Frequent Travelers Swear By This Pricey-But-Worthwhile Luggage

It turns out Monos, Away, and Osprey are all worth the investment.

If you’ve ever found yourself trudging along a busy airport terminal with a travel bag that’s doing nothing but holding you back, it may be time to invest in something that is worth the money.

Wandrd, Monos, Amazon

I appreciate a good, affordable product as much as the next person, but there are times when my money-savvy ways led me to spend more in the long run by buying something that costs less and doesn’t last.

We’ve been in touch with tons of frequent travelers — from flight attendants to travel influencers to our own HuffPost staff — in order to find out which expensive luggage and bags justify the cost. Their testimonies, along with the help of reviews from other travelers, helped us create the following selection:

1. A dual-carry Caraa Studio 2 bag

Caraa

This large convertible bag from Caraa offers two different carrying modes: backpack or standard crossbody. Hidden within its spacious interior is a 15-inch laptop pocket and two separate main compartments outfitted with several pockets that are ideal for all your smaller items and valuables. The Studio 2 is made with a waterproof and antimicrobial lining and a water-resistant exterior, so any accidental spills, treks through the rain, or leaking water bottles are never an issue.

Promising review: "I love this bag. The color is gorgeous. It's lightweight and spacious. I use it for my weekend trips between LA and San Diego. I love how it has multiple zipper closures and I especially love the lock that comes with the main compartment. I bought this when it was first launched, it got here in time with great customer service!" —Bethany F.

Get it from Caraa for $398 (available in two sizes).

2. A larger carry-on from Away

Away

Away is a luxury travel brand that has gained tons of happy customers who claim the hype is real. Away's line of sleek and durable checked bags and carry-ons are designed with the traveler in mind and contain three organizing mesh pockets as well as a double-buckle compression belt to help you pack more into the four- to seven-day-sized interior. Like all their suitcases, this carry-on has 360-degree spinner wheels for smooth maneuvering and even an underside handle to make lifting easier.

Promising review: "After wearing out two sets of luggage with work travel, I finally decided to invest in a better quality set. Love the look of the large carry-on with the matching Away bag, beautiful dusty blue. I honestly could not believe how great they function! I took my first international trip last week and, unfortunately, tore my rotator cuff on my dominant arm just before the trip. Pushing, pulling, rolling, escalators, it didn't matter, it was effortless, even with my right arm in a sling and having to use my left hand! Everything compressed down so efficiently that I had room to spare even though I was packing for a week-long trip. Fantastic! Can't wait to travel again." —Tanya D.

Get it from Away for $315 (available in eight colors).

3. A women's Osprey 40-liter backpack

Amazon

This 40-liter technical backpack is constructed with adjustable chest and torso straps, and the design is lightweight enough to use for outdoor hiking treks or for navigating busy airports as a carry-on. The main interior compartment features a clamshell opening and several internal pockets, including an easy-access 16-inch laptop sleeve.

Minimal lifestyle vlogger Sophie Daquis said about this backpack: "It's a very well-built and functional bag. I love it because it is big enough to hold all of my essentials (camera gears, laptop, clothes, and other small essentials), but also small enough that it makes me think twice about what I actually need on the trip."

Get it from Amazon for $185 (available in four colors).

4. A waxed canvas Thule Aion daypack

Amazon

Geoff Grisdale of One Bag Travels, a blog dedicated to finding and documenting the perfect travel bag, says it's large enough to hold his gear and organize it well, but that it also has a minimalist look and feel, so it doesn't weigh too much. It has the ability to expand from 28 liters to 32, has a divided main compartment, and has a recycled polyester and waxed canvas construction that stands up to water and the elements.

Get it from Amazon for $167.95+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

5. A travel backpack that doubles as a duffel bag

Timbuk2

While everything on their site is covetable, this 38-liter travel backpack and duffel bag is especially versatile and chic. With a roomy main compartment, interior water bottle pocket, and wipeable bottom cargo pocket for shoes, it holds everything you need for a carry-on.

Get it from Timbuk2 for $179.

6. The viral Béis Weekender bag

Béis

If you've been on TikTok, you've most likely seen the Béis Weekender bag, a chic tote-style bag that's famed for its separate lower compartment and its ability to stay propped open so you can easily rummage inside without the soft sides collapsing.

In addition to the bottom section that's great for shoes or extra toiletries, there's also a designated laptop pocket, a trolley sleeve, and several organization compartments throughout. You can currently get this in eight different colors and also a mini size.

