Most of us have been in a situation where an old bag starts to fall apart and we start
thinking about getting a new suitcase.
And until only a few years ago, it seemed like most suitcases were pretty similar in
design and features, with the exception of some higher-end luxury models.
Though in the past year or so, one luggage brand seems to be popping up everywhere.
Hey, how’s it going everyone?
It’s Ernest from Trip Astute.
In this video, we’re going to review the Away suitcase and see whether it’s worth
the extra cost.
If you’ve traveled in the last year or even been on Instagram, you’ve probably seen
the Away suitcase.
I feel like this branded exploded in the past three or so years, and I’ve started to notice
them everywhere.
Though it does beg the question of whether everyone really needs a premium suitcase and
whether the extra features are worth the cost.
So in this video, I’ll share my experience with our two Away suitcases and hopefully
help answer that question.
But before we jump in, if you’re new here, welcome to our channel.
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First off, I want to point out that this isn’t a sponsored or paid video.
The opinions that I am going to share are completely my own, and I wasn’t influenced
in any way.
Also, we have two Away suitcases, one of which was purchased by us.
The other was given to us as a wedding gift from Sebastian and Mandy over at AskSebby.
Sebastian and Mandy are awesome, and we really appreciate their generous gift.
I probably don’t even need to mention AskSebby since most of you already subscribe to their
channel, but if you’re into points and miles and haven’t checked out their content, make
sure you do so!
Away started in 2015 by Stephanie Korey and Jennifer Rubio in New York City.
Both were former colleagues and executives at Warby Parker, which is another famous and
successful start-up.
Away set out to make a more thoughtfully designed suitcase using a direct-to-consumer model.
That means that you can only get Away suitcases from them, and not at other retailers.
Though like a lot of start-ups, Away has depended heavily on social media to advertise their
products.
With that came a lot of Instagram influencers who were sporting the bag and really selling
a lifestyle with their luggage.
And it worked -- I know I started seeing the bag everywhere.
Not just on Instagram, but even at the airport
So putting aside the aggressive marketing, does the bag actually live up to the hype?
Do I think they are overrated?
To be honest, I kind of like them.
But before you jump into the comment section and criticize me for embracing the marketing,
let me review what I like and dislike about the suitcase.
And hopefully, I can answer the bigger question of, “should you buy one?”
The two models that we have are the Carry-On and the Expandable Bigger Carry-On.
The Carry-On is their base model that weighs 8 pounds and has a capacity of 39.8 liters.
The bag measures 21.7 inches in height, 13.7 inches in width, and 9 inches in depth.
The Expandable Bigger Carry-on is a newer model that has an extra front pocket and the
ability to expand in size.
This model weighs 9.92 pounds and has a capacity of 47 liters which can be expanded to 52 liters.
The bag measures 22.7 inches in height, 14.7 inches in width, and 9.7 inches in depth.
Though since it is expandable, the depth can increase to 11.5 inches.
So, with that out of the way, let’s run through the list of features on the Away suitcase.
1.
Strong outer material: I think the build quality on the Away suitcase is very good.
It might not be at the level of a luxury suitcase like Rimowa, but for the price point, the
quality is impressive.
On the Carry-On suitcase, the outside shell is a durable and soft polycarbonate.
This might not seem as rigid as other hard cases but Away claims that they choose a plastic
that was softer in order to absorb bumps and shocks.
The result is a nice textured shell that should protect your belonging against both impact
and moisture.
The harder shell is prone to scrapes and scuff marks though.
However, I found that I was able to remove the scuff marks using a magic eraser cleaning
tool, which is what Away recommends as well.
On the Expandable Bigger Carry-On suitcase, the material is nylon material that is water-resistant
and more flexible than the polycarbonate version.
The fabric feels high quality and even has the same grooves on the front side as the
hard shell version.
2.
Retractable handles: You’ll notice that the bags both have two handles -- one on top
and one the side.
