If You Overpack, Consider Soft-Sided Luggage—Here Are Our Editors’ Top Recommendations

Travelpro is a favorite brand of flight attendants, with suitcases built to withstand daily use and design details that make the in-airport (and in-flight) experience smoother. This particular carry-on, used by commerce director Madison Flager since 2021, is great for long weekend trips. While there’s just one large compartment inside, an included Versapack adds pockets to the interior flap for undergarments, socks, hats, or other accessories. “I don’t usually like a one-compartment bag, but this one is deep enough to still pack comfortably for a three-day weekend, and it has a zippered compartment on the top that does hold a good amount of odds and ends,” says Flager. Her favorite feature is the hidden exterior pocket, sized to hold a passport, phone, or small wallet, and keep it easily accessible during your travel days. The wheels are also exceptionally smooth—so much so that you’ll want to hang on to the bag if you’re on a smooth surface, or even a sidewalk that’s slightly tilted; if not, it just might roll away from you. Flager also mentions that the bag has held up well over the past five years: It’s still in good shape with no repairs needed. She also says during a trip to Holbox, Mexico, the soft-sided luggage stood up to the dust, dirt, and pebbles of the unpaved roads.

Dimensions: 9.5″ x 14.5″ x 23″
Capacity: 47L
Weight: 7.7 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Away luggage has been a popular choice among travelers for years, thanks to the brand’s iconic colorways and chic design elements. Senior destinations editor Shannon McMahon has used Away’s Softside Bigger carry-on for multiple trips, and says the soft-sided suitcase has held up well. “I’d recommend this for a long weekend’s worth of clothes as a rule of thumb,” she says. “I depended on it for some spring weather layers on a weeklong trip to the Pacific Northwest and got by thanks to its expandability—but because of the weight of the bag itself, it can get heavy fast.” The zippers work smoothly and don’t get caught while opening or closing the bag. She also loves how easily the suitcase moves around. “Its 360-degree wheels swivel and roll seamlessly, and the interior pocket that compresses everything down keeps it from getting front-heavy and toppling over, even with a laptop in the front cushioned sleeve,” she says.

Dimensions: 9″ x 16″ x 23″
Capacity: 38L
Weight: 9.8 lb.
Warranty: 100-day trial, limited lifetime warranty

Senior commerce director Bridget Mills-Powell has taken this suitcase on two trips around the UK: a family weekend escape and a city sleepover with a friend. She loves how light the Antler soft-sided suitcase feels. “Previously I had a hard-shell case, and this felt notably lighter,” she says. And even though the suitcase has just one compartment, she thought there was more room for things since you don’t have to split items up over two sides of a more traditional hard-sided suitcase. “This is perfect for a weekend trip,” she says. It allows for a couple of outfits, a pair of shoes, toiletries, workout clothes, and sneakers. You’d have to be a very efficient packer to get any more than that.” Mills-Powell also likes how simple the suitcase looked, with no loud logos or unnecessary accessories.

Dimensions: 21.7″ x 13.8″ x 9.1″
Capacity: 37L
Weight: 4.19 lb.
Warranty: Lifetime warranty

Former Traveler editor Matt Ortile has carried Hartmann’s signature tweed carry-on on trips to Oregon, Massachusetts, and even a solo honeymoon to Los Cabos. “I was surprised to see how light this bag is,” says Ortile. “I expected that the tweed shell would give this thing a lot of weight, but it’s no heavier than any other soft-sided carry-on.” He loves that the suitcase comes with a packing cube that fits a suit and minimizes wrinkles. He’s packed the bag for three nights, complete with multiple daily outfit changes and a second pair of shoes. He also claims it rolls nicely on a variety of surfaces, from jet bridges to carpet. “The weight feels evenly distributed, and the handle feels sturdy—it doesn’t twist about when you pull or push it along,” he says. And even though it’s pricey at $800, Ortile says its quality makes it worth the cost.

Dimensions: 10.25” x 15″ x 22.75”
Weight: 9.6 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Long weekends just got easier with the Thule Subterra 2 carry-on. Former editor Andrea Edelman traveled with this suitcase to and from New York on three separate occasions, and it worked great for her. She says three-to-five days’ worth of clothing fit into the bag without much fuss. The removable compression panel is great for getting more clothes into the bag without fighting to zip the suitcase. “The best part about this bag is how smooth the wheels are,” Edelman says. “It’s so easy to wheel around an airport.” The durable material doesn’t get scratched easily, and it has a bit of a shine, making the bag feel more luxe. It’s easy to lift too: “There is a side handle which is actually very unnoticeable, but it makes it easy to pick up and put into an overhead or in the trunk of a car,” says Edelman.

