DealUpdates
Best Carry-On Luggage and Travel Bags for Holiday Trips
November 13, 2026 · 5 min read
The suitcase in the back of your closet has had a whole year to get worse. Maybe a wheel sticks, or the zipper has started to split at one corner. If you're heading home for the holidays, the airport is a bad place to find out.
The tricky part is timing. Thanksgiving travel starts before the big Black Friday sales do, so for each thing below there are two questions. Do you need it for this trip? And if you do, is the price good enough to pay now? Some of these pass both easily. A couple are better left alone until you're back.
The bag that goes in the overhead bin
Start here, since a carry-on does the most work. Most big US airlines cap carry-ons at about 22 by 14 by 9 inches, and that includes the wheels and handle. A bag that fits gets you out of the airport without a wait at the carousel, and on a short holiday trip it's often the only bag you need.
Samsonite's Freeform carry-on has a hard shell and four spinner wheels. Spinners matter more than people think: you can roll the bag upright beside you down a narrow plane aisle or a packed jet bridge instead of tugging it behind you on two wheels. Before you buy, check the listed size against your airline's limit, especially if you fly a budget carrier with a smaller bin.
The price has barely moved in months. It went lower once and hasn't been back, so this is a fair price, not a steal. If your current bag won't survive the trip, go ahead. If it can limp through one more flight, give the holiday sales a chance first.
Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On with Spinner Wheels
This hardshell carry-on suitcase is built to handle the rigors of travel while staying light enough to easily maneuver t... more
If you check a bag too
Families, and anyone staying longer than a long weekend, usually need something bigger under the plane. Samsonite sells the same Freeform line as a two-piece set: a carry-on plus a larger checked bag, with the same shell and wheels, so they nest together in the closet when you're home.
This one is the opposite of the carry-on. Its price moves almost every day, and right now it's sitting in the middle of that swing. We've seen it a lot cheaper. Unless you need the big bag for this exact trip, wait for one of its dips.
Samsonite Freeform 2-Piece Hardside Luggage Set
Samsonite luggage holds up and this 2-piece hardside set at $259 is solid value. You get a carry-on and a checked bag, b... more
The bag under the seat
Your personal item is the one you actually live out of on travel day: laptop, charger, snacks, the sweater you'll want once the plane gets cold. A backpack beats a tote here because it leaves both hands free for coffee and a boarding pass.
The North Face Borealis is one of the most familiar backpacks around, and this Commuter version is built around a padded laptop sleeve. This listing is the Gardenia White and black color, so you're getting a light bag that will show scuffs. A backpack this size usually slides under the seat in front of you, but budget airlines are strict about it, so check theirs.
We'd pass for now. It's a bit above where it usually sits, and it has been far cheaper. There's a good chance it comes back down soon.
North Face Borealis Commuter Laptop Pack, Gardenia White/Black
This commuter backpack is designed to safely carry your laptop while keeping your hands free on the go. The durable cons... more
If you'd rather wear a bag across your body, Travelon's Anti-Theft Classic Messenger is made for crowds. The body and strap are slash-resistant, the main zippers lock, and there are RFID-blocking slots for cards and a passport. It makes the most sense for a trip into a big city, where packed train stations and holiday markets draw pickpockets.
The price is middling for this bag. It dropped a lot lower this fall, so buy now only if you're leaving soon. Otherwise, let it sit.
Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Messenger Bag
This messenger bag keeps your stuff safe while you're on the go. It features anti-theft technology to protect your belo... more
Small stuff that makes the bag work better
Packing cubes
Cubes are the cheapest way to fit more into a carry-on. Rolling clothes into them squeezes out air, and each one keeps a type of clothing (or one person's stuff) together, so you don't unpack the whole suitcase to find socks. That's a big help when a family shares one bag. BAGAIL's set has eight pieces in a few sizes, enough to split up a bag for two people.
It's at the price it keeps landing on, which is also the lowest we've seen. Nothing to wait for.
BAGAIL 8 Set Packing Cubes Luggage Organizers - Cream
These packing cubes help you organize and compress your clothes and travel accessories into neat bundles for any trip. T... more
A travel umbrella
Holiday weather doesn't care about your plans, and a cheap umbrella tends to flip inside out at the first gust in a parking garage. Repel's travel umbrella is built to handle wind, opens and closes with a button, and folds small enough for the side pocket of a backpack.
This is the lowest price we've seen on it. Easy buy.
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella - Auto Folding, 100MPH
This compact umbrella is built to handle serious wind while staying light enough to toss in your backpack or car. The au... more
A tiny first aid kit
Nobody packs one until they need a bandage at the in-laws' house at 10 p.m. BAND-AID's Travel Ready kit has 80 pieces in a small case that fits in a backpack or glove box.
It's at the high end of its normal price, but the gap is about the cost of a coffee. Not worth waiting on for something this cheap. If you need one, just get it.
BAND-AID Travel Ready Portable Emergency First Aid Kit, 80 Piece
This compact first aid kit is designed to handle minor cuts, scrapes, and aches while you're on the go. It comes stocked... more
Driving home instead
Holiday roads are full of tired people driving long distances, and if someone backs into you at a rest stop, video ends the argument fast. Garmin's Dash Cam Mini 3 records 1080p video with a wide 140-degree view, and it's small enough to tuck behind the rearview mirror where you'll forget it's there. Like Garmin's other dash cams, it saves a clip on its own when it senses a crash. Check whether the listing includes a memory card. If not, add a microSD card to your cart.
This is a good price. It's near the lowest we've seen and at the low end of where it normally sells. If you're driving for the holidays, buy it now so it's set up before you leave.
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, Ultracompact 1080p HD with 140-Degree Field of View
The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is one of the most compact dash cameras available, mounting discreetly behind your rearview m... more
We may earn commission from qualifying purchases. Price and availability subject to change. Our recommendations are based on prices when this article was last updated.