(checked 2026-10-10)Based on about 19,302 ratings; the listing likely pools several colors and sizes.
Travel + Leisure's best overall carry-on and Good Housekeeping's best lightweight pick: roomy, light and often on sale, but the shell scratches quickly, the handle feels loose, it runs large for some airlines, and 14% of Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars.
Top complaints
- Scratches quickly
Travel + Leisure saw surface scratches after six months, a Condé Nast Traveler contributor saw scratches after two trips, and Good Housekeeping found it less scratch-resistant than polycarbonate bags.
- Some break early; lock issues
Amazon's review summary says durability is mixed, with some owners reporting it broke after one trip, and some report problems with the lock mechanism.
- Loose handle, runs large
Good Housekeeping found the handle a bit loose and less comfortable. Travel + Leisure and CNN say its size pushes carry-on limits on some airlines, and some Amazon owners say it is smaller inside than expected.
What owners love
- Big capacity
Travel + Leisure packed a four-day load, including two pairs of shoes and multiple jackets, without expanding. It aced Good Housekeeping's packing tests.
Source: Travel + Leisure, Good Housekeeping - Light and smooth-rolling
At 6.5 lb it is lighter than other Good Housekeeping picks; testers called the wheels very smooth. Travel + Leisure says it handled tight turns and curbs with ease.
Source: Good Housekeeping, Travel + Leisure - Flexes instead of denting
Travel + Leisure hit it with a metal bat and found the shell flexed without denting.
Source: Travel + Leisure
- You fly airlines with strict size limits
- You want a shell that stays pristine
- You want a sturdy, solid-feeling handle
- Lots of space for the price
- A light hard-shell under 7 lb
- Shoppers who wait for a sale
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Travel + Leisure: Best overall (updated 2026-09-14), tested three times: great capacity, organization and value; scratches after months and may be too big for some bins.
- Good Housekeeping: Best lightweight: under 7 lb, spacious and smooth; less scratch-resistant, and the handle felt loose.
- CNN Underscored: Not a top pick: light, roomy and better wheels than expected, but utilitarian, with corners where small items get lost and a size that pushes airline limits.