Away Launches Series 3 Luggage With New Wheel, Handle Tech

Away has released the Series 3, the third generation of the Carry On suitcase it introduced in 2016, according to Wired. The new line keeps the polycarbonate shell design Away fans already know but changes the wheel assembly and the telescoping handle, and it drops the ejectable battery pack that once earned the brand the "smart luggage" label.

What changed in the Series 3 design?

Away did not redesign the shell. Sarah Amidi, the company's senior vice president of Brand, told Wired that the outer look of every Series 3 Classic and Flex piece "will look familiar to Away fans, and that's intentional." Instead of a visual overhaul, the company put the existing carry-on shape through additional testing and focused engineering work on two components travelers complain about most: the spinning wheels and the trolley handle. "We asked, what features solve friction and earn their place," Amidi said, adding that the team avoided additions that would "take away from capacity or add weight" and concluded "we couldn't make polycarbonate any better."

How does the new wheel system work?

The Series 3 uses what Away calls the WhisperGlide 360 spinning wheel design. Per Wired's reporting, Away added an extra ball bearing to each wheel and improved the internal threading to make the wheels roll more smoothly and more quietly. The line also carries over the StopLock Brakes system, which Away first built for its top-opening TopSide bag. A switch hidden inside the trolley handle cavity engages the wheel lock, and Wired reports the brakes hold the bag in place "even on slight inclines."

What happened to Away's signature battery?

Away's original Carry On built its early reputation on an ejectable USB battery pack, a feature the company added when public phone-charging infrastructure was still limited, Amidi told Wired. That battery has not shipped in Away luggage since 2023, a change Wired ties to evolving regulations on traveling with lithium batteries. Amidi said the company resisted the "smart luggage" label even at the height of the battery's popularity, and that removing it also let Away cut weight and add interior room in the Series 3 shell. She said the company is still evaluating "how technology can play the right role in luggage design" going forward, without describing a specific replacement feature.

Why was the Series 3 launch delayed?

Wired reports the Series 3 rollout was pushed back because the line did not initially meet the company's internal standards. Amidi framed the extended testing period as consistent with a longer design horizon for the product: "We design it to last the next 10 years," she told Wired, describing the goal behind the reworked wheels and handle rather than a cosmetic refresh.

What does the Series 3 cost and where does it fit Away's line?

The Away Carry-On 3 is priced at $328, according to Wired's review, positioning it alongside the Signature Bags collection of travel bags that launched alongside the Series 3. The Classic and Flex (expandable) versions share the same shell but differ in interior capacity, per Wired's description of the two series.

By the Numbers

• 2016: Year Away launched the original Carry On suitcase, per Wired.
• 2023: Last year Away luggage shipped with the ejectable battery pack, according to Wired's reporting.
• $328: List price of the Away Carry-On 3, per Wired.
• 3rd: Generation number of the newly launched Series 3 line, as reported by Wired.
• 10 years: The design lifespan Amidi said Away engineered the Series 3 to meet, per her comments to Wired.

Is the Series 3 a departure from Away's original playbook?

By Wired's account, no. The outlet frames the launch as Away positioning itself "more of a traditional luggage maker than a disruptor," a shift from the marketing-driven debut of the original Carry On. Amidi's comments to Wired emphasize incremental mechanical fixes — wheel bearings, handle locks — over the kind of feature announcement that defined the brand's 2016 launch. Wired's full interview with Amidi, conducted at Away's SoHo design studio, is available at wired.com.

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