Over AWAY? Here's Five Luggage Brands To Try

Back in 2015, all anyone could seem to talk about was “smart luggage.” Travel cases that not only could pack your clothes but, charge your laptop/phone, had tracking devices and were in almost every influencer’s feed. And at the top of the smart luggage race sat the one brand everyone coveted, AWAY. The company’s sleek design, durable construction, warranty and masterful marketing made them a household name among the jet set, a subtle status symbol that could be seen in every airport.

Since then, things have changed. First, in 2018, smart luggage manufacturers had to do a major pivot when most major airline carriers started demanding that their batteries be removable. And in late 2019 thanks to The Verge we all found out that working at AWAY meant being publicly humiliated, retaliated against for venting, severely overworked & underpaid and having to deal with co-founder Stephanie Korey who wrote helpful memos like the below to their customer relations staff:

“In a series of Slack messages that began at 3AM, she said, “I know this group is hungry for career development opportunities, and in an effort to support you in developing your skills, I am going to help you learn the career skill of accountability. To hold you accountable...no more [paid time off] or [work from home] requests will be considered from the 6 of you...I hope everyone in this group appreciates the thoughtfulness I’ve put into creating this career development opportunity and that you’re all excited to operate consistently with our core values.”

Oh, no girl. Not then, not now, not ever. Earrings off. Meet me outside. Onsight. Nope.

Heads have rolled and Korey has issued an apology, but I’m still giving AWAY a major side-eye since they still seem to be up to no good. So if you’re like me and need some new cases, but could do without knowing that your coins are funding a toxic company with a leadership team deserving of ALL the fades, check out some of my faves below that will get you where you need to go, but won’t burn your wallet:

MONOS
Minimalist and durable, Monos uses German Makrolon polycarbonate – a lightweight, aerospace-grade material that is nearly impossible to break and Hinomoto wheels, known for their durability, smoothness and quality. But the one detail that I’m feeling is the part of the bag that matters most, the handle. Monos remixed the handle to reduce lateral movement, and moved the handle release button to be on the underside, where it’s more ergonomic to use. In all what you get is a bag that is designed for form and function. Prices start at $224 US.

DELSEY
You’ve definitely seen and heard me rave about my DELSEY cases before and for good reason. I’ve traveled with both a hard and soft-side set from them for over 4 years now and can attest to great quality, customer service and durability. To be honest while I do love my hard-side cases from them, where Delsey really excels is in their soft-side product. You won’t find any batteries included, but my Chatillion set has seen over 5 different countries and 20+ flights and while there’s a few scratches here and there, they’ve taken it all in style. Prices vary.

LIPAULT
Known for their bright colors and water-resistant nylon designs, Lipault is a classic French brand, known for being among one of the first companies to adopt 360 spinner luggage, which is a now industry standard. This is a brand I like to recommend to those who love simplicity, but are also known to overpack a bit. Prices start at $245 US, but you can always find a good sale with Lipault.

An Original Plume Spinner set from Lipault

ARLO SKYE
This brand first caught my eye in 2017 when I found myself in the market for new hard-side luggage. Created by former execs from Louis Vuitton and Tumi, Arlo Skye cases boast many of the same features as Monos, but with one difference—the interior hard-shell exterior pocket. Seasoned travelers know that one of the most annoying things about hard-side luggage is that you can’t exactly “just grab something” quickly. With their Carry On Max model, Arlo Skye has something for the maven who always needs to grab a few things before settling into her seat. Plus a removable USB charger? Love! Prices start at $350US.

CALPAK
The best way to describe Calpak is—they’re the Samsonite for us. Featuring soft and hard-side luggage designs, what unites all of their cases is great design, durable materials, variety of style and reasonable pricing. Perfect for if you take less than 5 trips a year and want to stretch your coins. For frequent fliers, their premium range has all the features like aluminum framing, Hinomoto wheels and zipperless access. Pricing starts at $165US.