The Best Luggage for Holiday Travel

Holiday travel season is nearly upon us, and on top of the stress of coordinating your plans, buying tickets, and gearing up for the busiest time of year, at some point you’re also going to have to make time to pack. If you’re realizing that you’re long overdue to invest in a new suitcase for your upcoming travels, let us relieve that stressor for you — after all, it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about packing at Travel + Leisure.

After polling the editorial team on their favorite luggage to use specifically around the holidays, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the 23 best bags (from personal items to checked luggage) that are worth investing in for smooth, easy travels this season. Prices start at just $98 for bags that are truly the crème de la crème, plus, many of them are even on sale thanks to early Black Friday deals.

Travelpro Maxlite Air Large Check-in Hardside Spinner

“I’ve always been a stubborn carry-on-only traveler — that is, until I tested this shockingly lightweight checked bag last winter. My maiden voyage with this suitcase was on a ski trip out west, which meant I packed the hardside frame full of my heavy boots and other winter accessories, on top of my typical clothes and shoes. With everything inside, I was thrilled to find how well it held up and how easy it was to zip shut. The interior is fitted with handy zippered compartments so I’m always able to stay sufficiently organized during my trips, and eight smooth spinner wheels make it easy to transport this suitcase across everything from slick airport floors to uneven, bumpy terrain. Best of all, it comes fitted with a built-in TSA-approved lock, so I feel confident that even when my bag is out of sight, my belongings are protected. It’s the perfect choice for stuffing full of holiday gifts, bulky sweaters, and chunky winter boots.” — Merrell Readman, T+L Senior Commerce Writer

Antler Large Carry-On Luggage – Icon Stripe

“Antler’s Large Carry-on is my go-to carry-on, whether I’m taking a quick weekend getaway or a 14-day trip abroad. I’ve been able to travel internationally with this spacious suitcase for a two-week vacation in Europe, in which I planned to split my time between lounging on a beach and hiking in the mountains; I was able to pack enough outfits, shoes, and gear for two different climates and itineraries, including everything from swimsuits, dresses, and sandals to leggings, packable jackets, and hiking boots. The 15.5 inch by 22.8 inch by 9.4 inch hardshell suitcase boasts more than 48 liters of packing space and weighs in at just 6 pounds, making it perfect for overpackers who still want to efficiently travel with a carry-on. (I didn’t even have to check it for my regional flight from Paris to Mallorca with Air France HOP, and it easily fit in the plane’s overhead bin.) Plus, the durable, water-resistant exterior and smooth spinner wheels that rolled across bumpy European cobblestone streets with zero issues are just the icing on the cake. If I’m going carry-on-only, you won’t catch me without this Antler suitcase for the holidays.” — Susan Brickell, T+L Commerce Director

Dagne Dover Denver Medium Convertible Duffel

“The Denver Convertible Duffel has quickly become one of my favorite travel bags since I got it last November. Because I fly with my dog in-cabin over the holidays, it’s hard to manage a crossbody strap on each shoulder without waddling through the airport. This one has removable backpack straps which makes it so much easier to speed from the lounge to the gate. While I’ll be stashing it overhead again this year, I also used it as a personal item on a flight to London in June. The medium size is a whopping 32 liters and can offer the packing equivalent of two small, wheeled bags when I’m flying dog-free.” — Morgan Ashley Parker, T+L Commerce Associate Editorial Director

Away The Softside Medium

“This bag has quickly become my go-to checked luggage. Despite its medium size, it holds far more than I anticipated. The design is both stylish and practical, and it glides effortlessly through the airport, even when packed to the brim. I’ve taken it on multiple trips, and thanks to its durable softside material, it still looks brand new with no signs of wear or tear. I couldn’t recommend it more — absolutely 10/10!” — Rosie Marder, T+L Commerce Writer

