The Away Luggage Our Editors Recommend Most

Shown in olive green

Weight: 7.9 lb. 
Dimensions: 22.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" 
Capacity: 47.9L
Expandable: No

A convert from a larger suitcase that often had to be checked, editorial assistant Jessica Chapel says The Bigger Carry-On suitcase “does wonders,” especially since she can fit almost as much in this more compact hardside spinner, which she took on a five-day trip with plenty of room to spare. She’s already traveled with the 7.9-pound bag by plane, bus, and car, and put it to the test when delays allowed her only 15 minutes to get between gates. She swiftly pulled the bag out of the overhead compartment thanks to “the perfect mix of convenient handle placements and the texture of the luggage,” put the bag on top of her head—an unconventional carrying method, to be sure—and sailed through the crowd. “It's the little things, including the unique placement of the luggage's underside handle—with a small dash of adrenaline—that certainly does the trick for easy access without any shuffle, which is exactly what's needed in an airport rush,” Chapel says. (She made her connecting flight in the knick of time.) Also notable, she says: the interior lining, mesh, and drawstring laundry bag for dirty clothes are made of recycled polyester.

Pros: Roomy and durable with convenient handles, including underside one
Cons: Not expandable

Weight: 12.6 lb.
Dimensions: 26" x 18.9" x 10.6"
Capacity: 69L, or when expanded 76L
Expandable: Yes

There’s a common belief that hard shell luggage has the advantage of better protecting your contents, but global audience development manager Abigail Malbon says the most stand-out feature of Away’s new Softside is the “handy wipe-clean fabric that’s also water-resistant, so if you get stranded in the rain, you don’t need to worry about your belongings getting wet.” She also found it to be far more agile than her previous suitcases, easily rolling it with her on a train trip within the UK to visit her parents.

Another perk was the compression pad, which kept the bag from bulging, especially important for a soft-side bag. The roomy bag could easily be used for weeklong trips—perhaps even two weeks if expanded, with Malbon adding that the zippers, wheels, and exteriors all held up well on her test spin. She also noted the comfort of steering it because of its padded top and side handles. But above all, she says the bag has a “cool design that stands out at the airport.”

Pros: Roomy; rolls smoothly; effective compression pad
Cons: Seems heavy for its size

Weight: 9.8 lb.
Dimensions: 23" x 15.7" x 9.1"
Capacity: 38.3L, or when expanded 44.3L
Expandable: Yes

Balance can especially be an issue for weight-distribution in soft-side luggage, but Shannon McMahon, senior editor of destinations, was immediately impressed with Away’s carry-on’s ability to swivel and roll smoothly when it was packed full, crediting the effective stabilization technology that worked so well her it didn’t even budge with her laptop in the front pocket. Available in cute colors like Coast Blue and Clay Pink, the “sleekly designed” luggage boasts “compartments galore” as well as other utilitarian features McMahon found useful, like a sleek black-leather luggage tag and a color-coordinated TSA-friendly lock.

But after using it on three trips—two plane trips and one car trip—she had two major gripes. “I depended on it for some spring-weather layers on a week-long spring trip to the Pacific Northwest and got by thanks to its expandability—but because of the weight of the bag itself it can get heavy fast,” she says. While the nylon wicked away Seattle rain and Greek sand, McMahon didn’t quite have the same experience as Malbon after being forced to gate-check a bag during a downpour, quickly learning, “water-repellent does not mean waterproof.” Her advice: “I would think twice before checking it—and any soft-side luggage really, since it’s more prone to stains and liquids than a hardside.”

Pros: Stylish and stable
Cons: A bit heavy; water-resistant, but not waterproof

Weight: 10.4 lb.
Dimensions: 26" x 18.5" x 11"
Capacity: 68.8L
Expandable: No

During a two-week car trip to Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard, associate editor Charlie Hobbs brought along the “perfectly light” 10.4-pound medium check-in sized hardside, able to fit enough in to not have to do laundry the entire getaway. The interior—which he found “unassuming”—includes plenty of storage pockets: The compression flap is divided into two zippered sections on one side with an added large pocket on the backside. Additionally, the zipper closure for the top half of the suitcase has a zippered pocket on it. He did notice what’s perhaps the most commonly called-out downfall of Away’s hardsides: “Despite only ever being in the car, this bag is already quite scuffed up,” he said. (When I was in Estonia with two other travel writers last year, looking at our three Away bags, we commented the same thing.) Each suitcase does come with Away's own version of a Magic Eraser that helps remove light scuffs, though a bit of elbow grease might be needed to get them out. That said, Hobbs found the 360-degree wheels rolled “perfectly well” and appreciated the ergonomic curved zippers. Like Chapel, he found the luggage easy to lift up in a bind, when he had to put it on the roof of a Toyota for a ferry ride, noting it was easy to sling it up, “thanks to the side handles.”

Pros: Plenty of functional storage compartments, rolls seamlessly
Cons: Scuffs up easily

Weight: 2.7 lb.
Dimensions: 17.7" x 11" x 9"
Capacity: 28L
Expandable: No

The Overnight Bag has turned into associate editor Matt Ortile's all-in-one bag. He uses it as his daily commuter bag at home in New York City, and has also toted it on a six-night trip to Las Vegas. “On an everyday basis, I fit gym clothes, a packed lunch, laptop, and a little grooming kit—leaving plenty of room for extras, like a bottle of wine that I pickup from my local shop on the way home,” he says.