On the Expandable Bigger Carry-On suitcase, you’ll find basic handles on both sides
of the bag.
However, on the Carry-On suitcase, the handles have an interesting retraction feature which
minimizes them from catching onto other objects.
This is especially useful when moving through tight spaces or when you are forced to check-in
your bag.
The handles feel like they stay out of the way when not used.
And when you do use them, they feel sturdy and strong.
3.
Smooth and grippy retractable handle: The main handle that you’ll use when rolling
the bag has a nice textured feel and grip.
The handle smoothly extends and retracts.
Unlike other cheap suitcases, I haven’t run into any situations where the handle wouldn’t
retract back.
This is often the case with lower quality suitcases, especially when they are fully
packed.
That extra pressure can affect the base of the handle and make it stick in place.
However, that doesn’t appear to be an issue with these suitcases.
4.
Quality zippers: The zipper is often a weak point in bags.
Luckily, Away uses YKK AquaGuard zippers which are water repellent and a strong and durable
upgrade to standard zippers found on most suitcase bags.
AquaGuard zippers have a larger lip which covers most of the zipper when it’s closed.
The zippers aren’t waterproof, but they should protect against the elements in the
event that you experience inclement weather on your trip.
5.
Robust wheels: Wheels are probably the most vulnerable part of the bag, and it’s often
the place that breaks first on a suitcase.
This is especially true for four-wheel suitcases since they tend to have more complex wheel
systems that rotate and spin.
To combat some of the abuse that your bag might experience while rolling, Away uses
wheels designed by a Japanese company called Hinomoto.
Many of you may not have heard of Hinomoto, but among frequent flyers, it is known to
be a top manufacturer of wheels.
Overall, they seem a lot larger and more sturdy than the smaller wheels you’ll find on less
expensive four-wheel suitcases.
They seem to roll and spin without much effort.
6.
Well-designed compartments: The organizational compartments inside are actually very well
laid out.
One side features a slot for harder items like shoes and toiletries.
The other side is designed for clothes, with a compression pad and straps.
The pad also allows you to store smaller items inside.
I typically like to use packing or compression cubes with my luggage.
However, I find that the extra compression pad and straps work well with creating additional
room.
Most of my other suitcases just have straps, which can help hold things in place, but aren’t
as effective at compressing my clothes.
The Expandable Bigger Carry-on bag also has a front pocket area with multiple compartments.
The pocket has some useful slots for both smaller and larger items.
In fact, the larger slot can easily accommodate a larger laptop, which might be something
to consider if you are a minimalist traveler.
If you’re only traveling with this one bag, you may want to consider a model with this
front pocket.
7.
Water-resistant laundry bag: At the bottom of the clothing area is a detacheable laundry
bag that can hold wet items.
The laundry bag is on the smaller side, but I appreciate that they include it.
The fact that it’s water-resistant is a nice touch, especially when you have swimming
trunks or swimsuits that are still wet when you need to pack them.
I personally prefer to use a compression sac as a laundry bag for larger trips.
However, I’ve also been guilty of forgetting to pack it.
Since the Away laundry bag is integrated into the suitcase, it means that I don’t even
have to remember to pack it separately.
8.
Integrated locks.
Away bags come with integrated TSA-friendly locks on the bag that connect to the zipper.
To be honest, it’s not something that I personally require in a suitcase, but I think
it’s a nice touch.
While it’s unlikely to deter a determined thief, it should give you some peace of mind
in situations where you might need to leave your suitcase unattended, like when you have
a hotel hold your luggage after check-out.
9.
Battery pack: The Carry-On suitcase has the option for an ejectable 37-watt lithium-ion
battery to charge your devices.
This battery is located under a flap in between the base of the retractable handle.
The battery pack has a capacity of 10,000 milliamp hours and includes two USB ports.
The battery itself is charged with an included micro-USB cable.
Away also includes a charging kit with plug adapters for most countries.
