Sherpani Meridian FL Ultralight 22" Expandable Wheeled Carry On

Pros: Happened to find one of these for my daughter minus the floral print at a super-low price, but this is such a good bag it's hard to quibble on value. Solidly built, tons of pockets, nicely separated sections. Drop-bottom duffel style and expansion means it holds a lot more than it seems, though you can't carry on when expanded (or sometimes even if not; see below). Eco-friendly aspect is a plus. Just wish they made it (or the 25" version) with "male" or at least unisex styling.

Cons: Sherpani's claim on linear inches is correct, but the actual dimensions are 23" x 13" x 9.5"--which places it 1/2 inch ABOVE the 45" standard limit for carry-ons. The main handles (which close via a snap that tends to open) only add to the "perceived" dimensions, so whether the airline accepts it depends on who's doing the measuring. (Recent trip: Yes on the outbound flight, no on the return--but the airline checked the bag for free.) Height vs width is unusual for a carry-on--the bag seems very tall--so that may throw the airlines off.