What's New in Away Series 3: Every Upgrade, Feature, and Design Detail Explained

Travel is rarely as smooth as the itinerary makes it look. There's the sprint through security, the gate that changes three times, the bag that won't sit still on an incline, the handle that seems built for someone six inches taller than you. None of it is dramatic on its own—it's just friction, the small stuff that adds up over the course of a trip.

Good luggage doesn't fix travel. But it should take some of that friction off your plate, so the parts of the trip actually worth your attention get it. That's the idea behind Away's newest suitcase, Series 3. Luggage doesn't usually change all at once—it changes the way most things you use every day change, one detail at a time, based on what actually goes wrong when you're using it. Series 3 isn't a reinvention of the suitcase; Away Series 3 is the next generation of Away luggage, building on the quality and construction of the suitcase travelers already know with thoughtful updates designed around real travel moments.

If you've traveled with Away before, you'll recognize everything you already love—we've just added more to love. What's changed is how it rolls, how it stays put when you stop, how the handle fits you, where you put the extra thing you picked up along the way, and how you see what you're packing. Here's what's actually new.

Precision Handling: Exterior Upgrades Built for Movement

You know the moment: the suitcase that rolls away at the gate, the one you end up wedging between your knees on a moving train, wheels that catch and drag through the terminal, and a handle that never quite sits right in your hand. These are the fixes for exactly that.

StopLock™ Brakes for More Control at a Stop

Anyone who's had a suitcase roll away at the gate, on a train platform, or down a sloped sidewalk knows the specific annoyance of a bag with a mind of its own. Series 3 adds StopLock™ Brakes: the braking itself happens right at the rear wheel, and you control it with a switch built into the top of the case, just under the trolley handle. Slide it, and the suitcase stops rolling and stays put, even on a ramp or a slight incline, instead of drifting off the second you look away. Slide it back when you're ready to move again.

A small lock icon shows whether the brake is engaged, so you're not guessing. One note: keep the brakes disengaged if you're checking your bag at the airport—they're built for keeping the suitcase still beside you, not for handling in cargo.

Infinite Height Trolley

No two travelers pull a suitcase the same way, which is exactly the problem with a trolley handle that only stops in two or three places. Series 3's Infinite Adjustable Trolley extends up to 105 cm and includes roughly five times as many stopping positions as Original using a new ladder-style mechanism built into the poles.

The result is a handle that can actually match your height and stride, instead of asking you to adjust to it.

WhisperGlide™ 360° Wheels

The wheels roll smoother and quieter now—the kind of difference you notice the first time you pull the suitcase across a hard airport floor and don't hear that familiar rattle and clack. That's thanks to a new triple-bearing design, tested over 54,000 simulated steps, that lets the suitcase spin easily even when it's fully packed, instead of catching or dragging. Wheel housings also get a refreshed chrome trim to match the suitcase's updated hardware.

It's the kind of change you feel more than you notice—the suitcase just moves easier, which also makes it simpler to manage more than one bag at a time, like pulling a second suitcase alongside it or balancing a personal item on top.

Built for the Travel Ecosystem: Hands-Free Carrying and Personal Touches

Traveling means your hands are always full—a boarding pass, a coffee, and then, somehow, one more thing to carry. These are the fixes for exactly that.

Handsfree Hideaway Hooks

There's always one more thing: a jacket, a duty-free bag, a tote you didn't plan on carrying. Series 3 builds two retractable hooks directly into the trolley poles, so that extra item has somewhere to go besides your hands. Pop them out when you need them, and they tuck back in flush with the pole when you don't.

Together, the two hooks hold up to 22 lbs, or about 11 lbs each—enough for a coat or a small bag, not a second suitcase. 

Metal D-Ring

A new metal D-ring on the top handle gives you a sturdy spot for a luggage tag, a charm, or a keychain—a small detail, but one more way to make the bag recognizably yours at baggage claim.

Smart Organization: Re-Engineered Interior Mechanics

Open it up, and the changes are just as deliberate.

Outward-Opening Interior and CompressMore™

Series 3 changes which way the interior opens. Both sides now swing outward instead of folding back over each other, so you can see everything you've packed at once instead of moving panels out of the way to get to it.

The patented CompressMore™ Packing System that has always been standard on Away suitcases is still doing the compressing—the new orientation just makes it easier to get in and adjust as you pack. Interior zippers also move up in size, for a sturdier seal that holds up over the life of the bag.

Built-in Bluetooth Tracker Pocket

Plenty of travelers already drop an AirTag into whatever pocket happens to be free—which usually means it's sharing space with a charger cord or a spare pair of socks, and you're not entirely sure it's still in there until you check. Away Series 3 gives the tracker its own dedicated pocket inside the interior hanging pouch, separate from everything else you're packing, so you always know exactly where it is.

Keep-It-Clean Kit

Series 3 also updates the included organization: a drawstring laundry bag and water-repellent WipeClean pouches for separating worn clothes, shoes, or toiletries from the rest of your pack. Carry-on sizes include one pouch; checked sizes include two.

The Away Series 3 Packing Method: How to Organize Your Suitcase

The Outward-Opening Interior is built around a simple packing logic, once you get used to it. 

• Left shell strategy: Pack heavy, structured items here—shoes, boots, a toiletry bag—things that hold their shape and don't mind sitting at the bottom of the stack.

• Right shell strategy: Stack soft clothing on this side, then pull the compression straps tight to flatten your pack and free up room for anything you pick up along the way. Plus, pair with the Compression Packing Cubes to fit even more in.

Ready to See What's New Firsthand?

The easiest way to feel the difference is to roll an Away Series 3 suitcase, click the StopLock™ brake, and adjust the trolley to your own height—the kind of thing that's hard to fully appreciate from a spec list. Visit an Away store to test it in person, or explore the full Away Series 3 collection today.