If hitting the gym more often is at the top of their list of 2026 goals, there’s no gift more fitting than activewear. Luckily, Quince’s offerings, including this pair of leggings, are much more affordable than its counterparts. You can even see all of the reasons why these leggings are superior in the brand’s product comparison. Lululemon, Vuori, and Beyong Yoga had better watch out!
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Quince is known for offering luxury goods at affordable prices. And, while we frequent the brand for its budget-friendly cashmere sweaters and designer dupes, it’s luggage has been hides in plain sight. Don’t let Quince luggage fool you—the simple and sleek suitcases rival some of its most expensive counterparts, offering a level of quality that can withstand all of the wear and tear that comes with airplane travel.
Ahead, two StyleCaster contributors and frequent flyers share their honest thoughts on Quince carry-on and check-in suitcases.
Quince Medium Check-In Expandable Suitcase Review
I travel a ton, thanks to my musician husband’s busy tour schedule and the luxury of my freelance career (having friends to visit all over the world also helps). Whether it’s packing up to go on the road with my husband’s band or trying to squeeze in the last few weeks up summer while visiting family up in Canada, I have learned that a good suitcase can make or break your travel plans. While I am usually a carry-on girly through and through, I recently went on a trip to Amsterdam and used the European vacation as an excuse to check a bag and test Quince’s Medium Check-In Expandable Suitcase.
Quince Medium Check-In Expandable Suitcase
External dimensions including wheels: 26″ H x 19″ W x 11.7″ D Internal dimensions excluding wheels: 24″ x 18″ Capacity: 76L Weight: 9.3 lbs Colorways: 7 Materials: Lightweight & durable polycarbonate hard shell; Lining: Water resistant 75D polyester pongee
Since the weather can be so finicky at the end of September, packing for a fall Amsterdam trip involves much more clothing options than I’d usually bring (which is saying a lot since I am a chronic over-packer). And, on this trip, my husband and I decided to share a suitcase, so I knew I’d be asking a lot of the Quince luggage.
To my surprise, Quince uses smart design features that make the brand’s suitcase interiors much more spacious compared to similar brands and it was easy to fit everything we needed with plenty of space to take souvenirs (including some good vintage jacket finds and a bunch of yarn that I bought at my favorite knitting shop in the city center)—all without ever having to expand it.
Jessie’s Quince luggage with music equipment stacked on top.Jessie Quinn
I need a suitcase with high-quality, durable wheels. This ensures that that I can haul the luggage through cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks without much effort—or the risk of the wheels shredding. In addition to our personal belongings, we’re often traveling with a lot of heavy music equipment and use our suitcases as makeshift trolleys when we can’t cart some of the items with two hands. So, the wheels need to withstand extra weight and still be relatively easy to push through airports and music venues.
The Quince luggage features wheels with impressive durability that weren’t just strong enough to withstand extra weight and the woes of European paving but also easy on my wrists (which, as a writer, is greatly appreciated).
I also love that the Quince luggage features closures on both sides of the suitcase, with one offering similar compressive benefits of a packing cube and the other making it possible to put a barrier between all of the random trinkets I always end up with when traveling so that they don’t spill out when it comes time to unpack everything. Because of these features, I was able to easily fit five jackets, seven pairs of pants, seven tops, two sweat outfits, my toiletry and makeup bag, and my husband’s clothing, too. And, on the way home, there was still some room left to wedge my souvenir finds so that I didn’t have to cart them in my carry-on.
Overall, I am super impressed by Quince’s luggage. It’s lightweight and simple design make it easier to pack all of your essentials (and some), while still having the luxury of some organization design details, like the built-in interior pockets on both sides of the suitcase. It was easy to push on smooth airport floors and chaotic cobblestone streets alike, and barely pushed back when piling heavy music equipment on top of it, too.
Expandable Small Carry-On & Large Check-In Suitcase Bundle
External dimensions including wheels: 22″ H x 14.4″ W x 9.8″ D (carry-on); 28.7″ H x 20.9″ W x 13″ D (check-in) Internal dimensions excluding wheels: 22″ H x 14.4″ (carry-on); 26.8H” x 19.8W (check-in) Capacity: 40L (carry-on); 99L (check-in) Weight: 6.6 lbs (carry-on); 9.9 lbs (check-in) Colorways: 4 Materials: Lightweight & durable polycarbonate hard shell; Lining: Water resistant 75D polyester pongee
Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase Review
I first discovered Quince when hunting for affordable cashmere and was surprised to find it makes luggage, too. The brand’s whole deal is pretty straightforward: They make quality stuff without the markup by selling directly to consumers online. No retail stores, no middlemen, just solid products at prices that allow me to splurge more on my actual trips.
