21 Carry-On Suitcases Editors Recommend for Travel
The picks include lightweight, expandable bags tested on planes, trains, buses, cars and cruises.
Condé Nast Traveler selected 21 carry-on suitcases after editors and contributors tested them across many kinds of trips. The group includes newer designs alongside longtime favorites, with evaluations covering weight, capacity, durability, appearance, wheel movement and handle comfort. Testers also checked how easily each bag could be packed, accessed and lifted into an overhead compartment.
Away’s Bigger Carry-On is among the lighter options at 7.9 pounds, with 47.9 liters of space, compression straps and 360-degree wheels. Its limited lifetime warranty comes with a 100-day trial. Béis’s Carry-On weighs 7.81 pounds and expands from 49 to 61 liters. It has compression straps, a fully closing compartment and a limited lifetime warranty, making it a useful option for travelers who pack heavily.
The testing included trips to places such as New Mexico, Long Island, Paris, Cape Cod and St. Tropez. One featured suitcase held a week of clothes and three pairs of shoes, while other bags were used on weekend journeys and longer international travel. The larger takeaway for travelers is that practical details—space, maneuverability and durability—can shape how smoothly a bag handles the distance between check-in, the gate and the destination.
- The list contains 21 editor-approved carry-ons.
- Away’s Bigger Carry-On weighs 7.9 pounds.
- Béis’s Carry-On reaches 61 liters when expanded.
- Editors tested bags for months or, in some cases, years.
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