Dimensions: 9″ x 14″ x 22″
Capacity: 35L
Weight: 7.17 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Whether you’re going on a tropical getaway or a city weekend, the Travelpro Crew Classic Compact carry-on spinner is a fantastic piece of soft-sided luggage. Alexandra Sanidad, research director at Traveler, has used this bag since 2024, on a vacation to the Bahamas and on an Amtrak trip to upstate New York. “One side has a mesh zippered compartment for flatter items, and the other part is a deep section for clothes,” she says. “It also comes with a removable flap-like organizer with two zippered pouches for storing smaller things like toiletries and rolls of socks.” If you’re willing to mix and match outfits, she says you can get a week’s worth of clothes packed into the suitcase. “I particularly like the little flap that you can remove or use to store smaller items. It’s nice to keep socks and underwear separate, along with any knickknacks I want to bring,” she says. Sanidad also mentions that the soft-sided carry-on has held up really well and she hasn’t had any issues with it.

Dimensions: 9″ x 14″ x 22″
Capacity: 38L
Weight: 6.8 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty

Features director Rebecca Misner says, “As a proud overpacker (I live by: you never know, might as well throw it on in), I’m highly suspicious of carry-on suitcases for any trip longer than about two days or as anything other than overflow from my maxed-out checked bag.” However, when she tested out the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential carry-on, she was able to fit everything she needed for a three-day trip, including running shoes and long evening gowns. One draw to this bag is that the expander isn’t zippered—instead, you press a button and then pull up on a lever so that the sides automatically expand. Another nice perk is the SpeedThru pocket, which holds passports and tickets, and has an orange lining so you know when it’s open or closed. “This is still my go-to for any trip under four days. I’ve tried other carry-on bags, and nothing holds more than this Briggs & Riley,” Misner says.

Dimensions: 14″ x 9-11.5“ x 22″
Capacity: 37-48L
Weight: 10 lb.
Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

After owning this bag for two years, it’s become a favorite for Traveler’s commerce writer Jessica Chapel. “It’s a great option for stylish business travelers, or those who want the function of a duffel and garment bag, with the convenience of rolling wheels,” she says. She also likes that the bag feels high-end without being flashy, though she does warn that the hanger hooks are not super sturdy. “It opens like a suitcase but carries like a designer bag, and the craftsmanship and sleek leather detailing elevate it way beyond typical soft-sided luggage,” she says. The duffel is also great for storage since it folds down flat.

Dimensions: 21″ x 12″ x10″
Capacity: 10L
Weight: 7 lb.
Warranty: Two-year warranty

Julia Abbonizio, Traveler’s visuals editor, has used this rolling backpack on a trip to Long Island to shoot a wedding, and packed a surprising amount of things inside, from all of her camera equipment and clothes to a change of shoes. She praises how light the bag is, adding, “The exterior is soft, but it still holds its shape well.” The bag has one main compartment with a compression strap, plus a removable smaller bag on one side and a cosmetic section on the other. “I do wish there were one or two more options of how to get into the bag, because you really have to lay the bag down to get into the main compartment,” she says. Because of how big the bag is, she says it can fit about two weeks’ worth of clothes. “As a backpack, it’s very comfortable” says Abbonizio. “The straps are wide and adjustable. It does look kind of funny on someone with a smaller frame, but it carries so much, it’s worth it.”

Dimensions: 20.87″ x 12.99″ x 8.66″
Capacity: 34L
Weight: 6.48 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

“When it comes to checked luggage, nothing competes with the capacity of a soft-sided bag, and Samsonite means it when they say Elevation Plus, with the expandable zipper adding two inches of height to the bag’s frame,” says editorial assistant Kat Chen. The bag features a handy AirTag pocket and a PEVA wet pocket for toiletries. Since the soft-sided suitcase comes in three pretty subdued colors, you’ll want to put a flashy luggage tag on it to quickly recognize the suitcase at the airport carousel. “The bag can get a little unwieldy when navigating through busy terrain,” says Chen. “In my opinion, the reduced agility is a fair enough trade-off for the generous belly that allows me to say yes to my vacation purchases (relatively) guilt-free.”

Dimensions: 29.8″ x 20″ x 11.5″
Capacity: 112L
Weight: 10 lb.
Warranty: Limited 10-year global warranty

Contributor Lauren Dana Ellman has used this piece of soft-sided luggage from Travelpro for years. “Funny enough, it was originally a 30th birthday gift for my husband, but I’ve since claimed it as my own,” she says. The suitcase has been by her side on a plethora of trips, from Hawaii and France to Alaska and Italy. “I’m constantly impressed by how much it holds despite weighing just under seven pounds,” she says. “The four 360-degree spinner wheels make it a breeze to maneuver through carpeted airports, and the expandable feature adds an extra two inches of space—especially handy when souvenir shopping.” Ellman also shares that the ample storage—thanks to two exterior pockets, a large interior space, and a side pocket—makes staying organized easy.

Dimensions: 25″ x 18″ x 11″
Capacity: 91L
Weight: 6.8 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime coverage

Antler’s soft-sided checked bag is another favorite of Chen’s. “Even when pushed to its limits, the bag really held up, and I never struggled to ferry it across three international airports on my way back from Asia,” she says. In fact, the soft-sided suitcase was packed to the brim with two weeks’ worth of clothes, several large stuffed animals, and plenty of snacks and oolong tea, and never failed her. “Despite getting the bag in black, I could always distinguish it on the airport carousel by looking for its three-part design and Antler stamp on the front,” she says.

