best travel suitcase uk

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• The best suitcases we've tested in 2024

The best suitcases we’ve tested in 2024

• Martha Alexander
• Jane Hoskyn

Make packing for your next trip a breeze - we've tested dozens of the best suitcases in real-world scenarios and selected eight gems

Whether you’re going on a long-haul flight or a weekend getaway, picking the best suitcase for your trip will help take the stress out of travelling.

We’ve tested every suitcase on this roundup, packing them full and subjecting them to car boots, train stations and airports to sort the wheat from the chaff. Here you’ll find the suitcases that excelled in testing, including hard-shell and soft-sided cases, travel bags and kid-friendly options.

If you’re not sure where to start, then our buying guide at the bottom of the article will help paint a clearer picture. If you’re in a rush, you’ll find a quick list of our expert picks immediately below – or, simply skip to our detailed reviews .

Looking specifically for hand luggage? Read our Best hand luggage guide

Our expert picks

Best suitcase for most people.

Samsonite S'cure DLX Spinner

Price:  ~£160

“This four-wheeled Samsonite suitcase ticks all the important boxes and looks good doing it. It’s more secure than most suitcases, and it’s waterproof and built to survive a few knocks. It’s well worth the asking price.” | Read more

Check price

Best budget suitcase

Tripp Chic Suitcase

Price:  ~ From £60

“The Tripp Chic is proof that suitcases don’t need to cost the earth to be durable and practical. Aside from its price, we like its four sturdy wheels, integrated TSA-standard lock and low weight (from 2.8kg).” | Read more

Best lightweight suitcase

IT Luggage World's Lightest

Price:  ~ From £45

“We’re all familiar with the pain of lugging a heavy, unwieldy suitcase around, but if that’s not your idea of a good holiday, this is the suitcase you need. Despite starting at just 1.8kg, the IT Luggage World’s Lightest suitcase still has ample room for your belongings.” | Read more

How we test suitcases

We test all the suitcases we review in real-life situations, which always includes packing them and travelling with them – negotiating train stations, or airports, and loading them into a car boot.

We put the exterior through its paces to check how sturdy it is – all sorts can happen to luggage while in transit, so we need to see how well the case can withstand biffs and bumps.

We consider the overall quality of the suitcases’ construction , examining any zips, buckles, joins and seams to check they have been well crafted and neatly appointed.

We look for helpful compartments, pockets or features such as waterproof pouches, interior straps and flat dividers. We take into account what, if any, options there are to ‘expand’ the capacity and dimensions of the cases, should we need extra room, but we don’t overfill to the point that zips strain.

We test how easy it is to manoeuvre the full case. We consider the handles and, if the handle is extendable, is the action smooth, or glitchy? Does the case have wheels? If so, how many? And we assess how easy and light it feels to steer.

Finally, we confirm the weight, dimensions and capacity of the case.

READ NEXT: Best travel pillow

Want to learn more? Jump to the buying guide

1. The best suitcase for most people

Samsonite S’Cure Spinner | From £163

Check price at Amazon

Samsonite’s four-wheeled “spinner” suitcase strikes a good balance of portability, protection and good looks. A waterproof seal keeps the rain out and a triple-locking system keeps everything else in – even if I did find the numbers on the combination to be a little fiddly.

The S’Cure also comes with more pockets, compartments and dividers than most other suitcases, which I found pretty handy when it comes to staying organised. All four sizes of the case feel impressively lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, thanks to the ‘Flowlite’ outer material and aluminium handle tubes.

It may be expensive, but Samsonite is a trusted brand name and this case is robust and versatile enough to travel with you for years to come.

2. The best suitcase for summer holidays

American Tourister Soundbox | From £104

Sunshine comes in luggage form with the Golden Yellow edition of this hard-shell suitcase from industry veteran American Tourister. I’m a big fan of the colourways, with its bright hues and bold design, it won’t be hard to spot this handsome piece of luggage as it comes around the baggage carousel. Of course, if you would rather not go for bright yellow, red, green or blue, then it’s also available in the more sombre and sober Midnight Navy and Bass Black.

Made from very durable polypropylene, this unit has a TSA-coded zip lock for extra security, and a handy four-wheel setup for hypermobility as you traverse airport terminals and concourses. The small size is dinky enough to qualify as carry-on luggage, while the large size is capacious enough to accommodate all the sundresses and swimwear you could possibly need, particularly since it’s also expandable.

3. The best suitcase with 10-year warranty

Antler Clifton | From £170

Check price at Antler

Having used both the Clifton and Camber hard-shell suitcases on a recent week-long getaway, I found it hard to find fault with either of them. Both suitcases were extremely spacious and very rugged, and they barely had any scratches or colour marks on their gorgeous pastels after their trip. Both the Camber and Clifton collections have multiple storage pockets and a handy expanded zip for extra room, and they also come with a secure TSA lock, which is ideal for peace of mind when you’re travelling.

For peace of mind, all of Antler’s suitcases are put through rigorous tests (alongside our own, of course) and come with a ten-year international warranty. In my mind, this definitely helps justify the premium price tag.

4. The best budget suitcase

Tripp chic suitcase | from £50.

Suitcases can often cost up to £200, but if you want something sturdy for an affordable price, look no further than the Tripp Chic suitcase.

In terms of features, it’s got four wheels for easy manoeuvring, an integrated TSA lock and it’s expandable – which I always find handy on my travels. The polypropylene case is durable but also lightweight, so it won’t eat into that precious luggage weight limit. It comes in four colours (black, navy blue, sky blue and rose) and it’s available in three sizes (cabin, medium and large), all of which are absolute bargains.

Just be aware that the large isn’t especially roomy – its 102-litre capacity doesn’t really match up to other brands’ large suitcases.

5. The best lightweight suitcase

It luggage world’s lightest | from £45.

Check price at Argos

If you’re worried about your weight allowance – or just dislike humping heavy luggage around – this is the suitcase for you. You get a decent amount of room for all your belongings, and it has one of the most comfortable and practical handles thanks to its full-width cushioned design, so you won’t mind pulling it around for any length of time.

As you would expect, being a soft-shell, it isn’t quite as sturdy as weightier hard-shell cases, and you might wonder whether such a lightweight suitcase is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of travelling. However, you needn’t worry too much as it comes with a very reassuring 10-year warranty.

I tested the 4-wheel version, which came in a lovely blue, but it Luggage offers many more options, combining different sizes, different numbers of wheels and various colours and finishes – even a 3D unicorn pink shell for kids. Given all these potential combinations, it’s a shame Argos doesn’t let you filter the options from the same page, but you can click the Find Similar widget next to the product photo, as a shortcut.

6. The best rugged suitcase

Osprey Rolling Transporter | From £220

Check price at Osprey

Designed as essentially a duffel bag on wheels, Osprey’s Rolling Transporter is one of the most versatile travel bags you can buy and ideal for those who don’t have room to stash a full-sized suitcase when they’re not travelling.

Available in 40, 60, 90 and 120-litre sizes, the Rolling Transporter is all about maximising the amount you can carry. You can still access all your stuff quickly and easily thanks to the large flap that unzips around the top of the whole single-compartment bag, and, with stash pockets at the top and under the flap, it’s surprisingly flexible.

It’s also constructed out of a tough, water-resistant fabric made from recycled materials, but the best bit about the Rolling Transporter is how easy the extending handle and wheels make it to get your stuff from A to B. The rigid base means it will stand up without falling over, and the wide grab handles on the sides and top will give you plenty of purchase when getting it off the luggage belt, as well as in and out of taxis. Overall, it’s a five-star, lightweight bag for any kind of traveller.

Osprey Rolling Transporter 40 Unisex Duffel Bag Black - O/S

7. the best travel bag, the north face base camp duffel | from £130.

Check price at The North Face

For anyone who prefers to tote their load, rather than wheel it, this stylish duffel is the answer. It can be carried via two padded side handles, it can also be used as a backpack, thanks to detachable, ergonomic shoulder straps.

The Base Camp Duffel is ideal for adventurous types – those who are likely to be exploring far-flung places on foot. It’s made from recycled materials but is still water-resistant, tough and hardy – as you’d want in a case that will be going long haul. We particularly noted the durability of the double stitching.

I love how it opens: the main flap folds right back so you can pack clothes flat, as you would in a traditional suitcase. The bag isn’t huge, but it’s comparable to most medium-sized suitcases and will easily hold a week’s worth of clothes, no problem.

8. The best suitcase for kids

Trunki Children’s Ride-On Suitcase | From £37

Navigating airports and train stations with tots in tow can be a stressful experience. However, this ride-on suitcase from child-friendly brand Trunki offers kids plenty of entertainment and can be pulled along on its wheels by parents – perfect for traversing the bigger terminals not designed with little legs in mind. The bags are compact enough to fit in most cabins – though always check your airline’s policy – and boast four wheels and one surprisingly roomy internal compartment.

Given that it doubles as a vehicular toy, the Trunki Ride-On is surprisingly light, weighing in at just 1.6kg, and I like that it features a detachable shoulder strap so it can be slung across your back if required.

The wide range of designs to choose from can give your little ones a chance to express their own budding identities: Frank the Fire Truck makes a good pick for plucky youngsters, and Dudley the Dinosaur is a great shout – what kid doesn’t love dinosaurs? – while the classic Terrence is a distinctive bold blue, and you’ll never lose sight of your child riding on Trixie’s bright pink chassis.

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How to choose the best suitcase for you

What size suitcase do i need.

Try to buy a suitcase which is just a little bigger than you need, so you have room for any souvenirs or purchases. Don’t be tempted to buy the biggest you can afford, though, as it can make travelling with it a little more awkward.

• If you want to cut down on luggage charges, then double-check the carry-on size restrictions for your preferred airline.

Which is better: Hard- or soft-shelled?

For most people, we would recommend a hard-shell suitcase. They’re the most durable choice, so should last longer. They offer more protection for your belongings than their soft-shell rivals. If minimal weight is crucial, then modern soft-sided cases remain a good option.

• Hard-shell cases are heavier – but the best modern designs don’t eat up as much of your baggage weight allowance.

Two- or four-wheel suitcase: Which is best?

Four-wheeled suitcases are the easiest type to manoeuvre, but two-wheeled suitcases can be cheaper and tend to be a little lighter and less bulky.

• Four-wheelers stand up more reliably – they are easier to manoeuvre in tight aisles and other tricky spaces.
• Two-wheeled suitcases can be hard to manoeuvre when they’re heavily loaded.

Is a suitcase better than a rucksack?

For most travellers, we would say that a suitcase is the best all-round option for travel, especially with heavier loads. Rucksacks are great for more active travel, but you’ll need to be fit and strong to carry 20kg+ in a backpack, whereas anyone can push a four-wheeled suitcase.

• A wheeled suitcase is far easier to move around than a rucksack.
• Suitcases make it easier to access and organise your belongings
• A rucksack makes more sense if you’re travelling long-term or venturing off-road – If that’s what you need, check out our roundup of the best backpacks .

Does the interior of the suitcase matter?

Interiors can vary greatly from one case to another, so it’s essential to check that your new suitcase has the storage you need.

• Some come with lots of inside pockets, while others can be separated into two or three sections.
• If you want to maximise space but still stay organised, consider a set of packing cubes (such as these affordable ones from Amazon ).

Hand luggage allowances

Reminder: It is strongly advised to check your airline for the most up-to-date baggage allowance and guidelines before flying.

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16 best suitcases for your next holiday

Get ready for your next trip with the most robust luggage to buy now, according to the GHI's expert testers

For longer getaways, there are a few key boxes the best suitcases have to tick. They must be spacious enough for all your holiday essentials, durable enough to survive baggage handling and light enough when empty to pack everything you need without exceeding your airline's weight limit.

Whether you’re jetting away for a fortnight, consolidating two people’s clothing into one bag or simply don’t do “ packing light ”, the Good Housekeeping Institute is here to help. Here are our top picks in one handy list, but read on for our full reviews.

Best hard shell large suitcase

American tourister airconic spinner suitcase.

Best for ease of packing

Delsey moncey 76cm 4 double wheels trolley case.

Best made with recycled materials

Samsonite magnum eco spinner 75cm 4-wheel large suitcase.

Best for design

Away the large.

Most durable suitcase

Horizn studios h7 check-in luggage.

Best for security

Carl friedrik the check-in.

Best lightweight suitcase and best soft shell suitcase

Antler brixham large.

July Checked Suitcase

Victorinox Lexicon Hardside Large Suitcase

Best expandable suitcase and best for easy wheeling

Antler clifton large suitcase, what should i look for when buying a suitcase.

The type of luggage you should buy depends on how you travel. Try to consider the practicalities before being enticed by the endless colours and styles available!

Size: Will the suitcase fit in your car boot and be easy to lug about? If you think you may struggle, look for a robust yet lightweight option.

Weight: The weight limit for checked baggage varies between airlines; look it up before you travel as excess baggage charges are notoriously extortionate. The lightest suitcase we've featured weighs just 2.7kg when empty, with bulkier options coming in at up to 5.7kg. If you’re a frequent traveller, it may be worth investing in some luggage scales .

Durability: Checked baggage must be able to withstand the rough handling it will inevitably encounter during transit. It should also be sturdy enough to handle bumpy terrain and easy to manoeuvre along bustling streets.

Wheels: Most suitcases are four-wheelers — sometimes referred to as spinner suitcases — that can be wheeled alongside you as well as pulled behind. Two-wheeled suitcases tend to have slightly bigger wheels and can be easier to pull up and over kerbs, but we generally prefer the versatility and balance of spinners.

Handles: Most towing handles are telescopic and retractable for comfort. Suitcases with handles on the top and side, in addition to the towing handle, are easier to lift onto luggage racks, airport baggage scales and off baggage carousels.

Expandability: Many suitcases – including five in our round-up – feature an expandable panel that can be unzipped for at least 10% additional packing space.

Storage: Internal pockets can be found inside most hard and soft shell suitcases. Look for small integrated pockets, larger pouches that can fit a laptop, removable laundry bags, and garment sections that help keep suit jackets crease-free. External pockets, usually only found in soft-sided suitcases, are useful for stowing additional items that you want to grab quickly.

Is hard or soft luggage better?

Hard-sided suitcases have a rigid exterior that’s most often made from moulded polypropylene, polycarbonate, ABS plastic or aluminium. These materials are used to make car bumpers and crash helmets, so you can rest assured that they’re durable. Newer models are lightweight and many have an internal divider for better organisation. They don’t have external pockets, but there are usually one or two inside.

Soft-sided suitcases are made of polyester, nylon or a mix of the two. They tend to feature expandable sides, offering you additional internal capacity. Though generally less water-resistant than their hard-sided counterparts, most soft-sided suitcases have a waterproof PVC lining to keep your belongings dry in light rain. They offer a range of internal and external pockets but remember to padlock any valuables away.

Is it a good idea to lock your luggage?

Yes, a padlock is essential wherever you travel. Padlocks that feature the red Transport Security Administration (TSA) logo are highly recommended if you’re travelling to the USA. These TSA-approved padlocks have a universal master key; the TSA has a copy, meaning American airline security personnel can open your suitcase and examine its contents without damaging it.

How we test suitcases

Every suitcase is put through a series of rigorous real-life tests. Testers weigh them when empty, then pack a fortnight’s worth of clothing and holiday essentials to see how well each suitcase fits and securely holds its contents.

We test their manoeuvrability across a range of common surfaces, including tarmac, concrete, carpet and cobbles, to check how stable they are in motion and how easy they are to pull. We study the durability of the wheels, casing and corners, and test each suitcase’s water resistance, too.

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Score: 89/100

Scarred by a soggy suitcase from your past? Let this spacious hard shell spinner reassure you. It impressed in our waterproof tests, becoming slightly damp immediately around the zip but spreading no further. And there are internal pockets for safe storage.

Lightweight for its size, it stays balanced on all surfaces and easily swaps between two and four wheels. It comes in a choice of colours to suit all travellers, but may crack or dent if repeatedly bashed about.

Key specifications

Score: 87/100

This pod-like suitcase from Delsey comes with a generous host of useful features. Everything we packed fitted in easily, with sufficient space for souvenirs. It’s secure, too, with a TSA-approved combination lock, additional top and bottom locks and three interior pockets.

We found it easy to manoeuvre on a variety of surfaces and liked how effortlessly it goes from two wheels to four when navigating narrow spaces. However, it suffered a few bumps and dents on test and, despite its waterproof claims, a little moisture soaked through the top.

Score: 85/100

If you're after ways to help minimise your carbon footprint while travelling, this suitcase is a good place to start; it’s made in Europe with recycled materials. Note, the inside isn’t lined, but there was plenty of room for packing and the dividers kept everything secure.

Once on the go, it was easy to manoeuvre, with the wheels moving smoothly and quietly on every surface. In fact, they remained robust throughout all our tests. When full, however, the handles weren’t that comfortable.

Overall, it proved to be a hardy case but some of the corners dented when dropped. We were able to push them out but we'd suggest avoiding doing this too much where possible, as after a few times we noticed stress marks in the plastic. It was extremely waterproof though and comes with a five-year warranty that you can access simply by scanning an attached QR code.

Available in a range of colours, this is the case to go for if you’re after luggage that’s as stylish as it is sturdy. Its premium interior has ample space and pockets for your luggage, and there’s a compression pad to help you squeeze in more. It comes with a water-resistant laundry bag, a leather identity tag and even a melamine sponge to remove scuffs from its exterior (which impressed our testers a lot with its effectiveness).

The zips proved a bit fiddly to use and lock, and they let water in but luckily our clothes remained dry. The wheels lagged a bit on carpet and cobbles too, but they were agile everywhere else. While their protective caps got damaged during our drop test, the shell proved impressively sturdy. Plus, the case comes with a 100-day trial and a lifetime guarantee.

Score: 84/100

This high-end suitcase’s good looks shouldn’t fade over time. It scored nearly full marks on our drop tests, impressing us with how little damage it sustained. Its wheels proved robust too, scoring full marks on our durability test, even after continuous lugging up and down stairs. They glided over most surfaces but were a tad sluggish on carpet. They also made a clicking sound going over anything bumpy, which could get annoying if your destination is heavily cobbled...

It’s all in the detail though with this well-manufactured design. It comes with a dust bag for safe storage at home, a water-resistant toiletries bag, a laundry bag and an identity tag. Adjustable straps helped secure luggage well too.

A minimal amount of water seeped through the zip during our waterproofing test, but nothing got wet inside. Our only other critique was that the side handles may feel tight if your hands are bigger. Otherwise, it’s a reliable and stylish bit of luggage.

This is among the most premium suitcases we've tested, so what does nearly £500 buy you? Security, for a start – an aluminium locking frame means all your precious belongings are thoroughly protected. It also has a TSA-approved lock, and the zip-less design proved watertight on test. In fact, the only downfall of the metal frame is that it will eat into your luggage allowance more than most.

Its other appeal is the quality finish – internal dividers make packing effortless, while the wheels are sourced from Japan and remained scratch-free throughout testing. The shell proved less durable though, sustaining some damage during our drop tests. But we do test based on worst case scenarios, and if it’s quiet luxury you’re after, note that this range was spotted in an episode of Succession . Well, if it’s good enough for the Roys...

The brand has also just partnered with Hackett London to create a timeless (but limited edition!) navy version – if you're a fan of the classic colourway, get yours while you can.

