There’s almost nothing worse when you’re traveling than getting to your destination only to find that all of your nice clothes have been wrinkled up. Now if you wear them out or to your business meeting you’ll look like a bum and if you don’t have the time to iron them out then what do you do?

We’ve ran into this situation a number of times and decided to do some research and find some reliable garment bags that match anyone’s budget. We found garment bags that are as bare bones as it gets and gets the job done for basically nothing. On the other hand we found garment bags I wouldn’t be able to afford in years. This list comprises the top 7 garment bags we think best represent different price ranges. If you’re interested in one you see feel free to read the short review on it below or find out additional info and price by following the links.

Garment Bag	Dimensions	Carry-On	Price	Rating
Bags For Less	54"H 24"W 2"D	Yes	$	8.4
WallyBags 40 Inch	40"H 22"W 3"D	Yes	$	8.6
Travel Select Amsterdam	44"H 23"W 7"D	No	$$	8.5
Geoffrey Beene	44"H 22"W 8"D	No	$$	9
London Fog Cambridge	44"H 23"W 4"D	No	$$$	9.1
Victorinox Werks Traveler 5.0	41"H 22"W 9"D	Yes	$$$$	9.8
Briggs & Riley Baseline Deluxe	41"H 24"W 12"D	Yes	$$$$	9.6

Bags For Less 54 Inch Garment Bag

This is the Bags For Less garment bag and is about as budget strapped of a bag as you can get but it beats putting trash bags over your clothes. The Bags for Less is the best seller on Amazon for garment bags purely because it gets the job done for cheap.

Although this is a cheap garment bag, that doesn’t mean its quality is compromised. The inexpensive garment bag here is actually pretty neat in that it’s built to be environmentally friendly. It is made from a recyclable material that is eco-friendly!

This garment bag is actually perfect for last minute purchases to cover your clothes on a trip or even if you want to just store something in the closet. It has a full length sturdy zipper right down the center and has a reinforced hanger opening at the top; although it does not come with any hanger, you simply put your own hanger through the opening.

These bags only come in the one color shown, black with black trim and seeing as how they are not framed, this makes them great for carry-on travel! If you’re in need of a last minute garment bag, check out their prices now and you’ll probably end up buying a couple.

Material: Eco-Friendly Polypropylene Recyclable material

Dimensions: 54”H x 24”W x 1”D

Carry-on: Yes

WallyBags 40 Inch Garment Bag

This is the WallyBags 40 inch garment bag. I know what you’re thinking, “WallyBags? What kind of name is that?” I wouldn’t blame you for asking that either. When I first heard the name I thought it was a spinoff of Walmart but luckily it is not.

WallyBags actually produce decent garment bags for relatively inexpensive prices. Now compared to the Bags for Less garment bag we just reviewed this might seem pricey but all in all this garment bag is a step up in the right direction for a reasonable price.

What I like about this WallyBags is the option of color which allows you to have a sense of identity with your garment bag instead of plain old black. I personally prefer the red but there are three other colors in addition to black as well.

WallyBags features include securing your own hangers at the very top of the bag which means that your clothes will not fall to the bottom of the garment bag and it allows for quick and easy packing. However you have to lay down the bag on a bed in order to use this clamping feature.

This garment bag is capable of holding up to 6 pieces of clothing all while keeping it somewhat wrinkle free. It won’t do as great of a job as some of our other bags on this list but it gets the job done.

Lastly there is a full length zipper that runs down the middle of the garment bag, the handles are able to be fastened together which makes carrying the bag around much easier and of course it is able to be used as a carry-on!

Material: 600 Denier Polyester

Dimensions: 40”H x 22”W x 3”D

Carry-on: Yes

Travel Select Amsterdam Rolling Garment Bag

This is where the list starts to get good. We actually start to get some decent garment bags have a bit more functionality and style. This is the Travel Select Amsterdam garment bag.

This Travel Select garment bag comes in 4 colors, black, grey, red and navy.  It’s made of 1200 denier polyester which provides exceptional durability. It also has a reinforced front panel to protect your garments while traveling.

As the name implies this is obviously a rolling garment bag that is built with two in-line skate wheels, it also has an internal handle system, a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap with a non-slip pad.

The Travel Select garment bag has some decent organization going for it. It has a zippered mesh pocket on one end and two corner pockets on the opposite side as well as non-zippered mesh pockets on the side which can be used for accessories or even possibly your shoes.

There are tie straps that are very convenient to use while also using the fold out design as these two combined helps to reduce wrinkles for when you arrive at your destination. Nobody wants to have to deal with wrinkly suits or dresses!

Finally the most important question in regards to garment bags, is it able to be used as a carry-on? Unfortunately not this garment bag. But a great alternative to this bag if you need something that is a carry-on and in the same price race is the Mercury Executive Tri-Fold garment bag. It is carry-on approved and looks great as well, if you’re interested in learning more check out the reviews and price here!

