Top pickBriggs & Riley
Briggs & Riley Baseline 22-Inch Carry-On Spinner
In: Best Luggage for Business Trips
- 22-inch expandable softside carry-on
- Internal garment system for suits and dresses
Category guide
Luggage: Carry-Ons and Checked Bags That Survive Real Travel
Durable luggage comes down to wheels, zippers and shell material. Those are the parts that break first.
- 6 roundups · 4 reviews · 2 comparisons · 2 guides
- Updated
- No paid placements
Shop the shortlist
Top luggage we recommend
Standout picks from our best-of lists. Tap any product for features, pros and cons.
- Top pickMonos
Monos Carry-On Pro 22-Inch Hardside Spinner
In: Best Carry-On Only Luggage
- 22-inch polycarbonate hardshell, 36L capacity
- Padded front compartment fits a 16-inch laptop
- Briggs & Riley
Briggs & Riley Baseline 28-Inch Large Expandable Spinner
In: Best Checked Luggage
- 28-inch expandable softside shell
- One-touch compression system
- Top pickTravelpro
Travelpro Platinum Elite 29-Inch Checked Spinner
In: Best Luggage for International Travel
- 29-inch expandable softside shell
- 8 MagnaTrac spinner wheels
- Best overallSamsonite
Samsonite Freeform 24-Inch Medium Hardside Spinner
In: Best Luggage Under $150
- 24-inch expandable polypropylene hardshell
- Dual 360-degree spinner wheels
- Samsonite
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On Spinner
In: Best Luggage Under $150
- Expandable polypropylene hardshell
- Dual 360-degree spinner wheels
- Amazon Basics
Amazon Basics 21" Hardside Expandable Spinner Carry-On
In: Best Luggage Under $150
- Very affordable
- Expandable for extra space
- Samsonite
Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Carry-On Spinner
In: Best Luggage Under $300
- Polycarbonate shell
- Built-in TSA lock
Best by need
Best luggage for every buyer
Ranked shortlists for specific budgets and use cases. Start with the one that matches yours.
- Best Luggage for Business Trips: Top Picks for Frequent FlyersThe best luggage for business trips ranked by wrinkle-free suit storage, quick-access pockets, carry-on compliance, and wheel durability forSee the picks
- Best Carry-On Only Luggage: Top Picks for Traveling Without Checking a BagThe best carry-on luggage for traveling without checking a bag, ranked by size compliance, packing efficiency, laptop access, and wheel qualSee the picks
- Best Checked Luggage: Top Picks for Durability and Packing CapacityThe best checked luggage ranked by durability, packing capacity, expansion, and warranty coverage, covering budget hardside spinners throughSee the picks
- Best Luggage for International Travel: Top Picks for Long-Haul TripsThe best luggage for international travel ranked by durability, packing capacity, wheel quality, and airline size compliance, covering checkSee the picks
- Best Luggage Under $150: Top Budget Picks That Still Hold UpSee the picks
- Best Luggage Under $300: Top Mid-Range Picks Worth the UpgradeSee the picks
Know before you buy
About Luggage
Most luggage fails at the same points: a cracked wheel housing, a broken telescoping handle or a split zipper. Brands with strong warranties and replaceable parts tend to last far longer than cheap bags that look similar in photos.
Size limits vary by airline, so check the carriers you fly most before choosing a carry-on.
How to choose luggage
Hardside vs softside
Polycarbonate hardside cases protect contents and shrug off rain. Softside bags flex into tight overhead bins and usually have external pockets.
Wheels
Four spinner wheels glide easily in airports. Two inline wheels are sturdier on cobblestones and curbs and take less internal space.
Size limits
Many US airlines allow carry-ons around 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles. Measure the whole bag.
Weight
A lighter empty bag leaves more of the checked-bag weight allowance for your belongings.
Warranty
Look for warranties that cover airline damage and offer replaceable wheels and handles.
Research-based picks from specs, independent reviews and owner feedback.
No paid placements, ever.
Our methodologyQuick buying tips
What matters most in luggage
- Polycarbonate hardside cases protect contents and shrug off rain. Softside bags flex into tight overhead bins and usually have external pockets.
- Four spinner wheels glide easily in airports. Two inline wheels are sturdier on cobblestones and curbs and take less internal space.
- Many US airlines allow carry-ons around 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles. Measure the whole bag.
