What this review covers
- The hard-shell suitcase lines and sizes
- The carry-on with a removable battery
- Soft bags, backpacks and accessories
- Direct-to-consumer pricing and retail stores
- Warranty, repairs and the trade-in approach
Verdict
Away suits a buyer who wants a clean-looking hard case, a straightforward buying experience and a lifetime warranty, without wading through a huge catalogue. The trade is range: Away sells far fewer lines than Samsonite, so a buyer who wants a soft case or a very large checked case has fewer options, and the design-led look costs more than a comparable mass-market case. It suits a design-conscious traveller who flies with a cabin case and a personal bag. It does not suit someone who wants the widest choice or the lowest price.
Pros
- Clean, distinctive hard-case design
- Lifetime warranty with a clear repair promise
- Direct pricing without department-store markups
- Battery carry-on for charging on the move
Cons
- Narrower range than mass-market rivals
- Higher price than comparable hard cases
- Soft-case choice is limited
What Away sells
Away sells hard-shell suitcases as its core, in carry-on, medium checked and large checked sizes, with a distinctive ribbed polycarbonate shell, four spinner wheels and an interior split between a zippered compartment and a compression section. The best-known product is the carry-on with a removable battery, which charges a phone or tablet from the case and can be removed for airport security, where rules require batteries to be taken out. Around the cases sit backpacks, duffels, tote bags, packing cubes and other accessories, all in a matching, minimal design language.
Away is an American company founded in New York in 2015, and it sells mainly direct to consumers online, with its own retail stores in major cities. That model is the point: no department-store markup, a short catalogue that is easy to choose from, and a brand built through social media and travel content rather than traditional luggage retail. The design is deliberately plain — muted colours, minimal branding — which appeals to buyers who want a case that looks considered without being flashy.
Shells, interiors and the battery question
Away's hard cases use polycarbonate shells, which balance weight, flexibility and impact resistance, and the interior uses a compression system on one side and a zippered mesh pocket on the other, with a laundry bag included. That layout suits packers who like a divided case, though it gives less loose space than a single-compartment soft case. Spinner wheels roll upright, and the telescopic handle locks at several heights, which matters for taller and shorter travellers alike.
The battery carry-on deserves a specific check: the battery is removable, which is required by many airlines, and it charges devices through a USB port, but the battery adds weight and the case must be used with the battery removed at security in some airports. Buyers who never charge from a case should compare the standard carry-on, which is lighter and cheaper, against the battery version, since the battery is only worth it if it will actually be used.
Who it is for
Away suits a design-conscious traveller who flies mainly with a cabin case, and it suits someone who wants a short, clear catalogue rather than dozens of lines. It suits a buyer who values a lifetime warranty and a direct relationship with the maker, and it suits a traveller who charges devices on the move and wants the battery built into the case.
Who should skip it
Skip Away if a soft case is wanted, since the range is hard-case led, and skip it if the lowest price matters, since mass-market hard cases are cheaper. Skip the battery case if charging from luggage will rarely happen, since it adds weight and cost, and skip the brand if a very large checked case or a specialist bag is needed, since the range is narrower there. Check the warranty terms for the exact product, since coverage details vary.
How to choose before you buy
Decide cabin versus checked first, then battery versus standard. A cabin-only traveller should check the case dimensions including wheels against their airlines, and decide whether the battery is worth its weight. A checked-bag traveller should compare Away's medium and large cases on weight empty and interior layout, since a heavy hard case eats into the allowance.
Compare Away's price against a comparable polycarbonate case from a mass-market brand, and weigh the design, the warranty and the direct service against the premium. If those matter, Away justifies it; if they do not, a cheaper hard case will serve just as well.
Research-based guide using publicly available brand and label information. Based on publicly available information; no testing or personal use is claimed here. Check the current label and price before you buy, as ranges and retailers change.
Frequently asked questions
What is Away best known for?
Away is best known for its hard-shell suitcases, especially the carry-on with a removable battery for charging devices.
Does Away sell soft suitcases?
Away's range is hard-case led, with soft bags and backpacks alongside, but soft-sided suitcases are a smaller part of the catalogue.
What is the Away battery case?
It is a carry-on with a removable battery that charges phones and tablets through USB, and the battery can be removed for airport security.
Does Away offer a lifetime warranty?
Away offers a lifetime warranty on its luggage, with repairs and replacements under its stated terms, which should be read for the exact product.
Where can Away be bought?
Mainly direct online, with Away's own retail stores in major cities, rather than through department stores.