The 13 Best Luggage Pieces for International Travel of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

With the enormous variety of luggage options available today, it can feel overwhelming to pick the right bag for an international trip. To help you find the perfect piece for your needs, the Travel + Leisure team tested more than 600 travel bags, from carry-ons and checked suitcases to duffels, weekenders, and backpacks.

We built an airplane set in our New York City lab to lift bags into overhead bins and see how well they fit beneath real airplane seats, hit bags with baseball bats to test their durability, and maneuvered them through obstacle courses to see how easy they are to roll. For this list, we prioritized bags that work with general international size and weight limits, as many international carriers have stricter requirements for both.

Whether you’re heading on a two-week European vacation or a shorter trip on an airline with restrictive policies, there’s an option on our list for every type of traveler, from a collapsible checked suitcase to a compact garment bag.

PHOTO: July

If you’re going away for a long international trip and want to bring along all the comforts of home, this spacious suitcase is large enough to hold two weeks worth of your favorite outfits and plenty of shoe options, too. The largest bag in July’s entire range of luggage, this suitcase has a built-in compression feature that is durable enough to keep clothes from falling out regardless of which side you open it from. It also has many zippered pockets that are great for keeping smaller items organized, a laundry bag, and a water-resistant and stain-proof nylon lining. Just keep in mind that the bag may go over your airlines’ weight limit if you pack it full since it’s pretty large.

We were especially impressed with how smooth the wheels glided over various surfaces during our tests, seamlessly transitioning from concrete pavers to carpet and maneuvering easily through our human obstacle course. Despite its large size, the bag was easy to roll around people, and the handle was easy to pull without leaving a strain on our arms or backs, even when packed full. We also loved how the handle has the ability to adjust to any height rather than set modes, so it’s customizable for different family members to share. The outer shell felt pretty sturdy, although there were some light scuffs and grazes after we threw it off a counter multiple times fully packed. However, the contents inside didn’t budge, and the bag did not dent even after we hit it repeatedly with a metal baseball bat.

PHOTO: Amazon

Frequent flyers will love this ultralightweight, hardside carry-on from Samsonite. We can attest to this — we recently retested this bag in our lab to see if we loved it as much as we did two years ago when we first tried it out. During both tests, it exceeded all of our expectations. Even when fully packed, it’s a breeze to hoist over your head on flights. Built with four 360-degree spinner wheels, it stands out for how effortlessly it glides over everything from carpet to curbs, easily navigating road bumps and smoothly transitioning from two to four wheels. It also held up well to all of our durability tests, showing no signs of damage after we threw it off a table and hit it with a baseball bat on both occasions.

While there aren’t any smart features, there are plenty of handy extras like a recessed TSA-approved lock, compression straps, a small zippered pouch to store your delicates, and a 1-inch expander. While there’s already ample space to fit a week’s worth of clothing in the zippered compartment, the expander is primarily excellent for freeing up some extra space for souvenirs. You can scoop this bag up in an array of vibrant jewel tones or neutrals and can even opt to make it a set with the addition of a 28-inch checked bag. “It’s really just a reliable little suitcase,” T+L editor Taylor Fox says.

PHOTO: Amazon

Light packers, look no further than this compact suitcase from Delsey. The iconic French brand is known for its lightweight and ultradurable suitcases, and this carry-on is another excellent example. It’s ideal for weekend getaways or business trips, as it includes a USB port and is packed with organizational features to help keep your belongings in their proper place.

On one side, there’s a zippered compartment which we found to be perfect for storing midweight jackets and a few pairs of shoes. The other half of the suitcase features compression straps, which worked well to help maximize packing space. We loved how easy it was to stay organized using this suitcase: there’s a mesh zippered pocket for separating delicates; a laundry and a shoe bag; and a discrete pocket hidden in the lining, which makes for a great place to store currency if you’re not using a hotel safe. We also love the antimicrobial lining, which helps to reduce any lingering odors. While the price tag may seem steep given that this is a smaller bag, it’s a tribute to Delsey’s legacy of standing by its luxury pieces — the brand offers a 10-year limited warranty.

