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Away’s New Suitcase Aims to Redefine Aluminum Luggage

Durability doesn’t necessarily mean resiliency, especially with aluminum luggage. The direct-to-consumer darling wants to change that.

Close-up of a navy blue textured suitcase corner with silver metal corner protectors and a built-in TSA combination lock. The suitcase has a small black label with the brand name "AWAY" embossed on it. The background is a solid light blue color.Away

By Jack Seemer

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Say what you want about a beat-up aluminum suitcase.

Does it look good? In its own way. Do those dents hurt? Always — especially if you consider the premium price tag that often accompanies this class of luggage.

Enter Away’s new Aluminum Edge lineup, a collection of hybrid suitcases that boast the structural integrity of aluminum with the resiliency (and affordability) of polycarbonate.

A collection of hard-shell suitcases in various sizes and colors, including dark green, maroon, black, and tan. The suitcases feature metallic corner protectors and combination locks, with some having gold accents and others silver. They are stacked and arranged in a pyramid-like formation on a white background.
The Aluminum Edge collection features anodized details and an aluminum frame, however, the body is made with polycarbonate.
Away

The best of both worlds

Similar to the brand’s existing aluminum options, the Aluminum Edge bags feature a zipper-free design with anodized locks, rivets corner protectors. There’s also a gasket seal to keep out dust and water in-transit.

Dark blue hard-shell suitcase with horizontal ridges, silver metal corner protectors, and a retractable handle. It has four black spinner wheels and two combination locks on the side. The suitcase also features a side handle and a small rectangular logo plate near the top.
The corners are reinforced with anodized aluminum.
Away
A tan leather suitcase with a textured surface, featuring metallic corner protectors in a light gold color. The suitcase has a recessed handle on the top and a horizontal leather strap detail below the handle. The suitcase is shown from the top view on a plain white background.
The gasket seal keeps dust and water at bay.
Away

However, the body itself is made from the same polycarbonate found in the brand’s classic carry-on.

While the change doesn’t bring a notable reduction in weight — both carry-ons in the Aluminum Edge and Aluminum Edition collections weigh just north of 10 pounds — it does inject new bags with an extra dose of resiliency against scuffs, knocks and the errant drop against the airport conveyor belt.

Three dark green hard-shell suitcases with gold corner protectors, gold zippers, and gold combination locks. Each suitcase has four black spinner wheels and a black side handle. The suitcases are arranged in ascending size order from left to right.
Like other collections in Away’s catalog, Aluminum Edge features bags in varying sizes.
Away

Also, credit to Away for going the extra mile to preserve the refine quality of aluminum luggage, albeit with a novel approach.

The shell features a leather-inspired texture that not matches its actual-leather handle but distinguishes it from the brand’s entry-level bags.

Close-up of a brown textured hard-shell suitcase corner with gold metal corner protectors and a built-in gold TSA combination lock. The suitcase has a small rectangular "AWAY" logo plate on the side.
The texture is fashioned to resemble leather.
Away

Availability and pricing

When it comes to pricing, the Aluminum Edge collection is the premium economy of Away’s broader catalog.

The Aluminum Edge Carry-On, available in four colors, costs $425. The classic Carry-On costs $275, while the Aluminum Edition starts at $625 for a comparably sized bag.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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