Packing efficiently is crucial for any journey, and the right Travel Products can make all the difference. A well-packed bag means carrying less than you initially think you need, but still having everything essential. Opting for carry-on luggage and a personal item offers greater freedom and flexibility, especially when travel plans change unexpectedly. While carry-on only travel isn’t always practical for longer trips or events requiring multiple outfits, for most trips, minimizing luggage is a smart move. This guide highlights the best travel products for 2024, focusing on carry-on backpacks, rolling bags, personal items, and essential travel accessories to streamline your packing and travel experience.
Carry-on Backpacks: Hands-Free Travel Solutions
For travelers who prioritize mobility and convenience, carry-on backpacks are an excellent choice. These backpacks offer hands-free movement and are perfect for navigating airports, public transportation, and uneven terrains.
Top Pick: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L versatile travel backpack in black and aqua accents
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L stands out as a top travel product for its versatility and smart design. Its clamshell opening makes packing and organization straightforward, allowing you to easily access your belongings. Durable and comfortable, the Allpa 35L can be carried as a backpack or by its grab handles, adapting to different travel situations. Ideal for week-long trips or weekend getaways, this backpack is a reliable travel companion.
Buying Options:
- $180 from REI
- Buy from Amazon
Upgrade Pick: Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L customizable travel backpack in black
For longer journeys or travelers carrying photography equipment and tech gear, the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is a superior travel product. This customizable backpack offers exceptional accessibility and thoughtfully designed tuck-away straps. Its expandable and compressible design adapts to your packing needs, maintaining a sleek look regardless of the load. While accessory cubes are sold separately, the Peak Design 45L offers a premium travel experience for those needing extra space and organization.
Buying Options:
- $300 from REI
- $300 from Amazon
After extensive testing of 22 different bags over six months, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L and Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L emerged as top choices for travelers aiming to avoid checked luggage. Both backpacks excel in comfort, durability, and organizational features, making them standout travel products in the backpack category.
Person wearing black Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack outdoors
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is particularly well-suited for individuals with smaller frames or shorter trips. Its user-friendly clamshell design and adjustable straps ensure a comfortable fit for various body types. With grab handles on all sides, this bag is easy to maneuver in tight spaces. The latest version includes a convenient handle pass-through for attaching to rolling luggage and a stretchable water bottle pocket, enhancing its functionality as a top travel product. Backed by a lifetime warranty and constructed from durable, water-resistant materials, the Allpa 35L is built to last. Its robust 1,000-denier polyester front panel and 1,680-denier ballistic nylon paneling offer excellent protection against wear and tear. Despite minimal administrative organization, the Allpa’s durability and comfortable design make it a reliable choice for frequent travelers.
Person wearing Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L from behind
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is the ultimate travel product for those who need versatility and customization. Ideal for photographers and tech enthusiasts, it can be expanded from 30 liters to 45 liters, accommodating varying packing needs. The bag features multiple access points, including a back panel for laptops and tablets, a front panel, and side flaps for the main compartment. Constructed from durable 400D nylon and polyester fabrics, it balances toughness with a sleek design. While it is a more expensive option, especially with optional packing and camera cubes, the Peak Design 45L justifies its price with its adaptable design and lifetime warranty. Its ability to function as both a spacious travel bag and a streamlined daypack makes it a smart investment for versatile travel needs.
Choosing the perfect travel bag is a personal decision, and these carry-on backpacks represent just a fraction of the top travel products available. For more specialized needs, consider exploring options like travel backpacks that double as mobile offices or bags designed for long-distance walking.
Rolling Carry-on Bags: Effortless Airport Navigation
Rolling carry-on bags are indispensable travel products for travelers who prefer to glide through airports with ease. These bags minimize strain and are perfect for longer distances within terminals.
Top Pick: Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner
Travelpro Platinum Elite 21 inch carry-on spinner luggage in grey
The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner is recognized as a leading travel product, offering an exceptional combination of size, value, and durability. Packed with high-end features and backed by a lifetime warranty, this spinner bag provides reliability and smooth handling. Its balanced design and robust construction make it a top choice for frequent flyers.
Buying Options:
- $365 from Amazon
- $365 from Travelpro
Since 2015, extensive research and hands-on testing of dozens of suitcases, including tests conducted by flight attendants, have consistently highlighted the Travelpro Platinum Elite line. For most travelers, especially those flying under 25,000 miles annually, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner stands out as the best travel product in rolling carry-ons, balancing features, durability, and price.
