After using the same Calpak suitcase for nearly two decades, I’m trying new Calpak luggage to see what’s worth buying.

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Travel + Leisure

As Travel + Leisure testing editor, a big part of my job involves testing out luggage, and I get asked often about my favorite suitcases and luggage brands. Though I have a growing collection of travel bags, there is one particular suitcase that I’ve been using for nearly two decades, and it’s from Calpak—actually, “California Pak” to be exact (it’s lasted me so long that it has the original branding on it).

I’ve taken my trusty softside purple suitcase with me on more than 50 different trips across five continents. I’ve rolled it over cobblestones in Cartagena, donkey poop in Santorini, and so many other places, and it’s still going strong (though it’s gotten very dirty along the way). Sadly, my suitcase is so old that I can’t link it for you, but I was curious to see if the latest Calpak luggage lives up to the same standards.

Our T+L team has tested 22 Calpak suitcases and travel bags, and I also personally own more than 10 Calpak items, including accessories including a water bottle holder and a train case. After taking a deep-dive into our team’s testing insights and my own personal experiences, I can say that Calpak continues to impress me with thoughtful details—including plentiful pockets and compartments to stay organized—and reasonable prices. These are my favorite Calpak luggage pieces and accessories worth buying.

Our Top Picks

Best Set: Calpak Evry Starter Bundle at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review Best Checked: Calpak Hue Trunk Luggage at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review Best Carry-on: Calpak Front Pocket Carry-On Luggage at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review Best Softside: Calpak Luka Carry-on at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review Best Underseater: Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage at The Container Store Jump to Review Best Weekender: Calpak Luka Duffel Bag at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review Best Backpack: Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack at Calpaktravel.com Jump to Review

Best Set

Calpak Evry Starter Bundle

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This starter set comes with a carry-on, a checked suitcase, packing cubes, shoe bags/laundry bags, and a luggage tag.

What to Consider

• Not all of the colorways have patterned interiors.

While most luggage sets come with suitcases only, this all-inclusive set comes with a carry-on, a checked suitcase, packing cubes, and a luggage tag—and that’s why it’s our favorite set we’ve ever tested. Both suitcases were easy to roll, felt lightweight even when packed full, and held up well to our durability tests when we hit them with baseball bats and threw them off tables. The packing cube set comes with three cubes and two pouches that you can use as either shoe bags or laundry bags, which is so helpful for organization. We loved how both suitcases can expand 2 inches for a little bit of extra packing space, though we noticed that the seams of the bags seemed a little strained when we packed them to the brim.

The color choices are so fun: you can choose something bright to stand out at the airport or something neutral if that’s more your speed. We especially loved the green daisy option we tested, which has a whimsical daisy print on the interior of the suitcases, on the pouches and packing cubes, and even comes with a daisy-shaped luggage tag, but the other colorways do not have the same patterned interiors and instead come with black packing cubes and luggage tags. The suitcases are also designed to stack the carry-on inside the checked for storage at home.

The Details: Luggage set includes carry-on, checked suitcase, packing cubes, luggage tag | 21 x 13 x 9 inches (carry-on); 28.5 x 18 x 12 inches (checked) | 7.3 pounds (carry-on); 11 pounds (checked) | 36-liter capacity (carry-on); 93-liter capacity (checked) | Expandable suitcases (2 inches) | Polycarbonate

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Best Checked

Calpak Hue Trunk Luggage

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• It’s rare to find a trunk that is expandable like this one, offering extra space when you need it.

What to Consider

• The outer material scuffs easily when you check it on flights.

Since my beloved checked suitcase is not available online, I found a worthy hardside alternative: the Hue Trunk. I have now traveled with this trunk several times, and I think the tall, spacious design is perfect for bulky items, like when I brought hiking boots, cowboy boots, and a coat on a trip to Jackson Hole. I also brought this on a 10-day trip to Japan (pictured below, along with my Luka Large Duffel), and the expandable zipper really came in handy to add an extra 2 inches of space after I did a ton of shopping in Tokyo and Kyoto. Most trunks from other brands don’t have that expandable feature, and I appreciated the option.

