Away Softside Carry-On Review

The Away Softside Carry-On’s name might make you think it’s one of the brand’s more casual offerings, that it’s less functional, more basic, and more “chilled out.” Indeed, its tasteful styling and smooth rolling wheels align with what we’ve come to expect from the brand, but does it lose out on compelling features?

Hold that thought because not only does this softie have secondary pockets—a feature you’d struggle to find on hardside luggage—it’s even expandable, so you can take more clothing in case that extra vacation time gets approved. Let’s check it out!

External Components

In typical Away fashion, the Softside Carry-On is pleasing to the eye or, at the very least, doesn’t stand out too much. It has subtle ridges at the front and tastefully applied Away branding on a few spots, but that’s about it in terms of garnishing. What stands out the most is its nylon fabric construction, which lends it an air of premium-ness over more plasticky carry-ons made of polycarbonate. To praise it further would be an exercise in subjective evaluation, so we’ll stop there. In more practical terms, though, we are pleased with the Softside Carry-On’s build quality.

Despite the bag’s fabric construction, the material itself feels thick. As a result, it’s held up well to the rigors of travel. We’ve taken it on the same flights we usually do with hard-side luggage, where it would go through the same challenges, such as overzealous baggage handlers, roughened overhead bins, and the occasional shoe skids from passersby. Throughout that, the fabric remained very presentable with minimal scuffs, despite us choosing the colorway that would most evidently show them (Cloud Gray). Other options, such as Jet Black and Navy Blue, are available if you want something darker. But for those who want something cute and very Lady Penelope-like, Clay Pink is the clear way to go.

“Softside” this may be, but we can’t help but notice how hefty it is overall. So much so that compared to similarly-sized hardside luggage like the Monos Hybrid Carry-On, it’s still heavier at 9.2 lbs (4.2 kg). Mind you, we consider the 8.81-pound (4 kg) Monos Hybrid Carry-On already heavy compared to other hard-side luggage because of its blend of aluminum and plastic in its construction. Fortunately, you are getting that weight’s worth in structure with the Away. This is most evident with the bag’s rear half, which is rigidly reinforced and includes two relatively beefy buffers on the top corners.

On the subject of weight, you’ll feel it the most when you’re carrying the Softside by either of its two handles. There’s one at the top and one on the right side. Away was thoughtful enough to generously pad these handles for better comfort. That’s not something to take for granted either, as some carry-ons make do with low-profile plastic handles, which, while aesthetically pleasing, aren’t really optimized for comfort. Additionally, there’s a slip pocket underneath that you can clutch when you want to move the bag around while it’s lying on its back.

There are four sets of wheels underneath, with a pair in each corner. This is a typical setup you’ll find on a lot of spinner luggage since it lets you roll the bag either behind or beside you. Each wheel is lined and rolls quite smoothly, as we’ve come to expect after testing several pieces of Away luggage. There’s also very little wiggle in the wheels’ assembly, though we’ll save our final thoughts for the next section.

Fit Notes

The handle has a triangular shape that’s simple but ergonomic enough to hold. The lock release button is at the top, completing a very no-nonsense telescoping handle layout. There are only two levels of height adjustment (not counting fully retracted, of course). This feels a bit limiting as we would’ve preferred one or two more levels in between, but this should be sufficient for most people (your mileage may vary).

Overall, there’s nothing out of the ordinary regarding the Softside Carry-On’s handling. The wheels roll smoothly, the handle offers enough height adjustment options, and it even drops down smoothly once the lock release is past the last adjustment. If there’s anything that stands out to us, it’s the fact that the handle always retracts smoothly, no matter how stuffed the main compartment is. In other luggage, a packed-out main compartment leads to gear squeezing and restricting the handle’s shafts, so it’s quite refreshing that didn’t happen this time.

Inside The Carry On

A key advantage soft-side luggage offers is secondary pockets since it’s easier to implement pockets on fabric versus plastic. That said, Away takes it a bit further by seamlessly integrating the Softside Carry-On’s pocket with its aesthetic. Instead of a pocket or compartment that sticks out, you’ll find its zipper track embedded along the top side. It’s subtle, trivial, and probably non-consequential in the grand scheme of things, but we appreciate these little touches.

Yes, this pocket isn’t very spacious, nor does it have a huge opening because of how well it’s integrated. However, it’s a pocket that’s big enough for items you’d want quick access to but don’t necessarily want to clog up your sling or backpack, like a pair of gloves, a buff, or a packable hat. Those sorts of items will fit just fine in a pocket, but anything bulkier or more important to have on hand should still go inside your personal bag.

There’s also a laptop compartment at the front. Similar to the top pocket, this one is also seamlessly built into the bag aesthetic, with its zipper track disguised into the top-most seam. The opening is as tight as it looks. Though that’s probably good for security, it’s not ideal if you want easy access to your laptop. As you can imagine, there’s enough space for even a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it can accommodate something modest like a 13-inch MacBook Air without a problem. Be careful, though, as the former is large enough to brush up against the zipper track, but it still technically fits since there’s enough space above the track. However, it’s a little difficult to fit inside, so we’d stick to smaller devices if possible.

All of that said, a laptop compartment on a piece of luggage might not be a compelling feature for those who want their laptops within easy reach during flights. But if you don’t plan to work while flying, here you go.

The Softside Carry-On is a clamshell, but unlike many other luggage we’ve tested, the bag’s volume isn’t split into two tubs. Instead, the front swings open like a door, retaining only minimal volume for its mesh pocket. Meanwhile, the process of opening itself is generally smooth, with the only hiccup being the front’s tendency to sink lower than the zipper track, thus introducing some resistance.

The interior is spacious, to say the least, thanks to having most of the bag’s volume concentrated into one big bucket space. The default configuration is rated at 32.2 liters, giving it dimensions that fit just enough airlines’ carry-on compliance that we’d call it a pass. If you need more space, however, and are willing to forgo that compliance, you can expand its volume all the way to 37.2 liters using the expansion zipper that runs around the bag’s sides. Still, it’s not like 32.2 liters is cramped.

On the cover side is the aforementioned mesh pocket. We were initially apprehensive about how much use we would get out of such a flat pocket. We were also mindful of the front and top pockets from before, which we thought could eat into this mesh pocket’s space. However, none of those worries came true. It’s still a pretty flat mesh, but we could still pack accessories like gloves, a buff, or a packable hat (the exact same items we’d put in the top pocket).

Having one big bucket space changes how we pack compared to twin tub designs. Clothes packed into packing cubes go at the bottom where they’re held down by the included compression panel. Like other carry-ons, the compression panel is tied down with buckled straps that you can adjust to be as tight as needed. The compression panel itself has two mesh pockets for other smaller accessories you might want to bring on your trip, such as extra toiletries and medicines.

That leaves all the space above the compression panel for the rest of your gear. In our case, that would be a toiletry bag, a shoe pouch, and a travel hair dryer. As mentioned earlier, you can also expand the main compartment in case you run out of space, so volume is never really a problem for us when packing this bag. Plus, a zippered pocket at the top contains a freebie laundry bag, always a nice touch.