ILLUSTRATION: Alex Green
To help you find the perfect suitcase for your next work trip, editors from Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED teamed up to test and select the best carry-on luggage for business travelers. Below, you’ll find our top picks: long-lasting, tech-forward suitcases built to keep up with you, wherever you’re headed.
How We Tested
Each of these carry-ons was road-tested by an editor from Condé Nast Traveler or WIRED, with durability, size, weight, and aesthetics in mind. The ones that made the cut can comfortably hold several outfits, shoes, and essentials without tipping the scales, because you need to be able to lift your bag into the overhead bin with ease. We also prioritized smart organizational features and, of course, good looks—especially important when traveling in business class.
The Zipper Carry-On Max with Front Pocket
Dimensions: 23″ x 15″ x 10.3″
Weight: 8.1 lb.
Durable, roomy, and elegantly designed, Arlo Skye’s Carry-On Max is a favorite among frequent flyers. Traveler’s associate articles director Megan Spurrell calls it her all-time favorite carry-on, and readers have voted Arlo Skye the best luggage brand for two years running. “I take it as a carry-on for most flights—from weekend trips to weeklong getaways—because it’s surprisingly roomy, with an organized front pocket that I can easily stow essentials like my laptop, book, and magazines in,” says Spurrell. It also includes a removable charger (USB-C and USB-A ports), two shoe bags, a laundry bag, and a cotton storage cover.
Pros: Laptop-protective front pocket
Cons: Limited color options
Away The Softside Bigger Carry-On
Dimensions: 21.9″ x 15″ x 9.1″
Weight: 9.2 lb.
Away’s latest nylon carry-on is as functional as it is beautiful. It opens drawbridge-style for easier access in your hotel room compared to the usual clamshell design. The striations on the front expertly conceal a spacious front laptop pocket and a small zipper pocket, and the interior has ample storage as well. In place of compression straps, there’s a double-sided compression panel with pockets on the front and back, as well as a large pocket on the underside of the lid. “Everything about this bag is designed to move smoothly through the airport,” says WIRED senior commerce editor Adrienne So. She especially appreciated the stabilizer, which prevents tipping—even when topped with an overstuffed tote.
Pros: Stylish, excellent interior organization, easy to maneuver
Cons: Heavier than hard-shell options
Weight: 8.6 lb.
Looking for sophisticated luggage for your next business trip? Carl Friedrik delivers. This sleek, trunk-style carry-on is designed for luxury travelers who value aesthetics and performance in equal measure. Traveler’s associate editor Matt Ortile has has brought this carry-on with him for trips to Saudi Arabia, Portofino, Washington DC, and Paris (twice). “I’m a serial overpacker and this works for anywhere from two to five days,” he says. “Lighter packers could easily stretch it to a week, especially with just a carry-on and personal item.” Looks aside, the standout feature here is the way this trunk-style suitcase rolls. “It moves beautifully, smoothly rolling over hard floors and carpet alike,” says Ortile.
Pros: Smooth-gliding wheels, very sturdy
Cons: Heavier than average
Weight: 8.2 lb.
Casetify has brought the durability of its popular scratch- and scuff-resistant phone cases to its first piece of luggage, the Bounce carry-on. Traveler’s commerce writer Paris Wilson has taken it with her on a few flights with no issues and appreciated its durability getting down the uneven cobblestone streets of NYC’s Financial District. She fit five days’ worth of clothes—jeans, sweats, sneakers, hoodies—inside with ease. “The outer shell feels sturdier than my other hard-shell carry-ons, and the reinforced edges help it withstand bumps and scrapes,” Wilson says. The scratch-resistant exterior and AirTag pocket make it a smart pick for tech-savvy travelers.
Pros: Scratch-resistant, built-in AirTag pocket
Cons: On the heavy side
Weight: 9.7 lb.
Briggs & Riley is famous for its unbeatable lifetime warranty: if it breaks, they fix it—no questions asked. Of course, this warranty depends on you living near a Briggs & Riley authorized dealer. So has owned hers for almost 20 years. Whenever a zipper pull gets broken, it’s easy to bring it in and get it fixed promptly (and for free). The Baseline CX also has an interior garment folder, which used to be a standard feature but is now surprisingly rare. “This is the suitcase that my husband and I use whenever we have to bring a suit or formal wear for an event,” says So. “The handle is also the sturdiest, most comfortable one that I’ve ever used, and the YKK zippers are top of the line. It’s expandable, and even when you stuff it to the brim and sit on the top to get it to shut, I’ve only had to replace the zippers once. I’ve dragged this suitcase everywhere from Bodrum, Turkey to Reykjavik, Iceland, and the nylon shows only the slightest bit of wear.”