Material: 1200 Denier two-tone polyester with EVA reinforced front panel

Dimensions: 44”H x 23”W x 7”D

Carry-on: No

Geoffrey Beene Garment Carrier

I never thought I would say this but this garment bag actually intrigues me. First off the way it is opened is almost like using a suitcase which makes packing so much easier but the part I really like is the shoe compartment.

This is the Geoffrey Beene garment carrier. It is offered in two colors being black and olive, which tend to be the most common colors for garment bags apparently. It is made of polyester and has some great functionality.

The exterior of the bag includes an outside pocket for documents, accessories or other items you may need in a hurry. A telescopic handle to allow you to roll it along the airport with ease and obviously two in-line skate wheels that do a fantastic job of navigating busy terminals.

On the inside we have some great organization set up which allows us to pack about 4 suits into this rolling garment bag. We have tie down straps and two corner mesh pockets on one side with a hanger clamp. The other side offers us two large mesh pockets for our folded shirts.

Again the obvious question about this being carry-on comes into play and this one as well is not able to be used as a carry on.

A perfect alternative for the ladies is the Cinda B Slim garment bag which looks absolutely amazing. For the guys or girls who don’t want something girly we found this Delsey Paris Helium Sky garment bag. Both of these have a similar price range and are carry-on approved!

Materials: 1200 Denier Polyester

Dimensions: 44”H x 22”W x 8”D

Carry-on: No

London Fog Cambridge Wheeled Garment Bag

This is the Cambridge garment bag by London Fog. It is a moderately priced rolling garment bag that provides quite a bit of functionality. The design of the Cambridge comes in two different styles, a black and white look and an olive look. Personally the black and white is the way to go!

The obvious benefit of acquiring this garment bag is the fact that you can roll it and London Fog included 2 in-line skate wheels that are made of polyurethane to provide a very quiet and smooth ride.

Examining the exterior of the bag you will also find dual carrying handles that not only look great but are extremely comfortable to handle. You will also find one external pocket for accessories or important documents you may need at the last minute while going through security.

London Fog’s Cambridge has excellent organization on the inside. There are 6 zippered pockets/pouches in total, straps to hold your clothes in place, a section dedicated to holding your shoes as well as luggage clamps and a hook to hand the garment bag once you reach your destination.

The only downside is if you needed this to be a carry-on bag then unfortunately it’s not up to the task. As an alternate option, ladies you might find this Vera Bradley Going Places garment bag to be to your liking if you want something feminine that’s a carry-on. Otherwise, I would suggest the WallyBags 45” Garment Bag with Shoulder strap. It provides exceptional functionality and is a carry-on.

Materials: Polyester

Dimensions: 44”H x 22.5”W x 4”D

Carry-on: No

Victorinox Werks Traveler 5.0 East/West Garment Bag

This is the Victorinox Werks Traveler 5.0 Garment Bag and actually my favorite on the list. Unfortunately it’s just a tad bit outside of my price range. It has an amazing style though that is hard to turn away from with a black exterior and orange interior that just makes it pop!

Inside you will find a hanger clap to secure your garments and a foam bolster compression strap to minimize wrinkles. No longer do you have to deal with wrinkly suits after you reach your destination!

To round off the inside there is also an extension panel that allows it to hold longer items, two removable mesh storage cubes, a large zippered mesh pocket which is perfect for shoes and a zippered mesh tie pocket for additional storage!

On the exterior you’ll find a large zippered pocket, perfect for storing accessories like a cell phone charger, documents or other important belongings

A great feature about this product is that it is a rolling garment bag so there won’t ever be a need to strap it over your shoulder and lug it around. It has two 80mm inline skate wheels.

Finally one of the most important features of this bag is that you are able to take this as a carry-on garment bag onto the plane!

Material: 100% Ballistic Nylon

Dimensions: 41”H x 22”W x 9”D

Carry-on: Yes

Briggs & Riley Baseline Deluxe Garment Bag

This is the Baseline Deluxe Garment Bag by Briggs & Riley. Probably one of the best brands of luggage you could consider on the market and this carry-on garment bag is no exception.

The Baseline garment bag does have a pretty standard look with black and olive as their two colors to choose from, so nothing flashy from Briggs & Riley here.

Briggs & Riley provide us with great space to work with to pack anywhere from 4 to 6 suits which is perfect for a week long business trip. They’ve added a removable extension panel which allows it to accommodate longer garments, whether it is suit pants or dresses.

Inside we will find 4 separate zippered compartments on one side, 3 of them being mesh. On the other side we have two more zippered mesh pockets in the corners and elastic pouches on the bottom which are perfect for shoes. There is also a removable waterproof pocket that is snapped into place.

This garment bag also comes with a removable shoulder strap with a non-slip shoulder pad and a couple garment bag hooks as well. The outside is made with a tough ballistic nylon but if that doesn’t hold up, Briggs & Riley have a lifetime warranty that even covers airline damage; by far the best warranty in the business.

