Hand-Picked: The Best Luggage, Carry-Ons, and Checked Bags

There's a lot of debate when it comes to the "best" luggage. Some people love hard-side bags; others are soft-side 'til they die. Some swear by four-wheelers; others find two wheels just fine. Then there are trunk-styles, duffles, garment bags, and more... there are a lot of options out there. Here are some of tried-and-true favorites from travel experts.

Best Carry-Ons

The Award-Winning Away Luggage "Bigger Carry-On"

We're big fans of Away Luggage. Both the standard Carry-On and Bigger Carry-On sizes are great! It also comes in tons of fun colors. We have a feeling more Away bags will be sneaking into our go-to luggage line-up...

The Classic TravelPro Platinum Elite Soft-Side

This TravelPro bag has been a traveler favorite for decades (with a few design updates over the years, of course), and it still beats out many of the newcomers to the luggage scene.

The Rugged YETI Crossroads Wheeled Luggage

We first saw this bag popping up in airports a little while ago, but it feels like we see more and more travelers using it each time we fly. The YETI Crossroads 35L has some of the most rugged wheels among standard 22-inch carry-on bags, so if you're expecting any bumpy terrain (like cobblestone streets or uneven pavement), this bag is a great choice, especially if you like the style of hybrid duffle-roller luggage.

Best Checked Luggage

The Stylish Briggs and Riley ZDX Medium

This easy-wheeling, soft-side is expandable, so the medium size can hold quite a bit, but there's also a large option. Briggs and Riley luggage isn't cheap, but it's an investment piece that's lightweight, sturdy, and rolls well—plus, the brand offers a lifetime guarantee to repair or replace the functional elements of their bags. (Cosmetic wear and tear from regular use isn't covered.) While the ZDX doesn't have a built-in lock like some of the others on this list, this wasn't a dealbreaker for us, especially considering all of the other perks.

The Roomy Monos Check-In Large

We love the internal organization pockets of this hard-side bag—and it comes in tons of fun colors. The 360-degree spinner wheels move like a dream, and the built-in, removable compression pad with a zippered pocket for flat items is a game-changer for packing.

Top Trunk Style: The Calpak Hue Large

Trunk-style rolling luggage isn't typically our favorite, but we can absolutely see the appeal, especially for the Calpak Hue Trunk. It's durable, roomy, surprisingly light and easy to wheel, and has plenty of interior pockets, but our favorite feature was the expandable zipper, which is not common for most trunks. If you need more space, the Hue Trunk expands to give you 2 inches of extra packing room.

Top Rolling Duffle: Dakine 110L Gear Bag

We've used several wheeled duffles over the years from brands like Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and Thule—all of which we've had good experiences with—but the Dakine Gear Bag caught our eye. Dakine is perhaps best known for its surfing and sports gear, but they make solid bags, too.

With a 110-liter carrying capacity, the Gear Bag is big (much bigger than many others on the market) so if you're trying to stuff a lot into a roller, this is a great choice as a checked bag. Dakine does also offer a smaller, 85-liter version, but we picked this one for its expansive space.

Best Budget Luggage

The TravelPro MaxLite 5 Soft-Side Carry-On

If you're a fan of TravelPro but don't want to spring for the Platinum Elite, the MaxLite 5 is a solid alternative. It may not be as visually sleek as some of the bags on this list, but it's built for function and reliability. It's a soft side, but it has plenty of structure to maintain its shape, and while the wheels are on the smaller side, they are very quiet and maneuver well.

Amazon Basics 3-Piece Hard-Side Luggage Set

If you're looking for uniformity across your various pieces of luggage, finding a matched set is the way to go, and most luggage brands offer significant discounts for bundles. That said, multi-piece sets will always run on the more expensive side, so finding something that won't totally break the bank can be challenging.

You just won't find a hard-sided luggage set cheaper than this, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality and durability of these budget-conscious bags. With a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and over 47,000 reviews, it's safe to say we aren't the only ones who liked it.

Other Notable Bags

The Away Everywhere Zip Backpack

If you love functional, minimalist design, the Everywhere Zip Backpack will be a new favorite bag. We didn't realize how annoying it was to wrangle an under-seat carry-on was until we tried one that's built to be easily opened from the top, and we appreciated that when unzipped, the Everywhere Zip Backpack doesn't flop open.

It's not a huge backpack (20-liter capacity), but it's well designed and surprisingly roomy—it can carry a 15-inch laptop in the padded back pocket and the interior pockets are thoughtfully placed. We also just love how sleek it looks. So many of our backpacks are sporty or bulky, but this one makes us feel a little more put together; we can wear it casually around town, but it's understated and stylish enough to carry into a business meeting.

Cotopaxi 70L Allpa Duffle

If you need a durable duffle, this one is great. The styling is sporty, but this bag is built for utility. It's unfussy, made from high-quality materials, can stand up to wet weather conditions, and the internal compartments keep things nicely organized.

We love that it can be carried as both a duffle or backpack (admittedly, a bulky backpack, but we always appreciate designs that can accommodate different needs). It's not the most technical gear bag, but it's perfect for the average adventurer and can take a beating.

Away Active 40-Liter Outdoor Duffle

It's sleek, simple, and super-roomy—exactly what we look for in a go-anywhere, do-anything bag. Away's classic Everywhere Bag is certainly the more stylish sibling compared to the Outdoor Duffle, but we love the durability of the latter.

It's compact but can carry quite a lot (enough for a 3- to 4-day trip) and the material is both water-resistant and abrasion-resistant, so you can beat it up a bit without worry. It also comes in larger 55-liter and 70-liter sizes, but we like the balance of the 40-liter version.

Want recommendations for great travel products and adventure gear delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly Hand-Picked newsletter to get the first peek at our favorite items (and some great deals)!