The best carry on luggage for international travel

39.8 liter | Case | Organizational compartments, laundry bag | Lifetime warranty

At less than $300, this case offers (practically) everything: gliding 360-degree spinner wheels, a durable polycarbonate shell, built-in dividers, and an integrated USB charger. This charger is what first enticed Briona Lamback, the founder of Buoyant Travel, to buy the case. “Away was one of the first brands I learned about that had a built-in portable charger, and the laundry bag that comes with the luggage was one of those elements that made me feel like they’d thought of everything a traveler needs,” she tells us. Lamback did admit that the frame supporting the dividers broke in her suitcase because of overpacking but that “the bag’s body (the important part) holds very well.” The sleek case is available in eight matte shades, including a deep green and dusty pink, and comes with a “limited lifetime warranty.” Basically, Away will repair any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, and zippers, but repairs to the USB charger are offered for only the first two years.

37 liter | Case | Compressed compartments | Three-year warranty

This budget-friendly case is a favorite of writer Robin Reetz. It’s cheaper than many polycarbonate options because it’s made from ABS, a less durable plastic. Even so, Reetz tells us the inexpensive case performs very well. “It’s really perfect for a weekend or four-to-five-day trip,” she says. “I’ve traveled recently with friends who have Away and Delsey luggage, and all of them are now thinking about getting this bag.” With its compartments and 360-degree spinner wheels, the case offers a lot of the same features as ones costing twice as much — it does come with a shorter warranty of three years, though.

46 liter | Case | Hidden laundry bag | Lifetime warranty 

Associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell favors this polycarbonate case from July. “I’ve never had an issue with mine fitting in an overhead cabin, and it’s been roomy enough to hold clothes for an outfit-change-heavy weekend in Miami and a weeklong trip to my parents’ house over the holidays,” she says. She’s also impressed by the bag’s silent wheels: “I used to only Uber to JFK because dragging my suitcase to the subway and getting stuck on every uneven patch of sidewalk in Brooklyn was infuriating. Now I have no problem rolling it wherever.”

47.9 liter | Case | Organizational compartments, laundry bag | Lifetime warranty

Lamback also owns Away’s Bigger Carry-On. She says it “works best for trips on this side of the Atlantic; across the pond, it’s usually considered too big for European carry-on standards.” That’s when she pulls out the Away Carry-On instead.

37 liter | Case | Flexible compartments | Limited lifetime warranty 

Summer Hull, the director of travel content at The Points Guy, justifies the price of this Rimowa Essential case because she’s a frequent flier; her luggage is a “regular companion,” not an occasional thing. She says this case slots seamlessly into overhead bins. “I won’t pretend to understand all the physics behind the bearings and axles on Rimowa’s bags, but I do know they spin amazingly well through the airport,” she adds. Taymoor Atighetchi, the CEO and founder of Papier, puts it simply: “Nothing beats Rimowa’s smooth wheels.”

You also get the brand’s Multiwheel system, adjustable dividers, a sturdy telescopic handle, and TSA-approved locks. The Essential Cabin’s polycarbonate shell makes it much lighter than a classic aluminum Rimowa. Fashion content creator Isabel Tan appreciated this when squeezing 15 or so outfits into the case on a trip to Bali. Stylist Tina Leung also fills her case to the brim and told us it accompanies her truly everywhere she travels, from Montana one week to New York Fashion Week the next. Like Away, Rimowa offers a lifetime guarantee on its cases, and Leung told us that almost every destination she has traveled to has a place to pop in for repairs. “If the wheels break off or something, it’s so easy to just go and get it fixed,” she says. “There’s pretty much one in every major city.”

38 liter | Case | Dedicated laptop pocket | Two-year warranty for manufacturing faults

This case’s shell and wheels are hardy, and the pocket is “great to quickly tuck in your laptop and get it out fast through security,” says Brittany Allyn, founder of Thirty Waves. It also rolls along quickly and smoothly. As Allyn puts it, “having a bag that can fit as much as possible (because I’m an overpacker and not afraid to say so) and can get me to my gate ASAP is most important.” This bag also has a steadfast lock and a small but mighty selection of colorways (the sage green looks similar to Rimowa’s Bamboo).

40 liter | Shoulder and padded backpack straps | Various handy pockets | Lifetime warranty

We recently named the Black Hole by Patagonia the best overall weekend bag as praised by Strategist editors and frequent travelers. Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens loves the “zillion separate little pockets and perfectly sized compartments for things like chargers and night guards and passports and AirPods” on her larger, 55-liter version. While the bag is lightweight (at less than three pounds) and water resistant thanks to a waxy coating, the strap design is what makes it a thoughtful travel companion. If you’ll be trekking far, the over-the-shoulder strap can be switched out for backpack straps to give your shoulders a respite.

20 liter | Handles and shoulder straps | Dedicated liquid pocket | No warranty

Nail technician Hannah Clisby once took eight trips around Europe. “The new rule meaning you had to pay around $30 each way for a carry-on case was really not in my budget. I knew I had to get creative,” she says. She did so with this Essential bag by Kipsta, which is small enough to count as a (free to carry) personal bag — and costs less than $15. “From Ibiza to Croatia, I could fit around five days of clothes in here with some serious rolling and slotting,” she explains. “The small side pocket was great for keeping my liquids on hand to be checked by security.” Overall, Clisby estimates she saved around $500 by skipping a larger carry-on altogether (plus her bag doubled up well for use as a cushion when riding out several flight delays).

52 liter | Handles and shoulder straps | Concealed ID and coin pocket | 30-day return period if faulty

Austin-based brand Tecovas may be known for its cowboy boots, but it also makes this duffel that Andres Zuleta, travel expert and founder of Boutique Japan, grabs for short local trips. You can see Tecovas’s design pedigree in the waxed-canvas bag’s leather handles and rugged feel, but with interior and exterior pockets, a durable wax coating, and a long, detachable shoulder strap, it’s not just about aesthetics.

18 liter | Shoulder straps | Laptop pocket | Lifetime warranty

“Most of my travel these days is for modeling jobs, which last only a few days and — here’s the kicker — for which I don’t need to bring many of my own clothes,” says Lauren Chan, the CEO and founder of Henning. This means she often opts for a backpack. “It’s so much easier to move around the airport with, and when the overhead compartment is small or full, I can just throw it under my seat.” If you too like to pack light, this backpack is ideal, and, like Kipsta’s Essential bag, it won’t incur any extra charges. “I’d say it’s big enough to fit all of my tech, toiletries, and about three outfits,” says Chan. “What more could you need?”

35 liter | Shoulder straps | Mesh packing cubes | One-year return period

If you like the sound of a backpack but want something a little roomier, writer Margaret Eby recommends this clamshell pack from Cotopaxi. “Unlike most backpacks that only zip at the top,” she says, this one unfolds into a butterfly formation, “allowing you to make better use of all the space.” And while we love how much space is inside, the built-in mesh packing cubes make it a dream for keeping everything in check. Eby used it to take a change of clothes, a laptop, snacks, a sun hat, a jewelry case, a day purse, and even a crochet project on a ten-day trip to Italy. And she says it fits comfortably under the seat in front of you — no squishing required.