Score: 82/100

Antler’s newest suitcase weighs a mere 2.7kg, making it the lightest on test and meaning you should have weight allowance to spare for that extra book or pair of shoes. Testers also found it a stand-out for manoeuvrability (much like Antler’s Clifton, below). It glided easily across all floor types, and they only docked points for a slight noise on concrete and cobblestones. Ergonomic handles also provide comfort if you’re dragging it over some distance.

Unsurprisingly given its soft shell, it wasn’t as waterproof as its hard counterparts, but keep it out of downpours and this shouldn’t prove too troublesome. Our continuous drop tests also resulted in a bit of distortion, but we’re recreating a worst-case scenario, so if you need something lightweight, it’s still a reliable buy.

This minimalist suitcase emulates the design of old-fashioned trunks, but it certainly doesn’t lack any of the mod-cons. For starters, the compression packing system meant testers had room to spare when packing enough clothes for a long holiday. Pockets kept things neat, too. Once packed, it moved quietly and effortlessly around our test centre, with the wheels proving robust when dragged up kerbs and steps.

The lining is water-resistant, so although the zip absorbed water in our rain simulation, nothing inside was wet. And the shell proved durable and fairly scratch-resistant – not to mention, July offers a lifetime warranty for added peace of mind when travelling. Testers found the side handle a tad uncomfortable to use when the suitcase was full, but we’re nitpicking really. This suitcase’s good looks are backed up by real substance.

This large suitcase from Victorinox is built to last. Inside the tough polycarbonate exterior are a number of handy packing features, including five pockets, a zippered garment section and a divider. There’s plenty of room for two people’s luggage, but it proved tricky to turn corners once fully packed.

Our rigorous durability tests left little more than a few scuff marks, with no visible damage to the wheels or body. It’s water-resistant but the top zipper absorbs moisture.

Although far from wallet-friendly, it’s certainly secure, boasting puncture-resistant zippers, a bag tracking feature and a TSA-approved lock with a recovery programme if you forget the code.

Score: 81/100

This Antler suitcase has a lot to offer, with spacious compartments, an expandable design and a waterproof documents pocket. But it was the wheels that really stood out on test. They are above average size, so travelled over a variety of surfaces smoothly and quietly. They were agile and robust, too. Plus, the trolley handle moves position when you tilt from four wheels to two for maximum comfort on the go.

We found the zips stiff and they did allow a little water in at the top of the suitcase, but our belongings stayed dry. The side handle squashed our hands a bit too. However, it proved fairly resilient during our drop tests with the odd dent along the edge but nothing that impacted its usability. Handily, it comes with a lifetime warranty too.

Eastpak Transit’R 4 L

Another great lightweight suitcase with a roomy interior, this has two internal dividers for organised packing and an external pocket for any non-valuables. Testers found it had ample space for their packing list, and still closed easily. Its wheels navigated a range of terrains swiftly and smoothly too.

As you may expect with a softer case, it wasn’t as sturdy as some – our experts noted some minor damage during our drop tests. But this was largely cosmetic, and it fared well in our waterproofing tests, making it an overall good buy, especially if you don’t tend to travel by plane and are looking for something spacious and easy to manoeuvre for train or car journeys.

Tripp Escape Large 4 Wheel Suitcase

Our winning hard shell case – the American Tourister Airconic Spinner Suitcase – is a fraction lighter, but this Tripp option still only takes up 3.6kg of your weight allowance. Our packing list fitted with room to spare, and all items stayed in place throughout testing despite its lack of internal pockets.

It survived our durability tests almost entirely unscathed, with just the expected minor scuffing. Impressively for such a lightweight case, the main panels emerged pristine after dropping and any dents popped out immediately.

The handle felt comfortable and its quiet wheels moved smoothly. Some water sneaked through the zips but for under £70, it's a steal.

Amazon Basics Hardside Suitcase

Though not an obvious purveyor of luggage, Amazon has been successfully branching out with own-brand ranges – and this suitcase is a trusty pick. Our testers found it roomy inside, with ample packing space for two people for a shorter getaway, or one person for a longer break.

It proved sturdy, only sustaining some cosmetic damage towards the end of our extensive drop tests and still functioning perfectly – no mean feat given how roughly we treated it. Its wheels trundled quietly across all surfaces and its ergonomic, telescopic towing handle extended well to suit a range of heights. The zip let a bit of water through, but this is undoubtedly another great value buy.

Samsonite Base Boost Spinner Large Expandable Suitcase

This spacious suitcase from Samsonite performed well during testing, easily fitting everything you’d need for a two-week holiday inside. The 105-litre capacity is expandable up to 112.5 litres, the internal divider and two sets of elasticated packing straps kept items securely in place, and the padded front pocket offered easy access to documents.

It moved over all terrains with ease, staying well-balanced and quiet, even on cobbles. Unfortunately, our water-resistance test disappointed, with moisture soaking through the exterior pocket and leaking through its centre. So, best for warmer climes. Rain peril aside, it’s a sturdy and robust model that fully withstands bumps and knocks.

Aerolite Large Lightweight ABS Hard Shell 4 Wheel Hold Suitcase

Score: 76/100

For a hard shell case at an affordable price, try Aerolite. Its large capacity and selection of pockets make packing easy, and it’s roomy enough for you to pack for every eventuality. The telescopic handle can sit at a range of different heights too, adjusting well to you and the surface it’s on.

Unsurprisingly given its cheaper price, it’s not as robust as many of the pricier cases, sustaining notable damage when bashed around. It wasn’t watertight either, and some of our luggage did get wet. It has a five-year warranty though, making it a nifty buy if you need a substantial case and don’t want to shell out a lot.

American Tourister Soundbox Spinner Expandable 77cm

Score: 75/100

If you buy this case in “golden yellow”, you’ll spot it the moment it arrives on the luggage belt. As well as appealing to style-conscious travellers, it will also work for practical ones. The expandable design is robust and roomy. It manoeuvred well on concrete and carpet too, but wasn’t so keen on tarmac and cobbles, making a right din. The outer shell proved mostly water-resistant, but rain soaked through the zipper and dampened a few of our belongings.

It’s super durable, though, surviving our drop tests without any major denting or scuffing. We found the top handle comfortable to hold, but it felt slightly flimsy when pulling along a full case. It’s ideal for a two-week trip.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows , and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist , working for Stylist , Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Blossom is our Senior Homes Tester. Passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for our readers, she has tested everything from blenders to pizza ovens. Blossom enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols for hundreds of items. Innovative items like robot vacuum cleaners and wine coolers are among her favourite tests to date, and her most notable accomplishment is toasting 360 slices of bread in a determined bid to find the best toaster. In her free time, Blossom openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.   

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The best luggage brands to bookmark, from It Luggage to Antler

From checked suitcases to cabin bags, these have your travel needs covered, article bookmarked.

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Travelling with rubbish luggage (we’ve all been there) can be a real hassle, so it always pays to see what’s out there before you buy. Whether you’re in the market for a large check-in suitcase , a smaller cabin bag or a weekend duffle bag for dreamy city breaks and shorter getaways, there’s something for every travel scenario.

When it comes to choosing your new travel companion, there are several factors to think about, not least how it looks. But, beyond looking enviably chic on the luggage carousel, it also needs to do a job, and do it well; our belongings need to be organised, safe, and easy to manoeuvre from A to B.

Then, there are airline regulations. Forking out for excess baggage fees is the last thing anyone wants when setting off on a holiday, so it’s always best to check whether your luggage is the right size and weight that will be accepted before you fly. Luckily, many big-name luggage brands make it easy by letting us search the range by the airline we’re travelling with.

So where do you begin? For a range of price points, check out the likes of Tripp and M&S (which has its own range of luggage) if you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly options. Antler and Briggs & Riley are more premium, while Samsonite is worth a look for kids’ suitcases (think ride-on and Disney-themed designs).

Love or loathe packing, our guide to the best luggage brands will make the process as hassle-free as possible, from Eastpak to Thule and more.

The best luggage brands for 2024 are:

• Tripp – cheap and cheerful basics, Tripp.co.uk
• Antler – a veteran of premium , well-considered design, Antler.co.uk
• Samsonite – luggage solutions for the whole family, Samsonite.co.uk
• Kipling – fun and functional, Kipling.com
• Thule – utilitarian designs that mean business, Thule.com

It’s hardly a surprise that Amazon is home to an overwhelming range of luggage brands, from Ted Baker to Bellroy. Beyond big brands, though, look to the Amazon Basics range. The price of its suitcases sit comfortably below the £100 mark, and while the retail giant’s own range is pretty limited, it could be a good port of call for shopping essentials on a budget, from packing cubes and luggage sets to this wheeled cabin bag , which should fit beneath most airline chairs and in overhead compartments.

Visit Amazon.co.uk now

Having been around for 100 years (almost exactly), premium luggage label Antler specialises in swanky, sophisticated and, let’s be honest, quite expensive luggage solutions. From matching sets to expandable cabin bags , everything has a lifetime warranty. The colourways are lovely if you don’t love bright colours and, having taken the Clifton large suitcase for a spin ourselves, we can tell you that you’re in for a smooth ride. We were very proud to wheel ours around the airport.

Visit Antler.co.uk now

You’ll be able to find affordable luggage sets, bags and hard and soft shell cases at It Luggage, but it’s the variety of kids’ luggage that caught our attention. How cute is this scratch-resistant Daxie the sausage dog design ? As for the adults, the over-packers will make good use of the brand’s expandable options , and those in the market for a glam, flashy find won’t be disappointed, from its leopard print and high-shine to metallic finishes, you’re in for a treat.

Visit Itluggage.com now

Samsonite is one of the oldest and most recognised names in the game, just mind the price range, which spans from £125 to £1,000. From lightweight to personalised and recycled features, there’s something for everyone. You can expect everything from business-appropriate designs to ride-on suitcases for little globetrotters , there’s something for everyone.

Visit Samsonite.co.uk now

When cheap and cheerful is what you’re going for, affordable brand Tripp should be on your radar, with many of its suitcases costing less than £100. You won’t be missing out on colourful designs, from its metallic champagne to banana yellow suitcases, and, whether it’s a holdall , duffle bag , hardshell suitcase or carry-on , everything comes with a five-year guarantee (so, if it’s faulty, it’ll be replaced). Attention, over-packers; take note of expandable options, such as this bestselling hardshell, four-wheel suitcase , which is just £39.50.

Visit Tripp.co.uk now

Sweden-born brand Thule was founded in 1942 and means business. Sleek, minimalistic and utilitarian by design, the range is tested to the extreme to ensure it’s tough as nails. In fact, Thule’s Aion carry-on spinner was the toughest carry-on case we tried in our review. You’ll also find checked luggage options, as well as duffle bags , travel organisers and backpacks .

Visit Thule.com now

M&S Collection

You can count on M&S to stay within budget. Think suitcases , vanity cases and weekend bags to boot (but the line isn’t huge). Expect TSA locks, packing straps and a decent pastel and earthy colour range. The Oslo is a tried and tested favourite for packing light. All M&S cases have a five or 10-year guarantee, including this set of three suitcases , which could see your luggage needs for less than £200.

Visit Marksandspencer.com now

Eastpak may be famous for its ubiquitous backpacks, but it also stocks luggage with a 30-year warranty, so rest assured, you’re getting your money’s worth. From rainbow-accented backpacks to denim-feel cabin bags and water-resistant, vegan check-in luggage , bright colourways are available, but this black tarp duffle looks particularly swish. Prices start around £100 for suitcases, but if you’re splurging, this business travel suitcase comes with built-in sleeves for your tech.

Visit Eastpak.com now

Briggs & Riley

If you’re in the market for something a little more premium, Briggs & Riley is one of the brands to look into. Appealing to frequent travellers who take their packing seriously, the designs feature compression-expansion technology, so you can fit in extra clothes. The brand offers rolling duffle bags and extra large trunks , and while it’s pricey, we think the garment spinner – with its compact, crease-free way to transport clothing – could be worth the splurge. For especially glam jet-setters, go for the monogram personalisation.

Visit Briggs-riley.co.uk now

Beyond its monkey mascot, Kipling focuses on fun (think patterned or pastel pink) and functional luggage solutions. From its wheeled duffle bags to two and four-wheel suitcases , the brand’s price points start at around £100 and for its larger cases reach upwards of £270. We’ve got our eye on this weekender bag and its protective place to pop your laptop while you’re on the move.

Visit Kipling.com now

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The best carry on luggage to buy in 2024

By Lauren Burvill and Charley Ward

It’s a rookie error that many of us have been guilty of – carry on luggage that’s too large, too heavy, or too uncomfortable to carry. I’m ashamed to admit that, despite having worked in travel for more than 10 years, I recently, and accidentally, overpacked my hand luggage on a flight from Australia to London. Much to the frustration of my fellow Qatar Airlines passengers, I had to do the embarrassing scramble of throwing what I could grab into our check-in suitcases. All that time spent organising was destroyed in a moment of panic.

If like me, you’ve been caught out at check-in, you’ll know that the wrong carry-on luggage can ruin a trip before it even begins. This is why thought and research are required when choosing the right cabin bag for your flight – even more so than for a check-in suitcase. To save you the admin, we’ve found the best luggage to stash in the plane’s overhead bins.

Which is the best carry-on luggage at-a-glance?

• Best hardshell: Away The Original Carry-On, 55.1X34.8X22.9cm, 3.2kg, £220
• Best external pocket: Antler Clifton cabin suitcase with pocket, 56X35X23cm, 3.3kg, £220
• Best light suitcase: July Carry On Light, 54X36X19cm, 1.8kg, £195
• Best budget price: Aerolite cabin luggage 50x40x20cm, 2.1kg, £59.99
• Best underseat cabin bag : Cabin Max Manhattan travel bag, 40X20X25, 0.5kg, £29.95
• Best travel backpack: Bellroy Transit Backpack, 53X36X19cm, 1.1kg, £239

Our favourite carry-on luggage picks for 2024

How we tested the best carry-on luggage

Every case on this list has been has been independently tested and reviewed by our editors Charley Ward and Lauren Burvill . We run each piece of carry-on luggage through a test in office, and then pass the cases on to members of the wider team to take with them on a flight for further testing. When testing, we look for overall quality, spinner wheels, TSA-approved locks, design features such as exterior pockets, charging ports or laptop compartments, and value for money. We also assess the weight and size, overall function and visual appeal.

The best hard shell carry-on luggage

Pros: Durable, easy to manoeuvre, compression pad and straps, comes with a laundry bag, multiple colour options.

Cons: Colours sell out quickly, light colours are prone to scuffs and scratches, 0.1cm over the height allowance of some airlines, including Ryanair.

Size: 55.1x34.8x22.9cm

Weight: 3.2kg

Away's recognisable original carry-on case is one of the best on the market – beloved by many of our editors and numerous celebrities, including Margot Robbie and Meghan Markle. As one of the first luggage brands to rethink suitcases through a millennial lens, Away has been cleverly perfecting its cases to combine equal parts style and function. The real highlight of this carry-on case is the quality, particularly the wheels. Inside, both mesh compartments can be firmly secured – one with a zip, the other with a compression system with straps – so there is plenty of packing space and your case will remain neatly organised.

Editor review: “I travel with this Away carry-on case all the time, particularly back and forth from London to Lisbon where I've been living for the last year. No matter how much I pack in this case, it's always so smooth and easy to navigate through busy airports thanks to its spinner wheels and sturdy frame,” Abigail Malbon , acting audience growth manager.

Pros: Lightweight suitcase, great value price, large range of colour options, multiple compartments inside, luggage sets available.

Cons: Only one of the internal compartments can be fully zipped up, lighter colours are prone to scuffs and scratches.

Size: 55x40x20cm

Weight: 2.8kg

If you're a frequent flyer looking for a zippy hard-shell suitcase, Antler's Clifton cabin bag is a winner. The durable yet lightweight polycarbonate case features a twist-grip telescopic handle, making it very easy to wheel it around the airport at speed. Not only is this case a great size and quality, but they also look smart too, with seven subdued shades to choose from.

Editor review: “I have this case in the mineral colour as part of the full travel set . This case is the one I use the most and it's just a dream to travel with. I really love the two zip-up pouches inside. If you don't travel with packing cubes, these can do a similar job and are ideal for storing delicates and toiletries,” Lauren Burvill , commerce editor.

Pros: Very light, impressively quiet, smooth action, scratch-resistant shell

Cons: Relatively small side, no laptop sleeve or additional pockets

Size: H54 x W36 x D19cm

Weight: 1.8kg

July asserts that this is the world’s lightest double-wheel suitcase, and while we can’t verify this claim, it’s certainly the lightest one we’ve ever used. As such, we’re crowning it our best lightweight luggage pick. This was much appreciated when manhandling it in and out of the overhead compartments, as was its whisper-quiet action, even while trundling over a notoriously bumpy pavement. This was something that truly impressed me. There are nine colours to choose from, and all July carry-ons and checked bags can be personalised.

Editor review: “I travelled with this recently on a weekend trip to Palma and managed to squeeze in four dresses, my washbag , straighteners and two pairs of shoes. Next time I’ll use some compression packing cubes to maximise capacity further. Overall it feels expensive, with a sturdy handle and strong polycarbonate shell that withstood several knocks on its first outing.” Charley Ward , commerce writer

Pros:  Lightweight, 100-day trial policy, unlikely to scuff.

Cons:  Colours appear brighter in real life, expandable handle is a little sticky.

Size:  50X33X23cm

The Canadian brand famed worldwide for its sleek backpacks recently launched its heritage hardshell luggage collection, including both checked luggage and a carry-on style. The compact and lightweight suitcases are made from a 100% polycarbonate EcoSystem™ Hardshell, with 70% of each suitcase made from recycled road barricade material. Inside the carry-on, the case has one large mesh zip compartment with an additional smaller pocket and compression straps on the other. We love the simplicity of it all, but be warned: the colours appear much brighter in real life compared to online – the pastel yellow shade, in reality, is closer to a neon tennis ball.

Editor review: “This carry-on suitcase is on the smaller side, but it's perfect for me as I do a lot of short trips. It means I never have to worry about which airline I'm flying with and what dimensions they allow. I've taken this with me on multiple trips, and it's very durable, showing virtually no signs of wear and tear to date. I also personally love the cheerful bright colour,” Sarah James , deputy digital editor.

Pros: Classic look, garment bag hook.

Cons: Not the most lightweight carry-on, being the heaviest on our list.

Size: 55x38x20cm

Weight: 4.6kg

Leave it to Bric's to create the most beautiful and functional hand luggage on the market. The heritage brand has been crafting travel bags and leather goods out of the  Lake Como  region since the 1950s. Their cabin case is a smaller version of their Bellagio suitcase, with a shell made from lightweight Makrolon® polycarbonate along with vegetable-tanned leather trimmings that not only look smart but also help to prevent scuffing. Inside the lined case features organisation pockets, a padded laptop sleeve and a garment bag hook and space for three hangers. As with all Brics luggage, the Bellagio suitcase comes with a five-year warranty.

Pros: Organisational pockets, zip-up divider, leather luggage tag, stylish design and interior.

Cons: Lighter colours are prone to scuffs and scratches, doesn't fit within Air France, Ryanair and Emirates cabin bag allowance.

Size: 56X45X25cm

The leather handles with contrast stitching, the little round logo – the little details that made us notice The Portable Porter's carry-on case. Inside there's even more to discover, the biggest surprise being the bespoke monogrammed lining (in the yellow case, it's a cheery multicoloured geometric print) made from recycled plastic bottles. On one side of the case are three pockets, including a full zip divider, and two smaller pockets – one with a water-resistant laundry inside, the other storing a round leather luggage tag. A compression pad and straps are on the other side of the case.

