Since moving to New York City, I've become a serial Amtrak rider. With friends scattered all over the East Coast and my hometown just a three-hour train ride away, I find myself schlepping to New York's Penn Station at least once a month—which means I've come to learn the importance of reliable luggage .

While I used to be the type of traveler who stuffed all of my clothes into a duffel, I've been burned one too many times by back-breaking bags. After sweating it out while wrangling a backpack-duffel combo, I finally decided to scoop up a carry-on suitcase . My priority? It had to be durable enough to get dragged through train stations, airports, and New York City streets.

After searching for a carry-on built to last that wouldn't make my wallet cry out in pain (!), I landed on one

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