Best Luggage sets 2026: 9 Compared (10 Sources)

What are the best luggage sets in 2026?

Summary

We read four current luggage-set guides. Two test the sets themselves: CNN Underscored's writer traveled with and stress-tested nine popular sets, focusing on hard-shell ones, on flights and trains and with scrape, hammer and shower tests, and Good Housekeeping's Textiles Lab measures, packs, drop-tests and abrasion-tests luggage and sends it out with consumer testers. Yahoo's picks rest on its editors' years of use and advice from travel professionals, and Condé Nast Traveler's on brands its editors trust, with first-hand notes on some pieces. [src1, src2, src3, src4]

Only one set wins an award in both tested guides: the Samsonite Freeform 2-Piece Set is Good Housekeeping's best overall luggage set and CNN Underscored's best budget set, so it is this card's top pick, replacing the July Checked Trunk Set. CNN's best set overall is Away's Bigger Carry-On paired with The Medium, which it found sturdier than the Freeform and better at keeping rain out; no other guide we read recommends that pair, so it is an alternative, linked to Away's Luggage Set page, which offered it when we checked on 2026-10-15. Good Housekeeping's most popular set pairs the same Bigger Carry-On with The Large, sold as Away's Explorer Essentials Bundle, and Condé Nast Traveler names that bundle its best starter set; it is the card's upgrade pick. [src1, src2, src4, src10]

The July Checked Trunk Set moves to the alternatives, with a caution: CNN Underscored is the only outlet we read that tested it, and CNN liked the handle and shell, but its wall-scrape test left scratches and cuts, the bags were not the most balanced and the carry-on does not nest inside the checked trunk; Yahoo names it its best trunk set after its writer handled it in July's showroom, and calls it heavy. Beis The Starter Set, a carry-on roller with a weekender, rests on two reviews: Good Housekeeping's Lab tested Béis's suitcases and names the set its best customizable, and a Yahoo editor bought it. The Calpak Evry Starter Bundle, the card's previous best-value pick, is Yahoo's best overall set; with one first-hand review behind it, it moves to the alternatives, alongside the Travelpro and Monos sets Good Housekeeping tested and the Amazon Basics set CNN tested. [src1, src2, src3]

Nine sets leave the card. None of the four guides recommends the Coolife 3-Piece, Away's standard Carry-On with The Medium, the Travelpro Maxlite Air V2, the Briggs & Riley Torq 22-inch carry-on, the Samsonite Winfield 2, the Delsey Helium Aero or the LEVEL8 Voyageur. Yahoo recommends the Away Jetsetter Bundle and a three-piece Travelpro Maxlite 5 set, and no other guide we read does; the card keeps instead the Away and Travelpro sets that Good Housekeeping's Lab tested. [src1, src2, src3, src4]

The 9 Sets Compared

Prices for the Samsonite, Travelpro and Amazon Basics sets are the latest from our daily checks of the Amazon listings we link, dated in the picks table at the top of this card; the others are the brands' own US store prices on the date shown. Sizes, materials and weights come from the outlets' reviews and tables (Good Housekeeping, CNN Underscored, Yahoo), from July's product page for the trunks' frame, and from the listing we link for the Amazon Basics sizes; "—" means none of our sources states it. [src1, src2, src3, src7]

Best for Each Use Case

Top Pick: Samsonite Freeform 2-Piece Set — Check price

The one set both testing guides award. Good Housekeeping names it its best overall luggage set: in its Lab the carry-on and large checked bag held a standard packing load with room to spare, came through repeated drops from 3 feet without major damage, and weigh 6.5 and 9.6 pounds, the carry-on one of the lightest it has tried; consumer testers liked the smooth zippers and the 360-degree spinner wheels, though some found the carrying handles tight. CNN Underscored names it its best budget set, for quality and maneuverability it rates above similarly priced rivals at a sub-$300 price: a hammer and the writer's own weight left no dent or crack, thanks to the flex of the polypropylene shell, and its long zipper pulls lock into the TSA lock more easily than Away's. CNN's caveats: dragging it along a textured wall cut the shell, and its zippers showed no water resistance. The suitcases have a 2-inch expansion system (Good Housekeeping). In our check on 2026-10-14 the Amazon listing we link had an offer at $287.99 from Amazon.com. [src1, src2]

Best Upgrade: Away Explorer Essentials Bundle — Check price

Away's Bigger Carry-On and The Large, sold together for $50 less than the two bags bought separately (Good Housekeeping). It is Good Housekeeping's most popular set: in its Lab the polycarbonate bags stayed in great condition after repeated drops from 3 feet and showed minimal scuffs in its scratch tests, each opens into two compartments with an adjustable compression panel, and testers gave the wheels and maneuverability high scores, though some rated the telescopic handle down for feeling wobbly when fully extended. Neither bag expands (Good Housekeeping's table). Condé Nast Traveler names it its best starter set; its writer has used both bags for seven-plus years and calls the 47.9-liter Bigger Carry-On the most spacious carry-on they have tested. CNN Underscored's best luggage set pairs the same Bigger Carry-On, which it weighed at 7.9 pounds, with The Medium instead of The Large; CNN's findings on that pair are in its own section below. Good Housekeeping lists the Bigger Carry-On at 22.7 inches. Away's US store listed the bundle at $620, in stock, when we checked on 2026-10-15; the two bags were $295 and $375 alone. [src1, src2, src4, src5]