Pros: Smooth, sturdy spinner wheels and a textured finish add to its overall durability

Cons: No charger, could use a few additional pockets

Weight: 3.7kg

Dimensions: 55 x 35 x 23cm

As with the Aviator Grand, Paravel's carry-on is beloved for more than just its retro Wes Anderson - style designs. It's made using eco-friendly materials, like recycled zippers and a lining crafted out of upcycled plastic water bottles, and comes in beautiful shades like Scout Tan and Safari Green. Inside, one half zips fully closed and has an additional zip pocket of its own, while the other is covered by a compression board. It's a favourite of US Traveller senior editor Megan Spurrell, who has brought it on trips to Mexico City, Lisbon, Los Angeles, and more.

Pros: Comfortable handle, fairly easy to clean

Cons: Although the beige colour is incredibly pretty, it gets dirty very quickly; I would recommend a darker colour

Weight: 3.8kg

Dimensions: 58 x 40 x 25cm

Béis is a favourite luggage brand for our team over in the US, who’ve tried a number of its softside cases and weekender bags, before getting their hands on its carry-on. Unsurprisingly, it was a hit. “I would recommend this for a traveller who is an exclusive team carry-on member,” US commerce producer Paris Wilson says. She managed to fit at least 14 outfits, plus four pairs of shoes and two purses, inside on a recent trip to the Florida Keys. It’s lightweight and easy to manoeuvre: – “I was able to bring it down from the overhead bin myself as well as move it in and out of the trunk of the rental car easily” – and easy on the eyes as well: “I got so many compliments on how pretty the carry-on was while in the airport and on holiday. The colour is beautiful, it’s an ideal size, and the ribbing on the exterior adds some really cool dimensions.”

Pros: Smooth glide, TSA-approved combination lock, the expansion capabilities

Cons: Mistaken identity – given their popularity, get a unique colour or add your favourite sticker to the outer hard shell to help identify yours if you wind up checking it

Weight: 3.6kg

Dimensions: 56 x 36 x 23cm

We’ve tried several Away suitcases and the Flex is our pick for overpackers and times you need a little more space. It gives travellers an additional 2.25" of packing space when expanded, bringing the capacity up from just under 40L to 46.7L. Used by US Traveler journalist Lara Kramer for trips including a one-week trip to London, it earned points for rolling smoothly across almost any surface, thanks to its 360° spinner wheels.

Pros: Lightweight, durable, and easy to move around and lift

Cons: Only available in a few standard colours and there really isn’t anything that stands out about it to help you know it’s yours.

Weight: 2.9kg

Dimensions: 54 x 38 x 23cm

On the other end of the price spectrum, there is this hard side carry-on from Amazon. Thanks to its affordable price, roomy size, spinner wheels, and built-in TSA lock, it has racked up tons of positive reviews on Amazon. Our US associate commerce editor Meaghan Kenny agrees with those reviews, calling it “an overpacker's dream suitcase.”

Pros: Compression straps and pad, easy to close, really good-looking

Cons: Not quite capacious enough

Weight: 3.9kg

Dimensions: 56 x 35 x 23cm

This particular designer carry-on may ring a bell for Succession fans – Carl Friedrik pieces were featured more than once during the show's run. It's also US editorial assistant Charlie Hobbs' go-to, who has brought it to Mérida in the Yucatan, his parents’ house in Connecticut for Christmas and Easter, to the North Fork of Long Island, and to Chicago. Outside, “This case is gorgeous – beautiful contrasts between the grey of the polycarbonate shell and the delicious slivers of warm leather.” Inside, he says, “There are two very useful sets of compression straps and one (removable, also useful) compression pad which one might as I did mistake for a laptop case at first glance.” And perhaps the highest praise: “After nearly a year of use, it still looks brand new.”

Pros: Stylish, removable hanging wash bag, luggage tag and jewellery pouch included, vibrant patterned inner

Cons: Only two wheels, relatively small

Size: 47 x 32 x 18cm

Weight: 3.5kg

With their vintage effect, striking leather straps and shiny gold locks, Steamline cases are head-turners. You'll certainly stand out among the boring black cabin bag cohort in the airport – and there are plenty of matching pieces to complete your set. This little carry-on case is lightweight and spacious enough to pack for two nights comfortably, with lots of little pockets to keep your jewellery and travel-sized toiletries easily in hand. We also appreciated the hanging washbag, which was a nice touch and one not seen in many cabin cases on this list. This suitcase handles fine with two wheels, but those used to a four-wheel spinner may balk a little to begin with at the lack of additional function.

The best carry-on luggage with external pockets

Pros: Multiple exterior pockets, made from fully recycled polyester

Cons: Relatively small

Size: 35 x 55 x 20cm

Weight: 1.9kg

Beloved British luggage brand Antler has given a selection of its best-loved luggage ranges a revamp recently, including its striped soft shell line. The new look is smart and compact, made from fully-recycled polyester with two outer pockets for your passport, boarding pass and in-flight essentials. This suitcase is small but zippy, clocking in as Antler’s lightest carry-on, and carrying a reasonable price tag of £170 – that's £50 cheaper than the brand's cabin-sized Clifton with Pocket. There are three classic colours – black, green and indigo –to choose from, plus two matching larger cases to complete your set.

Editor review: “This soft shell case is on the smaller side of the cabin bag allowance, making it a lightweight, compact option for weekends away, but perhaps not suitable for hardcore carry-on travellers looking to squeeze in a weeks’ worth of gear. While I’m generally team hard shell, Antler’s newest soft side offering feels more robust than others I’ve tried, which I appreciate when I need to pack any delicate or valuable items. The soft outer has another perk, as it helps me squeeze in more items than the same-sized rigid hardside would allow, something especially appreciated given it’s a smaller piece of luggage. I appreciate that it’s made from recycled materials, as well.” Lucy Bruton, social media manager

Pros: Four colour options, multiple internal pockets, outer pocket expands, great value price, one of the best lightweight suitcases we’ve tried.

Cons: 1cm over the height allowance of some airlines, including Ryanair.

Size: 56X35X23cm

Weight: 3.3kg

The zippy and lightweight Clifton cabin case is one of Antler's best sellers. The rolling polycarbonate suitcase has all that you could need for everyday travel – twist-grip handle, double lock, waterproof and mesh pockets inside – but what makes this stand out from other classic hard cases is the external pocket. The full zip pocket features multiple compartments as well as a padded slip pocket that can fit a tablet of 15.6-inch laptop, allowing easy-to-reach storage for all of your on-the-go items.

Pros: Won’t scuff or scratch, external zip-up pocket with padded laptop sleeve, internal compression pad, smart colour options.

Cons: Minimal internal pockets and zip-up compartments; can be difficult to align the closure and clasp it shut when the case is full.

Size: 55X38X25cm

Weight : 4.3kg

For a case that looks and feels like it means business, Carl Friedrik has you covered. Their carry-on case is all slick and shiny, from the studs lining the opening to the tan Italian leather handles and detailing. The snap-shut locks make this hard shell case stand out from the rest. Instead of fiddly zips, the case is secured with a unique aluminium lock frame – for extra security, you can use the combination lock feature. There is a zip on the external pocket, allowing for easy access and storage of your laptop and documents in the padded sleeve and additional compartments.

Editor review: “My favourite feature is the hard shell outer-casing which contains a convenient and safe pocket for a laptop. The lockable feature means all of your belongings are super safe. The only downside is that if you fill this case to the brim you'll struggle to shut it without fabric getting caught in the clasp,” Sophie Knight , visuals editor.

Pros: Lockable external zip-up pocket with multiple compartments, expandable zip system, compression. straps, large wheels, USB port charger.

Cons: No compression pad, prone to fingerprint marks, slightly cumbersome to reach the hidden USB port, power bank not included.

Size: 55X40X20cm

Makers of the Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox, have applied the same Swiss precision and innovative design to their luggage range. Their expandable global carry-on is one of their best sellers. It is full of secret compartments and features, from the lockable external pocket with four separate storage compartments to the USB port hidden behind a compartment that folds out to reveal a tiny ballpoint pen, luggage ID tag, and SIM card pin. While some cases sacrifice less main compartment room for the external pocket, this makes up for it with the expandable zip system, offering 20% additional space. Even though the weight is on par with the other cases on the list, this feels like a heavy-duty case thanks to the larger wheels, making it a suitable solution for navigating bumpy cobblestone streets.

Pros: Range of colours and finishes, zip-up mesh screens on both sides.

Cons: No compression pad, outer pocket does not expand.

Weight: 3.4kg

Engineered in Germany, Horizn Studios specialises in luggage with a lifetime warranty, made from all-vegan materials, and sent to you using neutral shipping. There's a lot to choose from – their Circle One range is made from a plant-based hard shell – but in terms of quality, price and function, our pick is the M5 cabin bag, a partly recycled hardshell case with a front laptop pocket, recycled polyester lining and enough space to last a five-day trip. The cabin bag comes with a luggage tag, and dust protector as standard, with the option to personalise the case or even upgrade to the smart version that comes with a removable charger and compression pad

Pros: External pockets, lightweight, great value price tag, next-day delivery with Prime.

Cons: Basic design, not the most durable suitcase on our list.

Size: 50x40x20cm

Weight: 2.1kg

When it comes to size, weight, price, design and quick delivery, Aerolite's cabin suitcase (available on  Amazon ) ticks all the boxes. The dimensions of the case fit within most airline allowances including British Airways and easyJet, while the weight of the case comes in at a very light 2.3kg. Of all the features, it's the two outer pockets that make this one a winner, plus it has a great value price.

Editor review: “I've travelled with this case a couple of times on short city breaks. For the price, it does a good job, and the external pockets are handy for easy access. If you load up the case too much, especially the top, when it's standing upright, the case can often topple over. But otherwise, it's a great budget option,” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor.

Pros:  External zip-up pocket, removable compression pad, laundry and shoe bags.

Cons: Scuffs but comes with a sponge for rectifying, front pocket zipper can be difficult to manage.

Size: 55x35x22cm

Weight : 3.5kg

Born out of Vancouver, Monos approached luggage with a less is more design philosophy, as seen in their sleek carry-on pro case. The hardshell style has three interior pockets and three zippered pouches, all accessed from the front pocket, making it incredibly easy to travel with your laptop and providing a safe place for documents, passports and chargers. I greatly appreciated this feature as it saved me the embarrassment of rummaging through my suitcase on the airport floor. The interior of the carry-on has a removable compression pad and a zippered pocket for flat items. My favourite features were the silver ion-coated laundry bag and the two shoe bags. I recently took the case on a weekend break and loved how the compartments let me separate my different clothing items and create an easy-to-manage laundry bag once I arrived home. Amber Port

Editor review: “I've taken this chic yet practical hardside suitcase with me to Crete, Paris and Chichester (we love a staycation!), and my favourite part has to be the front pocket. It gives me easy access to essential items like my passport, wallet and chargers while keeping them organised and, most importantly, safe,” Amber Port , Audience Growth Manager.

Pros: Lightweight, adjustable external straps, zip-up dividers, range of colours.

Cons: None that we can see.

Size: 51x32.5x23cm

Weight: 2.42kg

If you're just needing a suitcase to take on weekend breaks, look for durable and roomy styles with trolley wheels that can handle pesky cobblestone streets. This Eastpak cabin case has clever adjustable straps on the outside so you can ensure your luggage will fit within the allocated size allowance.

Pros: Front pocket, a rarity for hard-shell bags, plus more internal compartments; comes with a removable charger

Cons: Not expandable, so less forgiving for overpackers

Dimensions: 58 x 38 x 25cm

Arlo Skye isn’t an especially well-known suitcase brand in the UK, but it’s a favourite of some of our US team – especially senior editor Megan Spurrell, who has taken it on both weekend trips and week-long adventures. “This bag has never let me down,” she says, crediting its surprisingly roomy inner and sturdy shell: “This suitcase looks sleek, but is totally durable. I’ve checked it on a few occasions, and it always survives being chucked onto the baggage carousel with little to no evidence of the journey.”

Pros: Lightweight, range of colours, front pocket, handles smoothly

Cons: Expensive, handle takes up quite a bit of internal space

Size: 55 x 39.5 x 23cm

This cabin case has been carefully designed to make light work of whizzing through security. The front pocket opens out completely flat, and three internal pockets are within for your liquids, passport, electricals and a 16” laptop sleeve. As befitting a brand focusing on outdoor pursuits, this is a tough case built to withstand bumps and knocks. A custom-built telescopic handle and ultra-quiet Japanese Hinomoto wheels add to the luxe factor – it’s a very quiet suitcase on the move, and we like the unusual green tone that makes it easy to spot on the carousel.

Editor review: “While The Ramverk Carry-on isn’t the most lightweight carry-on case I’ve travelled with, the consequential sturdiness quashes any hesitance – should it need to go in the hold, it would certainly put up a fight against rougher bag handlers. The telescopic trolley handle comes up to a perfect height, the 16-inch laptop pocket makes it ideal for business travel, and four wheels allow me to keep it alongside me the entire time. My favourite feature is the ability to open the compartment at the front without having both sides open on the floor.” Connor Sturges, digital assistant

The best underseat cabin bag

Pros: Custom sizes to suit specific airline allowances, laptop sleeve, bottle pouch, multiple colour options.

Cons: Colour options are only in regards to details, suede details aren't ideal for wet weather.

Sizes: Ryanair Size: 40x20 x25cm, Wizz Air Size: 40x 30x20cm, easyJet Size: 40x36x20cm

Weight: under 0.8kg

Cabin Max truly understands the plight of bargain-hunting travellers, having created a line where each backpack meets the exact maximum carry-on size measurements for the specific airline that you’re flying. In addition, their bags feature multiple pockets (including one for a laptop and bottle), adjustable ‘packaway’ straps and air mesh padding. There’s a 3-year warranty too.

The only downside is that if you opt for a larger bag – say the easyJet size – it probably won’t fit in the baggage sizer for either Ryanair or Wizz Air. However, you could always opt for a Ryanair-sized bag to make sure you’re sorted for all options in the future. Chelsea Dickenson , founder of Cheap Holiday Expert

The best carry-on backpack

Pros: Comfortable, multiple storage pockets, laptop sleeve, great as carry on luggage or a day bag, water-resistant fabric.

Size: 53x36x19cm

Weight: 1.1kg

Australian brand Bellroy is a favourite for organised travellers – once you try their popular tech kit you’ll never want to travel without it. Their transit backpack offers up the same clever organisation tricks – compression straps to keep items in place, an external pocket that can hold a water bottle and even a lined pocket to safely store sunglasses. Many of the features are well suited to business travellers, from the laptop sleeve to the thin top compartment ideal for storing a business shirt that’s folded flat.

Editor review: “I recently travelled with Bellroy’s 28L Transit Backpack for a four-day-stay in Venice. By using the roll method I was able to fit two pairs of trousers (including jeans), a pair of slip-on shoes, two tops, a shirt, a dress, and pyjamas in the main compartment, and then my delicates in the zip-up pouch. For easy access, I popped my carry-on washbag in the external pocket. Overall, it was really easy to pack everything I needed while still feeling streamlined and comfortable to carry,” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor.

Stubble & Co's clever bag that allows you to ditch your suitcase entirely – it's sized perfectly to fit in the airline overhead locker while maximising on internal space. A clamshell pocket makes packing and unpacking faff-free, with no need to dig about at the bottom of the bag. There are plenty of pockets for tech and essentials, and a 16” laptop compartment for those travelling on business. You can also read our full review of this bag.

Editor review: “The Adventure Bag from British B Corp-certified bag specialists Stubble & Co has none of the drawbacks of previous bags I’ve used. It’s big enough for a long weekend, but not too big for daily use, and packed with features: the secret pocket, the padded laptop compartment, the clamshell design, and a special pocket for my frequently dirty trainers (big tick). Using it on a recent trip to Comporta, as well as on my regular overnighters in London, it never felt over-engineered or fussy, and I loved the top compartments for books and gadgets,” Toby Skinner, features director.

Pros: Separate waterproof shoe pocket, trolley sleeve, rain cover for use during wet weather hikes

Cons: A little heavier than average

Size: 55x38x24 cm

Weight: 1.7kg

This bag looks and feels like it means business. With a 45L capacity, it’s one of the largest travel backpacks we’ve tried, while still fitting within airline carry-on bag requirements. It can be worn as a backpack or a duffle thanks to the removable strap. There’s also a trolley sleeve for times it’s accompanying you and an additional suitcase. We’ve found that you can happily fit a week’s worth of clothes in this bag, and there are compression straps that help keep everything in place. The brand also has some matching packing cubes, sized specifically for this bag, that makes it easier to keep things tidy inside. Finally, a chest strap helps support you if you’re taking this bag on a hike.

Editor review: “I took this bag for a weekend away recently and was impressed by how much I could fit inside – it was considerably more than I could squeeze into my regular suitcase carry-on. For one-bag travel, it’s a really good bet – it’s going to be my new go-to for festival season and on long weekends away, where I need to account for multiple outfit changes in a day. One caveat: I did get caught in some heavy rain at one point and sadly the water seeped inside the bag. It makes me hesitant to pack it during winter travel – keep it for your summer holidays or invest in a waterproof rain cover, just in case,” Charley Ward, commerce writer.

Pros: Very large while still within most carrier’s carry-on size limits

Cons: Not completely watertight in heavy downpours after a certain period of time

Size: 28x18x43cm

Weight: 1kg

The best carry on tote bag

Pros: Two handle options, multiple organisational pockets, detachable drink bottle holder, laptop sleeve, luggage handle sleeve.

Cons: Main compartment has no zip.

Size: 41X30X16.5cm

It’s easy to see why this travel tote bag is a best seller and often sold out. Firstly the size – the large tote has room for 22 litres, plenty of space for packing a whole weekend’s worth of items. When testing it, I managed to comfortably fit four different packing cubes of clothes inside, as well as a wash bag. Then there’s the organisation options – a dedicated laptop sleeve, a drink bottle holder, a pocket for a phone and wallet, as well as a zip-up pocket ideal for storing a passport. There are two external pockets, one that’s hidden and secured with a magnet, as well as a sleeve to slip over a luggage handle, so it can easily sit safely on top of a suitcase. The bag is made from a light machine-washable cotton canvas and comes in natural, navy and black, as well as a small size option.

Editor's review: “I've travelled with this tote a couple of times, using it as my under-seat bag on easyJet flights. As a mum of a two-year-old it's perfect for storing all of the things you need easy access to – there's plenty of room and dedicated pockets for toys, snacks, a tablet, a water bottle. It's also large enough that it can fit a travel potty. When I'm travelling by myself, I can fit multiple outfits and a pair of shoes in very easily by using packing cubes. I have the natural colour and really love how stylish it looks too,” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor.

There are several Beis totes we love in its roster – the Large Work Tote is another great carry-on option – but its East To West bag is our top pick. It’s made from recycled plastic, has a removable cross-body strap, and is one of the brand’s larger offerings. The top zips up so nothing will spill out, which is handy regardless of whether you’re stowing it under your seat or in the overhead compartment. It comes in four colours to match your Beis suitcase, and a trolley sleeve to attach it to your case in the airport.

