Late to post this...but I had a Reaction KC Renegade 20" Carry-On purchased at Marshalls many years ago and have loved it - it has stood the test of time.

I let my daughter borrow it and it ended up being checked. It came back cracked (it's a hard case) and I was so upset. In the process of looking to purchase a new one exactly like it (as I did so love it's interior compartments) I discovered that it had a lifetime warranty. Well, I completed the form and submitted my request....low and behold they sent me a brand new replacement - and in the same color! Even though it had been purchased well over 5 years ago and I didn't have any receipt. I was so impressed.

I love my Hanke I got on Amazon. It’s hard-sided but opens on one side, not the middle, like most hard-sided luggage. You can just lift the flap and you don’t have to unfold the whole thing and take up all that space during your trip.

Anonymous wrote:I have the Away and love it. There are now many dupes and I have one but the Away rolls much easier and feels much sturdier.

Thanks for reminding me about the roll.

I hate the weight, but love the ability to pack so everything isn’t a wrinkled mess on arrival. If that matters less, get a lighter bag.

I got the smallest Quince carry-on, hoping that it would fit in any overhead bin. It holds a lot more than I expected, and its organizational features make it easy to pack. It rolls smoothly, and I’ve been very happy with it. It’s an excellent value for the price. If you usually fly airlines that have slightly more generous overhead allowances, check the measurements of the different carry-on sizes. I would have purchased the larger size — which actually holds a lot more — but I wanted to be sure that I could meet the strictest standards that I was likely to encounter.

Away! The best

I have a TravelPro Crew rollaboard. Got after a previous suitcase broke during an airport layover. Sturdy and holds a lot.

Maybe I got a lemon, but I don’t get the love for TravelPro. I have one and it’s relatively heavy and doesn’t roll as smoothly as cheaper bags I have. The outside pocket is too small to be of much use. I think they got a name because they are used by airline crews because they are very sturdy, but I think unless you fly literally every day you don’t need that much durability. My favorite bag I’ve ever bought is a very light bag we got for my son at TJ Maxx when he was very small. It holds a ton and rolls great. I don’t even remember the brand, but he’s now in college and still using it.

I'm going to tell you that there are SO many on the market if you just look at reviews from Amazon, you can find yourself one.

If you are looking however for one that can fit the most in I would look at Briggs and Riley.

I looked and researched and looked some more and their patent system of being able to compress everything in makes for the ability to really pack to the hilt. I can fit more in mine than any other suitcase I've ever had in my life. It's a system where you pack everything in and shut the case and hit it - it's actually fun LOL - so you can "overpack" and it'll still fit all.

It is extremely $$$$. Good god like a fortune. However, they have excellent customer service, you pretty much have a guarantee for life on it and as I said, there NOTHING you can pack more if it's a standard rolling case (so I guess if you want to use a pack maybe there's larger?). I swear by it. I use it for all my overseas trips and if I'm going for 10+ more days anywhere. That being said, you can def get away with something cheaper that can load up your average 35L of stuff in it for sure but I think this thing will do 50L.

For my family I have Monos, Travelpro and Calpak. I swear by my Briggs as the one that can pack the most of all these.

Anonymous wrote:Travelpro maxlite. I got soft because I hate hard side luggage but to each his own. They sell both.

The internet generally agrees that soft side is better. I researched it quite a bit before getting our new soft sides (from TJ Maxx.)

Tumi. Expensive but I traveled 200+ nights a year for many years with it and it had up great.

Cotopaxi backpack for the splurge, otherwise Marshalls or Tj max for something that seems the right size at a good price. I got Columbia ones last time, they seem to be holding up.

Anonymous wrote:I have a Calpak that I spent a bunch on after researching this. It's fine. But if I had to do it over again I'd just figure out the dimensions I need and take a measuring tape to TJ Maxx. I hate TJMaxx, but this is what it is good for.

This is exactly what I did before going overseas last year. I also don’t normally go to TJ Maxx, but this is what I would also recommend doing.

I have the Away and love it. There are now many dupes and I have one but the Away rolls much easier and feels much sturdier.

Anonymous wrote:Travelpro maxlite. I got soft because I hate hard side luggage but to each his own. They sell both.

Yes we just got the soft sided Travelpro Maxlite- big fans.

Travelpro- I have one of their nicer hard sides and I love it