Best Carry-On and Weekender Set: Beis The Starter Set — Check price

A carry-on roller and Béis's weekender bag, rather than two suitcases, for travelers who mostly carry on. Good Housekeeping tested Béis's suitcases in its Lab: they withstood repeated drops without dents, but were more prone to scratches and scuffs than other luggage it tested. It lists cushioned telescopic handles, a retractable strap for a small bag or a blanket and a built-in weight indicator that tells you when a bag exceeds 50 pounds, and notes that Béis lets you choose the pieces in a bundle. Yahoo shopping editor Janelle Randazza calls it "the one set I loved enough to actually buy," for herself and her husband: she praises the roller's wheels, its padded handle, internal lock and built-in scale, and the weekender's bottom compartment for shoes or dirty clothes, and warns that a stuffed bottom compartment keeps the weekender from fitting under an airplane seat. Yahoo lists the roller at 61 liters and 8.36 pounds and the weekender at 49 liters and 3.86 pounds. Béis's US store listed the set at $328.10 (on sale from $386) in Black, in stock, when we checked on 2026-10-15. [src2, src3, src6]

Also Consider — CNN Underscored's Best Set: Away Bigger Carry-On + Medium — Check price

CNN Underscored's best luggage set: Away's Bigger Carry-On, the carry-on in the Explorer Essentials Bundle, with The Medium in place of The Large. In CNN's tests a flight to London and back, a hammer and a rainy day left both bags near-impervious and their contents fairly dry; CNN found them sturdier than the Samsonite Freeform, on what it calls some of the smoothest wheels on the market. Its complaints were zipper tabs that take some negotiating into the lock and a textured finish that is harder to scrub clean. CNN weighed the carry-on at 7.9 pounds and The Medium at 10.4. No other guide we read recommends this pair, so it is an alternative here. Away's Luggage Set page, the page CNN links for this set, offered it when we checked on 2026-10-15, as a build-your-own bundle ("Build Your Suitcase Set") that opens on The Bigger Carry-On with The Medium; CNN notes that Away lets you bundle any two suitcases, so check the sizes in your cart. [src1, src10]

Also Consider — Softside for Frequent Flyers: Travelpro Platinum Elite 2-Piece Set — Check price

Good Housekeeping's best set for frequent flyers: Travelpro's 21-inch carry-on and 25-inch checked bag in nylon. In its Lab they were among the top performers in the durability tests, withstood repeated drops without dents or damage and resisted wear in the abrasion tester; testers liked the sturdy telescopic handle and the organization, which includes garment and toiletry bags and USB ports (no power bank). They are heavier than many of the bags Good Housekeeping tested, and a tapered expansion system keeps a full bag from tipping over. Good Housekeeping notes that the brand offers a 100-day return policy with free return shipping, even for used suitcases. In our check on 2026-10-14 the Amazon listing we link had an offer at $840.00 from a marketplace seller. [src2]

Also Consider — With Packing Cubes: Calpak Evry Starter Bundle — Check price

Yahoo's best overall luggage set: a carry-on and a large check-in suitcase with packing cubes and a luggage tag. Yahoo shopping writer Kristin Granero has had her set for years and says that, apart from a few unavoidable scuffs, it still looks and functions as new; the suitcases have expandable zippers (up to two inches) and locks. Yahoo lists the carry-on at 36 liters and 7.3 pounds and the checked bag at 93 liters and 11 pounds. Calpak's page says the bundle is covered by Calpak's 2-year limited warranty. Condé Nast Traveler also lists it. With one first-hand review behind it, the card's former best-value pick is now an alternative. Calpak's US store listed it at $289, against a $578 compare-at price, in three of its ten colours when we checked on 2026-10-15, and marked it final sale, not eligible for returns or exchanges. [src3, src4, src8]

Also Consider — For Maneuverability: Monos Carry-On and Check-In Medium Set — Check price

Good Housekeeping's best set for maneuverability: Monos's 22-inch carry-on and 26.5-inch medium check-in in polycarbonate. In its Lab both bags resisted major denting in the drop tests, but Good Housekeeping and its consumer testers saw prominent scuffing after use (Monos includes a cleaning sponge); testers liked the smooth wheels and the telescopic handles that lock at four heights, and each bag opens into two compartments, with shoe bags and a laundry bag included. Neither bag expands (Good Housekeeping's table). Monos's set page lets you change the carry-on model, so check which one is in your cart. Monos's US store listed the set at $440, in stock, when we checked on 2026-10-15. [src2, src9]

