📝 usncan Note: Best Carry-On Luggage 2025 – Forbes Vetted
Disclaimer: This content has been prepared based on currently trending topics to increase your awareness.
As a frequent flyer who always tries to avoid checking a bag, I set out to find the best carry-on luggage for every type of trip, from quick weekend jaunts to long-haul international vacations. To find the best carry-on luggage of 2025, I tapped Forbes Vetted editors to share insights on the bags they’ve used and tested while leveraging my own experience traveling with dozens of carry-ons over the years. If you have a trip on the horizon, consider the Away The Bigger Carry-On, my top pick overall thanks to generous capacity, great organization features and built-in compression, providing enough packing space for a full week.
Based on rigorous testing, I determined the Away Bigger Carry-On to be the best carry-on luggage overall.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
After researching 15 top contenders and weighing in feedback from the team’s collective travels, here are the 10 best carry-on bags that made our list of winners.
To evaluate these carry-on bags, we focused on factors including durability, maneuverability and style. Other luggage that scored high marks include the Monos Carry-On Pro—a hardside option with a spacious laptop compartment—as well as the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner, a durable softside suitcase with plenty of pockets. Below, find our favorite carry-on bags to take along on your fall and holiday travels this year.
I have been using Away suitcases since 2018, and I often recommend the brand’s bags to others as a great option for those looking to dip their toes into hardside luggage (first-time Away user and Forbes Vetted senior reviews editor Anna Perling tested the Carry-On on trips to Paris, Austin and New York earlier this year).
I traveled with the Away Bigger Carry-On on a ski trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland and filled it with over a week’s worth of bulky clothes.
Astrid Taran For Forbes Vetted
The brand’s Bigger Carry-On is the most-used suitcase in my carry-on collection. Its compression system is truly strong enough to squeeze multiple overstuffed packing cubes into the bag; it also has comfortable grab handles, an integrated TSA lock and great accessories, like a laundry bag. Away’s website states that this suitcase could fit up to nine outfits and enough clothing for up to seven days, but I feel its capacity is undersold. I traveled with this bag on a ski trip to Switzerland, where I couldn’t check a suitcase due to having back-to-back connections on different airlines (I wouldn’t recommend doing this, by the way). I was able to stuff the Bigger Carry-On with eight days’ worth of bulky sweaters and layers, with no zippers harmed in the process.
At almost 48 liters, it offers incredible capacity for being a carry-on suitcase—I’ve slid it into dozens of overhead bins on a variety of different airlines and never had a problem with its size. The only other suitcase on this list to beat it in terms of capacity is the Béis Carry-On Roller, which offers 61 liters of space—but only after you expand it. Since the Away Bigger Carry-On is not expandable, it’s all the more impressive that it can pack in so many things. It’s also one-third of the price of a Briggs & Riley bag, so when it comes to true bang for your buck, the Away Bigger Carry-On tops them all.
The 2025 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.
A high-quality suitcase doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg: The Samsonite Freeform costs less than $150 and offers a wealth of useful features, including a built-in TSA lock, elastic tie-down straps and a zippered 1-inch expansion panel. “I’ve been using this Samsonite carry-on for the past six years and it never lets me down,” says one of our panel testers. “As a chronic overpacker, I love that it’s expandable and has organizational pockets to help separate my clothes and essentials.”
At 6.5 pounds, this suitcase is more lightweight than most options on our list and the 360-degree wheels make it easy to maneuver. “It’s so convenient that I typically opt to bring it over a weekender bag even for short trips,” our tester adds. Keep in mind that the shell is made of polypropylene rather than polycarbonate; while this contributes to both its lightness and its affordable price point, it’s not as durable as some of our other hardside picks like the Away Bigger Carry-On.
A carry-on for international travel needs to be constructed with durability in mind: The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner’s exterior fabric feels so sturdy that I confidently recommend it for longer, international trips. (This suitcase is also featured on our list of best luggage as the top pick for international travel, based on additional testing by Forbes Vetted’s editorial director, Brinda Ayer.) The chrome zippers, in particular, feel extra durable and tug-proof. After stuffing it with clothes on three different trips, I understood why this brand is a favorite of pilots and flight attendants.