Travel + Leisure

The slightly flexible exterior of the trunk proved to be durable without a dent in sight after hitting it directly with a baseball bat in the lab and checking it on flights, though it did pick up a lot of black scuff marks after I flew with it several times. It’s spacious yet not too large to handle thanks to its tall, skinny design, though sometimes it can be top-heavy and fell over when I placed a duffel bag on top of it while traveling. I really love the smooth wheels, which were easy to roll through city streets, especially when rolling it flat on all four wheels. There are also luggage feet on the side and bottom to keep the trunk off the ground when you lay it down.

The Details: Hardside checked | 31.5 x 15.5 x 12.75 inches | 12 pounds | 93.9-liter capacity | Expandable (2 inches) | Polycarbonate

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  Credit: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

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Best Carry-on

Calpak Front Pocket Carry-On Luggage

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This hardside carry-on has an easy-access front pocket and a laptop compartment.

What to Consider

• The metallic exterior scratches easily.

One thing I’ve noticed after testing so many suitcases is that Calpak luggage has some of the best organizational features I’ve ever seen, and this carry-on is no exception. For those who prefer to fly with a carry-on, the Calpak Ambeur Front Pocket Carry-on Luggage stands out for its eye-catching metallic color options and front pocket that can hold a laptop up to 16 inches. Not all hardside suitcases have an outer pocket, but it’s such a useful feature for a carry-on to have so you can have easy access to your belongings without unzipping the entire suitcase. When we tested this suitcase in our lab, we noticed that the more we packed inside the bag, the more the lining of the front pocket started to protrude, so try to avoid overstuffing it (it’s also not expandable).

Once again, we loved all of the zippered compartments that kept loose items in place, including a pouch sewn into the suitcase interior that would be useful for jewelry or small valuables. After testing the bag long-term for six months, we kept noticing how smooth the wheels were, gliding effortlessly and handling sharp turns without a hitch. After checking the bag several times, it did scratch easily, but you can attempt to avoid that if you carry it on the plane instead of checking it.

The Details: Hardside carry-on | 21.5 x 14 x 9.75 inches | 8 pounds | 35.3-liter capacity | Polycarbonate | 16-inch laptop pocket

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The Best Luggage Brands, Tested and Reviewed

Best Softside

Calpak Luka Carry-on

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This softside carry-on is much more lightweight than the hardside varieties.

What to Consider

• Though the dimensions are similar to Calpak’s hardside carry-ons, this bag has a smaller capacity and holds less.

You already know that I love my Calpak softside suitcase. Sadly, the brand doesn’t offer any softside checked luggage at the moment. But they do have an equally-impressive carry-on option available in the puffy, water-resistant polyester material that the Luka collection is known for. There’s only one main compartment inside instead of a clamshell design, and the capacity is much smaller than Calpak’s hardside carry-ons—but the payoff is a supremely lightweight bag and compact size that would come in handy on flights with tighter overhead bins. After a team member traveled with the bag over the course of six months, she reported back that the feather-light feel made it so easy to carry up and down stairs at hotels and to load or unload into cars.

The outer pocket can hold a larger laptop than the Ambeur Front Pocket Carry-on above, with space for a 17-inch device. During testing, we thought the puffy material created nice padding for any tech inside, though the suitcase handle felt a little flimsier than others we tried. One of the coolest features was the small pocket on the top outer corner of the suitcase, giving you a special spot to stash your passport, phone, and keys.

The Details: Softside carry-on | 21 x 13.75 x 9 inches | 6.4 pounds | 31-liter capacity | Polyester | 17-inch laptop pocket

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  Credit: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

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Best Underseater

Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage

Credit: Calpak View on The Container Store View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This mini version of the Luka Soft-sided Carry-on can fit underneath an airplane seat.

What to Consider

• You’ll want to use this for short trips only or as an accompaniment to a larger bag because of its compact size.

