When I first began traveling, I never considered luggage to be a product for which style or fashion mattered. But with the rise of trendy carry-on bags from brands like AWAY and Monos in the last 10 years, luggage has left the sole realm of practicality, and is now at least dipping its proverbial toe in the world of style and design.
And honestly, I’m into it. Traveling should be fun, and if having a chic suitcase helps you enjoy the experience more, go for it. But as with most products that suddenly become trendy, prices have gone up. A carry-on roller from Away is $275; a similar-sized bag from ultra-luxe brand SteamLine Luggage is closer to $700. Those brands, and many others like them, make truly high-quality bags designed to last decades, if not lifetimes. Our editors have reviewed and tested some high-end luggage brands, and we liked most of them quite a lot (including Monos, Away, and SteamLine).