Top Rated Carry-On Luggage for 2025
Consumer Reports and Wirecutter list the Samsonite Lite-Shock Spinner and Away The Carry-On as among the best rated travel luggage for 2025. Both models meet most major airline cabin size requirements, with exterior dimensions near 22 x 14 x 9 inches and weights under 10 pounds. Away's hardshell version uses polycarbonate shell construction and includes a built-in USB charging port, while the Samsonite model uses a polycarbonate and ballistic nylon blend for impact resistance. These products score highly on durability tests, with reported drop-test survival rates above 90% in controlled lab conditions Forbes travel gear reviews.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines updated their carry-on size policies in 2024, enforcing a maximum linear dimension of 45 inches for under-seat bags. The Away Carry-On and Samsonite Lite-Shock both fall within this limit, reducing the risk of gate-check fees that averaged $35 per bag on major U.S. carriers in 2024. The Away model retails at $250 and includes a lifetime warranty, while the Samsonite Lite-Shock retails near $200 with a 10-year limited warranty. Both brands offer 30-day return windows and free shipping on direct purchases.
Best Checked Luggage for Durability and Warranty
Consumer Reports ranks the Travelpro Platinum Elite 2 and Delsey Helium Aero as top checked bags for 2025. The Travelpro Platinum Elite 2 uses a ballistic nylon exterior with double-spinner wheels rated for 100,000+ rotations in lab tests. Delsey Helium Aero uses a polycarbonate shell and TSA-approved locks, with reported scratch resistance scores above 8 out of 10 in independent durability panels SEC filings for Travelpro parent company.
Travelpro reported 2024 revenue of $1.1 billion and a 7% year-over-year increase in direct-to-consumer online sales. Delsey, a French luggage manufacturer, expanded its U.S. warranty coverage in 2024 to include shell cracks for five years from purchase date. Both brands offer 360-degree spinner wheels and telescoping handles with aluminum alloy construction. The Travelpro Platinum Elite 2 retails at $350, while the Delsey Helium Aero retails at $280, with prices fluctuating during seasonal sales events.
Smart Luggage Features and Airline Restrictions
Brands including Away, Samsonite, and Bluesmart introduced GPS tracking and digital scale features in their 2025 models. Bluesmart ceased operations in 2018, but newer smart luggage from Away includes a built-in scale that displays weight on an LED panel to help avoid overweight fees. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that airlines charged $120 average fees for bags exceeding 50 pounds in 2024 Tesla product design insights on lightweight materials.
Lithium battery regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation require removable batteries in smart luggage, with a maximum capacity of 100 watt-hours for carry-on bags. The Away Carry-On battery is removable and rated at 10,000 mAh, which falls under the permitted limit. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency adopted similar rules in 2024, affecting luggage sold by Delsey and Samsonite in European markets. Consumers should verify removable battery status before purchasing smart luggage models to ensure compliance with carrier policies.