And to answer the most popular question, this Briggs & Riley Baseline garment bag is able to be used as a carry-on!

Materials: 2520 Denier Ballistic Nylon

Dimensions: 41”H x 24”W x 12”D

Carry-on: Yes

Our criteria for best garment bags

When looking at garment bags there are a couple factors that come straight to mind that we would want to cover. To start the first thing that seems blatantly obvious that we would want out of a garment bag is, does it keep our clothes wrinkle free? This is simple, if the answer is no, it doesn’t get on the list.

If it does, then I want to see what unique features this particular garment bag may have and what is keeping the clothes wrinkle free. Also how is the organization of the bag, does it only have a central compartment for clothes or does it organize the inside and outside of the bag to maximize storing capacity.

One factor that is not as high on this list is if it is able to be used as a carry-on. Now most people might say “but that’s the most important part”, well it’s a consideration but not everyone that uses a garment bag needs it to be a carry-on. Many people who use garment bags are traveling by train or automobile or even ship. For those bags in the list, that did not meet carry-on requirements, I offered comparable alternatives.

If you think there are better or additional garment bags I should consider, please leave a comment below!

The post Best Garment Bags By Price first appeared on Travel Gear Addict.

Trying to find the best carry-on luggage for your next trip? We’ve spent countless hours looking for both hard shell and fabric carry-on suitcases that match everyone’s budget. We have a list of 9 carry-on bags that are categorized by their costs. The carry-ons are separated into sections that include: budget ($), mid-priced ($$), high end ($$$) and luxury ($$$$). We have 2 carry-ons for each section, one hard shell and one fabric. The 9^th bag is a bonus on the list displaying the technological advancement we are making with carry-on luggage and luggage in general. Once you’ve decided on your carry-on bag, check out our list for top spinner luggage as well.

Carry-On Luggage	External Dimensions	Weight (lbs)	Lock	Price	Rating
Traveler's Choice Beverly Hills Country Club Frankfort	22”H 14.25”W 9.5” (+2”)D	7.5	No, but lockable	$	9.3
Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds	20”H (22” w/wheels) 13”W 8.5”D	7	No	$	8.8
Samsonite Aspire Xlite	20.5”H (22.75” w/ wheels) 13.5”W 9”D	9	No	$$	9.2
Delsey Helium Shadow	21”H (22.5” w/ wheels) 14.5”W 10”D	8	Yes, TSA Approved	$$	9.8
Tumi Alpha Bravo Kirtland Continental	22”H 16”W 9”(+2”)D	9.5	Yes, TSA Approved	$$$	10
Bric's Bellagio	21”H 14”W 8”D	10	Yes, TSA Approved	$$$	9.9
Bric's Life Pelle Pilot	20”H 15”W 9”D	10	Yes, TSA Approved	$$$$	9.5
Hartmann 7r Master	17”H 15.3”W 9”D	7	Yes	$$$$	9.1
SMART Executive Digital	21.3”H 13”W 8.7”D	6	Yes, TSA Approved	$$$	9.8

Budget Carry-on Luggage

Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds

The Kenneth Cole Reaction Out of Bounds carry-on makes its claim for the best hard shell budget carry-on. Now I’ll state the obvious, this carry-on isn’t the best thing to look at even though it’s offered in a number of colors but it’s extremely durable and has excellent interior design to compartmentalize and pack tightly.

This budget hard shell carry-on is made of 95% abs plastic making it extremely durable. It stood up to our tests and we didn’t see any scratches or imperfections after our test. It doesn’t hurt that it includes molded reinforced corners for impact resistance. You might think something of this durability would be heavy but the opposite is true; the construction of this carry-on is built to be light weight as it should be.

The inside of this carry-on has some great designs. It is extremely roomy and comes with a fully lined interior with zippered pockets and restraints to hold your clothes in place. The inside of the lid features a u-shaped zippered pocket that basically treats the lid like a carry-on within a carry-on and allows you to pack as much as you can without worry of it going anywhere since it is zippered, a very neat feature.

The top and side handles of the carry-on are flexible and provide easy lift and it also comes with the crowd favorite, four wheels. Although, it did seem that the wheels were a little stiff, perhaps that will get better with more use. The Kenneth Cole Reaction carry-on comes with a retractable locking handle system which has become standard on any upright.

Dimensions: 20”H (22” w/wheels) x 13”W x 8.5”D

Weight: 7 lbs

Lock: No

Travelers Choice Beverly Hills Country Club Frankfort Carry-on

As far as budget carry-ons go, this Travelers Choice carry-on is one of the best and actually gets our approval as the best buy. Not only does it have a great looking exterior design that stands out from the other black luggage on the carousel but it’s very functional for a budget carry-on.

Aside from the nice design, this Travelers Choice carry-on has an aluminum retractable handle with a multi-stage locking mechanism. I’ll say the handle didn’t feel that sturdy but it got the job done. It’s great for getting through the airport with its 4 free spinning wheels which allows for movement in any direction. I personally like to act like I’m juking out the other passengers as I make my way to the terminal.

