Best Carry On Luggage: 7 Bags Tested Head-to-Head

I bought 7 carry-on bags to give you a completely unbiased review of the best carry-on luggage on the market. The bags considered are all hard-sided luggage and are marketed as carry-on sized.

In this video, I compare the AWAY carry on, Beis carry on, Calpak Hue carry on, July Carry-On Essential, LEVEL8 Cases Textured Carry-On, MONOS Carry-On, and the Nomatic Carry-On Classic. Who won???

LINKS TO THE BAGS MENTIONED

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[johndekalb]

Those "expansion" zippers are actually "compression" zippers. You're supposed to pack with the zipper open, then after you close your bag, you compress your bag by zipping the compression zipper back up. Cheers.

[alexander]

I work for TSA Baggage and Checkpoint, I will say that most damaged bags are hard shell. TSA does not damage the bags as we dont throw them. As far as what the ground workers that throw bags onto the aircrafts do, no comment lol. Also, the amount you pay doesnt reflect anything. Those LOUIS VUITTON and GUCCI bags get damaged the same. You have to think that it's all plastic... $5 plastic or $5, 000 plastic makes no difference. TSA locks are great, but, as a traveller, I never felt the need to lock my bags as they are always with me or the airlines. Most stolen items are the entire bag themselves locked or not. If someone wants access to your bag, it's going to get opened once they steal the entire bag.
Heres what I say is better:
1) Soft Shell because the zipper is usually in the front and you dont have to worry about two sides at the same time when the hardshells are split in half.
2) No Gimicky features like a pull out closet or things that add more weight. (For the love of humanity, don't get those electronic suit cases that drive around)
3) TSA locks are great when we need to look inside, and you do not want your bags damaged. Again, no real need to lock your bags unless you're staying at a hotel and want to keep everything inside your bag. Again 2x they will steal the entire thing as opposed to grabbing a few items.
4) Rotating wheels!!! Why the f* do they still make bags with stationary wheels? You can pull and push your rotating wheels the same plus more.
5) The less pockets, the easier it is to find and pack everything.
6) LIGHTWEIGHT. MINIMAL IS KEY. I know they try to market all of these extra features with neat pockets and extra tech like USB ports. Don't be that douche bag.

BUT BUT BUT BUT... I will say, that MONOS bag you recommend is really cool. The anti-shake design of the handle is already the best feature for me personally. That blows the other ones out of the water with that feature alone.

[tonylaudin]

My wife and I just got back three days ago after a 25-day trip around the UK and Ireland with 2 Level8 textured carry-ons we purchased right before the trip. We chose carry-on sized bags not so much for the airplane, but for the ability to fit into the luggage compartments of compact car rentals, which we felt more comfortable driving on the tiny roads and negotiating the narrow ramps and tiny parking garage spaces in Europe. After being in the baggage compartments on five flights, lugged around in three rental cars, and checked in and out of 15 hotels, we've got nothing but love for these bags.
With available discounts, we got two bags for just a little more than the price of one of the other of your top picks, so definitely agree they have the most bang for the buck. We also got two sets of the Level8 organizers, which after looking around at other choices, we ended up purchasing because they are sized exactly right to fit into the Level8 suitcase. Again, price of one bag plus the organizer set came out cheaper than the price of one of the other bags. To me, having that organizer set is comparable to the 'bells and whistles' features of the other finalists.
I'll finish by saying that some of the tips in your other videos were extremely helpful and contributed greatly to the success of our trip. Thanks!!!

[CarpeDiemTravelerMel]

When I was looking for a new carry on bag, I went back and forth between Monos and July, and ultimately it came down to the weight factor. July was the lightest which is important to me as a solo female traveler. I traveled through 4 countries in Europe with it and it did very well. Overall it is a great bag. Thanks for the review!

[ctalhame]

I bought the Monos Plus a couple years ago after doing a ton of research. I absolutely love it. My husband loved mine so much that I bought him one. We've taken the Plus international and had no issues. It's such a smooth suitcase, there's no issue moving it around. I always recommend it to friends who are looking for new suitcases.

