When it comes to luggage, few brands come to mind. Most of those that do bear remembering are often storied, legacy brands with top-tier price tags. Luxury brands like Hermés, Globetrotter and Rimowa have built their brands on craftsmanship and exclusivity; their customers occupying an income bracket that rarely finds itself flying coach. But in recent years one brand has flipped the luggage market on its head. That brand is Away.
Started by Stephanie Korey and Jennifer Rubio in 2015, Away changed the market by viewing itself as not a luggage company, but a travel company. They've pivoted the stale notions of what a luggage brand traditionally had been and turned it into a lifestyle that was enviable yet inclusive, appealing to the millennial market through clever social media strategies. The lifestyle harps less on a luxury jetsetting way of travel and more on the worldly experience of travel itself. Away's editorial arm, Here Magazine, reinforces the brand's lifestyle approach, offering insightful city guides coupled with essays on travel and interviews.
Undoubtedly the previous experience at eyewear brand Warby Parker had some influence on Away's approach and decision to go direct-to-consumer. This model, as many other modern DTC brands are quick to point out, circumvents the need for third-party vendors (the middleman), cutting the traditional retail markup from the equation; the customer gets a premium product for almost half of what they would have expected to pay. For Away, that means hard shell luggage with 360-degree spinning wheels and modern amenities like rechargeable batteries to juice up your electronics on your travels.
Its strategy has proven extremely successful and Away has experienced lightning-fast growth in its short existence, achieving a company evaluation of $1.4 billion valuation in 2019.
If you're looking for a new piece of luggage, Away's bags are an easy choice. Though travel these days is restricted due to the global coronavirus pandemic, road trips can still be a thing, even if it's just a quick weekend getaway to a secluded cabin.
Hard Shell Suitcases
Away's first line of luggage came was its suite of hard shell luggage bags, each made with a tough and lightweight polycarbonate shell. Each bag comes in a variety of sizes and feature combination locks, 360-degree spinning wheels, leather luggage tags, an interior compression system to keep your belongings secure and a hidden laundry bag.
The Carry-On
The Carry-On comes in 13 color options, including several limited-edition colorways. It can fit in most airplanes and can come with a removable 34-watt lithium-ion battery to charge your electronic devices.
- Exterior: 21.7" x 13.7" x 9"
- Interior: 20" x 13.5"
- Weight: 7.1 lbs / 8.1 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 39.8L
The Carry-On with Pocket
This version of the Carry-On comes with an exterior zip pocket, available in either nylon or a soft pebbled leather. The pocket features a lockable zipper, an easily-accessible exterior pocket and convenient interior pockets sized to fit phones and passports. The pocket can fit a laptop up to 15 inches.
- Exterior: 21.7" x 13.7" x 9"
- Interior: 20" x 13.5"
- Weight: 7.7 lbs / 8.7 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 38L
- Pocket: 15.75" x 10.6" x 1"
The Bigger Carry-On
Slightly bigger than the Carry-On, the Bigger Carry-On can hold about nine more liters than its little brother. It comes in 15 different colorways and also has the option for a battery.
- Exterior: 22.7" x 14.7" x 9.6"
- Interior: 21" x 14.5"
- Weight: 7.4 lbs / 8.4 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 47.9L
The Bigger Carry-On With Pocket
The Bigger Carry-On also includes a version with its own exterior pocket and comes in five colorways for both the nylon and the leather pockets.
- Exterior: 22.7" x 14.7" x 9.6"
- Interior : 21" x 14.5"
- Weight: 8.1 lbs / 9.1 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 46L
- Pocket: 16.5" x 11.25" x 1"
The Daily Carry-On with Pocket
The Daily Carry-On with Pocket is made for the traveler who makes frequent short trips. It's Away's smallest adult-sized bag and features a convenient removable accordion which can fit laptops up to 15 inches.
- Exterior: 16.5" x 17" x 9"
- Interior : 16.1" x 15" x 7.5"
- Weight: 8.1 lbs
- Capacity: 36.9 L
- Pocket: 13" x 11" x 1"
The Medium
The Medium features a capacity of 68.8 liters and is available in 15 different colorways.
- Exterior: 26" x 18.5" x 11"
- Interior: 24" x 17.5"
- Weight: 9.9 lbs
- Capacity: 68.8L
The Kids' Carry-On
The Kids' Carry-On is Away's smallest bag and comes with an ejectable battery.
- Exterior: 18" x 12" x 9"
- Interior: 16.1" x 11.75"
- Weight: 6.5 lbs
- Capacity: 31L
- Height: 31" including extended handle
The Large
At just over 99 liters, this is the largest bag Away makes. It comes in 12 different colorways
- Exterior: 29" x 20.5" x 12.5"
- Interior: 27" x 19.5"
- Weight: 11.6 lbs
- Capacity: 99.2L
Softside Suitcases
Away introduced its line of Softside Suitcases in 2019 as a lightweight and expandable counterpart to its line of hard shell suitcases. They're made with water-resistant nylon and can expand up to 1.75 inches. In addition to all the features available on its line of hard shell suitcases, each bag in this collection also includes an exterior pocket.
The Expandable Carry-On
- Exterior: 21.7" x 13.7" x 9.2" (expanded depth: 10.9")
- Interior: 18.4" x 13.5"
- Weight: 9.28 lbs
- Capacity: 37L
- Capacity: 42L when expanded
The Expandable Bigger Carry-On
- Exterior: 22.7" x 14.7" x 9.7" (expanded depth: 11.5")
- Interior: 19.7" x 14.7"
- Weight: 9.92 lbs
- Capacity: 47L
- Capacity: 52L when expanded
The Expandable Medium
- Exterior: 26" x 18.5" x 11.8" (expanded depth: 13.5")
- Interior: 22.7" x 17.5"
- Weight: 12.17 lbs
- Capacity: 73L
- Capacity: 80L when expanded
The Expandable Large
- Exterior: 29" x 20.5" x 13.2" (expanded depth: 15")
- Interior: 25.4" x 19.7"
- Weight: 14.13 lbs
- Capacity: 106L
- Capacity: 114Lwhen expanded
Aluminum Suitcases
This is Away's most premium line of luggage, with each size of its popular suitcases rendered in a lightweight and ultra-durable aluminum shell. Each bag comes features the same details as its Softside Suitcases with the addition of a clip-in pocketed panel. While each is available in four slick colorways, only the Carry-On bags have the optional battery.
The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition
- Exterior: 21.5" x 13.5" x 9"
- Interior: 19" x 12.5"
- Weight: 10.1 lbs / 10.7 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 35L
The Bigger Carry-On: Aluminum Edition
- Exterior: 22.7" x 14.5" x 9.6"
- Interior: 20" x 13"
- Weight: 10.6 lbs / 11.2 lbs with battery
- Capacity: 40.9L
The Medium: Aluminum Edition
- Exterior: 26" x 18.5" x 11"
- Interior: 23.2" x 17"
- Weight: 13.3 lbs
- Capacity: 64.6L
The Large: Aluminum Edition
- Exterior: 29" x 20.5" x 12.5"
- Interior: 26.3" x 19.2"
- Weight: 16 lbs
- Capacity: 95.1L
