Anonymous wrote:I also switched from “whatever’s at tj maxx” to away for my last purchase.

The away larger carry on is nice because it is sized to be max carryon size for US flights. You should generally have no problem for int’l flights altho I diid once have to check it because it weighed in over 10 kgs and intra-Europe flights it may be too large.

It’s well made and rolls very well. Downside is the zipper in the middle. If you are ok with that it’s a good option.

Travelpro gets recc’d a lot but I have found it’s not that well made/durable.

I have the soft side bigger carry on and the zipper is on the top. I hate the zipper in the middle for carry ons because I want to be able to use a luggage rack, so was happy to see the soft side design.

I have a carry on sized backpack. They don't even look at you as you walk on the plane while they often stop people with wheeled bags. The backpack is good for places with cobbles.

I also switched from “whatever’s at tj maxx” to away for my last purchase.

The away larger carry on is nice because it is sized to be max carryon size for US flights. You should generally have no problem for int’l flights altho I diid once have to check it because it weighed in over 10 kgs and intra-Europe flights it may be too large.

It’s well made and rolls very well. Downside is the zipper in the middle. If you are ok with that it’s a good option.

Travelpro gets recc’d a lot but I have found it’s not that well made/durable.

I love my Rimowa with the external pocket. It's expensive but you can rely on the zipper and wheels holding up. I believe it's guaranteed for life. No problem packing for two weeks along with a tote bag.

https://www.rimowa.com/us/en/luggage/colour/pink/cabin/84253301.html

Rimowa, always. Mine is 15+ years old now. Still functions well, has a few scratches and dings but that adds to its charm.

I love my Away carry on size.

I have the Away large carry on, which I have been able to use internationally a couple of times. I will say that it can get heavy to lift into the overhead (and I am not a small/weak person).

I also have a Tumi international size carry on which is great for 1-3 night trips, although I have used it for a week long trip before paired with a largish "personal item".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking to take advantage of Memorial Day Sales and need to upgrade a carry-on. Any current faves? Travel & Leisure recs Away. Are Level 8's any good? Will be traveling internationally so space is important.

"Internationally" is very vague. Travelling to London or Paris isn't really much different (luggage wise) from travelling to New York or Chicago.
If you're going on Safari or hiking through the Amazon, that's a different story.

Maybe not if you’re flying United to CDG, but it absolutely matters in Europe if you’re taking trains and flying budget airlines. I have an “international” sized carry-on suitcase that I have been able to carry onto European budget airlines without issue. They don’t always do it, but I’ve seen them measure. It’s also significantly easier if you’re carrying it down subway stairs, jamming it onto train racks, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Whatever quality one I can find at TJMaxx/etc.

I don’t like the hard covers as they tend to all zip right in half. I like having a deep pocket not two shallow pockets. YMMV.

My SIL used to do that but then she got one of the away bags that can expand and now she swears by it, but I don’t know if she just bought into the hype or if it’s legit better than any $50 TJ Maxx suitcase.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking to take advantage of Memorial Day Sales and need to upgrade a carry-on. Any current faves? Travel & Leisure recs Away. Are Level 8's any good? Will be traveling internationally so space is important.

"Internationally" is very vague. Travelling to London or Paris isn't really much different (luggage wise) from travelling to New York or Chicago.
If you're going on Safari or hiking through the Amazon, that's a different story.

Europe – 10 day type trips with a carry-on, multiple trains, cobblestones, small hotels, etc.

Whatever quality one I can find at TJMaxx/etc.

I don’t like the hard covers as they tend to all zip right in half. I like having a deep pocket not two shallow pockets. YMMV.

Anonymous wrote:Looking to take advantage of Memorial Day Sales and need to upgrade a carry-on. Any current faves? Travel & Leisure recs Away. Are Level 8's any good? Will be traveling internationally so space is important.

"Internationally" is very vague. Travelling to London or Paris isn't really much different (luggage wise) from travelling to New York or Chicago.
If you're going on Safari or hiking through the Amazon, that's a different story.

Remember many non-US carriers have slightly smaller carry-on sizes, and tend to be stricter about enforcing them. So will probably want to aim for the "international carry-on" sizes, which are usually around 1-2 inches shorter. Make sure you look at the external dimensions to check- many luggage sites advertise the internal dimensions in big print, and only show the full external dimms in small print.

I like my Quince — which comes in small, and even smaller sizes. I’m not a frequent traveler, so I can’t speak to its durability, but it’s nicely organized, rolls smoothly, and will fit every set of carry-on requirements that I checked.

Looking to take advantage of Memorial Day Sales and need to upgrade a carry-on. Any current faves? Travel & Leisure recs Away. Are Level 8's any good? Will be traveling internationally so space is important.