Away luggage review: What to buy and what to skip after testing most of the lineup

The Carry-On

One of the first things my husband and I registered for when we got married was a set of Away's carry-on bags — he opted for the standard-size Carry-on while I upgraded to the Bigger Carry-On. He loves the smart details of his Away suitcase: a built-in lock, an interior compression system, and a fold-away laundry bag. The smaller size is particularly helpful on smaller international airlines: on a Ryanair flight in Italy, he didn't have to check this bag, but I got dinged with my Bigger Carry-On. We're both a little upset that the brand removed the option to add a removable battery, which was phased out in 2018. I thought that really set Away luggage apart from others, but I can see why they did, since airlines are really cracking down on having batteries in the luggage hold and overhead bins.

Former associate editor, Kinsley Searles, also loves reaching for her carry-on. It comfortably fit five days' worth of outfits, with room for more. "Using Away's Carry-On showed me that packing can be easy and even fun," she said.

Read our full Away Carry-On review.

The Bigger Carry-On

While my husband opted for the smaller Carry-On, I sized up to the Bigger Carry-On because I tend to pack more. It's not a dramatic difference in size compared to the Carry-On, but I love that it has all the same features and offers a bit more room when packing. When the lining started to tear after 100+ flights with the bag, I decided to exchange the bag under the brand's warranty program. I found the process really simple: customer support responded to my request within 24 hours, and after I sent photos of the damage, they sent me a brand new bag (I got to choose the color). All I had to do was ship back my damaged bag once the new bag arrived, and Away provided the shipping label at no charge to me. The whole experience was incredibly positive and made me feel really good about the brand's quality.

Maliah West, a former home & kitchen reviews fellow, considers herself a notorious overpacker and loves the bigger version, which offers slightly more space while still fitting in the overhead compartments of most major airlines. It's been her preferred bag for several short getaways.

The Bigger Carry-On Flex

After trying out the Bigger Carry-On Flex bag in our latest round of luggage testing, it's my new go-to. I love that the expansion features let me still travel with only a carry-on without worrying about fitting souvenirs and other items I pick up along the way into my suitcase. The expansion panels also make it much easier to close the bag: I haven't had to wrestle the suitcase closed like I usually do. Instead, I typically pack it with the expansion panel open, then zip it up when the suitcase is fully closed. I think this will result in a lot less wear and tear on the bag from overpacking. Keep in mind that you may be asked to check the bag when it's fully expanded, though this has yet to happen to me.

Read our full Away Carry-On Flex review.

The Large

I've been using The Large Away suitcase for about five years as my main checked bag. Though I tend to try to fit everything into a carry-on whenever possible, there are times when that's just not feasible, and this bag has come in seriously handy for everything from monthlong treks through Asia to big ski trips in Europe when I needed to fit all my gear plus my clothes. Checked bags, in particular, need to be durable since they get tossed around, and though it has a few marks and scratches, this suitcase has held up really well. I also like that the Carry-On nests inside it for easy storage. —Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

Also consider: If you're not traveling for two weeks, The Medium size may be your best fit. It's slightly lighter and could be more manageable for traveling around. It is also sized to nest within the large.

Topside Medium Trunk

When you think of hardshell luggage, you typically think of a clamshell design. While durable, the trade-off is that they take up a ton of floor space when opened, and I've found lifting the lid with half the suitcase's weight on one side clunky and not user-friendly. I've much preferred the convenience of soft side luggage, where I can easily flip open the lid or slip something inside at the last minute. But now, Away has flipped the script with its Topside collection, which features a flip-top lid for packing in a smaller footprint. The medium trunk has a slightly smaller packing capacity than the Large Checked, but it's narrower and deeper. Honestly, after years of using a clamshell suitcase, it took a slight adjustment to remember how to pack with everything in one compartment, and I found my typical method of using compression cubes didn't work as well due to the different dimensions. The suitcase is expandable, which was helpful on my return flight, and also features a compression panel. However, it's not removable, and you'll need to pack it floating out; otherwise, you'll need to leave it sitting at the bottom of the suitcase.