You should be able to get three to four full charges on your average smartphone using the
battery.
The battery is also covered by a two-year warranty in case it fails or doesn’t hold
a charge.
I appreciate that the battery pack is easily ejectable as well.
Some airlines require an inspection of your battery or even proof that it can be removed
in the event that the bag is checked-in.
I know a lot of you already have battery packs, so you might opt-out of this option.
For me, I usually carry my smaller Anker battery charger, so having this larger option is useful.
10.
Warranty service: One of the biggest selling points on the bag for me was that the suitcases
have a limited lifetime warranty.
This means that Away will cover any damage to the shell, wheels, handle, and zipper.
In fact, on one of our previous videos comparing four-wheels vs two-wheels suitcases, one of
our community members mentioned that she had a wheel replaced on her Away bag at the store
without any issues.
Granted, you may not have an Away store close to you.
As of this video, there are only Away stores in ten major cities, with London being the
only international location.
But this is a major benefit for me, as I suspect the wheels or zipper will the first things
to eventually wear out on the bag.
If that happens, it nice to know that I can head over to the store and have it addressed
immediately.
On that note, 11.
100-day trial period: Away gives you 100 days to try out the bag and return it if you don’t
like it.
You can even take it on a trip to see how well it works, and if you decide it’s not
a good fit, you can return or exchange it.
It’s a very generous trial period, and I think it speaks to their confidence in the
product quality of the suitcases.
Ok, as you can tell, I really like the features of our Away suitcases.
But what about the things I don’t like or wish were different?
If I had to be nitpicky, I would say that I wish the Carry-On bag had a handle at the
bottom of the suitcase.
My old TravelPro suitcase has one, and I think it’s handy when you have to put in your
suitcase headfirst into the overhead bin.
This is sometimes the case on smaller airplanes.
Having the bottom handle makes it much easier to pull out the suitcase.
The Expandable Bigger Carry-On has a bottom flap that works as a handle as well, so I’d
love to see across the models as well.
The other thing that I noticed is that there is a bit of play in the retractable handle
on both of our Away suitcases.
It’s not enough to cause any issues, but I think it could be tighter.
Again, I’m being a bit too critical, but it’s something that I noticed when using
the suitcases on our last few trips.
Now the big question -- is the Away suitcase worth your money?
In my opinion, it’s a great suitcase, especially if you’re someone who travels frequently
and is looking for something a bit more durable and thoughtfully designed.
The suitcases start around $225, so they’re not inexpensive.
However, they’re also not in the same price range as luxury suitcases like Rimowa which
are made from lightweight metals like aluminum and that feature highly-engineered components.
Away does make an aluminum version as well.
Though to be honest, I don’t think it’s worth getting a suitcase made of metal, especially
since it’s so easy to scuff and scratch the surface while traveling.
While I really like the Away suitcase and would recommend it to anyone looking for a
more premium bag, I’m not sure that it’s worth the cost if you’re an infrequent traveler.
The biggest advantage that I see with Away is that you can take the bag to an Away store
and have it fixed or replaced on the spot.
But if you’re someone who is a budget or infrequent traveler, you’re unlikely to
put a high amount of wear and tear on the bag.
And you’re probably better off getting a more budget bag like those sold at discount
stores and warehouse clubs.
At the end of the day, you just need to assess what type of bag you want to get and your
overall travel amount.
If you’re a frequent traveler or someone who wants a quality bag, I highly recommend
checking out Away.
The 100-day trial period makes it easy to try it out and see if you like it.
And for those who may be traveling once or twice a year, I’d recommend sticking to
what you have or buying a cheaper suitcase.
Unless you’re trying to make it on Instagram … then you definitely need to get one.
What do you think of the Away suitcases?
Do you have one or are looking to get one, or are you completely content with what you
have?
Let me know in the comment section below.
If you are interested in purchasing an Away bag and would like to get $20 off your order,
you can use our referral link in the video description.
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