One of the roomiest carry-ons on this list, it comes with the ability to expand which increases its packing capacity by 25%!! I was able to pack another day or two worth of clothes in here depending on how thick the clothing was, once it was expanded. To name some other features, this Travelers Choice comes with an assortment of interior pockets, one padded pouch for your smart phone, one for a tablet and another for accessories. There is an exterior zippered pocket for those papers and documents you need last minute while going through security. There are comfortable top and side grip handles to provide you with easy lifting and they are reinforced so they felt pretty sturdy. There is a multi-purpose center divider inside the suitcase and tie down straps that help keep your clothes from shifting around during your travel.

And if you’re worried about this best budget carry-on having a soft exterior then don’t fear; Travelers Choice provides a 3-Year manufacturer’s warranty on your luggage. Find out more about this budget carry-on.

Dimensions: 22”H x 14.25”W x 9.5” (+2”)D

Weight: 7.5 lbs

Lock: No, but lockable

Mid-Priced Carry-on Luggage

Delsey Helium Shadow

When it comes to mid-priced luggage the Delsey Helium Shadow is one of the best pieces of carry-on luggage you could own and is our Top Choice for your next carry-on. It doesn’t have much in the way of style but where it lacks in style it makes up for with functionality.

This Delsey carry-on bag basically looks like a giant brick. It’s not flashy and it certainly doesn’t turn any heads. It is also only offered in black or silver so there’s not much choice in that regards. However, its features are pretty great.

This is a hard shell carry-on bag that is made with 100% polycarbonate which is built to be extremely durable and lightweight. Polycarbonate is known for being highly impact resistant and it also has a textured finish which helps prevent the carry-on from getting scratched.

The Delsey Helium Shadow carry-on bag offers quite a bit of space. The main compartment expands allowing you to increase how much you want to take with you on your trip. Its unique feature that makes it stand out is that you actually load your luggage from the top lid which allows you to pack in tight places or even while your luggage is on a rack.

The contents of your luggage will remain safe as well as the Delsey carry-on comes with a TSA approved locking mechanism which allows agents to inspect your luggage without damaging the lock in any way. Speaking of locks, the Helium Shadow features a dual locking handle as well as four spinner wheels which provide exceptional navigation through the crowded terminals of any airport. If for any reason you need something slightly smaller for the airport, check out the international version here.

Finally if you’re worried about your belongings or the durability of the carry-on itself then don’t be. This is a hard shelled carry-on which will protect your belongings and the carry-on suitcase itself is backed by a 10 year limited warranty!

Dimensions: 21”H (22.5” w/ wheels) x 14.5”W x 10”D

Weight: 8 lbs

Lock: Yes, TSA Approved

Samsonite Aspire Xlite

The Samsonite Aspire Xlite is on the lower end of the price range for our mid-priced category but if you know anything about Samsonite you know they make quality luggage. There is no exception with this Samsonite carry-on bag.

The exterior of the Samsonite upright is extremely attractive and I’m actually a fan of the red version myself. It’s made from 100% polyester so while it is a soft cover carry-on it does lack some of the protection you would receive from a hard shell carry-on!

This Aspire Xlite carry-on from Samsonite comes with everyone’s favorite luggage modification, four multi-directional spinner wheels and they work very well too! We had no trouble when pushing it through the crowds at JAX.

Samsonite’s carry-on’s interior has organization in mind. Not something you see in cheaper bags, this carry-on has a wetpak and mesh pockets to keep everything compartmentalized. The wetpak was a nifty feature that I really enjoyed using. It allowed me to store my toiletries without having to bring a separate toiletries bag. And of course the Aspire Xlite comes with compression straps to hold your clothing down.

The top and side carry handles are nicely padded which provides ample comfort when lifting this upright while it’s fully packed. Samsonite also included an increasingly more common feature, expanded storage to increase your packing capacity.

I have flown with this carry-on on JetBlue without issue but make sure to check your airline’s luggage requirements before purchasing. See what others say about their experience using this as a carry-on.

This carry-on suitcase was great; however, it did seem a tad bit heavy at times. Which is quite odd considering it’s made of polyester. Also the carry-on is not lockable so if you’re worried about your luggage being tampered with then I would look elsewhere but if you’re carrying it on it shouldn’t be a problem.

Dimensions: 20.5”H (22.75” w/ wheels) x 13.5”W x 9”D

Weight: 9 lbs

Lock: No

High End Carry-on Luggage

Bric’s Bellagio

Bric’s is the epitome of designer luggage. This is a brand that anyone who wants to show status turns to. Bric’s is used by a slew of elite socialites and you can join the ranks with this high end yet affordable Bric’s Bellagio carry-on.

This carry-on is a hard shell upright with serious design. It is an extremely impressive looking piece of travel gear and comes with over half a dozen different colors to choose from. The shell itself is flexible yet durable.