One Béis reviewer said they gifted this iconic tote to a friend who travels from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., often and she highly recommends it. Another happy customer from Béis wrote, "Beautiful bag that lives up to the hype!! Fits in everything needed for my husband and I for a getaway weekend — and still has lots of room to spare!! This bag was definitely worth it — it looks great and holds so much!!"

Get it from Béis for $108 (available in seven colors).

7. A luxury suitcase that holds 10 days’ worth of clothes

Rimowa

Rimowa has some of the most durable luggage available, as well as a unique color selection to help avoid confusion at the luggage carousel. Both lightweight and strong, the Essentials check-in suitcase features stable ball-bearing-mounted wheels for optimal maneuverability and a flexible interior divider to keep packed items secure during transit.

Chandler Jane, a flight attendant and travel influencer who recommends Rimowa, had this to say: “Hard-shell bags are less likely to flip over when weight is added, and the durability of the shell will protect your belongings inside."

Get it from Rimowa for $900+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).

8. A durable spinning trunk

Briggs & Riley

This medium hard-side rolling trunk is made with three layers of polycarbonate material that's scratch-resistant, lightweight, and resilient. The brand offers a lifetime guarantee on all luggage.

Deb Higgins, vice president of sales for SpeedBird, a private jet charter service headquartered in Orlando, has this to say: “Good luggage is one that glides smoothly next to you and is easy to maneuver in tight spaces. I love 4- and 8-wheeler luggage, especially 360-degree spinners, because they make moving luggage a breeze. They’ve [Briggs & Riley] got incredible compression technology that a lot of hard-sided luggage does not have. They’re also durable and have great spinner wheels for maneuverability. Though they’re quite expensive, I’d say they make sense if you travel a lot.”

Get it from Briggs & Riley for $669 (available in two colors and in a 22-inch bag).

9. A Nomad Lane carry-on Bento bag

Amazon

Hunter Lihas, a Tampa-based flight attendant and travel vlogger, called the Nomad Lane Bento bag "a must for travel." According to Lihas, this cavernous duffel bag has space for everything and is the perfect size to meet most airline carry-on requirements and save pricy baggage fees.

He also said this: "It has a unique design that allows you to carry your laptop, water bottle, and a built-in toiletry bag all in one. It seriously makes packing soooo much easier! It has the shape of a tote bag, but zips in the middle to open like a suitcase, allowing you to maximize space."

Get it from Amazon for $149.99 (available in two styles).

10. A large Monos check-in luggage

Monos

I travel out of state around three or four times a year. My old checked luggage served me decently well, but after the wheels gave out and it became impossible to maneuver, I decided on this large, hard-sided suitcase from Monos as a replacement. Fresh out of the box, I could tell right away that these wheels were the real deal: slightly oversized, incredibly smooth to roll across a variety of terrains (yes, I took it outside on the street for a test run), and seemingly durable enough to withstand everything I put luggage through.

I also really appreciate the dual layers of organization pockets (which even include shoe sleeves!) that are built into the suitcase’s dividers; most large luggage I’ve seen only have one. The rest of the interior is just as thoughtfully designed, and the exterior includes a TSA lock and a high-grade aluminum telescoping handle. I just took the case on its first official travel run on a trip to New York, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it functioned.

Get it from Monos for $355+ (available in 13 colors and in a carry-on version).

11. An Osprey wheeled duffel

Amazon

It opens fully to reveal a generous main compartment and has multi-pocket storage for smaller items. It also features a unique compressive design that provides extra padding and allows travelers to pack a little more.

Helene Sula, a travel and lifestyle blogger, had this to say about the bag: "I can easily convert it from a rolling bag to a backpack. This is handy for maneuvering from airports to cobblestone streets while saving my back." 

Get it from Amazon for $350 (available in two colors).

12. A weatherproof bag great for traveling photographers

Wandrd

HuffPost art director Jianan Liu said her boyfriend has (and loves) this super versatile travel backpack, which features a protected section for a camera and camera-related accessories. Although this weatherproof bag is designed by and for photographers, the big inner pocket's designated camera section is actually made with removable foam dividers in order to fit personal items for standard travel. Other pockets in the innovative rucksack-style bag include a designated laptop sleeve and a water bottle pocket. 

Get it from Wandrd for $239 (available in seven colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.