Best Black Friday Deals on Luggage

This CR Recommended carry-on from Delsey could be a good option if you’re looking for soft-sided luggage for your next trip. It earns top marks in our tests for impact resistance and safety, so you won’t have to worry if it gets checked at the gate. We also rated it very highly in our tests for usability, ergonomics, carrying and pulling, and construction quality.

Herschel makes one of our favorite duffel bags, and its carry-on offering, the Heritage Hardshell, also performed well in our tests. The Heritage is a great choice if you’re looking for a less expensive hardshell that will stand out in an airport. With the Herschel tag on the outside, it’ll be easier to recognize than other plain luggage. It also got the highest scores for construction quality and safety, and performed well in our impact resistance test.

The Swiss Gear Sion 6283 is a softshell carry-on suitcase that performs exceptionally well in impact resistance testing. It also achieves fairly high scores across usability, construction quality, and safety tests. Compared to other carry-on luggage we tested, the Swiss Gear is reasonably priced as well. It’s expandable, featuring a luggage tag and a telescopic handle.

The soft-sided TravelPro Platinum Elite Carry-on is a costly investment, but it performs well in all our tests—scoring near top-level in every category except for impact resistance, where it receives our highest score. And now’s a great time to invest, considering it’s on sale for more than $100 less than its usual price. Additionally, the TravelPro features a dedicated side pocket with a USB cable, allowing you to store and connect your own power bank to the built-in charging port located on the back of the bag.

At 5.7 pounds, the American Tourister Wavebreaker 20" Spinner is one of the lightest hard-shell carry-on in our ratings, but it’s a sturdy traveler. We found it to have top-quality construction, and it performed admirably in our evaluations of impact resistance, ergonomics, design, and safety. But with just two interior pockets, no built-in lock, and no expanding middle, it’s only so-so for usability. Its telescoping handle has only two positions, which contributes to a middling score for carrying and pulling. The manufacturer’s listed dimensions of 23x18x11 inches—with its telescopic handle stowed—are a bit bigger than the carry-on dimension requirements of most domestic airlines.

The Tumi hard-sided carry-on may be a good option for those looking for luggage that will be easy to spot on the baggage carousel. Its textured design is a bit different from other carry-ons, and the gray color available at Macy’s and Abt Electronics isn’t too flashy but will still stand out in a sea of mostly black bags. It gets top marks for impact resistance and construction quality, and it did almost as well in CR’s tests for usability, ergonomics, and safety. It had middling results for carrying and pulling.

This affordable Herschel duffel bag comes in fun, youthful colors and patterns (tie-dye! florals!). It’s water-resistant, light and easy to carry, and simple—no confusing bells and whistles here. A separate compartment for shoes keeps your clothes clean, but other than that, this is a straightforward, affordable bag to get you from point A to point B. There are a few colorways currently on sale, too.

The Bagail 8Set Packing Cubes won over CR’s evaluator with the sheer number and variety of cubes it offers. In addition to three packing cubes (medium, large, and extra large) that have mesh on the top panels to help you identify the contents inside quickly, it also comes with two zipper bags, a cosmetics bag, a shoe bag, and a drawstring bag that you can use to separate your dirty laundry. The extra organizational features were ultimately what gained Bagail the edge over the other packing cubes CR tried.

There are 18 different color options, but not every variation is on sale for as low as the price highlighted. Check the coupon box to get the full savings.

Veken Packing Cubes provide great bang for your buck, though they are a few dollars more than we’ve seen recently. This set has the largest capacity among the cubes we tried, and you get eight different ones to stay organized: four sized small, medium, large, and extra large; a laundry bag; a shoe bag; a toiletries bag; and an accessories bag. The laundry bag, in particular, is on the larger side, which can be a real asset when you’re on a longer trip.

Prices may vary by color.

The CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack has two quick-release straps that allow you to attach a rain slicker or another light outer garment, and its rear pocket has decent internal organization, where you can store an energy bar, snacks, and a multitool. Keep in mind: Its reservoir—smaller than some others we tried—is harder to dry out, and sometimes its drinking tube would kink. Otherwise, it’s a great pared-down pack for a young person.

The Cabeau Evolution S3 offers snug, cushy support with memory foam and an adjustable clasp that keeps your head from flopping mid-flight. Its built-in seat straps and earplug pocket add convenience, though the bulky design and warmth may not suit everyone. Still, for long-haul travelers who want structure and comfort, it’s a solid pick.

Silk! It’s real and so cozy. The Alaska Bear blocked all light without pressing down uncomfortably against our evaluator’s nose. We tried the single-strap version, which kept the mask in place for most of our evaluators throughout the night. It felt luxurious despite the price.

The Mzoo typically costs $23, and its sale price tends to hover around $20, so this is a great deal. It’s also well-designed and effective at blocking light for most face shapes and head sizes. CR’s team of evaluators had a wide range of preferences and needs, and yet most agreed that the Mzoo mask was a great option.

The She’s Birdie personal alarm was our favorite of the safety products we tested for solo travel. It takes up about as much space as a tube of lipstick, and it’s easy to grab from your bag. To activate the alarm, you remove the top of the device from the main body, which triggers a piercing chirping sound and a flashing light. To stop the sound and light, you replace the top of the alarm back on the body. There are no buttons on the Birdie, and the two replaceable CR2032 batteries last “approximately 40 continual minutes,” according to the brand’s FAQ page.

This personal alarm from Kosin is similar in function to the Birdie, except that it’s smaller, weighing about one ounce—similar to a Tamagotchi, remember Tamagotchi?—and triggering it requires pulling a pin on the side, as opposed to separating it from its base. It also doubles as a small flashlight. (Unlike the She’s Birdie alarm, the light on the Kosin doesn’t go on when the alarm is triggered; instead, it goes on when you press a button.) You can only buy the Kosin in packs of six.