I chose the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner as the best softside carry-on option due to its durable exterior and sturdy zippers.
Astrid Taran For Forbes Vetted
The carry-on is outfitted with interior compression straps, accessory pockets, a water-resistant toiletry bag and a removable suiter system (specially designed to keep suits looking crisp). The handle has a rubber contour grip and four adjustable heights, plus a top handlebar with padding that helped me hoist the suitcase into overhead bins with ease.
Compared to other chic, minimalist options that made our list, like the Béis, Monos and Away hardside suitcases, this bag certainly looks more utilitarian than fashionable. Other softside options on the market have a bit more panache, like the Briggs & Riley Essential Baseline. However, for a well-made bag that is built to handle international travel, fans of softside luggage would be remiss to cross this option off the list based on style alone.
At under 8 pounds, the Monos Carry-On Pro is fairly lightweight, yet feels far from flimsy. I’m so impressed by this suitcase’s satisfying heft that I asked several friends to roll it around to experience it themselves. They all agreed: This suitcase feels dependable enough to leave momentarily standing without fear of it rolling down a hill.
Its polycarbonate shell feels equally tough. I traveled with this suitcase on three different domestic trips and noticed barely any scuffing afterward, despite the fact that I was using one of the lighter colors, Sage Green. That durable exterior provides a layer of confidence around the suitcase’s laptop compartment, which is spacious enough to hold a 15-inch laptop along with a few other small travel accessories. The bag’s 360-degree spinner wheels are incredibly smooth, and I appreciate that its telescopic handle stayed firm after blocks of bouncing across Boston’s cobblestone streets. This suitcase also comes with a helpful laundry bag and two shoe bags to make packing easier, and an integrated TSA lock for enhanced security.
The brand’s website advertises this bag as spacious enough for five-day trips, but the bag’s laptop pocket does subtract some of that space, which is why I deducted points. After multiple trips, I would recommend three-to-four days as the sweet spot. Another thing to note is that the handles tend to lock up if you pack this suitcase to the brim, so overpackers may want to opt for an expandable bag, like the Briggs & Riley or Béis s uitcases that also made this list.
I recently traveled with this suitcase and I love its best-of-both-worlds construction. Although it’s technically a softside suitcase (the shell is made of FTX ballistic nylon), it’s built more like a hardside suitcase. And while it doesn’t have the largest capacity of the suitcases on this list, its innovative design allows you to pack an impressive amount. A zipper expansion system offers up to 2 inches of extra space, for a maximum depth of 11 inches. It also has removable garment sleeves for organizing outfits, and ensuring they stay wrinkle-free while in transit. Thanks to its dual-entry feature, you can access your belongings through the front lid or the split-case zip entry. I also found the handle to be comfortable.
Another feature I loved: Both halves of the suitcase are deep enough to store shoes separately from clothes, which is rare for softside luggage. While this suitcase is on the pricier side, I found the quality to be impeccable. It has all of the extras you’d expect from a bag in this price range, including a built-in TSA lock, built-in USB-C port, impact-resistant side panels and ultra-smooth spinner wheels. If you’re looking to pack a good deal of clothing but still value a compact suitcase, I highly recommend this one.
I mostly travel with hardside luggage because it feels more impact-resistant, but I tested the Briggs & Riley Essential Baseline after it came highly recommended by other travel editors and writers I know, as well as my colleagues. (This model was named the best softside pick in our roundup of the best luggage, and was additionally tested by Forbes Vetted branded content editor Luke Fater.)
I was impressed by its great features—the built-in garment folder in particular came in handy for wrinkle-free dresses. A large pocket on the front allows for quick, easy access to a sweater or scarf, while a smaller, additional pocket is designed to hold your cell phone and charging cables. It has a pop-up expandable feature, but due to it soft exterior, I felt that I could squeeze even more clothing into it.
While it’s definitely pricey, friends of mine who have used it have told me that their bags have lasted for years. I also think it has a very sophisticated look. This suitcase is the heaviest option on this list, coming in at 10 pounds; if you end up needing to check your bag, you’ll want to keep this in mind so you stay within your airline’s luggage weight requirements.
