8 Carry-on Bags That Will Last for the Long Haul

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Here at Esquire, we talk a lot about lost arts. It’s less about restoring tradition and more about wresting control from the apps and algorithms that dominate our lives. Traveling light and in style are lost practices, replaced with a Delta credit card and stuffing both of your free checked bags full of extra outfits. We say forget all that when all you really need is a reliable carry-on.

The best carry-on luggage fits everything you need and gives plenty of options for organization. (And don’t forget about the traveling-in-style part.) Brands like Rimowa and Tumi make cabin-sized suitcases that look the part while delivering the utility and durability you need. Years into their life spans—even if you’re forced to check them at the gate and subject them to the untold abuses they’ll endure at the hands of cranky baggage handlers—these suitcases will still look the part, with wheels, handles, and all contents intact.

We’ve tried soft-shell carry-ons we love (and ones we hate), but they all get scuffed to hell sooner or later. All except this one. The Tumi Dual Access carry-on has a ballistic-nylon exterior that ensures the scuffs never show. It’s also a dream for forgetful travelers and those of us who like to rummage in our bags the minute the seat-belt sign goes off. The secret weapon to this carry-on is a second zipper entry for quick access to your main compartment.

Time and time again, we come back to Rimowa for the best-looking suitcases on the planet. The Distinct Cabin carry-on is crafted from leather and anodized aluminum, showing the softer side of a brand known for the brutalist beauty. As a result, this suitcase is as distinct—and distinguished—as it can get, with some of the smoothest steering of any carry-on we’ve tried.

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Montblanc has been around for more than 100 years, and it’s accomplished a lot more than just making a perfect fountain pen. This is a brand we trust implicitly to overdeliver on quality and longevity. This cabin trolley suitcase is one of the reasons why—it uses the best components and makes organization a second thought. It won a coveted spot in the Esquire Investment nearly six years ago… and we still stand by every word. This is one of the most luxurious yet design-forward carry-ons a man can buy.

Away has been our go-to brand for affordable luggage for a number of years now. The Carry-on Flex is bigger than it looks and comes in a pleasing variety of colors, so you’ll never confuse yours with one of the many others on your flight after you wake up bleary-eyed from a red-eye. We’ve started to see this carry-on every time we fly. Trust us, it’s a popular pick for a reason.

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For a sub-$1,000 suitcase, it’s remarkable how much thoughtful design is stuffed into a Monos carry-on. The handle, for one, is ergonomic and sturdy—never giving that telltale wobble we’ve grown so accustomed to from lesser brands and lower build quality. A generous number of pockets and straps—plus a compression pad—ensure none of your packed stuff moves, even during the bumpiest of flights. There are lots of models to choose from, but we think the sweet spot is the $325 Expandable Carry-on for just how much space it adds. Seriously, it’s like House of Leaves on the inside.

The Carry-on X is the latest innovation in the Carl Friedrik line of hybrid suitcases, with an integrated front pocket and a hard-sided main compartment. It’s got 360 degree Hinomoto spinner wheels, which, for the uninitiated, means top-tier durability in complete silence. And you can’t ignore the obvious: how good it looks. It’s like it was custom-made for inspiring a few envious looks as you wheel it acrross the marble lobby of a five-star hotel.

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You’ve probably seen pilots on your flight rocking this exact carry-on in utilitarian black. There’s a good reason for that: It just plain works. It’s lightweight, inconspicuous, and has a ton of flat packing space. The Baseline Essential is expandable, and the patented handle design makes it so you can pack even more than the average carry-on. If you’re loading up a bag with outfits and accessories, this has got to be the one to take.

Nothing screams class and luxury at the airport quite like aluminum luggage. It only makes sense that one of the defining sports-car brands of our lifetime showed up when it mattered. In 2025, Porsche Design put out this incredible suitcase, with an exterior modeled after its iconic automotive designs and a Porsche-inspired hexagon print on the inside. If you spend more time on the runway than on the open road, this is the Porsche you need.

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