The Best Carry-On Luggage of 2023

This ultra-trendy bag is worth the investment. The hardside polycarbonate is even lighter than some fabric suitcases we've tested, and it's super durable. After being put through our drop tests, we were impressed that there were no dents or any noticeable damage, and it aced our scratch tests, showing minimal scuffs. The inside is surprisingly spacious, too, and is equipped with convenient packing features, like a hidden laundry bag for dirty clothes and a compression strap to maximize space.

It comes in five neutral and fashion colors, so there's something for almost everyone. Plus, you can personalize the suitcase for an added fee and also choose to buy it with or without a removable battery. Some of our testers wished the handle were sturdier, but they loved the bag and its smooth wheels overall, sharing that it was easy to maneuver. Away offers a generous trial period, so you can test it out yourself for up to 100 days and, if you don't love it, you can return or exchange it, even after it's been used. Depending on your preference, you could also opt for a carry-on from Away's Flex collection, one of the brand's aluminum carry-on styles or The Carry-On with Pocket for easy access to your belongings.

RELATED: Away's Most Popular Carry-On Lives Up to the Hype

Quality carry-ons can cost several hundred dollars, but this one from Amazon is a better deal if you're on a budget. Besides having more than 30,000 verified five-star reviews and a 4.6-star (out of five) overall rating, it also wowed both our experts and our consumer testers with its smooth wheel performance in our tests.

Some of our testers didn't find the telescopic handle to be as sturdy as others in our tests, and we do want to note that this bag is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS), which keeps the cost down but isn't as durable as polycarbonate material. It showed some marks in our scratch tests, though it avoided dents fairly well in our durability drop tests. Its spacious interior held an impressive amount during our packing evaluations, and it can also be expanded to allow even more room for your belongings. Amazon Basics offers two larger sizes, in 26- and 30-inch heights, and you can save more than $100 by purchasing a set of all three models together.

Samsonite is our best overall luggage brand and has repeatedly earned top scores in our evaluations over the years, impressing Textiles Lab analysts and consumer testers alike. This polyester softside suitcase is durable, lightweight and compact. The bag features four outer zipper pockets for easy access to travel essentials (including a USB port pocket — portable charger not included) and unzips into one primary compartment with three additional smaller zippered pockets for even more organization. Although it aced our tests for being easy to pack and holding a standard load, some online reviewers expressed concerns that the interior isn't as spacious as other carry-on bags they've used.

When we evaluated the bag in Lab, we appreciated the smooth gliding wheels that are easy to push and pull in all directions, as well as the sturdy telescopic handle. Plus, the brand's durable polyester material held up well in our abrasion tests, resisting major signs of wear and tear.

With both the highest score and one of the lowest price points among our picks, this sleek yet functional carry-on from Open Story at Target proves you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great case. Its durable 100% polycarbonate shell is lightweight, but we were blown away by the fact that it withstood drop after drop in our tests without dents or damage. Plus, its spacious compartment held our entire sample load in Lab packing tests. On top of that, in our obstacle course, consumer testers found the loaded case easy to maneuver as they swerved it around cones, rolled it over a variety of surfaces and lifted it onto a table. They also gave it high appearance scores for its "cute, modern" look.

The case comes in five trendy colors, which showed slight marks in our scratch test, as well as a larger checked size if you want a matching set — one to check and one to bring with you. This carry-on also features a built-in USB port and a laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate, as well as generously sized zippered pockets for easy packing. The bag can also be expanded for extra room.

No more struggling to lift your luggage up to trunks, counters or overhead bins. This softside style from Delsey is made with polyester fabric and has a no-frills interior that's roomy without feeling heavy. It weighed less than any other carry-on suitcase in our tests, yet still held our entire packing load. This impressive carry-on also held up well to durability tests despite its weight. Inside, you'll find one main compartment with straps to keep items in place, plus smaller zippered pockets on both the inside and outside, and the suitcase expands two inches for extra packing space.

It's unique in that it has a removable lining that's machine washable for easy cleaning, and there's a built-in bifold organizer to store your toiletries. Though the zippers required effort to use, our testers appreciated the bag's easy-access external sections. "I love the pockets," one said. It got lower scores for maneuverability, and some testers said the handle didn't feel as sturdy as other picks, but testers gave it good scores overall during use.

