The Best Soft-Sided Luggage to Travel With, According to Our Editors

Dimensions: 13.5" x 9" x 24"
Capacity: 41L
Weight: 10 lb.
Warranty: Two year limited warranty

Those looking for a sleek carry-on should look no further than the Dagne Dover Seattle carry-on. Contributor Juliet Izon took the larger carry-on bag to Italy and said this: “Not only did it easily fit all of my day and night outfits, it also got a few admiring stares in the Milan airport as well.” She says the bag has an ample number of pockets and the padded tech sleeve is a great addition. She also loved the smaller pocket located on the back of the suitcase, which is great for storing items like a phone or passport. Izon took the bag, in the Warm Dust color, to St. Barths too. For the tropical trip, she did have to check the suitcase. “It did come back with a few scuff marks” she says. “You might want to opt for darker shades like Carbon if you’d rather not see as much wear and tear.”

Pros: Ample amount of pockets, made with recycled materials
Cons: Lighter color shades can show wear and tear more easily

Dimensions: 9.5" x 14.5" x 23"
Capacity: 47L
Weight: 7.7 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Travelpro is a favorite brand of flight attendants, with suitcases built to withstand daily use and design details that smooth out the in-airport (and in-flight) experience. This particular carry-on, tested by associate commerce director Madison Flager, is great for long weekend trips. While there's just one large compartment inside, an included Versapack adds pockets to the interior flap that can be used to store undergarments, socks, hats, or other accessories. Flager's favorite feature is the slightly hidden exterior pocket, sized to hold a passport, phone, or small wallet, and keep it easily accessible during your travel days. The wheels are also exceptionally smooth—so much so that you'll want to hang on to the bag if you're on a smooth surface, or even a sidewalk that's slightly tilted; if not, it just might roll away from you.

Pros: Gorgeous colors, hidden exterior passport pocket, expandable
Cons: Slightly smaller than other Travelpro carry-on options, super smooth wheels

Dimensions: 10.25” x 15" x 22.75”
Weight: 9.6 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Associate editor Matt Ortile has been carrying the Hartmann tweed carry-on all summer on trips to Oregon, Massachusetts, and even a solo honeymoon to Los Cabos. “I was surprised to see how light this bag is,” says Ortile. “I expected that the tweed shell would give this thing a lot of weight, but it’s no heavier than any other soft-sided carry-on.” He loves that the suitcase comes with a packing cube that fits a suit and minimizes wrinkles. He’s packed the bag for three nights, complete with multiple daily outfit changes and a second pair of shoes. He also claims it rolls nicely on a variety of surfaces, from jet bridges to carpet. “The weight feels evenly distributed, and the handle feels sturdy—it doesn’t twist about when you pull or push it along,” he says. And even though it’s pricey at $800, Ortile says its quality makes it worth the cost.

Pros: Fabulous looks, nice interior size, compression packing cube
Cons: Expensive

Dimensions: 9" x 16" x 23"
Capacity: 38L
Weight: 9.8 lb.
Warranty: 100 day trial, limited lifetime warranty

Away luggage has been a popular choice among travelers for years, thanks to the brand’s iconic colorways and chic design elements. Senior destinations editor Shannon McMahon has used Away's Softside Bigger Carry-On on two plane trips and one road trip, and says the soft-sided suitcase holds up well. “I’d recommend this for a long weekend’s worth of clothes as a rule of thumb,” she says. “I depended on it for some spring weather layers on a weeklong trip to the Pacific Northwest and got by thanks to its expandability—but because of the weight of the bag itself, it can get heavy fast.” McMahon also mentions that the nylon material looks great and holds up well to scratches. The zippers work seamlessly and don’t get caught while opening or closing the bag. She also loves how easily the suitcase moves around. “Its 360-degree wheels swivel and roll seamlessly, and the interior pocket that compresses everything down keeps it from getting front-heavy and toppling over, even with a laptop in the front cushioned sleeve,” she says.