Pros: Laptop sleeve, mobile phone pocket, key leash, water bottle holder

Cons: Doesn’t come in as many colours as some of the other Beis totes

The best carry-on luggage for kids

Pros:  Range of designs, doubles as a ride, easy to clean.

Cons:  Slightly awkward to carry or pull when in a rush.

Size:  46X20X31cm

For tiny flyers, Trunki’s ride-on-luggage is one of the most popular children’s suitcases on the market. Lightweight yet built to last, the case has a storage capacity of 18 litres, allowing plenty of space for toys and books. The real highlight is the saddle design, along with horn grips for stability and a tow strap, so children can ride the case and be pulled along – a great way to kill time in the airport.

Editor's review: “We travelled with this suitcase as my two-year-old son's carry-on bag when we flew to the Maldives . He absolutely loved being pulled around the airport while riding it, which helped speed up the journey from check-in to the gate. The shape of the bag means it won't fit all large hard cover books, so stick to small or soft cover books, and I recommend storing any toys in packing cubes inside, otherwise they can fall out everywhere when the case is opened,” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor.

What size should my carry-on suitcase be?

Tediously, every airline has different size restrictions for carry-on luggage. The good news is that they’re all similar, so unless you have an especially large carry-on, your suitcase should fit in the majority of airlines’ overhead lockers. On average, look for a cabin case around 55 x 35 x 25 cm for maximum peace of mind. We’ve outlined the size restrictions for key British airlines below.

Every airline also allows passengers to bring a smaller underseat bag . These are great for keeping documents to hand, along with your water bottle and any entertainment you want to use in-flight. Utilising this bag properly can also help to keep the weight down in your carry-on, helping you avoid any additional airport fees.

With really clever packing, this underseat bag can even replace your carry-on case on shorter trips. Our commerce editor Lauren Burvill can attest to using just Antler’s Chelsea holdall on weekends away. You can also see our full guide to the best underseat flight bags .

Airline economy cabin luggage allowances

• Air France: 1 small bag, 40X30X15cm, and 1 large bag 55X35X25 cm, 12 kg.
• British Airways: 1 small bag, 40X30X15cm, 23kg, 1 large bag 56X45X25cm, 23kg.
• Easyjet: 1 small bag, 45X36x20cm, 15kg and for an extra fee 1 large bag 56X45x25cm.
• Emirates: 1 small bag and 1 large bag 55X38X20cm, 7kg.
• Etihad: 1 small bag and 1 large bag 56X36cmX23cm, 7kg.
• RyanAir: 1 small bag, 40X20X25cm and for an extra fee 1 large bag 55X40X20cm, 10kg.
• Singapore Airlines: 1 small bag and 1 large bag where the sum of dimensions do not exceed 115cm, 7kg.
• Virgin Atlantic: 1 small bag and 1 large bag 56X36X23cm, 10kg.

What is the weight limit for carry-on luggage?

Again, it varies between airlines, but most carry-on weight limits are within seven to 15kg, with the majority sitting around 8kg. EasyJet has the heaviest carry-on luggage limit, at a hefty 15kg. If you tend to overpack, investing in a luggage scale can help you avoid any excess fees at check-in. Skyscanner has put together a useful matrix of weight limits for each airline here but, if you’re unsure, it’s best to check the airline’s website directly before flying.

How much should I spend on carry-on luggage?

Ultimately, this is going to come down to your own personal budget and tastes. But the majority of our best carry-on suitcases tend to sit around the £200 to £250 mark. Designer luggage, such as from the likes of Rimowa and Louis Vuitton, will cost much more. But while you can find cheaper suitcases on Amazon , our best luggage picks boast extras such as lifetime guarantees, long warranties and free repairs – as well as superior build quality and good looks. It means spending a little more at the outset is often worth it in the long run, especially for regular travellers.

Best Suitcases to Buy in UK 2024

I checked current suitcase bestsellers in different categories. Here I present the results of the 10 best suitcases with all advantages and disadvantages.

• Test result

Purchase advice

Ranking: the top 10 best suitcases.

Author: Sebastian | Last updated: 08/05/2024

Best in Test: Samsonite Neopulse

Runner-Up: Samsonite Lite Shock

3rd Best : Samsonite Spark SNG

4th Best: American Tourister Soundbox

5th Best: Samsonite Base Boost

6th Best: Samsonite S’Cure Spinner

7th Best: Hauptstadtkoffer Mitte

8th Best: American Tourister Bon Air

9th Best: Suitline Suitcase

10th Best: Hauptstadtkoffer Alex

The best suitcases in comparison.

Roll with the best: Find your perfect suitcase!

Last update on 2024-05-20 at 01:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Partnernet

How to find the best suitcase

Which Suitcase Size?

Size S is ideal for short trips with hand luggage . It is usually suitable for a maximum of 3-5 days. For carry-on luggage, the permitted dimensions vary depending on the airline and are around 55x40x20 cm.

Size M and L are check-in baggage . For most airlines, the maximum size is 158 cm or 62 inches (the sum of width X + height Y + depth Z). Size M is intended for a week’s trip and size L for 2 weeks. The choice also depends on whether you want to take a lot of luggage with you or travel in a more minimalist way.

Size XL is intended for longer journeys of more than 2 weeks or for families with a lot of luggage . When traveling by air, it should be noted that many suitcases of this size exceed the 158cm rule and therefore cannot be checked in, or additional fees for excess baggage are incurred. It is therefore essential to find out about the maximum permitted size before the flight.

Which Suitcase is better: Hard or Soft?

The decision between hard-sided and soft-sided luggage is not easy and often depends on personal preferences. Both types of cases have advantages and disadvantages :

Hard-sided suitcases are considered very robust and they protect the luggage better. This is particularly useful for checked baggage. In addition, most models are waterproof and easy to clean. The best results in my suitcase test were achieved by models with a hard shell.

Soft-sided suitcases are very flexible and stretchable. This is practical if a little more luggage has to fit in the suitcase. Another advantage are the additional outer pockets that many models have.

You can read my very personal opinion in the article: Which Suitcase is better: Hard or Soft?

Benefits of hard-sided cases

• Very sturdy
• Content is protected

Benefits of soft-sided cases

• Flexible & stretchy
• Often with a front pocket
• Usually a bit lighter

Which Suitcase Material is the Best?

Curv material is extremely shatterproof and exceptionally light. Thin polypropylene threads are combined into a fabric and then pressed into layers under heat and pressure. The material is considered almost indestructible. Even after extreme force has been applied, the suitcase can be easily pressed back into its original shape. However, the material is relatively expensive due to the complex manufacturing process.

The lightest suitcase in the test consists of CURV: Samsonite Lite Shock

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is also a relatively expensive plastic that is also used for the production of CDs and DVDs, for example. It is extremely impact-resistant and is characterized by high rigidity, even at very low or high temperatures. Polycarbonate suitcases are very light and the shell is flexible. As a result, shocks are well cushioned, which makes the shell very break-proof.

The Samsonite Neopulse is my favorite polycarbonate case.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is the second most important plastic in terms of usage. It has a very low density and is the lightest of all plastics. At the same time it is very hard and rigid. Suitcases made of this material are light and can absorb shocks well due to the thin shell. The disadvantage of polypropylene is that its breaking strength decreases at temperatures below freezing. Due to the low density of the material, the surface is more prone to scratches.

The American Tourister Soundbox  is the best suitcase in the my test made from polypropylene.

ABS Plastic

ABS is a very strong plastic, which is also used, for example, to make Lego bricks. Although the material is relatively shatter-proof, it is not as flexible as the plastics mentioned above. This has the disadvantage that shocks cannot be absorbed as well and the shell can break more quickly in comparison. In addition, the weight of ABS cases is slightly higher. The advantage of the high material strength is the fact that scratches do not appear on the shell so quickly. Depending on the price, there are very large differences in quality with this material.

The Hauptstadtkoffer Alex , for example, is made of high-quality ABS plastic.

Aluminum suitcases are extremely stable. This makes these cases very durable. The biggest disadvantage of aluminum cases is the comparatively high weight. The price is also higher than most other suitcase materials.

Polyester & Nylon

These two materials are the first choice when manufacturing soft shell suitcases. Both are made of fully synthetic fibers that are characterized by their lightness, stability and tear resistance. Polyester and nylon are highly elastic, waterproof and dirt-repellent. Polyester is slightly more water-repellent and keeps colors longer.

The best soft-shell suitcase in my test is made of polyester: Samsonite Spark SNG

2-Wheel or 4-Wheel Suitcase? Which is Better?

Both types of suitcases have advantages and disadvantages . The decisive factor is how you want to use the case and what you value more:

In suitcases with 2 wheels , the casters are usually larger and more stable. They are easier to move on rough terrain. In addition, they can be parked better and do not roll away.

Suitcases with 4 wheels , on the other hand, are much more manoeuvrable. They don’t need to be tipped and the casters rotate 360 degrees. This is particularly useful in narrow aisles and in crowds.

However, most models are only available in hand luggage size S with 2 wheels. Larger suitcases are simply too heavy and cannot be moved easily when tilted.

You can read my personal opinion in the article: 2 or 4 Wheels?

Advantages of 2 Wheels

• larger and therefore more robust
• roll better on rough roads
• does not roll away when parked

Advantages of 4 Wheels

• very manoeuvrable – 360 degrees rotatable
• does not have to be tilted
• advantageous in narrow aisles

I am happy to answer all your questions about the best suitcases

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• 1. Samsonite Neopulse
• 2. Samsonite Lite Shock
• 3. Samsonite Spark SNG
• 4. American Tourister Soundbox
• 5. Samsonite Base Boost
• 6. Samsonite S’Cure
• 7. Hauptstadtkoffer Mitte
• 8. American Tourister Bon Air
• 9. Suitline Suitcase
• 10. Hauptstadtkoffer Alex
• Best Suitcase Sets
• Best Lightweight Suitcases
• Hand Luggage Restrictions
• Hand Luggage Size
• Liquids in Hand Luggage
• Suitcase Sizes
• Which Suitcase Material?
• Which Suitcase: Hard or Soft?
• 2-Wheel or 4-Wheel Suitcase?
• British Airways Baggage
• easyJet Hand Luggage
• Emirates Hand Luggage
• Jet2 Baggage
• KLM Baggage
• Lufthansa Hand Luggage
• Ryanair Hand Luggage
• TUI Hand Luggage
• Virgin Atlantic Baggage
• Vueling Hand Luggage
• Wizz Air Baggage

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The best suitcases to buy in 2024, for all budgets and luggage needs

An ultimate guide to the best suitcases to buy for every trip, from brands including Antler, Away, Samsonite, Rimowa and more

Whether you're going on a weekend trip from London or planning to hit Europe's beaches in a few months, you'll want to know the best suitcases for 2024. Whatever your budget or luggage needs, we've got you covered with our ultimate guide featuring the travel bags to buy now, from large luggage options to practical carry-on bags.

We've selected the very best suitcases for every traveller, from something large to take on ski, family or shopping trips, to the top lightweight design for packing more into your luggage. With the right travel backpack for women and the perfect suitcase, you'll have the luggage you need to breeze through the airport.

Best lightweight suitcase

Horizn studio h7 air check-in luggage (88l).

Best carry-on suitcase

Away the carry-on.

Best-selling Amazon suitcase

Kono hand luggage.

Best four-wheel suitcase

Horizn studios h6 check-in luggage (61l).

Best suitcase to spot on the baggage carousel

Antler icon stripe large in moorland pink.

Best suitcases for families

July classic family set.

Best suitcase for adventures

Osprey rolling transporter 120 unisex duffel bag.

Best vintage-style suitcase

Rock vintage spinner luggage.

Best suitcase set

Antler clifton set.

Best hard shell suitcase

Rimowa original check-in l.

Choosing the right suitcase for your holiday can save you a whole lot of time and hassle when packing, travelling to the airport and unpacking in your destination. From lightweight suitcases to luggage sets , there's a whole host of options when it comes to investing in the best luggage.

Cabin bags, lightweight suitcases, extra-large cases and even the best option for travellers who have 23kg of weight allowance from their airline are part of our pick of the best suitcases to buy in 2024. Whether you're wondering which luggage brand is best in 2024 or which luggage option you need for a particular trip, we've got you covered, but first some background to help you choose...

Suitcases have come a long way since they first entered the market in the 19th century when mass tourism took off and holidays were no longer just for privileged travellers, whose porters would carry heavy trunks made from wood, leather and iron. It was during this time when Louis Vuitton's iconic trunks were created.

By the 20th century, luggage became lighter and more compact, with suitcase brands like Samsonite launching in 1910 and Rimowa , which had been around since 1898, redesigning its classic wood design to introduce the company's first ever aluminium case in 1937. It wasn't until 1970 that Bernard Sadow invented the rolling suitcase, revolutionising the way we travel today.

What are the best suitcases to buy in 2024?

Red has done the research to bring you the best suitcases to buy in 2024. Browse our pick of the best lightweight, large, hand luggage, four-wheel, hard shell, soft suitcases and more for your next trip.

If you haven’t quite mastered the art of a holiday capsule wardrobe, the last thing you need is to add a heavyweight suitcase into the mix. Heaving a huge case through the airport and lugging it to the check-in desk is never chic, after all. Luckily, Horizn Studio’s new Air range is ultra-lightweight while still being just as durable and water-repellent.

Thanks to clever premium German polycarbonate, the beloved Berlin-based luggage brand has managed to reduce the weight of this classic hardshell design. Plus, thanks to help of the four 360° Japanese spinner wheels, you can simply roll this suitcase with ease wherever you go. Worried about scuff marks? The sleek all black or blue options might be a safer bet. And be sure to check out the cute cabin size while you’re at it, too.

Weight: 3.8 kg

S ize: 51cm x 77cm x 27cm

A carry-on suitcase loved by A-listers including Jessica Alba and Prince Harry, Away's Carry-On is the sleekest and chicest hand luggage to grab for city breaks, staycations and even longer escapes. The lightweight suitcase is designed to last and has a durable polycarbonate hard shell you can rely on for any type of holiday.

It easily fits in the overhead locker and nicely in boot of a car or on the train, too. The 360-degree wheels ensure you can transport the case easily and inside, you'll find a compression system to help you pack in more. A water-resistant laundry bag is included as a thoughtful touch, but one of our favourite features of this smart luggage has to be the built-in battery for you to charge your phone on the go.

Weight: 3.4 kg

Size: 55.1 cm x 34.8 cm x 22.9 cm

The Kono Hand Luggage Case is a favourite amongst Amazon shoppers, and it's not hard to see why. The lightweight, hard shell case is scratch-proof, pressure-resistant and waterproof. It's fully line inside with a variety of internal pockets and compression straps to keep your items safe on the road.

Four, multi-directional wheels and a push button handle make it a dream to use. Plus, it comes with a three digit combination lock for peace of mind.

Available in a range of colours (although we're big fans of the chic white shade), it's the perfect companion for a European city break and will tackle the cobblestoned streets with ease. Just make sure to check the hand luggage restrictions of your airline.

Weight: 40cm x 22cm x 55 cm

Size: 2.5kg

Made in Germany for high-quality hard shell luggage that goes in the hold, Horizn 's mid-sized suitcase is a slick style for the coolest of jet-setters. A sustainable option, it's made form recycled and vegan materials, with eco-friendly shipping and packaging, too.

The resilient four-wheel suitcase has four 360-degree Japanese spinner wheels which were designed to be shock-resistant and get you from A to B with ease. The wheels are made from unique PU rubber and are self-lubricating so the luggage glides smoothly and is free of squeaks.

Horizn's H6 also has a telescopic handle that extends to four stages, a water-resistant lining for protection from spills and the option to add an integrated, removable power bank so you can charge your devices while on the move.

Weight: 3.9 kg

Size: 64 cm x 46 cm x 24 cm

Let's face it: waiting at the baggage carousel for your luggage to arrive can be an anxiety-inducing experience, especially when there's a sea of black cases. Antler's popular Clifton case in the new Moorland pink shade is bright and noticeable, helping you easily spot it as it moves along the belt. It's recognisable hue isn't the only excellent feature though.

The Large suitcase is great for taking on long trips, or if you're travelling as a couple and prefer to pack one case between you. Built to last, the Clifton is strong and lightweight (just how we like our suitcases). There's an expander zip for you to pack more when you need to, as well as double spinner wheels for superior mobility.

One of our favourite things about the Clifton range is the signature twist-grip rubber handle for extra-comfort - something you'll really appreciate when pulling the case for long periods or over uneven ground. The interior mesh and transparent pockets are handy for popping in small items that you want quick and easy access to, such as cables and adaptors.

Weight: 5 kg

Size: 80 cm x 52 cm x 35 cm

With a small carry on case, plus medium and large checked baggage, July's three-piece suitcase set has all you need for a family trip. Made from 100% aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, you can rest assured these bags can take the lumps and bumps that come with travel. They also features soft-to-touch rubber grip handles and silent spinner wheels that can tackle even the most wobbly of cobblestone streets.

Inside each case there's a laundry bag and compression strap to keep your essentials neat. What's more, the cases easily fit into one another for simple storage at home.

Weight: 3.4 kg (cabin), 3.8 kg (medium), 4.8 kg (large) Size: 55 cm x 438 cm x 22 cm (cabin), 66 cm x 47.5 cm 28.5 cm (medium), 77 cm x 50.5 cm x 31 cm (large)

Whether you're going trekking in Morocco or camping in Arizona, an adventure suitcase will get your belongings from A to B on the biggest trips, as you carry the heaviest gear and while exploring the most exotic locations. Its huge 120-litre capacity and unisex design means you can put everything in one case if you're travelling as a couple (there's a 90-litre case available , too).

It's highly durable and water-resistant, taking anything you throw at it. The oversized wheels mean you hardly notice rolling over uneven surfaces, there are overlapping rain flaps combined with water-resistance to keep everything dry and the multiple handles help you to easily lift and manoeuvre the luggage.

The adventure-proof suitcase has a lightweight aluminium frame with an extendable handle. We love that it's made from recycled materials while offering a high-performance water-resistant coating.

Weight: 3.69 kg

Size: 97 cm x 57 cm x 38 cm

Loved for its retro design, this travel solution offers the style of a vintage suitcase with the practicality of modern luggage. There are eight wheels, to start with, and a telescopic push-button handle to pull the case with ease.

The suitcase comes with a 15-year guarantee and corner guards to protect it from bumps and scratches. Inside, you'll find a mesh pocket and straps to keep your clothing in place.

Weight: 3.2 kg

Size: 54 cm x 35 cm x 22.5 cm

Looking for a matching luggage set? The Clifton trio from Antler covers all your travel needs with its cabin, medium and large suitcases all with cushioned grip handles, whisper quiet wheels and TSA-approved combination locks.

The British and Japanese construction provides a strong yet lightweight set of suitcases you can use them for any trip.

Inside each case is a divider and compression straps to keep your clothes neat and organised. If you're travelling for longer, the medium and large cases can be expanded, giving you 5cm of space. We love that suitcases fit inside each other so you can invest in a set without taking up too much storage space.

Weight: 2.8 kg (cabin), 3.9 kg (medium), 5 kg (large)

Size: 20 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (cabin), 29 cm x 45 cm 67 cm (medium), 34 cm x 51 cm x 80 cm (large)

The easily recognised Original Check-In suitcase from Rimowa is a hard shell suitcase like no other. Featuring a main body crafted by durable aluminium and the brand's signature grooves, this is a piece of luggage built to last – in fact, the brand sells its suitcases with at least five years' warranty and an aftercare option for hammering out any dents or repair cracks.

