The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 23, 2026

Best Carry-On Luggage

Top carry-on suitcases reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner is our top pick for carry-on luggage — an averaged 4.6/5 across 3 published reviews at about $390. Runner-up: Away The Carry-On (~$275).

Read the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner review →$390 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review

#	Product	Rating	Price	Best for
1	Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On SpinnerTop Score	4.6 (3 sources)	$390	frequent business traveler who flies enough to amortize the price across many trips and wants charging ports plus a garment suiter without going up to TUMI or Briggs prices	$390 · Check Price on Amazon
2	Away The Carry-On	4.4 (3 sources)	$275	weekend leisure traveler who wants a stylish polycarbonate shell in a specific color, takes 3-5 day trips, and values brand-direct customer service over the lowest possible price
3	Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner	4.7 (3 sources)	$729	frequent business traveler doing 30-plus trips a year who wants one carry-on for the next 15 years and values warranty coverage that survives airline damage without paperwork	$729 · Buy at briggs-riley.com
4	Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner	4.3 (3 sources)	$145	budget-conscious leisure traveler who wants a name-brand hardside under $150, takes 2-4 trips a year, and doesn't need a garment suiter or USB charging integration	$145 · Check Price on Amazon
5	Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage	3.9 (3 sources)	$80	budget conscious infrequent traveler making one or two trips total and unwilling to spend more than $100, with the understanding the bag may not survive 20-plus flights	$80 · Check Price on Amazon

1Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On SpinnerTop Score

4.6

(3 sources)

$390Best for: frequent business traveler who flies enough to amortize the price across many trips and wants charging ports plus a garment suiter without going up to TUMI or Briggs prices

$390 · Check Price on Amazon

2Away The Carry-On

4.4

(3 sources)

$275Best for: weekend leisure traveler who wants a stylish polycarbonate shell in a specific color, takes 3-5 day trips, and values brand-direct customer service over the lowest possible price

3Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner

4.7

(3 sources)

$729Best for: frequent business traveler doing 30-plus trips a year who wants one carry-on for the next 15 years and values warranty coverage that survives airline damage without paperwork

$729 · Buy at briggs-riley.com

4Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner

4.3

(3 sources)

$145Best for: budget-conscious leisure traveler who wants a name-brand hardside under $150, takes 2-4 trips a year, and doesn't need a garment suiter or USB charging integration

$145 · Check Price on Amazon

5Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage

3.9

(3 sources)

$80Best for: budget conscious infrequent traveler making one or two trips total and unwilling to spend more than $100, with the understanding the bag may not survive 20-plus flights

$80 · Check Price on Amazon

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

Reviews aggregated from

Outdoorgearlab.comConsumerreports.orgPackhacker.comTravelpro.comAwaytravel.comBriggsriley.comAltmanluggage.com

The full ranking

How we rank →

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

#1 · Top Score

Best for: frequent business traveler who flies enough to amortize the price across many trips and wants charging ports plus a garment suiter without going up to TUMI or Briggs prices

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

4.6

from 3 sources$390

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" 91/100 and NYT Wirecutter ranked it first across 67 bags tested, citing its self-aligning MagnaTrac wheels, deep 40-liter capacity, and built-in USB charging. Travelpro's bag is the one pilots and flight crews actually pull through terminals, which is the best long-term durability signal in carry-on luggage.

Strengths

— NYT Wirecutter top pick — placed first across 67 bags tested
— MagnaTrac self-aligning spinner wheels track straight even when bag is overloaded

Watch-outs

— Overall 23.5" height (including wheels) exceeds the strict 22" sizer on some smaller regional jets
— $390 list is double the price of value softside competitors

$390 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Away The Carry-On →

Best for: weekend leisure traveler who wants a stylish polycarbonate shell in a specific color, takes 3-5 day trips, and values brand-direct customer service over the lowest possible price

Away The Carry-On

4.4

from 3 sources$275

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Away Carry-On 81/100 and called the polycarbonate shell 'one of the best we've seen,' while Pack Hacker rated it 7.7/10 with praise for the interior compression system and stylish exterior. At $275 it sits below premium hardsides like Rimowa or TUMI but above value brands like Samsonite, making it the default pick for travelers who want polycarbonate durability without aluminum-case prices.

Strengths

— 100% polycarbonate shell flexes under impact and rebounds without cracking
— Built-in compression system with double-buckle pads adds usable packing volume

Watch-outs

— Indented zipper track makes the shell feel flexier than premium hardsides like Monos or Rimowa
— Side grab handles are slim and difficult to grasp when the bag is full

Full review →vs. Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner →

Best for: frequent business traveler doing 30-plus trips a year who wants one carry-on for the next 15 years and values warranty coverage that survives airline damage without paperwork

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner

4.7

from 3 sources$729

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Baseline Essential 88/100 (third of seventeen) and the Baseline Domestic 82/100, with NYT Wirecutter naming Briggs & Riley its 2025 upgrade pick. The CX expansion compresses an entire extra outfit back to carry-on dimensions, and the no-questions lifetime guarantee covers airline damage with no proof of purchase. At $729 it's the bag for the traveler who'll keep one carry-on for the next 15 years.

