I need a new carry on for a business trip to Seoul next month. My trips are infrequent so I don’t think I need anything too high-end durable. Maybe $200-300 or less.
Carry on Luggage Recommendation?
- Thread starter tom slick
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We have been happy with Travelpro. Take a look at their international carry on line of luggage at the Travelpro website. We always got ours on sale, but their regular prices for soft side appear to be below your $200 threshold.
I use TravelPro. My wife picked up her carry-on TravelPro at Nordstrom Rack for ~$100. All are no worse for wear after several trips to London the past couple of years. They are very popular, so we've chosen to not go with black. I've also put some discrete gold-colored dots near the top handles with a Sharpie, making it easier to distinguish in the overhead bins.
As mentioned above, make sure the size is no greater than the smallest dimensions of each of the carriers you may be flying, should you not be flying with a single airline.
As mentioned above, make sure the size is no greater than the smallest dimensions of each of the carriers you may be flying, should you not be flying with a single airline.
I use this backpack when going carry-on.
Cheap and it works.
https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Exp...ix=MATEIN+Travel+Backpack,aps,108&sr=8-1&th=1
Cheap and it works.
https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Exp...ix=MATEIN+Travel+Backpack,aps,108&sr=8-1&th=1
I bought my wife and each of my children, a TravelPro. I am not a fan of the “spinner“ types because they don’t do well over broken pavement, bumps, or carpet.
Just get the regular two wheeled kind.
If you get one that expands, understand that it will no longer fit in the overhead if you expand it. It’s nice to be able to buy a few things, and expand the suitcase, but then you have to check it.
Just get the regular two wheeled kind.
If you get one that expands, understand that it will no longer fit in the overhead if you expand it. It’s nice to be able to buy a few things, and expand the suitcase, but then you have to check it.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
I use wheeled backpacks - drag them normally - but for airports known for stairs (FRA) can convert to shoulder straps in a minute or two …
I just got the 2 piece Travelpro carryon and larger checks rollers from Costco. My wife just used the carryon today for the first time. Great price and so far, so good.
Can't beat the 2 rubberized wheels for durability over all surfaces and ease of rolling over rough surfaces. Plus they can be replaced if they do wear or start to crack. I like the Maxlite 5 20"2 wheel design. I also prefer a soft sided bag vs the hard shell for overall durability. I actually still use an Atlantic(Owned by Travelpro) 2 wheel case that cracked a wheel in Portugal and they sent me a free replacement set of wheels so I am good for many more km's of rough European streets and sidewalks.
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I'll go against the grain here and advocate for a small spinner softside bag. Navigating TSA switchbacks and narrow plane aisles is a total game changer. I accidentally bought my wife a 2-wheel and she hates it. Honestly I would not want it either, I have a tiny spinner and it's just so effortless.
I'm a backpack/ruck guy and my 5.11 Rush 72 has been my battle buddy for almost 20 years and it can hold a lot.
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If you don't travel much you can get mediocre luggage for $50 - $100 at Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, etc...
I have had a set of Monos for about 4 years now. About 10 trips a year. Solid set. Worth the price of admission.
https://monos.com/collections/sale?...oupid=1156687397829922&g_productid=&g_source={sourceid}&g_merchantid=&g_placement=&g_partition=&g_campaignid=674214117&g_acctid=833-519-9611&g_ifproduct=&nb_si={sourceid}&nbt=nb%3Amicrosoft%3Ao%3A674214117%3A1156687397829922%3A72293363659990&nb_mt=e&nb_bmt=bp&nb_oii=72293657466355&nb_qs=monos%20luggage&nb_fii=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=135251&nb_pi=&nb_pc=&nb_ci=&msclkid=f852683029b31c0b660a0182857467ef&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search%20-%20USA%20-%20Monos%20Branded&utm_term=monos%20luggage&utm_content=Branded
I have had a set of Monos for about 4 years now. About 10 trips a year. Solid set. Worth the price of admission.