Silver is the iconic colour to go for and is also the durable option in the event of scratches. The luxury suitcase comes with two TSA-approved locks for safety, a telescopic handle and four wheels for easy manoeuvring.

It's not just the exterior that you'll find appealing as the interior contains dividers that help you organise and compress your clothing. The exceptionally strong and surprisingly lightweight suitcase made in Germany offers stylish travellers the ultimate in style and innovation, with enough space for 10 days of travel.

Weight: 6.2 kg

Size: 79 cm x 51 cm x 27 cm

Trunki Children’s Ride-On Suitcase

Part luggage, part fun, little ones will love packing their in-flight and holiday essentials into Trunki's adorable suitcase. The best suitcase for kids, it allows them to sit and ride on the case to ensure they don't get tired legs and you make it to your gate in a breeze.

The Trunki comes in various designs, from a bee to tiger print, and a multi-functional strap for parents to tow along tots or where the case on your shoulder when it's time to dash.

Its thoughtful features include rubber to protect little hands, a comfy saddle, horn grips for them to steer their ride and a secure catch that's easy for kids to open while the lock stops them from opening the case in transit.

Weight: 1.7 kg

Size: 46 cm x 20.5 cm x 31 cm

Eastpak Tranverz L Black

One of our favourite suitcases of all time, Eastpak's Tranverz L has been our trusty companion throughout many adventures, whether in Europe or Asia. As well as being an affordable suitcase for long-haul travel, it's incredibly tough – we've wheeled ours down stairs and over cobbles without a problem.

It features two back wheels and a telescopic handle for navigating various terrains. There are two zipped compartments to fill and interior elastic straps to keep everything in place. We love the straps that you'll find on the sides and top of the case, which makes lifting and manoeuvring the case a simple task.

The durable material is one of the best features, as well as the exterior belt straps that you can clip in place and use to compress the contents. If you're looking for something that doesn't take up too much space when you're not using it, the Tranverz L also packs away flat when it's empty for easy storage.

Weight: 3.72 kg

Size: 79 cm x 40 cm x 33 cm

Bric's Large Life Soft-Case Trolley

For a premium suitcase that's timeless in style and elegance, look no further than Italian luggage brand Bric's and its soft-case Life design. It comes in a beautiful suede-effect material with genuine leather features, including the side handle and zip details.

There's a built-in combination lock and four double swivelling, wide wheels for easy gliding through the airport and stability over cobbles.

The interior of the case has two zipped compartments and a pocket for smaller items. We like the additional exterior pocket for keeping travel documents.

Weight: 6.99 kg

Size: 79 cm x 49 cm x 32 cm

American Tourister Soundbox Suitcase

From the makers of the world's first moulded suitcase comes American Tourister's Soundbox model, a large and expandable suitcase available in bright colours, so you can easily spot your luggage on the baggage carousel. The four-wheel suitcase is loved by travellers for its playful aesthetic, featuring a matte and shiny surface for a fun alternative to boring black luggage.

We like that it expands to give you more depth when you need it and offers a built-in lock so you don't have to add a padlock. The top and bottom compartments makes organisation your belongings a breeze and there are cross ribbons to keep everything in place.

Weight: 4.2 kg

Size: 77 cm x 51.5 cm x 29.5 cm

Samsonite C-Lite Spinner

With its double wheels, long telescopic handle and incredible weight at 3.1 kg for its extra-large hard shell size (81 cm), Samsonite's C-Lite Spinner is one of the best quality lightweight suitcases on the market. Ideal for anyone travelling for three weeks or more, this stylish luggage option comes in various colours and sizes (try the XXL 86cm case for something even larger).

It's made from sturdy Curv, a woven polypropylene material unique to Samsonite, and is perfect if you're looking for something that's both light and robust. The hard shell suitcase is eco-friendly too, with recycled materials making up the interior. Inside, there's a bottom compartment with luggage straps and a zipped top compartment, as well as a zipped pocket for storing your smaller essentials.

Weight: 3.1 kg

Size: 81 cm x 55 cm x 34 cm

Antler Brixham Medium

Travelling with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, or another airline that has a standard checked baggage allowance of 23kg? You'll want the best suitcase to help you carry just the right amount of weight. While 23kg might sound like a lot, trust us, it's an easy limit to reach when packing all the things you need for a slightly longer trip.

Antler's Brixham case in Medium is ideal for the 23kg allowance. It's super-light at 2.4 kg, so you can maximise your limit and hopefully carry a little less, so you can bring back souvenirs, too. The Medium size will also help you avoid overpacking as it comes in at 71cm in height (although, if you have bulky items, the 83 cm Large case might be worth considering and is also pretty light at 2.7kg).

The Brixham is the British brand's lightest suitcase and has a minimalist design, while offering visibility on the baggage belt thanks to the contrast piping on the black exterior. Inside, it's deep and spacious, with expanding capability giving you an extra 5cm of space when you need it. There is also thoughtful cushioned handles, internal zipped pockets and compression straps to keep things in place.

Weight: 2.4 kg

Size: 71 cm x 43.5 cm x 28 cm

Victorinox Spectra 3.0 Expandable Large Case

Makers of the legendary Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox's luggage is designed to impress, too. Last year, the Swiss company's Spectra 3.0 collection won a coveted Red Dot Award, one of the most prestigious design awards in the world. The judges said the suitcases offered a 'clever mix of sustainable materials, functional details and stylish design' and they weren't wrong.

Take the Expandable Large Case: it's made from a high-performance recycled polycarbonate by Sony, for a durable material that is sustainable and offers quality for a travel solution that lasts.

Weight: 6.8 kg

Size: 75 cm x 51 cm x 32 cm

Briggs & Riley Large Expandable Spinner

A smart and stylish entry in our best suitcases list, Briggs & Riley's Large Expandable Spinner offers more than your average soft shell case. Ideal for those who like to pack more than they need (or for the shopaholics among us), the large suitcase features a brilliant expanding interior that gives you an extra 2.5 inches of depth when needed.

There's a large top pocket for easy storage and access to small travel essentials, like your passport or phone, and a bigger front pocket that will fit larger belongings like shoes or your coat. Inside, there are mesh pockets for you to easily spot your items. We like the SmartLink strap that allows you to attach the Expandable Spinner to other luggage and easily transport the cases (ideal for those travelling as a family).

Weight: 5.2 kg

Size: 73.7cm x 50.8cm x 30.5 cm

Solgaard Check-In Closet

If packing is serious business for you, or you just like to stay organised during your travels, then you'll want to get your hands on a suitcase wardrobe from New York-based Solgaard. Its Check-In Closet features a built-in, removable shelving system for you to separate your belongings and simply remove from the shelves when you arrive at your hotel and hang it on the case's handle without the need to unpack.

There are five shelves in total, including a bottom one for your shoes. It's stylish, sleek and eco-friendly in design too. The Check-In Closet, which is ideal for longer trips or packing those extra items you don't need, is made from upcycled plastic bottles from the ocean, saving 229 bottles from our waters.

Its unbreakable hard shell is waterproof and scratch resistant, and the case opens easily with a quick pinch, while offering a built-in TSA lock. There are 360-degree spinning wheels, too.

Size: 69 cm x 39 cm x 35 cm

July Checked Trunk

Characterised by their cuboid, rugged style, trunks offer a particularly sturdy option for travellers, especially for extended periods. Described as 'luggage with a deep personality', this chic option from July is ideal for packing all your travel essentials and then some. The 80/20 spilt allows you to pack bulky items with ease - think coats, jumpers and boots - while the twin latches make it simple to open and close.

Wheels with SilentMove technology and a soft, multi-height handle make it a practical choice for lugging around. While the glazed shell offers a contemporary twist on the heritage style.

This is a great option for those who are headed abroad for an extended period of time and want to feel at home, with all their belongings in a trunk, no matter where they are in the world.

Weight: 6 kg

Size: 72 cm x 41.5 cm x 37 cm

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The Best Suitcases For Travelling In Style This Year

Is the Away as good as it looks? We have the lowdown.

From well-established brands such as Samsonite and Victorinox to chic relative newcomer Away, our expert has rigorously tested a range of market-leading luggage to find the best (and most stylish) suitcases – both big and small – to jet off with this summer.

You’ll find our expert’s full verdicts below, but at a glance, these are our favourite holiday companions:

Best Large Hard Suitcase

Horizn studios h7 check-in luggage (90l).

Best Cabin Bag

Antler clifton cabin.

Best Suitcase For Design Features

Away the large.

Best Large Soft Suitcase

The north face rolling thunder luggage 30".

Best expandable cabin bag

Away the carry-on flex.

Editor's Pick

Carl friedrik the check-in large.

Biggest Capacity Suitcase

Antler clifton large.

Best Smart Luggage

Horizn h5 smart cabin.

Biggest Capacity Soft Suitcase

Eastpak double tranverz large suitcase.

Best Lightweight Hard Suitcase

American tourister airconic spinner suitcase, what type of suitcase is best.

Both style and practicality are important when it comes to buying a suitcase; consider its look, but also check that it will hold everything you want to take on your trip. For maximum packing space, try an expandable design.

Weight is also important to consider – if it’s too heavy, it will use up precious weight allowance, and you’ll have to leave those just-in-case jumpers or must-have sliders at home.

While you may treat your luggage like the valuable cargo it is, the same can’t be guaranteed at the airport, so a durable design is key. The same is true of wheels; they need to be able to cross bumpy terrain with ease.

Most suitcases come with padlocks but look for those that are approved by the Transport Security Administration, especially if you’re flying to the US. TSA-approved padlocks have a universal master key that the TSA has a copy of, meaning they can search your belongings without damaging your suitcase.

Lastly, you’ll need to choose between a hard shell and soft shell design. Hard-sided cases tend to be made from polypropylene, polycarbonate, ABS plastic or aluminium, meaning they’re sturdy and your belongings should be well protected. Most are lightweight now, but they usually have fewer pockets than soft shells.

In contrast, soft-sided suitcases are often made with polyester, nylon or a mix of the two. They are more likely to be expandable and have both internal and external pockets for tidy packing. They tend to be less water-resistant, but most have a waterproof lining, meaning light rain is nothing to worry about. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference.

How We Test Suitcases

Our expert weighed each suitcase when empty before using it as you would in real life. They packed enough for a two-week holiday to assess its capacity and internal design.

Then, they took the full suitcase and judged how well it moved over a range of surfaces, from tarmac and concrete to carpet and cobbles. They tested the durability of its wheels, casing and corners by dropping it over 50 times. Lastly, they tested its water resistance by staging a downpour in the shower.

You'll find a couple of ELLE editor's favourites below, too.

Here’s the luggage we’ll be checking in this summer.

Acing our drop test, this is a sturdy case that we’d be happy to show off. Even its wheels were durable; they may make noise if you’re dragging them over Lisbon’s cobbled streets, but they moved smoothly across most surfaces. Its zips proved reliable, too; a little dampness seeped through, but our clothes stayed dry.

The premium design also has plenty of thoughtful details, including a water-resistant toiletries bag and a laundry bag. However full your case is, your luggage will also be secure thanks to adjustable straps that keep everything in place.

It even has an accompanying dust bag so you can store it safely and keep it looking pristine. And there’s a choice of nine chic colours — pale rose, glossy lemon and night blue are top of our wish lists.

Key Specifications

We love a co-ordinated set, and happily this Antler cabin bag is just as premium a buy as its larger counterpart reviewed below, making it ideal for longer breaks where just one case simply won’t do.

It moved smoothly, proved durable and had a waterproof shell – just watch the zip in heavy downpours, as it’s not waterproof. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, and you can choose from Antler’s array of timeless colours.

Thanks to Away's array of on-trend colourways, you can coordinate (or clash) your outfit with your luggage. It’s roomy inside and its attention to detail stands out; think pockets, a water-resistant laundry bag and a melamine sponge to keep its exterior in perfect condition. The leather identity tag is an elegant touch and the trolley handle feels pleasingly soft.

On test, the fiddly zips let some moisture in, but our belongings stayed dry. The wheels announce your arrival on cobbles and are sluggish on carpet, but they’re otherwise agile. Only their protective caps were damaged during our drop test, with no impact on performance, making this large suitcase a worthy investment. We’ll have ours in neon pink , please.

The North Face Rolling Thunder Luggage 30"

This case should keep adventure-seekers' belongings safe, whatever the holiday. The duffel design proved outstandingly sturdy in our durability tests, barely suffering a scratch. It's spacious inside, too, with a selection of compartments for organised packing, including one for shoes – always useful. Note the zips were a bit stiff and you’ll need to source your own padlock.

The handles were comfortable even when it was fully packed, and the two wheels moved well, but our tester had to muscle them round corners and they made a noise on cobbles. Its water-repellent fabric should withstand light rain, but don’t use it in monsoon season, as some moisture leaked through the top zip. It’s easier to store than a traditional suitcase, though, and it should last you many years.

Away’s standard cabin bag really impressed, but for flexibility on the go, this expandable design is ideal, leaving room for you to add more if you can’t resist a vintage market find or sentimental souvenir.

When expanded, you would need to check it into the hold on most airlines, but it ticked all our tester's boxes when it came to quality, putting in a star turn in our durability and waterproofing tests. It’s not the lightest case they tried, though, and sudden changes in direction did cause some wobbling.

That said, Away’s attention to detail, including the accompanying washbag, luggage tag and even cleaning sponge, makes it hard to overlook.

If you value durability and security, but also style, this is the suitcase for you. Created by a London-based Swedish duo, the brand combines traditional elegance with effortless functionality. 'The Check-in' is crafted out of a polycarbonate that's unbelievably lightweight (saving you precious kilograms for extra pairs of shoes), and finished with Italian leather details. It's a nod to historic travel trunks, but uses tech-forward materials, including 'silent Japanese spinner wheels.'

For those keen to capitalise on the case's fashion credentials, the leather trim can be customised with a personal monogram. And for the traveller with three-too-many pairs of shoes, there's even a size up option to consider too.

If that's successfully hooked you, the brand also offers a range of home office accessories, as well as travel wallets, passport holders and watch straps.

This spacious, expandable suitcase is designed for serial over-packers, with its generous compartments featuring plenty of pockets for organised types. The stiff zips let in some moisture at the top of the case, but this didn’t spread to our clothes.

The trolley handle felt comfortable to pull, even when the suitcase was full, but the side handle squashed our expert’s hand. Its wheels stood out – they were bigger than others on test and navigated every surface quietly and with ease. They looked as good as new after our drop tests, too.

In fact, this stylish suitcase proved sturdy all round; it predictably suffered some scuffs and dents after 50 drops, but still functioned impeccably. Its range of beautiful colours includes sage, taupe and blush.

After falling in love with Horizn’s H7 hold suitcase, we had to see if its cabin bag was just as good, and we weren’t disappointed. Not only is it chic and sturdy, but it also comes with a removable charging pack, so you don't need to worry about your phone or headphones running out of charge en route .

Inside, it has ample pockets and partitions to suit even the neatest of packers. Its wheels conquered everything from cobbles to carpet with ease, too. But a word of warning from our tester: it may be slightly too big for some airlines, so check it suits your preferred carriers before you buy.

If you’re the sort of packer who needs a pair of shoes for every eventuality, then you’ll appreciate this soft shell case's shoe compartment. It's also got plenty of room and pockets to accommodate a generous capsule wardrobe, and our tester liked its dedicated documents pocket.

It’s thoughtfully designed so you can lock the external pockets, and its zips kept all water out. Some padding on the side handles would have been appreciated, and the wheels could be sturdier – one had broken off by the end of our (admittedly hardcore) drop tests – but they navigated every surface quietly and with agility. The body of the case proved robust, showing minimal signs of damage, and it flattens well if storage is tight at home. It comes with a 30-year warranty.

Hard shell suitcases can be heavy, but grab those extra beauty products, as this spinner is ultra-lightweight. It’s spacious inside, with internal pockets that will keep everything neat and safe. It moves fluidly on all surfaces and smoothly swaps between two and four wheels.

The zip got damp during the waterproofing test, but our clothes remained dry. One corner dented from all our dropping, but given it only weighs 3.2kg, this wouldn’t put us off, especially as its wheels merely scuffed slightly. Available in navy or black, it will look timeless for holidays to come.

Samsonite Magnum Eco Spinner 75cm

Conscious about the environmental impact of your travel? Consider this eco suitcase. It's made in Europe from recycled plastic, so while it may not lower the carbon footprint of your holiday, its own is smaller than most.

The case is roomy with secure dividers, but isn’t lined inside, losing it some luxe points. It moves quietly and effortlessly, whether on carpet or cobbles, but our tester would have welcomed more comfortable handles. It proved entirely watertight but suffered a few dents during drop testing; these easily pushed out but doing this too often can cause stress marks. Overall, it’s a reliable all-rounder. Choose from three understated colourways.

VICTORINOX Lexicon hardshell suitcase 75cm

If waving your suitcase off at check-in makes you anxious, this suitcase should give you peace of mind. As well as a TSA-approved lock, it has puncture-resistant zips and a bag tracking feature. It proved impressively durable too, with little more than the odd scuff mark left after drop testing.

It's expandable, and with five pockets inside, including a garment section and a divider, there’s more than enough room for a two-week getaway. Once full, it required some effort to turn corners, but otherwise moved smoothly. It was waterproof as promised, with only the top zip absorbing some water, none of which seeped inside.

Samsonite Base Boost Spinner Large Expandable Suitcase

This soft shell Samsonite is the lightest suitcase on our list. It’s expandable, so if you’re not taking anything fragile and like to pack enough beach reads to stock a library, it's a must buy. Its internal divider and elasticated packing straps will also help you pack neatly.

It was a smooth mover, gliding across all terrains without clacking, and stayed in good shape after being thrown about by our expert. In fact, only its waterproofing let it down; on test, moisture soaked through the front pocket, dampening the insides slightly. Pack those books at the bottom if the forecast is looking dubious, and you’ll be good to go.

Tripp Escape Large 4 Wheel Suitcase

If lightweight luggage appeals but you need to protect your Dyson Airwrap, look to this Tripp case. It’s purse-friendly and boasts enough space to fit the longest of packing lists, although it lacks internal pockets.

On test, its comfortable trolley handle and quiet, durable wheels shone. Some corners dented after extensive dropping, but they pushed out easily and the main panels emerged unscathed. During our water-resistance test, a small puddle gathered at the top and some moisture made its way through the zip. But for sunny destinations, this shouldn’t pose a problem.

American Tourister Bon Air Spinner

This lightweight American Tourister comes in a range of stand-out colours that will make it easy to spot if you decide to check your bag last-minute. Testers were impressed with its internal pockets and divider, declaring it roomy enough to pack for a weekend city break, provided you’re disciplined when planning your holiday wardrobe, that is.

As its lower price tag suggests, it’s not the most luxe of suitcases, but despite this, it was something of an all-rounder on test. Our experts found it moved smoothly across most surfaces and it fared well in our drop tests, too.

Travelpro® Europe Maxlite® Air Large Expandable Hardside Spinner

If you want credentials, this company was founded by pilot Bob Plath, who invented one of the first upright wheeled cases. Since then, the brand's gone from strength to strength, inventing lighter, handier, sturdier suitcases – perfect for all sorts of trips.