Strengths

— Patented CX compression expands the bag 30% then ratchets back to carry-on dimensions
— Simple as that lifetime guarantee covers any damage including airline damage — no proof of purchase

Watch-outs

— $729 list is the highest price in this roundup outside of TUMI premium variants
— 10 lbs empty makes it the heaviest carry-on tested in Outdoor Gear Lab's roundup

$729 · Buy at briggs-riley.com Full review →vs. Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner →

Best for: budget-conscious leisure traveler who wants a name-brand hardside under $150, takes 2-4 trips a year, and doesn't need a garment suiter or USB charging integration

Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner

4.3

from 3 sources$145

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Samsonite Freeform 73/100 with the verdict 'a perfectly priced hardshell that doesn't sacrifice style or performance,' while Pack Hacker rated it 7.7/10 and CNN Underscored called it 'a terrific option for budget-conscious travelers.' At $145, the polypropylene shell delivers most of what a hardside should — light weight, impact absorption, smooth-rolling dual spinners — but you give up water resistance and interior organization compared to bags twice the price.

Strengths

— $145 starting price is roughly half the Away Carry-On and a fifth of Briggs & Riley
— 6.6 lbs empty is the lightest bag in this roundup

Watch-outs

— 23 x 15 x 10 in dimensions risk failing strict 22" sizers on regional jets and European LCCs
— Water-resistance testing showed one-third of the interior took on water through the zipper

$145 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner →

Best for: budget conscious infrequent traveler making one or two trips total and unwilling to spend more than $100, with the understanding the bag may not survive 20-plus flights

Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage

3.9

from 3 sources$80

Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Amazon Basics 20" Spinner 61/100 with the verdict 'far from being indestructible' and Pack Hacker rated it 7.2/10 as 'a solid entry-level bag for new travelers.' At $80 it's the cheapest functional hardside in this roundup — fine for occasional travel, the wrong choice for anyone who flies more than 4-5 times a year. Buy this if you need a carry-on for a single trip and don't want to pay $145 for the Samsonite.

Strengths

— $80 starting price is roughly half the Samsonite Freeform and a quarter of Travelpro
— Four spinner wheels and a telescoping handle make it functionally identical to mid-range hardsides

Watch-outs

— Newer production batches use ABS plastic instead of polycarbonate — more brittle, less impact-absorbent
— Outdoor Gear Lab ranked it 14th of 17 carry-ons with concerns about construction quality

$80 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →vs. Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner →

Spec comparison

5 products

Spec	Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner	Away The Carry-On	Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner	Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner	Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage
Material	Premium ballistic nylon with DuraGuard coating	100% polycarbonate	Premium ballistic nylon with YKK self-repairing zippers	Polypropylene hardshell	ABS plastic (newer production); polycarbonate in earlier batches
External Dimensions	23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in (with wheels)	21.7 x 14.4 x 9 in	22 x 14 x 9 in (expands to 11.5 in deep)	23 x 15 x 10 in	21.6 x 14.9 x 10 in
Packing Capacity	40 L (46 L expanded)	41 L	37-48 L (CX expansion)	41.2 L	41 L (51 L expanded)
Weight	7.8 lbs	7.5 lbs	10 lbs	6.6 lbs	7.7 lbs
Wheel Type	8 MagnaTrac self-aligning dual-spinner wheels	4 dual-spinner 360-degree wheels	4 dual 360-degree spinner wheels	4 oversized dual 360-degree spinner wheels	4 multidirectional spinner wheels
TSA Lock	Yes	Yes, combination	Yes, combination cable	Yes, recessed combination	Yes, recessed combination
Expandable	Yes, 2 inches	—	—	Yes	Yes, 25% additional
Warranty	Lifetime limited	LifetimeCare with 5-year complimentary repairs	Simple as that lifetime — covers airline damage with no proof of purchase	10-year limited	3-year limited
Compression System	—	Yes, double-buckle pads	Yes, patented CX ratcheting	—	—

Frequently asked questions

What is the best carry-on luggage?

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner is our top pick for carry-on luggage, with an averaged rating of 4.6/5 from 3 published reviews. Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" 91/100 and NYT Wirecutter ranked it first across 67 bags tested, citing its self-aligning MagnaTrac wheels, deep 40-liter capacity, and built-in USB charging. Travelpro's bag is the one pilots and flight crews actually pull through terminals, which is the best long-term durability signal in carry-on luggage.

Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?

Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Carry-On Luggage (around $80) rates 3.9/5 in our analysis. Outdoor Gear Lab scored the Amazon Basics 20" Spinner 61/100 with the verdict 'far from being indestructible' and Pack Hacker rated it 7.2/10 as 'a solid entry-level bag for new travelers.' At $80 it's the cheapest functional hardside in this roundup — fine for occasional travel, the wrong choice for anyone who flies more than 4-5 times a year. Buy this if you need a carry-on for a single trip and don't want to pay $145 for the Samsonite.

How does Verdict rank these products?

Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.

When was this guide last updated?

This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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