[This post is NOT sponsored by any means! I received this as a Christmas gift (I picked it out) and am already in love with it, so I figured I'd share my thoughts!]
I'm an avid traveler. As in, I try to take at least one trip every month - whether that be by train/bus or plane. One key item for all my travels is my carry-on rolling suitcase - it's the perfect size for nearly every adventure! Free for most domestic flights (as long as you don't overstuff it and can fit it in the overhead bins...), and even a smart choice for international travel - using a carry-on prevents you from overpacking and also makes it easier to get around (rather than lugging a large suitcase or a duffel).
Unfortunately, I have a habit of going through carry-on suitcases very quickly - I have already had two break in the last 3 years! So last year for my Christmas wish-list, when I knew I needed another new suitcase, I conducted thorough research before making my request in hopes that my pick would last me a while. I have only had this suitcase for a little over a month but I am already in love and feel obligated to share!
I did my due diligence in researching far and wide to find the best carry-on suitcase, and "The Carry-On" from AWAY Travel came out on top.
One of the first things I was looking for was a good quality, hard-shell suitcase. In the past, my carry-on suitcases have been soft-shell/fabric - which originally, I preferred because I could stuff them to the brim! However, this turned out to work against me, as I can't count the times I would overstuff the suitcase and end up struggling to jam it into the overhead bin. The fabric, while flexible, can cause the suitcase to bulge and get stuck all too easily.
The next thing I was looking for was some type of warranty or assurance that this suitcase would not be like my others and find its grave in less than a year. Not only did AWAY travel suitcases have top-notch reviews, but they offer lifetime warranty on their products - meaning that, in essence, this one suitcase could last the rest of my lifetime! That alone makes it well-worth the price for me.
"Away will repair or replace (as applicable) and ship your Luggage back to you within 90 days of receiving your original Luggage. You will not be responsible for any shipping costs associated with shipping replaced or repaired Luggage. " - AWAY website.
Aside from those must-haves, AWAY sold me on the extra 'perks' that set their suitcases ahead of the competition. You can see in the picture above that I have my white iPad charging cord plugged into the base of the handle - this is because the suitcase actually has a built-in battery pack! While some suitcases with such batteries can be problematic (you're not allowed to check some of them in the hold), this battery is ejectable, so you can remove it whenever you need. As someone who has traveled in some of the smallest foreign airports (....Santorini...), outlets and places to charge up are often few and far between, so having a battery built into my suitcase will be a great backup for those long layovers!
The aesthetics and layout of the suitcase tie everything together in the perfect travel companion. This suitcase comes in twelve different color options (two are limited edition; I chose "Sky", which is a light blue). The two zipper handles snap into a TSA-approved lock at the top of the suitcase, which you can set with your own customizable 3-digit code on the top of the suitcase. The inside of the suitcase is laid out different than my prior carry-ons: instead of having one very deep side, and the other side just used to seal the suitcase, this suitcase is split into even halves (if that makes any sense?). At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about this, but then when packing up I realized that it works out quite nicely with the various compartments included inside the suitcase. One side has a full compartment, which can be used for bulkier items (or, as you can see in my picture - you can shove a lot of 'fluffier' items in there, like the blankets and sweaters, and use the zippered seal to compress them down. The other side has a smaller bag that can be utilized for toiletries or other small items.
Overall, while I've only had the suitcase for a short period so far, I am super satisfied with my choice! I can't wait to test it out on more of my upcoming travels.
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