We Ranked The Best Carry-On Luggage After Years of Testing

Your carry-on suitcase will go on almost every trip with you, and for most travelers and most trips, the Monos Carry-On Pro is easily our favorite. Our team has tested a lot of suitcases, and this one just does so many things right that the others didn’t quite match. That’s why it earned an impressive overall score of 9.7—the highest score of any suitcase we tested.

Monos hits the right balance between cost and quality, functionality and simplicity. It starts at $295 and just like luxury brands like RIMOWA, Monos uses German Makrolon polycarbonate that’s water-resistant. But the Monos Carry-On Pro is a third the price of RIMOWA’s Essential Cabin.

In fact, Monos is the least expensive luggage to score above 9.0 for Build Quality in our testing, which says a lot. I love that Monos makes top-notch materials and build quality available to those of us who don’t have $1,500 to shell out for a suitcase.

The most comparable suitcase is Away’s The Carry-On – which scored an 8.5 in our rating system. In comparing Monos vs. Away Luggage, the only category Away won was in the buying experience.

I also really like the sleek, minimalist styling: It’s modern, discreet, and professional. It’s incredibly functional, versatile and the eye-pleasing design allows it to look good no matter if you’re headed to the office after hotel check-out or arriving at your Airbnb for a friends’ getaway.

One of the reasons I specifically selected the Carry-On Pro as our best overall pick—rather than the standard Monos Carry-On—is because it has an external zippered pocket that can hold a laptop or tablet and anything else you want quick access to. Otherwise, the standard model is equally as excellent.

The external pocket is convenient, but it does eat into the main storage space. If you don’t feel the need for the outside pocket, you want the maximum packing space possible, or you want a less expensive bag, the classic Monos Carry-On without the pocket is just as good.

Other features of this bag include three interior pockets and three zippered (reserve coil, means no stripping) pouches to keep socks, underwear and other items tidy, while the four 360-degree spinner wheels allow you to easily glide through the terminal.

If you’re on a budget and in a pinch to buy a new suitcase before an upcoming trip, it can be tempting to purchase a bargain-basement bag you find on Amazon or Target. Before you do, consider this: You might end up spending more money in the long run when that bag breaks and you have to replace it.

If you want to make your money stretch as far as possible, I almost always recommend spending just a little bit more for a higher-quality suitcase.

Sure, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 doesn’t have all the fancy features, but it can easily last for decades of travel – and who doesn’t love a good return on investment?

It has a 2-wheel rollaboard design, which is much more durable than 360-degree spinner wheels. And in the event something gets busted or damaged, it’st backed by Travelpro’s solid lifetime warranty. They even have a full catalog of replacement parts, so they’ll be ready to repair it for you.

In terms of layout, it’s pretty bare-bones. Sure, it’s got a few basic pockets, but there’s nothing fancy, and the style is more drab than fab. This isn’t a suitcase you buy to show off to your friends. It’s a suitcase you buy to do a job: carry your stuff while you travel.

And it does that job really well, especially for the price.

Soft-sided luggage is a great choice if you value practicality. For starters, part of the draw for them is that they have more pockets than hardside bags, will never crack, and still look professional.

Travelpro makes some of the best soft-sided suitcases on the planet (and it’s the brand thousands of flight attendants use every day). Of the 20 highest-scoring softside suitcases from our testing, half are from Travelpro. It’s a brand that not only understands quality and efficiency, but continually raises the bar in the suitcase soft-side luggage industry.

This suitcase combines all the best things into one package: It uses premium fabrics, genuine leather accents and chrome hardware that give it a refined and stylish look, and it’s extremely strong and durable. It also has nearly every feature you could want, including a 2-inch expansion section for you stuff in more clothes, as well as tech creature comforts like USB A & C ports so you don’t have to worry about fighting over an outlet at the airport.

The Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner isn’t as modern or trendy as some of the other luggage on this list, but if you’re not looking to turn heads at the airport, it’s functional and checks nearly all the boxes. When it comes to the flexibility of a soft-sided bag, this is one of the best money can buy. But if you can’t justify the price tag, you may want to check out Travelpro’s Maxlite 5 line, which is almost as durable and less than half the price.

Hey, big spender! Like with most things, increasing your budget opens a world of options, luggage included. While not all of them are worth the extra cash, the Carl Friedrik Carry-On X definitely is.

Most polycarbonate suitcases look pretty run-of-the-mill, with shiny, plasticky shells. The Carl Friedrik Carry-On X, on the other hand, shows off a bit of old-world craftsmanship – it looks as if wainscoting has been wrapped around the exterior of the suitcase.