Calpak Luka Duffel

“I absolutely love Calpak’s Luka duffel! This Oprah-approved bag is perfect for traveling, including as a personal item for certain domestic airlines. I even use it to replace my carry-on suitcase when I need to travel lighter. It has five pockets in the interior plus a luggage sleeve on the outside that has a hidden zipper. It’s also regularly admired by fellow travelers. On my most recent train ride, a fellow passenger recognized the bag by name and, after complimenting it and asking me questions, swore she was going to buy it immediately.” — Melissa Chavez, Director, Commerce Strategy

July Medium Checked Light

“This almost-sold-out checked bag is my go-to when traveling home to cold New York from sunny Los Angeles for the holidays, because it’s spacious but incredibly compact and lightweight. Plus, it’s just all-around sleek and nothing like the oversized monster of a suitcase I used to struggle to wheel through the airport.” — Emily Belfiore, T+L Senior Commerce Editor

Rimowa Essential Lite Cabin

“I’ve traveled to over 50 countries without ever checking a bag, so I’m serious about a carry-on that fits all the various airline size and weight restrictions. I’ve tested dozens of suitcases and the one I always come back to is this lightweight Rimowa carry-on. While it doesn’t have many bells and whistles, it’s proven extremely durable, fits everything I need, and, best of all, is under five pounds. Even when I’ve stuffed it to the gills, it’s light enough to easily lift over my head and it has saved me hundreds in baggage fees thanks to never being overweight.” — Hannah Freedman, ​Director, Commerce Strategy

Monos 27-Inch Medium Check-In Spinner Luggage

“I always used to stubbornly avoid packing a check-in bag whenever I could. I live on the third floor of a walk-up apartment, and am often traveling on my own, so the last thing I want to do when I’m rushing to a flight or coming home after a long day of travel is lug a clunky, heavy piece of luggage up several flights of stairs. That totally changed when, about five years ago, I was gifted this suitcase from Monos. It’s extremely lightweight, and I use it to pack a month’s worth of clothing whenever I visit my family in India or Australia during the holidays. It holds all my essentials along with bulky Indian clothing and gifts for my big family with ease. When empty, it’s air-light and easy to store in high-up cabinets in my apartment.” — Neha Tandon, Commerce Editor

Thule Aion Travel Pack – 40 L

“Roller bag loyalists, hear me out: I’ve been traveling with this Thule carry-on backpack for years. Not to mention, I’ve tested several of the most popular carry-on bags on the market, and this one still remains my favorite. It has a 40-liter capacity, meaning you can really stuff it (it fits as much as a rolling carry-on but with more give thanks to its flexible water-repellant, waxed canvas shell), and comes with tons of organizational features like exterior pockets to quickly access your water bottle, passport, and headphones, as well as interior pockets to keep everything secure during travel. One of my favorite features is the padded storage pocket at the backside for my laptop (it can fit up to a 16-inch MacBook), which makes getting through the TSA incredibly fast and easy if you have to remove your electronics from your bag. It fits in overhead bins on both domestic and international flights I’ve taken — including on smaller, regional airlines that have a reputation for making travelers check their bags — and I love that I have also been able to use it as my personal item in combination with a carry-on suitcase when I’ve needed additional packing space for longer trips, including holiday travel and ski weekends.” — Susan Brickell, T+L Commerce Director

Paravel Aviator Trunk

“I always check a bag when I travel because I’m a notorious over-packer, and this trunk from Paravel is just the suitcase for the job. It’s spacious enough to fit everything I could need for any type of trip, but it’s still super easy to maneuver through a crowded airport thanks to its tall, narrow design. It’s also extremely sturdy and can withstand rough handling during any trip.” — Anna Popp, T+L Associate Commerce Editor

Béis the Mini Weekender

“This is my go-to personal item when I’m traveling with just a carry-on suitcase thanks to its sleek silhouette and large capacity. I love the sturdy shoe compartment, which I can use to store my larger, more cumbersome shoes like hiking boots, and the internal organization features like a padded laptop sleeve, zippered pocket, and two slip pockets are unmatched. It also comes in handy for packing away extra clothes that don’t fit in my carry-on. It’s easy to transport thanks to its padded top handles and crossbody strap, plus it features a handy trolley passthrough sleeve. It generally fits underneath the seat in front of me, although it might be a bit of a tight fit depending on your height and the airline you’re flying with.” — Asia London Palomba, T+L Commerce Updates Writer

