Travel gear has evolved significantly over the years, offering an array of lightweight, durable and portable options.
Away, a leading brand in the industry since its inception in 2015, has revolutionized hard-shell luggage with its spacious designs, premium materials and sleek aesthetics. Despite its popularity and quality, the higher price point of $275 for its cult-favorite Away The Carry-On suitcase may deter some consumers.
However, with competitors like Delsey, Calpak and Samsonite in the market, the Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner stands out for its exceptional value at under $100. Boasting a remarkable 40,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, this suitcase offers similar features to Away’s The Carry-On, including spinner wheels, a hard outer shell and a zip expansion system for added capacity.
To determine the best investment for your travel needs, we tested both options on cross-country flights, evaluating their performance through various travel scenarios.
Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner vs. Away The Carry-On at a glance
This hard-shell Amazon Basics carry-on bag is available at a fraction of the price of some of its brand-name competitors. It offers a bare-bones packing experience compared to the Away but manages to tick most boxes travelers look for like a telescopic handle, 360-degree spinner wheels and an interior compression system.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more on your carry-on bag, Away’s The Carry-On is the way to go. You’ll get a better-quality bag that feels more durable, comes with a lifetime limited warranty, is lighter weight when empty and, ultimately, looks more appealing. It comes in more colors and has the option to add a USB charger.
Quick comparison
| Exterior measurements | 21.65 x 14.76 x 9.5 in. |
|---|---|
| Interior measurements | 18.5 x 13.3 x 9.6 in. |
| Weight (empty) | 6.82 lbs. |
| Capacity | Not listed |
| 360-degree spinner wheels | Yes |
| Interior compression system | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | Yes |
| USB charger and ejectable battery | No |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Navy Blue, Orange |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Number of customer reviews | 45,000+ |
| Customer star rating | 4.5 |
| Price | $84 |
| Exterior measurements | 21.7 x 14.4 x 9 in. |
|---|---|
| Interior measurements | 20.1 x 13.9 x 7.5 in. |
| Weight (empty) | 7.5 lbs. |
| Capacity | 39.8 liters |
| 360-degree spinner wheels | Yes |
| Interior compression system | Yes |
| Telescopic handle | Yes |
| USB charger and ejectable battery | Optional for an additional $20 |
| Colors | Black, Navy, Coast, Olive, Green, Cloud, Pink, Orange, Red, White |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
| Number of customer reviews | 5,000+ |
| Customer star rating | 4.7 |
| Price | $275 |
In essence, both the Away Carry-On and the Amazon Basics 20-inch Hardside Spinner are compact suitcases featuring clamshell openings and robust exteriors. They share comparable dimensions and likely offer similar capacity, presenting durable solutions capable of enduring the rigors of travel. Their key appeal lies in their ability to provide ample storage space for your belongings while remaining compact enough to fit into an airplane’s overhead compartment easily.
Appearance
Let’s start with aesthetics. Both bags boast horizontal ridges on their exterior, offering a sleek appearance. However, Away takes the lead in this aspect.
Away’s signature polycarbonate hard shell exudes a minimalist charm with its matte glow, available in 10 color options. The texture whispers understated elegance, setting it apart. On the other hand, the Amazon Basics spinner features a rougher, utilitarian texture in four color choices. It lacks the elevated appeal of the Away The Carry-On.
Another noteworthy difference is in the color detailing. Away bags incorporate two colors, including the chosen hue and black details, giving the Away bag a cohesive look. In contrast, Amazon Basics combines three colors, resulting in a busier aesthetic with black and silver details on the telescopic handle.
Away’s spinner wheels seamlessly blend into the suitcase frame, offering a discreet appearance. In contrast, Amazon Basics’ feet feature a longer connector piece, making them more visible from a distance.
Design
The differences between the two bags were the most noticeable in this category. While their size and capacity are quite similar, the Away The Carry-On stood out for its superior packing convenience and increased storage potential, thanks to its well-thought-out interior design.
The Amazon Basics spinner’s compression system, though functional, fell short due to a zipper placement issue that resulted in limited space utilization. Although it offers a 15% expandable feature, the design choice of a full zipper divider on the side hindered efficient packing.
In contrast, Away’s compression system, featuring a “compression pad,” optimally utilizes space and minimizes clothing displacement. This design proved more effective and durable compared to Amazon Basics’ stretchy strap system.
Moreover, the Away The Carry-On includes several additional perks lacking in the Amazon Basics spinner. It comes with a water-resistant laundry bag for separating dirty clothes and a built-in TSA-approved combination lock for added security. Additionally, it includes a scuff eraser, which adds a touch of practicality and charm to the overall package.
Durability
Regarding the hard-shell exterior, I found Away’s polycarbonate material to excel in durability. It offers a balance of strength and flexibility along with remarkable scratch resistance. On the other hand, Amazon Basics utilizes acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is less expensive but also less resilient, making it more susceptible to scratches and abrasions. While both suitcases exhibited scuffs that could be wiped off, the Amazon Basics spinner showed deeper scratches after minimal use.
Turning to the interior, apart from identifying flaws in the Amazon Basics’ compression system design where garments tend to slip through elastic straps, I also noticed a discrepancy in material quality compared to Away. Both feature mesh components, but Away’s are notably softer and smoother, while those in the Amazon Basics bag feel coarser and are more prone to snagging clothing.
Performance
Both carry-on bags performed very well in this category. Away’s 360-degree spinner wheels provided a smoother ride, while the Amazon Basics wheels proved reliable and effortless to maneuver through airports.
Both bags offer a telescoping handle. Away takes the lead in this category with its handle wrapped in a comfortable, textured material that offers a secure grip. The extension and retraction poles are robust, sturdy and operate quietly. Conversely, the Amazon Basics handle, crafted from hard plastic, lacks grip and feels less secure. Its poles also felt less stable and produced more noise when in use. Away’s monochromatic black handle presents a sleeker aesthetic compared to the mixed silver and black materials of Amazon Basics. Both handles accommodate a bag with a trolley sleeve, yet Away requires less adjustment to prevent tipping and instability.
Bottom line
While the Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner is a reliable choice, it lacks the standout features found in Away’s The Carry-On. With its robust polycarbonate shell, premium interior materials, sleek design and luxurious telescopic handle, there’s no denying the great features of the Away The Carry-On. Although the Amazon Basics spinner meets basic luggage requirements at an attractive price point, it falls short in terms of added features.
One significant advantage of the Away The Carry-On is its limited lifetime warranty, which covers some cracks in the shell and any hardware damage. In contrast, the Amazon Basics warranty lasts only one year. Investing more in a high-quality product with a more comprehensive warranty provides greater peace of mind than saving money upfront but risking potential breakdowns without sufficient warranty coverage.
Despite the higher price tag, the Away The Carry-On proves to be a worthwhile investment after thorough testing of both options. Its superior quality and comprehensive warranty make it the better long-term choice.
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