(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (about 456 ratings), pooled across several color listings.
Wirecutter's best hard-sided pick and Good Housekeeping's best overall: excellent wheels and a scuff-resistant shell, but there are no outside pockets, the clamshell is fussier to pack, and Away cut its lifetime warranty to five years for bags bought from April 14, 2026.
Top complaints
- Warranty cut to five years
Wirecutter reports that bags bought on or after April 14, 2026 get five years of damage coverage plus one guaranteed replacement, then paid repairs, and says it is reconsidering its recommendation.
Source: Wirecutter - No outside pockets, fussy clamshell
Wirecutter says it lacks external pockets and a suiter, and the two-half clamshell can be frustrating to pack and unpack.
Source: Wirecutter - Flimsy-feeling handle, shell more breakable
Some Good Housekeeping testers wished the telescoping handle were sturdier. Wirecutter says the polycarbonate shell is ultimately more likely to break than nylon, and CNN notes glossy polycarbonate collects scratches over time.
What owners love
- Top-tier wheels and zippers
Wirecutter says the wheels are noticeably better than other hard-sided bags and uses YKK zippers. Smooth ride is the top positive in Amazon's review summary.
- Resists scuffs and dents
Good Housekeeping found it resisted scuffs in scratch tests and dents in drop tests. Wirecutter says it showed fewer scratches than hard-sided rivals over years of use.
Source: Good Housekeeping, Wirecutter - Light and easy to lift
Good Housekeeping says it is lighter than many soft-sided bags and has top, side and underside grab handles; testers found it easy to pop into overhead bins.
Source: Good Housekeeping
- You want outside pockets or a suit folder
- A lifetime warranty matters to you
- You often overpack (the Flex version expands)
- Hard-shell fans who want smooth wheels
- Short trips and long weekends
- Lifting easily into overhead bins (underside grab handle)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Best hard-sided pick: wheels as smooth as any tested and a resilient shell; flaws are no outside pockets, a fussy clamshell, and a new five-year warranty it is reviewing.
- Good Housekeeping: Best overall: spacious, durable in lab tests and easy to maneuver; some testers wanted a sturdier handle.
- CNN Underscored: Not a pick (tested the Bigger Carry-On): balanced and easy to lift, but rivals have caught up for less, and it scratches over time.