Away The Carry-on

“This is my first hardshell bag, and I immediately fell in love with it because of how neat and organized it keeps my belongings. I am constantly shocked with how much I can fit inside — I’ve traveled two weeks in Italy with it, and even included heels and a dress for a wedding. I like that there aren’t too many bells and whistles — I want there to be as much open space inside as possible to fit my shoes and packing cubes, since I normally use my personal item to hold the rest (laptop, books, toiletries, etc). This carry-on delivers on that front with two open sides and a zip pocket in the middle where I store my laptop when I know I won’t need it until my destination. I also love how sleek it is when strolling through airports, and the shell can take quite a beating (I’ve used it regularly traveling between Connecticut and New York City on the train – it often goes from bus to train to car). I’ll definitely be using this suitcase for the holidays to pack my outfits, shoes, gifts, and more, knowing that I’ll still have plenty of room inside for the shopping and the gifts I’ll accumulate while home!” — Erin Cavoto, T+L Commerce Editor

Béis Carry-on Roller

“I’m an overpacker by nature, and the Béis Carry-on Roller is the only suitcase that’s been able to fit everything I need without weighing me down. The expandable feature has been a godsend on destination wedding trips, cold-weather adventures with lots of gear, and even when moving into a new apartment.” — Emily Belfiore, T+L Senior Commerce Editor

Dagne Dover Seattle Carry-on Rolling Luggage

“As a travel editor and carry-on devotee, I’ve tested suitcases from most major luggage brands out there. When Dagne Dover debuted its very first collection of suitcases this year, I was excited to see what they had to offer compared to brands who had been in the game way longer. The Seattle Carry-on made quite the first impression when I took it on the road for a quick trip to St. Thomas. The wheels rolled buttery smooth, and I felt like I was floating through the airport. Though I’m typically partial to hardside suitcases, the clever design and stunning fabric of the Seattle Carry-on stood out from the rest. This bag has the potential to be my new go-to.” — Jasmine Grant, T+L Senior Commerce Editor

Away Commuter Backpack

“I’m a disorganized traveler, which means I need a backpack that can organize itself. Away’s new Commuter Backpack has more than enough pockets to store tech, snacks, laptops, wallets, and more without feeling like I’ll lose items in the depths of the bag. It also has tons of padding in the straps and back panel, making it extremely comfortable to carry during a long travel day. Plus, it has a trolley sleeve so I can strap it onto my carry-on if my shoulders need a break.” — Anna Popp, T+L Associate Commerce Editor

July Checked Expandable Luggage

“I’ve retired myself from traveling with large checked bags ever since I had to painfully lug a huge and heavy Travelpro suitcase across what felt like hundreds of bridges on a vacation in Venice. The next time I traveled to Italy for a multi-week trip, I was much more prepared thanks to July’s expandable medium checked spinner, which is lighter to lift and easy to maneuver. With an 80-liter capacity, the 26-inch bag fits at least two weeks’ worth of clothing, shoes, and accessories and the expansion zipper adds about 10 liters of additional packing space. The telescopic handle can be extended up to 20 inches and stops at multiple heights for comfortable rolling, while the durable and dependable wheels never made me nervous that they would break on a cobblestone street and leave me stranded trying to get to my hotel. The outside is sleek and sturdy and has aluminum corner bumpers to help protect it during transit — multiple baggage claims later, my suitcase impressively still looks brand new. It’s honestly the perfect-sized checked bag!” — Susan Brickell, T+L Commerce Director

Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack

“Switching from my longtime tote bag to this travel backpack has been a lifesaver for my back and my airport efficiency. I’m able to fit way more in an organized fashion while still having easy access to what I need — shoutout to the laptop compartment that helps me speed through TSA security.” — Emily Belfiore, T+L Senior Commerce Editor

