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 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.

Best hard-shell carry-on luggage: Away The Bigger Carry-On

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 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.

Best budget hard-shell carry-on bag: Samsonite Freeform Carry-On Spinner

Samsonite has many carry-on bags available, but I think the Freeform Spinner is the best bet for most budget-minded travelers. It costs around $150 when it’s on sale — which is almost always — and while there are cheaper carry-ons out there, I haven’t found one I’d personally recommend that’s less expensive than this. Many sub-$100 bags break quickly, so spending more upfront will likely save you money over time.

The Freeform Spinner has everything most travelers need for a week-long trip, including interior organization, durable materials and a sleek look that’s available in a slew of colors.

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 on 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 less than $150 on Amazon and Samsonite, though prices fluctuate based on current sales.

Best luxury hard-shell carry-on bag: Sterling Pacific 40L Cabin Case

I want to start this section by saying this bag is notfor 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 quarter 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.

How we tested

After looking through product reviews and product specs, I chose five hard-shell carry-on bags to test in real-world travel scenarios. Here’s how I tested the luggage discussed in this article:

How these hard-shell bags compare

What to look for in hard-shell luggage

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 by 14 by 9 inches as a carry-on, but you might find different requirements abroad.

Second, consider the materials. If you want something ultra durable and in 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 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.

Other hard-shell carry-on bags we tested

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