From carry-on suitcases with portable chargers to weekenders with shoe compartments, these are our favorite bags we tested.
Arlo Skye was founded by two former executives of Tumi and Louis Vuitton. The brand launched in 2016 with an aluminum carry-on that won multiple design awards, then expanded its collection to include more suitcase sizes, along with other bags and travel accessories. Arlo Skye luggage is sleek and sophisticated but not too flashy (although the aluminum options are eye-catchingly shiny).
Here at Travel + Leisure, we've tested well over 500 pieces of luggage from top-rated brands in our New York City lab, including nine of the newest pieces from Arlo Skye. After running a series of assessments to see how they'd perform in real-life travel settings — which included running them through an obstacle course, hitting them with baseball bats, and recreating an airplane set to roll them down the aisle and lift them into overhead bins — we scored each for capacity, organization features, design, maneuverability, durability, and value. These are the Arlo Skye bags and suitcases we think are worth buying.
Our Top Picks Best Lightweight: Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-on Max at Arloskye.com Jump to Review Best Aluminum: Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-on Max: Aluminum Edition at Arloskye.com Jump to Review Best Checked: Arlo Skye The Zipper Check-in Medium at Arloskye.com Jump to Review Best Weekender: Arlo Skye The Weekender at Arloskye.com Jump to Review Best Backpack: Arlo Skye The Backpack at Arloskye.com Jump to Review
Best Lightweight
Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-on Max
View on Arloskye.com Why We Love It
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This compact carry-on is one of the lightest hardside suitcases we've tested and helps you stay organized while traveling.
What to Consider
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The wheels don't glide as smoothly as other suitcases we've tested, and the telescoping handle sometimes sticks.
The brand claims the Zipper Carry-on Max is seven pounds, and while it weighed closer to eight pounds when we weighed it in our lab, it’s still among the lightest hardside suitcases we’ve tried. Despite its compact design, the interior was spacious enough to fit all items on our four-day packing list (which included six shirts, three pairs of pants, two jackets, two pairs of shoes, two toiletry bags, five pairs of socks, and five pairs of underwear) and then some.
We appreciated the organizational features, which include two main sections — one with a zippered mesh closure and the other with compression straps — plus, two zippered pockets and a laundry bag for separating dirty clothes. All of the zippers closed smoothly, even when packed full. It also comes with a removable powerbank with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Many luggage brands will include the charging capabilities but not the powerbank itself so that’s always a nice touch.
We brought this carry-on onto our airplane set during lab testing, and it was so easy to lift into real overhead bins while fully packed. It maneuvers pretty well, but the wheels don't roll quite as smoothly as some other brands we’ve tested. And although the handle has several height options, it sometimes sticks briefly when adjusting it. The Zipper Carry-on Max proved very durable in our tests, showing only minor superficial scuffs and no dents at all after whacking it with a metal baseball bat and shoving it multiple times off a table while fully packed. After three months of use and several trips, it remained dent-free and we found ourselves reaching for it more often than other carry-on bags. If you strive to pack light, we think it's a worthwhile purchase.
The Details: 23 x 15 x 9.6 inches | 7 pounds | 45-liter capacity | Polycarbonate
Best Aluminum
Arlo Skye The Frame Carry-on Max: Aluminum Edition
View on Arloskye.com Why We Love It
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This sleek, durable suitcase will safeguard your belongings, and you can use the USB port for on-the-go charging.
What to Consider
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It has clasps rather than zippers, making it harder to overpack because it does not have any give.
Aluminum luggage is generally more durable than softside and polycarbonate hardside options — but it’s also slightly heavier and often comes at a premium price. If you’re open to investing in a heavy-duty suitcase with a sleek appearance, Arlo Skye’s Frame Carry-on Max is an excellent choice. This trunk-style carrier has a decently sized interior that fit all items on our packing list. However, with the handle taking up notable space in the main compartment and latches instead of zippered closure, it can be harder to close when stuffed full and impossible to overpack because the aluminum shell does not have any flexibility. After several trips in the real world, we found that this could be a pro or a con — we found ourselves needing to be much more careful about how we packed if we wanted to be able to take home souvenirs.
