BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On Review

The BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On will get you on more flights without bumping over the airlines’ allowable dimensions. It meets the requirements of 55% of the airlines we check, though it’s about a quarter-inch too deep for some carriers. Some of those are more permissible carriers, like Delta Airlines, though, so there’s a good chance that you’ll still be able to carry it on board. It will certainly fit in the overhead compartment of a Delta plane, that’s for sure.

But why do you want such a small bag, and will you wish you had sized up for more space? Let’s find out.

External Components

The BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On is made with polycarbonate, like a lot of hardside luggage we’ve tested. The material on this bag feels more flexible than on some others, so we think it must be a bit thinner. Unfortunately, that type of material doesn’t come with a denier description, like polyester or nylon might, so we’re just guessing. It’s not too noticeable until you start cinching down the straps inside; then, you might notice a slight indentation where the straps pull inward, especially if you’ve tightened them as much as we did. You can also just push down on the sides of the bag to notice the same amount of give. This isn’t one we’re going to be using as a seat at the gate, that’s for sure.

The material shows dirt and scuffs after just a trip home in the trunk of our tester’s car, so keep that in mind if you want your luggage to look pristine year after year. This one probably won’t, but we find that happens with a lot of rolling carry on luggage, so a few battle scars don’t bother us. There are no gouges or permanent indentations, just normal wear from the bumps and knocks of travel.

The BAGSMART logo is quite prominent on the front of our Sage Green colorway, but you’ll find it on just about any bag from the brand, so we’re not surprised. It’s not overly large and doesn’t detract from the bag’s aesthetics, nor do the indented stripes at the bottom.

A single SBS zipper circles the bag, with pulls that click into a TSA-approved combination lock. Even if you don’t worry about someone rummaging through your belongings, we like using it to keep the zipper from accidentally opening if it catches on a neighboring bag during the flight. Set it to something easy to remember, and you won’t find your tops and bottoms bulging out of the bag when you land. There isn’t an expansion zipper, so you only have one to deal with.

Underneath the lock on the side, you’ll find a flexible carry handle that protrudes when pulled and lies flat when not in use. There’s a matching one on top of the bag, so you have options when you’re going up and down stairs or pulling it out of the trunk or compartment.

The telescoping handle has four adjustment levels, which should work for most users. You must pull it all the way out and then push it to the level you want, but the plastic handle is pretty comfortable to hold. It can be a little wobblier than the handles on more premium luggage, but you’re not expecting luxury with a bag from BAGSMART, so you probably won’t be surprised to read that. It works well enough to get your bag where it needs to go.

If you’re not carrying it, you’ll want the carry-on to go on the four sets of 360-degree spinning wheels. They roll easily over smooth surfaces and even thick carpeting. Things can get a little bouncy over very rough surfaces, but you only need to switch to pulling it behind you when you don’t have much in the bag. If you’ve packed it fully, the weight helps it over a bumpy road (or pull it behind you if that’s easier—we don’t judge!). The rubber lining on the wheels helps with shock absorption and noise reduction, and we think that works well. They’re not overly noisy, and you don’t feel too much vibration in the handle when walking with a packed bag.

Fit Notes

The BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On has the soft look of many of the brand’s products, with rounded corners and softer colorways. You can get it in Arona, a blue-gray, Beige, or the Sage Green we’re testing at the time of this review. All the colorways are pretty muted, but still make it easier to find in a sea of black if you have to check it in.

Since this bag is a roller with four wheels and no front compartments, it’s not surprising that it stands well on its own, whether empty or packed. It also turns and rolls nicely as you make your way through the airport, on the plane, and to your accommodations.

Our tester had no issue finding the right height for her (the shortest level), and we think most users will find a spot that works for them, as it extends out quite tall. Professional basketball players excluded, of course, but hopefully they have someone to roll their bags for them.

Inside The Carry On Luggage

As we just mentioned, the BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On has no secondary compartments or exterior pockets, so it’s time to head inside.

