How to Choose Your Perfect Carry-on Bag (With Recommendations)

A few weeks ago, I published a post that discussed some of the things that you can do during quarantine to prepare for your next vacation. In that post, I briefly mentioned some tips for choosing the appropriate luggage for your trip and style. Today, I’d like to expound on that and provide you with a more in-depth guide to choosing the perfect carry-on bag that suits your packing and personal style goals!

Most airlines allow you to bring a free carry-on item with your ticket. For some of us, this is a great way to stash those few extra clothes that didn’t fit in the giant checked bag. For others, this is your entire wardrobe for the trip!

Obviously, there’s a big difference between these two needs, and your carry-on should be chosen to accommodate those needs.

There are a few guidelines that apply to all of us, however.

First, the standard carry-on size limit is 22″ x 14″ x 9″, including your wheels and handle. Some airlines will let you have a slightly larger bag, but unless you only fly with that airline, it’s best to choose a standard bag that will work for all your flights. I will say that my favorite carry-on is slightly larger than the approved limit, and I’ve never had a problem with it, so the choice is ultimately yours.

You can check all the standard airline carry-on sizes in this convenient article from Chester.

Second, double-check what you can put in your bag! If this is your only bag for the trip, be careful not to overpack on toiletries or accidentally bring the wrong kind of extra battery power. To get through security, your liquids must be 3.4 oz or less (and sealed!), and you can’t have lithium-ion batteries, firearms, or other weapons (pepper spray and self-defense key chains count, too).

Now, before we dive into the guide, I’d like you to ask yourself a few questions:

Unofficial Carry-On Questionnaire

Now that you’ve established some of your packing goals and have a better idea of what will make you happy, let’s dive into some of the best options for your perfect style.

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Popular Types of Carry-on Bags

The biggest issue with picking a good carry-on bag is finding your options. Here are some of the best types of bags to use for your carry-on:

Backpacks: If you like convenience and hands-free carrying, backpacks are a great choice. Travel backpacks often come with great features like plenty of organization pockets and designated compartments for your laptop. And they’re helpful if your trip includes hiking, amusement parks, or other scenarios where you need a hands-free bag. However, many backpacks fall on the small side of the size spectrum, which can limit packing.

Duffels: Duffels are fantastic when you need to maximize space over organization because they usually have just one big compartment. Plus, they squish really well to help you keep the size under the limit. They’re also great if you prefer to hold your stuff close instead of dragging it or having it on your back. The two main downsides are a full bag can equal tired shoulders when you’re carrying it through the airport, and duffels rarely offer secure storage for a laptop.

Hard-shell rollers: These are great for keeping your items un-squished and dry; plus they are the easiest to find in fun, stylish colors and patterns. They also tend to have open-designed interiors so that you can cram plenty inside, and wheels make them easy to tote around even when heavy. However, hard-shell carry-ons rarely fare well in checked luggage, so beware of using them outside carry-on status and double-check the dimensions before you buy!

Soft-shell rollers: The mini-suitcase. These are usually pretty similar to your standard checked luggage–just smaller. Pros include the option to organize a bit, get cute colors, and have wheels for easy transport. Cons: it isn’t easy to find one that’s in standard carry-on regulation dimensions.

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My Carry-on Bag is:

Have you figured out your style yet? Weighed the pros and cons of each option and decided what’s important to you?

For convenience and security, I always recommend a backpack. For weather protection and stylish options, hard-shell rollers are hard to beat, while soft-side ones give you more organization. And for those who need to maximize packing, you’ll often find that duffels are your best bet to squish it all in.

But think back to the questionnaire. You probably have a variety of needs from that list, so here are some of my favorite carry-on bags that cross off several categories at once.

Backpacks

Convenient, Secure, and The Only Bag I Need

When you’re packing your whole trip into one bag, one thing to be aware of is your liquids. A single, busted travel shampoo can destroy your trip’s wardrobe. If you fear this scenario, you’re not alone (been there), and you should consider the Bange Waterproof Travel Backpack.

My favorite part about this backpack is that it packs like a little suitcase with a hinge-style opening. It has plenty of organization pockets inside, including a waterproof compartment to keep your toiletries completely separate from your clothes. It’s expandable, it has a separate padded pocket for your laptop, the exterior material is waterproof, and it has a hidden pocket on the back to keep your important documents, money, and other valuables.

The exterior pockets are limited, but that adds to the security features. Most of the organizational slots are in the outermost compartment, so you still have easy access to your phone, in-flight entertainment, etc.

And possibly the most convenient feature is the exterior charging cable. Just connect your portable battery to the cable from inside your bag, and you can use and charge your phone conveniently while you’re walking through the airport!

Some specs: 18 x 12 x 5.5 inches and expands up to 18 x 12 x 10 inches for extra packing. Weighs about 2.5 lb. Durable and waterproof material. One-year warranty.

Duffels

Some specs: Canvas and PU Leather material. 2.2–2.8 lbs (depending on L or XL). It has one interior pocket, one exterior pocket, a shoe compartment, and an interior compartment. Metal studs keep the bottom of the ground. Convertible PU leather straps.

Small and Classy

Sometimes, a small, lightweight duffel is actually the easiest option to grab and go–especially if your personal item is a backpack. In that case, take a peek at Travel & Leisure’s pick for the best budget duffel bag of 2023: the Gonex Canvas Duffel.

