Head-to-head · Best Carry-On Luggage

Away The Carry-On vs Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about 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 — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Carry-On Luggage

Away The Carry-On

4.4

$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
— TSA-approved combination lock and 360-degree spinner wheels are standard equipment

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
— Built-in battery option was removed in the 2022 redesign and never returned

Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Carry-On Luggage

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

4.6

$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
— Integrated USB-A and USB-C ports plus a dedicated FAA-compliant power bank pocket

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
— Soft DuraGuard fabric shows scuffs faster than a polycarbonate hardside

$390 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Away The Carry-On

Lighter than the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential (7.5 lbs vs. 10 lbs) and more impact-resistant than the Samsonite Freeform's polypropylene shell, but the indented zipper track makes it feel flexier than the Monos Carry-On Pro's aerospace-grade German polycarbonate. Compression system gives back roughly the same usable capacity as Briggs's CX system without the ratcheting mechanism.

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner

More charging integration than the Away The Carry-On (USB-A + USB-C plus a power bank pocket vs. Away's no built-in battery option since the 2022 redesign). Lighter than the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential (7.8 lbs vs. 10 lbs) but lacks Briggs's CX compression that recovers a full inch of depth after stuffing.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Away The Carry-On	Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Carry-On Spinner
Material	100% polycarbonate	Premium ballistic nylon with DuraGuard coating
External Dimensions	21.7 x 14.4 x 9 in	23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in (with wheels)
Packing Capacity	41 L	40 L (46 L expanded)
Weight	7.5 lbs	7.8 lbs
Wheel Type	4 dual-spinner 360-degree wheels	8 MagnaTrac self-aligning dual-spinner wheels
Compression System	Yes, double-buckle pads	—
TSA Lock	Yes, combination	Yes
Warranty	LifetimeCare with 5-year complimentary repairs	Lifetime limited
Expandable	—	Yes, 2 inches
Charging Port	—	USB-A + USB-C with power bank pocket

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