Which Style of Carry-on Bag is Best For You?
Backpack, suitcase or weekender? It’s the eternal question for both frequent and sporadic travellers looking for the perfect carry-on luggage. With endless options in every category (aluminium or polycarbonate? Do I need a built-in USB charger? What colour does this come in?), choosing the right one for you can be a tricky task. We’ve done the work for you: here’s our guide to the best carry-on bags on the market.
The Carry-on Suitcase, Maison de Sabré
1/19Clothes aren’t the only thing you’ll be carrying if you opt for one of Maison de Sabré’s carry-ons – these little cases are packed with personality, too. Balancing practicality and luxury, both DriTan™ Maison de Sabré leather (which forgoes the necessity to use freshwater to moisturise the hide, eliminating the use of up to 20 litres of freshwater per product) and scratch-proof Italian vegetable-based BioVeg™ are utilised on the exterior, while a strain-resistant polycarbonate with aluminium corner guards provide a sturdy frame for durability. While the bag is available in classic black, there are an additional five eye-popping colourways spanning vibrant Manhattan Orange to rich Emerald Green for those who really want to make a fashion statement.
Feather Flight Carry-on, Kathmandu
2/19If weight is of the essence (with a limit of 10 kilograms for carry-ons and infinite amount of souvenirs to carry, when is it not?), every gram given over to your bag counts. Kathmandu’s Feather Flight soft-top carry-on stands out from the pack and not just because of its scale-defying weight: which, notably, at a total of 1.6 kilograms, is around 200 grams less than others on the market. It’s also made from durable, 93 per cent ripstop nylon with a soft, external front pocket for stashing all-important documents and anything you need to grab in a hurry.
Image credit: Antler
1914 Icon Stripe Leather Pocket Suitcase, Antler
3/19It’s near-impossible to get your luggage mixed up when it’s just one of a 110-piece limited-edition collection. Antler’s new 1914 Icon Stripe Leather Pocket suitcase is a cabin-friendly piece that takes inspiration from the archives while having all the attributes the modern traveller could need. Featuring a polycarbonate shell, a laptop-friendly outer pocket in responsibly-sourced leather, recycled polyester lining and Silent Glide 360 spinner wheels, this retro-style carry-on heroes function as well as form.
Headcase carry-on
4/19Some accessories don’t easily lend themselves to packing. With the water-resistant, box-like Headcase carry-on backpack, your favourite hats won’t be subject to squishing and squashing. While one padded pocket can safely carry all the essentials, from your 16-inch laptop to large notebooks, the outer pocket (sheathed in weather-resistant vegan leather) is rigid enough to keep up to two medium-sized hats dent-free.
Image credit: July
Carry On Pro, July
5/19This cult luggage brand known for its monogrammable luggage has done it again with their updated Carry On Pro, a further refined version of their beloved cabin option. The game changer is its external, zippable laptop pocket – now in hardshell for added device protection – that saves rummaging for your devices at security. There’s also a clever, ejectable battery for on-the-go charging, blissfully smooth wheels and that signature selection of very cool colours, from the muted green Moss to the terracotta-esque Clay.
Carry-on, Monos
6/19Want a sturdy, reliable carry-on that ticks all the boxes? The Monos Carry-on ticks more than a few: travellers can expect 360-degree spinner wheels, 100 per cent recycled polyester lining, a 4-height telescopic handle and vegan leather details, all with an aerospace-grade, water resistant polycarbonate exterior that is, according to the company “virtually indestructible”. (It also comes in 11 colourways to boot).
Image credit: Bellroy
Tokyo Totepack, Bellroy
7/19Fight the fumble with Bellroy’s Tokyo Totepack, which has internal and external pockets galore. Along with a stack of internal compartments, there are vertical exterior pockets perfect for stashing your passport and headphones as well as pop-up bottle slots, reducing the possibility of a lost water bottle on domestic flights. Carryable as both a backpack and tote bag, you’ve got double grab capacity and the tough, nylon webbing is repellent of both water- and liquid-based stains.
Khaki Small Luggage, Paklite Altitude
8/19Can’t live without that all-important, laptop-friendly external pocket? Paklite Altitude’s sleek carry-on suitcase could be just the ticket. Large enough to fit any device up to 15 inches long, the sturdy premium polypropylene (PP) exterior means it’ll be kept safe from knocks and scratches while in transit. The handy zip compartment also has smaller internal pockets for pocket-sized essentials such as your wallet and passport. Elsewhere, the case is equipped with a built-in TSA-friendly lock system, double spinner wheels and a generous 52-litre capacity.
