The Best Luggage for International Travel, According to an Editor That's Tested It All

Just look how cute she is! Totally precious! But also: totally practical. This lil baby was designed to fit under most airline seats, so you can stash it beneath your feet and forget about it the rest of your flight. Perfect for a weekend trip somewhere warm (hotter weather means fewer clothes means more room to pack, okay?) or as an accompaniment to your checked bag, I promise you can fit more in here than you think. It also has upright straps that allow the bag to hinge open when you unzip it, so you can easy grab an item or two from inside while you're on the go.

When you’re packing for a month or more abroad, a trunk-style suitcase can be your best friend. And this pick from July is one of the best trunks on the market. In a nutshell, it’s a great option when you need to pack a sh*t ton of stuff, because (a) it’s massive, (b) it’s easy to roll around no matter how heavy it is, and (c) it opens and closes on a dime thanks to two latch locks. The glazed polycarbonate shell keeps all your belongings safe while also looking chic, but you can also invest in their neoprene trunk covers if you want to protect against the inevitable scuffs and marks that come with a trip through the luggage carousel.

Hard-shell suitcases aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. There are plenty of fabulous softsides on the market—including this expandable pick from the no-nonsense luggage brand TravelPro. Perfect for business travel, this suitcase also means business, with all the features you could possibly dream up—from self-aligning spinner wheels to a built-in USB port and everything in between. The brand is also really big on organization, so the bag comes with a zip-in garment organizer that acts as a packing cube of sorts for your clothes.

Now, this pick is probably a little different than any other suitcase you’ve seen before. But hear me out: You’re gonna want to give it a chance. Especially if you struggle to stay organized on the go. The luggage comes equipped with a six-shelf “closet”—complete with different zippered compartments—into which you can pack your clothes, toiletries, and accessories. When you arrive at your destination, you just clip the top of the closet to either the suitcase handle or a closet rod, allowing you to see all your belongings at a glance. According to the website, it can fit more than a week's worth of outfits, and if that's not magic, then I don’t know what is.

Another piece of luggage I don’t go anywhere without? This backpack from Monos. It’s everything you want out of a personal item, ie. it doesn’t dig into your shoulders, fits way more than it appears to, can slide right under the seat in front of you, has a trolley sleeve so you can hook it onto your roller bag, has a slot for your laptop, and more. My favorite feature, however, might be the little pouch you can see on the front of the bag—it snaps on and off, so you can fill it with essentials you want to keep with you on a flight (think: lip balm, hand sani, medications) and stash the rest of the backpack in the overhead bins to save space.

Heading out on a weekend away? You’re gonna want a good duffel—and I recommend this neutral cutie from Lo & Sons. Available in either small or large, it has a detachable (and washable) bottom pocket for shoes or dirty clothes, multiple zippered and slip pockets on the inside and outside, a trolley sleeve for when you’re using it as a carry-on, a strap stuffed with memory foam, and more. It’s also made with eco-friendly canvas and recycled poly, and I’m alllll for that sustainability.

If you’re not using packing cubes every trip you take, you’re doing travel wrong. Whether you’re heading out for a quick getaway or getting ready for a semester abroad, packing cubes *will* change your life (or at least the way you pack). This set from Béis has everything you need to keep your suitcase organized and your belongings clean and controlled, including three packing cubes, two shoe bags, and a water-resistant pouch. Tip from moi: If you’re going on a shortish trip (two weeks or less), unpack one of your cubes and designate it your dirty laundry holder for the rest of the trip.

Sometimes you don’t want to carry a bag around when you’re traveling. That’s where a good sling bag (see also: fanny pack), like this water-resistant one from Monos, comes in. It fits all the essentials—I can stuff my wallet, phone, hand sanitizer, lip balm, sunscreen, and even a small water bottle in there—and even has a carabiner for your keys. The best part, of course, is that it’s hands-free, so you can hold hands with your travel partner (even if said travel partner is your trusty iPhone) and still have a spare hand to touch and feel your way through your destination.