If you love to travel, and you’re tired of lugging around heavy checked bags, this post is for you! Traveling light with a strategically packed carry-on suitcase can make your trip much more enjoyable. For starters, you won’t need to worry about the potential of lost or misplaced luggage. Anyone else feel like lost luggage can literally ruin a trip? Carrying on also gives you the flexibility to pivot for unexpected flight cancellations or trip changes. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a carry-on for your next travel adventure. So, today we’re sharing Erin’s honest review of the BEIS carry-on suitcase.
Erin has visited over 35 countries so when it comes to travel, she really knows her stuff! You can find her best packing tips here.
Beis Carry-On Review
About BEIS
Before we dive into all the bells and whistles of the BEIS carry-on roller bag, we want to share a little background about the brand. BEIS was founded by actress Shay Mitchell (any Pretty Little Liar fans out there?). Her products are inspired by her own experiences as a frequent traveler. She wanted something that was functional, and affordable, but also stylish. Music to our ears!
BEIS Carry-on Roller
Functionality
Erin used the BEIS carry-on suitcase for a trip to Vietnam and China with her family last spring. They had a packed 14-day itinerary and carrying on was a must to allow for seamless connections and flexibility. If you’ve ever tried to pack for a 14-day trip in a carry-on suitcase, you know this is no easy feat! So, she had to be super particular about the quality, and overall functionality. She really liked that the size of the BEIS bag allowed her to pack everything she needed. The approved size for a carry-on bag can vary by airline, but most require that it doesn’t exceed 24″ and this bag is just under 23″.
Erin also appreciated the 360-degree smooth rolling wheels that were easy to maneuver (a must!) and the comfortable cushioned silicone handle. This bag also has a retractable bag strap for your purse or personal item so you can keep it secure and be hands-free while you jet around the airport. Bonus!
Durability
Erin can’t really speak to the durability over a super lengthy amount of time. But she’s used the BEIS bag for a few trips now. She’s run through airports, pulled it along cobblestone streets, and filled it to the gills and hasn’t had any issues. The wheels, handle, and zippers have all held up perfectly. So far, so good! In fact, she liked her first bag so much that she decided to get a second one so she’d have a light and a dark option. It probably won’t surprise you that Erin loves to match her suitcase to her travel-day outfit!
Interior & Exterior
Inside the bag is more spacious than you’d think for a carry-on bag. There’s a U-zip flap with pockets and a compression strap to keep everything secure. It also comes with 2 separate pouches for dirty clothes, shoes, a wet swimsuit, etc. There’s a 2” expander so if you do some shopping on your trip, that extra room comes in really handy. Just keep in mind if you decide to use the expander, you might have to check your bag. The extra width could increase the size beyond carry-on bag standards.
Features
A super cool feature on this bag is that it has a light indicator that turns red if your bag exceeds the 50lb weight limit. No more stepping on the scale with your bag and doing the math 😉. Or, shuffling things around at the airline counter to avoid paying overage fees if you decide to check your bag at some point. It also has TSA locks on the zippers. Another feature you’ll love is all the gorgeous colors it comes in. Erin owns the matte beige and the glossy black.
Cons
If you are someone who really loves having an easy-access outside pocket on your carry-on bag, this bag doesn’t have one. So we wanted to note that. BEIS does make a slightly smaller carry-on roller bag that does have an outside pocket, but Erin found she preferred the larger carry-on without the front pocket. She used her personal item for easy-access items and that worked just perfectly!
Other Beis Favorites
Erin also tried and loved the BEIS compression packing cubes. She found they were great for organizing and maximizing how much you can fit in the carry-on. The compression component really makes a big difference. She also loves their Convertible Weekender tote. We shared more about both of these items in this post if you’re interested.
The Verdict
At this point, it should be no surprise to learn that yep…Erin does highly recommend this BEIS carry-on roller bag. She has used and tested many different luggage brands over the years, including high-end luxury brands, but this is the bag she’s been reaching for the most!
What was your most challenging packing experience in just a carry-on? Where did you go? Leave us a note in the comments below. For Erin, it was 2 weeks in Africa!
A couple of years ago, I had two professional conferences in Europe that were a week apart, so we decided to make the most of it! We spent a month in climates ranging from the mid-90s to the mid-60s and packed it all very comfortably in a 21” carryon. The first 2 weeks were the hottest, where we traveled to 6 different locations in Italy as part of a process workshop. We had the next week entirely to ourselves, so we went to southeastern coast of Spain to visit our former exchange student where the temps were more moderate, in the 80s. The biggest packing challenge was that the last week was a professional conference in Edinburgh, where the temps reached a high of only 60, and where we also wanted to do some hiking and did a half day boat trip to Bass Rock to see puffins. With the exception of a gorgeous leather jacket I bought in Italy and a long-sleeved pullover I bought at a charity shop in Edinburgh, I packed everything in that little carryon because my personal item had to hold my computer and things for the actual conferences. It might not have worked, but we were able to hand wash light things in Italy and had full laundry facilities in our flat in Torrevieja. (We couldn’t afford a honeymoon when we got married and since this coincided with our 40th wedding anniversary, we decided to make the most of it! Absolutely zero regrets!)
Just LOVE that, Deb! What a perfect way to celebrate 40 amazing years of marriage, and really make the most of your work trip. SO glad you got to do that. Thanks for sharing with us! ~Team Busbee