The Maxlite's sell is that it's flexible and super lightweight, while being really strong. That means you can put your weight on it without any drama and it can withstand a degree of being thrown around by handlers at the airport, without so much as a dent. Plus, it's expandable. It's a true winner.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows , and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist , working for Stylist , Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

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The 18 best luggage brands, explained by GQ's globetrotting travel editors

By Owen Gough and Heidi Quill

From nervous, infrequent flyers to veteran businesspeople hardened by dozens of hops on the red-eye, there’s one constant that remains the same with holidaymakers and travellers: the need to invest in a quality suitcase . The sight of passengers hoisting barely held-together tote bags over their shoulders for a long-haul journey gives us the sweats, so we’ve made it our duty to ensure that anyone taking a trip in the next few months is equipped with the best luggage brands that guarantee a smooth experience – at least when it comes to packing and lugging the thing around the airport.

And look, it’s not like you’re unaware of what's available right now. Trip-friendly bags from the likes of Antler, Carl Friedrik, Globe-Trotter and Samsonite are as ubiquitous in any airport as an ill-advised early-morning pint before boarding, but sometimes you just need a nudge in the right direction to find the truly elite options. Our editors have put in the groundwork so you don’t have to, arriving at the absolute best luggage brands that will deck out your travels with the best suitcases, carry-on , luggage tags , passport holders and accessories. Whether you're travelling to New York or New Delhi, read on to check out our top picks.

Skip to: Which suitcase is better, hard or soft? | How do I choose a suitcase? | What size should by carry-on luggage be? | How much should I spend on my luggage?

Which suitcase is better, hard or soft?

The choice between hard-side luggage or soft-sided suitcases will largely hinge on whether you’re checking it in on the plane or carrying it on with you. Hard-sided suitcases offer greater durability to cope with dings, scrapes and knocks that will inevitably happen in transit, keeping your neatly-packed clothes secure and protected throughout the journey. The problem is these checked bags are typically heavier which can cause a few headaches when you go to check it in or place it in the overhead bin, so keep that in mind.

Soft cases are easier to lug around and are lighter, but miss out on the protective functionality of hard-shell options. In this regard, they're a greater prospect for hold-all luggage or if you’re hopping on trains and buses, as you can squash them down if space is tight over long trips. The carry-on variety of luggage is easier and often cheaper, but worth only worth considering for shorter journeys. it's also worth considering these will certainly not be water-resistant, so keep that in your thoughts when planning a trip to rainier climes - or literally anywhere in the north-west of Europe.

Regardless of the solidity of your case, we’ll always recommend grabbing a wheeled suitcase, because no one wants to arrive at the gate for their summer holidays drenched in sweat and nursing a dead arm. Wheeled luggage has got significantly better in recent years, with telescopic handles and whisper-quiet, 360-degree spinner wheels for supreme manoeuvrability from check-in to your plane seat.

There are standout backpacks or shoulder bags that bring the sartorial chops you're likely hunting for while also offering additional storage space for your travels. These are typically best used on short trips or as carry-on luggage to save your muscles during a long journey, but most can be bought and used in tandem with your chosen suitcase to house an in-flight book, snacks, a work laptop and one of our favourite travel pillows to save yourself a crook neck upon arrival.

How do I choose a suitcase?

Selecting which checked luggage to go for can be as tricky as deciding where you're planning to holiday in the first place, so it's worth brushing up on the best options to help inform your choice. There's a fair amount of complication that makes this difficult, with different airlines imposing a variety of weight and size limitations, as well as the obvious sartorial and space aspects that make up a solid set of luggage.

Therefore, we'll give you the boring answer and say that it largely depends on what kind of travel you're doing in the immediate future. Larger trunks and suitcases will inevitably be your best bet for getting around the world on longer, more luxurious trips, with enough space to hold all the clothes and items you might need for a week or longer and are the most durable to better protect against general wear and tear.

Short city trips or weekend getaways will be the domain of smaller carry-on luggage , with wheels and handles to help you glide around train stations and airports stress-free. These might not have the capacious skills to keep you dressed for longer periods of time, but they often have enough to stretch to a week maximum should you need it.

Travel backpacks , soft-sided luggage and rucksacks are a solid option for very short weekend trips or overnight stays, as they aren't particularly roomy for all your gear over longer hauls but are easier to carry over shorter distances. They can also be a good accoutrement to carry-on luggage, as you can split your load between the two bags and get more in your trip thanks to side pouches or ballistic nylon separators that go a long way to organising your packing.

To make your packing stresses a little less intense, we also recommend picking up some packing cubes to use as a divider for your clothes. These little bags are a life saver for organising your suitcase into easily manageable chunks, using a compression system to squash all your items down for more space inside your suitcase. For example, pack all T-shirts in one bag, underwear in another, and maybe a smaller one for toiletries, and then once you're at the end of your trip, keep the used clothes separate from the clean clothes so you know what to chuck into the washing machine when you get back.

What size should by carry-on luggage be?

Frustratingly, not all airlines can agree on a set size and weight for your carry-on luggage, which can provoke headaches if you're prone to travelling with multiple companies or taking on a few flights in one trip with several layovers. However, there are some hard and fast truths to your carry-on limits. As a general rule of thumb, suitcases should not be taller than 24 inches, wider than 16 inches or deeper than 10 inches. This is your standard ballpark figure, and you won't find a single airline that allows beyond this limit.

It's worth noting this if your carry-on luggage is expandable – which many are – allowing you to extend your internal space to fit in those last-minute flip-flop additions. Using this feature may push your carry-on luggage over the edge, which will incur fees for additional space, you've been warned. As always, you should do your due diligence and check with the airline before you fly and then measure your own luggage to ensure it's within size and weight limits for the smoothest possible journey through check-in.

How much should I spend on my luggage?

Holidays don't come cheap, so you're probably not wanting to spend a small fortune on luggage, too. However, there are some common truths about picking up your travel gear and how much you should spend; namely, “don't scrimp and save if you don't want future headaches with faulty gear”. Going cheap will inevitably mean materials won't be up to scratch, and you may risk getting it through your journey in one piece, which tends to lead you to buying replacement bags anyway – so why not think of it as an investment piece?

By Heidi Quill

By Owen Gough

By Esat Dedezade

£80 is usually the entry point to decent luggage, and it's worth being mindful about that cost usually being per bag or suitcase. Great options from Amazon Basics or Samsonite can land you in this price point and afford you a decent build quality to get you through a few years of travel.

Stepping up between £200 and £500 is the next price point, where you'll find proven quality and luxurious materials. Brands like Antler , DB and Carl Friedrik are lurking around this cost, and such suitcases should easily see you through several years of jet-setting if you're kind to them.

Anything beyond £800 is a real statement piece in the airport lounge; think Gucci, Louis Vuitton and the like. If you genuinely care about your aesthetics, over caring about wether your handsome gear picks up a few knocks and scratches in transit, then these brands will do you proud.

• Best value luggage brands: Antler | Monos | Samsonite | Amazon Basics | Herschel
• Best carry-on luggage brands: Carl Friedrik | American Tourister | DB | Monos
• Best designer luggage brands: Louis Vuitton | Globe-Trotter | Gucci | Prada
• Best luggage brands for style: Harber | Rimowa | Tumi | Paravel | Away | Crash Baggage

Best value luggage brands

Antler 3-piece Clifton set

Antler Stamford cabin suitcase

Antler Bamburgh duffel bag

British-made Antler holds a loving place in our hearts simply because its collection is capacious, hardy and worthy of a spot on our Instagram grid as we jet away for the summer. The Clifton set is one of the best-selling luggage options for a good reason: they are luxurious, durable and spacious enough for two weeks of travelling, all for a mid-tier price. If you can, we’d highly recommend picking up the packing cubes. We swear by these useful mini bags to keep underwear, T-shirts and socks stored neatly and crease-free on long-haulers or they can be used as a handy laundry bag to be kept separate from your clean clothes.

For shorter trips, we’ll point you in the direction of the Bamburgh duffel, a rugged, multipurpose shoulder bag that sports a shower-proof design, padlock-compatible zips and plenty of internal pockets to store passports, wallets and other essentials for easy access.

Monos Carry-on Pro Plus

Monos Check-in Large

Monos Metro Duffel

Sometimes premium products don't need to come at premium price tags, which is just fine by us – more cocktails at the pool bar, please. Monos scratches that exact itch with high-end luggage for jet-setting luxury without breaking the bank. And don't they just look gorgeous.

For short-haul trips, we'd recommend the Carry-On Pro Plus, a suitcase wrought from a polycarbonate shell that's nigh-on indestructible, with TSA-approved locks to keep your clothes safe and secure in transit , as well as a front pocket large enough to fit a laptop. The same thoughtful design carries on through the range with the Metro Duffel, housing enough space for weekend getaways to the coast in style.

Samsonite Base Boost suitcase

Samsonite Airea suitcase

Samsonite Lite-Shock - Spinner XL 81cm suitcase

Easily one of the most well-established luggage brands in the world, Samsonite is well-known for producing high-quality luggage options for frequent travellers. Offering TSA-approved locks and expandable storage at an affordable price point, it has become synonymous with aspirational jet-setting since the early 20th century.

Samsonite has a huge catalogue of top-spec luggage for you to peruse, but one of our favourites is the Lite-Shock Spinner. The polycarbonate chassis is expandable but tough against scuffs and marks, making it a veteran of the airport carousel. The lightweight design makes it a great choice for frequent flyers who regularly make short one-week getaways or business trips.

Herschel Heritage Hardshell Large Luggage

Herschel Supply

Herschel Heritage Hardshell Carry On Luggage

Herschel Outfitter Wheelie

You know Herschel Supply for its bags already, just perhaps not its luggage. You’ve no doubt seen its logo on duffle bags and backpacks a million times over, but it’s exceptional suitcases that this Canadian brand should also be known for. Exceedingly tough, scratch resistant (even on non-black shades) and light, its hardshell models are handsome holiday buddies that come in at a more affordable price than many competitors, but with just the same reliability.

Carefully sectioned split zipped interiors, in-built locks and silent 360 degree wheels, we reckon Herschel’s suitcases have everything you’re looking for — and they have a lifetime warranty to boot.

Best carry-on luggage brands

Carl Friedrik

Carl Freidrik x London Hackett check-in suitcase

Hackett London

Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender bag

If there’s anything Dickie Greenleaf taught us, it’s that luxury luggage set made of plush Italian leather goes a long way to elevating the overall style points of your holidaymaking. Sitting at the high-end of fashionable travel bags, London-based Carl Friedrik delivers sophistication to your luggage that simply cannot be ignored. In case you’re curious about CF’s sartorial credentials, its suitcases and briefcases have been featured in TV shows like White Lotus and HBO’s Succession, and those guys definitely know how to basque in the elegance of luxury travel.

The most recent collab with London Hackett is perhaps our favourite partnership in the world of travel brands. Our pick is the check-in suitcase, a handsome navy number that features whisper-quite spinner wheels and oozes elegance for the luxurious traveller. Dual locks ensure your belongings are protected in transit, and the design guarantees heads will turn as you glide through security.

American Tourister

American Tourister Pulsonic Check-in suitcase

American Tourister Bon Air DLX

American Tourister Urban Track

Did you know that American Tourister is owned by Samsonite? The sister brand is best-known as a purveyor of affordable, lightweight travel equipment that ticks a lot of boxes in the style department. Bright, eccentric colourways are the name of the game here, with options to please kids thanks to Marvel and Disney looks that will look mighty fine through check-in.

The best bit of this brand is, of course, the cost, offering top-tier options for less than £200 in most cases (get it?), and they can be bought on Amazon if you're a Prime subscriber and in need of a luggage upgrade in a hurry. Our pick? The Bon Air DLX, which is a capacious, ready-to-go suitcase with a hardside polycarbonate shell and mouse-quiet wheels.

DB Hugger bundle 90L + 30L suitcases

DB Essential weekend bag 40L

DB Ramverk tech organiser bag

There really isn’t much the Scandis can’t succeed in when they put their mind to it. DB is a hypey new brand hailing from the snowy climbs of Norway, innovating to make travelling heavy a lot more manageable. The noteworthy aspect here is that DB's collection is sustainably sourced and made to last, with durable designs that proffer a rugged chic coveted by backpackers and gap-year travellers.

We love that the Hugger bundle utilises a hook system where the larger pack piggybacks the smaller pack for an ergonomic lift that will make the long walk through the airport as slippery as a freshly-brushed piste in winter. Elsewhere, the Hugger Backpack on its own is a mighty travelling bag, with a huge cavern for your gear that’s well-protected thanks to the hybrid soft/hard-shell chassis and ribcage system that manages to look striking and deliver the sturdy goods where you need them. Packing space comes at a premium, so we'd also recommend grabbing the tech organiser bag to store cameras, phone chargers or other paraphernalia for a smooth trip.

Best designer luggage brands

Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 suitcase

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Monogram rolling trunk

Is there any more clear-cut statement of luxury than Louis Vuitton travel gear? We think not. Providing that first-class feel regardless of whether you're in economy or business, Louis Vuitton's selection of logomaniac luggage never fails to look every bit the main character as you ought to feel pre- and post-vacation.

Choosing a particular LV bag is like deciding between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini – without dissimilar price tags –, but we came down on the side of the ultra-luxe Horizon 55 suitcase. Dappled in your choice of either the iconic ‘Damier checkerboard design or the Vuitton Monogram, this particular number is the only true sartorial choice you need to make to turn heads at the departure gate. Perfect to take in the cabin, the 37-litre capacity is more than enough to house your must-have travel essentials, and it also comes with a removable leather name tag for the ultimate travel flex.

Globe-Trotter Centenary suitase

Globe-Trotter x Golf le Fleur Centenary 20” suitcase

Globe-Trotter Centenary 20" cabin suitcase

If it's good enough for the likes of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and almost every fancy fictional detective ever written since the late 1800s, it's more than good enough for us. The classic trunk has never looked as good as it does from Globe-Trotter, an iconic British brand well-versed in crafting the perfect suitcase to accompany you across the planet in style.

Spend any time perusing Globe-Trotter's website and you'll instantly fall in love with the fun, pastel-coloured take on the world's most famous luggage, courtesy of the Golf le Fleur collaboration. Seen here with a playful multi-coloured array of leather straps and buckles doubled up with an abstract leopard-print lining and ivory casing, it screams Wes Anderson's summer getaway must-have item.

Gucci Porter cabin suitcases

Gucci Savoy suitcases

Gucci Interlocking G cabin suitcase

If ever there was a master of the anachronistic, it would be Alessandro Michelle's era for Gucci, a theme that is deeply felt within the brand's luggage offerings. Where heritage prints and old-school silhouettes combine with innovative materials and modern durability, Gucci luggage simply cannot go wrong.

For the frequent flyer, we'd suggest the extra-hardy Porter cabin trolley suitcase, where its dense aluminium construction is accented with delicate panels of the ever-infamous ‘Double G’ logo print. For a more retro, aesthetic-focused take, however, the Savoy Ophidia-inspired trolley bag and Interlocking G patterned travel bag make stylish travel partners indeed.

Saffiano leather trolley suitcase

Prada Symbole trolley suitcase

Saffiano leather carry-on suitcase

Minimalist design with maximum aesthetic appeal – that's Prada's effortless mode summarised. A subtle style flex, toting a Prada suitcase is a discreet nod between fashion aficionados, where the simple yet iconic enamelled triangle logo sends a low-key signal of luxury to your fellow travellers.

From the plain jet black pick to the logomaniac Symbole patterned number, the handful of suitcases we've selected from Prada's online shelves cater to the needs of departure lounge wallflowers to Insta-focused travellers alike. Whatever your airport aesthetic, we've got you covered.

Best luggage brands for style

Harber Roll top Backpack

Harber Commuter Backpack

Harber Weekender

There's something about leather luggage that presents superior luxury. Our top choice for a high-quality range of beautifully crafted bags is Harber London, perhaps the most sophisticated top-end bags around. It's giving James Dean on the back of a Triumph motorbike, heading along the French Riviera, right? A reasonably new player in the international luggage game, Harber was created in 2012 to provide commuters with deluxe leather laptop sleeves, and after more than a decade, it now makes some of our favourite weekend bags, commuter rucksacks and accessories.

Each item on Harber's website is lovingly hand-crafted in Spain using 100 per cent full-grain leather, highlighting the dedication to the drip that the brand maintains. And while many products in the roster, like the gorgeous roll top backpack, are completely leather (aside from the military-grade buckles), others incorporate durable, water-resistant fabrics to make it significantly more robust. The brand gives you a year warranty as standard and ships worldwide.

Rimowa Essential Cabin

Rimowa Original Check-In L

Rimowa Essential Sleeve Cabin Plus

One of the most imperious luggage makers in the game, Rimowa has been cruising to sunnier climes since 1898, and really hit its stride a century ago by creating the world's first aluminium suitcase way back in 1930. Although it's also moved into polycarbonate wares of late, the Cologne-based brand has seen its status elevated via several hypey collaborations with the likes of Supreme, Off-White and Anti Social Social Club. In other words, it's followed exactly the new luxury same playbook as its LMVH stablemates in Fendi, Givenchy and, of course, Louis Vuitton.

There's no better place to start with Rimowa than its Original Check-In suitcase, if only because it's one of the most desirable pieces of luggage in existence. For those in need of something a little more understated, its Essential Cabin and Essential Sleeve Cabin Plus (with an external laptop sleeve, naturally) are both as sturdy as they are suave.

Tumi 19 Degree Aluminum suitcase 66cm

Tumi 'International' carry-on suitcase

In what might be the most bizarre origin story for a company name, Tumi's moniker comes from a type of Peruvian ceremonial knife used in the sacrifices of ancient South American rituals. Every day's a school day, right? In modern times, it's become a world-class luxe luggage brand beloved by pan-European flight hoppers and high-end holidaymakers alike.

Tumi's 19 Degree Aluminum carry-on suitcase is the style-centric luggage pick that ensures turned heads at baggage claim. Famous hands that have grasped the handle include Renee Rapp and Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min. The immediate appeal is obvious: a vibrant, silver-hued, smart case that's set apart from its competition by its sturdy, streamlined silhouette and rippled outer shell.

Paravel Aviator Grand Check-in Suitcase

Paravel Main Line Duffle

Paravel Aviator Carry-on suitcase

Sustainability should always factor in when travelling. While you can't help but contribute to greenhouse gases if you fly, getting around the world with some luggage that mitigates at least a little bit of the burden on Mother Earth is a good start, which is why we love Paravel's carbon-neutral range. Every piece of luggage from the brand is sustainably made, whether utilising recycled plastic bottles or ensuring the delivery of your product impacts the world as little as possible. Impressive, no doubt, but the bags themselves are actually pretty handsome in their own right, offering plenty of versatility for your travels. We love the Main Line Duffel, which is a smart, sophisticated shoulder bag complete with a wealth of internal pockets and a suitable level of stylish class for any jet-setter.

Away The Trunk

Away Everywhere Backpack

Away Bigger Carry-On

How could we collate a rundown of the best brands to wield as you swan through the airport without including Away? A brand close to our hearts, the New York travel company has an exceptional list of suitcases, carry-on and backpacks to get you through your next journey in style. Why? Because each bag is expertly crafted and comes in a range of beautiful pastel colours that are subtle, sophisticated and still enough to grab the attention of your check-in agent.

Our favourite is The Trunk, which is a bit beasty at first glance, but is capacious enough for a two-week trip to wherever you damn well please. We love the salmon pink number of the hardside travel suitcase, which is lighter than it seems, making it a great pick-up for over-packers and those who despise having to weigh their luggage.

