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For the first time in a long time, I took a vacation outside of Canada. I headed to sunny Mexico for ten days and packed everything I needed in my trusty Bigger Carry-On from Away ($325).
I have the carry-on in the limited-edition lavender shade, which is the perfect colour for spring. It's sized to fit in the overhead bin of most major airlines. If you do check it, your luggage will stand out from the rest while waiting in those drab airport terminals.
If you've been seeing this trendy brand all over social media and are wondering if it's worth the hype, here's my full review of the product.
It's all in the details
Every single detail about the Bigger Carry-On is well thought out, from the hidden, water-resistant laundry bag to the 360° spinner wheels — which totally passed my "sprint through the airport to catch a connecting flight" test. But there are other features that make Away luggage truly superior.
Each side of the luggage is meant for different items. One side has a zippered mesh cover for your toiletries and shoes and the other side has a compression panel that you can tighten to make the most of your space. The panel also has a zippered pocket for storing passports, documents or accessories.
The luggage itself is made of polycarbonate hard shell with leather details and comes with a black leather luggage tag. I'm a big fan of hard shell luggage over fabric because it's lighter and less prone to rips and stains. You can always get a magic clean eraser to get rid of scuff marks if they do show up.
While it isn't available on the lavender-coloured luggage I got, other Away carry-ons come with an ejectable portable charger at the bottom of the handle. It can charge your phone up to four times! It's TSA-approved but can be easily removed if you're flying somewhere where it isn't allowed.
If and when you need to check your bag, the zippers can lock into a TSA-approved combination lock to give you extra peace of mind.
Every single Away suitcase can nest inside one other, which is a genius way of storing them. Even better, there are handles on the top and side so you can easily pick them up no matter how they're oriented.
Accessories to make your life easier
If you're not travelling with packing cubes yet, you're missing out. They make organizing all of your different clothes and getting dressed so much faster since you can quickly find them.
I used a set of six Insider Packing Cubes ($65) to organize everything from bathing suits to dresses. They fit seamlessly in a checked bag but I managed to squeeze them all in my carry-on (I travel light!). Away also sells a set of four ($45) that are perfect for the Bigger Carry-On.
In my opinion, what makes these packing cubes worth the money is that they're super sturdy and durable, even if you stuff them to the max. Each cube has a mesh panel so you can see what's inside and if you ever accidentally drop them in water, your items will remain dry.
I prefer to travel light when it comes to toiletries, too. I used the Away Small Toiletry Bag ($55) to safely stash all of my makeup, skincare and personal hygiene items.
You'd be surprised at how much this thing can fit, although I recommend something bigger if you're travelling with a lot of full-sized bottles. The top panel for liquids is clear and zips up while the bottom mesh panel is perfect for storing dry items like a toothbrush, razor, etc.
There's also a pocket on the outside for quick access to things like hair ties or makeup wipes and the whole thing is water-resistant.
Do I recommend this product?
If you're like me and you hate checking bags when travelling, you'll love the Away Bigger Carry-On. It's a suitcase sized to fit in the overhead bin of most major airlines. You don't have to worry about your luggage getting lost or waiting for it to come around on that endless conveyor belt because it stands out from the typical, black carry-ons everyone else uses.
Even if you don't travel often, I still think it's worth investing in high-quality luggage because it'll make travelling – and packing – less of a headache. After testing the brand out myself, I just can't see myself using any other suitcase.
My overall rating:
Away The Bigger Carry-On Lavender
Ready to travel again? You'll need a good suitcase to make sure your journey goes seamlessly and Away's Bigger Carry-On with over 3,000 five-star ratings is the perfect companion. You can test it out with the company's 100-day trial period and get it shipped free. It also comes with a lifetime warranty which should give you peace of mind.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
