COMPACT AND DURABLE
At six pounds and change, this agile carry-on is the choice for fast-and-light travel. Its 2,800 cubic inches carried enough for a week in Mexico, where my giddyup included planes, boats, taxis, and a conked-out scooter that left me hitchhiking. The rigid, lightweight aluminum frame handled trunk-stuffing and boat-tossing, while the extra-large polyurethane wheels and high-clearance base made navigating the potholed streets of San Miguel a breeze. Shoulder straps would have been nice for a half-mile walk through Cozumel’s jungle (when that scooter ran out of gas), but it wasn’t a sufferfest, thanks to the pack’s dual carrying options and soft sides. ospreypacks.com
Bonus: The ergonomic handle locks in three open positions.
Bummer: The stretch-woven front pocket showed wear after a few trips.