News

Nov 03, 2024

Béis vs. Away: Which Luggage Brand Is Better?

See which pieces are right for you. Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. As an avid traveler, I'm always

See which pieces are right for you.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

As an avid traveler, I'm always willing to invest in luggage and travel accessories. Having the right durable suitcase or Weekender bag takes some of the hassle out of traveling—and if you like fashion, as I do, suitcases are an extension of your travel style. Over the years, I've tested several luggage brands and have found my true favorites. In fact, two names often pop up in conversations for style and durability—Away vs. Béis—so I tried both to determine if one is better. Honestly, I've come to rely on various items from both brands, depending on what I'm packing and where I'm going. If these two names have piqued your interest, scroll ahead for my personal Béis vs. Away luggage guide.

I tested four different products—a check-in bag, a carry-on, a duffle bag, and packing cubes—from each label, so I understand their entire range. And while I would love to say one brand is "better" than the other, this is a generalization. I know everyone has different shopping budgets, packing needs, and aesthetic preferences, so I touched on all these points in my reviews of each product. Use my notes as a helpful guide to find the best Away and Béis luggage for you and your travel needs.

Both brands periodically drop new products and limited-edition collections. While Away's leans a tad more sophisticated (see its new Café Edit, a luxurious fall collection inspired by the timeless beauty of European cafes), Béis taps into the more fun and on-trend themes. Its "Wicked Pink" suitcases, inspired by the upcoming film Wicked, are bright, playful, and selling out fast. You can't go wrong with either brand's aesthetic as this is purely a personal preference. Since I'm not a big fan of pink items, I lean more toward the subdued, rich leather pieces in Away's Café edit.

I was excited to test the check-in bags since A) I'm an overpacker and B) they come in these pretty olive hues, which felt fitting for the fall/winter seasons. Right off the bat, I noticed the Béis 29-inch Roller was huge, even without expanding it to its full size, and lighter in weight (at 11.84 pounds) compared to Away's large check-in of a similar size (at 12.1 pounds).

When I did the 360-spin test, both pieces of luggage spun around effortlessly while the smooth-gliding wheels rolled down my carpeted hallway and on my hardwood floors easily. They are both sturdy, though I find Away's polycarbonate shell feels harder than the Béis shell (I also asked my husband what he thought, and he agreed). They both feature striped designs with Béis's having a 3D raised element to it. The Béis luggage is a few dollars less than the Away option: $328 vs. $375.

After over a year of using both check-ins, including taking them on an international trip to Japan, I can conclude both are durable and sturdy enough to survive being tossed around by TSA agents. They both aren't impervious to scratches and scuff marks, but that's a given when you're not flying private. I haven't noticed any broken locks, zippers, or seams bursting. They both still roll easily over carpet and hardwood despite the travels they have been through.

One thing I love about the Béis check-in is that there's a retractable strap that lets you connect it to your other Béis luggage and so forth. If you connect three or more pieces, they roll along like baby ducks following mama duck.

I love both suitcases and would use them depending on the traveling situation. If I were going on vacation with my husband and we could only pack one suitcase between us, I'd go with the roomier Béis Roller. If I were traveling alone for the week and wanted my suitcase to feel compact and chic with my fashun outfits, I would go with the two-toned Away option. I also love the deeper olive hue here, which I'll use to justify the $47 price difference between the two brands. If you feel torn about your check-in luggage purchase right now, simply go with the color you love more!

I've had my Away The Bigger Carry-On for years, as you can tell by the visible black marks all over it. The suitcase has held up well from my cross-country travels, so I was intrigued to see how it would compare to the Béis carry-on. They're comparable in size as The Bigger measures 22.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" while The Carry-On Roller measures 22.8" x 15.7" x 9.8" and both feature smooth wheels and handlebars. One thing to note is that since my Away suitcase is an older model, I don't have the provided laundry bag or extra interior pocket that the newer versions do. That said, all the other details are the same.

The Béis Carry-On Roller is a "shrunken" version of its check-in bag so all the functional interior pocket details are the same, which is nice when I don't want to use my check-in bag. I opted for the carry-on without a front-sleeve pocket for aesthetic purposes, though in hindsight, after speaking with a colleague, this extra element would've been nice when I travel with my work laptop (but I digress).

I've had the Away Bigger Carry-On for years, and it hasn't failed me yet. Aside from looking a little dirty on the outside, all the parts still work nicely. There is a penny-sized hole in one of the inner mesh compartments, but the hole hasn't gotten any bigger. It's still my go-to for trips and I don't fear it breaking down on me anytime soon. I've had the Béis carry-on for less time than my Away, but so far, so good. I can attest that it's held up to being tossed and thrown about at airports and in Ubers. They're both solid picks in terms of durability!