The interior of the Bric’s carry-on has an interior double deck zippered compartment meaning it has a zippered compartment stacked on top of another built into the lid allowing you to pack as much as you need in the zippered area without it falling around the bag. There are also compression straps in the other half of the carry-on of course.

A few other features the Bellagio carry-on has are 4 rubber Hinomoto wheels that glide effortlessly over both soft and hard surfaces, water repellent zippers and TSA approved locks.

Just a few final design details, this Bric’s Bellagio is handcrafted and features full-grain Tuscan leather trim belting, again just to emphasize the uniqueness of these uprights.

Dimensions: 21”H x 14”W x 8”D

Weight: 10 lbs

Lock: Yes, TSA Approved

Tumi Alpha Bravo Kirtland Continental

If you have ever seriously researched luggage or owned quite a few pieces in your lifetime then you should be well aware of the awesome brand of luggage gear, Tumi. This Tumi Alpha Bravo Kirtland Continental carry-on is a high end carry-on that certainly shows with its price tag.

The Tumi Kirtland Continental has an interesting style. It’s unlike most soft cover suitcases or carry-ons in the sense that it has grey camo as an option for your color and honestly at first I wasn’t a fan but the more I look it over the more appealing it becomes. It is designed with a ballistic nylon that keeps the weight down but also makes it very durable.

The second thing that stood out to me is the exterior pockets on this carry-on. There are three pockets on the front which allow you to store chargers, papers or other documents that you might need handy while getting your international travel on.

The inside of the Tumi carry-on mimics this as the inside lid also has three divided compartments for efficient organization. There are also compression straps that hold your belongings together so they are not shifted during your travel.

The Tumi Kirtland Continental carry-on is expandable, comes with 4 recessed wheels with wheel skids, a 3 stage telescoping handle and a leather accented top carrying handle that is extremely comfortable to use when you need to actually carry your luggage instead of rolling it.

The Tumi Kirtland also includes a removable lock, an area for personalize with a monogram and even a tracer tag to keep your mind at peace.

One word of advice, make sure you check your airlines carry-on size requirements as some airlines won’t allow this as a carry-on when it is fully expanded.

Dimensions: 22”H x 16”W x 9”(+2”)D

Weight: 9.5 lbs

Lock: Yes, TSA Approved

Luxury Carry-on Luggage

Bric’s Life Pelle Pilot

Once again we come across a piece of Bric’s luggage. This is the Bric’s Life Pelle Pilot. It is a 4 wheeled carry-on that is made of full grain vegetable tanned bovine leather. It comes in one style and that style is awesome, just kidding it’s called Cognac, but still pretty awesome!

The Bric’s carry-on exterior features in-line skate wheels like many of our other carry-ons on this list as well as a luggage tag, lock and a premium leather handle grip on the top for easy carrying.

The interior of the Pelle Pilot carry-on has a zippered compartment inside the main area as well as a removable computer sleeve inside the opening lid.

This is perhaps one of the most expensive pieces of travel gear you can find for the size. It’s a smaller carry-on than the others on this list yet demands such an astronomical amount.

Dimensions:  17”H x 15.3” W x 9”D

Weight: 7 lbs

Lock: Yes

Hartmann 7r Master

This is the Hartmann 7r Master and our pick for best hard shell luxury carry-on bag. This one will set you back a pretty penny but it will surely stand out. It has a unique metal styling that you don’t see anywhere else.

The exterior of this Hartmann carry-on has a virgin aluminum, dual tube pull handle with leather carry handles on the top and side. The 7r Master comes with excellent double spinner wheels to get you where you need to go in style.

Inside you will find the luxury carry-on has a zippered section inside the lid as well as compression straps on the other half for holding down your luggage.

Finally you notice the carry-on has TSA approved lock to keep your belongings secured.

There are no externals compartments and the functionality of this carry-on is fairly minimal but it’s a masculine piece that stands out from the crowd and makes its presence known.

Dimensions: 20”H x 15”W x 9”D

Weight: 10 lbs

Lock: Yes, TSA Approved

Tech Carry-on Luggage

SMART Executive Digital Carry-on

This is the SMART Executive digital carry-on by Numinous London. It’s separate from the rest of this list purely because I wanted to include a type of luggage that is adapting to the digital age.

To start this carry-on features a TSA accepted bio-metric recognition lock, meaning it recognizes your fingerprint! It actually allows you to store up to 100 different fingerprints so you’re able to use both hands or allow a loved one or friend to have access to it as well. It’s great because there’s no need for keys or codes!

This digital carry-on not only thinks about its locking mechanism to keep your belongings safe but it also utilizes puncture resistant zippers which are resistant against pen and tool attacks!

The SMART Executive features a 3500MaH built in charger that provides your electronics a charge while on the go. No longer do you need to scour the airport looking for a place to plug in your dead phone.

Additionally the outside includes a 17 inch padded laptop compartment, four spinner wheels, an ergonomic handle on top and an extendable handle to either push or pull your luggage around with you.