When my other luggage failed me, I browsed Quince’s options and was impressed by the range. They offer everything from small 20-inch carry-ons to larger 27-inch check-ins, with options for expandable sides or front pockets depending on your packing style. I settled on the brand’s Small Carry-On Suitcase in Tan—partly because it was in stock, partly because I’m a sucker for simplicity and neutral tones. I was taking a chance on a lighter shade, assuming it might show every scuff, but Quince includes a magic eraser in the package that works surprisingly well at keeping it clean.
At $120—less than half the price of my previous suitcase—I was initially just happy with the savings. The measurements fit both domestic and international needs: at 20″ tall, 13.5″ wide, 9″ deep and a featherlight 6.2 pounds, I could already imagine the extra pair of shoes I could pack without hitting weight limits. I was also pleasantly surprised by the TSA-approved lock positioned at the top of the suitcase, which I personally found much easier to access compared to the side-mounted locks on most luggage.
These first impressions were all promising, but the real test would come in moments I couldn’t even predict.
Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase in Tan.
Quince.
Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase
External dimensions including wheels: 22″ H x 14.4″ W x 9.1″ D Internal dimensions excluding wheels: 20.1” x 13.5″ Capacity: 40L Weight: 6.2 lbs Colorways: 7 Materials: Lightweight & durable polycarbonate hard shell; Lining: Water resistant 75D polyester pongee
I didn’t plan to become a hardcore luggage tester, but life had other plans. My long-distance relationship and freelance lifestyle mean I’ve logged dozens of flights with Quince’s carry-on, trusting it on countless bi-weekly flights across the country and overseas trips in the past year.
Domestically, I’ve fit it into overhead bins on nearly every major US airline, and it’s never once been flagged for gate-checking. Internationally, it also passes most strict carry-on sizers, even meeting the overhead bin allowance on budget European carriers like EasyJet and Wizz Air. (Quince makes compatibility easy to verify with their airline-specific chart online, but it’s always worth checking directly with airlines for the most updated details.)
The inside of Jenzia’s packed Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase. Jenzia Burgos.
The left side of Jenzia’s packed Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase. Jenzia Burgos.
The true test for Quince’s carry-on came during a 15-day trip to Guatemala. I expected the suitcase to survive normal wear and tear, but not what happened during a boat crossing on Lake Atitlán. Our boat stalled in the middle of the lake during a sudden rainstorm, and another vessel had to come to our rescue. I watched in horror as my luggage—containing everything from my laptop to my only pair of hiking boots—was hurled onto the rescue boat, landing with an unceremonious splash in a pool of rainwater that was already forming on the deck.
When I finally reached my homestay, I opened the suitcase expecting a disaster. But somehow, everything was bone dry and intact. While Quince doesn’t advertise its luggage as fully waterproof—it only claims to have a “water-resistant” internal lining—the suitcase managed to keep everything safe during what became the ultimate extreme weather field test.
The right side of Jenzia’s packed Quince Small Carry-On Suitcase. Jenzia Burgos.
But durability is just one aspect of what makes this budget-friendly carry-on impressive. As a chronic overpacker, what impresses me most is just how much this small carry-on can hold. All Quince luggage comes equipped with an internal compression system. Combine that with a good set of packing cubes (something I never travel without), and I’ve managed to fit two weeks’ worth of clothes, toiletries, and even those clunky hiking boots into what’s marketed as a three- to five-day suitcase.
Getting around is equally pleasant with this carry-on. The 360° spinner wheels make navigating crowded terminals a breeze, and the telescoping handle has remained sturdy despite my tendency to hang extra bags from it (something the manufacturer probably wouldn’t recommend). The wheels glide effortlessly on airport floors, public transport, and sidewalks, though they do occasionally meet their match on thick carpets and extremely uneven terrain. Still, this is a minor issue I’ve encountered with just about every wheeled luggage I’ve owned and isn’t a deal-breaker by any means.
Jenzia is carrying Quince’s Small Carry-On Suitcase in Tan. Jenzia Burgos.
