From Rimowa to Carl Friedrik: The 10 best editor-approved carry-on luggage for frequent flyers

For someone who travels as much as I do, for work or leisure, the most important thing to consider when travelling is convenience. 

The repeated hassle of going through customs checks and immigration is stressful enough that when it comes down to it, all I ask is for a piece of luggage that’s reliable, sturdy, and easy to recognise. Bonus points if it looks good. 

I’m a chronic overpacker, preferring to pick my outfits on the fly depending on the weather and my mood, but I’ve managed to use a cabin bag-sized luggage for two-week-long trips within the region. It especially helps to cut down on the time spent waiting at the luggage belt, which can take up to an hour depending on the efficiency of the airport.

QUICK BUY LIST

• For city weekend trips: Lojel Cubo Small
• For business travellers: Tumi Alpha International Dual Access Carry-on
• For the overpacker: July Carry On Light Expandable 
• For the style-conscious: Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

What to look out for when choosing luggage

Most airlines operating within Southeast Asia have the following size restrictions for cabin bags: 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (22in x 14in x 9in). Watch out for strict weight limits, particularly for budget carriers on domestic flights (unfortunately, the only option when flying out to secluded island getaways). In this case, a lighter case is always a better option. 

You’ll want something sturdy with spinner wheels and ergonomic handles that pull up at least two different stop heights, so getting off the plane stairs and walking off the tarmac will be a breeze. Good wheels will come in handy too when pulling your bag across different kinds of terrain, such as sand, gravel or cobblestone.

Pro tip: Use packing cubes or portable compression packing shelves to organise your garments and shoes further.

10 best cabin bags for frequent flyers

Rimowa Original Cabin

• Dimensions: 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 35L 
• Weight: 4.3kg
• Material: Anodised aluminium exterior, polyester interior lining
• Warranty: Lifetime

Get quiet nods of approval as you roll the sleek metallic Rimowa Original Cabin through any airport, an instantly recognisable mark of German engineering. 

Its patented multiwheel system glides easily, regardless of the weight — considering its standalone weight is at a hefty 4.3kg — and compensates for its hard plastic wheels, which we hear might damage fairly frequently. It’s a good thing then that every Rimowa suitcase comes with a lifetime warranty, with stores available in every major city. 

On the pricier end of our list, owners of Rimowa luggage see them as an investment, personalising theirs with stickers or character-building scratches and dents in memory of trips abroad. You might, however, want to leave this at home for flights that have 7kg carry-on weight limits.

Tumi Alpha International Dual Access Carry-on

• Dimensions: 56 x 35.5 x 23cm, 35L
• Weight: 4.85kg
• Material: FXT ballistic nylon
• Warranty: 5 years

This might be the heaviest on the list, thanks to its smooth spinner wheels. Still, the Tumi Alpha International Dual Access Carry-On is packed with well-thought-out features (with basically everything you might need) that make it a godsend for frequent business flyers who can’t be bothered to make multiple trips to the store. 

On the exterior are two zip pockets for extra storage and two ways to open the main compartment. The telescoping handle comes with three stop heights, and it has a built-in USB port, TSA-approved lock and TUMI Tracer to track your bag. And on the inside, you’ll find dividers and mesh pockets, as well as a removable garment sleeve with a fibreglass rod to keep your suit or dress wrinkle-free, and a hanger bracket. 

While not the most stylish in our round-up, you can customise by adding an embossed monogram of your initials or emojis of your choice. The water-resistant and durable ballistic nylon also allows for more flexibility if you need even more room for souvenirs, afforded by the zip closures offering 2cm to 5cm more in width.

Carl Friedrik The Carry-On

• Dimensions: 56 x 37 x 24cm, 40L
• Weight: 3.9kg
• Material: Makrolon polycarbonate shell, recycled polyester lining
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

You’d have seen this ultra-stylish Carl Friedrik The Carry-On on TV shows such as The White Lotus or Succession, and we’re glad to report that it’s not all good looks. An eco-conscious brand that prides itself on understated luxury, each component of the suitcase is thoughtfully sourced for its quality and story.

With an exterior made of hardy German Makrolon polycarbonate, aluminium lock frame, and vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather accents made from raw hide of Scandinavian cattle, this is one suitcase bound to get you looks of envy. Its Hinomoto spinner wheels from Japan also promise to remain silent no matter the terrain. 

Fans of The Carry-On love it for how spacious it feels. Do note that the warranty does not cover damage from airline handling, regular wear and tear, or misuse.

July Carry On Light Expandable

• Dimensions: 54 x 36 x 22cm, 35L (40L expanded)
• Weight: 2.2kg
• Material: Polycarbonate shell
• Warranty: Lifetime warranty, 100-day return policy

Melbourne brand, July, has made waves for having one of the lightest carry-on luggage in the market with the Carry-On Light, but it’s the Carry-On Light Expandable version that gets our attention. 

Weighing in relatively breezily at 2.2kg, the vegan-friendly cabin-sized luggage can add an extra 5L for any last-minute shopping. Users commend its SilentMove Series 2 double-spinner wheels and aerodynamic look. It earns extra points for its uniform colour palette and a pleasing range of colours to choose from, making it a dream for the minimalist.

