From frequent travelers to fashionistas, there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to carry-on luggage.
If you fly so often that you’re on a first-name basis with TSA agents at your local airport, you’ll want a carry-on suitcase that’s durable enough to withstand repeated use.
Your carry-on bag should be as stylish as you, so you need a striking option that expresses your unique personality. But if you’re backpacking in Europe or heading to the great outdoors, you’ll need a carry-on bag that’s both sturdy and comfortable.
RELATED: Airline carry-on dimensions: Everything you need to know
No matter how often, where or how you travel, we’ve rounded up the best products to help you find the carry-on bag that fits your lifestyle.
The best elevated basics: July’s go-to essentials
size: 21.5 inches x 15 inches x 8.5 inches
price: $275
Buy it now: July website
Before bringing the product to market, July carefully studied thousands of customer reviews of other luggage brands to determine how to outshine the competition in design. The result is a crush-proof, scratch-proof and sophisticated carry-on suitcase.
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This minimalist bag comes with only the essentials: a stylish shell with TSA lock, internal compression system, and a hidden laundry pocket. July sells bags that are built to last and stick to that promise, offering a lifetime warranty and a 100-day return policy.
For an extra $50, you can order an upgrade that includes metal bumpers, expandable zippers, and a foldable travel tote.
Best personal item: Helium DLX wheel chair by Delsey Paris
size: 14.25 inches x 9 inches x 15.25 inches
price: $159.99
Buy it now: delcy paris website
Although we wish they didn’t, some airlines do charge for carry-on bags. However, even if there is a fee, you can bring your personal belongings for free. This personal bag will also come in handy if you find that your carry-on suitcase isn’t big enough to hold everything.
Personal items need to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, and the Delsey Helium DLX Seat Cushion does just that.
Despite its smaller size, this bag still has smart features like silent rollers, TSA-compliant lock, interior and exterior organization, and a trolley cover.
Best Trackable Luggage: July’s CaseSafe Carry On
size: 21.5 inches x 15 inches x 8.5 inches
price: $325
Buy it now:July website
Since the launch of this product in 2021, we recommend adding AirTags to your luggage. Several airlines have since integrated AirTag tracking services to help speed up the process of reuniting passengers who have lost their luggage. But July launched something even better – the world’s first trackable suitcase.
July created the CaseSafe series in consultation with Google and Apple to create top-notch, technologically advanced, stylish lost luggage solutions. The suitcase’s battery-operated lock is fully compatible with Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find Center network, allowing travelers to track their luggage directly from their phone.
You may not think you need tracking capabilities in your carry-on luggage. However, you never know when you’ll be asked to check your bags at the gate, or when you’ll buy so many souvenirs that you’ll need to check them in before you can bring your shopping bags on the plane.
Best for Kids: State’s Logan Carry-on Luggage
size: 18.7 inches x 13.4 inches x 9.45 inches
price: $225
Buy it now: National website
Most children reach an age where they want to pack and carry their own suitcases. Unfortunately, many luggage pieces designed for children look better than they actually perform. This is what makes the State bag unique.
State bags are durable, functional, and come in fun prints that kids (and most adults) will love. The bag has interior structure (including a zippered pocket to keep dirty laundry separate), an exterior pocket, and a side strap to hold a water bottle, jacket, or stuffed animal. The smooth-rolling 360-degree wheels are also easy to maneuver.
For kids who like to match things up, State offers accessories such as lunch boxes, toiletry sets, duffel bags and backpacks in patterns that are as eye-catching as the suitcases.
Best Large Carry-On: The Bigger Carry-On by Away
size: 22.7 inches x 15.4 inches x 9.6 inches
price: $295
Buy it now: Leave the site
This enlarged version of the original Away Carry-On is not only bigger, it’s better. The larger carry-on suitcase is large enough to hold enough clothing for a four- to seven-day trip.