Crash Baggage 79cm suitcase

Crash Baggage Share 55cm cabin suitcase

So-called because, well, its suitcases look like they've had a crash, a bang, and a wallop, Crash Baggage is founded on the belief that your luggage should be as durable as possible. Subverting shoppers' expectations of what brand-new luggage should look like, Crash's line-up comes pre-worn and dented in a tongue-in-cheek expression of just how resilient its cases are.

For your consideration, dear reader, we've picked out the Stripe 79cm, the Share 55cm and the Icon 79cm. Each decked out in dents and scratches, these cases are bold enough in both colourway and battle scars to be spotted whirling around baggage claim in no time. Plus, with all those aesthetic injuries, you're surely not to be messed with in the oft-competitive dash through arrivals.

Stori suitcase 55cm

The fashion-forward travel brand from Down Under, Nere's luggage will match any mood on your mind or adventure on your calendar.

Nere's most iconic suitcase, the Stori, makes the perfect travel companion for quick flights and long car rides alike, as their options are among the best lightweight suitcases in the market. Defined by the range's bold colour scheme, the Stori might be easy on the eyes, but it's its ABS polycarbonate shell and multi-faceted storage features mean that it's just as kind on your travel essentials. Due to the lightweight, the hardside spinner wheels are about as smooth as you could hope for, and are whisper-quiet to boot. Off you go!

The best suitcases for stylish storage on the go

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All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn how we test .

17 best suitcases 2024, according to frequent travellers

By Sophie Cockett , Mayola Fernandes and Sheilla Mamona

Having the best luggage to breeze through airports in style is almost as essential as your holiday wardrobe 'fits that are nestled inside. Whether you're a frequent flyer or you keep things simple with one trip annual trip, getting to grips with the luggage low-down should be an essential part of your pre- holiday checklist , especially if you're to enjoy a stress-free journey.

Your suitcase needs to be durable enough to withstand the trials and tribulations of a luggage carousel, spacious enough to fit all of your belongings and light enough to make easy work of navigating an airport terminal. And only the very best luggage brands promise all of the above.

There's also style. You deserve a suitcase that looks good. Why? For SS24, various trends are set to be traipsed across parks and garden (low-slung waists, sheer fabrics and strap detailing) – and they're set to transfer to airport halls. So you wouldn't want your chic city break get-up to be paired with a basic, boring suitcase... would you? From one unashamed bag obsessive to another, it is essential that your holiday wardrobe is housed in a suitcase as chic as its contents.

Investing in one of the best suitcases is undeniably wise – as long as you've got a luggage tracker in tow. Spend a little more on some top-quality luggage and your holiday companion will last you a lifetime . No matter how many trips along the trusty baggage carousel it takes (and scuffs it picks up along the way). So, we've rounded up the best suitcases from the best luxury luggage brands on the market to buy for your upcoming holidays – as loved by GLAMOUR editors, influencers and travel experts alike.

SKIP TO: What luggage is best, hard or soft? | What to consider when shopping for the best luggage? | Which brand of luggage is the most durable? | Best suitcase brands | How we tested | What are some different types of suitcases + the best for 2024 - the GLAMOUR pick

The best suitcases to buy 2024, at a glance:

• Best overall - Clifton large in blush, £240, Antler
• Best runner up - Brixham cabin in navy, £170, Antler
• Best waterproof - Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner, £559, Briggs & Riley
• Best expandable - Samsonite C-Lite Expandable Case, £379, John Lewis
• Best hard shell - Vienna 4 Wheel Hard Shell Large Suitcase, £50, M&S

What luggage is best, hard or soft?

It's a matter of personal preference, though there is definitely a preference for hard-shell luggage among the frequent travellers who reviewed the brands below.

Hard luggage is typically constrained to one size and shape – so there's less give when you're trying to squash that final pair of sandals down the side of your pile of summer dresses . That said, hard suitcases do tend to be significantly more durable, waterproof, easy to wipe clean and lightweight. Hard luggage will also protect your belongings much better. Most of the hard shell suitcases in this edit are made from polycarbonate, which is a durable yet lightweight material first bought to the luggage world by Rimowa in 2000. See, for example, the Rimowa Original Check-In M .

Soft luggage is beneficial if you're after something that can mould to small spaces, like the overhead carrier of a plane, and they are better for over-packers. Our pick? The Antler Brixham range and, if you need something even smaller, we've got more underseat luggage and women's travel backpack options this way.

What else to consider when shopping for the best luggage?

1. TSA Locks TSA LOCK ® is a global security system which allows passengers to lock their luggage, while permitting security authorities to inspect them without damage. The best suitcases will feature locks which have been TSA-approved.

Often, the defining feature of an expensive suitcase over something on a budget is the quality and smoothness of the wheels. The best luggage brands will serve up four 360 degree spinner wheels on their suitcases, making it easy to weave in and out of people (in all directions) in an airport terminal.

At the very least, make sure your suitcase has luggage straps which stretch over your clothes and keep the contents of your suitcase in place. If you can, opt for something with full compression dividers which compress your clothes, keep everything safe and make it easier to close your suitcase. Some compression dividers will have additional pockets with zippers on them.

Choosing the right luggage can be narrowed down by the type of materials best suited for your travels. Depending on wether you want hard or soft luggages, this will be a big deciding factor. For frequent flyers seeking durability and resilience, hard-sided luggage crafted from polycarbonate or aluminium are good options, as they are able to withstands rough handling and can protect fragiles. Soft-sided luggage made from ballistic nylon or polyester are lighter options suitable if you're prioritising flexibility and additional storage pockets. Water-resistant materials like coated fabrics or water-repellent treatments are beneficial for travels that may involve extreme weather conditions.

If you travel a lot, make sure you're clued up on the luggage brand-in-question's warranty. Do they cover everything you need them to? “Limited warranty” is ideal, while “limited lifetime warranty” means it's good for a certain number of years, and “limited to manufacturer's defects” is what you want to avoid. That basically means the luggage brand will cover nothing and will attribute the damage of your suitcase to you or the airline. Not what you want.

Say buh-bye to scuffed-up suede.

By Lucy Smith

Which brand of luggage is the most durable?

Tumi is the brains behind some of the toughest luggage on the market. Need proof? Their Alpha 3 Suitcase is made from a specially woven ultra durable FXT ballistic nylon. It makes for the toughest and most durable suitcase shell in the brand's 10-year history and is so strong the brand have (cleverly) patented it. Way to banish any worries of your suitcase being bashed and ruined along a luggage carousel.

At a more reasonable price point, the M&S Vienna range combines style and strength with its tough and bouncy plastic exterior together with a lightweight user friendly makeup. It's selling out fast in 2023 and customers have described it as “light but strong,” “durable," “sturdy” and, of particular note, very similar to a recognisable branded one, one buyer remarked.

The best luggage brands 2024:

Based on overall quality, cost, aesthetics, durability and customer feedback, these are the luggage brands to know this year:

• American Tourister
• Carl Friedrik
• The North Face
• Amazon Basics
• Briggs & Riley
• Herschel Supply Co
• Globe-Trotter

How we test suitcases

As a team of fashion, interiors, travel and beauty experts, we happen to know a thing or two about which brands have earned their respective places as the best in the check-in and cabin-worthy business. We've tested each of the below suitcases over weekend breaks and full-blown two-week holidays to bring you the creme de la creme of luggage, scoring each on style, weight, size, functionality, durability, customer service and extra features.

Worthy of a seat upgrade.

By Georgia Trodd

For more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx .

For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes , follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess .

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Writer Shei Mamona , follow her on Instagram @ sheimamona .

Keep scrolling for our full edit of the best suitcases (from our favourite luggage brands) to take to checkout.

1. Best overall suitcase

Antler Clifton large in blush

Specifications:

• Size: Large check-in suitcase, 34 x 51 x 80cm.
• Capacity: 121l.
• Weight: 5kg.
• Materials : Polycarbonate
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 360 degree rotating double wheels.
• Telescopic handle? Yes.
• Opening (clamshell, lid zipper): Clamshell.
• Waterproof? Includes waterproof interior pocket.
• Lock type: TSA fixed combination.
• Expandable? Yes.

Pros : If you're lucky enough to be going on a long-haul trip this year and need something a little larger than Away's carry-on case, look towards the super stylish Antler Clifton suitcase. Available in eleven chic hues (including pink, black and powder blue). It's a super lightweight suitcase to roll around, has four, 360° double-spinner wheels which make wheeling it through the airport a dream plus a twist-grip handle that's compatible with the best laptop backpacks . This suitcase doesn't just roll – it glides. Oh, and Antler has ensured this case is as safe and secure as it can be. It has security zips, a super strong expander zip and a TSA-combination lock on the outside. Oh, and compression packing straps and four pockets on the inside.

Cons : None of note!

GLAMOUR tested review: Georgia Trodd , GLAMOUR's Senior Commerce Writer says, “There's not a long-haul trip or holiday where my Clifton suitcase isn't in tow with me. It's SO easy to travel with, from the four multi-directional wheels and sturdy handle to its helpful interior pockets and Mary Poppins capacity, it has never let me down. You know those put-together people you see at the airport and admire? Guarantee they own a Clifton."

2. Best runner up suitcase

Antler Brixham cabin in navy

• Size: Cabin suitcase, 55 x 35 x 20cm.
• Capacity: 32l.
• Weight: 1.9kg.
• Materials : Polyester.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 360 degree rotating wheels.
• Opening (clamshell, lid zipper): Lid zipper.
• Waterproof? N/A.
• Expandable? No.

Pros: The most lightweight of the Antler models, the Brixham really does feel feather light compared to its Clifton and Stamford family members. In a cabin case, we find the lid zipper design to be more practical, allowing you to see more clearly while packing how close you are to reaching capacity. What's more, the fabric versus hard-shell suitcase design allows for a fuller use of those cabin-compatible measurements.

Cons: None, it's a top pick in the cabin case category.

3. Best waterproof suitcase

Sympatico Large Expandable Spinner

• Size: Large check-in suitcase, 76.2 x 51 x 30.5cm.
• Capacity: 110.1l.
• Weight: 6.1kg.
• Materials : Makrolon® polycarbonate.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, lightweight, ball bearing double spinner wheels.
• Telescopic handle? Yes and it's recessed to minimise wrinkles in clothing, too.
• Opening (clamshell, lid zipper): Clamshell with a 70/30 split.
• Waterproof? Yes, waterproof seal.
• Lock type: TSA-friendly combination lock.
• Expandable? Yes, by up to 25%.

Pros: Designed to be ergonomic and stand the test of time, Briggs & Riley luggage is available in every style imaginable. Not only can you pack everything on your travel wishlist and still have room for souvenirs, but you can also rely on the supreme durability of the Makrolon® polycarbonate case to protect all your contents and stay scratch-and-scuff-free. Need even more room? The Briggs & Riley CX® system expands for 25% more space, then compresses to original size. Not to mention they offer buyers a lifetime functional guarantee, which means they'll repair anything so long as it isn't cosmetic.

Cons: No complaints. Not one.

Save money on the best carry-ons and luggage sets with these Selfridges discount codes .

4. Best expandable suitcase

Samsonite C-Lite 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case

• Size: Cabin case, 55 x 40 x 20cm.
• Capacity: 36l.
• Weight: 2kg.
• Materials : Woven polypropylene.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 shock-absorbing suspension wheels.
• Waterproof? Yes, according to John Lewis.
• Lock type: TSA system lock.

Pros: One of the best carry-on luggage options if you're after something super lightweight, this 2kg pick from Samsonite is not only sleek and chic, but it's really practical, too. With a hard case exterior for protection, one large zipped wallet, one small and USB charging functionality, you'll have everything you could possibly need right in the palm of your hand luggage . Checked bags, who?

Cons: The price tag is a little high if you don't have heaps of disposable income.

GLAMOUR tested review: Shei Mamona , GLAMOUR's Beauty Writer says, “It is expensive, but comes with a generous 10-year guarantee. It's super lightweight and if you, like me, struggle to put anything heavy in the overhead locker then you'll get along with this model. The clamshell separation is great for organisation and the different height positions on the handle come in useful when on the go. Plus, that glossy navy? Love.”

By Jake Smith

By Lian Brooks

By Audrey Bruno

5. Best hard shell suitcase

Vienna 4 Wheel Hard Shell Large Suitcase

• Size: Large check-in suitcase, 77.5 x 52 x 31.5cm.
• Capacity: 109l.
• Weight: 4kg.
• Materials : 100% plastics plus 100% polyester lining.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4.
• Lock type: Padlock compatible zip fastening.

Pros: For the price, weight and size of this suitcase, it's really no surprise that buyers have completely sold out the black colourway. You'll have to grab the navy model quick, as it's been sold more than once an hour over the past few days. Whew. The five year guarantee, the packing straps, the adjustable height on the small suitcase in the Vienna trio's handle. Kiss, kiss, kiss – parfait.

Cons : If we're being picky, we'd love if it was expandable.

Save money on the best suitcases with these M&S discount codes

6. Best carry on luggage

Away The Carry-On Flex

• Size: Cabin case, 55.1 x 34.8 x 22.9cm.
• Capacity: 39.8l.
• Weight: 3.7kg.
• Materials : Durable polycarbonate hard shell.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 360°.
• Waterproof? Water-resistant but not 100% waterproof.

Pros: A direct competitor for the ever-popular Antler range, the Away Flex carry-on can be personalised, has an interior compression system and you'll have 100 days to test if it's a good fit for you. If it doesn't hold up on your New York getaway, simply return it. Easy.

Cons: For a cabin size case this is really quite heavy, a whole kg more than the Antler.

7. Best hardshell cabin luggage

Monos Carry-On Pro Plus

• Size: Large carry-on suitcase, 58 × 38 × 24cm
• Capacity: 46l.
• Weight: 3.8kg.
• Spinner wheels? Yes. High performance 360° spinner wheels
• Telescopic handle? Yes. 4 height settings
• Opening (clamshell, lid zipper): Clamshell front pocket, YKK reverse coil zippers
• Waterproof? Includes waterproof interior pocket that can fit 16" laptop, tablets, or magazines
• Expandable? No

Pros : I don't think luggage has ever looked so cute. Monos partnered with New York City-based Magnolia Bakery to whip up these 5 bright and adorable limited edition colours with glossy hard shells but it's not all about the way it looks. They have ultra-sturdy telescopic handles with 360° spinner wheels who move as quietly as a whisper. The interiors look as pretty and lux as the outside. The lining is soft and anti-microbial, made of 100% recycled polyester, with ultra-microfibre vegan leather details and built-in, removable compression pad with zippered pocket for flat items. The suitcase looks cute, but still smart inside and out and it's perfect for business travel or trips that involve long transfers.

Cons : Do these colourways need to be limited edition?

GLAMOUR tested review: Shei Mamona , GLAMOUR's Beauty Writer says, “I felt like a kid at Christmas morning when opening this suitcase. I couldn't get over how lightweight and easy to move around it was, while still being sturdy and stylish. I rarely travel without my laptop, and I really appreciate a clamshell front pocket for my docs, so having that large side pocket, that opens with so much ease is a giant bonus. The interiors are gorgeous and have all the travel essentials that we tend to forget about, like a dirty laundry bag and a shoe bag. Being at airports might not be the most joyous experience, but this suitcase someway, somehow, almost makes up for it.”

8. Best medium suitcase

Maxlite® Air Medium Check-In Expandable Hardside Spinner

• Size: Medium check-in suitcase, 70 x 44 x 28cm.
• Capacity: 89l.
• Weight: 3.85kg.
• Materials : 100% polycarbonate hard shell + an interior lining made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 8 smooth-gliding spinner wheels that rotate 360°.
• Telescopic handle? Yes, PowerScope Lite handle that locks in two positions.
• Waterproof? Water-resistant with an H₂O guard.
• Lock type: TSA built-in lock.
• Expandable? Yes, up to 5cm extra.

Pros: A top pick for buyers on a budget that don't want to compromise on quality, be it a backpack or larger, more full-on types of long-haul suitcases, TravelPro is a brand you need on your radar. Stock everything from laundry bags to both soft and hard-shell cases, as well as four and two wheel luggage systems to suit your preference. This – the Maxlite® Air Medium – is expandable, available in five colours and made from post-consumer waste.

Cons: None here!

9. Best clamshell suitcase

Victorinox Lexicon Framed Series medium four-wheel shell suitcase

• Size: Medium check-in suitcase, 28 x 46 x 68cm.
• Capacity: 72l.
• Weight: 5.5kg.
• Materials : Aluminium frame.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 dual caster.
• Telescopic handle? Yes, dual tube.
• Lock type: Two TSA locks.

Pros: A brand that's well over 100 years old, Victorinox is a Swiss brand that puts its customers' needs at the heart of its designs. Whether it's a stylish look or functional usage, Victorinox's products will have you covered, and its wide range of luggage is testament to that. Seriously, they even sell packing cubes to make your life easier, as well as softside and hardside cases and, of course, all manner of large suitcases for long trips, like the above Lexicon model. We might also add that, while premium, for the heritage and quality of the brand, it's not quite so premium price-wise as its counterpart, Tumi.

Cons: None, the brand will even offer you a unique 1+10 year warranty, which covers you for practically everything in the first 12 months and then a revised list of faults thereafter. It even includes normal wear and tear in years 2-11, which is rare.

10. Best 90L suitcase

Horizn H7 Check-In Luggage

• Size: Large check-in suitcase, 52 x 77 x 28cm.
• Capacity: 90l.
• Weight: 4.9kg.
• Materials : Premium polycarbonate hard shell (partially recycled) with a recycled polyester lining.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 360° Japanese spinner wheels.
• Waterproof? No.
• Lock type: TSA approved lock.

Pros : Horizn Studios cases do an impeccable job at protecting your luggage. Seriously – these cases last a lifetime and are great for serial travellers. The increasingly popular (and for good reason) German smart-luggage brand constructs its cases from aerospace-grade polycarbonate for seriously durability. They're also built on 360 degree Japanese spinner wheels to help you breeze through the airport. This suitcase is the brand's largest model and boasts smart features like a compression pad to help you pack, a removable charger (yup!) and a TSA-approved combination lock.

Cons : In terms of the practicality of placing an order, there isn't really time to hang about, the different colours fly in and out of stock, so grab your fave while it's still available.

11. Best lightweight suitcase

July Checked Luggage polycarbonate suitcase

• Size: H66cm x W47cm x D29cm.
• Capacity: 80L.
• Materials : 100% polycarbonate.
• Spinner wheels? Yes.
• Waterproof? Yes.
• Lock type: TSA lock.

Pros: Based in Australia, July has made waves in the luggage industry, gaining a reputation for crafting some of the lightest luggage in the world. Its moss suitcase features clever compartments, including a concealed laundry bag for tidy organisation and easy access, alongside whisper quiet wheels for effortless manoeuvring through busy airports.

Cons : It's definitely not a major issue, but it would be great if it were expandable.

GLAMOUR tested review : GLAMOUR's Commerce Writer, Mayola Fernandes , has tested this exact model in the Black colourway and relies on it solely for long haul trips. “It's become my go-to suitcase for long haul trips, thanks to being the lightest checked luggage I've ever tried. The wheels glide silently across various surfaces, whether it's cobblestones or concrete floors. In terms of capacity, there's ample room for a full two-week trip, but I would always suggest investing in packing cubes to optimise space," she says.