Bellroy Transit Carry-On

• Dimensions: 55.5 x 35 x 22.5cm, 34L
• Weight: 3.2kg 
• Material: Matte polycarbonate 
• Warranty: 10 years for faults in materials and workmanship

Design fiends will recognise Bellroy, a beloved Australian brand that has gained a cult following for its unique approaches to clever configurations and organisational shortcuts while looking smart. 

No surprises then that the Transit Carry-On includes removable packing cells that can double up as a divider, an internal slip pocket for an Apple Airtag, its matte polycarbonate shell made with 80 per cent consumer recycled material and recycled polyester ripstop lining. Even the YKK Racquet Coil zippers are abrasion and water-resistant. 

A notable feature is that parts of the suitcase are designed to be fixable on your own with the Fix-It Kits. As a commitment to sustainability, Bellroy’s customer service will send any parts that require fixing, such as the HINOMOTO Lisof Silent Run wheels, claiming that “most people will be able to complete a repair in less than 10 minutes”.

Away The Carry On Flex

• Dimensions: 55 x 36.5 x 23 cm, 39.8L (44.6L expanded)
• Weight: 3.6kg
• Material: Polycarbonate 
• Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty and a 100-day trial return policy

With the same dimensions as The Carry On, the Away The Carry On Flex is a slight upgrade thanks to its zipper expansion. 

As one of the more affordable options on our list, it features 360-deg spinner wheels and an underside grab handle for easy access when you’re putting it in the overhead compartment. You can pair it with packing cubes or optimise its signature compression system, which does a decent job of maximising space. 

Lookwise, there is a sizable number of colours to choose from, but the darker colours won’t help your bag stand out much on the carousel. You can, however, add personalisation with a monogram of your initials either on the luggage itself or on a luggage tag.

The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22”

• Dimensions: 56 x 40 x 26cm, 40L
• Weight: 3.68kg
• Material: 1000D recycled polyester with phthalate-free PVC coating
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

If Indiana Jones had a carry-on bag, this would be it. 

The improved Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22” is part soft and hard case with a recycled polyester top that’s light reflective and a hard case chassis. Its handle extends with a push of a button and is fitted with extra protective grip material, as are its two wheels. 

You get plenty of padded handles on the top and sides, along with daisy chain webbing straps for attaching anything you’ll need with carabiners to keep your hands free. 

Contents can be accessed either from the clamshell or long zips with a bonus external secure pocket. There’s also an external padded laptop pocket that fits a 16” device.

Briggs & Riley Essential 22” Carry-On Expandable

• Dimensions: 55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9cm (29.5cm expanded)
• Weight: 4.6kg
• Material: Ballistic nylon
• Warranty: Lifetime “Simple as That” guarantee

Making it onto The New York Times Wirecutter 2025’s Best Carry-On Luggage list, the Briggs & Riley Essential 22” Carry-On Expandable continues to win over travellers with its patented innovative packing technology. 

Its unique feature — the One-touch CX expansion/compression system expands the suitcase with a touch of a button, and once it’s packed and sealed, it can be pushed down to compress back to its original size. Its Outsider handles are placed on the outside of the bag, giving you more space within. 

While it could do with a water-resistant (and more aesthetically pleasing) inner lining, some nifty interior features include a built-in tri-fold garment folder and cinch-down garment panels to help chronic overpackers like me.

Globetrotter Centenary Carry On 2 Wheels

• Dimensions: 53 x 40 x 18cm, 30L
• Weight: 3.7kg
• Material: Vulcanised fibreboard
• Warranty: 5 years

Turn heads with this beauty of British craftsmanship, the Globetrotter Centenary Carry On. What it lacks in space, it makes up for in sophistication with handcrafted, ethically sourced (specifically from J&FJ Baker in Devon, the last traditional oak bark tannery in Britain) leather accents and gold-tone brass fittings. 

Its body, made with the brand’s proprietary Vulcanised Fibreboard, comprises 14 layers of recycled paper, cotton, and wood pulp from sustainable forests bonded with zinc and compressed using steam and pressure. Locks, though not TSA-approved, are precision-engineered from carbon steel or solid brass.

Lined with a sand-coloured, finely woven cotton or cotton-blend fabric and a numbered metal plaque confirming its provenance and authenticity, you’ll be proudly opening up your suitcase for customs checks. 

Lojel Cubo Small

• Dimensions: 53 x 35.5 x 25cm, 37L (42L expanded)
• Weight: 3.4kg
• Material: 50 per cent recycled polycarbonate + 50 per cent virgin polycarbonate
• Warranty: 10-year limited (first year covers travel damage)

Trust the Japanese to come up with a compact design that’s great looking to boot. 

The Lojel Cubo Small is the answer to city trips, where hotels might be more space-efficient or crowded airports. In addition to the less common colourways you can choose from, you’ll quickly identify your carry-on by its front compartment, which is only a fraction of how unique this suitcase is. 

Not your typical clam-shell design, it opens up at the front, first exposing an external compartment for a laptop, notebook, and accessories, which opens further via discreet zips on either side into the main compartment. There’s even a magnetic flap so you can access items quickly from the external pocket. 

The bucket-style packing might need some getting used to, but with so many convenient features, including an inner lining you can remove to wash, a three-stop handle, and a TSA-approved lock, it’s well worth the trouble. 

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