After a year of heavy use, this thing still looks and functions almost exactly as it did when I first unboxed it. The wheels continue to spin smoothly, the handle extends without sticking, and the shell has maintained its integrity despite some truly questionable treatment on my part.
If you’re a frequent traveler, especially one who bounces between domestic and international flights, I genuinely think Quince’s Small Carry-On Suitcase deserves consideration. While I bought this luggage as a temporary solution, it’s officially earned a permanent place in my travel arsenal. It isn’t going anywhere—except, of course, everywhere with me.
Unloved and perhaps perceived as unlovely, quinces are a curiosity for many cooks who did not grow up with the fragrant fruit. Like apples, they ripen in fall, and come to market at the same time. Unlike apples, they remain an enigma. Chefs might pounce on them, and anyone with quince-eating cultural roots will scoop them up with delight. Owls and pussy cats like them (eaten with a “runcible” spoon). But often, quinces sold in the US languish. Pick up a fruit, and breathe it in. It is intoxicatingly aromatic, and its floral scent translates into flavor when it is cooked. Raw, quinces can be eaten as a lightly spiced sambal.
Above: Pale yellow or light green, quinces resemble bumpy apples, and are sometimes covered in soft fuzz.
Uncooked, quinces are dense and difficult to slice, and their flavor is astringent. Salting the raw, grated fruit tames its tannins, while cooking makes quinces versatile enough to be eaten as a dessert, a preserve, a jelly (like membrillo), or as a savory addition to North African tagines and other meaty dishes. Cooked quinces’ flavor is gently apple-like, and their scent somehow conveyed in each bite.
Above: Local quinces are sold from fall through late winter.
Originating somewhere around Western Asia and the Caucasus, quinces have been cultivated for millennia around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East. Turkey produces the most quinces for export. The fruit I encounter at greenmarkets in New York City are grown in the Hudson Valley, in USDA hardiness zone 6a. Quince trees are hardy down to Zone 5 and have significant cold-tolerance. While the fruit requires summer rainfall, the humid, tropical summers of the Northeast are not ideal. Humidity encourages fungal infections, and cold winters might also see damage to the tree’s early, beautiful blossoms. Cedar apple rust, hosted by Juniperus virginiania (eastern red cedar), and blight are potential issues on this coast. The quince’s happiest place is anywhere with long, hot, dry summers.
Above: A raw quince sambal.
My own quince background belongs to South Africa, where the fruit is associated with the dusty roads of farms in the Karoo and Overberg regions, and where they hang like fat, pale moons on branches bent low by their weight in late summer.
The way quinces are prepared in South Africa is influenced by Cape Malay traditions, centered around Cape Town. This cooking-style is a blend of Dutch colonial cooking and Afro-Asian influences brought to the Dutch colony by enslaved people and political exiles from the East Indies (present-day Indonesia), Southeast Asia, and Madagascar in the 17th and 18th centuries. Quinces in South Africa are typically eaten as a fruit leather, a sweet preserve served in its pink syrup, in a savory bredie (a slow-cooked mutton stew featuring a single, seasonal vegetable), or a sambal (a refreshingly spicy fruit or vegetable condiment).
Above: Quinces at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan in January.
When I find quinces (usually grown by Locust Grove Farms, New York), from fall though winter at greenmarkets, I do two things: Bake them for dessert, with fresh, home-grown bay leaves and foraged juniper, or with fir sugar; and grate up a spicy sambal, whose recipe comes from a cookbook that is also a piece of Africana: Hilda Gerber’s Traditional Cookery of the Cape Malays. It is essentially a transcribed, invaluable oral history, published posthumously from a manuscript Gerber completed in 1949, which was found in her belongings after she died in 1954.
Above: New York quinces atop South African food traditions.
There are officially two weeks left until Christmas Day…and with Hanukkah underway already, you may be scrambling for that last-minute perfect gift. It’s not always easy, especially when you’re shopping for the chronically online person whose always buying themselves a “little treat”, you often wonder: “What do I get the person who has it all?”
I know my friends have this issue when shopping for me because I am not shy about treating myself. Being a material girl in a material world also means that I know the perfect gift for everyone in your life. If you’re waiting for your next paycheck to do some final holiday shopping this year, and are in need of some brilliant inspo- you’ve come to the right place.
Here are our picks for our 2023 holiday gift guide!
