I realized this past week that I need a new smaller carry on suitcase. The carry on TravelPro suitcase I have is old and too large for today’s airline regulations. It worked fine this last trip since both planes were small and everyone had to valet the carryons as the overhead bins were small. My usual travel bag is an Osprey rolling duffle that I check when I’m going out of the country. I like the Osprey because we spend a lot of our holidays on sailboats and a duffle stows well.
I’m looking for a traditional carry on suitcase for when I don’t want to check my bag. I went to Macy’s today and was overwhelmed. Soft size or hard sided? I don’t see a need for the USB port that a lot of the bags had. I want a size that works for most airlines. Anyone buy a bag in the last few years that they love? Spinner or two wheels?
Spinner is the way to go. My mother wanted a carry on that she could push herself and small enough to be a carry on. We were surprised some of those spinner wheel suitcases were hard to push once they were packed, especially on a carpet. She actually finally settled on a Travelpro.
I recently bought an Away carry on for D2. I spoke with some consultants at work (they all travel M-Th) and they all love the Away suitcase.
I am still love my Lipault suitcase. https://www.lipault-usa.com/luggage/carry-on-luggage/lipault-original-plume-spinner-55-20-carry-on/861821041.html#start=1
Unless it is a squishy non wheel backpack that can squish to fit sizers and bins, bring a tape measure and a list of airlines’ dimension limits when shopping. Use the tape measure to measure the true outside dimensions of each bag, because some bags are larger outside than advertised due to handles or wheels sticking out.
I wanted to link to the LL Bean carry on I bought maybe 18 months ago, but it looks like it’s been discontinued.
In addition to dimensions, I suggest you pay attention to how much the bag itself weighs. I just flew Lufthansa and the weight limit was 8 kg (17.6 lbs), which isn’t much at all, so you want the bag itself to contribute as little to that total as possible (and they DID weigh it when I checked in).
The luggage repair place near me says the number one job they have are wheels on 4 wheeled suitcases. So I would recommend 2. There will be times that a plane has no overhead storage at all and baggage handlers will take your bag to gate check it, so you can’t count on your own carefully handling.
Definitely measure!
Riley and Briggs carry on bags have outlasted all the others in our house.
I think the ebags website tells you the dimensions and requirements. I love my small Tumi that Southwest bought me after they ran over my old one on the ground with a baggage truck. I’ve never needed repair with spinner wheels on any bag. I travel a lot business and pleasure.
I have an ultralight Samsonite that I bought 8 years ago for a trip to Europe to get under the tighter weight requirements. Still going strong. Found it at TJ Maxx.
H who travels every week and needed a European sized carry on found his at Ikea!
My husband travels a lot for work and he loves his Riley and Briggs carry-on. No problems in the past three years that he’s had it, it still looks new. I needed new luggage last year and ended up getting a set of Away luggage, including the “Bigger Carry-on”. I love it. Its light, moves easily and although its hard-sided, it has a little bit of flexibility. I am a chronic overpacker and was amazed how much I could pack in just the carry-on.
That is a negative with the spinner style- it cuts into your interior space. I generally check bags for anything over 2 nights, since I always take running stuff and often have a connection and I don’t want to deal with the luggage all over the airport. Fingers crossed, baggage check has gotten a lot better and I’ve had only an occasional glitch with my luggage.
I know I am going to run of luck, but I never had my carryon weighted/examined, even for international flights. D1 taught me a trick…often times at the self check in kiosk they would have tags for carryons, she would just put it on her carryon and no one would look at it again.
I recently went on an international flight and they did carefully check bag size and people had their carry-ons checked at the gate. Most people are using spinners and I agree that they cut into the space you are allowed (even advertised dimensions oftern forget to include the wheels or handle). My daughter uses a big backpack and it works really well as a carry-on. She doesn’t need wheels as it is on her back when she goes through the airport. All of the space it takes is usable and it is flexible enough to squeeze into a fairly full overhead compartment. I got it from a Samsonite outlet store a few years ago and I believe it fits a laptop (although she hasn’t used it to carry a laptop). She can travel for several nights using just the backpack.
I travel a lot for work. After purchasing cheaper luggage, I finally got an Away bag. Mine is a larger checked version, but it’s been wonderful. They have two carry-on sizes; I’m thinking of getting the smaller size as a gift for my future DIL, who does a lot of international travel.
I would love a Tumi carry on but I honestly don’t travel enough to justify the cost.
I have a TravelPro that I love. It’s light weight so the weight of the actual bag allows me to carry more in the bag itself. Plus, they had color choices and I got sky blue which is very visible in the event I do need to check bags.
I also have a very small Swiss Gear carryon that I use for shorter weekend trips (I visit my family a few times a year for a 5 day trip). It’s small, but can hold quite a lot, I’ve found.
I have had my bags weighed and taken away for being too heavy on international flights…more than once.
My “personal” item is a cloth small duffle that can easily hold all my essentials and a change of clothes. And my purse. And my iPad or computer. It’s what I carry on and put under the seat in front of me.
I ended up having unexpected surgery at one point and was very happy to have a spinner as it is so easy to move. I have a carry on Victorinox Avolve (doubt that specific style is still available) but we’ve been happy.
Everyone in my family except one D has spinner Victorinox (different models) and has been very happy. No one has had a problem with wheels. Years ago we had a couple Swiss Gear which we loved. They are inexpensive and can be found at Target, TJMaxx, etc. and one time we chose to replace a lost wheel on that because we liked it so much.
One other thing to think about is the exterior pockets and what you will find most helpful. Mine has a full size “sleeve” that I’ll use for my electronics if it’s a short trip and I’m not taking a personal item (second smaller bag that fits under the seat). It also has two additional pockets that work particularly well for me (i.e. top one holds my folding umbrella, etc).
You want every part of the suitcase to work for you.
I just replaced my old Tumi luggage with a new version–the Alpha carry-on. It’s pricey but my old Tumi luggage last for nearly 25 years and I could still use it but it looks a bit ragged.
Love having a spinner and recently used it (Travelpro Euro-sized, so SMALL) to pack for a 6-day trip to avoid checking a bag. My husband did check a bag, so I put any liquids in his case, but was amazed that I could do that as I have never been a light packer. Knock wood, no one in my family has had problems with spinner wheels, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Also guessing that I can replace them myself. I also have a tote bag with a zipper sleeve that goes over the handle of the carry-on, so nothing to carry at the airport.