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Are you the kind of traveler who refuses to check in a bag? Or perhaps you'd rather pack more than you need so you'll have more outfit options when you reach your destination? Whatever your travel style, these pieces are perfect for any journey you plan to undertake. They each work as stand-alone pieces for specific trips, and they play well together if you want to mix and match. Here are the best choices for garment bags, carry-on rolling bags, backpacks, duffels, laptop bags, and larger suitcases for check-in.
Away Travel "Bigger" Carry-On With Pocket
This is the bag for you if you loathe checking a suitcase but don't exactly travel light. Interior compartments are sectioned for organizational purposes, and there's a water-resistant laundry bag for keeping dirty/damp clothes separate from your fresh clothing. An added feature is a built-in nylon front pocket for the things you want to keep handy—glasses, headphones, books, etc. Designed for the cabins of major airlines, this is the biggest bag you can carry on.
Tumi International Expandable Carry-On
This roller bag is compact enough to comfortably carry onto the plane, but it's also expandable if you want to stuff it to full capacity. Yet it's durable enough to check in on your return trip if you've bought more than you can lift over your head. Made of a multilayer polycarbonate alloy, it is both light and sturdy, and it comes in five colors, one of which is likely to speak to your personal travel aesthetic.
Travelpro Luggage Crew 50-Inch Rolling Garment Bag
The hands-down-best garment bag for capacity, value, durability and style, this Travelpro rolling garment bag is a not-so-secret favorite of pilots and flight attendants, and we see why. Made of high-quality ballistic nylon with a DuraGuard coating for stain- and scratch-resistance, the bag is backed by a lifetime warranty and has a full capacity of 95 liters.
Patagonia Tres 25L Backpack
There are fancier backpacks out there, as well as flashier ones, but this Patagonia staple cuts to the chase with its efficient and intuitive design. The bag doubles as a briefcase when it's not on your back, and it has the requisite padding for a laptop and/or tablet, but isn't bulked up by the padding in case you decide to leave your technology at home. It has a capacity of 25 liters and mesh on the back and shoulder straps for breathable ventilation. It's not really designed for hiking, but it is water-resistant and would do in a pinch, as it's inherently versatile. It could even be your only bag for a weekend trip if you pack with intention.
Incase EO Travel Backpack
An excellent choice for frequent business travelers, this understatedly stylish laptop bag has room for up to a 17-inch MacBook Pro, as well as a tablet sleeve, tiny pocket, cord passages and everything you could possibly need for any trip or commute. But the biggest sell is the butterfly design of the tech compartment that allows you to protect your electronics as they pass through airport security machines. Another bonus is that the main compartment expands by one third for supplies that you might need for overnight travel.
Schacke Travel Duffel Express Weekender Bag
There's no point in buying a duffel to check or one with wheels—some would even say wheeled duffels are a misnomer—because other bags on the market more cleverly fit those needs. But a classic old-school duffel is still a good bag to have if you want to carry something on that you can easily fill or empty. This Schacke weekender has a grown-up vibe, along with the standard benefits. With 48 liters of storage and a separate shoe pouch, it's ideal for traveling light on your departure and heavy on your return.
Briggs & Riley Baseline Expandable 25-Inch Upright Suitcase
For your heavy-duty packing needs, you'll want a checked bag that's both sturdy and light (so that you don't use up all your weight allotment before you fill it). Beyond that, the two most important features are telescopic handles that fit snugly in the frame and high-quality spinner wheels that allow for one-handed navigation of even the heaviest suitcases. This Briggs & Riley suitcase hits all the marks with a ballistic nylon exterior, a hybrid fiberglass frame, and a CX expansion-compression system increases packing capacity by an impressive 26 percent.