Béis carry-on offers me way more room for storage than my current Away suitcase. The overpacker in me is very pleased that I can now bring that extra pair of shoes or even my handheld steamer with me on vacations. The price difference between the two is $77, with Béis costing less and offering more functionalities—a win-win situation in my opinion.

To start, both of these duffle bags are perfect for three-to-four night stays depending on the season and what you pack (chunky knit sweaters and boots take up more room than breezy dresses and shorts for instance). The Away duffle has a smooth and semi-shiny exterior and is longer than the boxy Béis option, which has a thicker, fabric-like material. They both have trolley straps so that you can secure your duffles to suitcases, and the straps are comfortable to wear across your body. The handles nestled nicely into my hands, too, for toting around.

The Béis duffle has two deep pockets on the outside where you can stuff your chargers and passport, while the Away only has one. It’s also deep and has a zipper to further secure your items. There are also little loops on the outside where you can attach keys or other small items (like a mini flashlight or portable dog water bowl), but it makes me nervous to have my keys openly displayed, so I didn’t use this design feature.

I'm unsure if this is due to overuse or just the bag's design, but I noticed the zippers on the Away duffle bag come undone when you walk around with it. Okay, maybe I tend to overstuff it, but the zippers pry open themselves at the airport, so I always have to check to ensure it's properly closed! This makes me anxious that something will fall out, so I'm considering getting a mini lock for the zippers to solve the issue. The Béis duffle bag is a bit dirty from use, and I haven't figured out how to wipe it down. However, aside from looking a bit worn, all the compartments and zippers are fully functional. This feels like a sturdy bag you can use for years.

At first, I liked Away's duffle bag more than the Béis one because it's a little bit bigger and opens up wider, making it easier to take your clothes in and out of. The germaphobe in me also finds Away's smooth duffle bag material easier to wipe down than the Béis one, which feels more fabric-like, even though they're both crafted from polyester. However, after using both for over a year, I'm starting to like the Béis one more! This is mainly because I don't have to worry about the zipper opening, and it feels like it can handle more wear and tear.

This was my first time using packing cubes; now I understand the hype around them. The Away and Béis cubes were super helpful in keeping me organized while I packed my duffles. Since packing cubes can be utilized however you see fit—I used the Béis shoe bags not for my footwear but to hold my undergarments and socks—the possibilities for what they can contain are endless.

I found that the cubes from both brands can carry roughly the same number of garments. To give you a better idea of what they can hold, the biggest cubes can fit at least three to four extra-thick sweaters, while the medium cubes can hold up to five pairs of jeans. The Béis flatter pouches held fewer clothing items than some of the boxier cubes from Away, but they offer more versatility if you choose to use the zipper pouch for, say, makeup rather than clothes.

I use the packing cubes from both brands equally because my husband also dips into my stash and uses them for his clothes when packing. Between the two of us, these packing cubes have had their fair share of being overstuffed with everything from jeans to socks. I also threw the packing cubes into the washing machine and air-dried them. (Disclaimer: I'm unsure if this is recommended, so please read the care label yourself.) Both brands have survived multiple washings. They have both held up well over time, so I'd recommend getting the packing cubes you like more simply based on style.

Both sets of packing cubes are equally functional and appeal to all types of packers. Because I have my own shoe bags already and have countless zip pouches for my beauty products, I prefer to have cubes I can organize my clothes into. Away’s pack of six caters better to this need—I can use the longer, smaller cubes to stuff leggings and even rolled-up T-shirts into while reserving the more giant cubes for sweaters and jeans. However, I do wish they came with pre-made labels like the Béis set, as this thoughtful detail makes packing much more fun and organized.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Shop all of Oprah's Favorite Kitchen Essentials

Side Sleepers: You Need This Saatva Pillow

The Luxury Sheets We Buy on Repeat

Everyone's Buying Cordless Lamps—Shop Our Favs

Riedel's Glasses Made My Wine Nights Feel Luxe

Costco's Selling the Viral "Human Dog Bed"

Brooklinen Review: We Tested the Best Sheet Sets

A Curated List of This Season's Top Tableware

14 Closet Items Pro Organizers Always Buy

Joanna Gaines and Loloi Just Dropped New Rugs

Stanley vs. Yeti Tumblers: Which Is Better?

These Are the Top Halloween Decor Trends for 2024