Pros: Industry-best warranty, includes garment folder
Cons: Heavy
Weight: 9.5 lb.
The reason you get a clamshell aluminum suitcase like the Rimowa is for security. While anyone can slash through the zipper or even the fabric of a soft-shell bag, a classic aluminum suitcase uses clamps that are much harder to break. It also seals shut to prevent water from leaking in through the fabric. There are other aluminum suitcases, but only one, as instantly recognizable as Rimowa. WIRED’s commerce director Martin Cizmar found that the seal was tight enough to keep his belongings dry on a wet tarmac and the wheels were very balanced. And like all Rimowas, the dings of travel only add to its classic patina.
Pros: Extremely secure, water-resistant, ages beautifully
Cons: Baggage handlers target these for kicking, but that makes it look even better
Weight: 8.8 lb.
Peak Design, the bag company beloved by techies everywhere, ventured into suitcases this year with the Roller Pro. While most direct-to-consumer bags are made in the same factories, the Roller Pro is purpose-built from the ground up. It works either as a standard carry-on or a large camera bag with an extra-large camera cube insert. So is a new fan of the Roller Pro for its plethora of thoughtful features. The Roller Pro has a “drawbridge” opening, so you open the top instead of swinging it open like a clamshell. The carbon fiber handle is smaller than a normal handle; the wheels are positioned farther towards the corners. It’s expandable with a zip, going from about 34 liters to 39 liters. Plus, the shell is a hybrid soft-shell/hard-shell with Peak Design’s sleek, matte VersaPack fabric that looks good no matter where you take it and when.
Pros: Expandable, great for camera gear
Cons: Warranty could be better
Weight: 6.3 lb.
A solid choice for those who prefer to travel with only a carry-on, Travelpro’s Maxlite Air carry-on is exceptionally lightweight and easy to maneuver, even when packed to the brim. Former Condé Nast Traveler editor Kayla Brock recommends it for overpackers who want a little extra wiggle room; it’s expandable, so you can squeeze in any souvenirs you picked up along the way. Brock has brought it to North Dakota, Europe, New York, Zanzibar, Seattle, Jamaica, Chicago, Colorado, and the Cayman Islands, packing for as long as three weeks with it—and always having enough room. “Out of all the suitcases I have, this is my absolute favorite and without a doubt the one that I take with me on a trip,” says Brock.
Pros: Lightweight, expandable
Cons: Harder to clean when scuffed
Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner
Dimensions: 23″ x 15″ x 10″
Weight: 6.4 lb.
For something simple yet supremely functional, Samsonite’s Outline Pro carry-on spinner is a great choice. It’s one of the most lightweight on our list and is expandable (always a plus in our book!). Traveler’s associate social media manager Emily Adler brought it on two road trips last summer and appreciated how nicely it rolled when full. “It’s very sturdy, well-made, and gets the job done,” says Adler. This carry-on also proves you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on quality luggage—with a price tag under /products/66e810d6ae55de936b7eff5900, it’s a smart and affordable pick.
Pros: Lightweight, smooth-rolling, budget-friendly
Cons: Basic design
Weight: 7.9 lb.
British travel brand Antler designed its Heritage range by taking inspiration from some of its most classic designs, and the result is the brand’s most premium offering yet. Each Heritage Cabin carry-on is hand-built, and comes with an aluminium frame with reinforced corners to give it more protection against impact. There’s attention to detail across the board here, from its soft-close handle to its secure TSA-approved double latch closure, and there’s even replaceable wheels—a first for the brand—which is all backed up by Antler’s lifetime warranty.
The interior offers a 50/50 split, a compression pad, and various pockets, including one for your laundry. It’s well-sized, which makes it a safe bet for almost all airline carry-on requirements, but double-check before travel. Verity Burns, WIRED’s associate gear editor, found it a great choice for a long weekend in the Scottish Highlands: “It looks great, rolls well, and had enough space to pack carefully for all four seasons, which was much needed across our four days there.”
Pros: Stylish, smooth-rolling, backed by lifetime warranty
Cons: Limited color options
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