The Big Haul wins because it hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. I'm hesitant to buy into marketed “authenticity,” but I have to agree with Away: A dinged-up and well-traveled bag ends up looking pretty sweet. You may be able to baby it a little more if you never check it-don't count on that, because it's common these days for airlines to run out of carry-on room-but it's unlikely that you'll make it more than a few trips with it looking minty new. I generally recommend a stand-alone power bank, but it's a $20 option on the Away, so you may as well get it.Īn aluminum bag will dent and scratch over time, and you should accept that before you splash down big money on one. There's also an option for an integrated power bank that's accessible through a flip-up door near the telescoping handle. Two organizer panels inside keep your stuff from shifting around, and there's a stowable interior laundry bag to keep dirty clothes off your clean clothes. The metal is thick, and the fixtures are solid Away didn't cheap out on the materials. Away's suitcase is not exactly affordable, but it is attainable ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends). Despite this, it's made better than most everything else at this price and is your best bet for a cheaper suitcase.įor a long while, if you wanted an aluminum suitcase, you were going to spend four figures. I also worry about the durability of that handle and the fabric slit at the bottom of the suitcase that replaced the Maxlite 4's bottom-side handle. The aluminum extensions for the handle have a tendency to stick, and the Maxlite 5's main handle is only single-stitched. Cheaper suitcase manufacturers will skimp on the wheels and pick ones that have too much rolling resistance. The wheels also rolled nicely on both the spinner and roll-aboard versions. The zippers are also quite strong and don't tend to get stuck, which is a big problem with cheap suitcases. The exterior toiletry pocket is a nice touch for when you go through security and need to take out your liquids. Still, it’s very light for a rolling suitcase. At 5.4 pounds, it's “up to a half-pound lighter” than the older model, but it seems to be lighter because of cost-cutting measures. The Maxlite 5 is still good but not perfect. The Travelpro Maxlite 4 was a top pick of mine. It's heavy but very tough and full-featured. The aluminum handle extensions are solid, smooth, and don’t get hung up. There are lots of pockets, and the handles are nicely padded, securely attached, and … kind of tight. The Crew Versapack is heavy at 7.9 pounds for the roll-aboard version, but it hasn’t been struck by Travelpro’s cost-cutting the way the Maxlite line has been. You can buy an Anker power bank and stuff it in there, and it'll probably work better than the ones other suitcase companies build into their bags. I give points to Travelpro for adding a pocket for a battery bank, with a pass-through for a cable. I’m always worried about a bottle breaking and soaking all my clothes when there’s not a way to separate items. It has a sealed, clear-plastic pocket for toiletries that’s removable if you have to go through a security screening. It comes with a single compartment module that's good for separating dirty laundry, and others are available separately: one that folds into thirds to keep suits and shirts wrinkle-free (what's called a suiter), and another made of several small compartments. The Travelpro Versapack system consists of modules that zip into the lidded half of the main compartment. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated January 2023: We've updated pricing and retailer availability, added new bags like the July Checked, Osprey Ozone, REI Co-Op Stuff, and Eagle Creek Caldera, and included some new travel accessories, such as the Incase MacBook Sleeve and Zugu iPad Case. Need a bag for your passport or groceries? Don't forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Recycled Bags, for more picks. Whether you're slinging a duffel into a car trunk for a weekend trip or packing for a whirlwind jaunt across Asia, we've got you covered. Make one thing easy on yourself and bring good luggage that's lightweight, rolls easily or fits comfortably on your back, and won't split open en route to your destination.įor all but the longest trips, you can usually get by with a carry-on bag. These days, traveling is a bonkers circus of marathon flight delays, rental-car price gouging, and wildly shifting weather patterns that make the stock market look like a model of stability.
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