If you’re looking for a small roller bag that is easy to lift and can fit underneath an airplane seat, this is the bag for you. Like the larger carry-on version of this Calpak bag, it has a front outer pocket as well as the unique smaller pocket for your wallet or other quick-grab essentials. When testing this bag in the lab, we especially loved the accordion-style opening that gives you easy access to your items while the bag is still standing upright. Though this underseater is compact, it’s still surprisingly deep, making it easy to pack for an overnight or weekend away. You can also use the luggage sleeve to place the bag on top of a larger suitcase if needed. We found that the wheels sometimes get stuck on sidewalk cracks if you’re rolling it on only two wheels, but the bag is lightweight enough that it’s not a big deal, and it maneuvers smoothly on all four wheels.

The Details: Softside carry-on | 16 x 14.25 x 9 inches | 5.3 pounds | 22.5-liter capacity | Polyester | Laptop pocket

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Best Weekender

Calpak Luka Duffel Bag

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com View on The Container Store View on Dillards.com Why We Love It

• This weekender comes in plentiful color options and has a separate shoe compartment.

What to Consider

• The shoe compartment is located inside the bag rather than beneath it, so your shoes will take up precious real estate.

The Calpak Luka Duffel is a fan-favorite, and I include myself among those fans. With a 25-liter capacity, it’s the perfect size to use as a personal item bag on a flight—and it’s also versatile enough for everyday use. I love how the dimensions and weight are smaller than the underseater above, but the capacity is actually larger. That makes it a more spacious alternative if you don’t mind toting it around since it doesn’t have wheels. The shoe compartment is useful for keeping dirty shoes separate from your other belongings, though the pocket eats into the interior of the bag rather than sitting underneath it, which will take away from your packing space. This poofy weekender also comes in more than a dozen different color options (and it’s impossible to choose just one!). I also own the larger version, which I’ve taken as my sole carry-on (it’s huge), but this regular size is much more manageable to carry.

The Details: 12 x 16 x 8 inches | 2 pounds | 25-liter capacity | Polyester | Laptop pocket

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The 12 Best Weekender Bags, Tested and Reviewed

Best Backpack

Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack

Credit: Calpak View on Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This durable backpack has comfortable, padded straps and doubles as a duffel bag.

What to Consider

• Weighing almost 3 pounds, it’s heavy for a backpack.

This hefty backpack has an impressive design for travel, featuring a deep main compartment with well-placed compression straps and multiple ways to open it, including a top zipper and a convenient clamshell opening. I brought this as my personal item on a four-day trip to Denver and also on a longer trip to Japan, and my favorite thing about this bag was all of the pockets—I felt like I had a space for everything, and it was easy to find whatever I needed without having to dig around at airport security and on the plane (I kept the bag underneath my seat). I was able to fit all of my travel essentials, including my laptop, a thick book, a clear bag full of skincare, a makeup case, chargers, noise-canceling headphones, and sunglasses in the main compartment. I put my smaller items in the front pockets—including my wallet, passport case, lip mask, and hand sanitizer.

Though the bag itself is a little heavy, weighing almost 3 pounds, the padded shoulder straps made it comfortable to carry, and there’s also a sternum strap for extra support. If you want to carry it a different way, you can tuck the backpack straps in and use the detachable carrying strap to turn it into a duffel bag instead. I noticed that the glossy material got a few dark scuff marks on it just from me standing against a window on the airport tram, but I was able to buff them out.

The Details: 18 x 12 x 7.5 inches | 2.9 pounds | 26-liter capacity | Recycled ripstop polyester | 17-inch laptop pocket

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Other Calpak Bags I Like

Calpak also makes great accessories and smaller bags, like makeup cases and packing cubes. Here are a few more bonus recommendations.

Water Bottle Holder: I used to just carry my water bottle around by the handle when I went on my daily walks—until I discovered this fun water bottle holder. I can fit my 32-ounce bottle or my smaller 20-ounce one with room to spare, and there are additional pockets for smaller items like my phone, sunglasses, and keys. Plus, the bag is insulated to prevent drinks from getting hot in the sun.

