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We've circled the globe with all kinds of luggage, from rolling carry-ons and organized travel backpacks to oversized duffel bags and checked suitcases, to compile this list of our favorites.
That's a wrap: heading home after a long day of side by side testing. We put each bag through the same gauntlet of tests to see how they performed and which ones are the best. And somehow airport security didn't kick us out.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated November 14, 2025
From smooth rollaboard bags to cleverly laid-out backpacks, your luggage should complement your travel experience by fading into the background and keeping you organized so you can focus on where you are rather than what you brought. We've carted our belongings via plane, train, bus, and pack animal, and spent months living out of these bags to find the best options for every type of traveler.
The best rolling luggage is the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" carry-on and the 29" checked bag. This line from Travelpro has smart packing systems and exceptional durability. Pair them with the Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe as your under-seat personal item for a truly smooth travel experience.
If you prefer to carry everything on your back, the Cotopaxi Allpa is our recommendation for one bag travel (that's still carry-on friendly). It's well-organized, has comfortable straps, and is highly livable. If you prefer the flexibility of a duffel, the Patagonia Black Hole comes in a wide range of sizes, is impressively stuffable and durable, and has been one of our absolute favorites over the years of testing.
Our team has several decades of experience bouncing around the globe, testing nearly 500 bags in the process. If you like keeping a few items close as you explore a new city or kick back on a long flight, we recommend getting a small crossbody bag. For more adventurous trips, consider taking a daypack as your in-flight personal item so you can use it as a hiking pack after you arrive.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on November 14, 2025, to include new recommendations on our favorite travel sets.
Base Weight: 8.1 lbs / 12.2 lbs | Packing Volume: 40.0 L / 117.0 L
Who it is best for: The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Spinner paired with the larger 29" version is the perfect set for nearly any traveler, and we mean it. The impressive construction quality and packing system in both bags make them ideal for business, leisure, and everything in between. We've tested and traveled with several generations of these bags, and we're most impressed by their consistent quality and durability through the years. The carry-on has a 40-liter main compartment that is chock full of pockets, and the checked piece has a generous 117-liter compartment. Both include a roll-away garment bag to carry dress clothes wrinkle-free. What's more, these Travelpros are made to last. Jet-setters who are constantly on the go will find these bags able to withstand years of travel, whether you choose to use them in tandem or one at a time.
Why we love it: The Platinum Elite bags have some of the best double-wheeled spinners on the market. They glide like a bowling ball, but what we love most is Travelpro's MagnaTrac® system, which uses embedded magnets to keep each wheel self-aligned. We also loved the dense ballistic nylon shell and angled expansion pocket found on both sizes, which help keep your luggage balanced when standing or rolling. These features make the Travelpro one of the easiest bags to deal with while in transit, which can often be the most stressful part of travel. The carry-on size sports a pre-wired, external USB port that easily connects to any power bank, giving you on-the-go charging for your devices, and the larger 29" checked version has an even better packing system to keep you organized during longer-term stays.
Should you buy it? A higher price tag may be intimidating for some; however, you'll get your money's worth over time with Travelpro — saving you cash in the long run. “I've used mine for nearly 8 years and it performs just as well today as the I bought it.” Although no piece of luggage is indestructible, novice and experienced travelers alike will appreciate how these bags can handle the rigors of airports, train stations, car trunks, buses, and more. If you want to maximize your dollar by focusing on quality, this bag is one of your best options.
Base Weight: 7.4 lbs / 11.6 lbs | Packing Volume: 35.3 L / 99.2 L
Who is it best for: The Away the Carry On and the Away the Large make a pair of suitcases that disappear by your side, whether you're heading out on a city break or flying to your in-laws for the holidays. The polycarbonate exterior has a smooth, matte finish, no pockets, and handles that lie nearly flat against the sides of the case, which reduces the chances of damage from air travel. In fact, on one international flight, we checked both a duffel and the Away Large, and the duffel took a beating on the carry straps and external snaps. The Large came away nearly unscathed. While not necessarily budget bags, Away luggage is priced more reasonably than most options with this level of durability and functionality, making it a good choice for those who want to maximize their value/cost ratio. Any more affordable, and you'll start to see lower-quality materials and fewer features.
