Beis has been on my radar ever since it launched in 2018. I waited months to get my hands on the brand's Diaper Pack (9/10, WIRED Recommends) when my son was born, and I splurged on two different makeup bags from the company, in a fit of hospital bag packing nerves. My mom friend, meanwhile, rocks both the Ultimate Diaper Backpack ($188) and the included fanny pack. I consider copying her almost every day.
But the brand is best known for its suitcase rather than the diaper bags I adore. Dubbed the Carry On ($199), Beis' hard-shell rolling suitcase is a popular choice among Instagrammers and the perpetually put-together people at the airport I aspire to be.
Originally, I ignored the Carry On in favor of the rest of Beis’ vast lineup of bags (if someone, anyone, could please buy me the Backpack Tote I'm certain would improve my toddler-run life). It looked similar to an older Calpak suitcase that I already had; why upgrade? What could possibly be so much better than my existing suitcase? I used to fly on a near-monthly basis, and I didn't see a need to ditch my suitcase of choice now that I was flying less.
But I had battered my old suitcase one time too many, and it was time to try something else as I prepared to fly across the country. After ordering Beis’ Carry On, I was shocked with how much I was missing.
Organize Me
On the outside, the Carry On looks pretty much like every other higher-end polycarbonate hard-shell rolling suitcase. It reminds me of the Away Carry On (9/10, WIRED Recommends) or Calpak's previous hard-shell designs. The easiest way to tell it apart is its busier line pattern and its wide array of fun pastels and chic neutral shades.
I chose the blue-toned Slate, replacing my baby-blue suitcase for something slightly more mature but equally easy to spot on a luggage turnstile.
Inside, there are some nice additions. One side has a zippered enclosure and two more zippered pockets, which is pretty standard. But inside one of those pockets are two drawstring bags, the larger of which is labeled Dirt Bag, which could be for dirty clothes or for shoes you don't want touching other items.
The smaller is simply labeled Not Beisic, giving you the freedom to use as you please—Beis recommends it for small valuables, but I could easily fit my favorite flat slides into this bag, or perhaps my house slippers if I wanted to feel really comfy wherever I was going.
The other side has a detachable compression flap that has pockets on both sides, which is handy if you want to keep a couple items nice and flat. I'm a clothing roller myself, so I just use it to divide and flatten everything in that half of the suitcase, but my husband has big plans to borrow this suitcase the next time he's packing a suit. It's got your classic X-strap to hold everything on that side down.
While I have a couple of packing cubes and various bags that attempt to organize these things for me, the Beis’ built-in and included items bring me a lot of joy. The little organizer bags also come in the same color as the suitcase, which felt both fun and thoughtful.
If you're a chronic overpacker like me and worried that all these options still won't rein your packing in, you'll be happy to hear that the Beis is expandable. A secondary zipper adds two more inches of space, which is great for emptying half your closet into this bag during a move or if you shop a little too hard while out of town.
Detail Job
No matter how much I love the interior organization, the Carry On's best features are on the outside. There's little details that go the extra mile all over this suitcase.
There's a little logo on the front that pops off, revealing a retracting strap. A retracting strap for what? A small bag! If your bag doesn't have a pass-through and weighs less than 15 pounds, you can loop the bag through this retractable strap and click it into place. Brilliant. Just don't hook anything too long on it or it'll drag on the ground–my 12-inch mini diaper backpack looked about as large as I could get away with without running into potential dragging.
I also love that there's not just a lock on the side but also a weight gauge on the side handle that will turn red if your bag is over 50 pounds. When it’s less than 50 pounds, it stays clear. It looked like a little acrylic detail on the handle before I found out what it was. Did I initially think the lock was somehow the weight gauge? Yes. It's a subtle feature that's easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for but a very handy one you won't want to miss.
Speaking of weight—hard-shell suitcases tend to be heavier than soft luggage, and the Beis weights just over 8.5 pounds. Our favorite hard-shell, the Away Carry On ($275), is a little lighter at 7.6 pounds. Personally, as a certified weak person, I didn't feel that the Beis was any heavier than I expected a hard-shell suitcase to be. It was plenty easy to maneuver when filled up and felt light when empty. The 360-degree wheels probably help with this, making the suitcase feel like it can glide across the floor in any direction no matter what you've stuffed into the various compartments.
My final favorite thing is the cushy handle. There's a little pillow on the underside of the handle, so the whole thing isn't soft, but it hits my fingers nicely to make them feel extra comfortable as I walk around with the Beis. It sounds a little indulgent, but it made pulling the suitcase feel a little extra special. Why aren't all my bags this comfortable to hold, huh? Who do I call?
Once I figure out who's in charge of these things, I'll be requesting all bags be as comfortable, organized, and nice to look at as Beis' Carry On. You're welcome.
