A woman with hand baggage prepares to board her flight.
Frequent travelers are regularly on the hunt for the perfect carry-on bag that passes muster at the airport check-in counter and gate, but still holds a lot. These are some of the best gifts for frequent travelers that can protect and transport the most valuable items near and far. If you’re looking for a holiday gift for a traveling loved one, these are some of the best, new durable carry-on bags on the market this holiday season.
TUMI McLaren Velocity Backpack
Tumi and McLaren launched a partnership that combines the durability of race car construction with … [+]
Perhaps one of the season’s most chic carry-on bags does not roll behind you, but hangs comfortably on your back. The Tumi McLaren Velocity Backpack is part of a unique partnership between the deluxe luggage manufacturer and the celebrated race car brand. This bag, which retails for $1,595, is as top-notch as it gets using the same materials used in building their race cars for the bag to assure both quality and style.
Crafted from CX6 carbon fiber and a molded front panel, this bag is ready to fly high and keep your contents protected in the process. Magnetic zipper pulls open to the inside to find a padded laptop compartment that can hold a 16-inch screen, a padded tablet pocket, key ring, separate card pockets and the tracking TUMI tracer. It also has a built-in USB port, leather top carry handle, magnetic open back pocket and two side pockets for maximum storage and style.
Carl Friedrick The Carry-on Suitcase
This suitcase is a stylish addition to any traveler’s wardrobe.
Turn heads in the airport with this stylish, polycarbonate suitcase. It is a monotone dark grey, but has different accent colors from burgundy to cognac that appear on the top and side handles of the case. To keep contests safe, the durable bag relies on two aluminum locking clasps rather than a standard zipper. Inside, straps keep clothes contained to stop them from getting wrinkled, and smaller zippered compartments provide more internal space. The bag uses premium Italian leather and Hinomoto-made spinning wheels, which are super-quiet. The $445 bag is approved to comply with most U.S. and European carry-on sizing restrictions.
STM Goods Dux 30L Backpack
The shelved interiors and pockets on all sides make this backpack quite different from the … [+]
Rugged, stylish and soft, this durable backpack from STM Goods is great for travel, camping or even daily work outings with a side trip to the gym. The inside compartment has space for most laptops as large as 17 inches in a padded pocket, and the soft exterior fabric of the bag makes this an ideal option for those that travel with delicate items like camera equipment. The organized interior has separate pockets and shelved compartments to keep things from mixing together. This makes it easy to grab something in a hurry. Exterior pockets are well-placed for water bottles or an umbrella.
Its soft shell with 360 degree padding using Mil-Spec protection also allows it to constrict into tight spaces like overhead compartments or overflowing car trunks. Unlike other backpacks, this one also has zippered side wings and an opening at the bottom allowing you to reach certain items without disturbing others or secure it over a rolling carry-on bag’s handle. The bag retails for $250 and comes in a variety of colors.
Monos Carry-On Pro
The front pocket of the Monos Carry-On Pro is made from the same unbreakable polycarbonate shell as … [+]
With a built-in front compartment large enough for a 15-inch laptop, this bag offers both durability and ease of access for the things you need to grab in a hurry. Standing at the door of the plane digging through your bag for a laptop or snacks is certainly not convenient. It also allows for more space of clothes and other things in the main compartment.
The four-wheel, spinner Monos Carry-On Pro has a front pocket that unzips for convenience, but is made from the same unbreakable polycarbonate material as the rest of the bag. This assures the ultimate protection for the contents when bags are tossed and turned in transit beyond your control. It comes in ten different colors providing travelers with an option for every personality type. The Monos Carry-On Pro retails for just under $300.
Peak Design Travel Duffel
This travel duffel fits in most airline travel sizer units making it a worry-free carry-on bag.
This duffel bag has a clean and timeless look while proving stylish and functional with plenty of storage space inside it. The Peak Design Travel Duffel bag comes in two colors and two sizes, but only the smaller one is ideal for a carry-on bag. An outer pocket serves as a convenient place to store small items like keys, passport, pens and other things you need to grab quickly. Inside, the large compartment fits a pair of shoes, plenty of clothes and other items that you can squeeze in since the fabric can expand.
It works as a gym bag, work bag or travel duffel that can easily sit atop a roll-aboard bag. The hand straps are padded for more comfortable carrying, and the main zipper opens wide to fit larger things. There are also two internal mesh pockets and four outside pockets. The straps are multifunctional allowing you to carry it as a backpack or via shoulder strap.