Why we love it: Like most hard-sided luggage, these bags open up clamshell style, and despite having a minimalist exterior, the inside reveals a simple but highly effective compression panel on one side and a zipper closure on the other. This ensures that all your clothes don't come spilling out when you open the bag, and can help you fit more stuff inside. These bags have smaller capacities than average for their respective categories, so we appreciate the efficient compression system. However, the smaller size means they are more likely to fit within international travel size restrictions, which are often smaller (and held to more strictly) than those of domestic U.S. flights.
Should you buy it? If you travel often and want a bag that can keep up, but don't have the cash to invest in a “travel-set-for-life” right now, Away luggage is a good in-between stop. The features, durability, and simple functionality of the suitcases will keep most people happy. The main complaint we have is about the grab handles. They stay pretty tight to the side of the bag, which can make it difficult to fit your fingers underneath, especially when chasing the bag down a moving luggage carousel. However, our team uses their bags for multiple trips a year, and aside from a few cosmetic dings from the cargo hold, these bags have held up exceptionally well.
Base Weight: 6.6 lbs / 9.4 lbs | Packing Volume: 41.2 L / 112.5 L
Who it is best for: Looking for reasonable quality and function at a fair price? We've tested and used the Samsonite Freeform Spinner and it's big brother the Freeform Large Spinner for about two years, and we know that each one fits the bill when it comes to affordable luggage. These bags will appeal to a broad spectrum of casual vacationers who are looking to walk the fine line of spending just enough to get the quality they need to travel a few times per year. “I really love mine. I tend to travel three to four times per year to see family, and I've really enjoyed how the Freeform Spinner performs in airports and taxi cabs.” We don't recommend this bag for frequent international travel, but that said, we do feel it offers a ton of quality for the price.
Why we love it: The Freeform Spinner rolls well, is stylish, has a great color selection, and it boasts a pliable hardshell case made from polypropylene. It's not as hard as polycarbonate cases, but it's still quite durable. We also liked this bag's large main compartment, comfortable handles, TSA-combo lock, and slide-out name tag. “The carry-on bag can pack just about anything I need for everything from a weekender to a three or four day trip.” Overall, these Samsonite bags are fairly basic, but instead of focusing on tons of fancy features, the manufacturer dialed in on lowering the cost while still delivering solid function. And, we think this trade-off makes it a great balance of affordability and durability for the average traveler looking for a good deal.
Should you buy it? Price-conscious buyers who desire a reasonable amount of quality for a lower price will be drawn to both sizes of the Freeform Spinner. These aren't the cheapest of them all; instead, we honed in on them as a set that brings affordability to the table, but that won't fall apart during their first trip through the cargo hold of a long-haul flight. So, if you like having a balance of a fair price and functional quality, you'll appreciate the Samsonite Freeform bags for their overall value, not just a cheaper price.
Weight: 5.2 lbs / 8.7 lbs | Capacity: 42.2 L / 99 L
Who it is best for: The Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L carry-on and its checked size counterpart, the Sojourn Shuttle 100, are perfect for adventurers and frequent travelers needing a durable gear hauler for global trips. In our testing, both bags have higher packing capacity than traditional luggage due to the flexible duffel-style structure. This soft exterior allows you to fit oddly shaped items that can't be folded, like ski boots or a helmet. An external compression system cinches things down again so you have a more compact package. It's ideal for those who prioritize packing flexibility and mobility across diverse terrains.
Why we love it: Both cases have sturdy design features, and a straitjacket compression system with padded, durable flaps and extra webbing to secure gear. Two extra-large wheels roll smoothly over uneven or gravelly surfaces, and a full-length interior metal frame provides more stability than a typical duffel. Standout features include balance-engineered grab handles, a water-tight shell, beefy zippers, an exterior muddy boot bin, and an add-a-bag strap. The 40L version also has backpack straps for even more mobility over off-road terrain. A tester shared, “I've lugged my Sojourn around the globe for nearly two years. It protects my gear and rolls on nearly any surface, especially cobblestone streets. My favorite feature is its adjustable storage system.” Its comprehensive, adventure-ready design makes it top-of-the-line.
Should you buy it? These non-traditional travel bags are not for everyone. They lack standard convenience features like internal packing systems and effortless glide of traditional luggage. This bag only has two wheels, and on smooth surfaces, it isn't as easy to maneuver as its 4-wheeled counterparts. However, the trade-off is greatly improved mobility in off-the-beaten-path destinations. The 100L version has a 67-linear-inch dimension that exceeds the common 62-inch limit most airlines have for checked baggage, which could pose a risk (despite successful past use). The high-quality materials, like top-tier zippers and fabrics, also command a higher price, but if you need a tough, feature-packed bag for extensive travel and can manage the size and cost, either one of these would be a fantastic option, especially if your upcoming adventure will include varied terrain and alternative means of transportation.