PHOTO: Travelpro

A medium checked bag can be the perfect go-to piece of luggage for just about any trip, and our favorite is the Travelpro Maxlite Air Medium Check-in Hardside Spinner. This bag easily fit everything on our packing lists with very little thought given to organization thanks to the built-in compression panels. It also expands 2 inches so you could give yourself even more room if needed for longer trips.

While this is a high-capacity bag, it’s still lightweight and easy to maneuver (although we wish the handle could adjust to more than just two heights). We love how easily the wheels glide over any surface. We were even able to smoothly twirl the bag as well as both push and pull it over carpeting, concrete, and more. After our durability testing, it shows one minor scuff but otherwise looks great, and all of the items inside were well-protected.

PHOTO: Briggs & Riley

If you need a large checked bag that’s up to the challenge of keeping your things safe, it’ll be hard to find an option better than this one from Briggs & Riley. This substantial trunk is the largest on this list and was dubbed an “absolute monster” during testing (in a good way) for its 123.9-liter capacity and 32.5-inch height. We were able to fit our entire packing list easily and felt like we could fit it again four times over if needed, making this a great option for people who are going on long trips or packing for a family.

This bag has an 80/20 lid that opens to reveal two deep compartments with compression panels and zippered pockets. The polycarbonate hardside shell did dent when we hit it with a baseball bat during testing, but we still feel like this bag is more than strong enough to protect your things during travel. We were a little worried about navigating this bag due to its size, but we found it surprisingly easy to wheel around even when packed full. The bag itself only weighs about 10 pounds when empty, which leaves you lots of wiggle room to pack within your airline’s allotted weight limit, although the massive interior of the bag can make it difficult to do this. Overall, we were impressed with the size and maneuverability of this bag, and we think it’s an excellent option for anyone who needs a lot of space in their checked luggage.

PHOTO: Samsonite

We love this spacious suitcase, designed with multiple interior and exterior pockets to keep all of your items organized. Because it’s a softside bag, it has a bit of give that naturally expands as you need to make sure it easily zips closed, and it also has a 2-inch expander if you need the extra space. While this suitcase is rather heavy at 10 pounds, it wasn’t overly cumbersome. It was easy to pull and push the bag over different surfaces as the weight evenly distributed itself. We also love the thick exterior fabric of the bag that proved to be tear and scuff-resistant throughout our durability tests. The handle was the only feature that seemed less sturdy as it got caught on occasion, but worked well when needed. Whether you’re planning a long trip or short trip, this is a high-quality, functional bag that is sure to withstand anything you throw at it.

The Details: Checked suitcase | 29.8 x 20 x 11.5 inches | 10 pounds | Recyclex | 4 dual spinner wheels

PHOTO: Paravel

Why We Love It

It has deep, spacious compartments, and the option to add on packing cubes with interchangeable labels.

The Paravel Aviator Trunk is a dream for organization. With a 95-liter capacity, you’d think packing two weeks worth of clothing inside this spacious trunk would get messy, but there are plenty of special features to keep everything in its rightful place. It features a compression board, a removable laundry bag, and interior pockets, as well as the option to add on a suite of seven packing cubes (five large and two small) with interchangeable labels. While the cubes add an additional cost, we love how they helped us pack and stay organized from the get-go. The suitcase’s interior features a 70/30 split, with the shallower side featuring two zippered pockets. The deeper side is perfect for holding the packing cubes.

We especially loved the trunk’s vegan leather accents and handles as a luxe feature and thought the recycled zippers glided smoothly. The exterior is crafted from recycled polycarbonate that overall feels quite sturdy. It also rolled quite easily, even when fully packed, which is ideal to navigate busy airports. We wish that its recycled aluminum handle had three instead of two settings so that we could pull it from a taller, more comfortable height. Another important thing to note is that given the trunk’s large size, it could be easy to overpack, so you may want to pick up a portable luggage scale to keep track of its weight while traveling.