Person sitting with Travelpro Platinum Elite carry-on luggage in airport
Key features of the Travelpro Platinum Elite include smooth-rolling, user-replaceable wheels, a sturdy and comfortable telescoping handle, and a durable nylon exterior built around a strong internal frame. Improvements in the Elite model include a reduced handle footprint when stowed, an added exterior zippered pocket for quick access, and a USB pass-through for charging devices. Weighing only 7.8 pounds empty, it’s also lighter than previous models. Compared to other bags in its price range, the Platinum Elite offers premium components and a comprehensive lifetime warranty covering even airline damage, provided the suitcase is registered within 120 days of purchase.
Upgrade Pick: Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner
Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22 inch carry-on expandable spinner luggage in black
For frequent flyers traveling over 25,000 miles a year, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner is a worthwhile investment. This high-quality travel product boasts unique features, superior construction, and ample expandable space. Briggs & Riley is known for its commitment to customer satisfaction and durable luggage.
Buying Options:
- $699 from Briggs & Riley
The Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner offers unmatched packing capacity due to its spacious interior and innovative expansion-compression system. This system allows the bag to adapt to different packing volumes effectively. Extensive real-world testing, including over 150,000 miles of travel by Wirecutter’s founder, highlights its durability and functionality. While longer pants may require an extra fold due to the bag’s dimensions, the overall capacity and robust build quality make it a top-tier travel product for frequent travelers.
Personal Items: Underseat Travel Companions
Personal items, or underseat luggage, are essential travel products for keeping necessities within reach during flights. These bags are designed to fit under the seat and complement carry-on luggage.
Top Pick: Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag
Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag shoulder bag in brown leather and canvas
The Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag is a standout travel product for tech-savvy travelers. Combining the professional look of a briefcase with the organizational capacity of a small daypack, this shoulder bag is both versatile and durable. Its canvas-and-leather construction ensures both style and resilience.
Buying Options:
- $389 from SF Bags
Personal items are inherently personal, and the Waterfield Air Porter excels as a tech organizer with ample space for a change of clothes. Its sophisticated design transitions seamlessly from airplane to office, making it a stylish and functional travel product.
Alternative Pick: Monos Metro Duffel
Monos Metro Duffel weekend bag in nylon with leather accents
The Monos Metro Duffel offers a more casual yet luxurious alternative for a personal item. This classic carryall provides detailed organization and convenient add-ons specifically designed for travel simplification. It holds a surprising amount, comparable to rolling carry-on bags, making it a highly functional travel product.
Buying Options:
- $215 from Monos (May be out of stock)
If the Air Porter’s business-oriented style or price doesn’t suit your needs, the Monos Metro Duffel is an excellent choice. This shoulder bag combines luxurious touches with practical organization, making it a top travel product in the duffel category. For more personal item options, explore a comprehensive guide to underseat luggage.
Checked Luggage: For When You Need More Space
Checked luggage becomes necessary when carry-on limits are insufficient. While minimizing luggage is generally advisable, certain trips require additional items like formalwear, specialized gear, or extra clothing.
Backpack Style Checked Luggage: Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 55
For situations demanding more packing capacity and mobility, travel backpacks designed for checked luggage are ideal.
Top Pick for Taller Torsos: Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack
Osprey Farpoint 55 Men's Travel Pack checked luggage backpack in grey
The Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack is a top travel product for those needing a comfortable and spacious checked bag. Adjustable and carry-on compatible when the daypack is detached, the Farpoint 55 offers ample room for week-long or even month-long travels.
Buying Options:
- $220 from REI
- $190 from Amazon
Top Pick for Shorter Torsos: Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack
Osprey Fairview 55 Women's Travel Pack checked luggage backpack in purple
The Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack mirrors the features of the Farpoint 55 but is specifically designed for shorter torsos, ensuring optimal comfort for women or individuals with smaller frames. Like the Farpoint, it’s a versatile travel product suitable for extended trips.
Buying Options:
- $220 from REI
- $174 from Amazon
The Osprey Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 are excellent travel products for walking-intensive destinations, especially those with uneven terrain. These backpacks offer comfortable carry and substantial storage, separating essentials effectively. The main compartment opens like a suitcase for easy packing, and the detachable daypack accommodates camera gear, daily necessities, and a small laptop. Durable recycled polyester construction and a lifetime warranty add to their appeal. Straps can be stowed away for checked baggage handling, preventing snagging.
Rolling Checked Luggage: Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner
Travelpro Platinum Elite 25 inch expandable spinner checked luggage in black
For travelers prioritizing ease of movement over backpack carry, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best checked bag. This travel product offers a luxury feel at a reasonable price, with ample capacity, a strong warranty, and reliable performance. The 25-inch model provides generous space without exceeding airline weight restrictions.
