The best hard-shell carry-on luggage of 2024, tested by editors

After traveling 750,000+ miles in the last ten years, I’ve tried a lot of luggage — and ultimately, I’ve landed on using hard-shell carry-on bags almost exclusively (as opposed to soft-shell luggage). I like how these bags look and how they force me to pack within set constraints since they don’t flex to accommodate more items.

If you’re looking for a hard-shell carry-on, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by choice. There are bags from legacy brands like Samsonite and relatively new upstarts like Away Travel and Antler at various price points. And on top of this, some have special features like laptop sleeves and built-in TSA locks. So, which bag do you buy?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so I took it upon myself to test various hard-shell carry-on bags on dozens of recent trips. After testing five of the most popular options, I found three bags that stood out as the best.

It’s hard to talk about hard-shell carry-on luggage without mentioning Away. The brand was the first of dozens of fashion-forward, mid-range luggage brands when it launched in 2015. I’ve used luggage from the brand since 2018 and I still think its Bigger Carry On is the best choice for most travelers.

Let’s start with the exterior. All of Away’s hard-shell luggage has the brand’s iconic design with rows of parallel lines — it’s unmistakable, and I think it looks pretty great. Plus, its flexible polycarbonate shell proved durable for both carry-on use and when used as a checked bag. The only downside is scuffing on the lighter colors, which can be remedied with the included magic eraser.

Away’s The Bigger Carry On has 47.9 liters of packable space, which I can use to pack a week’s worth of clothing. It’s split into two compartments — one is wide open and zippers shut while the other has a compression pad and two compression straps to maximize storage. This is great for packing down shirts and pants.

Other notable features include built-in TSA-friendly zipper locks, an underside grab handle and an included laundry bag. All of these features make the bag just a little more intuitive.

The Bigger Carry On was designed to fit in the overhead bin on US airlines, but you might have trouble using it in Europe and other regions where airlines impose smaller carry-on bag size limits. Consider buying the standard Away Carry On if you travel abroad regularly. This bag is roughly 15% smaller than the Bigger Carry On.

Samsonite has many carry-on bags available, but I think this is the best bet for most budget-minded travelers. The Freeform Spinner has everything most travelers need for a week-long trip, including interior organization, durable materials and a sleek look.

The exterior is made from a polycarbonate material similar to the Away carry-on previously discussed, but it didn’t feel quite as flexible. Regardless, I expect it to perform well under normal use as I didn’t experience any cracking when I checked the bag on a recent flight. It does, however, show scratches after extended use.

Inside, the bag has two compartments, one that zips shut and another with an X-style strap that snaps together. These work fine, but the lack of a compression strap means you can’t maximize your packable space by compressing your clothing. The internal zippers also felt cheaper than other bags I’ve tested.

Tend to overpack? The Freeform Spinner is expandable and can give you 1 inch of extra packing space for those times when you buy just one too many souvenirs. Just unzip the rear zipper to expand. There are also built-in TSA zipper locks and a built-in luggage tag on the back of the bag.

Even with some of the potential downsides in mind, I still think this is an excellent hard-shell carry-on bag for the price. It usually costs under $150 on Amazon and Samsonite, though prices fluctuate based on current sales.

I want to start this section by saying this bag is not for most travelers given its $2,000+ price. At the same time, I also need to highlight that it’s the best carry-on luggage I’ve ever used. Enter the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Case.

The bag has an ultra-cool vintage design that feels incredibly solid. The body is made from 5000-series aluminum — also used in some nonstructural aircraft parts — and is held together with SAE 304 steel rivets that withstood being checked on recent flights. Plus, its reinforced edges mean you don’t have to worry about fragile items getting damaged.

Instead of zipping shut, it has two spring-loaded latches with built-in TSA locks that keep the bag closed. Entering the passcode and opening the bag feels very James Bond-esque and you don’t have to worry about zippers getting stuck.

But the luxury doesn’t stop there. Exterior handles are covered in full-grain leather and there’s an included leather care kit for the handles and a lifetime warranty. Yes, it’s a luxury purchase — but it’s one you’ll have for life.

Inside, there are two large compartments. One zips shut while the other has two compression straps with metal buckles to maximize space. The zippered space has roughly a fourth of the bag’s packing space while the other side is much deeper, which makes it far easier to pack clothes.

Its 40-liter capacity means it can fit a week’s worth of clothes when you pack smart. Plus, the interior is lined with a suede-like material that looks great, although I can’t find any functional upside to this.

Like most aluminum luggage, it will dent and scuff if you check it to ride in the cargo hold. Some say this adds character; others dislike it. Regardless, you’re not likely to have issues with this bag breaking on the road.

All this being said, I can’t recommend this bag to everyone with its $2,150 price tag. But with a lifetime warranty to back up its high-quality construction, I think this is the carry-on to buy if you’re into metal luggage and want a suitcase for life.

I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles over the past 10 years and almost always travel with hard-shell carry-on luggage. I like how these bags look and find that their rigidity prevents me from overpacking — something I’ve struggled with in years past.

I tested this set of bags by taking each on at least one trip with me. I used the bag as a carry-on for one leg of the trip — to test its maneuverability — and checked the bag on the other leg to test its durability. I also used each organizational compartment to get a full feeling of how easy each bag is to pack.

Finally, I did a deep-dive into the specs of each bag, including exterior measurements, capacity, price and how good of a value each bag is when compared to the competition. This is all aimed at helping travelers pick the right bag for their next trip.

Your needs will vary based on where and how you travel, but there are a few things everyone should look out for when buying carry-on luggage. The first is size. Ensure the luggage you buy meets the carry-on size requirements for the airlines you fly the most. Most US airlines consider bags at or under 22 x 14 x 9 inches as a carry-on, but you might find different requirements abroad.

Second, consider the materials. If you want something ultra-durable and a vintage style, aluminum bags are a good bet even though it’s heavier than polycarbonate. At the same time, you might consider a polycarbonate bag if you want the lightest (and least expensive) bag possible.

Further, I’m prone to breaking zippers on jackets, backpacks, suitcases, you name it. Because of this, I prefer bags that close with clasps instead of zippers. These bags tend to be more expensive but it could save you money when compared to buying a new carry-on every few years.

Keep an eye out for a lifetime warranty, too. You’ll find this on bags from Away, Sterling Pacific and others. On more expensive luggage, this could save you hundreds of dollars if something goes wrong with the bag down the road.

Hard-shell carry-on luggage is all the rage these days with dozens of brands offering polycarbonate and aluminum suitcases. During my testing, I found that the Away Bigger Carry On is best for the majority of travelers with its large capacity, compression system and sleek design.

Meanwhile, the Samsonite Freeform Spinner is a good budget pick. It doesn’t have the compression straps found in the Away bag, but its other abilities are similar. I think it’s an excellent choice for a bag that’s almost always on sale for under $150.

Finally, the Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Case is a sight to behold. Its tough aluminum shell and leather accents hark to the “golden days” of travel and should last even the most frequent flyers for years. But with such a high price tag, it’s for a very specific audience.

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