Best luggage of 2026, according to a travel expert

Wrestling with the wrong luggage will put you in a bad mood before your vacation even starts. To avoid that, I’ve rounded up the best luggage to take on your next trip, from extra-large checked bags to efficient travel backpacks. These pieces from the likes of Béis, Away, The North Face, TravelPro and Monos have been put to the test and emerged as the best.

There’s a bag here for everyone, whether you prefer a suitcase with dedicated compartments for every last thing or a more streamlined bag that makes it easy to dump everything in and rush to the airport. I’ve also included a bag that’s especially great for traveling to weddings or business meetings, and one that can keep your clothes dry in a monsoon should you get caught in one.

When testing, I considered everything from size and weight to ease of maneuvering (I took bags with wheels out for a spin around the block and my apartment to see how smoothly the wheels move on bumpy sidewalks, thick carpets, and other terrains). No matter how you travel — frequently or infrequently, overpacked or scrambling to remember everything you need — there’s a bag here that matches your travel style.

I’ve considered which bags are better suited for certain climates or terrain (The Independent)

The best luggage options for 2026 are:

• Best overall — TravelPro platinum elite carry-on spinner: $391, Travelpro.com
• Best budget buy — Rockland Melbourne hardside expandable spinner wheel carry-on: $50.99, Amazon.com
• Best checked bag — Away the trunk: $476.25, Awaytravel.com
• Best for crease-free clothing — Halfday carry-on garment roller: $258, Halfdaytravel.com

TravelPro platinum elite carry-on spinner

Rating: 5/5

Best: overall

Dimensions: H23.5-inch x W14.5-inch. x D9-inch

Weight: 7.8lb

Capacity: 46L

Expandable: Yes

Why we love it

• Lots of compartments to keep things organized
• Sturdy construction

When it came to choosing the best luggage overall, TravelPro platinum elite carry-on spinner ticked all of the boxes.

Every time I thought I’d finished discovering new things about this bag, I found a new useful feature or pocket. There’s a removable garment bag for dirty laundry, a clear bag for toiletries, small zippered mesh pockets for underwear and socks, a power bank pocket and external USB port for charging devices on the go, and three front pockets for stashing small items you’d forgotten to pack in the main case. There really is something for every need.

There are plenty of useful features with this bag (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

Beyond the additional features, the foundation is great. The zippers and handles feel sturdy, which will be appreciated by those who aren’t gentle with their luggage (me included). Even when packed to the brim, it was easy to maneuver. The wheels offered a smooth range of movement and didn’t get caught on any cracks or grooves in the sidewalk (and there were many). It was also easy to lift over my head, even when I added my 15lb weighted blanket, making it perfect for storing in overhead lockers on planes.

If you’re the type of traveler who prefers a bag with a simpler design and fewer small pockets, it might not be quite right for you. But the strong construction and all the bells and whistles make this a real winner for me.

Rockland Melbourne hardside expandable spinner wheel carry-on

Rating: 4/5

Best: budget buy

Dimensions: H22-inch x W13.5-inch x D9-inch

Weight: 6lb

Capacity: 38.3L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• Affordable
• Lightweight

Take note

• Not the most durable

If you’re looking for a good value carry-on, I found Rockland’s Melbourne hardside expandable spinner wheel carry-on to be the best budget option. It was my go-to carry-on bag for multiple years. It’s under $100, lightweight, has an internal zippered pocket and elastic strap, and I’ve always been able to fit everything I need in it for a trip that’s about 10 days. I like this bag so much, in fact, that I repurchased it after one of the wheels broke off on my first one. The handle then snapped off the second one I bought, but I was able to repair it.

It’s not the most durable, but I’d still recommend it (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

As you may have guessed, it’s not the most durable bag out there, but if you’re looking for something inexpensive to travel with a few times per year, I’d still recommend it. The price just can’t be beaten, and I suspect the bag holds up better if you’re not overpacking it and banging it down staircases as I was.

Away the trunk

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: checked bag

Dimensions: H31.3-inch x W17-inch x D13.7-inch

Weight: 12.3lb

Capacity: 107L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• Smooth wheels and telescoping handle
• Extra generous capacity

Take note

• Could be challenging to carry up and down stairs

Try as I might, I can never get myself to be a minimalist packer, particularly for long vacations. But thanks to Away’s capacious trunk, I don’t have to be.