He was surprised how much he could fit in during his weeklong trip, with the nylon material having so much give he was able to tuck a tupperware full of Spago cookies into his already-packed bag last minute. With what he called a “pseudo-suitcase feel,” the bag opens clamshell style into the main compartment, which he thought would be a detriment for quick ease of access, but has actually helped since items are more visible than digging through a duffel.

Chock full of compartments, including a tech pocket for his laptop and notebooks, and small ones for pens and wallets, Ortile says two of its most useful features are the key leash and luggage sleeve to slip on top of a luggage handle. All that functionality is paired with a sleek aesthetic “without looking too much like a bag Inspector Gadget would carry.”

Pros: Huge capacity and highly functional with useful compartments
Cons: A bit on the heavier side, especially the half-pound weight of the strap

Weight: 1.74 lb.
Dimensions: 19" x 12.6" x 7.7"
Capacity: 26L
Expandable: No

“Compared to other backpacks, this one is great because it works for both outdoorsy trips and city trips thanks to the water-resistant fabric and sleek design,” says transportation and travel news associate editor Hannah Towey. The New Yorker has strapped it on for all forms of travel—a plane to Paris, the train to Connecticut, a car to Massachusetts, and daily commutes all over the city—noting that what makes it work so well are tons of interior pockets, paired with a simple exterior.

She’s able to fit all her electronics, including a laptop, chargers, and noise-canceling headphones, a large toiletry bag, a pair of shoes, one full outfit, a book, and sunglasses, along with essentials like her keys, wallet, and passport. Especially useful are the two deep side pockets that can each hold a 32-ounce water bottle, and that there are two tech pockets for 15-inch devices—one interior and one zippered exterior one.

The best part of the unisex backpack is that it’s made of 100 percent water- and abrasion-resistant Dual Action fabric from Away’s Outdoor Collection—which uses responsibly-sourced, recycled materials—making it easy to wipe away the dirt and grime that inevitably accumulates on travels. While it’s better suited for light hiking than trekking, the cushioned back and straps make it comfortable to tote around for long hours.

Pros: Lightweight, but made of durable water- and abrasion-resistant material
Cons: No sternum strap; main compartment unzips when stuffed

Weight: 2.45 lb.
Dimensions: 12" x 5.9" x 17.7"
Capacity: 20L
Expandable: No

Simplicity comes first with this water-resistant nylon backpack, available in five—plus some limited-edition hues—subtle monochromatic shades, that our editors have called “functional” with “a classic look that you won’t tire of.” As a freelancer whose backpack is her office, that timeless look also means the backpack strikes the right balance of being professional (I’ve toted it to business meetings and events), travel-friendly (I’ve also taken it on day trips to the Jersey Shore and Long Island and road trips to Maryland), and casual (it’s also doubled as my exercise bag for spin class). When I got caught in the rain at the US Open in New York, the raindrops wicked right off, and the bag's contents stayed dry. But my two favorite magic tricks of this bag are the extended clamshell-style zipper, which opens the main compartment and makes it just as easy to take something out of the bottom as the top, and the bag's weight distribution. Whether it’s the padded straps or the mesh back panel, it somehow makes the contents feel lighter—I’ve stopped at least twice to make sure my laptop was actually inside the 15-inch sleeve.

While still the OG of the Away’s commuter bags, those looking to travel light may opt for the newer Large Featherlight Backpack, which offers nearly the same capacity (18L as opposed to 20L) and half the weight (1.2 lb. as opposed to 2.45 lb,) but has a more flexible and function front-zip pocket, as well as two side water-bottle pockets for 32-ounce bottles—making it my new go-to of choice.
Pros: Comfortable, sleek, and functional
Cons: Front pocket can be hard to access when filled; limited capacity in main pocket; no water bottle pockets

Weight (full set): 0.5 lb.
Dimensions:
Small: 10" x 4.1" x 8.25"
Medium slim: 10" x 4.1" x 4.3"
Medium wide: 13" x 4.1" x 10"
Large: 13" x 4.1" x 6.9"
Expandable: No

Before I tried Away’s packing cubes, I was a skeptic of the travel accessory as a whole. Other cubes I had seen were either bulky, or felt rough, cheap, and pointless. Admittedly, when I first saw this innocuous set from Away, I was still doubtful. But as it turns out, this set of four nylon water-resistant zip bags with one mesh side are as subtle as they are useful. In the smallest one, I’m able to stuff in all my “just in case” accessories—a foldable running cap, beanie, scarf, gloves, and swimsuit, and tuck it into a teeny corner of the suitcase. The medium slim is perfect for organizing my underwear, packing them vertically, Marie Kondo–style, while the medium wide fits my bras, tanks, and socks. The final one, the large slim, rotates between storing pairs of shoes or other bulky items. Available in 10 shades, they all fit together like Legos in my suitcase, weighing a combined 0.5 pounds—well worth it for keeping me organized on the go.