This Executive carry-on is designed for business travelers in mind but that doesn’t mean it’s only for business purposes. Inside we do find a section that’s separated just for files and documents and a separate large compartment for your clothing and shoes as well as compression straps which have become a norm.

Many people when initially looking for smart luggage might find the Bluesmart One which we considered for this list but found too many issues with it to add to the list. It has some nifty features that the SMART Executive does not have but unfortunately they seem to be hit or miss if they work. If you’re interested in the details, take a look at the Bluesmart One here.

Dimensions: 21.3”H x 13”W x 8.7”D

Weight: 6 lbs

Lock: Yes, TSA Approved

What to Look for in Carry-on Luggage

When it comes to looking for the best carry-on luggage there are certain things that you want to pay attention to. I take into consideration quite a bit including the durability, functionality, and even the style of the bag in my decision of whether or not to purchase. If you find the right carry-on you could even consider travelling with only a carry-on bag and forgetting the checked luggage.

Style

The least important of the three but still a contributor to my decision, the styling of the carry-on bag has to have a few qualities I look for. In my decision when purchasing a carry-on bag I want something that has sleek lines and not something that’s bulky or obtrusive. This not only looks more streamlined but also helps when trying to fit into the cages that size your luggage or when trying to stuff it into an overhead bin. I like options when it comes to color as well as sometimes I want something other than black. Don’t get me wrong the majority of my luggage is a sleek, crisp looking checkered black but occasionally some color looks good as well. Now while we all want to look our best, this can sometimes extend to your luggage as well but again this is the least important factor. Style maybe accounts for 10% of the overall ranking and doesn’t have a lot of weight on my overall decision of what carry-on bags to include in this list.

Functionality

Functionality is a huge contributor in my decision on what to include in this list. It accounts for 40% of the overall ranking. When it comes to functionality I’m looking for the bag to have something interesting or unique to add in addition to the most basic features that we have come to expect with our carry-on luggage. Now this may be easier said than done for the more expensive carry-on suitcases but even the simplest features on a cheaper carry-on suitcase to help improve my time traveling is what I’m looking for. Traveling can be stressful enough as it is, that’s why I’m always looking for something to improve my experience. Some things I look for are I want there to be compression straps, an extendable handle and a clear sense of organization inside the luggage in addition to its unique features. I also make sure that each of these features work as intended, especially the wheels. To go strolling through the airport only to have a wheel fall off is miserable, especially if you’re in a huge rush at a big airport like JFK for example.

Durability

The most important aspect when it comes to luggage in my mind is its durability and it accounts for 50% of my decision on what to include in this list. What’s the point in having a great looking carry-on with neat features if it doesn’t last you more than a few trips or a few months. When looking at durability, I take into consideration how the exterior holds up to rough handling like you would expect at an airport. I examine how the handles fair through various scenarios and rough housing. I expect the wheels to deal with pavement, cement, carpet and even gravel and if it’s not up to the task for any of those then it doesn’t make the list. Because if you can’t roll the damn thing, then there’s no point in considering the other aspects of the carry-on bag. Along with this one should also consider not just the durability of your carry-on but even the items inside. If you’ve had trouble with lost luggage or missing items in your suitcase before, consider looking for a carry-on that has some sort of locking mechanism or ability to lock, just make sure it’s TSA compliant.

Maximum Carry-on Size

Each airline is going to be a little bit different in their requirements for your carry-on. With most airlines as a general rule of thumb, you can get away with carry-on luggage that is 22″ x 9″ x 14″. Again this will vary from airline to airline and you might have to end up checking that luggage or have room to spare but it’s always best to check ahead so you’re not surprised at the gate with an extra change for having to check your luggage on the spot.

The post Best Carry-on Luggage For Every Budget first appeared on Travel Gear Addict.

How lightening your payload on your next excursion abroad can save you time, money and the mental anguish. Packing carry luggage only, has become the smartest and most efficient way of traveling for today’s modern day jet-setters.

In today’s modern day high-paced atmosphere travelers are always seeking better ideas on saving time, stress and money during their time away from home. There is always the standard pressures associated with any journey abroad. The airports, transfers, international visas, cash flow and the logistics on it all. So why add the unnecessary stresses? If properly prepared you can begin your journey in a positive way by simply following some helpful tips to ensure your peace of mind during transit. By taking advantage of our reviews to find the best carry-on luggage for each budget, you’ll be able to start packing lightly and quickly discover the advantages of traveling with only your carry luggage.

Traveling is essential for the majority of modern day people. Whether it’s for pleasure or work. Just setting out for a destination is always an exciting time in everyone’s life. Particularly if you’re heading to a new location you’ve yet to experience in your life. As Jimmy Buffett once sang, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes nothing remains quit the same….so true Jimmy!

However, traditional protocol usually includes jet-setters packing bulky check-in luggage and the headaches associated with it. Today, in many cases with the greedy airlines, they’ll charge you a small fortune for any excess weight on those bags too. Leaving you aggravated even before you’ve left home turf. Urrghhh!