Dimensions: 31.9″ x 18.3″ x 12.2″
Capacity: 105L
Weight: 5.95 lb.
Warranty: Lifetime warranty

The Softside Medium has earned praise from Traveler’s manager of global audience development, Abigail Malbon, who used this roomy suitcase for a train trip in the UK. She likes the checked piece of luggage for its compressor panel: “I found it useful to stop the case from bulging so much—especially since it’s soft-sided,” she says. “There’s also a mesh compartment for keeping small items separate and a laundry bag. I appreciate the two separate pockets on the front of the suitcase, which are easily accessible.” The suitcase can easily fit a week’s worth of clothes and shoes, she says, and if you open the extender, there’s likely enough room for two weeks. The suitcase is easy to move around too. “It’s super easy to roll, and there’s a stabilizer that ensures it doesn’t fall even when full,” says Malbon. Even better, the material used to make the suitcase is water-resistant and can be wiped clean easily. “The fabric has started to tear a little (admittedly from me overstuffing it), but the case still holds up well, and the wheels are in great condition two years on,” she says.

Dimensions: 11″ x 19″ x 26″
Capacity: 69L
Weight: 12.6 lb.
Warranty: 100-day trial, limited lifetime warranty

“I love this bag for those big long adventures when you need a ton of gear and don’t want to have to put it on your back,” says Megan Spurrell, Traveler’s senior features editor, who took the suitcase on a two-week expedition cruise around Greenland. She loves the thin but durable exterior fabric, which makes the bag lighter than anticipated. “It does have a sturdy skeleton and smooth-as-silk wheels and a handle,” says Spurrell. The bag can fit over two weeks’ worth of clothes for a cold-weather destination, she says, and even though the interior is simple, you can stay organized with packing cubes. “This is for the adventure traveler who has the good gear—you know, the latest Arc’teryx jacket or Salomon shoes—and wants a bag that is equal parts rugged and polished,” she says. Even after a few years of using this bag, she says it still looks brand new.

Dimensions: 15.4″ x 16.9″ x 32″
Capacity: 110L
Weight: 10.2 lb.
Warranty: Thule limited lifetime guarantee

“Just under 30 inches tall, this suitcase fits a few weeks’ worth of clothing and then some, including bigger items like footwear, bags, or, in my case, bulky camera gear and multiple pairs of boots,” says editorial assistant Skyli Alvarez. The rolling duffel has plenty of pockets and compartments to keep everything organized. She also says the integrated key leash is helpful for the return trip home. “This suitcase is certainly made for function first, then form—especially when it comes to the nylon soft-top. It has a simple design but still looks and feels timeless,” she says. One of the best features? The weight indicator on the handle that shows when the contents exceed 50 pounds.

Dimensions: 29.53″ x 15.75″ x 13.78″
Capacity: 93L
Weight: 10.8 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Another favorite of Sanidad’s is Herschel’s Heritage Soft-Shell Medium suitcase, which she’s used since August 2024 and most recently took on a weeklong trip to Portland, Oregon. The interior of the suitcase features one large compartment with garment straps that pull tight, and the luggage flap has a mesh storage area that can be accessed by zipper. Sanidad praises the “clean minimal design” of the suitcase, adding that “the colorway of my bag is Raven Crosshatch (gray), but this version also comes in Ash Rose and Black.” The suitcase can fit a week’s worth of clothes and rolls along handily. It is easy to pick up thanks to the padded handle on top and metal bar by the wheels. Speaking of: “The all-terrain wheels are nice when you have to lug stuff over cobblestone and streets that aren’t as smooth,” Sanidad says.

Dimensions: 14″ x 15″ x 30″
Capacity: 92L
Weight: 8.9 lb.
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty

Global digital director Arati Menon still uses this suitcase on trips that lean into adventure, like safaris. It has held up over multiple legs and excursions around Africa and Fogo Island, Canada. “The reason why I brought it along to Africa is because you’re not allowed to bring hard-shell suitcases on most safaris (last-mile connectivity involved a lot of puddle jumpers and helicopters), but because it was a two-week trip, I also needed something that would fit a lot and be practical,” says Menon. “This bridged those worlds.” While it doesn’t have a lot of structure, it’s very roomy and can fit up to 10 days’ worth of clothes. “Now, I’ve started folding this up and storing it away in the pouch that it comes with once I’ve unpacked at my destination. I’m someone who likes keeping things tidy in my hotel room, and this leaves me with more space in the closet and a tidy room,” she says. One thing to note is that it only has two wheels, so the suitcase can be hard to drag, especially if you’re an overpacker, though she does say that the wheels are very durable. After her African safari, Menon wiped the suitcase clean with a wet cloth and soap, and it looked good as new.

Dimensions: 14.3″ x 12″ x 31.5″
Capacity: 86L
Weight: 6.2 lb.
Warranty: Limited warranty