Fashion meets function in this carry-on case from Calpak. Not only is this rose gold bag sleek in appearance, but it also had high scores from our tester panel for its smooth wheel performance, sturdy handle and easy maneuverability when rolling it through our obstacle course. Testers said its padded handles felt comfortable to lift, pull and use for steering, and they also loved its design — nearly every tester said they wanted to keep it for themselves. They spoke enthusiastically about its "eye-catching design," "smooth wheels" and "sturdy handle" after pushing and pulling it during evaluations.

Its smooth wheels glide effortlessly, even when it's loaded, and its hard outer shell, a polycarbonate and ABS plastic composite, keeps it light. Know that the composite material is more prone to scratching than 100% polycarbonate, and this suitcase didn't resist scratches as well as other bags in our tests. Still, it held up to our drop tests without denting and impressed our experts with its roomy interior that was easy to pack. The interior has a combination of zippered storage, elastic pockets and compression straps to help you stay organized.

Ideal for frequent flyers who are rough on their bags, Travelpro's luxe model is made using strong nylon fabric that comes in six shades and features leather accents and sturdy chrome zippers. This softside suitcase stood out in our evaluations for its impressive durability and convenient packing features — great to have when it comes to international travel too. For starters, its nylon exterior aced our abrasion and drop tests with no signs of wear. Plus, the zippers kept contents dry in our water resistance test.

Not only that, but it fit every item in our packing test with room to spare, and the organizational compartments inside made loading it a breeze. It comes with a garment bag for suits or dresses, a removable, TSA-approved toiletry case for liquids and an outer pocket with a USB port. (You'll need to supply the power bank for charging.) We appreciate that the handle is contoured for a better grip and cushioned for comfort, and it even adjusts to four different heights. Some testers thought it looked old-fashioned and said they had less control when the suitcase was on four wheels but liked that it glided well when tilted back on two wheels.

This duffel bag from Eagle Creek was designed for adventure trips, but we love it for all types of travel. There are removable straps that can be worn three ways, including as a backpack for when you need to be hands-free. It's made of a durable and water-repellent polyester fabric with foam padding to protect the contents inside, and the zippers lock for added security.

The bag is incredibly lightweight and spacious, especially because it doesn't have the wheel and handle mechanisms that are found in most carry-ons. And as a bonus, it compresses into a zippered pouch for easy storage when you're not using it. Unlike a standard duffel, this one has a detachable divider inside to help you keep your belongings organized, and there are enclosed zippered compartments on each end, as well as a zippered mesh pocket for more storage. For longer trips, the brand also offers two larger sizes with more space for your belongings.

The perfect addition to your luggage collection, a weekender bag is ideal for a shorter trip. This one from Lo & Sons is lightweight yet roomy without being too bulky or cumbersome to carry. The "small" option featured here is filled with pockets and can hold an impressive load, despite its compact size. One analyst who tried this bag pointed out the convenience of the separate bottom compartment, ideal for carrying shoes or keeping dirty laundry away from your new vacation clothes.

For longer trips that require more than one piece of luggage, simply slide the outer sleeve of the bag over the handle of your rolling suitcase to wheel both pieces at once so you don't have to lug the weekender around while also pulling your suitcase. If you prefer to carry your bag, it comes with a removable shoulder strap that's padded for added comfort. If you're an over-packer, you can opt for the larger size. Both the small and large sizes are available in two materials: a softer cotton canvas and a polyester weave that we especially love because it's durable and easier to wipe clean. Some online reviewers share that they wish the bag had more stability; the brand recommends choosing the polyester material if you prefer a bag with more inherent structure.

This hands-free travel backpack isn't your average carry-on bag. It outperformed other bags in our in-Lab backpack test and wowed our consumer testers, too. Although a backpack doesn't provide as much storage as a traditional carry-on, it's lightweight and compact — great for an overnight adventure, a day trip or to use as a personal item on a flight. There are multiple compartments to keep you organized, including a padded laptop sleeve, a spacious interior section, two water bottle holders, tons of easy-to-access smaller zippered pockets for your phone, pens and sunglasses and an outer bungee system to store a lightweight jacket or travel blanket.

During our abrasion tests, the fabric proved durable, resisting water and holding up well without showing major signs of wear. However, some reviewers wished the material had more structure, sharing that the bag didn't stand up well on its own when they were loading and unloading it. We appreciate the thoughtful design elements, like a chest strap and a removable waist strap for added support, and that the shoulder straps are padded for comfortable wear. And with more than 20 colorways to choose from, there's bound to be one that you love.