When you live out of a suitcase, good luggage is essential.
From carry-ons to day bags and checked baggage, I’ve spent a lot of years curating the perfect collection. Travel is so much easier when you have the right kind of bag for the trip. And, of course, quality is key.
You definitely don’t want your bag falling apart at the airport…or anytime when you’re in transit.
Need an upgrade? Here’s a rundown of the best luggage, bags, and backpacks for travel.
Helpful Tip
As travelers around the globe are dealing with way more lost and delayed luggage than ever before, I highly recommend investing in Apple Air Tags to be able to track the location of your items at all times. You can attach them to your keys, backpack, or camera bags, and even slip one into your checked luggage for flights!
Luggage Extras
Even the best suitcase doesn’t organize itself. To keep things sorted, you’ll need to grab a few add-ons, such as Veken packing cubes, clear pouches, and a good passport cover.
Oh, and don’t forget your luggage tag. A lot of luggage looks alike, so grab a tag that screams “that’s MINE!”.
The Best Carry-on Luggage for Travel
When it comes to carry-ons, it’s essential to have the right size bag. For travel within the United States, you can usually take a 22-inch tall carry-on bag. When you are outside of the United States, generally you will be restricted to a 21-inch carry-on.
Since your space is restricted, you’ll want to find a bag that’s easy to organize and maximizes every inch.
My current go-to carry-on bag is The Carry-On Roller in Beige by Béis.
This smooth-rolling bag with a trolley handle that’s cushioned (YES! A beautiful feature, in my opinion), ensures that your hands won’t ever feel the stress of towing luggage.
It has a built-in weight indicator, so if it’s over the allotted capacity for airlines, the indicator will turn red. It’s expandable — meaning there’s a bit more room for souvenirs, and it’s got a brilliant organization system built-in.
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And, one of my favorite parts: it’s stain-resistant!
My bag got a few scuff and dirt marks during our last international flight and I was able to scrub them right off, good as new. I’ve tested a lot of luggage in my days and I’ve got to say I’m seriously impressed (and in love) with my Béis carry-on.
I’ll share more about the matching large suitcase later on, but spoiler alert: they bundle together seamlessly so you’re not struggling through the airport!
Runner Ups for Best Carry-on Luggage
Looking for another option? Here are a few other great solutions:
The OG Bag
Lo & Sons
Timelessly chic and endlessly practical, the OG bag is the perfect companion. This bag has a detachable messenger strap and an ultra-handy back panel sleeve, which secures over luggage handles.
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Carry-On Pro Plus
Monos
Built to endure the harshest of environments, the Monos carry-on is scratch-resistant, super light, and comes with a TSA-compatible combination lock to ensure that all your belongings stay safe throughout your travels.
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Day Bags
Day bags are the perfect way to keep your belongings protected from pickpocketers all while still looking stylish!
The Best Day Bags for Travel
When you’re traveling, you’ll want to upgrade your normal handbag to a day bag that can fit more, and that’s safe from pickpockets. It’s good to have a bag that can carry your camera and all of your daily essentials!
The Bowery
ONA
Made with lush Italian leather, ONA The Bowery has room for a camera and one small lens. If you are looking to go small and stylish, this one is a must-have.
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The Brixton
ONA
For a bit more space, The Brixton is perfect. It’ll hold a DSLR camera with three lenses and up to a 13″ laptop.
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The Best Checked Bag for Travel
When it comes to checked bags, I opt for double-compartment luggage for optimal organization and space. Having different compartments to stash things makes it infinitely easier to know where everything is (and re-pack at the end of a trip).
I mentioned above how much I love my Béis Carry-On — but I honestly think if you’re going to spring for new luggage…
You should really get the Large Check-In Roller to match.
While, yes, the *aesthetic* is a serious selling point, this is actually about functionality, too!
There are built-in straps to attach your carry-on to your large roller bag, and then you can attach a hat to your carry-on. Meaning you can manage all the luggage with one hand. GENIUS!
A few more reasons why I love my Béis Large Check-In Roller:
- Stain-resistant
- Built-in weight limit indicator
- Optional expansion, compression flaps, and pockets galore
- TSA-approved combination lock for peace of mind
- Built-in laundry bag to keep to-be-worn clothes separated from ones that need a wash
Large Check-In Roller
Béis
Baggage claim is about to get chic! This smooth-rolling 29″ luggage holds everything you need.
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Backpacks
Backpacks are perfect for every travel scenario. Whether you’re going backpacking or looking to hold your photography gear, there’s a backpack.
The Best Gear Backpacks for Travel
When you have a ton of tech to haul, a good backpack is in order. For photoshoot days, I like to carry a bag that’ll hold my camera, lenses, drone, laptop, and more.
The Monterey
ONA
With waxed canvas and high-quality leather, the ONA Monterey has a compartment for laptops up to 13 inches, space for up to 4-6 lenses, and room for 1-2 camera bodies. It’s very sturdy and made of durable materials that will last you years on the road!
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Gear Backpack
MOSISO Camera Backpack
This bag will fit a DSLR camera, multiple lenses, a 15″ laptop, removable modular inserts, a tripod holder, and 2 accessory pockets. It also has a back luggage strap so you can attach it to your suitcase.
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The Best Adventure Backpacks
Are you going on a backpacking adventure? You’ll need something sturdy and lightweight to hold all your gear. Here are my top picks!
Hiking Backpack
Osprey
This backpack has a light frame and soft, edgeless padded mesh that offers a breathable surface (and ventilation) and can support large loads. It makes it easy to stay organized for a few weeks.
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Travel Backpack
Osprey
This is a great lightweight backpack for a shorter trip. It has a mesh back panel that allows ventilation and the mesh on the harness and hip belt reduce chafing on your long travel days!
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Do you have a favorite brand of luggage or bag for when you’re on the road? Please share it in the comments below!
Thanks for this post. Most people think low price equals poor quality. Yes, in most cases it does but with a little homework, you can get great stuff at low prices. I am sure most people trying to test the backpacking waters will find this post useful. Cheers!.
hi! although this is an old topic, I just had an experience with my madewell transport tote I felt the need to chime in on. the handles are glued together, as opposed to being sewn shut, and mine have come apart. I reached out to madewell via their twitter help page, since their live chat was down, and they recommended that I take the bag to my local leather specialist to see if it’s something they can repair…I get normal wear and tear, and they are claiming this was a design decision, so the best that they can do is pass along my feedback to their design team. I’m kind of underwhelmed by their response, so I’m back on the market for a leather tote bag I can have embossed with my initials!