PHOTO: Amazon

It’s a tall order to find a backpack that can replace your carry-on bag, but the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack is up to the challenge. This bag opens like a suitcase, so it’s easy to pack like one, too. It has a relatively unstructured style, but we found this useful for squishing things into every last bit of space. There are several zippered pockets and compartments for organization and help keep everything in its place. It also has a designated laptop pocket that can hold devices up to 15 inches.

The shell of this backpack is made from TPU-coated nylon and comes with a rain cover to ensure your belongings stay dry. It’s easy to lift at any angle, thanks to handles on all four sides. The back is padded and comfortable for extended periods of wear and has a waist belt for additional support while traveling. We think this is a fantastic bag for replacing your carry-on if you’re comfortable packing light and don’t want to wheel a suitcase around.

The Details: Carry-on | 22 x 12 x 10 inches | 2.94 pounds | 35-liter capacity | Recycled 840D TPU-coated nylon, recycled 840-denier ballistic ripstop nylon, recycled ripstop polyester lining

PHOTO: Patagonia

Looking for a duffel that can function as either a carry-on or personal item? How about one that also converts into a carry-on backpack for versatile carrying options? If so, you’ll love Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel as much as we do. It boasts a 40-liter capacity and a spacious pocket under the lid, as well as external zippered compartments for easy access to travel essentials like your passport and boarding pass. The rugged, ripstop fabric is thick to the touch and didn’t scratch or scuff in the slightest during our durability testing. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate that this lightweight duffel is ready to take on any adventure thanks to its extremely water-resistant construction — plus, it’s made from eco-friendly recycled materials. Best of all, it collapses down into a small inner pocket for easy, convenient storage in between trips.

The Details: Carry-on | 19.7 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches | 2.06 pounds | 40-liter capacity | Recycled polyester ripstop with a recycled TPU-film laminate

PHOTO: Amazon

Designed with an extremely large capacity, this 130-liter rolling duffel is spacious enough to fit multiple weeks’ worth of clothing with ease (if you’re flying with it, just be sure to check your airline’s weight restrictions). Heavy-duty external compression straps keep everything in place, while extra rugged wheels are made to ease the pain of lugging heavy loads across campsites or through the airport. We loved the storage bag that’s included, which you can use as a packing cube to help keep things organized.

There’s no exterior frame to support this bag when standing upright — and while this may be an inconvenience to some, we found it to be a huge plus because it makes the bag supremely lightweight for its large size. It’s also easier to wear as a backpack because of this, as there’s no hard frame digging into your back if you opt to convert the bag.

PHOTO: Beis

Beis’ Weekender is the go-to of frequent flyers who want form and function. It’s got the brand’s signature functionality features, like a separate bottom compartment for shoes, toiletries, or your dirty laundry bag, plus a padded laptop sleeve, several small internal pockets, and more. There’s a removable shoulder strap along with a back zip-pocket that converts into a trolley sleeve for easy transport, too. While it’s got a bit of heft to it even while empty, its sturdiness is appreciated — unlike so many duffel-style bags, it won’t slip off of your suitcase even if you’re sprinting through the airport.

We love the bottom zippered compartment, which is perfect for storing toiletries or shoes separately so you don’t need to worry about leakage or dirtying your wardrobe. It’s one of several pockets and compartments that set this bag apart as an organizational hero for us, as small pouches are excellent for storing small essentials like keys, while larger pockets are perfect for tucking delicates, socks, and more.

The Details: Carry-on | 19 x 10 x 16 inches | 3.86 pounds | 49-liter capacity | Poly canvas body, vegan leather trim

PHOTO: Aer

This sleek, minimalist carry-on suitcase is crafted from a durable polycarbonate shell and features an ergonomic handle with four settings. Its integrated break system, which is without a doubt the bag’s standout feature, can easily be enabled by pressing a button at the base of the handle. This is particularly useful for traveling on public transport or when stopping on an incline, as it prevents the suitcase from rolling away from you.

