Away
The Bigger Carry-On
- Bottom Line
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We found that the size of this bag and the durability that it provides makes this an excellent option for seasoned travelers.
- Pros
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Offers 48 liters of volume, enough for a week's trip, but still fits in most US and international overhead compartments. We particularly loved how well the wheels roll on a variety of surfaces. Excellent interior organization and compression.
- Cons
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Some users feel the price is a bit expensive for people who don't travel as often.
About the product
A forever carry-on offering peace of mind for frequent travelers
Away’s Bigger Carry-On is the top-selling suitcase made by the popular luggage company. An inch taller and wider and more than half an inch thicker than the brand’s standard carry-on, the Away Bigger Carry-On provides space for more clothes, but does so at a size that’s still accepted as cabin luggage by a wide selection of airlines.
To see if its high-end price is justified, the BestReviews Testing Lab thoroughly examined the Bigger Carry-On, grading it on durability, mobility, storage and design, and found it to be an exemplary suitcase in every aspect. A great size for longer trips, it’s worth its price in peace of mind and lives up to its popularity and reputation.
What is the Away Bigger Carry-On?
Product specifications
Dimensions: 15.4" W x 9.6" D x 22.7" H | Capacity: 47.9 L | Weight: 7.9 lb | Material: Polycarbonate | Expandable: No
Away’s Bigger Carry-On is a hardside upright spinner suitcase meant to fit as cabin luggage in the overhead bins of most, but not all, airlines. It exceeds the recommended size issued by the TSA for carry-on luggage in all dimensions, but we had no trouble taking it onboard during our testing. Like other Away luggage, the Bigger Carry-On has a light, strong and flexible polycarbonate shell available in multiple fashionable colors. Additional limited-edition colors are regularly added.
The Away Bigger Carry-On has almost 48 liters of capacity but is not designed for expandability. Inside it offers two compartments, one with a full-zip divider, the other with two compression straps and a compression panel. Both the divider and the panel come with zip pockets. The Bigger Carry-On also comes with a laundry/shoe bag inside its zip lining. It rolls on four semi-inset double spinner wheels and offers grip handles on the top, side and bottom, plus a soft-grip extendable trolley handle. It features a TSA-compatible top lock.
See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best carry-on luggage.
Price and where to buy
The Away Bigger Carry-On costs $315. It can be bought only directly from Away.
Why we like it
Protective
The Away Bigger Carry-On was impressively protective and durable during testing. It survived long drops and tumbles with only minor scratching and no structural damage and kept its contents safe and intact.
Smooth wheels
The spinner wheels on the Bigger Carry-On were smooth and maneuverable on a wide variety of terrain, not just inside airports but also on sidewalks, public transportation and even cobblestones.
Spacious
The Bigger Carry-On had enough capacity for over a week of cold-weather outfits without ever feeling it was overstuffed or strained.
What we don’t like
Lacks specialized compartments
While the Away Bigger Carry-On has zip pockets on its internal dividers and panels, we would have liked to have seen even more specialized compartments and organization options, like wet bags or sundries pockets. It also lacks an expandable zipper.
May not fit all airlines
We had no trouble getting the Bigger Carry-On into the overhead bins of airlines we tested, but airlines vary in their minimum allowances and how strictly they enforce those minimums. The Bigger Carry-On may not be allowed onboard some smaller planes or stricter airlines.
Price
We felt that the Away Bigger Carry-On is ultimately worth its price, but it is a pricier option than even some well-known luggage brands and is on the higher end of what to expect from luggage prices.
Durability and build quality
The Away Bigger Carry-On has a hardside shell made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate combines strength with flexibility and is highly sought after in contemporary hardside luggage. In our testing, we found the Bigger Carry-On impressively robust and protective, surviving a tumble and fall down a tall escalator and making it through two weeks of travel with only minor cosmetic damage.
The wheels and trolley handle held up to the rigors of overseas travel as well, feeling secure and stable at every stage of the trip including on city streets and getting into and out of public transportation. At no time did we feel we were in jeopardy of damaging or stressing the Bigger Carry-On despite packing it tightly.
Design and features
Away bags and suitcases have a reputation for chic minimalism, and the Bigger Carry-On is a perfect example. Its polycarbonate shell and understated lines feel simple and contemporary, and its fashionable colors are the first thing anyone will notice when you roll it beside you. The Away Bigger Carry-On has subtle crosswise grooves that add visual interest and structural integrity, while its black zippers, handles and wheels create a strong but understated contrast to its colorful shell.
The Away Bigger Carry-On offers a good level of compression with a compression panel and wide, adjustable straps. Its clamshell design offers two major compartments, one intended for bulkier items and the other for clothing. Unlike some of its competitors, the Away Bigger Carry-On has an extra grab handle on its underside next to its wheels, a convenience when removing it from an overhead bin. The TSA lock helps secure its contents while still offering access for security checks. Away suitcases used to offer a removable battery and USB ports, but these are no longer included.
Maneuverability and travel convenience
The wheels and maneuverability of the Away Bigger Carry-On were readily evident and impressive during our testing. The four double spinner wheels rotated in every direction and allowed the Bigger Carry-On to glide beside, in front of or behind us wherever we needed it to be. The wheels are slightly recessed into the body of the suitcase, reducing their vulnerability to snapping or breaking off, and helping them fit into overhead compartments better than spinners with fully exposed wheels.
The Bigger Carry-On’s wheels tackled many different surfaces during testing, include airport terminals, city streets and even trains and cobblestones, and they rolled on them with aplomb. We had no difficulty maneuvering the Bigger Carry-On by its trolley handle either. Despite its slightly larger size, we had no trouble being allowed onboard with the Bigger Carry-On, and it slipped into and out of overhead bins without any issues.
How does it compare to other luggage we’ve tested?
We tested the Bigger Carry-On against its smaller sibling the Away The Carry-On, and we’ve concluded we like the Bigger Carry-On slightly more. It’s 15% larger and can be made to fit more than a week’s worth of clothing, while sharing the attractive and durable shell, smooth wheels and convenient features of the smaller suitcase. We also compared it to the Briggs & Riley softside expandable carry-on and found it to be slightly less organized but a bit more mobile.
Testing the Away Bigger Carry-On
We tested the Away Bigger Carry-On in real-world conditions, taking it on an extended trip involving several international flights. We needed to pack two weeks’ worth of cold-weather outfits into the Bigger Carry-On, which we managed successfully without the Bigger Carry-On feeling under strain. We tested mobility and the smoothness of the wheels by taking it through airport terminals, up and down escalators, through gates and sidewalks, and onto trains and on cobblestones. Our drop and damage testing included an inadvertent but highly informative episode when the Bigger Carry-On tumbled all the way down a tall escalator in an airport.
Should you get the Away Bigger Carry-On?
The Away Bigger Carry-On is a little pricey, but we feel it’s worth it. It’s not only stylish and attractive on the outside, but also durable, protective and spacious on the inside. Its wheels and handles make it a pleasure to use in and out of the airport, and it can fit in the overhead bins of many airlines without needing to be checked. If its $300-plus price tag is within your means, we think you should get the Away Bigger Carry-On.