We bought The Large Flex from Away in 2024 and haven’t looked back. We love the sleek design, plenty of space for clothes, and comfortable ride.

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The Large Flex from Away Travel

In 2024, we were in the market for a new piece of luggage to store most of our clothes and gear. (Right before our fantastic cruise in Alaska.) We travel quite a bit and so wanted something durable to hold up over our journeys. It’d be a further benefit if it looks stylish–not because we want to impress at baggage claim but so it stands out so we can easily identify it. We find it a minor headache if all bags look the same at baggage claim, having to frequently check the tags to find ours.

We stumbled across Away’s The Large Flex luggage during our search. What immediately stood out to us was how simple the design was. The telescoping handle has multiple settings, making it functional for both me and Jenn to use. There are a few exterior knobs in key places on the side to help prevent scuffing as you use it.

We ordered their Coast Blue color, which is a fairly soft blue color. Not too bold, not too dull.

Exterior zippers are sleek, with a built-in locking mechanism. A third zipper offers luggage expansion possibilities, which is what gives it the “flex” name in The Large Flex. Frankly, we like that both sets of zippers are stacked right next to each other for visual appeal. Though, admittedly, sometimes we briefly use the wrong zipper as a result.

On the inside are just a few pockets and zippers. This luggage isn’t intended to compartmentalize everything, which is great for our needs. But there are a few pockets for us to put some loose items or just tucking in some Apple AirTags.

On the left side of the luggage is a nice big space to just load in all the clothes you need for your trip. If it’s just Jenn and I, we could easily load a week’s worth of clothing in one suitcase, plus heavy jackets for a winter trip.

On the right side behind the zippers is another large compartment. Small or delicate items can go into the zippered pouch. And there are some buckles to help squeeze in just a little bit more.

What good is a suitcase if you can’t bring it places? With handles on both the top and side of the luggage, it’s not difficult to climb flights of stairs. The Large Flex handles great on both hard surfaces and short carpet. Its wheels make carting it around feel effortless and provide a pretty smooth ride.

Cleaning The Large Flex from Away is simple

The one thing we dislike about checking in our luggage is the potential damage to it in the process. We’ve all seen horror stories about how bag handlers aren’t exactly the nicest or most careful. In some cases, they might be behind schedule and the plane needs to urgently take off, and corners are cut. In other cases, we’re not quite sure! That wear and tear can add up, taking its toll on the once-beautiful exterior of your bag.

It’s good to know that when minor scuffs happen on our Away luggage, some of the luster comes back with just soapy water and a cloth. To get some of the darker lines out, a Magic Eraser works wonders. Yes, Magic Erasers are abrasive, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise—all erasers are abrasive. But they’re not so abrasive that they damage the product.

I figured after a year of travel, it was time to put it to the test and see just how simple it is to care for.

First up is how it appears without any attempts at cleaning. You’ll see some scuffs, especially on the bottom by the wheels.

First, I decided to mix up some soapy water and a microfiber towel, and gently rub down the exterior.

Many of those darker lines stuck around, so I used the trusty Magic Eraser and a small amount of water. And just like that, much of the scuffing is gone. It doesn’t remove some of the deeper scratches on The Large Flex, but it still looks significantly better than before.

Not bad at all!

Customer-friendly policies

Sometimes it’s hard committing to purchases off the internet. I know I’ve had that problem particularly when it comes to shoes given how my feet just don’t feel comfortable in my shoes. Thus, it’s nice to have some assurance that I could make returns if necessary.

While luggage isn’t a shoe, it’s still important to know that all the things you want to take with you on a trip fit snugly inside. Say you’re not sure if the right size you need is the medium or the large. Rather than feeling pressure to commit, Away Travel has a great policy that unused items can be returned in the first 100 days.

That certainly takes off some of the pressure from purchasing.

There’s also a limited lifetime warranty on defects with the shell, wheels, handles, or zippers. It doesn’t cover cosmetic damage, accidents, theft, or normal wear and tear. We haven’t had a need to use it yet, but it’s nice to know that one exists if needed.

Suggested reading:

• The Travel Gadgets That Make Our Travel Easy
• Our Favorite Essential Baby Travel Gear For Easy Adventures
• Why I Always Check a Bag with Delta