics rollaboard carry-on that stays affordable by focusing on key functionality instead of splurging on extras. The soft polyester exterior features two outside pockets for easy access while on the road, and the zipper closure opens into one main interior compartment.
Instead of a butterfly interior with multiple internal compartments, the American Tourister iLite Max offers discreet internal zipper pockets for smaller accessories, wires and cords, or papers and folders. With four multi-directional spinner wheels, the American Tourister iLite Max Softside case makes moving through airports easy no matter what direction you're going, and upright rolling saves your arms and shoulders from added weight to drag behind you.
The 21 x 14.5 x 8-inch suitcase weighs in at about nine pounds, so it's neither the lightest nor the heaviest option on the market for its size. Keeping the case compact means it should fit in the overhead bins on most major airlines without any hassle.
The lack of a warranty on this case means it probably won't last a lifetime with heavy use, but at such an affordable price, that's not a huge disaster. In addition to classic black, the American Tourister iLite Max Softside Spinner 21 comes in a variety of fun color choices, including pink, purple, and bright red.
Pros: Affordable, comes in a variety of colors, multi-directional spinner wheels
Cons: No warranty, may not be as durable
The best stylish bag
The Delsey Chatelet Hard Carry On is designed with sophisticated contrast coloring that will stand out from the sea of regular black carry-ons.
Sometimes another black rollaboard carry-on just won't cut it. The 100% virgin polycarbonate exterior of the Delsey Chatelet Hard Carry On comes in two fresh contrast colors: white with brown detailing or darker brown with light brown detailing. Both options feature faux leather accent details, and even the interior is stylish with a chic bright red lining.
The Makrolon polycarbonate case is designed to withstand extreme temperatures and resist impact, but a lighter white surface on a hardshell carry-on is more likely to show scrapes and scratches. If you're worried, get the dark brown version. The interior packing space opens into two generous compartments with zippered pockets, dividers, and tie-down straps to keep your clothes in place and unwrinkled.
On top of the style component, the best element of the Delsey Chatelet Hard Carry On are the Japanese Hinomoto double spinner wheels. Four-wheel directionality is the main option, but the system also includes a Stop And Go braking function so you can lock the two front wheels. Locked into place, your bag won't roll away, but you can still run to catch the final boarding call by dragging the case two-wheel style along the unlocked back wheels.
On the security side, the Delsey Chatelet Hard Carry On includes a built-in recessed lock that satisfies TSA regulations and keeps your belongings safe from unauthorized prying eyes. Delsey's ten-year international warranty protects your carry-on bag from any damage or harm that may come to it.
Pros: Sophisticated design, reliable and durable, built-in wheel braking system
Cons: Light-colored suitcases tend to scuff and stain
Check out our other travel buying guides
The best checked luggage
Traveling doesn't have to be a hassle. Having a great suitcase can be the difference between an amazing trip and a bad one. After much research and testing, here are our favorites.
The best packing cubes
Packing cubes are a great solution for messy packers. Not only do they help you store your things in an orderly manner, they also help you fit more things, which is always of interest. We've rounded up the top expert-approved packing cubes that will make your life so much easier on your next out of town journey.
The best travel backpacks
Backpacks are perfect for when you don't need a full suitcase, but you want more than a regular daypack or messenger bag. Based on our research and real-world testing, here are our top picks.