This capacious suitcase is perfect for longer vacations (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

While the brand claims that you can generally fit 18 to 21 outfits inside, if you’re packing for a warm climate or only bringing a couple of pairs of shoes, you could certainly fit more. It has a double-buckled compression pad built in to help you maximize space, as well as three mesh pockets for small items and a hanging pocket for space-saving and keeping toiletries separate from clothing, for example.

When testing, alongside my clothing, I added my weighted blanket and fluffy robe for extra weight and volume, and found the compression pad performed perfectly. It’s worth noting that most U.S. airlines have a limit of 50lbs per bag, and given the capacity of this case, it would be pretty easy to exceed that, so just be wary of really overpacking.

Rei co-op trail 40 pack

Rating: 4/5

Best: for adventure travel

Dimensions: XS/S: H20-inch x W12-inch x D9.5-inch; M/XL: H20.5-inch x W12-inch x D9.5-inch; 1X/4X: 20.5-inch x 12-inch x 9.5-inch

Weight: XS/S: 2lb 9oz; M/XL: 2lb 12oz; 1X/4X: 2lb 14oz

Capacity: XS/S: 40L; M/XL: 41L; 1X/4X: 41L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• It’s easy to fit your essentials in the main compartment and shove odds and ends into the exterior pockets
• Great for backpacking vacations

Take note

• Wearing it improperly will strain your back

I traveled around southeast Asia for a month with this backpack and had no trouble fitting in plenty of warm-weather clothing, along with a laptop, Kindle, shoes, toiletries, and small souvenirs. And while I generally prefer a bag with wheels, going up and down stairs and navigating bumpy sidewalks was far easier with this backpack.

This bag was able to hold a month’s worth of warm-weather clothing (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

There is a lot I love about the design. For starters, the U-shaped panel on the front has a full wraparound zipper, meaning the bag can be opened fully, much like a suitcase. Because of this, you can easily see everything in there, and there’s no need to pull out all your clothing if you’re looking for a particular top or pair of pants. I also found the pockets on the hip strap perfect for storing my passport close at hand.

While I’m not fond of wearing a backpack when waiting in a long passport line or getting on a crowded bus, since it is bulky, if you’re opting for a more active traveling holiday, I can’t recommend this bag enough.

Halfday carry-on garment roller

Rating: 4/5

Best: for keeping clothing crease-free

Dimensions: H23-inch x W13-inch x D9-inch

Weight: 7.8lb

Capacity: 41.3L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• Built-in garment bag and shoe pockets

Take note

• It only has two wheels, so it can’t be pushed at your side the way four-wheeled bags can

My partner and I frequently travel for weddings or engagement parties, and this is the perfect bag for that, helping us neatly pack suits and dresses, wrinkle-free. How? Well, when you unzip the bag, you’ll find a built-in garment bag with two hanger loops that essentially see your clothing lie flat.

This is great for keeping clothing wrinkle-free (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

There are also two external pockets (one of which is large enough to fit my 17-inch laptop and the charger), and four additional internal pockets for storing accessories, such as ties or cufflinks. The frame of the bag even has dedicated shoe pockets. I was able to easily fit in two cocktail dresses, a pair of heels, and three additional outfits — any more than this would be challenging, but this is perfect for a long weekend.

The North Face all weather four-wheeler

Rating: 4/5

Best: waterproof suitcase

Dimensions: H22.5-inch x W14.25-inch x D9.5-inch

Weight: 9lb 12oz

Capacity: 24L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• Unique zipperless design
• Sturdy construction

Take note

• Slightly heavy

The North Face all weather four-wheeler bag has several features that make it feel particularly rugged and the best for weather protection. There’s no zipper, making it more waterproof — to put this to the test, I put some clothes in and sprayed the bag with a hose. The clothes inside stayed completely dry, so I’m confident it could stand up to a rainstorm. It has a clamshell design with two combination locks and a sturdy seal that goes all the way around.