This budget beauty has 5 external pockets, 3 interior pockets, and a super-spacious main compartment. The 50L size fits airline carry-on requirements and still has room for 3-4 days’ worth of clothing. You can carry it by the handles or with the padded shoulder strap; the only downside is the lack of a trolley sleeve.

The side pockets are also very roomy for a duffel, with enough space to fit shoes, books, or other large items that you don’t want mingling with your clothing. And two side zippers give you the option to add nearly 4 extra inches of space with extensions.

The bag’s made with durable canvas and has plastic cushions at the bottom for extra durability and dirt resistance.

Specs: 20.8 x 9.8 x 11.8 inches but can extend to 24.4 inches. High-density cotton canvas. Weights 1 lb.

Hard-shell Rollers

Unique, Roomy, and Easy-to-Move

If you’re a fan of hard-shells and you want your personality to show through, check out the Betsey Johnson Designer Line. At $100, these are a little pricier, but you get plenty of bang for your buck in adorableness.

You can choose from 13 designs and colors that will make your bag stand out in a crowd, which is great if you ever have to check this for some reason. Each bag is made from ABS and PC Film to protect your items from getting crushed up in the bins and keep your items relatively protected from the elements outside the airport.

It has 8 spinner wheels and a telescoping handle for a flawless rolling experience over any terrain, and the shell expands with a zipper so you can cram in a few extra items.

The interior is pretty standard, with a fun lining and two main compartments. One side features security straps, and the two compartments are divided by a zipper panel. What you miss in organization pockets, you’ll gain in plenty of space for your entire wardrobe.

Some specs: 21.8 x 14 x 9 inches with the wheels and handles. ABS and PC film shell. Weighs 5.8 lbs. 8 wheels and a telescoping handle. 5-year limited warranty.

Durable and Secure

I mentioned earlier that a lot of hard shells don’t hold up well with wear. The exterior may be intact, but they tend to show scratches and marks if they have to be checked. This Omni PC Hardside from Samsonite takes those issues and practically dares them to try.

Instead of the standard ABS and PC exterior, this luggage has a micro-diamond polycarbonate shell that’s extremely durable and scratch-resistant, so you don’t have to worry if the airline hits you with a sudden “no carry-ons for this flight” announcement.

It comes in several fun colors, so you can still choose a bright one if that suits your fancy, and over-sized spinner wheels make it a breeze to roll beside, rather than behind you. Additionally, it has side-mounted TSA locks, so you never have to worry about someone getting into our bag while you’re not looking.

It has a standard interior with x-straps, a modesty pocket, and an expansion zipper.

The only “downside” to this case is that with the wheels, the dimensions come to 22 x 15 x 9.5 inches, so you’ll need to double-check before bringing this one on a flight or hope they don’t check.

Some specs: 22 x 15 x 9.5 inches. Weighs 6.8 lbs. 4 spinner wheels and telescoping handle. Micro-diamond polycarbonate exterior, lined interior.

Soft-Shell Rollers

Cute, Eco-Friendly, Organized, and Good for All My Items

It’s so easy to show off your personality with these adorable carry-ons from Lily Bloom. You’ll also be a minor superhero because each bag is made from recycled water bottles, so you’re helping the environment. Yay!

These carry-ons also have a ton of really nice features like exterior pockets (at least two, but varies by style), telescoping handles, 360-degree spinning wheels, and the ability to add 4 liters with the expansion zipper.

But I love the interiors on these ones as well! The inside is fully lined and has organization pockets! Like, lots of pockets! And it has compression straps, which are always a nice feature, especially if this is your one bag for the trip.

And finally, it falls right into carry-on limits, including wheels, with .5 inches to spare!

Some specs: Recycled water bottle fabric. Measures 21.5 x 14 x 9 inches. Weighs 7.8 lbs. Has a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Durable, Convenient, and Roomy

When you want a bag that rolls nice, will hold up if it has to go through checked luggage, and has plenty of pockets and packing room, let me direct you to the Rockland Fashion Luggage line. Oh, and it’s stylish for men and women, too! (I stopped counting available patterns at 35.)

Plus, this is actually a two-piece set, which is a fantastic deal for the price. The 20-inch case comes with a matching 14″ shoulder bag that’s the perfect size for your personal item.

The exterior fabric is a highly durable “Eva-Molded Hi-Count Fabric,” which Rockland guarantees is made for heavy-duty travel, and it has two convenient exterior pockets. The bag only has two wheels, so you do have to pull it, but the wheels are in-line, which helps it fit within the size guidelines.

The inside is nice and roomy, too, so you can pack quite a bit in there and expand it up to 2 extra inches if need be! And it has a zippered mesh pocket on the back of the top flap to help separate a few things.

Some specs: 19 x 13 x 7.5 inches (unexpanded). Heavy Duty Eva-Molded Hi-Count Fabric. Weighs 6 lbs. 2 inline wheels and a telescoping handle. Manufacturer’s warranty.

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Closing Thoughts on Carry-on Bags

Whew! That was a lot!

I hope you were able to narrow down your choices and decide what kind of bag will suit your needs the best. If you decided to go with any of the ones that I listed, let me know! I’d love to hear how they worked for you.

And if you have a carry-on that you’re in love with, please share it in the comments with your reasons to help future readers on their search. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll be back next week for more travel talks, and that you’ll share the blog with some fellow travel lovers! If you want to subscribe and get a weekly post reminder, you can sign up for free below.

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