The bag opens evenly like a clamshell, with one side featuring a zippered half great for storing smaller or loose items, and the other sporting a Y-shaped compression pad. There’s also a small hidden pocket ideal for discreetly packing a Bluetooth tracking device. The suitcase also features TSA-approved locks and comes with its own leather luggage tag, which we think is a nice touch. Its four dual spinner wheels are among the smoothest that we’ve tested, and they glide like butter on all surfaces, even when the suitcase is fully packed. While its packing capacities are ample, we do wish the bag could expand to offer just a little more space.

Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner 3-piece Set

PHOTO: Amazon

When it comes to getting a great value for your money, nothing compares to this sleek and sturdy set from Amazon Basics. While we only tested the 21-inch carry-on, we were so impressed by it in two separate lab tests that we’re confident in the quality of the matching set, which includes a 21-inch carry-on, a 26-inch checked bag, and a 30-inch checked bag — all of which conveniently nest into each other for easy storage when not in use. For smoothly maneuvering this set through the airport, there are many gadgets that make it easy to carry multiple bags at once.

During testing, we found that the four spinner wheels could easily tackle bumps and sharp turns, rolling smoothly over carpets, pavement, hardwood floors, and more. We also appreciate the variety of storage compartments, which include three zippered compartments for convenient organization. The carry-on is quite roomy as well, easily fitting a week’s worth of clothes without even using the expander thanks to the compression straps. Once expanded, it offers an additional 2 inches of luggage space. Assuming all bags are the same quality as the carry-on size, we think this is a great set for the traveler on a budget.

The Details: 3-piece set | 14.8 x 10 x 21.7 inches (21-inch), 17.8 x 11.3 x 26.8 inches (26-inch), 20.7 x 12.6 x 30.7 inches (30-inch) | 7.3 pounds (21-inch), 9.4 pounds (26-inch), 11.7 pounds (30-inch) | Expandable | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | 4 dual spinner wheels

Other Luggage We Liked

We’ve tested so many pieces of luggage that there are some other pieces we can recommend for some travelers, although they weren’t quite suited for our main list.

Calpak Hue Trunk Luggage: Though we love the Paravel Aviator trunk in our main list above because it has better organizational features for a long trip, this is another great trunk option for a lower price — and it’s expandable.

Travel + Leisure/Jhett Thompson

Delsey Paris Cruise 3.0 26-inch Trunk: We loved how this trunk is split 80/20, which is ideal for separating your wardrobe from accessories, shoes, toiletries, and more. We also appreciated how there’s a handy weight indicator built into the handle to help you avoid overweight baggage fees. Our main gripe with this trunk, however, is that we wish there were more pockets and compartments to keep everything organized.

Tumi International Dual Access 4-wheeled Carry-on: Dual-access compartments are convenient for accessing your belongings, but ultimately we docked points as they eat into the main compartment space in this compact carry-on.

Béis The 29-inch Large Check-in Roller: While we love how capacious and chic this roller bag from Béis is, we found that it scuffed too easily in our durability testing.

Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-on: This carry-on is compact yet spacious and comes with a removable charger, but the wheels and handle didn’t function as smoothly as some other bags on this list.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Peak Design Travel Backpack: Generously sized and comfortable to carry for long periods, this is a great backpack for outdoor enthusiasts. However, the sporty aesthetic may not appeal to everyone’s sense of style.

Beis The Small Carry-on Roller: This little bag provided a decent amount of packing space for its size, and we thought it would be useful for staying organized on short trips. That being said, the wheels didn’t roll smoothly, and it was hard to maneuver.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Our Testing Process

The T+L team tested more than 600 carry-on and checked suitcases, and other travel bags including backpacks, duffels, and more in our New York City lab. We recreated an airplane set to best test carry-on bags just like we would on a real plane. Our first task was weighing the bags ourselves to make sure they were in line with their product descriptions, and then we performed a range of tests to assess the capacity, design, value, and durability of the bags. We also took careful note of their maneuverability, portability, and how comfortable they are to carry. We packed each size with a different amount of clothing and toiletries, from a week’s worth of essentials for a checked bag to two days of clothing for weekenders.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

To see how the bags would perform in a real-life setting, we rolled them around on a variety of different floor types, including an obstacle course designed to test their maneuverability. We also hoisted them into overhead bins on our mock airplane, slung them over our shoulders, and stuffed them under real airplane seats. Next, for durability testing, we shoved each piece off a high countertop repeatedly and struck it all over with a metal baseball bat in order to evaluate potential wear and tear. The pieces that earned the best feedback in all testing categories were selected for this roundup. After our initial tests, we continued to see how the bags fared over the course of six months in the real world.

