The best carry-on bags you can buy

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The best carry-on bags you can buy
  • Sometimes you just don't want to check your luggage, so you need a reliable carry-on bag that you can bring onboard the plane.
  • Of all the carry-on bags we've researched and tested, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright is the best with its sturdy wheels, smart compression technology, and lifetime warranty.
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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 or a viral video scandal.

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 as many ways to approach perfect packing as there ways to approach travel more generally. 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 bags:

Updated on 10/21/19 by Connie Chen: Updated links and prices.

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The best carry-on bag overall

The best carry-on bag 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 bag 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 compresses 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.

Briggs & Riley enjoys a good reputation: Outdoor Gear Labs loves it, and a small but enthusiastic group of Amazon reviewers gave it 4.3/5 stars.

Since some airlines enforce smaller dimensions for acceptable carry-on luggage, this Commuter option is smaller than others in the Briggs & Riley line of products at 25 x 8 x 11 inches, not to mention oversized carry-on bags from other companies. 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: Once you've packed in 33 percent more of your clothes, internal mesh garment panels make sure you'll arrive at your destination wrinkle-free

Cons: Even with the lifetime warranty to back up the purchase, this bag does cost more than $400 which will certainly be too steep a price for some

The best carry-on bag for when you're in a rush

The best carry-on bag for when you're in a rush
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.

Reviews on Amazon (4.2/5 stars based on 185 reviews) are encouraging: "I would give this suitcase TEN stars, if I could." Writes one pleased customer, and purported frequent flyer. "As someone who travels about three weeks out of four, I went from American Tourister to Samsonite to Tumi. I have paid a lot more for a suitcase but NONE have come anywhere close to this to this one, both in design and quality." Wirecutter is sold on the Travelpro Platinum Magna 2, too.

Pros: Magnets align all four dual wheels to roll in the same direction, so no more topsy-turvy paths down the airport hallways with this one

Cons: Limited color options for more style-focused travelers and carry-on dimensions may be too big for certain airlines

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The best carry-on bag for versatility

The best carry-on bag for versatility
The Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel can be a backpack, a rolling suitcase, or a duffel bag to suit your needs.

If you're the kind of traveler who looks for versatility in a carry-on bag, look no further than the Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel. It looks like a normal roller bag at first glance, but with its many handles, you can carry it as a duffel bag or wear it as a backpack, too.

The bag's versatility is perfect for those moments when you have to carry your bag upstairs instead of wheeling it around or you feel like it's a pain to navigate through a crowded airport with it rolling along behind you.

Conversely, if the Quest starts getting too heavy to carry as a backpack or duffel, it's super easy to unzip the special pocket that hides the telescoping handle. At first, it may be a bit hard to get the handle to extend all the way. I had some trouble with it initially, but it loosened up after a while. The two wheels are great — they spin like rollerblade wheels and they won't break easily.

Since it has a duffel bag shape, the Quest is very spacious inside. You can fit enough clothes and gear for a long weekend trip and still have space for an extra pair of shoes. The bag is very well made and the material on the outside is super strong. You won't rip this bag easily, even if you do end up checking it on an overcrowded flight.

Timbuk2 also has a lifetime warranty on its products, so if something should go awry, you're covered. However, given how sturdy this bag is, I doubt it will. This bag is my new go-to carry-on for long weekend trips.

The bag comes in two sizes, and the medium one is a perfect carry-on bag that'll fit most airlines' specifications. It measures 22.8 by 22 by 9.8 inches and weighs 5.5 pounds. You can get it in black or gray.

Carryology loves this bag, and Forbes went so far as to call it "stylish" (though the reviewed the version sans wheels). Only four Amazon customers reviewed the bag, but they all gave it 5 stars. - Malarie Gokey

Pros: Carry-on size, versatile design, sturdy wheels, lots of compartments

Cons: May not fit all airlines carry-on standards

The best carry-on for travelers with a laptop

The best carry-on 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 8.7 x 20.7 x 13.8 inches, it fits in with most airlines' carry-on dimensions rules.

New York Magazine is also a fan, and so is Men's Journal, while a limited number of Amazon reviewers left largely positive notes and ratings.

Pros: Easily accessible laptop sleeve to ease up on the hassle of security checkpoints, and two-wheeled rolling system, if you're into that

Cons: Hardshell polycarbonate material scratches easily, and two-wheeled rolling system, if you're not into that

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The best carry-on bag that can charge your phone

The best carry-on bag that can charge your phone
The Away Carry-on has a 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 37 watt-hour lithium-ion battery inside 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 in the luggage so long as you carry it onboard the plane.

If you need to check your bag for whatever reason, you can remove the battery with the included kit and carry the battery on the plane with you. 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. However, we don't think you will. We tried the Away Carry-on and loved it. So did New York Magazine (though they reviewed the Away Bigger Carry-On), The Points Guy, and WIRED.

Pros: Fun colors, charges your phone, solid luggage

Cons: Expensive

The best carry-on for organizer packers

The best carry-on for organizer 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.

Around the web, reviews are good: Carryology sang the Co-Pilot's praise, and Momentum Magazine called it "sleek, lightweight, and robust."

Pros: Clamshell design with deep easy-access pockets means no more digging around for that one shirt at the bottom of your suitcase when you get to your destination

Cons: User reviews seem to agree that the zippers can get a little sticky, and two-wheeled suitcases aren't for everyone

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The best affordable carry-on bag

The best affordable carry-on bag
The American Tourister Ilite Max Softside Spinner 21's good wheel mobility, zipper extensions, and fun color choices make this budget-friendly carry-on bag 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 with a price under $50 when it's on sale, 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.

She Knows made the bag a top pick, and 134 Amazon reviews resulted in a 4.2-out-of-5-star review.

Pros: Available in five colors and for less than $50, this carry-on pleases the wallet, the eye, and the needs of a frequent traveler

Cons: No warranty means whatever you save on this budget option may not last forever

The best stylish carry-on bag

The best stylish carry-on bag
The Delsey Chatelet Hard Carry On is designed with sophisticated contrast coloring that will stand out from the sea of regular black rollaboards.

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.

Points and Travel raves about the Delsey Chatelet, and 115 Amazon reviews averaged out to an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Pros: Sophisticated design wrapped around a reliable, well-built carry-on suitcase with a built-in wheel braking system

Cons: Stylish as it looks, light-colored suitcases tend to scuff and stain while bumping around in transit

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Check out our other travel buying guides

Check out our other travel buying guides
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