Away Luggage Buying Guide - Hefei Tool Bag Group Co.,Ltd

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By Ashlea Halpern

These days, it’s likely that you’ll see airline overhead bins and luggage carousels full of Away brand suitcases with their polycarbonate shells in a rainbow of colors. But what (aside from social media fame) has made travelers so loyal to Away?

The brand has a wide selection of luggage sizes and styles (and a lot of imitators as well), so we decided to investigate which pieces are worth buying and what else you should know about Away, its policies and history. Away just announced a re-release of its Classic suitcases, now available in seven new “globally inspired” colors and redesigned with more organizational features, a matching interior, and improved handles, zippers and wheels. We tested the brand’s popular bags and consulted travel industry experts to determine the best of Away’s offerings and what you can skip.

The brand’s hallmarks include a durable polycarbonate shell with rounded corners, horizontal embossed lines and subtle leather detailing; a wriggle-proof telescopic handle with two height options; a TSA-approved, triple-digit combination lock that clips into the zipper pulls; and buttery-smooth, 360-degree spinner wheels. Other thoughtful touches are a leather luggage tag, removable laundry bag for separating wet or dirty garments, and a cleaning sponge for buffing away scuff marks. And while the brand is perhaps best known for its hardside suitcases, two of which ended up on our rankings of the best carry-on and best hardside luggage, it also offers backpacks, tote bags, toiletry cases and more gear.

Away’s suitcases come in four sizes: the Carry-On, the Bigger Carry-on, the Medium and the Large; each size also comes in a “Flex” option, which offers zippered expansion. Aluminum editions of each size are also available, as well as two options with a front pocket: the Daily Carry-On with Pocket (a smaller, square-shaped bag) and the Carry-On with Pocket.

The brand offers a range of colors, from basic black and navy to seafoam green, appealing to business and pleasure travelers alike. The designs are refreshingly minimalist but also ubiquitous these days; double checking the ID tag before pulling it off the baggage carousel is a must. Free shipping, a generous 100-day return policy, and a limited warranty that covers functional damage to the shell, handle, wheels and zippers inspire buyer confidence.

Founded in 2016 by Warby Parker alumni Jen Rubio and Steph Korey, the direct-to-consumer brand has mastered the holy trinity of form, function and social media. It partnered with influencers right out the gate and its online sales exploded—resulting in a valuation of $1.4 billion in 2019. Though it took a beating along with other travel brands when the COVID-19 pandemic began, its popularity has remained steady and the brand has exceeded its projections since recovering from the dip.

$315 at Away

This is the bag that started it all—a first launch that took the travel world by storm. Sized to slide effortlessly into the overhead bin of most major airlines, The Carry-On fits five to seven outfits thanks to a smart interior compression panel with buckled straps—an Away signature. The suitcase unzips to a clamshell design with compartments on either side: One side can be stuffed with shoes, toiletries and packing cubes and it includes the detachable laundry bag; the other is a compartment enclosed in zippered mesh, which can serve as a giant packing cube for soft goods. Small, loose objects or documents that need to be kept flat can be stashed in the mesh zippered pocket of the center divider. Grippy handles on the top and side of the suitcase make hoisting it into a car trunk or overhead bin a cinch and the lightweight polycarbonate exterior stands up to all kinds of rough-and-tumble handling, as evidenced by our prior testing.

In our extensive testing of this bag, we appreciated the sturdy zippers, how easily the dark-colored lining cleaned up from red wine and shampoo spills, and how effortlessly the multidirectional wheels glided through crowded airports and train platforms. Carpet, tile, wood floors, uneven and icy pavement and even cobblestones were no match for the bag, which was Buy Side’s top choice for the best carry-on luggage.

The Carry-On is available with expandable zippers (the Flex version), should you require a bit more packing space or plan to shop while traveling, and an exterior sleeve for storing a laptop or tablet (the Pocket version). An older version of the bag could be upgraded with a removable USB charger and battery pack, but the brand has phased this feature out based on customer behavior, and now only the aluminum carry-ons offer this option.

