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    Best Carry-On Luggage Brands

    CR members share their experiences using more than 8,000 carry-on suitcases. They'd take the top brands to the ends of the earth.

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    man pulling his carry on luggage
    The most reliable carry-on suitcase brands produce bags that are very durable and easy to stow.
    Photo: Getty Images

    Owning a great piece of carry-on luggage may not make you feel better about soaring airfares and inflated gasoline prices, but a carry-on that lasts through years of long-haul excursions and overnight stays alike is a money-saving investment. And if that carry-on suitcase rolls effortlessly through airport hallways, onto escalators and stairs, and along grassy stretches and bumpy cobblestones, that’s one less travel hassle to deal with.

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    In fact, wheelability and durability—how well zippers, handles, fabric, and other features hold up—are the most prized features in carry-on luggage, according to a survey of 8,168 Consumer Reports members who own carry-ons. And among the 23 luggage brands members reported owning, only two—the premium names Away and Briggs & Riley—excelled in both attributes.

    “Away and Briggs & Riley got really high ratings for all the attributes in our ratings, especially the key attributes of durability and wheelability,” says Tian Wang, who led our carry-on luggage brand survey. “So it’s not surprising that they’re at the top.”

    To see how other suitcase brands stack up in our survey, check out our comprehensive carry-on luggage brand ratings. If you want more information to help you choose a suitcase that’s right for you, you’ll find it all in our luggage buying guide

    Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.


    Tobie Stanger

    Tobie Stanger

    As a senior editor at Consumer Reports for more than 30 years, Tobie Stanger specialized in helping readers shop wisely, save money, and avoid scams. Her home- and shopping-related beats have included appliance and grocery stores, generators, homeowners and flood insurance, humidifiers, lawn mowers, and luggage. She also covered home improvement products, including flooring, roofing, and siding.