Away luggage review: The 6 best Away suitcases and travel accessories we've tested

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First founded in 2015, Away luggage has become a staple among millennial travelers in particular thanks to the brand's sleek designs, smart added features like built-in TSA-approved locks and Instagram-worthy color options from pale pink to coastal blue.

Away makes some of the best carry-ons and best luggage, but the brand has also expanded its offerings far beyond classic suitcases. From totes to pet carriers, Away has a wide range of chic and useful bags and travel accessories to consider. 

We pulled together the best Away luggage and travel accessories worthy of your consideration — all put to the test by our team of trusted product experts and travelers.

Here are the best Away suitcases and travel accessories:

The Carry-On

I've owned the classic Away Carry-On for five years now and it remains one of my favorite pieces of luggage. I've taken it on numerous week-long trips and it can fit all my essentials and then some. Even after years of use, it's held up remarkably well, with only a few marks to its name. The spinner wheels are smooth and easy to maneuver and handy bonus features like the built-in laundry bag make it stand out from competitors. — Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor 

One of the first things my husband and I registered for when we got married was a set of Away's carry-on bags. I love all the smart details: a built-in lock, an interior compression system, a fold-away laundry bag. It's truly a joy to travel with and the perfect size for shorter trips. I'm a little upset that the brand did away with the option to add a removeable battery. I thought that really set Away luggage apart from others, but I can see why they did, since airlines are really cracking down on having batteries in the luggage hold and overhead bins. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor

Like Lauren, I had my eye on the Away carry-on for a while before finally purchasing it. When Away had their a sale several summers ago I finally purchased it and was blown away by its quality and useful accessories. I chose a fun brick shade to make it easier to spot my bag in the airport. — Maliah West, former home & kitchen reviews fellow

Read our full Away Carry-On review.

The Bigger Carry-On

While my husband opted for the smaller Carry-On, I sized up to the Bigger Carry-On because I tend to travel with more stuff. It's not a dramatic difference in the sizing over the Carry-On, but I love that it has all the same features and offers me a bit more room when packing. — Lauren Savoie, senior editor

As a notorious overpacker, I've experienced many trips that involve me attempting to maneuver several suitcases down large flights of stairs, through crowded airports, and on to  small overnight trains. So it's safe to say that I need all of the space I can possibly get when traveling. I purchased the Bigger Carry-On at the same time as the smaller Carry-On and I love that the bigger version offers slightly more space while still being able to fit in the overhead compartments of most major airlines. I've already taken this carry-on with me on several small getaways over the last year and can't wait to travel with it internationally. — Maliah West, home & kitchen reviews fellow

The Insider Packing Cubes (Set of 6)

I'll admit it: I always thought packing cubes were pointless. I instead chose to just fold my clothes in categorized piles so that I'd be able to spot what I needed right away. I stubbornly stuck with this approach for my entire life until it was time to pack for a month-long trip for my destination wedding and honeymoon. There were just too many things to organize, so I tried Away's Insider Packing Cubes Set.

With six options in varying sizes, I was able to use each cube for a type of clothing — dresses used a large cube, swimsuits a smaller one. During the course of this trip, I stayed in seven hotels, and seven times the cubes not only helped me find what I wanted to wear, but made it easier to pack up quickly when it was time to move on. And, when I overpacked and had to remove items from my Large (see below), all I had to do was pull out a cube and throw it in my carry on to remove weight quickly. For long trips especially, this packing cube convert thinks these are totally worth it. — Emily Hochberg, travel editor

Similar to Emily, I used to be a packing cube skeptic, but now I don't travel anywhere — even for 1-2 night trips — without them. Away's are flexible and stretchy and keep all my different clothes neatly organized. I own them in black, but if I could go back I'd choose one of the lighter colors so it's easier to spot the contents behind the mesh cover. — Connie Chen, senior reporter 

As a digital nomad, I've found Away's packing cubes to be an easy way to stay organized. They are spacious and feature a sturdy mesh lining to keep your clothes fresh (and also to let you see what's inside). Best of all, these bags can really fit a lot of clothes. I own the set of four, which comes with two slim and two wide cubes and is just right for most of my trips. Together they weigh just 0.32 kg, so they don't add much weight and can be stored flat. — Jamie Ditaranto, Insider Reviews contributor 

Read our Away packing cube review.

The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

I love this carry-on so much I named it the best aluminum luggage in our guide to the best carry-on luggage. Built to last, this bag is seriously sturdy and has come out of several trips completely unscathed. What most impressed me, though, was the huge amount of packing space. I took this bag on a weekend ski trip and was able to fit my long underwear, sweaters, ski pants, gloves, and a light jacket on just one side. I easily fit a weekend's worth of everyday clothes on the other side. The only downside is the weight. At just under 11 pounds, this bag is heavy, so I tend to use it more for car and train trips. — Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

The Large

I've been using The Large Away suitcase for about five years as my main checked bag. Though I tend to try to fit everything in a carry-on whenever possible, there are times that's just not feasible, and this bag has come in seriously handy for everything from month-long treks through Asia to big ski trips in Europe when I needed to fit all my gear, plus my clothes. Checked bags in particular need to be durable since they get tossed around, and though it has a few marks and scratches, this suitcase has held up really well. I also like that the Carry-On nests inside of it for easy storage.  — Hannah Freedman, former associate travel editor

The Pet Carrier

Away's sleek Pet Carrier has a roomy interior fitted with a plush sherpa mat and privacy screens, and plenty of pocket space on the exterior to hold essentials. Its padded shoulder strap is comfortable and you can slip its luggage strap over the handle of a carry-on for easy rolling through an airport or train station. Best of all, this carrier is as safe as they come: it's been both crash tested and certified by the Center for Pet Safety. I ended up naming it the best for car travel in our guide to the best cat carrier. — Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews contributor

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

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