Pros: Sleek design, plenty of pockets and compartments, optional portable charger add-on
Cons: Can be heavy if you’re lifting it into an overhead compartment

Dimensions: 9" x 14" x 22"
Capacity: 35L
Weight: 7.17 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Long weekends just got easier with the Thule Subterra 2 carry-on. Former editor Andrea Edelman traveled with this suitcase to and from New York on three separate occasions, and it worked great for her. She says three to five days' worth of clothing fit into the bag without much fuss. The removable compression panel is great for getting more clothes into the bag without fighting to zip the suitcase up. Even better is how easy the bag moves. “The best part about this bag is how smooth the wheels are,” Edelman says. “It's so easy to wheel around an airport.” The durable material doesn’t get scratched easily, and it has a bit of a shine, making the bag feel more luxe. The bag is easy to pick up, too. "There is a side handle which is actually very unnoticeable, but it makes it easy to pick up and put into an overhead or in the trunk of a car,” says Edelman.

Pros: The quiet rolling spinner wheels make it easy to move through busy spaces
Cons: The exterior half pocket cannot fit a laptop

Dimensions: 9" x 14" x 22"
Capacity: 38L
Weight: 6.8 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Whether you’re going on a tropical getaway or a city weekend, the Travelpro Crew Classic Compact carry-on spinner is a fantastic piece of soft-sided luggage. Alexandra Sanidad, research director at Traveler, used this bag on a trip to the Bahamas and two trips to upstate New York. “One side has a mesh zippered compartment for flatter items, and the other part is a deep section for clothes,” she says. “It also comes with a removable flap-like organizer with two zippered pouches for storing smaller things like toiletries and rolls of socks.” If you’re willing to mix and match outfits, she says you can get a week's worth of clothes packed into the suitcase. “I particularly liked the little flap that you can remove or use to store smaller items. It was nice to keep socks and underwear separate, along with any knick-knacks I wanted to bring,” she says.

Pros: Made from durable fabric that looks new even after travel; expandable zipper can add two more inches of packing space
Cons: Only comes in three colors, can roll away easily

Dimensions: 12" x 14" x 22"
Capacity: 38L
Weight: 6.14 lb.
Warranty: Lifetime warranty and repairs

Adventure travelers looking for a new soft-sided suitcase should check out the Cotopaxi Allpa 38-liter Roller Bag. Flager used this suitcase on a weeklong trip to Panama last year. It fits easily into overhead bins, rideshares, and a shuttle bus. “I was able to fit eight days' worth of clothes inside, though to be fair, I was headed to a warm climate, so it was mostly smaller, lightweight pieces like sundresses, shorts, and tanks,” she says. “If I was packing for a colder climate, I think it’d be best for three or four-day trips.” While she liked how easily the bag rolled on its own, once she put her backpack over the handle, rolling the suitcase was a bit harder. The look of the bag is sportier than her typical carry-on bag, but “it’ll look right at home on an outdoorsy trip or in a place like the Pacific Northwest.” She also says that the bag’s outside compression straps are nice, especially if you’re getting on a smaller-sized plane, as it helps to shrink down the height of the bag when laid flat (or the width when on its side).

Pros: Water-resistant exterior, durable, great for adventure travel
Cons: Only has two wheels

Dimensions: 14" x 9-11.5“ x 22"
Capacity: 37-48L
Weight: 10 lb.
Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

Senior features editor Rebecca Misner says, “As a proud overpacker (I live by: you never know, might as well throw it on in), I’m highly suspicious of carry-on suitcases for any trip longer than about two days or as anything other than overflow from my maxed-out checked bag.” When she tested out the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential carry-on, she was able to fit everything she needed for a three-day trip, including running shoes and large evening dresses. One draw to this bag is that the expander isn’t zippered—instead, you press a button and then pull up on a lever so that the sides automatically expand. Another nice perk is the “SpeedThru” pocket, which holds passports and tickets, and has an orange lining so you know when it's open or closed. This bag’s sleek style is ideal for frequent business travelers.

Pros: Automatic expander, designated pocket for passport and tickets
Cons: Overall look is a bit simple and industrial

Weight: 6 lb.
Dimensions: 21.5" x 14.5" x 9"
Capacity: 35L
Expandable: No
Warranty: Two year limited warranty

If you’re looking for a great road trip suitcase, the Calpack Terra soft-sided carry-on is ideal. Sanidad used this suitcase on a five-day trip to Woodstock, New York. “This did pretty well, especially since I needed to roll it through a mess of snow, ice, and a slush of sand and salt,” she says. Inside, there is a zippered mesh compartment for smaller items, while the larger main compartment has an adjustable strap to hold clothes in place. “Depending on how lightly you like to pack, this can hold a long weekend’s worth of clothing, or up to a week of pants and multiple top combos,” she says. And while the suitcase was great for a long weekend at a friend’s house, it may not be the best option for those who travel often for work or leisure on airplanes since there’s no exterior pocket for larger electronics like laptops.

