What's everyone's opinion on best carryon luggage. Having to travel more for work and trying to avoid checking bag. Have a travel pro suitcase but also seeing Away and some other brands.

I have a 10+ year old travel pro that I'm still rocking. Wife has an way carry on and both have been good. People seem to be buying exclusively hard shell suitcases today. Don't think you can go wrong with the Away Carry On or Carry On +.

I resisted getting a new one as I had an old Swiss soft carry on that I thought was perfectly fine but a bit worn and old. Wife finally just threw that one out got me an away. And I gotta say it's pretty awesome. I would recommend it.

I have the same brand. The 4 wheel spinner.

Been very happy with it. Great warranty as well.

Briggs and Riley is a bit on the pricey side but their stuff is really good quality. My favorite feature is its starts bigger and then when you zip it up you push it down and it compresses everything to carry on size.

I use this Burton bag which unfortunately they don't sell any longer. I got lucky and caught a maroon one during an online sale 5 years ago while I was enjoying the first summer of the scamdemic but was still traveling for work - because nobody else on my team would travel.

It's been fantastic for every situation I've encountered so far, including those small regional flights where you have to gate check your carry on. And if you have to walk long distances (Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Las Vegas MGM Grand), the skateboard wheels are great.
https://www.burton.com/us/en/p/wheelie-flight-deck-38l-travel-bag/W23-149451.html



I think some of the other snowboard accessory companies offer something similar like Dakine, etc.

Bert315 said:

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What's everyone's opinion on best carryon luggage. Having to travel more for work and trying to avoid checking bag. Have a travel pro suitcase but also seeing Away and some other brands.

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What kind of stuff are you carrying? Suits, etc? Or field clothes/gear? I don't typically have to carry suits and such, and I have an Osprey Sojourn 22 that makes a great little carryon duffle for 2-4 days trips. I have a larger Osprey duffle and I have been really happy with the quality and build on both.

https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-Sojourn-Shuttle-Wheeled-Duffel/dp/B0C7SLQF46/

I also have a Wenger Swissgear backpack that I use travelling and it is very well made. They do hard and soft side luggage under the swissgear name and it looks similarly well built.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/6E5FDBF7-DB70-4F65-83DE-04E8B962899C

TravelPro is junk if you're a road warrior. I get them for free from work and give them to family. Never had one last it's life cycle.

If you want the best, look at Purdy Neat Stuff, well now its LuggageWorks https://luggageworks.com/ . Made in USA, Missouri, I own a 22" and 26" Executive Rolling Bag. Built like a tank, it does weigh as much as one as well because of the aluminum frame. Bought my first one in '98, they overhauled once and I replaced it after 20 years or so. The 26" is not a carry on. I use it when im flying around the world for work. They have some newer models that use plastic vs aluminum for the frame. They look nice, but I don't have any experience with them.

However, I advise against ever checking it. The zipper tabs tend to get torn off by the baggage belts when they lose the battle if they get stuck.

Every once in a while I'll have to throw a suit in but not often. I have a suit bag I could always throw in the suitcase if needed.

Any opinions on hardshell vs softshell? Seems like hardshell is really popular based on the ads right now. I'll be on a fair amount of regionals so probably getting gate checked.

Bert315 said:

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Every once in a while I'll have to throw a suit in but not often. I have a suit bag I could always throw in the suitcase if needed.

Any opinions on hardshell vs softshell? Seems like hardshell is really popular based on the ads right now. I'll be on a fair amount of regionals so probably getting gate checked.

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I am partial to soft side for those few times when I need to stuff a little extra full and probably exceed the max carryon measurements. But the soft side will not take quite as much abuse as the hardshell if you really abuse it. But that abuse will make the hardshell look worse sooner than the soft side. Also pay attention to the ability to replace the wheels. That is the only thing I have had to replace periodically on pretty much any luggage I own.
The one knock I have on the 4 wheel spinners vs the 2 wheel drag bag is that the spinners usually won't be as stable trying to roll over ruff terrain like gravel on asphalt, etc. But that can be balanced by the inability to rest the 2 wheel bag vertically if it doesn't have a sold kick stand piece on the end with the wheel.

The other thing to consider is weight if you might be going places where they put weight limits on your bag. Typically that is only an issue flying puddle jumpers in other countries, but some of the hard shells in particular can be fairly weighty before you ever put anything in them.

My Away carryon has held up perfectly over 5 years of travel with trips every two weeks or so.