10 Best Carry-On Suitcases for Air Travel (2018)

Any experienced traveler knows that checking bags should be avoided at all costs. A good carry-on bag lets one take everything they need, is durable, and in most cases, has wheels to make pulling a light load relatively easy. With carry on bags, life can be simpler, but one downside to bringing a bag on the plane is that sometimes, the overhead compartments get full. If you’re trying to avoid this situation, check out number eight on our list, an under seat bag.

Here are the top 10 best carry-on suitcases for air travel from lowest to highest price.

1. Olympia Luggage 22″

Material Polyester | Height 22″ | Width 12″ | Wheels Metal with ball-bearing |

For those who need an affordable yet solid quality rolling bag, the Olympia 22″ offers great value. Boasting a variety of colors, convenient straps for securing additional baggage, and many pockets for storing the small stuff, it’s a great bag for getting your stuff where it needs to go- big and small. One minor drawback is that the handle at the top doesn’t lock. Also, some users found the lack of rotation on the wheels to be annoying; this can make taking corners hard, but it’s not too big of a deal.

Price: $31.95 (39 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Olympia Luggage 22″ here.

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Pros:

• 8 pockets for storing many tiny objects
• High-quality zippers
• U-Shape top opening system for easy access
• Praised as larger than it looks
• Lightweight, soft exterior

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Cons:

• Handle doesn’t extend high enough for some users
• Wheels don’t rotate
• Handle doesn’t lock at the top

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Find more Olympia Luggage 22″ information and reviews here.

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2. U.S Traveler Rio Two Piece

Material Polyester | Height 22″ | Width 9″ | Wheels 2 wheels |

With a surprisingly large capacity, variety of colors, and great durability, the US Traveler Rio offers great value. Its two-piece should allow you to get from A to B without having to break your back — or your bank. The smaller bag conveniently latches to the larger bag for simplicity and ease in transportation.

Price: $40.41 (10 percent off MSRP)

Buy the U.S Traveler Rio Two Piece here.

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Pros:

• Praised as durable, and with a surprisingly large capacity
• Should fly through any airline without an issue
• Users found the value and size to be on point
• Nice color; small piece conveniently mounts

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Cons:

• Warranty is basically 30 days from Amazon
• Some say that bag has a strange odor

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Find more U.S Traveler Rio Two Piece information and reviews here.

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3. Travel Select Luggage Two Piece

Material 40% 2-tone 1200d polyester, 60% polyester | Height 22″ | Width 9″ | Wheels 2 wheels |

This attractive two-piece set boasts a dual material build of 1200D polyester and normal polyester. It has high-quality zippers and plenty of pockets to hold variously sized objects. It’s praised as durable and users love the quality considering the low price. One user, however, did have an issue with the quality of the interior, claiming it offered little protection, just something to be aware of if you’re transporting sensitive or fragile goods.

Price: $44.99 (10 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Travel Select Luggage Two Piece here.

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Pros:

• Made of superior polyester
• Push-button retractable handle system
• Front zipper pocket with high-quality zippers
• Praised as very durable
• Great value for a low price

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Cons:

• One user had an issue with the quality of the inside
• Smaller than some expected

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Find more Travel Select Luggage Two Piece information and reviews here.

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4. AmazonBasics Travel Backpack

Material Polyester | Height 21.5″ | Width 14″ (5.5″ deep) | Wheels No wheels |

AmazonBasics is a great brand often praised for its reliability and affordability. This bag is no exception. Users love its high-quality laptop sleeve, noticeable appearance, and variety of straps. The bag also expands to allow for extra storage. That said, this bag’s size is its one shortcoming, some found it to be too big. Note that it’s definitely not the size of a normal backpack and considerably more blocky. Still, for lighter loads, most will be fine, and happy with this convenient bag.

Price: $49.99

Buy the AmazonBasics Travel Backpack here.

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Pros:

• Zippered laptop sleeve
• Made out of high-quality polyester
• Noticeable appearance
• Comfortable shoulder straps and back cushioning
• Expandable storage is helpful
• Includes straps to distribute weight load

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Cons:

• Does not include water bottle holder
• One user found bag to be too large

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Find more AmazonBasics Travel Backpack information and reviews here.

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5. Olympia Deluxe Fashion Roller

Material 100% Polyester | Height 17″ | Width 14″ | Wheels 2 wheels |

For those who want a fashion statement and a practical bag, the Olympia Deluxe offers both in a chic yet practical statement. With great construction and solid wheels, users love it as baggage and some preferred it for a book bag. Its exterior is water-resistant and it includes a slide-out luggage tag. It’s a great bag for people who like the look, but want to tote their stuff around comfortably and easily.

Price: $51.16

Buy the Olympia Deluxe Fashion Roller here.

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Pros:

• Praised as durable and long-lasting
• Telescoping handle easy to push and pull up and down
• Great book bag
• Beautiful look
• Material is water-resistant
• Built-in slide out luggage tag

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Cons:

• Top straps too long for some users
• Larger than some users expected
• Does not fit under airplane seat

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Find more Olympia Deluxe Fashion Roller information and reviews here.

