For many travelers like myself, soft-sided suitcases are the preferred choice.
Soft-sided luggage tends to be more durable against rough handling, less prone to visible damage and more expandable than hard-sided bags. I find they’re easier to pack too, since fabric has more give than polycarbonate shells.
So when I heard about Away’s new soft-sided luggage collection, I was eager to check it out. These bags have many features found in Away’s classic hard-sided suitcases, like Away’s signature interior compression system and smooth-rolling wheels.
They’re available in four colors — Jet Black, Cloud Gray, Coast Blue and Clay Pink — and four sizes with a standard carry-on, a larger carry-on, a medium checked bag and a large checked bag.
But is this new Away line right for your next trip? Let’s take a closer look at what I liked and didn’t like about Away’s new soft-sided suitcases.
The Softside Carry-On offers a versatile capacity of 32.2 liters for standard use and can expand to 37.2 liters when you need extra packing space. It's ideal for trips of three to five days.
What I liked about it
Sleek design
It’s clear Away’s soft-sided collection is all about elegance and modernity. Its design takes cues from the hard-shell Away bags, with a boxy shape and sleek lines on the front of the bag.
The bags are made from high-quality nylon that does an impressive job of blending durability and aesthetics. The nylon is abrasion resistant and has a water-repellent coating that should keep your clothes dry if you’re stuck in the rain.
Intelligent interior layout
The main compartment of the bag is designed with Away’s signature interior compression system to maximize space and efficiency for packing all your belongings. For convenience, an included drawstring laundry bag keeps dirty clothes separated.
Ergonomic handle
I’ve tested dozens of soft-sided bags, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt such a satisfying handle. It’s sturdy, comfortable and doesn’t feel shaky when rolling around the airport. There are two adjustable height settings for optimal use.
Smooth wheels
The handle and the 360° wheels combine to offer a smooth and stable ride — even over gravel in our testing — with minimal shaking felt in my hand.
Expandable versatility
For added space, the built-in zipper expansion feature lets travelers increase capacity by 1.75 inches to accommodate up to 15% more items when fully expanded. This is useful for those times when you buy just one too many souvenirs.
What I didn’t like about it
Delicate zippers
The zippers on the soft-sided suitcase felt delicate and didn’t glide as smoothly as what I’m used to with Away’s hard-shell suitcases. They frequently got stuck and felt awkward when moving them along their tracks.
Zipper gridlock
Depending on how you pack the bag, you can have up to five zippers accumulate in the top left corner. While each zipper serves a purpose, it feels busy, especially given the zippers’ tendency to move stiffly.
Limited-stretch material
Okay, I get it. The bag’s limited-stretch material maintains a sleek appearance, which is part of the DNA of this bag. However, I miss the generous stretch found in soft-sided bags like the Briggs & Riley Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner, which makes packing (and cramming in that last pair of shoes) easier.
Inaccessible exterior pockets
Due to the limited excess fabric, the bag’s exterior pockets are challenging to access. The outer pocket, where I managed to fit my 16-inch MacBook Pro, is particularly tight. I also found the zipper tucked into a stiff track in the fabric that was difficult to reach. As such, I avoided using this space entirely.
How it compares
| Exterior dimensions | 21.9 x 15 x 9.1 in. |
23 x 15.7 x 9.1 in. |
23 x 14.25 x 10 in. |
23 x 14.5 x 9 in. |
22 x 14 x 9 in. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weight | 9.2 lbs. |
9.8 lbs. |
6.7 lbs. |
7.7 lbs. |
10 lbs. |
| Maximum interior capacity when expanded | 37.2L |
44.3L |
40L |
43L |
50L |
| Colors | 4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
| Price | $225 | $245 | $127 | $365 | $699 |
Bottom line
I’m glad Away is in the soft-sided luggage business. These bags offer a sleek design and impressive durability with high-quality nylon and a thoughtful interior layout. However, drawbacks like delicate zippers, limited-stretch material and challenging exterior pockets are areas for improvement.
While this bag retains many beloved features of Away’s hard-shell suitcases, improvements are needed to make it my choice for soft-sided luggage. Look through the pros and cons and see if it makes sense for your next trip.
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