Carry-on luggage can be a big timesaver if you can pack all your belongings into a smaller suitcase. No sense in checking through your luggage and having to wait at the baggage claim area after your flight arrives if you can get your things into a carry-on bag. Of course using a carry-on piece of luggage eliminates the worry of the airline losing your suitcase as well. Carry-on luggage was not invented until the late 1980's and certainly the convenience factor has helped keep them around. They have evolved over the years and the latest ones have 4 wheels called "spinners". The more traditional 2 wheel versions are also called roll-aboards. Which brand of wheeled, upright carry-on suitcase should you buy? We have a complete buying guide down below with features to look for, price ranges, and different capacities.
Firstly, we need to clarify what the size restrictions are for airline carry-on luggage. The standard size for carry-on suitcases is 22" x 14" x 9" with some being a little larger or smaller. Keep in mind that once your bag is fully loaded with clothes and other items it may be taller than the specified amount. I have had some pretty full pieces of carry-on luggage that may not have passed the size requirements but they still fit in the overhead bin ok. Pack wisely and use your best judgement on bags that may not be "carry-on" friendly. Now that you know what the airlines consider to be proper carry-on dimensions for luggage, you can now shop for a suitcase that will meet those standards and give you all the features you want. One of the biggest complaints amongst owners is that the luggage doesn't have a good layout. You want the main compartments to be easy to access and pockets that will take extra items. Most carry-on luggage is split with a large compartment down below and a smaller, but still efficient space with a separate zipper up top for dress shirts, skirts, slacks, and jackets. Often you will find the lower compartment has special zipped pockets for underwear and socks so that you can quickly find them without rummidging through all your belongings. Handles should be easy to maneuver (especially the telescoping kind) and quickly collapse once on board the plane. Zippers should open and close smoothly so that snags don't occur. When it comes to weight, most newer bags are extremely light compared to just a few years ago and experts agree the lighter the better. Airlines are becoming stricter on the weight of carry-ons as well as those bags that get checked thru so any pound you can decrease on the luggage and increase with your belongings is a benefit. You want a bag that rolls smoothly on the wheels and sits upright when you need it to. The new "spinner" pieces of luggage have 4 wheels and move in a 360 degree area making them very easy to get around tight spaces. Some bags don't have a handle at the bottom of the carry-on meaning that when you go to lift the bag into the overhead bin, it may be difficult to get it balanced. Look for expandable carry-on bags which truly can be a lifesaver. Some have sections that expand almost 3 inches to make room those last minute items. Business travelers and seasoned experts say that you should stay away from the hard plastic pieces of luggage since they are not nearly as flexible as the soft-sided luggage which makes them harder to get into overhead bins. Prices range from $40 to $400 for a good carry-on bag. The top brands are Samsonite, American Flyer, Atlantic, Athalon, Pierre Cardin, Eagle Creek, TravelPro, Hartmann, American Tourister, Tumi, and Victorinox. The designer luggage from Louis Vuitton, Roxy, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and Gucci tend to be what thiefs are looking for since they expect "luxury goods" inside. As for finding the best carry-on luggage reviews, we found a good article in the Wall Street Journal on the new 4 wheeled spinner bags. Money Magazine recently did a luggage test and found the Eagle Creek Tarmac to be their winner. Slate Magazine had an online review (somewhat dated) but still relevant in terms of what to look for in a quality piece of luggage with some top brands. Consumer Reports has not focused on carry-ons recently so we didn't find result from them. Outside Magazine, Travel Insider, and general travel forums also supplied plenty of reviews for us to look at in determining the best carry-ons. Down below we have tried to separate the carry-on luggage into logical categories with the best products listed in each. RECOMMENDED - We suggest the #1 Rated Delsey Helium Breeze listed on consumer websites like Amazon.com. You can browse the top selling carry ons here.
Best Overall Carry-On Luggage:
The Eagle Creek Tarmac ES 22 is an excellent piece of carry-on luggage. The Money Magazine report we mention above praises the Tarmac ES25, but that it is too big for carry-on size so we went down to the appropriate model from Eagle Creek that meets most airlines carry-on requirements. The ES22 features an ergonomic handle, corner guards that help protect the life your bag in it's most fragile areas, a durable kick plate, an expandable main compartment (extra 2 1/2 inches), easy to pack and unpack, and it fits in the overhead bins. You get a lifetime warranty on this $250 carry-on bag and it's offered in black, palm or sangria colors. RECOMMENDED - Based on Consumer Reports and owner feedback online, the Delsey Helium Breeze Carry-On Expandable Suiter Trolley is the best bet when it comes to carry on luggage.
Best Value Carry-On Luggage:
The Travelpro Crew 6 Rollaboard ($180) is what flight crews have been using for years. The 22" Suiter has whisper wheels, DuraGuard coating (keeps out water) and water resistant lining. It's made with durable microballistic nylon fabric and has ribbed corner guard protection. There is an expandable packing compartment on the rollaboards and easy access pockets and zippers. The TravelPro luggage is light making your job of wheeling it around that much easier. You can find this TravelPro product plus many others online at LuggageOnline.com.
20-Inch Carry On Luggage:
Tumi has long been recognized as a quality name in the luggage industry and their latest 20" carry-on is no change from their reputation. The Tumi Generation 4 FXT 20" Lightweight FXT Wheeled Packing Case ($475) is expensive and considered a luxury carry-on, but you will not be disappointed in it. It's lightweight yet sturdy and made with "Tumi's exclusive, virtually abrasion-proof FXT ballistic nylon". The telescoping handle is smooth and closes without strain. Comes equipped with side and top carry handles so you can effortlessly put it into an overhead bin or in the back of your car. Other features include an interior tie pocket (great for businessmen), zip pocket and tie-down straps, and a lid pocket. Comes in black or alloy colors. We found it online at LuggagePros.com (also offered as a 22" model as well).
21-Inch Upright Spinner Luggage:
The Wall Street Journal does an excellent job of reviewing business related products and their review in Jan 07 of the new spinner carry-on bags was well done. They say the winner is the Atlantic Graphite Lite 21 in. Upright Spinner and we wholeheartedly agree after doing some of our own research online and looking travel forums. We found countless reviews from business travelers online stating the quality of this bag. It's made with 1680 denier ballistic nylon fabric and weighs a mere 11 pounds. The 42-inch handle is designed with taller travelers in mind and the top and side handles allow you to lift the bag without too much effort (wish it had a bottom handle as well). The spinner wheels are quiet and smooth and let you have 360 degree maneuverablity. Owners say the spinner carry-on from Atlantic offers "great value" combined with "nice features". The Atlantic luggage was about $130-$160 on several online luggage sites. See all most popular carry on luggage spinners here.
Carry-on Luggage Restrictions:
Ever since 9/11 airline passengers have been forced to give up something and it seems that the carry-on restrictions continue to get tighter with limits now on fluids you can take through security. We all know the rules by now for no knives, firearms, box cutters, etc in your carry-on but to keep up with the latest guidelines you should check with the official TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website HERE. The TSA updates their site regularly and can give you the latest details on what is restricted and what is allowed.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
BUYING GUIDES
is the best bet when it comes to carry on luggage.
