The 10 Best International Carry-ons of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Away The Carry-On

$275 at awaytravel.com

This sleek bag is incredibly spacious, despite the fact that it doesn't expand. It easily fit everything included on our packing list as well as an additional pair of sneakers. The lid of the case acts as it's own storage compartment, keeping items separate from the bottom half for easy organization. The lid also has a mesh zippered pocket with plenty of give so you can pack it full without your items spilling out upon closing.

The overall size of the bag is not at all cumbersome and is so light, it's easy to lift into storage bins and navigate across a range of surfaces with ease. We also love that the handle does have two different heights and did not get stuck (even after we hit it with a baseball bat). The shiny exterior did not crack, scratch, or scuff after pushing the suitcase off a counter and hitting it with a bat, so we're sure it would even survive needing to be gate-checked.

The Details: 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 inches | 7.5 pounds | Polycarbonate | Personalization option

Best With Laptop Compartment

July Carry On Pro SnapSleeve

View on July.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Characteristic of July's best luggage, the brand's Carry-on Pro suitcase has plenty of helpful features for ensuring a smooth packing and traveling experience. We love the sleek design and earth-toned color options, but our favorite part of the carry-on is the detachable front pocket for seamlessly traveling with a laptop. You can remove the padded pocket to use it as a laptop case, which is particularly useful for business travelers — an important feature to look for when shopping for carry-on luggage with a dedicated laptop compartment. Plus, the suitcase is outfitted with smart features, including USB and USB-C charging ports, a removable battery, and TSA-approved locks.

The interior of the carry-on is a breeze to pack thanks to the two spacious clamshell-style compartments, built-in compression system, and hidden laundry bag for keeping dirty clothes organized. And, even when the suitcase is packed full, we had no issues wheeling it over all types of surfaces with the help of the four 360-degree spinning wheels and adjustable handles. If you’re planning on gifting this suitcase or just want to add an extra special touch, you can personalize the bag with a name or initials for an extra fee.

The Details: 21.5 x 15 x 8.5 inches | 8.6 pounds | Polycarbonate | Front pocket | Personalization option

Most Durable

Bric's Bellagio V2.0 Carry-on Spinner Trunk

$665 at Nordstrom View on Bricstore.com $497 at Bloomingdales

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

Small but mighty, we recommend this Bric’s carry-on if you’re in search of a suitcase that can handle everything from rough handling at the airport to the cobblestone streets of Paris. Made with a hardy polycarbonate shell and water-resistant zippers, this bag is equipped with all the necessary features for a lifetime of travels. In testing, we didn’t hold back on our durability test with the baseball bat by whacking it from all angles (wheels included) and tossing it off of a table to see if the exterior would hold up. We were thrilled to see that the bag didn’t scratch, dent, or crack under the pressure, and there was just a tiny scuff that we could rub off easily.

Apart from the superb durability, this suitcase has solid organization features on the interior with two main zippered compartments and pockets for smaller items — must-have qualities for a great travel trunk. While the handle feels plenty sturdy, we had some slight issues with it sticking, but we’re chalking that up to a slight inconvenience instead of a deal-breaker.

The Details: 21.7 x 15 x 7.9 inches | 7.1 pounds | Polycarbonate

Best Softside

IT Luggage Softside Carry-on Spinner

$110 at Target $110 at Macy's View on Kohls.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Organization
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5

Hardside luggage is certainly having a moment, but this softside carry-on earned bonus points in testing for style thanks to the monochromatic coloring. From wheels to handle, this bag boasts a bold teal shade, which means it's never been easier to spot your bag in a sea of navy and black suitcases (though it's also available in charcoal for a more muted vibe). The suitcase has one main compartment that can easily fit outfits, accessories, and shoes for a week-long vacation. The interior has a zippered pocket and two elastic pockets, while the exterior has one spacious zippered pocket for storing electronics or anything else you need quick access to. During our durability tests, the fabric and wheels scuffed a bit so we think the material isn't as durable as some other softside suitcases we tried. However, the stylish and lightweight design of that suitcase makes it a great option for travelers looking for a colorful and functional bag. Note: the bag is expandable but that might make it go over the stricter international carry-on restrictions.

The Details: 21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 inches | 5.95 pounds | Nylon, polyester | Expandable

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner

$63 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

If you realize your suitcase is too large with days to spare before an international trip, Amazon Basics has you covered with fast shipping for Prime members. The 21-inch hardside spinner is made with a heavy-duty ABS material that proved to be exceptionally durable when we whacked the case with a baseball bat and tossed it off of a ladder. True to name, the interior of the suitcase has a minimalist design with two clamshell compartments, several zippered pockets, and compression straps. There could be a few more organizational features, but the suitcase was still very easy to pack and fill with clothing items, shoes, and a toiletry case. The spinner wheels rolled smoothly and the handle felt just as sturdy as the rest of the suitcase, so we think the bag has excellent value, especially for under $100.

