This might be an unpopular opinion to share, but here it is: this is the perfect time to travel across the globe. Just think about it for a second: going to Paris to taste their succulent hot chocolates and croissants, or going to Tokyo to visit the dazzling city lights in a cab from the Haneda airport straight to your hotel room in Shibuya or Shinjuku. However, if you do decide to travel internationally, you will need a carry-on suitcase that will maintain its pristine state during the long plane ride.
When you’re at the airport, you should always be wise and careful when it comes to protecting your stuff inside your luggage and making sure you have enough space for a week’s wardrobe; if you overpack your luggage, it may cause the clothes and essentials in your suitcase to burst out and ruin your whole trip; if you do everything right but have an off-brand and low-quality suitcase, that alone can make you angry and sad at the same time. Kind of annoying, if you ask me.
The most important thing you should do when traveling soon is to look for a suitcase that is high-quality and able to get through anything during your trip and at the airport. If you want to see the actual suitcases recommended, scroll down to the “overall” section.
Go for luggage that is maneuverable
When you’re traveling to other countries for a few days and you’re looking for luggage that holds up well, make sure that you go for luggage that is integrated with maneuverability. With that being said, it is needed for a suitcase to have 360° spinner wheels and a telescopic handle. The 360° spinner wheels are needed for easy and smooth rolling, and the telescopic handle is needed to easily maneuver the suitcase and prevent it from rolling off.
Go for luggage that is lightweight and durable
You wouldn’t want to stay all morning at the airport with a heavy suitcase with poor resistance from water, stains, and cracks/rips. If we are going to be honest, that is one of the most embarrassing things ever. For the best experience, try to get suitcases with polypropylene, which is a lightweight and durable material found in hardshell suitcases.
Go for luggage with wide clothing compartments and/or expansions
Traveling from one country to another, it is necessary to have a suitcase with a lot of space and/or expansions that can go up to 2-3 inches. Luggage brands, such as Briggs & Riley, Travelpro, Samsonite, etc., offer a plethora of suitcases that are aligned with your extensive and pretty wardrobe.
Go for luggage with TSA-approved locks and USB ports
Let me take a guess: you woke up with your phone at 10% because you forgot to charge it before going to sleep, and you have to go to the airport in 2-3 hours; you also don’t have a suitcase with a TSA-approved lock, so your suitcase is more likely to not get past the heavy TSA checkpoint. My suggestion to avoid these problems is to buy suitcases from Samsonite and Away and/or look for all-in-one suitcases from any brand you want.
Here are five suitcases that fit your itinerary with their top-tier features and style.
Overall: Travelpro Platinum Elite
Picked by the New York Times as one of the best carry-on luggage, this bad boy is just what you need to get through your time at the airport. With the useful and stress-free features in this suitcase, such as smooth and sturdy 360° spinner wheels, pristine durability, two additional inches of capacity, and functional USB A & C ports, this product will have you rhapsodizing about it for days and weeks.
Additional Features: deluxe tie-down system, removable quart-size pocket to fit toiletries, garment bag to protect suits or dresses from wrinkling, and wide clothing compartment.
Colors: 9
Price(s): $391 ($399.50 for camouflage)
Best All-in-One: NOBL Carry-On: All-in-One
When you look for an all-in-one to fit your coffee cup and MacBook and to charge your phone when you forgot to charge it the night before, make this your purchase.
If you’re planning on traveling internationally for 5-7 days to Seoul, Paris, or Shanghai (if you want to feel like Nicki Minaj), this suitcase will be your best friend the entire trip.
Additional Features: 360° spinner wheels, front laptop pocket, USB charging ports, toiletry pocket, phone mount, wide capacity, and bag hooks.
Colors: 20
Best Lightweight Luggage: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner
Me personally, since I hate carrying heavy luggage up the stairs to my apartment, I would highly recommend this suitcase so that you don’t have to go through the same predicament as me.
Considering you’re probably a huge Travelpro fan or frequent traveler with an obsession with lightweight luggage, this suitcase is more necessary for your travel experience than you think.
Additional Features: water- and stain-resistant fabric, two inches of additional capacity, PowerScope Lite handle with rubberized touch handles for maximum comfort, and durable zippers.
Colors: 5
Best Hardshell Luggage: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner
There’s something about a hardshell suitcase that just gets me all lovey-dovey about it. I don’t know if it’s because it’s made of polypropylene or because it excels at protecting clothing and electronics and offers more capacity to pack extra clothes that were bought during the trip or snacks to bring back home (as if anyone would do that, but I think that’s just me).
Additional Features: TSA-approved 3-dial combination recessed lock, ID tag, smooth double wheels for maneuverability, and 6.5 pounds.
Colors: 5
For Frequent Travel: Briggs and Riley Essential Carry-On Expandable Spinner
When you’re a frequent traveler, you would need to opt for a suitcase that is not just durable, maneuverable, and lightweight but also expandable and protective of your clothes, shoes, and souvenirs. Briggs and Riley has a suitcase for all of those things.
This suitcase, made by Briggs and Riley, introduces thoughtful features that every traveler should have, such as garment panels to keep clothes in good condition during transit, a flat packing surface to prevent clothes from wrinkling, and a button that can expand your suitcase with one touch.
Additional Features: 360° shock-absorbing spinner wheels and TSA-approved combination cable lock.
Colors: 4