Lojel Voja Medium Suitcase

“[This is] hands down the coolest and most reliable suitcase I’ve ever owned — with not a single zipper to break. Buy three.” — Paul Brady, T+L News Director

Practice The Karma Backpack

“I’m a carry-on-only traveler, so it’s super important that my “personal item” fits under the airplane seat and maxes out on storage. This backpack from Practice can expand to hold a lot — way more than a typical purse or a tote. My favorite feature is its two-way carry method. You can wear it like a backpack, or if you prefer, tuck in the straps and carry it over your shoulder. It’s made of nylon, which is really easy to clean. It also has two sleeves on the side for my water bottle and an umbrella (or a rolled up sweater). I keep all my tech and charging cables in the front zippered pouch for easy access once I’m on the plane, and I can quickly pull out my laptop from the sleeve on the outside. Also, it’s not just a big empty cave on the inside, there are more pockets and zippered compartments so you can actually keep the contents of your bag organized. I traveled with this all over New York and carried my laptop, two professional cameras with their lenses, a change of clothes, and an iPad, all without overloading it.” — Kelsey Glennon, Travel Commerce & Fashion Writer

WM J. Mills & Co. Executive Cambridge Bag

“When I’m traveling by car, my go-to is this sturdy (and very handsome) waxed-canvas bag made by a small family business in Greenport, New York. The design is simple and unfussy, with one wide open interior compartment and weighty brass hardware; no plastic clips or buckles in sight. It’s the kind of bag you know will last forever and get passed down to another traveler one day, still looking just as good as the day you got it, if not better. Mine’s weathered beautifully over the past few years.” — Skye Senterfeit, T+L Deputy Photo Editor 

Away The Bigger Carry-On

“I’ll be traveling by train during the holidays, and since I cannot check a bag, a piece of luggage that’s manageable as a solo traveler, yet still spacious is of the utmost importance. That’s why The Bigger Carry On from Away has become my go-to. It easily fits a week of clothes and necessities (and I’m a self-proclaimed overpacker). I also love the brand’s fun colorways. I have the limited-edition magenta shade from last winter, but I’m currently eyeing the newly-released sparkly galaxy blue colorway.” — Melony Forcier, Commerce Writer

Béis the Expandable Backpack

“I purchased this backpack a few months ago for a trip to Key West and haven’t looked at another bag since. I’ve used this on trips home to Rome and Morocco, and will be taking it through Cambodia and Thailand at the end of the year. Its crowning feature is its expandable sides which make the backpack seriously spacious (while still remaining pretty sleek and compact). I also appreciate its separate padded laptop sleeve, key ring leash, water bottle pocket, trolley passthrough sleeve, and the other various internal pockets it has. I’ve been able to pack away two 16-inch laptops, a 10-inch tablet, a portable monitor, my Fujifilm XT3O-II camera, a small toiletry bag, and various portable chargers, cables, and other smaller items — all with room to spare. Plus, I love how rugged and durable the exterior material is (I am not known for being gentle with my travel gear).” — Asia London Palomba, T+L Commerce Updates Writer

MZ Wallace Chelsea Petite Shoulder

“When I’m traveling with my dog, I can’t fit all my essentials in his pet carrier, along with enough treats to satisfy him on a 5-hour flight. But that’s where this purse comes in since — don’t read this, gate agents — it comes with a detachable crossbody strap so I can wear it under my jacket or oversized hoodie. It has three external pockets to fit cash, earbuds, lip balm, and other small items, and the main compartment is large enough for my Kindle, passport, snacks, and even a standard-sized water bottle. I usually wear it during the flight, but it’s small enough to tuck under the seat next to my dog Beau’s bag if needed. I can’t wait to break this one out for holiday travel since I can use it as a purse when I get to my destination (so that’s one less bag to pack) and it’s more spacious than both the Tumi Crossbody and the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag I’ve used in the same way in years past.” — Morgan Ashley Parker, T+L Commerce Associate Editorial Director

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