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We put early 2026’s top carry-on suitcases to the test—These are our favorites

Carry-on luggage of 2026: Top travel picks

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Carry-on bag
Maurizio Pesce via Flickr / Flickr

In 2026, we live in an era where no shopping decision is “simple”. Shopping for a carry-on suitcase is no longer a choice of just what brand or what color you’d like. Instead, it’s a whole series of decisions you need to make. This means you’ll need to decide on features like weight, smart features, TSA-locks, compression features, and more. To take things one step further, there’s really no “one-size-fits-all” to carry-on suitcases either, as one traveler’s needs may be completely different than the next. We tested the top carry-on suitcases of early 2026 to simplify your search—here are the ones that stood out.

BÉIS Travel Pro Collection: Best Multi-purpose

BEIS Travel
Mark McKee / The Manual

Founded in 2018 by actress and influencer Shay Mitchell, BÉIS Travel has quickly become a leader in stylish, durable carry-on luggage and travel accessories. Built for how people actually pack, the BÉIS Pro-Rolling Duffle is a half-duffle, half-hardshell carry-on that makes traveling effortless. The functionality of this carry-on bag is unmatched with a rugged, yet modern appearance. We also tried the matching Pro Travel Backpack, ideal for taking on as a personal item.

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This matching set in the color “Khaki” gets endless complements, though it certainly does show all of airport grunge after going through the airport process. The carry-on is only slightly larger than the personal backpack, however, the carry-on is designed to be able to convert to a backpack (so they kept the size smaller than a normal carry-on). Traveling with this BÉIS Travel Duo feels more like getting two personal items than getting a set of three.

BÉIS also just launched the Hybrid Carry-On Roller, another great choice by the brand for smaller packing needs. Finished with aluminum corner guards, this carry-on keeps things classy and simple, rolling through the airport with ease.

Briggs and Riley Sympatico Essential 22″ Front Pocket Carry-On: Best compression carry-on

Briggs & Riley
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Ideal for the over-packer, the Briggs and Riley Sympatico Essential 22″. Front Pocket Carry-On Expandable Spinner quickly becomes every traveler’s best friend. This innovative carry-on spinner includes Briggs and Riley’s CX Smart Packing Technology which expands to give you 25% more packing space. Once you’re done packing, everything compresses back to normal size. If your goal is to get out of the airport as fast as possible (by skipping checking a bag), this undoubtedly is a travel companion worth investing in.

The 22″ design of this carry-on spinner is the largest carry-on you can fly with per airline regulations, giving you the most room possible to pack for multi-day trips. The downside? This Sympatico luggage feels a bit heavier than other carry-on suitcases we’ve tried and feels a little bulky. If you’re not concerned with the compression technology, it may not be worth the purchase. If you’re a chronic over-packer like me, it’ll soon become a life-saver.

Victorinox Airox Advanced Frequent Flyer Carry-On: Best for work travel

Airox
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Made by a Swiss company best known for crafting the original Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox is a luxury travel brand ideal for frequent flyers who need durability without compromising style. As someone who frequently travels with a laptop, I appreciate the 16″ laptop pocket with anti-scratch lining in this carry-on bag. There are just some times I don’t want to pack a separate backpack for my laptop — especially for short two day trips. The Victorinox Airox Advanced carry-on rolls effortlessly through the airport and comes in four neutral colors that match every outfit.

While this carry-on bag is ideal for work travel and short trips, it’s definitely smaller than max-size carry-on suitcases. With a volume of 37L, it might not be the best choice for those looking to pack as much as possible into a carry-on suitcase.

Tesport Cloud Flex Carry-On: Best for organization

Clothing, Pants, Baggage
Tesport

With so many players in the luggage industry, it’s important not to forget about newer brands that often get overshadowed by big players like Victorinox. The expandable nature of the Tesport Cloud Flex Carry-On is pretty great (especially if you find yourself coming home with more items than you came with). As someone who loves to stay organized with travel, the stand-out component of this carry-on suitcase is the removable compression divider, hanging hook system, and laundry bag. Tesport really thought of it all when trying to make it easy as possible to stay organized while on-the-go.

At 7.85 lbs, this carry-on can feel a little heavy when trying to lift it into overhead space. I also wish they had other color options, as the basic black or champagne color would likely be the only colors that would appeal to male travelers.

Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-On Spinner: Best statement carry-on

Delsey Paris
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

You can’t go wrong with a sturdy piece of DELSEY PARIS luggage — whether you’re shopping for a carry-on or a checked suitcase. Some of the DELSEY PARIS suitcases I’ve had last years before showing any visible wear. The beautiful, premium design of the Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 carry-on will certainly stand out in airports, ideal for the traveler who wants to make a bold statement.

While I chose the limited-edition Rose color, the classic brown-black combo is a timeless choice for any traveler. The included shoe and laundry bags in this bag also make it super easy to stay organized. Although this piece is a great choice for style, limited color selections in darker finishes are one limitation. Lighter colors like the one I have will undoubtedly show wear with more use.

Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
Contributor
Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving…
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