Away is on sale: Here’s a review of Away’s The Bigger Carry-On

Since its launch in 2015, Away has become a popular luggage company with bags that are often easily seen in every corner of the airport, from airline lounges to baggage carousels. It’s almost like the iPhone of handbags — simple, stylish, and priced to match that exclusive line, while being affordable enough for many frequent travelers. It may not have affected Away’s popularity — and visibility — that a few times a year, it also rolls out seasonally refreshed colors for its bags.

I personally purchased three Away bags: two child size bags (now no longer available) and one adult carry-on luggage from a limited edition collection inspired by the aurora. To my surprise, my bag of northern lights, so beautiful when it first arrived at my door, was not kept very well.

However, I was very impressed with my purchase. Thinking my problem might be the result of an issue with the northern lamp holder’s special plastic coating rather than a larger design flaw, I wanted to give it another try. So over the past few months, I decided to give it a try The Bigger Carry-On in seaside colorsprovided by Away for product testing.

Now that I’ve had a bit of time with the bag, here’s what I’ve learned about this Travel Baggage option — and what I can say about whether the brand’s bags are worth it. buy or not.

Limited time handbag sale: Until November 28, 2022, you’ll get $50 off when you buy two Away suitcases, or $100 if you buy three.

What you should look for in a hand luggage

The best handbags have a few things in common. Notably, they have sturdy handles and are easy to roll, not only on the smooth surface of the airport but also on some slightly imperfect surfaces. Sometimes taking that train downtown and walking the rest of the way to the hotel while hauling bags is the best course of action — and your bag needs to be able to accommodate that journey.

Ideally, carry-on luggage should have several compartments to help keep your belongings separate and make the act of opening and closing the bag a little easier. No one wants all the carefully packed items to blow up all over the place due to gravity during the pulling and unlocking process.

The best carry-on bags don’t waste too much weight on the bag itself and fit into airline overhead bins, pushing to the maximum limit so you have plenty of closing space. pack as much as possible. They’re also built to withstand the harsh reality of frequent flying without becoming the ugly duckling at the baggage carousel shortly after purchasing them.

Related: Keep calm and carry on: TPG shares its favorite travel bags

While I still love me Rimowa Handbag which I’ve been using for almost a decade, the Away bag is definitely more functional in some ways—that’s why it’s on my rotation right now.

The mesh, zippered laundry compartment on one side of the bag is one of my favorite components, as it’s so useful for keeping everything organized and in place. The other side of the bag can then be used for packing block and the like, making it easy to pack, unpack, and keep everything together.

Purchase link: Go far, bring bigger

The zippers themselves are sturdy and easy to move, even if you can get a little tight and have to rely on the suitcase to close while you zip.

360-degree rotating wheels have made traveling through airports, along sidewalks and basically a dream.

Some of these perceived improvements over what I’m used to might be the functionality of the Away bag I’m testing out which is only a few months old compared to the years and miles I’ve logged on my Rimowa , but no doubt. The bag is very easy to maneuver.

As someone who would rather drink every cup of coffee on an airplane than check a bag, I especially like the slightly larger size of Away’s standard carry-on bag. The Bigger Carry-On allows you to add an extra piece of clothing or two or add a pair of shoes without having to fall into that “have to check your bag” situation. We’ll learn more about exact sizing in a bit, but this small gap makes a noticeable difference when it comes to packing.

Related: Hand luggage competition: Away vs. Rimowa

Also, I have found that this seaside color is quite popular, as I have encountered several situations where many people have the same bag. If there’s not something that clearly identifies the bag as yours, you run the risk of bag confusion, so consider getting some sort of special identification (such as a colorful luggage tag) and throw one Apple AirTag in for good measure, just in case. Or, just choose a non-traditional color that few people will have.

Also know that with this bag you’ll have the option of adding a 37-watt ejectable lithium-ion battery located below the handle for $20. Personally, I’m not a fan of this feature, as I don’t organize my life enough to remember to charge my bag, so the battery that came with my test bag is a bit of a waste to me. I wanted to use that extra weight for the items I was packing, so I opted to remove the removable battery and leave it at home rather than in my bag while traveling.

Related: 15 packing tips to travel with only hand luggage

Regular prices start at $295, Larger luggage when traveling Available in 13 colors and sized to fit most airlines’ overhead baggage compartments.

Some of the features of the Away bag include:

• Durable polycarbonate shell.
• Leather details, including black leather luggage tags.
• TSA approved combination lock for added security.
• 360-degree rotating wheels ensure a smooth ride.
• Internal compression system.
• Hidden laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate.

The larger carry-on baggage I am testing has the following measurements:

• Exterior: 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches.
• Interior: 21 x 14.5 inches.
• Weight: 7.4 pounds.
• Capacity: 47.9 liters.

For reference, Delta Airlines, American Airlines and unified airline all have a maximum carry-on baggage dimension of 22 x 14 x 9 inches, which is technically a hair smaller than this bag on all sides.

In fact, on most flights, a bag that’s just a fraction of an inch will still fit in the luggage compartment and in the overhead compartment, but know that there’s a chance you’ll need to your bag check port.

Southwest Airlines currently has a maximum hand baggage size of 24 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches, which means that this larger hand baggage is officially compliant with that carrier’s baggage size limit.

Two main differences between Luggage from afar and Larger luggage when traveling price and size.

The standard Away Handbag is usually about $20 cheaper than the Larger version, at $275 instead of $295. Additionally, Traditional Hand Baggage measures 21.7 x 13.7 x 9 inches, which means it is smaller than the maximum hand baggage size requirement for all airlines. not large of the United States, unlike the Bigger version. In the United States, that difference is not likely to cause problems most of the time, although it can cause problems when transporting international airlines.

As someone who loads his or her carry-on, the extra capacity in The Bigger Carry-On is well worth it. But if you don’t find yourself needing every square inch of your carry-on, then carrying a Hand Baggage will save you a few bucks and guarantee to keep you within the carry-on size limit. Airline posted hand.

Related: Hand baggage vs checked baggage: Which is better?