I Never Have to Dig Through My Suitcase at TSA Thanks to This Carry-On

Ever since moving out of my home state of Florida, I’ve been racking up air travel miles like it’s my job. I fly back to visit friends and family every couple of months, and no matter the length of my trip, I only travel with a carry-on (one case of lost luggage is all it takes). That’s why I’m incredibly picky about the suitcase I use: Storage capacity is key, of course, but I also want easy access to everything inside to prevent holdups at TSA. And I’ve found that Away’s Topside Bigger Carry-On delivers that, and more. 

The Topside carry-on makes a lot of promises. It claims to be roomy enough for a 4-7 day trip, wheel smoothly through the airport, and, best of all, give you quick access to your essentials thanks to the space-saving top lid. Suffice to say, my expectations were high with this one — and after taking it on a trip home last month, I can honestly say that it didn’t disappoint. 

Unlike most suitcases that open in half into two separate compartments, the Away Topside Bigger Carry-On has a flat, zip-up lid that opens from the top to reveal one giant compartment, so you can open the suitcase in tight spaces and quickly grab items inside. It has a heavy-duty polycarbonate hardshell that feels lightweight and easy to maneuver from the airport to your destination. The 360-degree spinner wheels feature innovative StopLock brakes that will effectively solve your runaway luggage problem. All you need to do is push a switch at the base of the trolley handle to keep the carry-on from rolling out of reach on slanted floors or gangways. 

Compared to the original Away Carry-On or the Carry-On Flex (an AT Best List winner!), the Topside Bigger Carry-On touts a larger, 49-liter capacity all within compact dimensions that fit in most overhead bins (23.2×15.7x 9.8 inches). It also has a zipper expansion that gives you an extra 2 inches of packing space.  

While the dual compartments in regular suitcases may give the illusion of extra storage, the Topside Bigger Carry-On offers the real thing. The main compartment is so deep I can stack multiple layers of clothes inside, and I can pack bulkier items like gift boxes and boots without any bulging. I ended up being able to fit more than enough clothes inside it for my four-day trip (I’m a notorious over-packer) and still had room for all the treats my parents inevitably sent me home with. The carry-on’s built-in compression strap system came in handy, too; it allowed me to maximize the already generous storage, and squeeze in a few extra, nice-to-have items — I didn’t even need to expand it. 

I also love being able to access anything I need inside within seconds thanks to the handy top-lid. I brought some candles home as gifts for my family, and of course, my bag was flagged at the TSA security check. However, because I put the wrapped candles right underneath the carry-on’s lid, the security agent took all of five seconds to find and inspect them and send me on my way. The whole thing took about five minutes, which is rare for TSA. 

I’ll be honest, I’ve always been too embarrassed to open up my carry-on at my flight gate if I needed something, but the Topside carry-on’s sleek, space-saving silhouette means I can open the suitcase without causing a scene. Drawbridge straps keep the lid open at an angle, so it doesn’t flop over completely like other bulkier suitcases. 

The interior pockets also help tame the chaos of packing and living out of a suitcase. A trio of zippered mesh pockets inside the lid give me a place to pack socks, underwear, and accessories, while the built-in 16-inch laptop sleeve keeps my laptop close. I really appreciated the divider flap that creates an added layer of separation between clothes in the main compartment and the essentials you’d rather keep up top. I used it to keep clothes and shoes separated on my outbound trip, then as a means for separating clean, unworn clothes from the ones I’d be putting straight in my laundry basket when I got back home. 

If you’re a carry-on-only kind of traveler like I am, I think you’ll appreciate the Topside carry-on’s carefully considered design. The top-lid opening, extra-deep storage compartment, and thoughtful organization inside made packing — which is probably the least enjoyable part of traveling, if I’m being honest — refreshingly painless. It’s the only luggage I’ll reach for! 

Buy: Topside Bigger Carry-On, $398