[parthmalhotra]

The Samsonite Freeform Carry-on is a worthy contender to add to this list. I own a monos carry on which I love and my wife has the samsonite. I don’t find them significantly different to justify the additional premium for the monos. You can get the Samsonite for $150 and it is just as sturdy and well built. Also, with Samsonite’s network of physical stores, getting the bag repaired would be much easier. My friends with Monos and Away bags had warranty claims that took months to get resolved and in Away’s case, they sent the part which my friend then had to take to a local store to get installed and had to pay for the installation. It is interesting that most carry-on comparisons on the internet are not even considering legacy brands like Samsonite and I myself didn’t consider it when I was getting my carry on but after using my wife’s carryon on a few trips, I would recommend Samsonite just as much as I would recommend the Monos.

[alexmanigat]

Great vid! Would like to add - the extendable zipper works for the winter trips, which can mean bulkier clothes. It allows you to extend the bag, seamlessly close it, and THEN close the extender without struggle. And this is coming from someone who is deathly allergic to overpacking.

[lillysquires]

I have travelled the world and gone through tons of luggage. I have been using the Monos carryon almost exclusively (when not using my Cotopaxi backpack) this past year and it is the best roller bag I've ever had. It has been through the wringer and handles cobblestone streets like a champ. Not only is it the lightest but it holds a ridiculous amount of clothes etc.

[jboutame]

I got a Level 8 Road Runner in Aug 2021 and have used it on over 100 flights. I love it, and my wife bought one a year ago. We have no regrets! And would not consider any others. What you need matters most but if this looks good, I think you’ll love it too.

[vinney]

I love my BÉIS carry on. I’ve travelled within Canada and internationally and never had any issues. It always fits in the cabin

[bmccuan]

No lie, I JUST hit the purchase button on the Level 8 Textured Carry On after some thorough research on my own (including crushing disappointment that Solgaard lost their minds and upped their bags by $100) and got the email notification for this video - feeling very solid about my purchase now!

[EchoNiner]

I agree with the Monos being put on the top of the list. Not only because I own one, but have taken my Plus carry-on with me to Chicago and LA these last 4 months. Both times unfortunately I was forced to check it in because the had "ran out" of head space compartment. Both times the Monos came out like a Champ, bruised and battered with scratches, but firm and sturdy when I pick it up at baggage claim. Took a magic eraser to the scratches and was good as new.

[shar]

I really appreciated the pace of this video as well as the solid review of each bag and reasoning behind it. Most ppl whom review products tend to lag but when I needed the information, I got it right away - so thank you

[marclawhorne]

I am absolutely delighted to have found your channel. You both do a fantastic job! Your content is exceptional. Your presentation is extremely professional. Your articulation of the points you make is concise, informative and interesting. We are getting ready to take our first trip to Europe this fall, and your videos have been among the most helpful we have found. I just wanted to thank you for your advice and insight and encourage you to keep up the great work. I will recommend your channel to anyone needing some travel direction and advice.
Look forward to watching more of your additions soon. Thanks again!

[highnoon]

I love the way hard-sided cases look, but i've always found soft-sided luggage to be more useful.

[sammychem]

Thank you for the review and recommendations! IMHO, the ultimate test for wheeled bags is to take them up/down steep hills and cobblestone streets. That's when you will know whether your bag can handle different pavements. I also wish these bags would come with "brakes" to lock the wheels in place when on a steep hill.

[alternando]

I have an Away Luggage, this exact suitcase that was tested to be exact. One of the perks of the Away is it has a built in (removable) charger for your gadgets, cell phones, etc. I haven’t tried the Monos and don’t know if it has this feature, but it’s a nice perk if you ask me. The luggage suits me fine and has gone on as much as 21 day international trips, no probs. I’m with Away!

[ShawnMcGovern]

I’ve had a Calpak for over five years now. Bought it from Marshall’s for $40. Still works great! Nothing has broken.

[MarlaDeeCS]

EXCELLENT Review - I am just so impressed with your clear guidance and sense of humor Nik!! I have been researching this same topic for the last 2 months. I did end up choosing Monos and it is a gorgeous (and high quality) bag. I also got the clear luggage cover. Thanks for all your value!

[thaiswinmill]

Awesome video! I did months of research as well for a 10 day Europe trip October 2022. I was in between beis, away, monos and July. Ultimately narrowed it down to July and monos and went with monos since it was $50-70 less. I adore my monos carry on! I’ve used it several times since then and it’s perfect