$335 at Away

The Carry-On’s big sister is another Away bestseller—and with good reason. It offers a smidge more packing space (six to nine outfits instead of five to seven) without sacrificing form or function. Even with the increased dimensions, it still meets most domestic standards for carry-ons.

“The Bigger Carry-On fits just the right amount of things I need for multi-month trips,” says Chicago-based photographer and travel journalist Yulia Denisyuk, who has used her bag since May 2017 and took it on an eight-country, eight-week trip last fall. “I packed a warm jacket for the Austrian Alps and a cotton headscarf for the Jordanian desert, in addition to my tripod and other camera gear, and still managed to do carry-on only,” she says, noting how helpful the separation provided by the twin compartments is when packing. She uses one side for clothes, the other for everything else, and slips her laptop into the middle-section sleeve.

Christine Chitnis, the author and photographer of the books “Patterns of India” and “Patterns of Portugal,” is also a fan of the Bigger Carry-On, which she has taken on extended trips to Argentina, Santorini and the Azores. With the help of packing cubes, she can fit two weeks’ worth of recreational clothing inside. And for a business conference, she has packed a week of professional outfits plus a portable steamer. “I went from a decades-old fabric bag to my Away bag and it really did elevate my travel experience,” says Chitnis. “The construction of the bag is so thoughtful with high-quality zippers that clip nicely into the locks and interior zips to hold everything in place. It also looks nice and just feels really nice in your hands.”

$385 at Away

The smaller of the two options in Away’s checked bag line (the Medium) is made with the same lightweight polycarbonate shell with leather detailing and 360-degree spinner wheels as its carry-ons. The interior compression system, TSA-approved locks and water-resistant laundry bag are also the same—this suitcase just happens to fit enough stuff for a one- to two-week trip—or much longer if you’re itinerant food and travel journalist Katie Lockhart. She has been living full-time out of two Away suitcases—the Medium and the Carry-On—for the last five years, flying approximately 25 times a year. “One of my favorite things about my suitcase is that it’s not expandable,” she says, “so it won’t allow me to overpack and go over my allotted 20 kilograms for checked baggage.” Even more important, Lockhart notes, is the durability. “Aside from scuffs and scratches,” she says, her Away suitcases are “in incredible shape for traveling 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

If you’re the type of person who shops more than Lockhart when traveling or often finds yourself sitting atop a suitcase to shut it, consider upgrading to the Medium Flex ($395), a 10.8-pound hardside bag with a zippered expansion that adds an additional 1.75 inches of packing space (max 75.7-liter capacity). Even better, an underside grab handle makes it easier to pull the bag off a moving carousel or shove into a car trunk even when it’s packed full.

$415 at Away

A carbon copy of The Medium except for its size, the Large is the second biggest suitcase Away makes. It’s designed to fit at least two weeks’ worth of stuff, and can squeeze in plenty more if you roll your clothing and use packing cubes. The brand’s absolute roomiest option is the Large Flex, which features expandable zippers that buy you an additional 1.75 inches or a whopping 107.8-liter capacity. The underside grab handle comes in handy when lifting it, and like every other Away bag, it comes with spinner wheels, TSA-approved locks, the signature interior compression system, a leather luggage tag and a hidden laundry bag. Fair warning: If you’re not a clothes horse or bouncing through multiple climate zones, the Large can feel like overkill—and be a bit unwieldy when maneuvering it through a busy airport or pulling it in and out of taxis.

