Best Carry-On Luggage Brands
CR members share their experiences using more than 12,000 carry-on bags. They'd take the top brands to the ends of the earth.
By Tobie Stanger
The right piece of carry-on luggage is a stellar travel companion. It’s easy to transport, even when you’re dashing through airports or bumping along cobblestone streets. It also has enough storage to fit your core travel items, so you don’t have to check a bag when you fly for a short trip.
In a CR survey on members’ travel behaviors and luggage preferences, we gathered data on 12,626 suitcases representing 21 brands, including American Tourister, Away, Briggs & Riley, Delsey, Samsonite, Travelpro, and Tumi.
Members told us the features they care about most, with the top two being a suitcase’s wheelability, cited by 64 percent of respondents, and its durability, cited by 58 percent. Of these, durability—how well zippers, handles, fabric, and other features hold up—had the strongest correlation to members’ overall satisfaction with their carry-ons.
“Our survey respondents know a thing or two about durability,” says Debra Kalensky, senior research associate in Consumer Reports’ survey division. After all, 7 in 10 reported owning their most-used carry-on luggage brand for at least three years, and about 1 in 6 have owned it for more than 10 years. Members also told us how easy their luggage is to carry, pack, and stow in airplane overhead bins.
Below are details on the four carry-on luggage brands that earn the highest overall satisfaction ratings, along with price ranges for carry-ons measuring 14x9x22 inches (WxDxH)—the maximum allowed for domestic travel on three of the biggest U.S. airlines: American, Delta, and United.
To see how other suitcase brands stack up in our survey, check out our comprehensive carry-on luggage brand ratings. Considering a hard-shell carry-on case? We’ve tested a dozen to find the best carry-on bags. And if you want more information to help choose a suitcase that’s right for you, you’ll find it all in our luggage buying guide.
Top Carry-On Luggage Brands in CR's Ratings
Briggs & Riley
Price: $419 to $699
Warranty: "Simple As That" lifetime guarantee for functional, not cosmetic, aspects of the bags.
CR’s take: Briggs & Riley carry-ons receive top marks in our most recent member survey. The brand excels in all aspects of our ratings: ease of carrying and packing, wheelability, stowability, and durability. The company offers several ways for customers to get free repairs: mail-ordered self-repair kits, walk-in repairs at authorized locations, and the option to mail the bag back to the manufacturer. If you need to send your bag in, though, you’ll have to pay for the shipping. But the company pays for return shipping.
Away
Price: $245 to $665
Warranty: Lifetime limited, covering damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, and anything else that impacts your use of the suitcase; 2-year warranty for electronic components.
CR’s take: Away sells primarily hard-shell suitcases, including “smart” bags that have removable battery-powered chargers for travelers’ electronics. Its carry-ons receive the highest ratings for ease of carrying and packing, wheelability, stowability, and durability. The company offers a generous 100-day trial period, during which you receive a full refund if you decide to return your suitcase.
Eagle Creek
Price: $219 to $469
Warranty: “No Matter What” lifetime warranty on workmanship and materials.
CR’s take: Eagle Creek’s carry-on ratings soar in ease of carrying and packing, stowability, and durability. They score slightly lower for wheelability, but still earn high marks. The company offers a variety of carry-ons, including wheeled duffels and traditional suitcases. Most are soft-sided, though one line, Tarmac, features luggage with a hard back.
eBags
Price: $120 to $300
Warranty: Lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, with some limitations related to wear and tear; 1-year warranty on the eBags Lifeboat battery pack for its smart bags.
CR’s take: The online retailer’s own brand of carry-ons garners Excellent scores for stowability, ease of packing, and durability in CR’s survey. They also receive Very Well ease of carrying and wheelability ratings. eBags sells soft-sided wheeled duffels and suitcases, as well as hard-shell bags. It also sells several “smart” carry-ons with USB ports and pockets to integrate a removable, battery-powered charger for travelers’ electronics (batteries cost extra).
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