Underneath the adjustable handle is a dual USB charging port with a removable power bank battery, which we noticed during six months of testing could be bumped open pretty easily. This suitcase didn't roll as well as some other aluminum models we tried — though it might be smoother if it's not packed to the brim — but it does a good job turning and navigating obstacles. As is expected with aluminum, the exterior may get dinged up with use, but you can rest assured the Frame Carry-on Max will protect your belongings from damage — it still looks and feels sturdy after six months of regular use.
The Details: 23 x 15 x 9.6 inches | 10.5 pounds | 45-liter capacity | Aluminum
Best Checked
Arlo Skye The Zipper Check-in Medium
View on Arloskye.com $425 at Urban Outfitters Why We Love It
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You'll have plenty of room to pack all the necessities for a longer trip and won't have to worry about your luggage getting damaged en route.
What to Consider
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It doesn't have an expander, and the zippers can be finicky.
If you're interested in slightly larger checked luggage, the Zipper Check-in Medium might be your best bet. Weighing in at nine pounds, this suitcase is pretty lightweight for its size. Though it doesn't have an expander, we had no problem fitting everything on our list and even had room to spare. We loved all the organizational features, too, which include two large compartments, a divider with two pockets, compression straps, and a zippered pocket. Unfortunately, the zippers sometimes stuck slightly, even when the suitcase was empty, but we were still able to open and close them. This problem continued during six months of real-world testing.
The telescoping handle adjusted without a fuss. It was easy to push the suitcase on carpet, flooring, and concrete on its four spinner wheels, although it didn’t roll as smoothly on two wheels or when we needed to push it from side to side. You can trust that this is one durable suitcase; when we threw the fully packed suitcase off a table, it landed upright on its wheels with all that weight on it, and nothing broke. The shell didn’t dent even when we hit it with a metal baseball bat, resulting in just a few scuff marks. We were a little disappointed in the scuffing, which continued to happen during our travels, but felt that the bag held up well otherwise. After six months of regular use, minor scuffing is the only damage we've seen and we've had no problems with our belongings inside the bag staying safe.
The Details: 27 x 18 x 11 inches | 9 pounds | 71-liter capacity | Polycarbonate
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Best Weekender
Arlo Skye The Weekender
View on Arloskye.com Why We Love It
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The Weekender boasts ample packing space and organizational features, and the well-made design will likely hold up through years of use.
What to Consider
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It would be nice if the padding on the shoulder strap slid when adjusting the length.
Arlo Skye's Weekender is nearly as big as a carry-on suitcase but much lighter and perhaps more versatile. This bag has a minimalist aesthetic and a practical, travel-friendly appeal. We effortlessly fit everything on our packing list and had room to spare. We were even able to slide this bag underneath the seats on our airplane set, meaning you’d be able to use it as a personal item while flying. Besides the enormous main compartment, it also has a separate shoe section and a large side pocket with additional pockets within for electronics and other small items.
T+L testing editor Jackie Cucco brought this bag on several trips and felt that it was a huge upgrade from the old, shapeless duffel bag that she used to travel with. «I’m a big fan of pockets and this bag excels in the pocket department, giving every little item a home so it’s not just floating around,» she said.
The interior also has an antimicrobial lining to keep odors at bay. On the outside, the bag has a removable shoulder strap with a padded section. While you can adjust the strap, the padding doesn't slide, which we consider a design flaw because you can only use the padding when you have the strap extended to a specific length, which may not work for all heights. Still, after six months of testing, we found it comfortable to carry with both the duffel-style strap and grab handles. The water-resistant material seems lightweight yet unlikely to tear, the seams appear reinforced, and the zippers work well. In the end, we definitely think it's worth buying if you're in the market for a carry-on, duffel bag, or personal item for short trips.
