Does a top open carry on actually make packing harder? After testing five different bags across three international trips, the short answer is yes—for most people. The lid design creates a narrow opening that forces you to stack everything in layers. You cannot see the bottom half of your bag without unpacking everything above it. That sounds obvious, but the real frustration hits when you need one item buried at the bottom during a layover. This article explains why top open luggage persists despite the design flaw, which specific bags use it, and when a clamshell opening simply works better.…