Pros: Waterproof, 360-degree wheels are like four-wheel drive for icy and snowy grounds
Cons: Lacks thoughtful interior storage; no exterior pocket big enough to accommodate a small laptop

Dimensions: 11" x 19" x 26"
Capacity: 69L
Weight: 12.6 lb.
Warranty: 100 day trial, limited lifetime warranty

The Softside Medium has earned praise from Traveler's manager of global audience development, Abigail Malbon, who used this roomy suitcase for a train trip in the UK. She liked the checked piece of luggage for its compressor panel: “I found it useful to stop the case from bulging so much (especially since it’s soft-sided),” she says. “There’s also a mesh compartment for keeping small items separate and a laundry bag. I appreciated the two separate pockets on the front of the suitcase, which are easily accessible.” The suitcase can easily fit a week's worth of clothes and shoes, she says, and if you open the extender, there’s likely enough room for two weeks. The suitcase is easy to move around too. “It’s super easy to roll, and I don’t think there would ever be a problem with it being too full as there’s a stabilizer that ensures it doesn’t fall even when full,” she says. Even better is that the material used to make the suitcase is water-resistant and can be wiped clean easily.

Pros: Compression pad makes getting in as much as possible easy, cool design stands out
Cons: Can be heavy and hard to lift overhead once packed

Dimensions: 14" x 15" x 30"
Capacity: 92L
Weight: 8.9 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Another favorite of Sanidad's is the Herschel Heritage Soft-shell Medium suitcase, which she used on a trip to San Francisco. The interior of the suitcase features one large compartment with garment straps that pull tight. The luggage flap does have a mesh storage area that can be accessed by zipper. Sanidad praised the "very nice, clean minimal design" of the suitcase. "My bag was Raven Crosshatch (gray), but this version also comes in Ash Rose and Black," she says. The suitcase can fit a week's worth of clothes and rolls along easily. It is easy to pick up thanks to the padded handle on top and metal bar by the wheels. And while it's not the bag to take on rugged adventures, it's “good basic luggage with comfy grab handles,” Sanidad says.

Pros: Easy to travel with, comfortable grab handles
Cons: No dedicated compartments

Dimensions: 15.4" x 16.9" x 32"
Capacity: 110L
Weight: 10.2 lb.
Warranty: Thule limited lifetime guarantee

“This suitcase feels primed for big adventures,” says Megan Spurrell, Traveler’s associate articles editor, who took the suitcase on a two-week expedition cruise around Greenland. She loved the thin but durable exterior fabric, which made the bag lighter than anticipated. “It does have a sturdy skeleton and smooth-as-silk wheels and a handle,” says Spurrell. The bag was able to fit over two weeks' worth of clothes for a cold-weather destination. And even though the inside of the bag is simple, you can stay organized with packing cubes. “This is for the adventure traveler who has the good gear—you know, the latest Arc'teryx jacket or Salomon shoes—and wants a bag that is equal parts rugged and polished,” she says.

Pros: Lightweight and durable
Cons: Lacks interior organization

Dimensions: 14.3” x 12" x 31.5”
Capacity: 86L
Weight: 6.2 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Even though global digital director, Arati Menon, only traveled with this suitcase twice, it held up over multiple legs and excursions around Africa and Fogo Island, Canada. “The reason why I brought it along was because you’re not allowed to bring hard-shell suitcases on most safaris (last-mile connectivity involved a lot of puddle jumpers and helicopters), but because it was a two-week trip, I also needed something that would fit a lot and be practical,” says Menon. “This bridged those worlds.” While it doesn’t have a lot of structure, it’s very roomy and can fit up to 10 days' worth of clothes. After her African safari, Menon wiped the suitcase clean with a wet cloth and soap, and it looked good as new. One thing to note is that it only has two wheels, so the suitcase can be hard to drag, especially if you’re an overpacker. Once you get to your destination, unpacking and folding the suitcase into its zippered pouch is easy to keep it out of sight and out of mind.

Pros: It's a small-space miracle worker
Cons: When really full, wheeling it along on just two wheels takes some getting used to