The Details: 21.46 x 14.76 x 9.45 inches | 7.34 pounds | ABS | Expandable

Best Splurge

Rimowa Original Cabin

View on Rimowa.com

Our Ratings

• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Capacity
  4.5/5
• Design
  5/5

Rimowa is top of the line when it comes to suitcase brands, and we think the Original Cabin carry-on is worth the investment. The exterior of this aluminum suitcase looks luxurious, and the interior offers plenty of functional features that make both packing and traveling a breeze. We’re big fans of the compression dividers on each compartment that help condense clothing and keep packed items in place during transit and when you open up the suitcase. The luggage itself weighs 9.5 pounds, which isn’t the lightest, but we’ve never had any issues lifting it overhead, and the ball-bearing mounted wheels glide over cobblestone and pavement without any extra effort needed. One thing to note is that aluminum luggage does scratch and dent easier than polycarbonate cases, but rest assured that the sturdy material will be more resistant to cracks and will still keep your belongings safe.

The Details: 21.7 x 15.8 x 9.1 inches | 9.5 pounds | Aluminum

Best Style

Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-on Spinner

$231 at Amazon View on Delsey.com $429 at Bloomingdales

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4/5
• Organization
  4/5
• Design
  3.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Durability
  4.5/5

This carry-on from Delsey comes in the brand’s most iconic design for looking effortlessly chic and elegant while traveling. While light-colored suitcases can be a dicey option, the suitcase is incredibly durable, and we didn’t see any scuffs, scratches, or dents tarnish the cream-colored bag after we hit it with a baseball bat and tossed it off of a ladder. Throughout our three months of long-term testing, we even checked this bag twice, and it came out still looking sleek and new. To complement a neutral suitcase exterior (which also comes in brown, blue, and blush), the interior is lined with a bolder orange color with several pockets and compression straps for packing. While the capacity is on the smaller end for a carry-on, we love that the compact size makes it incredibly easy to wheel the bag through the airport or lift it overhead for a smooth travel experience.

The Details: 21 x 13 x 10 inches | 6.4 pounds | Polycarbonate | USB port

Best Backpack

Tortuga Travel Backpack

$350 at tortugabackpacks.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The best part of Tortuga’s Travel Backpack is that it’s basically a suitcase without wheels. The 40-liter capacity rivals the volume of any carry-on and the backpack also has clamshell compartments for simple packing. Designed to fit a week’s worth of clothing, the bag can easily store enough clothing for a longer international trip, and we were even able to fit a packed tent with other clothing for a camping trip. Although the bag can get a bit heavy when it’s packed full, the padded back panel, straps, and hip belt helps distribute the weight to help with comfort while traveling. Other helpful features include a padded laptop sleeve, small zippered pockets, and two water bottle pockets. We can’t forget to mention that the bag is made with recycled sailcloth and is fully waterproof to protect your belongings if the weather takes a turn.

The Details: 21.7 x 13.8 x 7.9 inches | 4.5 pounds | Recycled sailcloth | 16-inch laptop pocket

Best Underseat

Calpak Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage

View on Calpaktravel.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Functionality
  5/5

Skip the stress of finding space in an overhead bin with Calpak’s Hue Mini underseater suitcase. To prove that it can fit under an airplane seat, we recreated that space in our lab and we had no issues sliding it into the spot. However, our favorite aspect of the suitcase is that the interior has superior organizational features for making the most out of the smaller capacity. There is a designated laptop pocket and several other mesh pockets for smaller items like undergarments, toiletries, or phone chargers. The other compartment is plenty spacious for clothing and a pair of shoes for a short trip. There aren’t any pockets on the exterior, but we still think the interior pockets more than make up for the lack of outside organization.

The Details: 16 x 14 x 8.5 inches | 6.4 pounds | Polycarbonate

Best Wheeled Duffel

Vera Bradley Foldable Rolling Duffel Bag

View on Verabradley.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  4.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4.6/5
• Durability
  4.6/5

This carry-on duffel bag from Vera Bradley has tons of hidden features that make it an excellent piece of luggage to add to your collection. It’s small and lightweight enough that you can carry it like a tote bag, or you can opt to use the wheels and discrete handle that pops out to convert the duffel into a traditional suitcase so you won't have to choose between a weekender or duffel bag. During testing, we also loved that the duffel has a separate shoe compartment on the bottom of the bag for separating clothing from shoes or any other items you might not want to pack in the main compartment. The suitcase has one large zippered mesh pocket on the inside of the opening flap and one exterior pocket. While the bag feels durable and long-lasting, the ripstop polyester material isn’t waterproof, so you may not want to use this as a checked suitcase.

The Details: 21 x 13 x 10 inches | 5.6 pounds | Ripstop polyester