When traveling, we try to avoid checking bags whenever possible. You might not be able to transport your beer, wine or spirits in a wheeled carry-on, but carry-on luggage allows you to keep your stuff accessible, out of the hands of overzealous baggage handlers and avoid extra fees (in most cases). As for sizes, the general rule is 22″ x 14″ x 9″, but check with your airline to make sure it meets their requirements. Here are our picks for the 7 best wheeled carry-ons for your next trip:
Incase EO Travel Roller
Designed for the guy who spends as much time packing all the right gadgets as the clothes he’s going to wear, the Incase EO Travel Roller is a wheeled carry-on with an easily accessible external tech pocket with slots for all of your gadgets and their chargers. Made of a combination of cotton, polyester and thermoplastic rubber with a triple-coated, weather-resistant front panel, this expandable bag makes working in the airport bar or on the plane easy, and it looks pretty damn good, too.
$176
Away Carry-On
Removable laundry bag. High-capacity battery with USB charging. 360-degree spinning wheels. All the details are right when it comes to the Away Carry-On. Crafted from premium German polycarbonate, this slick carry-on is lightweight but ready to stand up to a beating.
$225
Travelpro Platinum Magna 2 Rollaboard Suiter
Travelpro’s Platinum Magna 2 Rollaboard Suiter is probably the most familiar looking piece of carry-on luggage on this list for good reason: Travelpro’s founder essentially invented the vertical wheeled carry-on. The durable, ballistic nylon construction with DuraGuard coating, leather accents, PowerScope extension handle and tapered expansion capabilities are the hallmarks of this bag, but it’s the Suiter part that sells it for us. The top flap of this bag camouflages a built in garment folder which means you don’t have to travel with a separate garment bag for work.
$247
Eagle Creek Load Warrior International Carry-On
For over four decades, Eagle Creek has been manufacturing packs that make adventuring easier than the trips required to get there, and the Load Warrior International Carry-On is no different. Built for outdoor adventuring with an internal exo-skeleton and 450D geo ripstop, heavy-duty treaded wheels, multiple haul handles and an equipment keeper to strap gear to the top, this highly-expandable, lightweight bag tackles whatever you throw at, or in, it.
$198
Trunkster
A wheeled carry-on unlike any other, Trunkster eschews the traditional zipper and folding operation of the standard luggage in favor of a garage door style rolltop door. The smart luggage also has an integrated scale, global tracking, a built-in battery with external access and a full-width telescoping handle that also won’t obstruct your packing. Constructed with a hybrid polypropylene, this carry-on is also water, drop and impact resistant. If you want something smart, unconventional, convenient and slightly more secure than traditional luggage, Trunkster is for you.
$355
Bluesmart Black Edition Smart Luggage
Bluesmart is credited with introducing the first smart luggage, so it should come as no surprise that their limited edition Black Edition has just about everything you need in a roller. Class A Makrolon body with reinforced nylon front compartment. Location tracker. Battery charger. Digital scale. Remote lock. Hubless wheels. Divided interior pockets. It’s built to be as durable as the first smartphones, but it’s a whole hell of a lot smarter.
$599
Rimowa Topas Cabin Multiwheel
Described by many as “the Rolls-Royce of luggage,” no list would be complete without Rimowa. The original Rimowa Topas was introduced half a century ago, and it’s been in continuous development since then. The Rimowa Topas Cabin Multiwheel uses a lightweight and durable aluminum-magnesium alloy shell to protect all of your gear in the hands of the airlines and also in extreme temperatures. The iconic luggage also features an Add-A-Bag holder, patented Multiwheel System, multiple internal dividers and a five-year global warranty. If money is no object, Rimowa makes the best wheeled carry-ons out there.
$980
