I get asked about my luggage almost as often as I get asked about credit cards, which tells you something about how much a good suitcase actually matters once you’re traveling as often as I am. Away has become my go-to, but the lineup has grown a lot since I bought my first one, and picking the wrong size or style means either overpaying for space you don’t need or running out of room mid-trip.
Start With How Long You’re Usually Gone
This is the question that actually narrows things down, not color or style. Away builds its sizing around trip length, and once you know your typical trip, the size picks itself.
- A few days to a week → The Carry-On or Bigger Carry-On
- One to two weeks → The Medium, a checked bag built for 10 to 12 outfits
- Two weeks or more, or traveling with family → The Large, Away’s biggest option
I made the mistake early on of buying a checked bag sized for month-long trips when I mostly travel for a week at a time. It sat half empty more often than not, and it’s genuinely more annoying to manage a bigger bag through an airport than people expect.
If You’re a Carry-On Only Traveler
This is where I live most of the year. The Carry-On is the smallest in Away’s Flex lineup and fits standard overhead bins even when it’s not expanded. The Bigger Carry-On is the one I actually carry, slightly larger, still fits most major airline bins, and gives me a bit more breathing room without pushing me into checked-bag territory.
Both come in a Flex version, which is the detail I’d actually pay attention to.
Why I’d Pick the Flex Version Every Time
The Flex models have a zip-out expansion that adds around 2 inches of packing space when you need it. I use mine constantly on the way home from a trip when I’ve picked up more than I planned for. The catch is that once you unzip that extra space, the bag usually needs to go in as checked luggage instead of a carry-on, since it no longer fits standard cabin sizing. Still, having the option matters more than most people expect until they’re standing at the gate with a bag that won’t zip.
If You’re Checking a Bag Anyway
The Medium is the one I’d point most people toward if they’re checking luggage regularly. It nests inside The Large, and it’s roomy enough for a two-week trip without tipping into “why do I own so much luggage” territory. The Large makes sense if you’re traveling with family, packing for an extended trip, or you just consistently overpack- no judgment, I’ve been there.
If You Need Something Softer Than a Hardshell
Not every trip calls for a rolling hardshell. For weekend trips or as a personal item alongside a suitcase, Away’s duffle and weekender bags are worth a look; they’re built with the same interior organization system as the hardshells, just in a softer, more flexible shape. I keep one packed as my go-to for quick overnight trips where wheeling a full suitcase through security feels like overkill.
Building a Smarter Packing System
Whichever size you land on, the suitcase is really just the container. What goes in it, and how, makes the bigger difference in how smooth your trip actually feels. I go through my own approach in smart packing tips for travelers, and if you’re specifically trying to trim down to carry-on only, how to pack a suitcase efficiently for stress-free travel covers the system I actually use.
If you’ve upgraded your luggage recently and it changed how you travel, I talk about that shift in the carry-on upgrade that changed how I travel, which is basically the long version of this post.
The Bottom Line
Size around your actual trip length, not your longest hypothetical one. Go Flex if you like having room to grow. And don’t overlook the softer bags if a rolling hardshell isn’t what a particular trip calls for.