Instead of zippers, the Carry-On X has a full aluminum frame with hinges and two locking latches. This design is two-fold: It makes the suitcase more protective and secure, but also makes it look and feel more high-end. The latches are made out of solid cast aluminum, and I love the satisfying click when they snap shut.

I was slightly annoyed that it only comes with one compression pad. You can buy a second compression pad for the other side, but I really think it should be included – because we all tend to over pack and it’d be nice to hold those extra items down.

It only scores 3.6 in our Price-to-Performance category, but the Carry-On X is an investment in quality and craftsmanship, so it makes sense it might be sacrificing the performance side of things. Will this suitcase function better than a cheaper option? Not necessarily, but it will do the job with a lot more class and style.

Keeping devices (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) charged while traveling is a top priority for all of us, and trying to find an open outlet in the airport when your phone is at 1% feels like you’re trying to diffuse a bomb before the time runs out.

To solve that anxiety-inducing problem, many luggage brands are now creating “smart” suitcases that come with built-in USB chargers and battery banks. Unfortunately, too many of these brands focus on those fancy features and forget one important fact: It still has to be a good suitcase!

Enter July.

July’s founders started the company after reading over 4,000 customer reviews of existing luggage to see where the problems were (talk about taking a solution-oriented approach!). Then they designed a suitcase (and a business model) to remedy those problems.

I like that the July Carry-On has reinforced corners with sturdy aluminum bumpers. We’ve all seen many suitcases come out of baggage claim with dented corners or busted wheels, so it’s nice July found a way to prevent that from happening.

Although you’re likely safe from serious indentations, the anodized coating on those aluminum bumpers can get scratched easily. It’s just cosmetic and doesn’t affect the suitcase’s function in any way, but it won’t look brand new after several trips.

Besides that minor issue, the July Carry-On is just a really well-made suitcase. It scored 9.3 for Build Quality, which makes it one of the most durable carry-ons our team tested.

Traveling with a suit, dress, or other formal clothing, and stuffing it all into a traditional suitcase is not practical. You need a purpose-built garment bag.

And if you only have a few trips where you need to bring formal clothing, you can get by with a cheap option like this AmazonBasics Garment Bag.

However, if flying for business or formal events is a regular part of your life, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Garment Bag works wonders by keeping your clothing flat, smooth, and securely held in place during transit.

Most garment bags are big folding contraptions that are awkward to carry on your forearm, and I’ve typically hated using them (I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling either). So my favorite feature of this Briggs & Riley option is that it rolls on spinner wheels just like any carry-on suitcase. And that makes it way easier to maneuver through the airport.

The interior is divided into two sections. You have the garment storage on one side, and on the other side, there’s an open flat-packing area just like any normal suitcase for your jeans, shirts, underwear, whatever.

Garment bags often don’t score well in our luggage rating system because they are so specialized, but this one was the exception. Because of its versatile design and outstanding build quality, it scored an impressive 9.2 overall.

This Briggs & Riley Baseline carry-on won’t get you riled up during your travels.

It’s thoughtfully designed to be the perfect size for around-the-world travel, and while on the outside, it looks like a pretty basic soft-sided carry-on suitcase, it’s not. For me, it’s the build quality and attention to detail that make this carry-on stand out.

Let’s be honest: Durability matters even more when you’re far from home. The last thing you want is to be slogging around a foreign country with a broken suitcase (trust me, it’s not fun).

But Baseline Global Carry-On scored an outstanding 9.8 for Build Quality, so you can bank on staying in one piece. In fact, it notched the highest Build Quality score that any suitcase has ever earned in our testing, and the runners-up (the Carl Friedrik Carry-On X and the Db Ramverk Pro) are notably lower at 9.5. Seriously, this bag is tough, and I appreciate how sturdy the full metal frame makes it feel.

Briggs & Riley also has the best lifetime guarantee in the luggage business, so if you ever do manage to break this bag, they’ll fix it for you. No questions asked and no proof of purchase needed, so even if you got this suitcase as a hand-me-down, you’re covered (Monos, for example, won’t honor second-hand owners).

It’s made with durable fabric and has a few external pockets that are great for keeping important items handy. It also has the standard compression and expansion features, TSA-approved locks and self-repairing zippers.

However, the bag does cost significantly more than most of the other options on this list, so if you don’t travel frequently, it’s probably not worth the investment. Otherwise, if you’re a jetsetter who values durability above all else, you can bet on having to renew your passport a few times before replacing your luggage.

If the Baseline Global doesn’t make you happy, we have a full list of luggage for international travel that’s worth checking out.

