Away luggage review: The 8 best Away suitcases and travel accessories we've tested

One of the first things my husband and I registered for when we got married was a set of Away's carry-on bags — he opted for the standard-size carry-on while I upgraded to the Bigger Carry-On. He loves his Away suitcase's smart details: a built-in lock, an interior compression system, and a fold-away laundry bag. The smaller size is particularly helpful on smaller international airlines: on a Ryanair flight in Italy, he didn't have to check this bag, but I got dinged with my Bigger Carry-On. We're both a little upset that the brand did away with the option to add a removable battery. I thought that really set Away luggage apart from others, but I can see why they did, since airlines are really cracking down on having batteries in the luggage hold and overhead bins. —Lauren Savoie, deputy editor

I have always hated packing, especially the dreaded experience of trying to squish my clothes and shoes down to zip up my suitcase. Using Away's Carry-On showed me that packing can be easy and even fun. The Carry-On comfortably fits five days of outfits with room for more. As a fan of all things bright and unique, I also love the range of colors that Away offers. The Away Carry-On is a luggage staple that won't let you down. —Kinsley Searles, Insider Reviews contributor

Read our full Away Carry-On review.

While my husband opted for the smaller Carry-On, I sized up to the Bigger Carry-On because I tend to travel with more stuff. It's not a dramatic difference in the sizing over the Carry-On, but I love that it has all the same features and offers me a bit more room when packing. I actually recently had the opportunity to exchange the bag under the brand's warranty program when the lining started to tear after 100+ flights with the bag. I found the process really simple: customer support responded to my request within 24 hours, and after I sent photos of the damage, they sent me a brand new bag (I got to choose the color). All I had to do was ship back my damaged bag once the new bag arrived, and Away provided the shipping label at no charge to me. The whole experience was incredibly positive and made me feel really great about the quality of the brand. —Lauren Savoie, deputy editor

As a notorious overpacker, I've experienced many trips that involve me attempting to maneuver several suitcases down large flights of stairs, through crowded airports, and onto small overnight trains. So it's safe to say that I need all of the space I can possibly get when traveling. I purchased the Bigger Carry-On at the same time as the smaller Carry-On and I love that the bigger version offers slightly more space while still being able to fit in the overhead compartments of most major airlines. I've already taken this carry-on with me on several small getaways over the last year and can't wait to travel with it internationally. —Maliah West, former home & kitchen reviews fellow

After trying out this bag in our latest round of luggage testing, it's my new go-to. I love that the expansion features allow me to still travel with only a carry-on, but not have to worry about fitting souvenirs and other items I pick up in my travels into my suitcase. The expansion panels also make it much easier to close the bag: I haven't had to wrestle the suitcase closed like I usually do. Instead, I typically pack it with the expansion open, and then zip up the expansion panel when the suitcase is fully closed. I think this will result in a lot less wear and tear on the bag from overpacking. Keep in mind that you may be asked to check the bag when it's fully expanded, though this has yet to happen to me. —Lauren Savoie, deputy editor

I love this carry-on so much that I named it the best aluminum luggage in our guide to the best carry-on luggage. Built to last, this bag is seriously sturdy and has come out of several trips completely unscathed. What most impressed me, though, was the huge amount of packing space. I took this bag on a weekend ski trip and was able to fit my long underwear, sweaters, ski pants, gloves, and a light jacket on just one side. I easily fit a weekend's worth of everyday clothes on the other side. The only downside is the weight. At just under 11 pounds, this bag is heavy, so I tend to use it more for car and train trips. —Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

I've been using The Large Away suitcase for about five years as my main checked bag. Though I tend to try to fit everything in a carry-on whenever possible, there are times that's just not feasible, and this bag has come in seriously handy for everything from monthlong treks through Asia to big ski trips in Europe when I needed to fit all my gear, plus my clothes. Checked bags in particular need to be durable since they get tossed around, and though it has a few marks and scratches, this suitcase has held up really well. I also like that the Carry-On nests inside it for easy storage.  —Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

Away's sleek Pet Carrier has a roomy interior fitted with a plush sherpa mat and privacy screens, and plenty of pocket space on the exterior to hold essentials. Its padded shoulder strap is comfortable and you can slip its luggage strap over the handle of a carry-on for easy rolling through an airport or train station. Best of all, this carrier is as safe as they come: it's been both crash-tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety. I ended up naming it the best for car travel in our guide to the best cat carrier. —Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews contributor

The Everywhere Bag is a fantastically flexible addition to Away's luggage line-up. I have used it as a work tote, a personal item, and an overnight bag. This bag's versatility is incredible: features like a padded shoulder strap and luggage sleeve make it equally at home at the gym or at the airport. Whatever you use it for, I definitely recommend this bag for both daily use and traveling. It lives up to its name: you can take it everywhere. —Kinsley Searles, Insider Reviews contributor

I'll admit it: I always thought packing cubes were pointless. I stubbornly stuck with this idea for my entire life until it was time to pack for a monthlong trip for my destination wedding. There were just too many things to organize, so I tried Away's Insider Packing Cubes Set.

With six options in varying sizes, I was able to use each cube for a type of clothing — dresses used a large cube, swimsuits a smaller one. During the course of this trip, I stayed in seven hotels, and seven times the cubes not only helped me find what I wanted to wear, but made it easier to pack up quickly when it was time to move on. And, when I overpacked and had to remove items from my Large (see above), all I had to do was pull out a cube and throw it in my carry-on to remove weight quickly. For long trips especially, this packing cube convert thinks these are totally worth it. —Emily Hochberg, former travel editor

Similar to Emily, I used to be a packing cube skeptic, but now I don't travel anywhere — even for 1-2 night trips — without them. Away's are flexible and stretchy and keep all my different clothes neatly organized. I own them in black, but if I could go back I'd choose one of the lighter colors so it's easier to spot the contents behind the mesh cover. —Connie Chen, former senior reporter 

As a digital nomad, I've found Away's packing cubes to be an easy way to stay organized. They are spacious and feature a sturdy mesh lining to keep your clothes fresh (and also to let you see what's inside). Best of all, these bags can really fit a lot of clothes. I own the set of four, which comes with two slim and two wide cubes and is just right for most of my trips. Together they weigh just 0.32 kg, so they don't add much weight and can be stored flat. — Jamie Ditaranto, Insider Reviews contributor 

Read our Away packing cube review.