Putting our Sojourn through the ringer. We tested its over-sized 4-inch wheels, and super tough, water-resistant exterior, and we feel this bag is ready to haul your gear just about anywhere.
Who it is best for: The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is perfect for travelers who stay on the go and need to live out of their luggage while maintaining easy access to essentials without unpacking. It's ideal for those embarking on trips with impractical rolling bags, such as multi-week adventures or urban travel through crowded spaces. This backpack suits individuals who value a semi-structured packing system and prefer a comfortable, carry-on-friendly bag over suitcases or duffels.
Why we love it: It stands out for its integrated, yet versatile organizational system, mimicking the benefits of packing cubes with mesh pockets that divide the main compartment to secure socks, essentials, and larger clothes. The main compartment fully unzips without gear spilling out, and the bag is comfortable for extended wear due to its supportive shoulder and waist straps and back panel. The removable waist strap adds versatility for navigating crowds. One tester raved, “I took this on my multi-week trip through Europe, where a rolling bag would slow me down. Its ingenious organizational system made living out and staying organized easy.”
Should you buy it? This is for travelers who don't want to unpack while they travel: accessing items without disrupting careful packing is easy. However, its laptop sleeve is weak, with less padding than we'd like for a full bag and a small, 15-inch sleeve. While excellent for organization, the mesh pocket system and clamshell design limit shoving bulky items in a hurry. But if you prioritize structured packing that you can live out of for weeks — and can overlook the laptop sleeve's shortcomings — this bag is our top recommendation for a carry-on travel backpack.
Keeping Your Essentials Close
Often, when traveling with a carry-on backpack like this one, we find it useful to pair it with a small fanny pack to keep the items we want with us close at hand and not have to rifle through a bulky backpack on the airplane or train.
Weight: 2.6 lb (55 L size) | Sizes Available: 40, 55, 70, 100 L
Who it is best for: The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is ideal for travelers seeking a versatile, durable bag to suit various trip lengths and needs. Duffel Bags have the advantage of coming in handy for more than just traveling. Turn it into a gym bag, a sports bag, or a grab-and-go camping bag. The Black Hole duffel comes in such a wide range of sizes that you can choose the one that perfectly fits your intended use. It has a clean-cut and durable exterior fabric that is perfect for those who need a reliable bag for both urban and rugged environments. Included backpack straps attach via D rings, giving you the option to carry it as a backpack or duffel according to your preference. However, its wide-open interior is not winning any awards for internal organization, so this bag is well-suited to adventurers who value durability and water resistance but don't require extensive packing features.
Why we love it: The Black Hole Duffel has a high-performance design, with burly fabric that is water- and abrasion-resistant, with a reinforced bottom panel to protect gear during rough handling. Available in various sizes, it offers features like removable backpack-style shoulder straps for easy transitions, daisy chain attachments, and, on larger models like the 100-liter, multiple zippered pockets and internal compression straps. A tester noted, “The backpack-style shoulder straps of the latest version are easily removable, making the transition from street to airport a breeze.” Its versatility and durability make it a testing team favorite.
Should you buy it? This duffel excels in durability, versatility, and this performance holds true across every size we've used, making it ideal for various travel and lifestyle needs. However, the less structured packing system may not be everyone's cup of tea, and you might find yourself wishing for extra pockets or a pair of wheels to take the load off your shoulders. It's a great choice for those who value toughness and adaptability over minor organizational drawbacks, but pocket-heavy users may prefer alternatives.
Who it is best for: The Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe is ideal for travelers needing a reliable laptop backpack as a personal item during airline travel, particularly for work trips involving electronics. It's perfect for those who prioritize organized storage for tech essentials like laptops, chargers, and documents, while retaining a compact design that fits under plane seats. This backpack suits professionals or tech-savvy travelers who don't need extensive overnight packing capacity or plan to use it in addition to a larger checked bag.
Why we love it: The Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe excels with its padded, dedicated laptop pocket and a secondary sleeve for documents or another device, complemented by auxiliary pockets for pens, keys, chargers, or a wireless mouse. Its thick fabric beads water well, and a waterproof bottom protects against wet surfaces. Additional features include a luggage loop, exterior accessory straps, and a water bottle sleeve, making it highly travel-ready. A tester praised, “I like this pack's extra features. It has a luggage loop across the back, dual electronics sleeves, exterior accessory straps, and a water bottle sleeve. This bag is travel-ready.”