Image credit: Weekender
The ReNew Transit Weekender, Everlane
9/19Everlane’s trendy handbag-like weekender doesn’t follow the rules of luggage – at least not when it comes to aesthetics. Although it has plenty of space for a weekend’s worth of luggage – from shoes to laptops and everything in between – it’s also chic and sustainable, with its shell crafted from recycled plastic.
The Frame Carry-On Max: Aluminium Edition, Arlo
10/19Dependable luggage is an investment and Arlo’s The Frame Carry-On Max: Aluminium Edition is a worthy splurge. The quality is exceptional, from the hand-stitched leather handles to the sturdy clasps fixed with airport security-approved locks. There’s also a lightning fast in-built charger for last-minute device top-ups and whisper-quiet wheels (15 per cent quieter than other suitcase offerings, in fact) that’ll prevent you from waking anyone up as you have to catch the red eye.
Image credit: Ölend
Ona Soft Bag, Ölend
11/19Barcelona-based brand Ölend has done away with sober practicality and created the Ona Soft Bag, a functional everyday carrier that’s also guaranteed to please the fashion set. Padded for comfort (and protection of valuables, including 17-inch laptops, which fit easily inside), the soft, nylon fabric is both water-resistant and spot-cleaning friendly and the adjustable straps can suit a tote and backpack carrying style. The product is limited to pre-order only, reducing waste and overproduction to ensure a sustainable supply chain.
Image credit: Tumi
Alpha Garment Tri-Fold Carry On, Tumi
12/19If clothing is a crucial part of your travel, Tumi’s tri-fold garment bag will keep your best dresses and business suits protected. Made from Tumi’s anti-abrasion FXT Ballistic Nylon®, nothing will get in the way of your suits and gowns – and monogramming comes standard with each suitcase, too.
Image credit: July
Carry All Weekender Plus, July
13/19When is a Weekender not a Weekender? When it’s a July Carry All Weekender Plus. This unique offering is somewhere between a duffel and a suitcase, with a unique “clamshell” ability to open flat, solving the soft bag conundrum of crushed clothes and in-transit shifting of stuff. With a 50-litre capacity, this Mary Poppins-style bag can fit a lot more than you think, but with a helpful strap that fits over the handle of a suitcase, you won’t have to worry about how much you’ve packed.
Image credit: Peak Design
Everyday Backpack, Peak Design
14/19Gadget-lovers assemble: the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is perfect for travellers with top-quality gear who need a backpack that’s both protective and practical. Built for photographers but usable by all, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack features three internal reconfigurable dividers: your lenses, batteries and additional accessories will be safe and sound within the 100 per cent recycled, weatherproof shell. There’s even capacity for tripods and larger bits and pieces if you’re planning to work while on the road.
Image credit: Solgaard
Carry-on Closet, Solgaard
15/19Few suitcases can solve the problem of being, well, suitcase-like. The Solgaard Carry-on Closet is more like a wardrobe than a suitcase, folding up into a smart, compact shelving system that makes unpacking or finding certain pieces infinitely easier. The polycarbonate shell sheaths it all in an indestructible exterior and there’s also a USB charging port for on-the-go power.
Image credit: Bellroy
Classic Weekender, Bellroy
16/19The benefit of a soft duffel is its versatility. You don’t have to delegate Bellroy’s Classic Weekender to the back of a wardrobe for plane journeys: this water-resistant, polyester number (made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic bottles, industrial nylon offcuts and fishing nets) is as much a gym or work bag as it is a cabin bag. (The zippable interior pockets are phone- and valuables-friendly, too.) Don’t be surprised if you put this one on regular rotation for office days.
Image credit: Rimowa
Essential Lite Cabin U, Rimowa
17/19Sleek, slight and Rimowa’s Essential Lite Cabin U is a classic choice for frequent travellers. Weighing in at just two kilos, it’s a nifty number with glossy polycarbonate body, ball-bearing mounted wheels that spin smoothly and an impressive lifetime guarantee, you’ll be pulling this out again and again, no matter where you’re headed.
Image credit: Nomatic
Navigator Carry On 37L, Nomatic
18/19The drawcard of this bag is its ability to house precious tech gear securely. Ideal for business travel, there’s a dedicated storage space for a 17-inch laptop, as well as internal pockets to keep your chargers and cords contained and protected. The case is water-resistant and comes complete with tamper-resistant zips. The largest in the brand’s carry-on range, this two-wheeler also expands from 37 to 44 litres so there’s room to pack all those extra ‘essentials’.
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