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6. Rockland Melbourne Expandable

Material 100% plastic | Height 22.05″ | Width 9.25″ | Wheels Multidirectional, black or silver |

With an expandable interior and a simple yet refined exterior, the Rockland Melbourne has it all. It’s great for trips where one will need a carry-on, but it’s also nice that it can stretch out, to accommodate extra goods for those longer journeys. Another perk here is its scuff-resistant exterior, and rotating wheels, making moving about the country easy on the arms.

Price: $56.43

Buy the Rockland Melbourne Expandable here.

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Pros:

• Lightweight yet and durable material
• Great for flights; ideal size for carry-on
• Praised as good quality with solid capacity
• Great for trips, scuff-resistant

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Cons:

• Warranty does not cover replacement of wheels
• One user had an issue with the scent of the bag

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Find more Rockland Melbourne Expandable information and reviews here.

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7. Rockland 20 inch Polycarbonate Carry-on

Material 100% plastic | Height 13″ | Width 20″ | Wheels 4 wheels |

This convenient, visible, and solidly-sized bag is great for those wanting an eye-popping solution to their baggage problem. It’s machine-washable, and a great carry-on. That said, some users did have issues with its exterior, claiming it wasn’t as rigid as they expected. Still, for the average traveler moving clothes and like items, this bag isn’t just practical, it’s stylish as well (that is if its look suits your tastes).

Price: $63.6

Buy the Rockland 20 inch Polycarbonate Carry-on here.

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Pros:

• Machine washable for quick cleaning
• Praise as attractive and sturdy
• Users found it to be a good size
• Unique look makes it easy to see on the baggage carousel
• Great size for 3-4 day vacay

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Cons:

• Handle gave out for one user after some use
• One user found shell to not be hard enough, goods seemed vulnerable

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Find more Rockland 20 inch Polycarbonate Carry-on information and reviews here.

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8. Travelon Wheel Underseat Carry-On

Material Microfiber | Height 13.5″ Long, 9″ deep | Width 14″ | Wheels 2 wheels |

If you need a bag that can fit beneath your feet, Travelon has the answer for you. With a water bottle pocket, front organizer, and a self-standing rigid exterior, it’s a perfect balance of useful and affordable. While it offers less space than other carry-ons, there is a huge peace of mind in knowing that one won’t have to worry about fighting over a bin.

Price: $93.85

Buy the Travelon Wheel Underseat Carry-On here.

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Pros:

• Water bottle pocket, front organizer
• Fits easily underneath airplane seats
• Praised as perfect size and weight for carry-on travel
• Bag is self-standing
• Water bottle holder can come in handy

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Cons:

• A few users had issues with the wheels
• One user found bag to be a bit too small

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Find more Travelon Wheel Underseat Carry-On information and reviews here.

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9. Samsonite DK3 Spinner

Material 85% polyester, 15% Nylon | Height 20.5″ | Width 14.75″ (7.5″ deep) | Wheels 4 rotating wheels |

This Samsonite bag is stunning, durable, and has high quality, self-healing zippers. It fits nicely into any overhead bin and is praised as an excellent value. The interior offers many pockets and compartments for easy storage of a variety of goods. That said, one minor drawback was that some users reported its handle as being clunky. Others found it larger than expected. Beyond these minor issues, most love it for its great looks, great build quality, and superb value.

Price: $99.99

Buy the Samsonite DK3 Spinner here.

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Pros:

• Great durability and stylish appearance
• Praised as excellent value
• Users report that fits nicely into overhead bin
• Zippers are self-healing
• Wheels are high quality

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Cons:

• Some users found bag larger than expected
• Handle could be higher quality

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Find more Samsonite DK3 Spinner information and reviews here.

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10. Barracuda Smart Collapsible Carry-On

Height 22″ | Width 14″ (9″ deep) | Wheels 4 wheels |

For those who need a piece of baggage that can do that much more, the Barracuda offers an outstanding conventional bag experience with a few extras that take it to the next level. For one, it has a built-in 10,000 MaH battery capable of charging all of your USB devices. Another nice perk that some found very useful: it has a laptop shelf so one can perch and use their laptop without finding a table at the airport. While this bag is surely overkill for many users, for practical types who need constant access to their electronics, it may be the only way to go. Some other nice features include an extremely luxurious handle and it’s completely collapsible, for easy storage. It’s not a bag for the masses, but if it sounds handy, it can easily be worth the money.

Price: $279

Buy the Barracuda Smart Collapsible Carry-On here.

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Pros:

• Built-in 10,000 MAH charge for USB devices
• 360-degree rotating handle
• Completely collapsible for easy storage
• Laptop and beverage holder gives bag “extra shelf space” at the airport
• Praised as practical, functional, and handy for frequent travelers

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Cons:

• One user had an issue with the quality of the handle
• Battery back must be out when in use, not that convenient

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Find more Barracuda Smart Collapsible Carry-On information and reviews here.

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Still looking for the right carry on bag? Browse more top-rated carry on bags and luggage on Amazon.

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