Also Consider — Three Pieces for Less: Amazon Basics 3-Piece Hardside Set — Check price

CNN Underscored tested Amazon Basics' three-piece hard-shell set as an option even cheaper than its budget pick, the Samsonite Freeform: it found an expandable design, a textured finish that feels highly scratch-resistant, a tunneling handle with a good grip, easy compression straps and zippers that glide smoothly enough. But the plastic exterior took cuts and minor dents in its tests, the zippers offer no water resistance, the bags' heavier weight hurts maneuverability, and no piece has a TSA-approved lock; CNN's verdict is "You get what you pay for," and the Samsonite set is worth spending a little more. Yahoo and Condé Nast Traveler name it their best affordable set, on their editors' years with its carry-on; Yahoo notes that the carry-on is 0.8 inches wider than the typical 22 x 14 x 9-inch airline guideline. In our check on 2026-10-14 the Amazon listing we link had an offer at $158.04 from Amazon.com. [src1, src3, src4]

Also Consider — Trunk-Style Set: July Checked Trunk Set — Check price

July's Carry On Trunk and Checked Trunk close with one-click TSA-approved latch locks instead of zippers. CNN Underscored tested the set: the writer liked the 20-stop telescopic handle, July's Y-strap compression and the dent-resistant German polycarbonate shell, but a couple of scrapes against a textured wall left scratches and cuts, the suitcases are not the most balanced, and the carry-on does not fit inside the checked trunk, which makes storage harder. CNN calls it "an absolute stunner with a price to match" and says that as long as you don't overpack, you'll love it. Yahoo names it its best trunk luggage set after its writer handled it in July's showroom: it likes the smooth spinner wheels, the 20-height handle and the ejectable battery, and warns that the trunk construction and metal framing make the set heavier than typical polycarbonate luggage. Yahoo lists the carry-on at 42 liters and 8.4 pounds and the checked trunk at 95 liters and 13.2 pounds. CNN is the only outlet we read that tested the set, so it is an alternative here rather than a named pick. July's US store listed the set at $970, against a $1,010 list price, as a preorder shipping from Nov 3, when we checked on 2026-10-15. [src1, src3, src7]

Key Market Trends

• Sets you assemble yourself: Away lets you bundle any two suitcases (CNN Underscored), Béis lets you choose the pieces in its bundles (Good Housekeeping), and Monos's set page lets you change the carry-on model, so a set's name does not fix its sizes. [src1, src2, src9]
• Bundle pricing varies widely: when we checked on 2026-10-15, Away's Explorer Essentials Bundle was $620 against $670 for its two bags bought alone, and Calpak listed its Evry Starter Bundle at half its compare-at price; Good Housekeeping reports up to 20% off Béis bundles. [src2, src5, src8]
• Dents are rarer than scratches: most hard shells came through the outlets' drop and hammer tests without serious dents, but CNN Underscored's wall-scrape test cut the Freeform, the July trunks and the Amazon Basics set, and Good Housekeeping found Béis's bags more prone to scratches and scuffs and saw prominent scuffing on Monos's. Away's bags were the exception: the Explorer Essentials pair showed minimal scuffs in Good Housekeeping's scratch test, and the Bigger Carry-On + Medium set was dent-, cut- and scratch-resistant in CNN's. [src1, src2]
• Expansion is not standard: the Freeform, Travelpro, Calpak and Amazon Basics sets expand, and so does the Béis set by Good Housekeeping's table; Away's classic bags and the Monos set do not. [src1, src2, src3]

Important Caveats

• Prices and stock change daily. The picks table at the top of this card carries our latest checks; prices in the text are dated, and the brands' US store prices are as listed on 2026-10-15.
• This card covers sets of rolling suitcases, with one labelled exception: Beis The Starter Set pairs a carry-on roller with a weekender bag. [src2, src3]
• Not every set nests: the July Checked Trunk Set's carry-on does not fit inside its checked trunk (CNN Underscored). [src1]
• Carry-on size: Good Housekeeping lists Away's Bigger Carry-On at 22.7 inches, and Yahoo notes the Amazon Basics carry-on is 0.8 inches wider than the typical 22 x 14 x 9-inch guideline. Check your airline's limits before you fly, especially on smaller and international carriers. [src2, src3]
• Luggage warranties often cover only manufacturer defects, so Good Housekeeping suggests checking the brand's return policy; the return windows it lists for its picks run from 30 to 100 days. [src2]
• Away, Béis, Calpak, July and Monos sell these sets on their own US websites, and our buy links for them point at those product pages; the Samsonite, Travelpro and Amazon Basics links go to Amazon listings. Away's Bigger Carry-On + Medium links to Away's Luggage Set page, a build-your-own bundle that offered that pair when we checked on 2026-10-15. [src10]
• Earlier versions of this card also drew on a travel blog and on luggage brands' own blogs; this version cites the four guides above and the brands' product pages.