The bag has a familiar design, with a zippered panel holding all the gear in place on the front half and a more open back side. That means that you should always lay it with the handle-side down to avoid the risk of your clothing or packing cubes spilling out when you open it. It opens fully clamshell, like a book, to lay flat on the ground with the same capacity on either side.

As for the front half and that zippered panel—it has a feature we don’t find on every bag. There are two zippered pockets on the panel, which is not unique. What differs is that one is made with water-resistant TPU material, while the other is made with nylon liner material. That allows you to pack liquid toiletries or a wet swimsuit in the former and put the rest of your grooming gear in the latter. If you’re the type to unpack your toiletry bag at your destination, this means you can leave a separate Dopp kit behind.

We had no issue fitting travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, face cream, and toothpaste in the wet bag and used the dry side for a travel hairbrush, bar soap, and a razor. However, if you prefer to use a Dopp kit or want everything in a separate 3-1-1 bag so you don’t have to scramble if you encounter the one TSA line that still asks you to pull your liquids out, you can leave the pockets empty or use them for other gear. If you’re taking one last dip in the pool before checking out of the hotel and flying home, the wet bag would be a good spot for your damp swimwear. One thing to point out if you use the pockets, though, is that they protrude out of the bag, so if you’ve overstuffed the back side of the carry on, you might not be able to close it with a lot of gear in these pockets.

Underneath the zippered panel is open space for your gear. We like to use this side for bulky items, like extra shoes, a book, a toiletry bag if you’re bringing one, or a tech kit—basically, non-clothing items. You could easily use it for clothing and packing cubes if you prefer, though. There’s no right way.

The back side of the bag has a different way to hold your gear in place. Two adjustable straps run vertically from the top to the bottom of the bag, with a compression panel underneath. This panel has a large zippered mesh pocket, so you can pack a folded dress shirt or flat items like gloves. However, unlike other bags, it’s not hooked to the straps, so you can also unsnap it from the side of the bag and easily remove it if you don’t need the compression and find it gets in your way. Most travelers appreciate these panels, but those who don’t like them really don’t like them, so we’re happy that this one’s so easy to take out.

There’s also a skinny zippered pocket that hangs into this side from the center of the bag. We’ve tucked our wall charger and cord inside here for use at the hotel, but you can also use it for small items like underwear or other essentials.

When it comes to packing this side, you have to work around the channels for the telescoping handle, but they’re not as deep as on some other bags. BAGSMART points out that their handle is further back than some other brands, and we find that to be true. We’re still using socks and underwear to fill the divots and make the best use of the space, but we’ve found that we need to pack fewer of them there to flatten things out. Then, you can use the newly flat surface as a base for your packing cubes or clothing. With the compression straps and panel in place, we actually think it’s pretty easy to go without cubes in this bag, but some travelers like the organization cubes provide.

Regardless of the travel accessories you want to use, we were able to fit quite a bit inside this smaller carry on bag. Our tester is a smaller woman, so your mileage may vary, but she was able to fit a pair of women’s size 10 sneakers, a hardcover book, and two pairs of pants on the front side, along with all of her toiletries in the wet and dry pockets, with room to spare. The back side held five pairs of socks and underwear, five T-shirts, a thick hoodie, a pair of shorts, a pair of pajamas, and a swimsuit—certainly enough gear for a 5-7 day trip.

Is the BAGSMART Getaway 19″ Carry-On the most premium rolling luggage we’ve tested? Certainly not. However, it might be a good buy for you if you travel infrequently or frequently replace your bags. It doesn’t seem sturdy enough to withstand years of a digital nomad lifestyle, but it will work if you want to pack for your entire trip in a carry on that’s easy to maneuver and might not cost you anything to bring on board. Pair it with a sling or a packable daypack, and you’ll be good to go for your trip without a huge suitcase weighing you down.