We’ve travelled to 22 countries, have lived on a boat, and currently live in a van – all in the past six years non-stop. For all of those international countries (and many domestic trips), we’ve traveled carry-on only. In this article, we’ll cover what we consider negotiable in carry-on luggage, the best options available, and our top recommendation.
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What makes an INTERNATIONAL Travel Carry-On
You might assume that an international and a domestic carry-on are the same, but they are slightly different. International carry-ons will be slightly smaller than domestic, roughly an inch in width than a domestic. For our 1-year around-the-world international trip, we took two different carry-ons, a domestic-sized and an international-sized bag. In some small planes, the domestic was a slightly tighter fit, but at the end of the day, they both fit everywhere we travelled. So as long as you’re within the standard carry-on dimensions (24 inches x 16 inches x 10 inches), international or domestic, it doesn’t matter! Just ensure you’re within the weight limitations and you’ll be set.
🎒 Airlines have their luggage dimensions online; check them in advance if you’re unsure.
Must Have Features in your International Carry On
There are a few features that we believe set any international carry-on apart from others. Here are the must-have features we recommend in any carry-on.
TSA Lock
Having a TSA Lock is a must-have these days. That’s why we prefer the built-in locks like you see on the Level8 Adventure Series carry-on. These locks are specifically approved by TSA, so they follow all proper guidelines, allowing only you and agents to access your luggage.
🔐 If your luggage doesn’t have a TSA-approved lock built in, you can purchase one individually here.
Durability
When traveling internationally, your carry-on will be banged up much more than on a simple local flight. Whether you are dragging it from a cab, to a train, to an airport, or tossing it in the back of a tuk-tuk, having durable, reliable luggage is key. The last thing you want is to have a wheel break off in a foreign country – travel is stressful enough! This is why it’s very important to purchase a reputable, high-quality bag.
Expandability
This is one of those features you might not consider when looking for luggage, but it’s one of our keys to travel: “multi-purpose”. Every item we bring on a trip has to serve more than one purpose. For example, bringing an athletic shirt is perfect for a short run or just walking around town. Expandability in a carry-on gives you flexibility on your return flight to return with that special souvenir you picked up. By the end of our one-year trip, we had accumulated many paintings, and since our carry-on bags were expandable, we could check them on the way back home.
Non-Descript
The last piece that we feel is crucial in travel in general, not just long-term travel, is being “non-descript”. The reason is simple – when you’re internationally traveling, you may find yourself in areas of the world, either intentionally or un-intentionally, and you don’t want to broadcast your luggage as a target. This is why we prefer dark colors, simple luggage; it looks chic but also blends in. We stray away from luggage with large logos.
Decide on Your Luggage Based on Your Trip
Ultimately, determining the “best” international luggage for you would be incomplete without considering where you’re actually traveling to. We’ll highlight five different options below to get you thinking through the process. Your trip may be different, and you’d want to think through that!
Hiking and Backpacking
If your trip is focused on hiking or backpacking, you’ll want to prioritize a backpack-type carry-on if you plan to use it on the trail. We took our Peak Design 45L Travel Backpack when we hiked to Ciudad Perdida, and it did a decent job. We would have preferred a REI backpack, probably this 40L option, if we were to do it again in the future. If you have a porter and don’t require a large bag, you can keep a hard roller carry-on and use your personal item for the hiking – just make plans to store your roller in a hotel before you trek!
All-Inclusive Trip
If you are on an all-inclusive trip, where a company arranges pickup from the airport and provides support throughout your entire trip, then you’ll want to opt for a roller bag. Roller bags have some trade-offs, but they’ll give you the most space in your carry-on and will be the easiest to move around as you travel, assuming you’re not on extended cobble roads!
Long Term Travel
For long-term travel, you’ll want a “jack-of-all-trades” carry-on. We traveled carry-on only for a year, and combined the Peak Design Travel Backpack with our hard roller. This combination worked because we needed to carry more for a longer time, and it was extremely durable. Top of mind is that when we were in India, our hotel owner “accidentally” dropped our hard suitcase down 3 flights of stairs. Everything was fine because it was a durable bag! The big thing with this approach is that it isn’t for everyone. Most importantly, airlines can be more particular about “personal item” sizes, and our Peak Design Travel Backpack definitely was slightly oversized, although it did fit under the seat.
🧥 For budget travel, we practiced the art of “wearing all our big clothes” when flying. This minimized our backpack size and weight and allowed us to push some of the boundaries.