For cold weather trips or vacations that call for layers, an expandable suitcase is key. Béis makes one of the best expandable carry-on suitcases on the market today, with two inches of extra space to allow you to stuff in what you need (and maybe even what you don’t). I’ve traveled with this bag on several week-long trips and filled it with sweaters, jackets and more—and still had room left over after I zipped open its expandable space. The suitcase also comes with a built-in weight limit indicator: When you lift it by its side-carry handle, a red mark will appear if the luggage is over 50 pounds, meaning you’ll know in advance if your bag exceeds most airlines’ weight limit, giving you a chance to take a few items out rather than pay a fee.
The Béis Carry-On roller expands up to two inches, making it perfect for overpackers.
Astrid Taran For Forbes Vetted
The suitcase’s cushioned handle is another reason why this bag has earned its spot in my permanent rotation. Oftentimes, I’ll find myself lugging a heavy suitcase for blocks and blocks, and the soft, plush fabric attached to this handle eases the journey. Factor in smooth-rolling wheels, an integrated TSA combination lock and a variety of great colors, and this bag is a true winner. At over eight pounds, this bag is just a bit heavier than Away’s The Bigger Carry-On, which is why I didn’t select it as my best overall pick.
While the Away The Bigger Carry-On is also incredibly spacious, travelers who don’t trust themselves enough to not squeeze in one more thing will want to opt for an expandable option, which is far more forgiving. Beis’ Carry-On Roller offers far more capacity than the Away The Bigger Carry-On Flex, which comes in at 47.9 liters at its largest size.
Clocking in at 5.3 pounds, the Travelpro Maxlite Carry-On is the lightest suitcase on this list, which is especially convenient if your travel includes lugging your bag into overhead bins and taxi trunks. “In the past, I’ve stayed away from softside luggage, as I found it sometimes difficult to slide into the overhead compartment when fully packed,” says one member of our testing panel. “However, this specific model has the perfect amount of structure to not allow for odd bulges that limit overhead compatibility.” If you do find yourself reaching capacity, you can expand the suitcase by 2 inches with a zippered panel. Inside the suitcase, you’ll find a pair of compression straps and a lid pocket to maximize your space.
A standout feature our tester loved while traveling is the height-adjustable handle. “I am quite tall, as is my partner, and we both could not stop raving about the handle height,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like I am dipping my shoulder to glide my bag through the airport, which is a huge plus for us.” Our tester also described the wheels as the “most quiet and smooth” she’s ever used. However, her one drawback for this model is its overall aesthetic, which isn’t particularly chic when compared to the Briggs & Riley Essential Baseline Carry-On.
Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On stands out for its high-end craftsmanship (that chic trimming is Italian leather) as well as 360-degree spinner wheels that are silent as a whisper. Part of its sleek look is thanks to the absence of a zipper; it’s built with a snap locking system that means it clicks open and closed instead. While I usually only use zippered bags (I’m terrified of accidentally getting locked out of my things), this lock felt both super secure and easy to open when it was time to unpack. With just a click of a sturdy button, I was confident that my bag wasn’t going to swing open on the stairs of the airport.
Carl Friedrik’s The Carry-On is built with an easy to use lock that is both stylish and secure.
Astrid Taran For Forbes Vetted
While this suitcase’s stylish exterior makes it an excellent gift for the business traveler in your life, it’s a good fit for any type of excursion, as it’s sized to slide into the overhead bin of both domestic and European cabins. For overpackers, it comes with durable compression straps as well as a pad that helps maximize packing space. While this carry-on only features a zipped interior on one of its sides, you can store your clothing in packing cubes and secure them inside the bag using the compression straps.
For other suitcases with a lock closure, Away’s Bigger Carry-On comes in an aluminum version that also features easy-to-use snap lock closures (you can find a full Forbes Vetted review of that bag here). Take note that the aluminum Bigger Carry-On clocks in at 10 pounds, which is much heavier than this Carl Friedrik.
In some cases, a duffel bag is more suitable than a suitcase; if you need unfettered access to your belongings, a duffel is the more convenient of the two. The No Reception Club Hideaway is a thoughtfully designed bag that offers unparalleled organization, thanks to a removable cubby system, built-in laundry compartment and insulated cooler. “This duffel is especially designed for parents but is ideal for anyone who wants to stay organized,” says one of our testers, a parent of two. “And unlike many gym duffels, which are flimsy and shapeless, this one is relatively structured for easy packing and added protection of its contents.”