In Db’s marketing material for the Db Ramverk Pro, there’s a term that comes up a lot: “weight:protection ratio.” Essentially, this case is designed to offer amazing strength protection without being overly heavy or bulky.

It is possibly the strongest carry-on suitcase I’ve ever tested. I’ve beaten the crap out of this bag and it barely shows. Whatever fresh magic the team at Db put into their products is unreal. The materials are strong and thick and, just by touch, it’s clear that these products are high quality. It is made from durable and lightweight polycarbonate, but the Db engineers have made this case stronger and more rigid than other polycarbonate cases. Plus, it has an aluminum frame with locking latches to make it even stronger.

If you’re traveling with photography equipment, the Front Access Ramverk Carry-On pairs with Db’s Ramverk Camera Insert (only size XL works with the suitcase), which has padded dividers to keep your camera gear organized and safe. In essence, you’re turning your carry-on suitcase into a Pelican case. In my experience, I’ve been able to use this suitcase for all kinds of trips, whether I’m bringing my photography equipment or not.

At 9.9 pounds, it is definitely heavy for a carry-on (especially when you compare it to the July Carry-On Light—the lightest on the market—at 3.9 lbs). But I chalk that up to the trade-off you have to make for an extra protective suitcase.The Db Ramverk Carry-On is probably my favorite suitcase on this list. I love the aesthetic, the durability, the way it’s constructed, the compliments I get—all of it. It’s built like a tank (a minimalist, Scandinavian-designed tank, that is).

Lightweight carry-ons allow you to swiftly transport your belongings without exerting much force, and when it comes to lifting a suitcase into the overhead bin, every ounce counts. And the July Carry-On Light excels better than any of them. At 3.9 pounds, it is the lightest carry-on suitcase on the market. 

Plus, lighter luggage means more space and weight for packing clothes, which especially comes in handy if airlines (particularly international ones have strict carry-on weight limits (like Emirates’ 15-pound maximum). 

A typical carry-on suitcase weighs 7-9 lbs, so that’s half your packing weight gone right there.

It also scores higher than any other suitcase that weighs under 5 lbs. Runner ups in this category are the Osprey Ozone and the RIMOWA Essential Lite Cabin.

Make no mistake: The Carry-On Light is targeted squarely at minimalist travelers going away for about 3 to 5 days. One way they made it so light is by cutting down the size. This suitcase is only 32L compared to July’s standard Carry-On 42L.If you tend to overpack, this isn’t the bag for you.

The other expected July touches are here, too: a sleek, minimalist design of this luggage, 4 360-degree spinner wheels, interior water-resistant nylon lining, the YKK zippers, and a zipper close with TSA-approved lock 

One notable difference between the Carry-On Light and the standard Carry-On is that the Light option isn’t as strong or durable. It doesn’t have the reinforced corners, the polycarbonate shell is more flexy, the handle isn’t as sturdy, and the wheels are lighter-duty. July did have to cut out some material to make it this light, but I don’t want to come across like it’s made of cardboard: It’s still very durable and well-built overall.

The point of this suitcase isn’t to be the strongest, it’s to be the lightest. If that’s what you want, this is the one to get.

Duffel bags are a great choice because they can hold a ton of clothes and gear, are easy to pack, and are simple and reliable—perfect for adventurous trips to warm (rafting or hiking) and cold climates (skiing or snowboarding). 

Here’s the way I see it: if you’re bringing hiking shoes or trail runners on your trip, this bag is probably a good fit. If you’re wearing dress shoes, you’ll want something else.

It’s also sized for international travel, meaning you won’t have any problem bringing it as a carry-on if your adventures take you abroad. And if you’re road tripping, the bag will be safe if it’s tied down on a roof rack.

It’s made of a nylon polyester material and in addition to two well-constructed wheels and a telescoping handle, this quality rolling duffel also has backpack straps. It’s worth mentioning that the backpack straps aren’t the most comfortable in the world, but for short distances like walking up a few flights of stairs or down a rocky dirt path to your accommodations should be fine. It also has a side handle so you can carry it as if you’re holding a briefcase. These three carry options means this bag gets an A+ in versatility.

The downside is that since it’s a duffel bag, you just don’t get the same level of organization as you do with a more traditional suitcase. There are a few small pockets, but the inside is pretty much one big empty volume, which is why it’s great for tossing in a bunch of gear. If you like to keep everything compartmentalized, you’ll definitely want to use packing cubes.

Most duffel bags don’t perform very well in our luggage rating system, but the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler XT scored 8.8 overall, which isn’t too far behind the others on this list.