In the battle for the perfect carry on suitcase, two companies have taken the luggage world by storm: The Aerial Hardside Carry On Spinner by Genius Pack and The Carry-On by Away

These two carry-on bags occupy the same consumer space and have garnered an amazing amount of publicity. I’m on the lookout for the perfect carry-on, so I bought one of each.

Does one come  away with the “Best Carry-On” title?

I was in Italy with a friend in March 2017 when her bag was taken off the luggage conveyor by someone else and never seen again. Since then I have wanted to travel with a carry-on that is large enough to carry what I need and also sturdy enough to check if necessary. Carrying on a smaller suitcase does come with some clothing compromises, but that’s a topic for another day. Today I compare the features of these carry-on bags.

The Review

I bought the Genius Pack suitcase first and then when the Away bag came out I had to try it as well. Having taken each one on several trips-domestic and international-honestly each is good for carrying on.  I like the sleek minimalist exterior design of the Away better.  The Genius Pack looks clunkier because of its outer design with larger panels.

What follows are comparisons on important features that might convince you to choose one over the other.

Size-How Much Can You Carry?

The Genius Pack is slightly larger overall and has a larger packing capacity of 43L versus Away with 39.8L.  Away is slightly taller but Genius Pack is slightly fatter. Overall, they end up with similar measurements that will work on domestic and most international flights. Genius is also lighter than the Away: 6.2 lbs vs 7.6 lbs. The carrying capacity and the weight of the bag are probably my top two parameters, so Genius Pack wins for me on these counts.

Eight Wheels vs. Four Wheels

Away has eight wheels to Genius’ four. I think the eight wheels roll better and have better stability. However, neither suitcase rolls well on carpeting and with more airports upgrading to carpeted terminals, this means you will have to pull the suitcase more often. Neither suitcase is weighted particularly well for pulling.  Eagle Creek luggage is weighted well for easy pulling. I choose Away for wheel rolling and neither for carpets.

Zipper Pulls-To Lock or Not to Lock?

Away has the TSA-approved zippers that integrate into a combination lock. Genius has substantial metal pulls that dovetail but has no built-in lock. While I like the idea of the zippers fitting into a mechanism and not hanging loose, I don’t like the combination lock. I worry that the mechanism will get damaged and the combination won’t lock, or worse, I forget the combination…. When I take my Genius Pack bag, I usually use a twist tie to keep the zippers together. Simple and easy. Away wins for aesthetics and Genius wins for practicality.

Interior-The Greatest Difference

While both bags have a 50-50 split area-wise when opened, the insides are set up differently.

Genius Pack

Genius Pack stands out with the organizational features. The Packing Checklist is handy. It has three labelled zippered pouches on the left flap, and one narrow zippered pocket. These pouches don’t take away space from the left side, rather they would encroach onto the right side contents. If you use these pouches for socks and underwear you won’t need a packing cube for these items. Underneath this side is a flat packing area and there is a laundry space underneath a zipper. The right side has wells made by the handle, and the compression strap is not adjustable.  While there is a decent amount of compression provided by the x-pattern strap, I don’t think it’s enough.

Away

In line with the outer minimalist aesthetic design,  this interior is very simple. The left side has a mesh zippered cover and the right side has adjustable compression straps over a mesh covered panel with a zippered slot. The idea is to put loose items like shoes and toiletries on the left side where they can be zipped in, and clothing on the right side where they can be compressed with the straps.

When I pack these bags, I tend to slot my shoes on the right-hand side in the outer handle wells and put toiletries and small compression cubes in the center well. This creates an even surface for clothes and  Compression Cubes. Then I use the left side for bulkier items and the larger compression cube. I like the mesh panel and the compression straps much better on the Away.

Price and Warranty: Final Factors

Genius Aerial Hardside Carry-On Spinner: about $180. Five year limited warranty.

Away -The Carry-On: about $225.00. Lifetime Limited Warranty and a 100-day trial period with free return shipping within the U.S.

Clearly Away has a better warranty but higher price than Genius Pack.

Conclusion

“Best Carry-On?”

Truthfully these bags are so similar that I like each for different trips. I took the Genius Pack on a 12-day trip to Paris and everything fit well. I didn’t have much room for souvenirs, but that is also a good thing! The larger capacity and lighter weight work for me.

For shorter trips, I prefer the look, the compression straps and interior of the Away.

I do wish that each bag was expandable.

I have yet to find the perfect carry-on suitcase, but these two come pretty close. If you have found the perfect carry-on bag, please let me know!

Contact me to talk about luggage and start planning your heirloom-worthy vacation!

Disclosure: I have no ties to either company and do not get compensation from them for reviewing these suitcases. There may be affiliate links if you chose to click and purchase.