The Best Carry On Luggage 2025 + How to Pick the Right Suitcase for You

Looking for the best carry-on luggage? We’ve been travel blogging for over ten years and have tested so many suitcases. These are our current favorites.

We have minimalist packing down to an art. On longer trips, we each bring a carry-on and a backpack. On shorter trips, sometimes we share one carry-on.

In this post, we’ll focus on carry-on luggage. If you prefer to travel with only a backpack, check out our best travel backpack post.

This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: April 4, 2025

What to Look for in Carry-On Luggage

Before we get into our favorite suitcases, let’s talk about how to pick the best carry-on luggage for you.

Questions to Ask

• What are your favorite airlines? The airlines you frequently travel with determine your bag’s size and weight limitations. Some are stricter than others.
• Do you have physical limitations? Spinners may be easier to move around than two-wheeled suitcases for some.
• Where are you traveling? Size and weight limitations depend on if you’re traveling domestically vs. internationally. It also matters if you’ll be in cities, remote places, or walking through cobblestone streets.
• What is your travel style? Will you stay in one location or move from place to place? If you’re on the go and need to carry everything on you, you may want a backpack instead. If you have a home base or use storage, a suitcase may be easier.
• Do you have specific gear you travel with? We always travel with cameras and sometimes a tripod.

Features to Check

• Dimensions: Most US airlines’ size limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, whereas international airlines’ limit is 12.7 x 15.7 x 9. Since they vary, consider which airlines you fly the most. We always opt for the smaller ones to fit on most planes. Measure your suitcase after you get it since the specs they show may be slightly off.
• Weight: Most US airlines aren’t strict about weight (max is usually 40 lbs), but in Europe, they are more stringent, with a limit of 17 lbs. Remember, the base weight will vary when you select your suitcase. You also want to be able to maneuver the bag and lift it into storage.
• Hard Shell or Soft Shell: We used to love soft-shell luggage but have switched over recently. Softshells are nice because they expand and can be stuffed into tight spots, but we often see people overpack them to the point where they get stuck. Hard-shell luggage is durable and more protective against the elements but is usually heavier.
• Pockets and Organization: Do you want two wheels or spinners? Spinners are much smoother and easier to maneuver, but since wheels are considered in the dimensions, our million miler writer prefers the extra space you get with two-wheel suitcases for long trips.
• Wheel Types: Do you want two wheels or spinners? Spinners are much smoother and easier to maneuver, but since wheels are considered in the dimensions. Our million-miler writer prefers the extra space you get with two wheels, while we don’t mind sacrificing space for the ease of spinners.
• Color and Design: Jacob prioritizes function over form, while I appreciate the aesthetics. Unique colors and designs are easier to spot in a sea of black and navy luggage.

See More: 17 Best Travel Backpacks You Need to Check Out

Best Carry On Luggage

These are the carry-on luggage we regularly use.

1. Bric’s Bellagio Carry On ($725) – Most Aesthetic

This is currently my favorite carry-on suitcase. It’s so photogenic that I couldn’t stop myself from doing an entire photoshoot with it. I love the Italian craftsmanship. Plus, this carry-on pairs perfectly with the Bellagio legacy bag, which initially caught my interest at the Travel Goods Show out of the hundreds of luggage I looked at.

Measurements: 15″ x 21″ x 9″
Weight: 7.05 lbs
Capacity: 40L

2. Peak Design Roller Pro Carry On – Best Innovation ($600 but currently $125 off on kickstarter) →

This is Jacob’s current favorite carry-on. We love all our Peak Design gear. They thoughtfully design and overengineer all their products, how we like it. This carry-on luggage is a hybrid between a hard and soft shell case. Their drawbridge system makes it easy to open without doubling the footprint, and they completely redesigned the handle.

Measurements: 21.8″ x 14″ x 9″
Weight: 8.6 lbs

3. Roam Carry-on Front Pocket – Best Customization ($625) →

Roam Luggage does the best job in terms of customization since they build each piece to order. Although they have design inspirations, the fun part is picking colors for each bag element. They have a standard suitcase and one with a front pocket to store a laptop.

Measurements: 22″ x 14.25″ x 9.75″
Weight: 8.3 lbs
Capacity: 37L

Roam Luggage Coupon Code: LOCALADVENTURER for $50 off (min $125 purchase)

4. Samsonite SXK Spinner Underseater – Best Underseater ($251.99) →

Samsonite is a trusted brand among travelers who use high-quality travel bags. They’ve been making suitcases since 1910. They also own Tumi, another brand known for high-end, quality suitcases.

A friend of mine got me a tiny suitcase from Europe years ago that I love. I’m 4’11, so even average carry-ons look gigantic next to me, and there was a period when flight attendants would question the size. I never had issues with the SXK Spinner, though. It’s made to be an under-seater bag if needed. Since my clothes are also generally smaller, I wanted to show that if I can pack into an under-seater, you should be able to pack everything you need in a standard carry-on.

Measurements: 17.3″ x 14.3″ x 8.5″
Weight: 6.8 lbs

Best Carry On Luggage 2 wheels

5. Rollink Flex Aura – Best for Limited Storage ($227.99) →

When we lived in NYC, we had limited storage. The ROLLINK Flex Aura is a fully collapsible suitcase, making it easy to store away whenever you’re not using it. When entirely collapsed, it’s only 2 inches thick. It also has a laptop sleeve on the front, but since it’s not hard-covered, I used it for documents instead. My backpack felt safer.

They also have a four-wheel spinner version.

Measurements: 21.6″ x 15.7″ x 9″
Weight: 5.5 lbs
Capacity: 44.67 L

More Carry-On Suitcases to Check Out

These are some more suitcases we’ve used over the years that didn’t make our top 5.

• Aerotrunk Pangolin ($114) – affordable and great for laptop storage. Limited colors.
• Lojel Voja Small ($260) – great zipperless option.
• MVST Treva Aluminum ($399) – durable, zipperless, but heavy.
• Nomatic Carry On Classic ($399) – scratched too easily.
• Take Off Luggage ($120) – Best for budget airlines. The wheels pop off to store under the seat. Coupon Code: LOCALADVENTURER for 10% off

These are some other popular carry-on luggage we still need to check out.

• Samsonite Freeform Hardside ($139.99)
• TUMI Alpha 3 International Carry-On Luggage ($975)
• Travelpro Platinum Elite Hardside ($332.99)
• Travelpro Platinum Softside Expandable Carry-On Suitcase ($314.49)
• Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner ($88)

Essential Tips

• Make a list of your travel essentials to look for in a suitcase based on your gear.
• Check the interiors of the suitcases to see if there are any awkward spots to pack. Sometimes, the handles make it difficult to pack around.
• Use packing cubes to help you organize your travels. We always travel with them; our favorites are the clean/dirty ones.
• Different suitcases may suit different types of travel. We use a variety of gear depending on the type of trip and what we’re packing (i.e., laptops, cameras, rock climbing gear, etc.).
• If you’re looking for a backpack as a personal item, these are our favorite travel backpacks and our favorite camera backpacks.

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