For a very long time, Away felt just like the cool child of the luggage and bag world. The model mainly made minimalist hard-shell luggage trendy, turned millennial pink into an airport persona trait and satisfied a complete era {that a} suitcase ought to look ok to star in your Instagram story. But currently, I’ve began questioning if the innovation had slowed down a bit.
Every new Away launch arrives with loads of fanfare and guarantees of being game-changing, but most of the updates have felt extra iterative than revolutionary. Recently, Away’s signature Away The Bigger Carry-On even misplaced its high spot in our hard-shell carry-on testing to the much more modern Solgaard Carry-On Closet Original, which genuinely modified how I pack, because of its built-in shelving system.
So, when Away introduced its new Topside Collection, I used to be curious. And after testing each the Away Topside Bigger Carry-On and the Away Topside Medium Trunk on a current journey via Canada, I can confidently say that is essentially the most attention-grabbing factor Away has launched in years.
The excellent news? These are most likely my favourite Away luggage but.
The unhealthy information? They nonetheless scuff like they simply misplaced a battle with the bags carousel.
Away’s new carry-on pairs a better bucket-style opening system with a built-in wheel brake that genuinely makes touring simpler. I particularly beloved how sensible it felt in tight lodge rooms all through my journey to Canada.
The new Topside Medium Trunk combines deep packing capability with simpler entry, because of its bucket-and-lid design. During testing, it dealt with cumbersome clothes and multistop journey particularly properly whereas nonetheless rolling extremely easily.
The greatest change with the Topside Collection is the packing design itself. Instead of opening absolutely in half like conventional clamshell baggage, these luggage use a bucket-and-lid system. The foremost compartment is deep and vertical, whereas the highest lid opens upward reasonably than folding your complete suitcase into two big halves sprawled throughout your lodge room ground.
As somebody who travels continuously, I can’t overstate how rather more sensible that is. If you’ve ever tried opening a big suitcase in a tiny European lodge room, on a cruise ship or subsequent to a practice seat whereas attempting to not destroy your decrease again, you’ll instantly perceive the enchantment.
It’s one of many issues I’ve at all times beloved about my Briggs & Riley Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner, and I’m truthfully stunned extra baggage manufacturers haven’t embraced this type sooner.
During my journey via Canada, the design made unpacking noticeably simpler in smaller lodge rooms. I additionally favored with the ability to seize issues shortly with out absolutely opening your complete suitcase and exposing its contents.
Away added some genuinely considerate organizational options right here too, together with drawbridge straps that stop the lid from flopping open awkwardly, plus a compression panel with a wipeable pocket that’s helpful for separating laundry or toiletries. The built-in laptop computer sleeve and quick-access group pockets additionally make the carry-on really feel extra purposeful for precise journey, not simply airport aesthetics.
Away’s different main innovation right here is its first-ever built-in wheel brake system. And sure, I absolutely rolled my eyes once I first heard about it.
Then I used it.
And now I sort of like it.
With the press of a button, the wheels lock into place so the bag doesn’t slowly drift away from you each time you’re standing on a slight incline. If you’ve ever chased your spinner suitcase throughout a practice platform prefer it all of a sudden gained consciousness, this characteristic will make full sense.
I observed it most whereas loading the suitcases out and in of automobiles. At Oakland Airport, I used to be pulling the checked bag out of the trunk when the carry-on all of a sudden began drifting towards oncoming site visitors. It was a fairly rapid reminder of how helpful the brake system truly is. The solely catch is that it’s a must to keep in mind to show it on earlier than your suitcase makes a run for it.
The actuality is that the Topside Collection lastly appears like Away pushing itself ahead once more as an alternative of simply barely redesigning the identical suitcase yearly. The luggage roll fantastically, the packing system is much extra sensible and the group feels extra refined than earlier generations.
I particularly favored the Away Topside Medium Trunk, which struck a pleasant steadiness between giant capability and quick access. The deeper form made it particularly good for bulkier clothes and longer journeys.
And the Away Topside Bigger Carry-On appears like a better carry-on for people who find themselves continuously unpacking and repacking all through a visit.
Which, for me, is mainly each week of my life.
Here’s the half the place I want I may inform you Away lastly solved its greatest long-term problem. But it didn’t. After checking each luggage simply as soon as, they already had seen scuffs and marks.
To be clear, this isn’t a sturdiness drawback structurally. The shells nonetheless really feel sturdy and protecting. Hard-shell luggage goes to select up put on finally, particularly should you examine it. But cosmetically, Away luggage nonetheless appear to point out put on sooner than I’d like at this worth level. When you’re spending $398 on a carry-on or $478 on a checked trunk, it’s honest to anticipate the luggage to remain wanting polished for longer than a single checked flight.
Some vacationers gained’t care. Others will view the scuffs as a badge of honor. Personally, I simply want the end held up a bit higher as a result of in any other case, these are genuinely glorious suitcases.
Away’s new Topside Collection lastly appears like the corporate is genuinely innovating once more as an alternative of barely repackaging the identical system. The bucket-style opening is much extra sensible in the actual world, the brake system ended up being surprisingly helpful and each luggage rolled fantastically all through my testing in Canada.
I beloved how purposeful the Away Topside Bigger Carry-On felt throughout fixed unpacking and repacking, whereas the Medium Trunk dealt with bulkier contents exceptionally properly. The irritating half is that the beauty scuffing problem nonetheless hasn’t actually improved, which feels disappointing at these costs. But should you can stay with some put on and tear, these are simply among the smartest and most purposeful suitcases Away has made in years.
The assortment presently contains three items: the Topside Carry-On, the Topside Bigger Carry-On and the Topside Medium Trunk. All three fashions characteristic the brand new bucket-and-lid opening system and Away’s built-in wheel brake characteristic.
They’re all hard-shell suitcases made with polycarbonate shells, just like Away’s different baggage collections. That means they really feel sturdy and protecting, although they nonetheless choose up scuffs pretty shortly should you examine them on the airport.
The Away Topside Carry-On prices $378, the Away Topside Bigger Carry-On prices $398 and the Away Topside Medium Trunk prices $478.
NCS Underscored editors and writers guarantee each product included in an article is completely vetted and one thing we ourselves would really feel snug shopping for and utilizing. Our crew has many a long time of collective expertise researching, testing and recommending merchandise throughout each class — from vogue and meals, to house items and well being, to electronics and every part in between — and we’re dedicated to utilizing that experience that can assist you profit from your cash and stay a greater life.
For this text, NCS Underscored journey merchandise editor Kyle Olsen examined the brand new Away Topside Collection throughout a current journey in Canada, together with packing, carrying and checking each luggage. Olsen travels greater than 200,000 miles yearly and repeatedly checks baggage throughout dozens of airways and locations to find out which luggage are literally price your cash.