The Details: 20.5 x 11.4 x 9.1 inches | 2.4 pounds | 31-liter capacity | Polyester/nylon
Best Backpack
Arlo Skye The Backpack
View on Arloskye.com Why We Love It
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This backpack is surprisingly spacious, with many handy pockets, pouches, and sections for keeping your stuff organized and accessible.
What to Consider
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Some pockets are difficult to open when the bag is full, and the straps can be tricky to adjust while wearing it.
We were also impressed with the Arlo Skye Backpack, which has an extra-deep main compartment and a surprisingly high capacity for a slim bag. We fit our entire weekend packing list with ease and were even able to cram in a thick, puffy jacket. There are also lots of organizational features (like water bottle pouches, small pockets, and an electronics section with a designated laptop sleeve) for easy access to your belongings while on the go.
This backpack is lightweight yet durable and water-resistant with seam-sealed zippers. Just a heads up: some pockets are difficult to open when the bag is stuffed full. But the sturdy zippers open and close smoothly, even when the main compartment is packed to capacity. We found the backpack comfortable to wear, though it’s hard to adjust the shoulder straps when it’s on, and after six months of testing we found that the straps had a tendency to slip after being worn for long periods. We also noticed a few minor durability issues, like loose threads and color fading, but the quality has remained solid otherwise. It’s also easy to lift into an overhead bin and can fit underneath a plane seat.
The Details: 18 x 12 x 7.5 inches | 2.1 pounds | 25-liter capacity | Nylon/polyester
Our Testing Process
Our luggage testing process involved first weighing the bags, examining the designs, and filling them with our packing lists. (The length of the trips and accompanying packing lists varied by bag size.) We used all the pockets and organizational features, tested the zippers, adjusted the handles, rolled them across different types of flooring and outdoor terrains, and maneuvered them around an obstacle course.
Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim
Additionally, we tested the carry-ons and smaller bags on our airplane set to see how easy (or difficult) it was to lift the suitcases into real overhead bins and place the weekender and backpack underneath airplane seats. To test for durability, we shoved the fully packed bags off a table and hit them multiple times with a baseball bat, noting damage and cosmetic markings.
Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim
In addition to creating an airplane set and airport-like obstacle course in our New York City lab to simulate the travel experience, we continued to test the luggage in real-life travel settings and collected insights for six months to make sure they are durable and reliable. Each suitcase and bag is scored for capacity, organization features, design, maneuverability, durability, and value, and those with the highest overall ratings are featured here.
Tips for Buying Arlo Skye Luggage
Think about what size you need
Before buying new luggage (from Arlo Skye or any brand), think about what size you need. Most travelers will need a carry-on suitcase at some point, whether it’s the only luggage you pack or supplemental to larger baggage. If you need more space or prefer to check your luggage, consider a medium or large suitcase. There are also non-suitcase carry-on bags, like weekenders, which typically fit in overhead compartments — and sometimes even underneath seats. You may also want to bring a backpack or another small bag as your personal item to tuck underneath the seat in front of you.
Consider organization
The best Arlo Skye luggage pieces have useful organizational features. For suitcases, this may include dual main compartments with zippered mesh closure and compression straps, a pocketed divider, or interior zippered pockets. The brand's Weekender has a separate shoe compartment and an electronics section with a padded laptop sleeve, as well as slots, pouches, and pockets for cords, a powerbank, and other essentials. The Backpack has a designated laptop compartment, a small electronics section, and water bottle pockets.
Look at smart bag features
Some Arlo Skye carry-ons have built-in USB chargers and removable powerbanks. The ejectable battery is convenient when charging it, plus you can take it out if you ever decide to check the suitcase. Many other luggage brands have smart features, but do not always include the powerbank itself, while Arlo Skye does. The larger checked suitcases generally don't have these components, as smart features are most useful while you’re waiting for your flight so you can charge your electronics in the terminal.
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Theresa Holland is a commerce writer, editor, and product reviewer specializing in luggage, consumer tech, travel, and lifestyle. For this article, she compiled insights from suitcases and bags tested firsthand by T+L editors, then combed through product descriptions, specs, and warranty information.
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