Clear Train Case: This clear organizer has quickly become my favorite cosmetics case for travel because of its convenient design, with elastic loops in the main compartment to hold bottles or brushes and a second zip compartment under the lid. I also own the Medium Clear Cosmetics Case, but I think this train case is easier to pack because it’s not as bulky.

Travel + Leisure

Medium Compression Packing Cubes: I was never a packing cube person until I tried these, and then everything changed. They come in sets of two and are so handy for grouping similar items together like underwear or leggings. After you fill them, you can close the compression zipper to help save space and ultimately fit more inside your suitcase.

Travel + Leisure

Luka 15 inch Laptop Backpack: This is my go-to backpack for commuting to work because it has the perfect amount of pockets, well-padded straps, a shoe compartment, and a 15-inch laptop sleeve. However, after a year of using it, one of the straps is starting to tear.

Travel + Leisure

Calpak Terra 35L Soft-Sided Carry-On Luggage: I was impressed by the smooth wheels and light weight of this carry-on during lab testing, but I wish the front pocket was deeper because it doesn’t extend down to the bottom, and I ultimately preferred the softside Luka Carry-on in our main list.

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Our Testing Process

Every single product on the main list has been tested by either myself or my fellow T+L editors, and I have been present for all of those tests in our New York City lab. To test suitcases, we pack them full to assess organizational features and capacity, wheel them through obstacle courses and over different types of flooring to make sure the wheels and handles work well, and throw the bags off tables to make sure nothing breaks. We also test durability by hitting suitcases with metal baseball bats to see how easily they may dent, scratch, or scuff. We built an airplane set so we could see how easy it is to lift carry-ons into overhead bins and to make sure personal items can fit underneath airplane seats. For weekender bags and backpacks, we wear them around the office for 10-15 minutes to make sure they’re comfortable and well padded. We also place a laptop in the tech pockets to make sure the bags feel sturdy and protective. After our lab tests, we long-term test each product for at least six months to make sure they hold up in real travel situations. I personally own more than 10 different Calpak items and regularly travel with them.

Travel + Leisure

Tips for Buying

Think about your travel habits

Everyone has different packing preferences, but thinking about where you typically travel to and for how long will help you find the best bag for your needs. If you prefer quick getaways or long weekends away, a carry-on suitcase or a duffel bag will serve you well. If you typically take road trips instead of flying, you won’t need to worry about size restrictions as much, but if you opt for train travel or group tours, you’ll have more limited space and may not have room for a checked suitcase—look for a spacious backpack to stay hands-free. If you’re an overpacker or love planning longer journeys, a checked suitcase or a travel trunk is your best bet. You can get a luggage set for matching bags in a variety of sizes. Calpak also has plenty of smaller bags and accessories that can help make packing easier, like packing cubes, shoe bags, travel pouches, cosmetic cases, toiletry bags, and tech organizers.

Here's my Calpak Hue Trunk and Luka Large Duffel in Japan.

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Decide if you want hardside or softside

Some people prefer hardside suitcases for the protection of the rigid, durable shell, while others prefer softside for the flexible nature and lightweight feel. Hardside suitcases are more prone to denting or scuffing, but softside fabric can be harder to clean. At the moment, Calpak doesn’t offer any checked softside bags, so if you have your heart set on softside, you’ll have to look at the carry-on options only. There is hardside luggage available in all sizes.

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If you see a color you love, don't wait

Calpak often releases limited-edition colors, and they do sell out. If you fall in love with a bag in a particular shade, don’t hesitate because it may not come back (though Calpak has brought back fan-favorite shades on occasion, like the recent resurgence of sage in the Luka collection—my favorite!). 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L senior testing editor Jackie Cucco has regularly traveled with the same Calpak suitcase over the course of 18 years, using it on more than 50 different trips across five continents. She participates in every T+L luggage lab test, trying out all of the popular luggage brands. She also owns more than 1- Calpak products that she regularly uses, including a trunk, a duffel, a laptop backpack, a water bottle holder, packing cubes, and more.

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