- A lighter empty bag leaves more of the checked-bag weight allowance for your belongings.
- Look for warranties that cover airline damage and offer replaceable wheels and handles.
Deep dives
In-depth reviews
- Briggs & Riley Baseline 28-Inch Review: Is the Lifetime Guarantee Worth It?The Briggs & Riley Baseline 28-inch is a premium expandable softside checked bag backed by an unconditional lifetime guarantee. Full review
- Monos Carry-On Pro Review: The Best Carry-On for Frequent FlyersFull review with test results and who should buy it.
- Samsonite Freeform Review: The Best Budget Hardside LuggageIt's the standard recommendation for budget-conscious travelers who still want real hardshell protection. Full review with test results.
- Travelpro Platinum Elite Review: The Frequent Flyer's Checked BagThe Travelpro Platinum Elite 29-inch is an 8-wheel expandable checked bag built by a brand that supplies flight crews. Full review with test
Learn first
Buying guides & how-tos
- Buying guideHow to Choose Luggage: A Decision Framework for Every Trip TypeA step-by-step framework for choosing luggage based on trip length, travel frequency, and budget, covering carry-on versus checked, hardsideRead
- Buying guideLuggage Buying Guide: Shell Materials, Wheels, and Warranties ExplainedA detailed buying guide covering luggage shell materials, wheel systems, warranty terms, and size classes, so you know exactly what you're pRead
- Buying guideLuggage Handle Not Retracting: Causes and How to Fix ItIf your luggage's telescoping handle is stuck extended, jammed halfway, or won't lock into place, the cause is usually debris, a bent guide Read
- Buying guideLuggage Wheels Breaking: Causes and How to Fix or Replace ThemIf your luggage wheels are cracking, wobbling, or seizing up, the cause is usually diagnosable and often fixable without buying a new bag. WRead
- Buying guideLuggage Zipper Getting Stuck: Causes and How to Fix ItIf your luggage zipper is snagging, jamming, or won't close, the cause is usually fabric catching in the teeth, overpacking strain, or a worRead
Answers
Luggage: common questions
What is the best luggage to buy?
One of our strongest picks is the Briggs & Riley Baseline 22-Inch Carry-On Spinner, a standout in our Best Luggage for Business Trips list. The Monos Carry-On Pro 22-Inch Hardside Spinner is another excellent choice.
How do I choose the right luggage?
Start with your main use and budget, then compare our shortlists: Best Luggage for Business Trips, Best Carry-On Only Luggage, Best Checked Luggage.
What should I look for when buying luggage?
Polycarbonate hardside cases protect contents and shrug off rain. Softside bags flex into tight overhead bins and usually have external pockets.
Should business travelers pack carry-on only?
Most frequent business travelers standardize on carry-on only, since it skips baggage claim and checked-bag fees on short trips, which is the majority of business travel. For trips over a week, or when packing garment bags and equipment, a small checked bag or a garment-suiter carry-on solves the wrinkle problem better than cramming a suit into a duffel.
What luggage feature matters most for weekly business travel?
Wheel durability matters most for travelers who roll a bag through airports several times a week. A bag with cheap plastic caster wheels will show cracking or seizing within a year of heavy weekly use, while double-swivel or 8-wheel spinner designs from Travelpro and Briggs & Riley are built for that duty cycle and typically last several years longer.
How do I keep a suit wrinkle-free in carry-on luggage?
A built-in garment suiter, a fold-out panel that holds a suit jacket or dress flat against the interior wall, is the most reliable method without checking a separate garment bag. Rolling shirts instead of folding them also reduces crease lines. Bags without a dedicated suiter can still work if you pack the suit on top, wrapped in the provided laundry bag or a dry-cleaning bag, which reduces friction-based wrinkling.
Is a laptop compartment necessary in business travel luggage?
A dedicated front laptop compartment saves real time at security, since it lets you remove the laptop without unzipping the main compartment and disturbing packed clothing. For travelers going through security multiple times a week, this adds up to meaningful time saved over a bag without one.
How long a trip can I pack carry-on only?
Most experienced carry-on-only travelers comfortably pack for 4 to 7 days using compression packing cubes and doing a load of laundry mid-trip for longer stays. Beyond a week without laundry access, most carry-on bags run out of usable volume for a full outfit rotation, at which point checking a bag or packing lighter becomes necessary.