The Hideaway can be carried a variety of ways: You can wear it as a backpack, sling it over the shoulder or hold it by one of its smaller hand straps. Alternatively, it has a trolley sleeve that allows you to slip it onto the handle of your wheeled suitcase. The exterior is constructed out of 100% recycled polyester, which is water-resistant. It’s available in three neutral colors: Black, Olive and Navy.
Aer is known for its sleek, chic and modern travel pieces, and its compact Carry-On is no exception. I have tried the larger version of this suitcase, the Carry-On Max, and found it to be spacious and stylish. It has durable zippers, a built-in TSA lock and three interior pockets, including one pocket made just for smart luggage trackers like the Apple AirTag. “It’s a really nice looking piece of luggage, and it handles nicely,” says our tester, who took the Carry-On with her from New Jersey to Germany for a trade show. “The lock was a cinch to program and the zippers held even when I crammed it full on my return.”
The Aer Carry-On earns points for its sleek aesthetic and smooth wheels.
Rose Gordon Sala For Forbes Vetted
Both our tester and I appreciated this suitcase’s locking wheel system, which can easily be slid on or off. We’ve all had moments where we turn away for a moment and turn back to find our luggage sliding away—or at least I have, most recently at an airport in Portugal. This brake system allows you to lock the wheels of your suitcase and essentially “park” it, so that you don’t have to worry about it going anywhere if your eyes wander.
While the wheels rolled “exceedingly smoothly” through the airport, our tester noted that the suitcase struggled to get over bumpy sidewalks and a few doorways with raised lips. The one aspect I think could be improved upon most is the handle design: Aer’s handle grip isn’t as comfortable as some of the other suitcases on the list (in particular, the Béis Carry-On, which stands out for its padded handle).
Other Carry-On Luggage I Tested Worth Considering
Wondering what else didn’t make the cut? Here are the other bags I tested that didn’t quite make my list of winners, but they may be a fit for your needs.
- Best Less-Expensive Trunk-Style Bag: July Carry-On Trunk ($455): Australian luggage brand July is known for its sleek aesthetics, and this carry-on trunk in a sand color was one of the first trunk-style suitcases I’ve ever tried. Its glossy exterior looks ultra-elegant in person, and its glide is extremely smooth. This style comes with a lock that is stylish but not as intuitive to use as Carl Friedrik’s Carry-On (which costs $595), which is why I left it off my list. But if this isn’t a priority for you, you can save $140 by opting for this trunk-style pick instead.
- Best Extra-Roomy Bag: Briggs & Riley Sympatico Essential Spinner ($695): The Briggs & Riley Sympatico suitcase has an aesthetically pleasing gloss to it and feels solid and durable. I traveled with it on recent trips to London and Portland, Maine; aside from a durable shell and built-in TSA lock, this bag had the most space of any of the hardside bags I’ve recently used. I didn’t include it on the final list because I felt the Tumi Alpha better fit my needs for a spacious carry-on in a more compact size.
- Best Hardside Bag With Unique Style: Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 ($330): Delsey was one of the first luggage brands I traveled with; I took a Delsey bag on my first ever solo trip to Amsterdam over ten years ago. It features a sturdy hardshell, is relatively lightweight and lasts for years. Compared to many of the other ultra-minimalist hardside options on this list, it’s not as sleek, which is why it didn’t make my final cut—but some may appreciate its unique style.
- Best Ultra-Compact Bag: Calpak Hue Mini Carry-On Luggage ($157): Calpak is a favorite among Forbes Vetted readers and editors, and its Mini Carry-On offers something that’s hard to come by—a hardside suitcase that can fit underneath an airplane seat. I found it to be a smooth-rolling alternative to a backpack, but its size was just a bit too small for anything longer than a weekend trip.
- Paravel Aviator Carry-On (No Longer Available): Paravel’s stylish Aviator Carry-On initially made our list of winners in earlier iterations of this story. However, the company unexpectedly went out of business in May 2025, and this suitcase is no longer available.
