Melanie Carden/Business Insider© Melanie Carden/Business Insider If you only travel with one bag, let it be the Thule Aion — I've taken mine on 38 trips in 2 years ...

The Thule Aion Carry-On Spinner 35L hits that balance beautifully. It’s compact, a little bit rugged, but still incredibly sleek, lightweight, forgiving if it gets knocked around and easy to handle.