It’s also constructed with a durable polycarbonate shell and comes with a host of functional features such as 360-degree swivel wheels, TSA lock, internal compression system, and waterproof laundry bag. Just as important, Bigger Carry-On from Away is available in a variety of colors, including limited-edition shades released throughout the year.
Whether you’re looking for luggage in your favorite color or want to stand out in a sea of black luggage, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Add even more personalization with monograms and luggage tags in a range of colors and styles.
Best for metro and city living: Aer’s carry-on suitcase
size: 22.7 inches x 15 inches x 9 inches
price: $299
Buy it now: Aviation website
When I asked my TPG colleagues about their favorite carry-ons, I was surprised to find that I’d never heard of a carry-on with wheel brakes. TPG senior editor Lyndsey Matthews introduced me to the Aer Carry-On.
The San Francisco-based company is known for its durable travel backpacks, but in 2024 it launched its first wheeled carry-on suitcase. “Aer carry-on luggage features similar durable details, such as puncture-resistant YKK zippers and CORDURA ripstop lining,” says Lyndsey. “Plus, its ultra-smooth Hinomoto wheels come with a braking system, so you don’t have to worry about your luggage rolling around on a subway platform or on a busy street.”
Lyndsey also likes the “rainbow” color of the Aer Carry-On. (If you want to stand out from the crowd…and on the baggage carousel, choose safety orange.)
Best Indestructible Case: Monos’ Carry-On
size: 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches
price: $275
Buy it now: Monos website
With its sleek, sleek design and vegan leather upholstery, you might have a hard time believing that the Monos Carry-On is indestructible and waterproof. In fact, every aspect of it performs as well as it looks, from the telescoping handle with four adjustable height settings to the antimicrobial interior fabric.
Other great features include a TSA-approved lock, built-in compression system, laundry bag, two shoe pockets, and a vegan leather luggage tag. Choose from standard colors like black, white and gray, or have a little fun with pink, forest green, sky blue or one of Monos’ limited edition prints.
Best Luxury Luggage: Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-on Bag
size: 21.7 inches x 15.8 inches x 9.1 inches
price: $1,500
Buy it now: Rimowa website
If you want a bag that can withstand hundreds of thousands of miles of travel by air, land and sea, the Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On is the gold standard… and not just because it comes in a range of metallic shades.
In addition to durability, the Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On features TSA locks, a unique multi-wheel system and adjustable interior dividers.
The Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On is significantly more expensive than other products on this list, but you can probably use it for ten years (or more) before you need a new one. Rimowa offers a lifetime warranty on its signature aluminum luggage to guarantee its longevity.
RELATED: Carry-on Showdown: Away vs. Rimowa
Best Budget Basics: Quince’s Carry-On Suitcase
size: 22.8 inches x 9.8 inches x 15.6 inches
price: $129.90
Buy it now: papaya website
At less than half the price of many competitors, the Quince carry-on suitcase is a great value. The bag features a sturdy polycarbonate shell, interior compression panels, removable laundry bag, 360-degree swivel wheels, and TSA-compliant lock. It’s also roomy enough to hold a few days’ worth of clothing, yet still compact enough to fit in the overhead bin on most planes.
Best carry-on backpack: Baboon to the Moon Small Go-Bag
size: 10.5 inches x 20.5 inches x 12.5 inches
price: $199
Buy it now: Baboons to the Moon website
While 360-degree spinners are convenient at the airport, sometimes you need a bag you can throw on your back and go.
The small version is perfect for carry-on; it can hold three to five days’ worth of clothing and fits in an airplane’s overhead bin. The bag features an easy-to-clean, weatherproof exterior along with lockable zippers and multiple organizational elements, such as a passport pocket and multiple interior pockets.
bottom line
No matter where you’re going or how you plan to get there, you need a carry-on bag that can smoothly traverse terrain (even if that terrain is an airport’s moving walkway) and hold everything you need for your adventure.
Every bag on this list looks good and performs well enough that you’ll probably find one that deserves a spot in your wardrobe.
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