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Tips for Buying a Suitcase for International Travel

Choose a size that’s right for your travels

It’s crucial to consider what kind of journey you’re most apt to take when searching for the ideal international luggage. After all, three months of continent-hopping calls for a very different set up from a week-long trip to a cosmopolitan capital. If you’re prone to shorter jaunts or know yourself to be a light packer, consider a classic carry-on or something even more compact, like a weekender bag. If you’ll be traveling longer term or have a hard time paring down your outfit options, opt for a larger carry-on or a checked bag.

Look for lightweight construction

No one wants to waste their baggage weight limit on a hefty piece of luggage. For softside suitcases, polyester and nylon materials are often the most lightweight, while hardside shells made of polycarbonate, polypropylene, and ABS are great options as well. Standard carry-ons weigh in around 7 pounds, with the lightest-weight options ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 pounds when empty. Checked suitcases are slightly heavier, typically ranging from 8-11 pounds. If you’re looking for something seriously lightweight, consider alternative options to a classic suitcase — think duffels, weekenders, or backpacks, which can weigh as little as 2 or 3 pounds.

Typically, the weight limit for carry-on luggage is around 35 pounds domestically, although carry-on weight limits are often only enforced on budget airlines. International flights may have stricter restrictions, so be sure to check your airline. When it comes to checked luggage, the rule of thumb is 50 pounds — but you can usually pack up to 70 pounds for an added cost.

Decide what organizational features you need

Suitcases are evolving to make packing easier than ever, boasting everything from designated laundry bags to zippered pockets for your tiniest trinkets. Some add-ons may be more relevant to your travel style — compression boards and packing cubes could be non-negotiables for overpackers, while tech lovers may have easy-access exterior pockets and charging ports at the top of the list. And remember, if you fall in love with a suitcase that doesn’t have everything you need — say, compression compartments or built-in security — you can always buy packing cubes or a combination lock separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size carry-on is best for international travel?

International airlines each have their own size and weight limits for baggage, so your best bet is to always look up your specific carrier’s requirements. But, generally speaking, a 21-inch carry-on (considered an “international” carry-on, as opposed to the standard, “domestic” 22-inch size) is a safe bet for most airlines both domestic and abroad.

Are there any items I can’t bring in my suitcase internationally?

There’s a whole bunch of stuff you can’t bring in your suitcase — just take a peek at TSA’s Instagram account for a glimpse (and a good laugh). Other than the obvious ones, like weapons or explosives, there are some specific items that are prohibited in carry-ons and checked luggage alike when traveling internationally, from certain amounts of liquids to alcoholic beverages, e-cigarettes, meats, dairy products, drones, and more. If you’re not sure about a certain item, be sure to check your airline’s (and destination’s) guidelines before packing.

Is there a different weight limit for international trips?

Oftentimes, yes! While most domestic carry-ons can weigh up to 40 pounds (and may never be weighed), many international airlines only allow carry-on bags of up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms) and could strictly enforce this. You can often purchase more capacity ahead of time for a discounted price, but be sure to keep the restrictions in mind if you’ll be puddle jumping frequently, as the baggage costs can add up quickly. Checked luggage typically has the same weight limit internationally, offering up to 50 pounds before added fees kick in.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, T+L contributor Sophie Dodd researched every aspect of luggage suited to international travel, from TSA-approved dimensions to key organizational features and which materials are the most lightweight. She also relied on testing insights from the T+L team, who spent six months analyzing each bag on this list. We will continue updating this article as we test more bags worth recommending for an international trip.

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