It also had really smart design elements like straps to keep the flip-top lid perfectly open, and it is Away's first design to feature a wheel brake system, which made traveling on the subway a breeze, not fighting to keep it still. I also rolled this suitcase through 10 blocks, and while going uphill with this bag loaded to the brim got a little heady, overall, its smooth wheels glided over city streets with ease. It emerged mostly unscathed save for some scuff marks that will buff out with a magic eraser after being tossed around by various bag handlers at the airport and on a cruise ship.

It's also available in Bigger Carry-OnandCarry-Onsizes, which nest in the trunk. — Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor

The Softside Bigger Carry-On

Away's Softside collection is a little less efficient in terms of packing space compared to Away's hard-shell luggage, but its durability is unmatched, coming out of my testing process without so much as a scratch. Its waterproof exterior survived both snow and rain, so I was never scared of my luggage being damaged. It also comes with all the features standard to Away bags, like quiet wheels, a smooth multi-stop handle, and a laundry bag. It's a great choice if you prefer soft-sided luggage to hard-shell bags. —Kinsley Searles, former associate editor

The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

I love this Aluminum carry-on so much that I named it the best aluminum luggage in our guide to the best carry-on luggage. Built to last, this bag is seriously sturdy and has come out of several trips completely unscathed. What impressed me most, though, was the huge amount of packing space. I took this bag on a weekend ski trip and was able to fit my long underwear, sweaters, ski pants, gloves, and a light jacket on just one side. I easily fit a weekend's worth of everyday clothes on the other side. The only downside is the weight. At just under 11 pounds, this bag is heavy, so I tend to use it more for car and train trips. —Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

The Everywhere Bag

The Everywhere Bag is a fantastically flexible addition to Away's luggage line-up as both a personal item and a weekender bag. I have used it as a work tote, a personal item, and an overnight bag. This bag's versatility is incredible: features like a padded shoulder strap and luggage sleeve make it equally at home at the gym or at the airport. Whatever you use it for, I definitely recommend this bag for both daily use and traveling. It lives up to its name: you can take it everywhere. —Kinsley Searles, former associate editor

Transit Canvas Tote

The Transit Canvas Weekender turned out to be the perfect canvas tote to carry contributor Rebecca Strong through a two-night trip on the Cape — with plenty of room for several outfits and toiletries. Her favorite feature, beyond the 33-liter packing capacity, is the zippered shoe compartments on each side to keep footwear separate from the rest of her gear. It also features a trolley sleeve to slip over rolling suitcase handles and a dedicated padded laptop pocket inside. Leather straps enhance durability, hanging comfort, and polish. For flights, it meets the size requirements of most major airlines (and fits in most overhead bins) for a carry-on, but may be too large to be a personal item.

Read more about the best travel totes.

The Featherlight Crossbody

Contributor Maria Yagoda tested dozens of options in pursuit of the best travel purses and named the Away Featherlight Crossbody as the best lightweight option. The bag weighs just over a pound, but has a storage capacity of 10 liters. Yagoda has taken the bag on numerous outings, including to the beach, where she reported that water and sand slid right off. "Even when I filled the bag with snacks, a big book, a Fuji camera, and my notebook, the padding around the strap prevented the bag from digging into my shoulders," she said.

The Large Featherlight Tote

We named the Away Large Featherlight Tote the best weekender in our guide to the best tote bags. Contributor Rebecca Strong tested it and had this to say: "If you're on the hunt for a bag that will fit the most, look no further. Away's Featherlight bags are flexible enough to accommodate all your essentials, yet have just enough structure to keep their shape. And this incredibly spacious tote doubles as a weekender — I was able to pack a change of clothes, shoes, toiletries, a towel, a water bottle, my laptop (in the designated interior pocket) and so much more with room to spare. I also appreciate the easy-care aspects of this bag: it's water-repellent and machine washable."