https://monos.com/collections/sale?...oupid=1156687397829922&g_productid=&g_source={sourceid}&g_merchantid=&g_placement=&g_partition=&g_campaignid=674214117&g_acctid=833-519-9611&g_ifproduct=&nb_si={sourceid}&nbt=nb%3Amicrosoft%3Ao%3A674214117%3A1156687397829922%3A72293363659990&nb_mt=e&nb_bmt=bp&nb_oii=72293657466355&nb_qs=monos%20luggage&nb_fii=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=135251&nb_pi=&nb_pc=&nb_ci=&msclkid=f852683029b31c0b660a0182857467ef&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search%20-%20USA%20-%20Monos%20Branded&utm_term=monos%20luggage&utm_content=Branded
Big fan of my Away luggage (both carry ons and checked). Can fit a lot, no issues fitting in overhead bins even internationally with the bigger carry on. Lifetime warranty. Have family and friends with them too, no issues ever. If I were to ever have an issue, their stores will fix them while you wait. They all roll great on any surface, airports, carpet, cobble stone streets, snow, etc. Extremely water resistant too, have watched them get loaded and sit out in the rain, nothing got inside.
https://www.awaytravel.com/products/bigger-carry-on-olive-green
For a backpack, I just got this in the 17" and absolutely love it. Can fit two laptops, pair of shoes, my toiletries, cables/chargers/other electronics and two bottles of Eagle rare from duty free in it.
https://luxorro.com/collections/backpacks/products/basic-backpack?variant=45222560039075
https://www.awaytravel.com/products/bigger-carry-on-olive-green
For a backpack, I just got this in the 17" and absolutely love it. Can fit two laptops, pair of shoes, my toiletries, cables/chargers/other electronics and two bottles of Eagle rare from duty free in it.
https://luxorro.com/collections/backpacks/products/basic-backpack?variant=45222560039075
My Delsey carryon has held up very well. We have both the two wheel and four wheel bags because my wife wanted to "upgrade" to four wheels. Other people in airports roll their four wheel bag with ease. My wife and I cannot get the hang of it and it rolls like a drunken sailor. We usually use only two of the wheels.
The Travelpro 2 piece set was $210 through Costco, not a bad price at all if you are a member.
The Away is becoming popular. It’s well made.
But the spinner design, with small diameter wheels, just isn’t that easy to use. It’s fine for occasional use. But doesn’t really roll well over carpet, bumps, sidewalk joints, door thresholds, elevator entrances, gaps in train platforms, jet bridge seams, or onto airplanes.
I spend more days with a rolling suitcase than most. About 15 -18 days a month.
A two wheeled roller, with the larger diameter wheels, being pulled, is simply much, much easier to actually use over real world surfaces and in constant use than a spinner that is pushed. You can pull a spinner on two wheels but those smaller wheels get hung up more easily.
Further, on the two wheel rollers, the wheels are replaceable. The bags simply hold up much longer.
Look at what pilots and flight attendants use - a two wheeled roller TravelPro, Tumi, or Luggage Works bag. The only ones with spinners are the new hires.
But they’ll figure it out eventually.
The professional’s preference: https://luggageworks.com/
But the spinner design, with small diameter wheels, just isn’t that easy to use. It’s fine for occasional use. But doesn’t really roll well over carpet, bumps, sidewalk joints, door thresholds, elevator entrances, gaps in train platforms, jet bridge seams, or onto airplanes.
I spend more days with a rolling suitcase than most. About 15 -18 days a month.
A two wheeled roller, with the larger diameter wheels, being pulled, is simply much, much easier to actually use over real world surfaces and in constant use than a spinner that is pushed. You can pull a spinner on two wheels but those smaller wheels get hung up more easily.
Further, on the two wheel rollers, the wheels are replaceable. The bags simply hold up much longer.
Look at what pilots and flight attendants use - a two wheeled roller TravelPro, Tumi, or Luggage Works bag. The only ones with spinners are the new hires.
But they’ll figure it out eventually.
The professional’s preference: https://luggageworks.com/
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