I sprayed the bag with a hose to see if it could withstand the elements (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

It is notably heavier than other carry-ons of a similar size, though, and I found I couldn’t pack quite as much into it as I would have liked to. That said, the polycarbonate shell also feels more rigid than some of the other bags I tested. I also liked the look of the extra-wide handle and the smooth-moving wheels that don’t catch on bumps in the road. I even dragged it over a gravel patch, and it continued rolling along.

Béis the carry-on roller

Rating: 5/5

Best: carry-on suitcase

Dimensions: H22.8-inch x W15.7-inch x D9.8-inch

Weight: 8.36lb

Capacity: 49L to 61L

Expandable: Yes

Why we love it

• Built-in organizational compartments
• Cushioned handle

Take note

• If fully expanded, it might not fit in all overhead bins

Béis describes this bag as being perfect for “overpackers forced to only bring a carry-on,” which is an accurate description. The bag has been designed to help you pack as much as possible — the interior has a compressive panel for optimizing the space, and there are various pouches, which I appreciated for helping to keep dirty clothes and shoes separate from clean items. True to its promise, I packed a week’s worth of outfits and two pairs of shoes in this bag with ease. I could have squeezed even more in if I’d made use of the two inches of expandable space, but this may’ve caused it to be too large for overhead bins on flights.

A week’s worth of outfits were easy to pack in (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

Its impressive space-saving interiors aren’t the only thing to like about this bag — I appreciated the soft cushioning on the handle, and it rolled smoothly, even on cracked sidewalks.

Monos carry-on pro

Rating: 4/5

Best: For frequent travelers

Dimensions: H22-inch x W14-inch x D9-inch

Weight: 7.8lb

Capacity: 36L

Expandable: No

Why we love it

• Incredibly tough

Take note

• Telescoping handle can get stuck

I use my suitcases frequently and am not especially delicate with them, so my Monos case (which I’ve had for more than two years) looks fairly scuffed up as a result — it does come with a scuff sponge, but the bag scratches so easily that I basically gave up on maintaining it.

I’ve had the case for more than two years, and it’s not let me down (Jamie Ballard/The Independent)

But, importantly, the wheels and zippers work as smoothly as they did when I first got it. The bag glides smoothly through the airport and has never cracked despite being tossed around. My chief complaint, though, is that the telescoping handle gets stuck if the bag is too tightly packed, which can be frustrating. Additionally, I’ve found that I don’t really use the front pocket since I travel with a laptop bag, and not much else will fit in the front pocket.

What is the best luggage?

After testing 100s of suitcase and bags, I found TravelPro’s platinum elite carry-on spinner to be the best luggage option. It has everything I’d need in a piece of luggage, including multiple pockets to keep things organized, sturdy zippers, an option to expand, and smooth-rolling wheels.

For the best budget luggage, I loved using the Rockland Melbourne hardside expandable spinner wheel carry-on, which comes in at under $80. It’s not the most durable, but for most travelers, it should do just fine. If you’re looking for the best checked bag, I’d recommend Away’s the trunk.

What size is carry-on luggage?

This varies based on the airline you're flying with. However, your carry-on bag will generally need to fit within 22-inch x 14-inch x 9-inch. This should include the wheels and the handle. To avoid any last-minute fees, always check your airline's allowance ahead of time.

How I tested and selected the best luggage

These products have hit the road, planes, trains, subways, and buses. They’ve flown on domestic and international airlines and made it through a variety of terrains. In cases where I didn’t have enough time to travel with the products, I packed the bags with clothes, shoes, and toiletries to see how easy or difficult it was to pack everything you might need into each bag. I also threw a 15-pound weighted blanket into the bags to see how they moved when they were really weighed down.

For bags with wheels, I took them for a spin around the block and my apartment to see how smoothly the wheels move on bumpy sidewalks, thick carpets, and other terrains. I also evaluated bags based on size and weight. In addition to my own hands-on testing, I read reviews to see what other travelers had to say about these bags. Below you’ll find the bags that passed the tests.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

As a travel writer, Jamie Ballard puts more miles on her luggage than most people. She knows which features will make it easier for you to get through the airport or train station seamlessly, and which ones don’t matter. Some of the pieces of luggage here are items she’s had for years, while others she’s put through their paces more recently.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.