The Pet Carrier

Away's sleek Pet Carrier has a roomy interior fitted with a plush sherpa mat and privacy screens, and plenty of pocket space on the exterior to hold essentials. Its padded shoulder strap is comfortable and you can slip its luggage strap over the handle of a carry-on for easy rolling through an airport or train station. Best of all, this carrier is as safe as they come: it's been both crash-tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety. It's the most stylish option in our guide to the best cat carrier. —Shoshi Parks, former Insider Reviews contributor

The Beach Tote

Talia Ergas, one of our resident bag experts, named Away's Beach Tote the very best beach bag you can buy. You wouldn't think a mesh bag would have so much thought put into it, but Away's delivers with a 40-liter capacity. "There's a designated spot for everything. The zippered top kept everything secure when the wind picked up, and the water bottle pocket inside was a nice touch (though slightly roomy for my 24-ounce Owala). Using its two exterior straps, I can fit a rolled-up beach blanket so the inside doesn't get sandy. You can also fit a wide-brimmed sun hat in there," Ergas said. "It's versatile enough to go beyond the beach. The clean, minimal design earned me a few compliments at the lake. The exterior straps can be used to carry a yoga mat, so it's a great gym bag, too."

Compression Packing Cubes

Away's Compression Packing Cubes are the best packing cubes we've tested overall, according to contributor Tyler Hayes. Sold in a pack of four and available in numerous colors, the compression design truly lets you maximize your space. They're thoughtfully designed, featuring a different zipper for the opening versus the pull string of the compression zipper. "This makes it very easy to identify which zipper is for what on the first try, " Hayes said. They also have a mesh webbing that makes it easy to identify what's in a bag and a carrying handle.

Compared to the standard design, Away says its compression cubes can fit 20 to 30% more than its standard packing cubes.

The Insider Packing Cubes

I'll admit it: I always thought packing cubes were pointless. I stubbornly stuck with this idea for my entire life until it was time to pack for a monthlong trip for my destination wedding. There were just too many things to organize, so I tried Away's Insider Packing Cubes Set. Several editors and contributors use these packing cubes for their travels.

With six options in varying sizes, I was able to use each cube for a type of clothing — dresses used a large cube, swimsuits a smaller one. During the course of my trip, I stayed in seven hotels, and seven times the cubes not only helped me find what I wanted to wear, but made it easier to pack up quickly when it was time to move on. And, when I overpacked and had to remove items from my Large (see above), all I had to do was pull out a cube and throw it in my carry-on to remove weight quickly.

Former senior reporter Connie Chen likes that the cubes are flexible and stretchy, and keep everything organized. However, if she were to buy again, she says she'd choose a lighter color over black to make it easier to spot the contents behind the mesh cover. Meanwhile, contributorJamie Ditaranto, who identifies as a digital nomad, finds thatset of four, which comes with two slim and two wide cubes, is just right for most trips, weighs just 0.32 kg, so it doesn't add much weight, and can be stored flat. For long trips, especially, this packing cube convert thinks these are totally worth it. —Emily Hochberg, former travel editor

Read our Away packing cube review.

Which Away suitcase is right for you?

Away The Carry On vs. The Bigger Carry-On vs. Carry-On Flex

Size can come down to personal preference, and also checking airline restrictions. The Bigger Carry-On offers the most versatile size. The expandable Flex options also add an extra 2.5 inches of packing capacity for souvenirs, but could exceed luggage sizers. Away also offers a carry-on with a front pocket for easy access to small items or holding a laptop, but it eats into interior packing space.

Our Pick: The Bigger Carry-On (complies with most major airlines)

Works with all airlines: The Carry-On

For overpackers: The Bigger Carry-On Flex

• Compare all carry-on options.

Hardside versus Aluminum versus Softside

Our pick: The classic Polycarbonate Hardside is Away's true bread and butter. It's lightweight, one of the most durable designs we've encountered, and available in several configurations and sizes.

Also consider: The Aluminum edition caters to those seeking extra durability, but the heavier design (the carry-on weighs 11 pounds) could make it more difficult for air travel. It's also the most expensive. The compromise between the two is the Aluminum Edge collection, which has a polycarbonate body with aluminum edges for extra corner protection against bumps.

Away's Softside collection introduces a waterproof nylon that resists scuffs and scratches, which hardshell luggage is prone to. It is slightly heavier (compared to the Hardside collection.

This chart breaks down the capacity, weight, and price for each major luggage collection for a Large checked bag.

• Compare all luggage styles