How We Tested The Best Carry-On Bags
To determine a list of contenders for the best carry-on luggage, I first researched top brands, asked colleagues for their personal recommendations and considered key factors that distinguish a carry-on from other luggage. I sought out a wide variety of carry-on luggage pieces, both hardside and softside, to accommodate different preferences.
The final 15 contenders were taken on a variety of different trips, from weekend getaways via train to week-long European escapes, and I ultimately chose the 10 best options to include on our list. Here are the criteria we used during testing:
- Packing capacity: How much stuff can we fit in each suitcase? We attempted to put at least five days worth of belongings into each suitcase and took note of how much more or less we could fit comfortably.
- Ease of use: How each suitcase felt rolling through an airport and how the wheels and handle functioned over a variety of different terrains, from bumpy cobblestone streets to snowy or rainy sidewalks.
- External size and maneuverability: Each suitcase’s ability to fit into a range of airline overhead bins, and how easy or difficult they were to lift overhead and wheel down an airplane aisle.
- Durability: Whether each suitcase handled the same way after a few trips and if there were any obvious scratches or dings after reasonable use.
- Features: How many special features each bag offers and how well they work, such as hardside, internal compression functions, phone-charging batteries, expandable zippers, etc. Bags with more and better features were considered for best overall.
- Style: How nice (or not) each bag looked and whether we felt stylish when wheeling them around. We took note of any compliments received while in transit.
- Value: Based on how well the bag functions, how sophisticated it looks, how well it holds up to travel and the special features it offers, does the bag justify its price tag?
- Overall impression: How much we liked using each suitcase, and whether we found ourselves reaching for it again after testing.
What To Consider In The Best Carry-On Luggage
In addition to our testing criteria above, there are several more key factors to keep in mind when picking out a carry-on suitcase. Here are some additional points to consider:
Materials
Carry-on luggage comes in a range of hardside and softside options. The best material for hardside suitcases is polycarbonate. The majority of our picks are polycarbonate suitcases, which are known for being impact-resistant and durable. While aluminum is also durable, it is heavier and more expensive than polycarbonate, and can be more prone to denting. Softside suitcases are made of strong, rip-resistant nylon or polyester fabrics.
Color
Most brands feature carry-on options in black and navy, but a few—including Away and Monos—offer a wider range of colors. Suitcases in dark, neutral tones are popular for a reason; they hide scuff marks and are easy to keep looking fresh. However, they’re also going to blend in with the crowd, so we recommend adding a colorful luggage tag if you go this route. Lighter, brighter hues stand out at the airport carousel, but keep in mind that they’ll show dirt and markings more easily.
Additional Features
The best carry-on suitcases are thoughtfully designed to make your travel even more secure and convenient. One of the most useful inclusions for a carry-on is a TSA-approved lock: This is a combination lock that can be opened by airport security officials using a master key. Another nice-to-have design element is a zippered front compartment, which can hold electronic devices, charging cables or, in the case of the Monos Carry-On Pro, a 15-inch laptop.
Warranty
A high-quality carry-on can be an investment, which is why we recommend buying one with a warranty that covers unexpected damages. Luggage warranties range from five years post-purchase to the full lifespan of your suitcase. Policies differ by brand, so make sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what to expect from your warranty.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted team has researched and published dozens of travel stories, with a particular focus on luggage topics informed by rigorous research and firsthand testing.
- This story was written by former senior travel editor Astrid Taran, who has seven years of experience writing and editing travel content, from hotel reviews to in-depth luggage guides. Taran has visited over 35 countries throughout the course of her career and flies twice a month. She always tries her best to never check a bag—meaning she knows her way around a carry-on suitcase.
- Our travel team has covered niche suitcase topics across the board, having published stories on the best softside luggage, best lightweight luggage, best checked luggage, best luggage for international travel, best luggage overall and more.
- Over the past six months, Taran tested 12 of the above carry-on bags on multiple domestic and international trips, ranging from a weekend in Boston to a week spent traveling through Paris and London.
- She also consulted with fellow editors to get their personal recommendations, evaluating each pick based on her expertise in order to select our list of winners.
- We regularly monitor this story to ensure all product information is accurate and relevant. It was last updated in February 2025 by travel writer Claire Epting, who refreshed our story’s section of FAQs.