Learn more about the advantages of traveling light and get the most out of your next getaway without the hassles of lugging around your entire wardrobe, including that kitchen sink!

Prepare & Prioritize

Like anything accomplished successfully in life, preparation is the backbone to it all. Take into account all aspects and details of your upcoming trip. By answering a few simple questions you’ll lay the beginning foundations and start reaping the advantages of your new ‘carry-on lifestyle’.

1. How many days will I be away?
2. What is the climate and weather forecasted at my final destination?
3. Will I have access to laundry services or self service facilities?
4. What are the airline regulations? ie: packed liquids, aerosols spray, sharp objects considered contraband by authorities. Size and weight restrictions for carry-on bags?
5. Do you need to purchase a proper carry-on bag for your needs?
6. Will you be shopping on vacation?
7. Any additional excursions such as water or outdoor activities?

Answering these questions gives you an overall understanding of how much packing will be required. For me, question #3 has the utmost importance. Most travelers find they have access to laundry service within their accommodations which allows you to recycle your dirties for another round of use and enabling you to pack less. You can cut down 75% of your wardrobe if you have access to a laundry service.

Beyond your carry luggage, note that most all airlines will allow, free of charge, one carry-on bag plus one backpack or satchel as well; if this is not the case then you might as well check out some full sized spinner luggage to take instead. This extra space opens the door for so much more flexibility in your preparation. In my case I always travel with a messenger bag kind of like a satchel (or shoulder bag) which includes all my travel docs, passports, onboard flight entertainment (iPad, books/mags, work, etc), and mobile phone. Basically anything that you might need during the flight or soon after your arrival. This is where prioritizing plays an important role.

Prioritizing your gear, like this Osprey Porter 46, in a efficient and orderly matter will make life so much easier. Keeping important documents readily available is the key to zipping through security check points at the airport allowing you easy access to your vital documents while clearing customs making for a seamless experience from tarmac to curbside.

Keeping your wallet accessible makes for inflight purchases a breeze without having to disrupt fellow passengers while trying to dig it out of your carry-on bag or duffel bag. The idea is to optimize your space to work for you so you’re not creating chaos and stress for yourself and those around you.

Enjoy More Time at Your Destination, Not the Airport

Here’s the vocal point of it all in my humble opinion. The reason I made the transition to a carry-on lifestyle was this lone factor— time!

You ask any experienced traveler like myself about their experience with lost or damaged luggage and you’ll hear the same grumbling from everyone. It’s honestly the pits! There’s no getting around the numbers, the more often you fly the increase chances your luggage will eventually get lost or damaged.

Take my last nightmare experience for example. I landed in Buenos Aires for vacation, got off the plane and went through customs. Then onward to baggage claim where I waited and waited before luggage started arriving on the carousel. I continued to wait and wait and wait even more. Finally the last of the luggage was delivered and I’m left standing their empty handed. I had no luggage! I again waited in another line just to file a lost baggage claim (with many others as well) with the airline before proceeding to my boutique hotel with nothing but a backpack full of non-practical amenities and the stinky clothes on my back. To this day my bags were never recovered by the airline and I was compensated for my losses. However, I’ll never get that time back I spent waiting, the headaches it created and the epic blowout argument I had with my girlfriend.

So rather then spending my precious time in Buenos Aires enjoying the itinerary I desired. I ended up spending half the trip shopping for new South American fashions. I’m not a small man, nor a huge man. I’m a standard sized American male standing at 6 foot 1 but I lift regularly and so a lot of clothing already fits very tightly. This made it basically impossible to find a local size to fit my frame. The Argentinians wear the smallest, tightest fitting fashions I’d ever seen and it didn’t suit my body type at all. So I was completely uncomfortable the entire trip, even though, my girlfriend seemed to get a good laugh out of it all.

Beyond that I could elaborate more on other stories of lost luggage and brand new expensive bags being damaged in transit, but I won’t bore you with the details now.

By the Numbers

In 2016 reports show that the airline industry had over 3.5 Billion paid passengers worldwide. From that there were 23.1 Million mishandled bags averaging 6.5 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

23.1 Million Mishandled Bags

• 45% Transfer Mishaps
• 19% Failure to load on the plane
• 16% Ticketing Error
• 8% Weight Restriction
• 4% Tagging Error
• 4% Arrival Mishandling
• 4% Loading Error

By traveling with only carry luggage, like this Bluboon Weekender, you’ll bypass the chaos of the baggage claim and you’ll be avoiding that dreaded line at the lost luggage office. You’ll have your carry luggage at your side the entire time and you’ll proceed directly to curbside with peace of mind and begin your memorable adventure without having to deal with the headaches and time commitments involved with lost or damaged bags. It’s worth its weight in gold, trust me!

Save Your Money for More Important Things

Money money money! Why waste it on those greedy airline policy? To answer that question, you don’t have to if you choose wisely.