Solo Travel
For solo international travel, our primary goal is always safety. For this, limit zippers and prioritize locks. It’s too easy for a pickpocket to unzip part of your backpack and steal something valuable. We recommend either a roller with TSA locks or, if you prefer a backpack, wear it on your front when you’re walking around public areas. We’ve had a phone stolen right from our pocket when on a train in rush hour, and since then, we’ve been extremely cautious while traveling. Practice good street smarts!
“Rugged” Travel
When we mention “rugged” travel, we have a couple of travel styles in mind. The first is if you’re traveling to beachside towns. I remember we were in this small ocean-side village in Peru on our way to the Galápagos, and there was quite a distance of just sand we had to walk through to get to our hotel. Rollers are not suitable for sand, so if you plan to spend a lot of time on it, you’ll want to travel with a backpack instead.
The other scenario is if you plan to travel in a country where you’ll be riding motorbikes frequently, such as many Southeast Asian countries. In this scenario, you’ll need to travel lightly. We recommend a hard-covered roller, like the Level8 Adventure Series, so that it can fit at your feet, and if it bounces around, it’ll be roughed up, but your gear will be protected in the hard shell.
The Different Types of International Carry-Ons We’ve Used (and our ratings)
We’ve primarily traveled with three different carry-ons, each has its own pros and cons, and here’s our breakdown.
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
Our Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L has been our go-to bag for quick trips or if we bring camera gear. With a lifetime warranty, we feel confident in using it, knowing we can send it in for repair if needed. This bag features all our standard options, except for the built-in TSA locks. For a backpack-style carry-on, this is currently our top choice, but be aware that its size may become unwieldy depending on how much you pack.
Level8 20” Adventure Carry On
We most recently traveled with the new Level8 Adventure series carry-on, and we were genuinely surprised. It had the same feel as our Briggs & Riley bag, but for a fraction of the price. With TSA locks, and a rugged hard shell, and high-quality zippers, we feel it is a great alternative carry-on bag.
One thing about this bag is that it is made with recycled components, which we prefer in any newly purchased item. The only downside to the Level8 bags is their warranty not being as “no questions asked” as we prefer. They do still warranty against manufacturing defects, just not normal wear and tear.
Briggs & Riley TORQ International Roller
On most of our international trips, we’ve brought our trusted Briggs & Riley rollers. This roller has withstood many bumps and bruises, making it one of our favorite pieces of gear. With another lifetime warranty, we can rest assured if something happens to a zipper or wheel, it’ll be covered. The biggest downside of this roller is price; currently listed at $579, it’s definitely a lifelong investment.
The Best International Carry-On in 2025
Alright, now for the good stuff, what is the best international carry-on? Without further ado, here are our personal recommendations!
Use What You Have (or buy used)
Firstly, we’re huge proponents of the Zero Waste principles, using what you have or buying used if possible. There are many great options at your local thrift store, just ensure you follow our above suggestions on what makes a great international carry-on.
Best International Backpack Carry On
It’s no surprise that we recommend the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L as our top carry-on backpack. With the perfect combination of compartments, the capability to expand or contract based on its contents, and comfortable straps (both shoulder and waist), it has everything we want in a backpack. We’ve put it through the test, and it still looks great.
Best International Roller
For the best international roller, it’s a toss-up. If you have more disposable income and want something that you know will be covered for the next few decades, then get the Briggs & Riley. If you would rather spend money on traveling and not bags, then we highly recommend the Level8 Adventure Series. Another differentiator of the Level8 Adventure Carry-On is its signature wide handles, which provide more space on the inside. I recently appreciated this feature as I had the carry-on fully packed on my recent trip.
Bonus: Best International Combo (Carry-On and Checked)
If you’re looking for a Luggage Set for international travel, then definitely consider the Level8 Adventure Series Carry-on and the Level8 Adventure Checked Bag. We have both of them in black, and their build quality seems exceptional. We haven’t put them through the extensive testing as our other gear just yet, but we’ll update this post in the future if anything changes. Probably the first thing you’ll notice with Level8 gear is the quality of their rollers and zippers. I recently had to stuff my bag to fit everything I needed, and it held up perfectly. When my friends rolled my suitcase, they were shocked by how smoothly it moved – sometimes it almost moves by itself! Both suitcases have the TSA Lock, look good but don’t broadcast it, as well as are durable hard shells – a great investment in your travel gear.
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