Packing and preparing your luggage for an upcoming trip can be daunting. You definitely don’t want to forget anything at home but the idea of exceeding your airline’s baggage weight limit can ...

Packing Alcohol (Beer, Champagne, Stronger Beverages, and Wine) in Your Suitcase This applies to all liquids, alcohol included: You may carry liquids in a maximum allowed 3.4 oz bottles in your ...

Packing just a carry-on also means you don’t have to wait at the luggage carousel and there’s little chance your bag will get lost. However, whether you can make do without checked luggage ...

I also struggled with finding the best way to align the shoes to make the most of the limited suitcase space. And with ...

And then: Always pack a suitcase in the right order Heavier or bulky items should always go at the bottom of the suitcase—shoes, sweaters, sweats, etc. Light clothes or blouses at the top.

The mesh face, handy for inventorying suitcase contents, is as tough as any gym bag. Bagsmart’s packing cubes feel less durable than Bagail’s, but the former boasts a sleeker, more ...

No dry cleaning bags? No sweat. Trash bags or liners work too—just make sure they aren't scented. You want to avoid a suitcase that smells like fresh pine or lemon zest.

Softside: Many people love softside carry-on luggage for its ability to cram into small spaces. You can pack these carry-on bags much fuller than you can a hardside bag, as long as they zip up.

Fortunately, this suitcase’s performance more than made up for Higley’s packing woes. She was impressed by how easy it was to transport, thanks to its high-quality wheels, handles and zippers.

Softside luggage offers more packing flexibility. Our team of traveling editors tested and evaluated six suitcases to find the best softside luggage of 2025.