Away Luggage Review + FAQs
photo by Ryan Kell
I’ve recently had the chance to try Away luggage to see if it lived up to all of the hype. My first trip with it was a trip to Europe. I challenged myself to only packing The Bigger Carry On (with ejectable battery) for 12 days. To see more about what I packed, you can check out this blog post here.
In a recent poll on my IG stories, I collected all of your questions about the bag and here are my honest opinions. Full disclosure, Away was kind enough to gift me the luggage but this post is not sponsored whatsoever. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To view full product details on The Bigger Carry On, please check them out here.
QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
What size do you have?
The Bigger Carry On with the ejectable battery in Navy.
I also have The Bigger Carry On with the ejectable battery in Green and The Everywhere Bag in Navy. This size perfectly fits in standard airplanes. I had no issues fitting it in the overhead bin. The Bigger Carry-On is made to fit the standard that airlines actually use—the sizer. And the sizer can fit slightly bigger bags.
Featured and Details: Durable polycarbonate shell- Ejectable battery that charges your phone - TSA-approved combination lock - 360° spinner wheels - Interior compression system - Hidden laundry bag Exterior measurements 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6” Interior measurements 21” x 14.5” Weight 7.8 lbs Capacity 47.9L
Does it hold everything you need? Or smaller than normal?
It may seem smaller than a normal size bag but it really does fit a lot. The bag zips in half, so you have one compartment for clothing, the other for side for toiletries, shoes, etc. I was honestly shocked by how much I could fit into the bag.
Best way to pack thing into it? How much stuff can you get in it? How many days?
In case you missed it, I shared how I packed for 12 days in Europe during the winter in a blog post here. The best way to pack (in my opinion) is to roll your items and use packing cubes. The packing cubes really help squish things down to maximize your space. I also highly recommend this flat toiletry bag. As a chronic over-packer, I was surprised to see how efficiently I was able to pack for this long trip. It’s definitely doable.
Is it easy to carry on to planes?
Very much so. I really like how sleek it is and balanced. With some of my other rolling bags, it gets top heavy and often falls over. The handle is conveniently placed so that the weight is distributed evenly. The size is perfect and fits seamlessly in the overhead bin with zero issues.
Is the handle sturdy? Easy to pull/turn? Is it rolling well?
Yes to all. I was very skeptical because I previously had the Travelpro Platinum Magna 2 and the wheels are incredible. Although these wheels aren’t as heavy duty as my other bag, it still held up really well and glided nicely. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to wheel on carpet, but so was my other bag. I’ve been pulling the Away bag through all scenarios, down stairs, through city streets and I’ve been impressed by how sturdy it is.
Durability? How is wear and tear? Scratches? Does outside get damaged?
It’s extremely durable. When you receive the bag, it comes with a self-cleaning kit which I haven’t used yet even though I maybe should. It
What is the texture like? Does it scrape hands?
The outside of the bag is a durable polycarbonate shell, which makes it waterproof and easy to clean. It’s porous and hard but not rough, if that makes sense. I’ve had no issues with scraping or rough textures against my skin.
How’s the battery feature? Love it or is it too complicated?
To be honest, I was actually nervous that it was going to be complicated but it’s SO simple. You just pop it out, charge it before your trip and push it back in. I usually carry this portable charger on me at all times but I’ve used this one quite a few times when my other one died. I think it’s a feature worth having, it absolutely doesn’t hurt.
Comparison on what you used before and the compartments?
As previously mentioned, I used this bag. The main difference in the compartments is that my old one was just one large compartment. The Away bag is evenly split into two. I prefer the Away bag because it’s easier to access things while you’re traveling. You don’t need to dig to the bottom, if that makes sense. I loved the functionality and customer service of my Travelpro, but I didn’t love the look of it.
What makes it different/ worth the splurge?
So just as a friendly reminder, I am not an Away partner, I am not being paid to promote this whatsoever. Aside from the bag being extremely functional, it’s sleek. I like how fashionable AND functional this bag is. The design is extremely smart and thought through. For so long, I’ve had bags that were functional but didn’t always look cool/ sleek. This is the first bag that I’ve found that offers both.
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photo by Ryan Kell