Should you buy it? This is for tech-focused travelers seeking a compact, organized laptop backpack with useful features for airline travel. However, its small dimensions limit its capacity for folders, notebooks, or overnight gear, and the water bottle pocket is designed for skinny bottles only. Choose this if tech organization and compactness are your priorities.
The Timbuk2 is a little light on storage, but its thinner design gives it a nice professional look, and makes it easy to travel with and stow.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
How We Tested
Over many years, our team has traveled a lot for personal vacations, week-long business trips, and soul-searching road trips. We have been testing the top travel bags, packs, and luggage since 2013, and we've handled nearly 500 pieces of travel gear, carting them along on global adventures to evaluate their performance in the real world. We've wheeled bags through security, checked them on international flights, strapped them to pack animals in remote mountain ranges, worn them trekking in foreign cities, and last but not least, commuted to school and work with them (we have to get back to real life at some point). We also put them in our showers, cycled through rainstorms, carried them in the snow, and jammed them full and yanked on the zippers. We've dropped suitcases from unnerving heights and pushed them down concrete stairs. Year after year, no matter the situation, we push these travel bags to their limits.
We hauled The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder all over Tibet, China, to discover how it would hold up as an elite adventure bag.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Why Trust GearLab
We assembled a team of bag geeks and travel experts to test everything from daypacks to duffel bags to roller suitcases. Jason Wanlass heads our rolling suitcase reviews, testing carry-on and checked sizes. Jason has spent decades wandering the globe searching for adventure with his family. He's traversed continents, taken more airplane trips than he cares to count, and needs great luggage to get him there.
We've tested hundreds of travel bags over the years, heading to far corners of the globe and the office up the road.
Leading the team on the hunt for the best duffel bags and travel backpacks for your journey is Hale Milano. Hale has traversed the globe several times, living out of everything from Army-issued duffel bags to rolling suitcases for business trips and ultra-light backpacks for adventure. Whether it's for work or play, Hale never lets his gear hold him back from enjoying his trip.
Many duffel bags we tested have a backpack carry option, which we appreciate when we have to lug our belongings through the airport or down the street.
Credit: Hale Milano
How to Pick the Best Travel Bag for You
The right bag depends on your travel style. Consider what you need to bring, how long you'll be away, and how you plan to get around.
We test our travel bags side by side, but we also take them with us to see how they hold up against real-life travel. We examined our REI Co-op Big Haul Rolling Duffel 30" from head to toe on a recent adventure trip to Maine.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Check Your Airline's Carry-On Allowance
While plenty of luggage is advertised as “carry-on size”, some of these bags are actually larger than airlines allow. While US airlines often let things go that aren't overstuffed, certain international carriers have weight limitations instead.
A cautionary tale from one of our testers…
"I always travel with Travelpro Platinum Elite 21", so I took it on my honeymoon to Svalbard — aka the North Pole. We made it to Norway just fine, but I forgot to check the domestic baggage allowances for the final leg. My bag was over the weight limit, so they checked it. Because of plane weight restrictions on Svalbard's landing strip, the airline left many bags behind — including mine. I didn't have any of the layers I had packed for our Arctic expedition, and I had to buy extra clothes on a very expensive island to stay warm enough until my bag arrived 28 hours later. I'll never repeat the mistake of not checking airline regulations!"
What are My Options?
First of all, there are a lot of bags out there, and all of them can help you get from here to there. Many are made for traditional airline travel, some work better for road trips, and others have attributes that help them excel in multiple travel environments.
Our pair of Gregorys both proved themselves to be reliable cases, while still remainging in the realm of affordability.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Rolling Luggage — These traditional suitcases can be hardsided or softsided, and come in sizes ranging from 30L (carry-on size) to 100L+ (checked size) and have wheels that make them highly maneuverable and convenient on flat, smooth surfaces. They can be pushed or pulled and stay closer to you as you weave through crowded or narrow spaces. These bags are great for most people, especially if your travel plans involve rolling over airport floors, concrete sidewalks, and tiled hotel lobbies. However, if you plan on spending a considerable amount of time walking through gravel, over cobblestones, or navigating stairs, a roller bag can be cumbersome.
The Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe is a versatile laptop backpack ideal for commuting and travel, with ample pockets for organization, though it pairs best with separate luggage for longer trips.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Personal Item — When traveling by plane, you are allowed one “personal item”. It can be anything, as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. Using a backpack as your item is the best way to achieve maximum packing capacity. If you bring your computer, a laptop backpack offers protection and organization for your belongings. For traveling children (or those who prefer to leave the laptop at home), a standard school backpack can work. If you plan hiking or adventuring at your destination, you may substitute a daypack instead. As long as it fits under the seat in front of you — which can include bags up to almost 30 liters — most US airlines will allow it.
Travel backpacks have the space to hold a few days' worth of clothes, a pair of shoes, and usually have a laptop sleeve.
Credit: Hale Milano
Travel Backpacks — Unlike your typical school bag, travel backpacks have a volume of around 35L-40L and feature clever organizational perks to securely hold everything you need for your trip, eliminating the need for a suitcase. Popular among one-bag travelers and those who are able to pack super light, these bags are meant to be carried to places where rolling bags will slow you down. They're a great choice for destination hopping and utilizing multiple types of transportation — like when you need to take a plane, then a train, and then a bus that leaves you a short walk from your accommodation.
Packing in a duffel can give you greater mobility and more flexibility in what you pack, if you're up to the task of carrying it all on your shoulder.
Credit: Hale Milano
Duffel Bags — These bags are great for packing in many clothes, oversized items, or oddly shaped gear due to their large main compartment. While soft-sided and flexible, allowing them to be packed into oddly shaped spaces, their carry method will dictate where you're willing to take them. Traditional single-handed carry handles make great road trip bags. Some duffels feature backpack straps or wheels, making them solid choices for airport journeys or far-flung adventures.
If you're taking multiple modes of transportation on your travels, consider all the surfaces you'll cover and the best way to easily cart your luggage.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
How Much Stuff Do You Need To Bring?
To state the obvious, the size of the bag you need depends on how long you'll be away and how much you plan to take. This can change seasonally, as a week's worth of bikinis takes up much less space than a week's worth of sweaters. Heavy packers or those headed away for an extended time should prioritize larger capacities and good compression systems. A smaller bag with good internal organization works well for a weekend getaway.
Traveling by air? Check your airline's posted size and weight limits for carry-ons and full-sized luggage. Carry-on bags are designed to fit into airplane overhead bins, but each airline has its own allowable limits for the size or weight of these parcels. And while many carry-ons offer expansion zippers, cramming your bag full may exceed your airline's size restrictions — meaning you'll have to check (and potentially pay extra for) your bag.
Even checked bags are subject to airline size and weight limitations. Most carriers define an upper weight limit and “linear dimensions” as allowed. That means you need to add the length, width, and height of your travel bag to ensure it falls within that limit. You can still check bags that are larger and heavier than these allowances, but you'll pay extra to do so, and you may have to pick up your bag from a specialty “oversized baggage” area when you reach your destination.
Traveling with a carry-on-sized bag can keep you fast and light, allowing you to skip baggage claim and head straight to your hotel.
What Are Your Methods of Transportation?
Roller bags are great for air travel; in fact, many airports and planes are designed with this type of luggage in mind. If you're hopping in a car right out of the airport or taking a long train journey where you'll want to stow — and even lock — your luggage, your trip is likely better suited to rolling luggage. You'll have a much easier time strolling along with a suitcase by your side rather than lugging a duffel over your shoulder.
If a plane is not your primary method of transportation, your bag options open up. Trains and buses have their own rules about luggage quantity and size, but they are almost always less restrictive than planes. And if you need to make a lot of transfers, with a 15-minute walk in between each one, and then carry your bag up four flights of stairs to get to your accommodation, all of a sudden, a bag that you can carry on your back becomes super valuable. Frequent changes from plane to train to city bus to walking over uneven stones can make a wheeled bag cumbersome. If crossing questionable terrain is a part of your journey, a bag you can carry is a better option.
Happy travels.
Credit: Jason Wanlass
Conclusion
Whether packing for a three-month expedition or commuting to work daily, these backpacks, duffel bags, and suitcases have you covered. No matter the journey ahead of you — be it a cobblestone road in Scotland or a bike ride to the gym — we've done in-depth testing and side-by-side comparisons on hundreds of travel bags to help you choose the best companion for your packing needs. Wherever your travels take you, we hope you're well-prepared with one (or more) of these top travel bags.
