The best suitcases and carry on for travel

While international travel is definitely harder to pursue than it once was, I’ve done my best over the last two years to fulfill my travel aspirations in the safest way possible.

Family members and friends thought I was crazy for planning a trip to Italy in the summer of 2021, a weekend getaway to Aruba just a few months later, and even my upcoming trip to Portugal in February of this year. But there are definitely ways to travel during the pandemic — if you do it right.

Booking flights with good cancellation policies, refundable lodging, getting vaccinated, wearing a good mask, and doing your research on your destination’s COVID restrictions (usually a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure) is a good start).

Whether you’ve been traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic or not, you likely won’t be going anywhere without a suitcase. For the last four of five years, I have become obsessed with my Away suitcases. Through the cobblestones of Florence, icy roads of Reykjavik, Iceland and beyond — they have never let me down.

Similar to Apple AirPods Pros, at some point, it seemed like Away bags were just about everywhere I looked. A few years after the brand launched in 2015 (and became ultra popular among millennials), I asked my parents for the Away Bigger Carry-On for Christmas and I haven’t looked back since.

Back track to my study abroad days, I had a mortifying experience at the Munich International Airport when my cheap, over-sized bag cracked open on the baggage claim conveyer belt and half my things were sprawled out for the world to see. I vividly remember an old man reaching down to hand me my underwear. Nevertheless, you could probably understand why I was ready to invest in a good quality suitcase.

These days I rotate the Bigger Carry-On with The Medium and The Large (yes I own all three) and one of the best parts is that they all fit inside each other for easy storage. I also own The Medium: Aluminum Edition but only use that on special occasions.

What makes Away different?

For starters, you get incredibly durable and high quality suitcases for a great price point. The brand’s original line of suitcases costs $325 or less. They come in a variety of different colors and sizes and now have dozens of accessories such as packing cubes, tote bags and more that fit perfectly with all Away luggage.

Plus, if you opt for one of the smaller, carry-on bags, it comes with an ejectable portable charger. All bags come with a black leather luggage tag (with the option for customization), international travel plug adaptors, durable handle, hidden laundry bag section, 360-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination lock and more. Plus, the Away lifetime warranty means you’ll never have to look for luggage again.

The brand’s lifetime warranty covers:

• Cracks or breaks in the shell
• Wheels, handles, or telescoping handles that break off and are no longer usable
• Zippers that can no longer be opened or closed
• Fabric tears that render front pocket fabric non-functional

Durability

While you can pretty much throw your Away Luggage across the room without any worry of damage, expect some dings and scratches after a few uses. When I was picking out the color of my first Bigger Carry-On, I was deciding between black and light pink but after going back and forth, I decided to go with the fun option: pink. It definitely has some scuff marks, and so does my medium (black). But the minor markings definitely don’t detract from the bags’ overall quality and appearance.

Size and Space

Just a few months before the pandemic really erupted, I went to Iceland for four nights in January of 2020. (While it was the experience of a lifetime and the last international trip I’d take for nearly a year, I recommend going in the spring). I managed to pack snow boots, sneakers, two thick cable knit sweaters, denim and all my other essentials for a cold-weather vacation in my Bigger Carry-On. This baby can fit a lot!

Overall thoughts

For context, I’ve used and tried many different suitcases over the years and even with my own sister who works at another luxury luggage brand (with a hefty discount, might I add), I still always reach for my Away luggage over anything else.

Give an Away suitcase a try. After all, they do have an incredible return policy (although I doubt you’ll want to give it up). You have 100 calendar days to use an item and return it. At any point during that time period you can get a full refund or exchange it for another item.

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