9 of the best Away suitcases and travel accessories we’ve tested

The Carry-On

I’ve owned the classic Away Carry-On for five years now and it remains one of my favorite pieces of luggage. I’ve taken it on numerous week-long trips and it can fit all my essentials and then some. Even after years of use, it’s held up remarkably well, with only a few marks to its name. The spinner wheels are smooth and easy to maneuver and handy bonus features like the removable charger and built-in laundry bag make it stand out from competitors. — Hannah Freedman, associate travel editor 

One of the first things my husband and I registered for when we got married was a set of Away’s carry-on bags. I love all the smart details: a phone charger, a built-in lock, an interior compression system, a fold-away laundry bag. It’s truly a joy to travel with and the perfect size for shorter trips. — Lauren Savoie, senior editor

Like Lauren, I had my eye on the Away carry-on for a while before finally purchasing it. When Away had their first-ever sale last summer I finally purchased it and was blown away by its quality and useful accessories such as the ejectable charger, convertor plug, and the slim laundry bag. I chose this fun brick shade to make it easier to spot my bag in the airport. — Maliah West, home & kitchen reviews fellow

Carry-On (button)
The Bigger Carry-On

While my husband opted for the smaller Carry-On, I sized up to the Bigger Carry-On because I tend to travel with more stuff. It’s not a dramatic difference in the sizing over the Carry-On, but I love that it has all the same features and offers me a bit more room when packing. — Lauren Savoie, senior editor

As a notorious overpacker, I’ve experienced many trips that involve me attempting to maneuver several suitcases down large flights of stairs, through crowded airports, and on to  small overnight trains. So it’s safe to say that I need all of the space I can possibly get when traveling. I purchased the Bigger Carry-On at the same time as the smaller Carry-On and I love that the bigger version offers slightly more space while still being able to fit in the overhead compartments of most major airlines. I’ve already taken this carry-on with me on several small getaways over the last year and can’t wait to travel with it internationally. — Maliah West, home & kitchen reviews fellow

The Bigger Carry-On (button)
The Mini

While The Mini is often used for toiletries, I use the hardshell case for all of the important tech essentials I carry, apart from my laptop. I can usually fit two hard drives and their cords, a USB-C connector, card reader, multiple memory cards, and a phone charger. When traveling, I’m all about organization, so this case is great for keeping things tidy. It also ensures protection thanks to the durable polycarbonate case, which is the same used for the brand’s luggage. Even when I’m not traveling, I toss this in my backpack or tote and can rest assured my electronics are safe. — Allison Arnold, story production fellow

The Mini (button)
The Expandable Large

As a frequent traveler, I’ve always preferred hard shell luggage. With such a tough exterior, there’s just less concern over possible damage to belongings or messy toiletry spills. 

So, I was skeptical when I tried out Away’s soft-sided Expandable Large suitcase. However, this was not the same soft suitcase my parents lugged around on family vacations when I was a kid. I used this suitcase to pack for my destination wedding, followed by a three-week honeymoon, and it protected my belongings without issue. It also fit everything (and that’s coming from a habitual overpacker) thanks to smart features such as an interior compression panel, a built-in bag for dirty clothes, and a front zip pocket that made it easy to access items quickly.

The spinner wheels are smooth and the water-resistant nylon exterior has been durable so far. However, it’s on the heavy side and I spent some time at airline check-in counters rummaging through my things to try and redistribute weight. — Emily Hochberg, travel editor

The Expandable Large (button)
The Insider Packing Cubes (Set of 6)

I’ll admit it: I always thought packing cubes were pointless. I instead chose to just fold my clothes in categorized piles so that I’d be able to spot what I needed right away. I stubbornly stuck with this approach for my entire life until it was time to pack for a month-long trip for my destination wedding and honeymoon. There were just too many things to organize, so I tried Away’s Insider Packing Cubes Set.

With six options in varying sizes, I was able to use each cube for a type of clothing — dresses used a large cube, swimsuits a smaller one. During the course of this trip, I stayed in seven hotels, and seven times the cubes not only helped me find what I wanted to wear, but made it easier to pack up quickly when it was time to move on. And, when I overpacked and had to remove items from my Expandable Large (see above), all I had to do was pull out a cube and throw it in my carryon to remove weight quickly. For long trips especially, this packing cube convert thinks these are totally worth it. — Emily Hochberg, travel editor

Similar to Emily, I used to be a packing cube skeptic, but now I don’t travel anywhere — even for 1-2 night trips — without them. Away’s are flexible and stretchy and keep all my different clothes neatly organized. I own them in black, but if I could go back I’d choose one of the lighter colors so it’s easier to spot the contents behind the mesh cover. — Connie Chen, senior reporter 

As a digital nomad for the past year, I’ve found Away’s packing cubes to be an easy way to stay organized. They are spacious and feature a sturdy mesh lining to keep your clothes fresh (and also to let you see what’s inside). Best of all, these bags can really fit a lot of clothes. I own the set of four, which comes with two slim and two wide cubes and is just right for most of my trips. Together they weigh just 0.32 kg, so they don’t add much weight and can be stored flat. — Jamie Ditaranto, Insider Reviews contributor 

The Insider Packing Cubes (Set of 6) (button)
The Latitude Tote

I love how roomy, durable, and classic this tote is. It’s carried everything I need in a typical day, including a 40 oz. water bottle, 13-inch laptop, and a change of clothes. Still, the long, sturdy straps handle the weight with ease. The interior design is pretty simple, just a large main compartment and a small zip pouch where I usually stored my tiny essentials. Although it has a strap in the back so you can loop it over your luggage handles, I think this tote works best for everyday use rather than travel purposes. Since the top closure is a magnetic button in the middle rather than a zipper that runs all the way across, your smaller items run the risk of falling out during a jostle of the bus or a dash through the airport terminal. — Connie Chen, senior reporter

The Latitude Tote (button)
The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

I love this carry-on so much I named it the best aluminum luggage in my guide to the best carry-on luggage. Built to last, this bag is seriously sturdy and has come out of several trips completely unscathed. What most impressed me, though, was the huge amount of packing space. I took this bag on a weekend ski trip and was able to fit my long underwear, sweaters, ski pants, gloves, and a light jacket on just one side. I easily fit a weekend’s worth of everyday clothes on the other side. The only downside is the weight. At just under 11 pounds, this bag is heavy, so I tend to use it more for car and train trips. — Hannah Freedman, associate travel editor

The Carry-On: Aluminium Edition (button)
The Large

I’ve been using The Large Away suitcase for about five years as my main checked bag. Though I tend to try to fit everything in a carry-on whenever possible, there are times that’s just not feasible, and this bag has come in seriously handy for everything from month-long treks through Asia to big ski trips in Europe when I needed to fit all my gear, plus my clothes. Checked bags in particular need to be durable since they get tossed around, and though it has a few marks and scratches, this suitcase has held up really well. I also like that the Carry-On nests inside of it for easy storage.  — Hannah Freedman, associate travel editor

The Large (button)
The Pet Carrier

Away’s sleek Pet Carrier has a roomy interior fitted with a plush sherpa mat and privacy screens, and plenty of pocket space on the exterior to hold essentials. Its padded shoulder strap is comfortable and you can slip its luggage strap over the handle of a carry-on for easy rolling through an airport or train station. Best of all, this carrier is as safe as they come: it’s been both crash tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety. — Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews contributor

The Pet Carrier (button)