Buying Options:
- $416 from Amazon
- $416 from Travelpro
The Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner Suiter is a top-rated travel product in the checked luggage category. It mirrors the carry-on version’s excellent organizational features, exceptional durability, and superior warranty, making it a reliable choice for checked baggage.
Essential Travel Accessories: Luggage Tags and Trackers
Travel accessories like luggage tags and trackers are crucial travel products for ensuring luggage identification and location, reducing the stress of lost baggage.
Top Pick Luggage Tag: Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag
Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag in blue on wooden surface
The Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag is a durable and practical travel product, designed to withstand rough handling. Its robust silicone construction and metal cable ensure longevity, often outlasting the luggage itself. Brightly colored and discreet, it displays the owner’s name while keeping other personal information concealed.
Buying Options:
- $8 from Amazon (pack of two)
A good luggage tag should be durable, easy to use, and discreet. The Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag excels in these areas, proven to survive rigorous testing and abuse from baggage handling. Its nearly indestructible silicone body, available in various colors, and metal grommet-reinforced cable make it the most durable tag tested. Contact information is securely hidden yet easily accessible when needed, balancing privacy and functionality.
Top Pick Luggage Tracker: Apple AirTag
For iPhone users, the Apple AirTag is the premier Bluetooth tracker for luggage. Leveraging Apple’s extensive device network, AirTags offer impressive accuracy in locating lost items. This travel product provides peace of mind by allowing you to monitor your luggage’s whereabouts.
Buying Options:
- $65 from Best Buy (pack of four) (You save $35)
- $65 from Amazon (pack of four) (You save $35)
- $23 from Walmart (pack of one)
- $29 from Apple (pack of one)
Bluetooth trackers like Apple AirTag proactively help locate luggage, going beyond traditional luggage tags. AirTags utilize a vast network of Apple devices to pinpoint location with unmatched precision. No other tracker matches the scope and accuracy of AirTag, and it offers secure location sharing, even with airlines, making it a leading travel product for luggage security and tracking.
Packing Organizers: Compression Sacks and Packing Cubes
Efficient packing is enhanced with travel products like compression sacks and packing cubes, which maximize space and organization within luggage.
Top Pick Compression Sack: Osprey StraightJacket (8L)
Osprey StraightJacket 8L compression sack in blue
The Osprey StraightJacket (8L) compression sack offers a unique side-zipper design for easy access to contents. While providing less compression than traditional sacks, its user-friendly access and convenient handle make it a practical travel product for organizing clothes and saving space.
Buying Options:
- $28 from REI
Compression sacks are designed to reduce the volume of soft items like clothing. The Osprey StraightJacket stands out with its side zipper, allowing full access to contents without unpacking everything from the top. Though it compresses slightly less than traditional sacks, its ease of use and handle add versatility, even functioning as a last-minute carry-on to avoid overweight baggage fees. For maximum compression, traditional designs might be preferable, but for accessibility and convenience, the StraightJacket is a top travel product.
Top Pick Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set
Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set in blue, small medium and large sizes
Packing cubes are transformative travel products for luggage organization. The Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set provides a simple yet effective way to compartmentalize clothing within luggage, making packing and unpacking incredibly efficient. Think of them as drawers for your suitcase, keeping items organized and accessible.
Buying Options:
- $40 from Amazon
The three-piece Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set includes sizes perfect for shirts, underwear, and smaller items. Made from durable 300-denier polyester, these cubes are sturdy and easy to pack. Full-zip access allows for complete opening when placed in drawers, keeping clothes protected and organized. While Eagle Creek updated their zippers, performance remains comparable to YKK zippers, ensuring reliability.
Best Lightweight Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set
Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set in various sizes and colors
For travelers prioritizing lightweight gear, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set offers a lighter alternative. These cubes are water-resistant and significantly lighter than the Reveal set, making them ideal travel products for minimalist packers.
Buying Options:
- $59 from Amazon
- $59 from Eagle Creek
While the Reveal set suits most travelers, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set caters to those who value lightness above all. Approximately 50% lighter than similar cubes and water-resistant, they are perfect for reducing pack weight. However, their thinner construction makes them slightly less structured than the Reveal cubes. Both sets, however, remain top travel products for organized packing.
By choosing the right travel products, from luggage to accessories, you can enhance your travel experience, ensuring smoother journeys and more organized packing. Whether you prioritize carry-on convenience, checked baggage solutions, or efficient packing methods, these top travel products of 2024 cater to a wide range of travel needs and preferences.