$725 at Away

For an even sleeker and sturdier take on Away’s most popular carry-on and checked bags, consider the aluminum hardshell versions of the Carry-On (from $625), the Bigger Carry-On (from $645), the Medium ($725), and the Large ($745). The interior features are the same as the polycarbonate iterations but the aluminum exterior sports dual TSA combination locks. It comes in three colors (Onyx Black, Rose Gold, and Silver) with an optional USB charger for the two carry-on versions. Though heftier than polycarbonate (these bags weigh between 10.1 and 16 pounds when empty versus the polycarbonate, which range from 7.5 to 12.1 pounds), the aluminum style stands up to tough travel conditions, from careless baggage handlers to bumpy cobblestone streets. The aluminum models are a serious investment and best suited to business travelers keen to make a sharp first impression, as well as anyone who tends to carry or purchase fragile goods such as wine, camera lenses and other electronic equipment, or breakable souvenirs. Though it can dent if you bump it hard enough or kick it down a flight of concrete stairs (as we did during testing), the aluminum bags take an awful lot of abuse before showing noticeable nicks, scuffs, and scratches. In other words, it’s as much a workhorse as a status-symbol show pony.

I’ve worked as a travel editor and writer for nearly 20 years and have used Away bags exclusively since 2018. I am consistently impressed by how much I can cram into the Bigger Carry-On and how well the wheels maneuver under stressful conditions, including on snow and ice in my hometown of Minneapolis, Minn. But what I appreciate most is the warranty and customer service. When an interior zipper on my bag broke after five years of frequent use, Away sent me a brand-new suitcase within a week of filing a complaint.

Philadelphia-based food journalist Drew Lazor, who travels frequently for work and pleasure (next stop: Japan), shared a similar anecdote when we asked him about his experience with the brand. “When a metal piece on one of the compression straps broke, Away immediately replaced it for no charge,” he says, referring to the Bigger Carry-On suitcase he’s used for the last six years. “I also left the wall cable for the built-in charger in a hotel somewhere and they replaced that for free, too.”

This was the go-to bag for Philadelphia-based software engineer Shakila Moni when she spent three years living as an expat in Hangzhou, China and Dammam, Saudi Arabia and says it’s still her favorite for weekend trips. “Even packed to the gills, I can lift it over my head—and I’m only 5 feet tall,” she says, noting that the bag she purchased in 2016 has traveled with her to nearly 40 countries and still looks great. “I’ve never had a problem getting it to fit in an overhead compartment, on a rickshaw, or on the back of a motorbike. My travel companions have stories of lost luggage and broken zippers, but I’ve never lost my bag or had to leave it behind. Aside from a few scuffs, it looks as good as the day I bought it.”

Though I know which bag best suits my own peripatetic lifestyle, I consulted half a dozen travel experts—all of them Away owners—to gather guidance and insights on which models are their favorites and why.

A potential turnoff for perfectionists who want their bags to stay in pristine condition is the tendency of the polycarbonate shells to scuff easily, especially if you opt for a light color. That said, a scuff eraser should be able to remove most imperfections. Business travelers who require frequent access to their laptop may be frustrated by the lack of an exterior pocket on many of the models (that’s where the pocket version comes in handy), while minimalist packers should steer clear of the Medium and Large models; these will seem inordinately bulky if you’re used to traveling light.

If you decide an Away bag isn’t right for you (before you take it on a trip, that is), the brand will let you return or exchange the unused product within 100 days of purchase; this can be done at one of its 12 U.S. brick-and-mortar Away stores or by filling out this form online. Refunds can take up to three weeks to be issued; original shipping fees are non-refundable and the brand offers free returns only in regions where it also offers free shipping. (Away offers free UPS Ground on all orders $100 and above shipping to the contiguous U.S.) Personalized items, including suitcases and luggage tags, cannot be returned although Away’s limited warranty still applies. Gift cards, face masks and replacement filters are final sale.

Away offers a limited lifetime warranty on all suitcases, which is fairly standard among its competitors (Monos, Roam, Travelpro, etc.). This covers functional damage to the shell, handle, wheels, zippers and anything else that might impair your use of the luggage. Depending on what breaks, Away may send you a repair kit or a replacement. Bags with batteries are the exception, as the batteries themselves are covered by a two-year warranty only. If you want an unconditional lifetime guarantee that covers all functional aspects of a bag, including cosmetic wear and tear, consider investing in a carry-on from Briggs & Riley.

Non-luggage bags (like totes and backpacks) and other accessories are protected by a limited one-year warranty; if anything goes wrong on the road, Away will fix or replace the product.