This might be where most people fall in with transitioning over to a carry-on lifestyle.

Today’s airline industry is a total mess and their policies are repulsive at best. Some of the better airlines will include one check-in bag with the cost of the airfare. Though the rest of them will happily charge you for any check-in luggage you decide to book at only a small fee which requires a home equity loan to pay. You can find the latest checked baggage fees here.

United Airlines charges $25 for your first bag, $35 for the second and up to $200 for a third. Not to mention, the excess size/weight fees tact on top if you go over the policies allotted requirements. Absurd to pay out the wazoo for these baggage fees and United Airlines has by far one of the most reasonable rates in the industry.

Other fees associated with check-in luggage include:

• Purchasing expensive luggage
• Tipping porters
• Excess weight or size fees
• Environmental fees

Environmental fees? That’s correct, environmental fees aren’t necessarily a monetary fee but that intangible fee on the environment. For every check-in piece of luggage through the airline requires manpower during transit. Manpower is heavily relied upon by industrial power which in a nutshell means natural resources such as gas and/or electrical power are essential in this cycle. All generating greenhouse emissions and creating more Co2 into a already afflicted environment. So by implementing a carry-on lifestyle, you’re doing your part to save the environment, albeit small, every bit counts.

Tips and Techniques For Maximizing Your Carry-on Space

First mistake many people make when packing their carry-on is they begin preparing their wardrobe for packing before anything else. Hey, I’m just as guilty of this too. However, I learned over time that it’s vital to start with the carry-on bag before you consider packing a single item.

• The Carry-on

Let’s begin with the bag itself. Like this Delsey Chatelet, you’ll first want to open it, clean it, organize the straps, locate any hidden compartments, additional pockets — survey the entire unit. Once you know your bags’ capabilities you can begin looking at your wardrobe and other amenities for packing.

• Layout Before You Commit

Now that you have thoroughly surveyed your carry-on bag you should be quit familiar with the allotted space with a general idea of how much to pack.

Next step is begin gathering your gear. Don’t pack anything just yet, though, begin to layout your options on the floor or on the bed or anywhere you can visually look at the entirety of it all. Don’t worry if it seems like an excessive amount of packing, in most cases, it will be. However, it’s best to start with more then less at this stage.

• Filtering

This is the tricky bit for many. Now that you have your unpacked bag laid out before you, it’s time to chisel it down to size. Things such as toiletries. Most all toiletries can be left out, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc will be supplied by your destination’s hotel, if not, you can purchase on the other side of transit and dispose before returning home. Toiletries take up ample space and we’re ultimately trying to minimize down to the bare essentials.

Next stage, filter out the wardrobe. This takes time with a little practice and confidence you’ll master this in no time. By simply packing clothes that can be recycled into multiple outfits works wonders. For me this is easy. I’m not that fashionable of a guy to begin with (unless I’m in Argentina of course) so t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops and I’m ready to go. However, women like my girlfriend who live a life of a fashion model find this a daunting task. She’s come up with a terrific technique with the ability of creating new stylish outfits by recreating different color schemes and accessories to give the illusion of a new outfit everyday. Small changes such as a new blouse with the same daily jeans accompanied by small accessory revisions of a scarf and/or head-ware bring a new outfit on a daily basis. Is it ideal? Probably not, but she’s now happy to travel this way and ultimately she’s even admitted it’s worth the sacrifice of not having to check-in those heavy over priced bags at the airport.

• Roll don’t Fold

A technique developed by the military many moons ago, the roll technique is still rolling strong today. Pardon the pun! By rolling your clothes for packing it allows you to maximize your space and help decrease the overall wrinkling of your clothes.

• Utilizing Every Compartment

Don’t let any space go untouched. Remember after surveying your bag, you should know where every hidden compartment is located. Fill it up to capacity and make every inch count. If you want to keep everything extremely organized, consider using packing cubes to maximize your packing space.

• Research

Of course this isn’t the first and only article online about packing techniques. There’s so many wonderful websites dedicated to methods of packing. Pay a visit to a few of these sites and see the endless amount of options there are for packing. Apply those that seem fit for your journey and even come up with your own version as well.

Obviously circumstances play a role for a carry-on lifestyle. If you’re going to your destination wedding then you’re not going to bother trying to smash a wedding dress into a carry-on bag.

Though in my experiences, for a standard long weekend getaway or even a lengthier 2-week vacation, a carry-on lifestyle can absolutely be accomplished with ease. If applied correctly, your travel day will be so much easier. As if you’ve gone straight to the front of the line of your favorite Disney ride. Plus your pocketbook will be grateful, and you won’t ever be caught wearing some god awful Argentinean fashion that your body and mind won’t fit around.

Now carry-on my friends and go see this beautiful world we call home!

Have additional tips or advice? Leave them in the comments below!

The post The Carry-on Advantage: How to Travel with Only a Carry-on first appeared on Travel Gear Addict.