12. Best suitcase with a polycarbonate shell

The Large Check-In Roller in Atlas Pink

• Size: W50cm x H 9.5cm x D32cm.
• Capacity: 111-132L.
• Weight: 5.4kg.
• Materials : Polycarbonate.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 360° wheels.
• Telescopic handle? No.

Pros: American based luggage label BÉIS is a time-earned brand thanks to its thoughtfully crafted luggage. Its Large Check-In Roller, available in an impressive 10 colour options, features compression straps, dividers with pockets, and a built-in laundry bag for separating worn clothes. Plus, the expandable design provides extra room for additional items you may pick up on your travels.

Cons: Despite being stain-resistant, it's not waterproof which is a drawback.

13. Best cabin luggage for practicality

Herschel Supply Co. Heritage Hardshell 50cm 4-Wheel Cabin Bag

• Size: carry-on suitcase, 50 × 33 × 23cm
• Capacity: 35l.
• Weight: 2.8kg.
• Materials : 70% recycled polycarbonate
• Spinner wheels? Yes. 360° Hinomoto wheels
• Opening (clamshell, lid zipper): clamshell

Pros : The split layout in this Herschel cabin luggage makes packing a breeze and since it's compartmentalised and has more room than meets the eye. Thanks to the silent performance of the Hinomoto 360° wheels, it also means that gliding through the airport is just that much easier, even when the suitcase is heavy. No annoying clattering or stumbling which some bad wheels give you after a couple of uses. It's also designed with a tonal stripe EcoSystem liner which is made from 100% recycled post-consumer water bottles, so it's like travelling with a conscious touch.

Cons : Would love to see a bigger colour selection.

GLAMOUR tested review: Shei Mamona , GLAMOUR's Beauty Writer says, “I got this suitcase in a neon orange shade and I love gliding it around small commutes and big travels. As far as durability goes. This thing is built for adventure. It's got reinforced corners for extra protection, and considering how it has had its fair share of bumps and knocks, its still holding up strong.”

Save money on stand out suitcases from our best luggage round up by using these John Lewis discount codes .

14. Best luxury suitcase

Rimowa Original Check-In M

• Size: Medium suitcase, 67 x 45.2 x 24.1cm.
• Capacity: 70l.
• Materials : Aluminium, polyester, plastic and hard plastic.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 ball-bearing mounted wheels with cushioned axels.
• Telescopic handle? Yes, with stage-free adjustment.
• Lock type: 2 TSA-approved locks.

Pros: One of the most luxe luggage brands in the business is Rimowa, always at the forefront of cutting-edge materials. In fact, it's Rimowa that crafted the first polycarbonate suitcase back in the year 2000. We loved the Original Check-In-M with its distinctive groove design, sleek and recognisable silver sheen and, tech-wise, the level of security it offers your valuables in unmatched.

Cons : Soft-shell duffle and suitcase lovers avert your eyes, all of Rimowa's luggage is hard-shell, though they have multiple different collections to choose from – from Classic to the pictured Original and, lastly, Essential Lite. Our other qualm? Much like the Tumi Alpha 3, the price point is somewhat of a deterrent. If you're browsing for luxury, however, this will be just the trick.

15. Best affordable suitcase

Tripp Pewter Absolute Lite Cabin 4 Wheel Suitcase

• Size: Cabin suitcase, 20 x 39 x 55cm.
• Capacity: 33l.
• Materials : ABS including 50% recycled ABS.
• Lock type: Secure integrated combination TSA lock.
• Expandable? No, but medium and large models are.

Pros : Affordable and available on Amazon Prime, Tripp suitcases get top marks from us if you don't want to spend a bomb. They've got over 20 years' experience designing and selling luggage, after all. Available in a plethora of colours (and often reduced in price for various seasonal sales) the Tripp Absolute Lite Cabin suitcase is one of the best lightweight picks and is tough and durable with a retractable trolley handle, top grab handle, packing straps and a zip-around divider. This case fits within most major airlines overhead allowances including BA, EasyJet Up Front & Ryanair Priority.

GLAMOUR tested review : "I've had mine for years," GLAMOUR's Senior European Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett said. “It's still just as good as new and doesn't look subject to wear and tear.”

Save money on the best business travel bags with these Amazon discount codes .

16. Best budget friendly suitcase

Amazon Basics ABS Luggage

• Size: Small check-in suitcase, 38.1 x 26.4 x 56cm.
• Capacity: 41l.
• Weight: 3.04kg.
• Materials : ABS protective hard shell with scratch-resistant finish + 150D-polyester interior.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 4 double spinner wheels.
• Lock type: N/A.
• Expandable? Yes, up to 1& extra.

Pros: Increasingly hard to get hold of due to their popularity, Amazon Basics suitcases are reliable, low-cost and, the beauty of Amazon Prime, come with free delivery. This pick comes with a fully-lined interior, it can expand by 15% and, for organisational nuts, it comes with one open side compartment, as well as three zipped compartments for all your tablets and USB cables on the reverse side. We love.

Cons: Not the most lightweight for those pushing their luck with airline weight limits.

Save money on the best suitcases with these Amazon discount codes .

17. Best hardside luggage

Away The Bigger Carry-On

• Size: Cabin suitcase, 57.7 x 37.3 x 24.3cm.
• Capacity: 47.9l.
• Weight: 3.4kg.
• Spinner wheels? Yes, 360° spinner wheels.
• Waterproof? No, but includes a waterproof laundry bag.
• Lock type: TSA-approved combination lock.

Pros: Away reigns supreme as one of the most coveted and influencer-adored suitcase brands of the moment. Their suitcases are available in endless colours – including this epic limited edition ombre shade – and can be personalised. Plus, in the permanent colourways, you'll also have the option of built-in battery packs so you can charge your phone as you travel. They're made from a durable polycarbonate hard shell and have 360° spinner wheels that ensure a smooth ride. Away also stocks weekend bags , rucksacks , toiletry bags and packing cubes .

Cons : Some of the more popular colours – e.g. the crisp white – go in and out of stock frequently, so grab the ones you've got your eye on quickly!

By Sophie Cockett

By Georgia Lockstone

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The 11 Best Luggage Brands of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

No matter what size or style you want, these are the best luggage brands to fit your needs.

In This Article

• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Our Decision Process
• Tips For Buying
• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

No matter where you're going or how often you travel, luggage can make or break your trip. It helps with planning, packing, and staying organized while away — and sometimes determines whether you can bring back souvenirs. There's a wide range of checked suitcases, carry-on bags, duffels, weekenders, underseat bags, and backpacks on the market. Beyond that, you've got hardside and softside options with various organizational features. Amid what you might call the Golden Age of luggage, it can be hard to sift through your offerings.

To figure out what brands stand out from the rest, our Travel + Leisure team has tested more than 450 pieces of luggage ranging from carry-ons and checked suitcases to duffels, weekenders, garment bags, and other types of travel bags — assessing capacity, maneuverability, durability, and design through a series of tests and simulations. We've rolled suitcases through obstacle courses, threw them off tables, and hit them with baseball bats to see how well they'd perform in different travel scenarios like rough baggage handlers. We even recreated an airplane set in our New York City lab to lift bags into real overhead bins and underneath seats. We continue testing each bag in our real-life travels for a minimum of six months to make sure it stands up to planes, trains, automobiles, and anything else life may throw at it.

Our team has tested bags from many different brands, and below you'll find our current favorites. We will continue to update this article as we test even more luggage brands and new bags.

Best Overall

Backed by a 10-year warranty, Samsonite luggage is compact yet spacious, easy to maneuver, and exceptionally durable.

Because Samsonite has such a wide variety of designs and price points, some bags perform better than others.

After our most recent set of luggage tests, Samsonite has risen to the top as our favorite overall luggage brand. Samsonite luggage is generally lightweight and compact on the outside, with spacious interiors to maximize packing and a variety of styles to choose from. We especially love the brand for its versatility, with an impressive variety of bags at different price points so you can find whatever suits you whether you're looking for something affordable or luxurious.

The Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Carry-on holds the spot as the best overall carry-on we've ever tested, while the Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside takes the cake as our favorite checked suitcase . The Samsonite Bartlett Carry-on Softside Spinner earned perfect scores during our tests, impressing us as a solid softside suitcase for under $100. We also loved the organizational features — including multiple tech sleeves and included packing cubes — of the Samsonite Just Right Carry-on Spinner .

Almost all of the suitcases sustained hardly any damage after we hit them with a baseball bat and shoved them off a table. Samsonite luggage also maneuvers without a fuss, even on carpeted floors and gravel. Prices are more than reasonable, and while you'll have to make any returns within 30 days, the brand backs its products with a 10-year warranty.

The Details: 30 day return policy | 10-year warranty

Travel + Leisure/Joy Kim

Best Overall, Runner-up

The suitcases are durable, smooth-rolling, and spacious, and the brand has a generous 100-day return policy.

Some are harder to pull on two wheels, and the checked models are a bit heavy. 

All Travelpro luggage we tested earned high scores for maneuverability, durability, capacity, and overall design. The brand's hardside and softside models were a hit in the T+L lab, and there are both carry-on and checked options with spacious interiors and expandable capacities. We also appreciated the various organizational features, like zipper panels, cross straps, and pockets.

With self-aligning spinner wheels and sturdy telescoping handles, Travelpro luggage is also easy to maneuver on hard floors, carpet, and even gravel (though some suitcases are slightly harder to roll on two wheels than four, especially when packed full). We particularly love the Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On Expandable Hardside Spinner with its sleek wheels and a textured handle that helps maintain a comfortable grip, and we think the Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Large Check-In Trunk Spinner makes a stylish investment piece if you're looking for something large, durable, and built to last. Even Travelpro's rolling garment bag impressed with its high capacity for the size. And, while the carry-ons are generally lightweight, one thing to note is that the larger checked models weigh almost twice as much when empty.

After shoving the suitcases off a table and whacking them with a baseball bat, we were pleasantly surprised by their durability. We only noticed a couple superficial marks — no scratches or dents, and nothing that wouldn't wipe clean. Travelpro offers a generous 100-day return policy and backs its luggage with warranties ranging from 10 years to a lifetime, though it can be difficult to connect with their customer service department to initiate returns or repair requests at times.

The Details: 100 day return policy | 10-year to lifetime warranty

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best for Staying Organized

Away Travel

Beyond aesthetic appeal, Away flaunts plenty of pockets and compartments that keep all of your items in place.

The hardside suitcases might scratch under heavy use.

Away luggage has a minimalist-modern aesthetic and a sophisticated yet practical appeal. We're huge fans of the brand's suitcases and weekenders and particularly love The Everywhere Bag that's perfect for overnight trips, quick weekend adventures, and use as a personal item on longer trips. The checked baggage and hardside carry-on luggage pieces are light yet durable and easy to wipe clean. They didn't sustain any dents from our baseball bat tests, but there were a few scratches after we shoved them off a table. There are so many sizes to choose from, including one of our favorite trunks we've ever tested. We liked the dual main compartments, compression systems, expanders, and dirty laundry satchels of the roller bags.

The suitcases were a breeze to maneuver on their 360-degree spinner wheels, and carrying The Everywhere and The Garment Bag was comfortable with the padded shoulder straps. The Garment Bag also has interior padding that keeps all of your longer clothing items protected and helps to minimize wrinkles. Away is certainly not the cheapest luggage brand out there, but it's also far from the most expensive. Considering the 100-day return window, lifetime warranty, and stylish designs, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to pretty much any traveler.

The Details: 100 day return policy | Lifetime warranty

A perfect choice for organized travelers, Paravel luggage has lots of added features and a sophisticated appeal.

The suitcases don't expand, and the lighter colors are prone to scuffing.

Perfect for organized travelers , Paravel takes the cake for additional features. We loved the dual compartments, many pockets, dividers, and removable laundry bags. While the suitcases don't expand, the compression pads make fitting everything a cinch. The Paravel Aviator Carry-on Plus was one of our top carry-on bags thanks to its sleek design, roomy interior that makes packing a breeze, and slick wheels that were great on every surface. We also love the super cute Paravel Mini Fold-up Backpack that earned perfect scores in every category, as well as our pick as best overall mini backpack . Not only does the bag fold up small so you can pack it in larger bags, but it also has a high capacity that can even fit a tablet, making it the perfect eye-catching style to wear on any vacation.

Most Paravel luggage pieces held up well during our durability tests, though the lighter-colored hardside models are prone to scuffing. The suitcases are also easy to pull, push, and roll over various flooring materials. What's more, Paravel luggage is undeniably stylish with a sophisticated appeal and a cool mid-century flair. Prices are somewhat steep, but in the end, we think it's worth the investment.

People / Jhett Thompson

Most Spacious

Delsey Paris

The brand's large-capacity suitcases are impressively spacious yet lightweight, with built-in expanders and smooth-rolling wheels.

The hardside models are prone to scuffing.

Delsey is a go-to for large-capacity luggage . This brand carries both hardside and softside suitcases, including surprisingly spacious carry-ons and checked baggage in multiple sizes so you can find the best design for your needs. We were thrilled by how much they fit, noting that they could easily pack all items on our packing list with room to spare, even without expansion functions.

The suitcases maneuver well on their four spinner wheels, even over carpet, cracks, and bumps. Most models are also lightweight, so lifting them into an overhead bin is no problem. We checked the Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-on and matching Chatelet Air 2.0 Medium Checked bag on four different long-haul international flights and each time they made it to the luggage carousel with only minor scuffs that were easily wiped away. We appreciate Delsey's accessible price points, plus the brand backs its luggage with warranties ranging from five to 10 years.

The Details: 30 day return policy | 5-to-10-year warranty

Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples

Best Colors

They come in both neutrals and so many colorful designs, including limited-edition options.

Some of the carry-ons are on the smaller size.

You’ll feel like a kid in a candy store with all of the colorful suitcase options from July — and if you tend to gravitate toward neutrals, July has those, too. After we tested over a dozen bags in our lab on on our airplane set, some of our favorites included the July Carry On (includes a portable charger), the July Checked Plus (the largest suitcase in July’s range), the July Checked Plus Light (a great lightweight option), and the July Trunk Set (a stylish, zipperless two-piece set). 

We found the bags to be very durable against our baseball bat tests, although we noticed that the bags with aluminum corner bumpers tended to scuff more easily specifically on the corners. One of our favorite features was that some bags, including the Carry On Pro SnapSleeve , feature a multi-stop telescopic handle that you can adjust to 20 different heights, when many suitcase handles only stop at three heights.

Different bag styles are available in different colorways, and you can choose from delightful shades of blues, greens, pinks, reds, shadow lavender, plum, yellow, sand, and more, most of which will easily stand out on any baggage carousel. We did notice that some of the carry-ons tend to be much more spacious than others, so be sure to check the dimensions to find a size that will fit everything you need.

The Details: 100 day return policy | Limited lifetime warranty on luggage; 5-year warranty on soft bags and accessories; 2-year warranty on small leather goods

Best for Smaller Bags

Calpak luggage is compact yet still spacious enough to hold the essentials, and maneuvering it is a piece of cake.

The two-year warranty is substantially shorter than most other brands.

If you're looking for something you can stash in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, Calpak might be your best bet. We loved the duffles, backpacks, and suitcases with a particular appreciation for the Hue Mini Carry-on Luggage , our best overall underseat bag . We love that it glides smoothly, has a sturdy exterior, and can even fit a laptop, making it perfect for weekend getaways or even business trips.

Even when packed full, we found each Calpak suitcase to roll beautifully on both two wheels and four. We also like the Compakt Small Garment Bag , which is perfect to transport of one or two formal pieces inside a carry-on suitcase. The Stevyn Duffel Bag was very comfortable to tote with its shoulder strap and features a separate shoe compartment to keep your items clean if you're in the market for something smaller. Though the two-year warranty is shorter than most other brands, we think Calpak's prices are more than fair.

The Details: 30 day return policy | 2-year warranty

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Best Budget

Amazon basics.

Amazon's luggage is not just budget-friendly but also lightweight and sturdy with unexpectedly large capacities.

Color options are limited, and the suitcases don't have USB ports or other smart features.

We can confidently tell you there's much more to love about Amazon Basics luggage than a budget-friendly price tag. The Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner also landed on our list of the best lightweight luggage after earning a perfect score in all categories. We especially love that even though it is a light suitcase, it's sturdy with wheels that easily maneuver over gravel and carpeting. More pockets would have been appreciated, but both the carry-on and checked models easily fit everything on our packing list without the expanders, which adds another 15 percent to the capacity.

The hardside suitcases have extra-thick thermoplastic shells that passed our durability tests with flying colors — no scratches or dents in sight. They were generally easy to maneuver, too, albeit a little more difficult on gravel. Color options are limited, and while most Amazon Basics carriers don't have TSA locks or smart features, the designs exceeded our expectations.

The Details: 30 day return policy | 3-year warranty

Best Splurge

This splurge-worthy luggage brand boasts expandable main compartments, ample pockets, impact-resistant exteriors, and smooth spinner wheels.

The price might be hard to justify, and the checked bags are somewhat heavy when empty.

If you want the crème de la crème of luggage, Tumi is where it's at . The suitcases and underseat bags fared better than the duffel we tested, but all in all, we were impressed. Our favorite by far is the Alpha International Expandable 4-wheeled Carry-on that looks compact but includes plenty of organizational compartments and even comes with its own removable garment bag. There was plenty of space to pack everything on our list in every Tumi bag, even without the expanders. This brand also stands out for its organizational, smart, and security features. We're talking ample pockets, removable garment bags, laptop sleeves, USB ports, lockable zippers, and TSA-approved locks.

Whether you go softside or hardside, you can count on reliable durability — we even jumped on the bags and rode on top of them and not one feature broke or dented. We observed virtually no scuffs or scratches after whacking the bags with a baseball bat. Tumi luggage is easy to maneuver, thanks to the spinner wheels, but bear in mind the checked sizes are pretty heavy when empty. If you can swing the steep price, we think the brand is an excellent choice for long trips, frequent fliers , and those who like to stay organized.

The Details: 30 day return policy | 5-year warranty

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Most Durable

Briggs & riley.

Briggs & Riley

With ballistic nylon or shock-absorbing polycarbonate exteriors, Briggs & Riley suitcases can really take a beating.

This is one of the more expensive brands, and the checked models are slightly heavy when empty.

The most durable luggage we tested comes from Briggs & Riley . The brand carries softside suitcases with ballistic nylon exteriors that resist premature wear and tear, as well as hardside models like the Sympatico Domestic Carry-on Expandable Spinner with shock-absorbing polycarbonate shells that promise to protect your cargo from getting crushed. We were impressed by how well they stood up to our shoves and bat swings — no dents or scratches to speak of.

Durability aside, Briggs & Riley suitcases roll effortlessly on hard floors and carpet, over bumps, and around tight corners. They also have decent capacities, many with built-in expanders. This is one of the more expensive luggage brands, but it's backed by a lifetime guarantee. We wouldn't be surprised if the suitcases last 10 or more years. Not only that, but there are a few options for remedying potential damage, including self-repair kits, authorized repair centers, or shipping back to Briggs & Riley for a tune-up.

The Details: 30 day return policy | Lifetime warranty

People / Tamara Staples

Best Design

Thoughtfully designed, each Béis bag we tried comes with extra, often removable, features so you can customize your packing.

These are large bags and we had a hard time fitting some weekenders under airplane seats.

Shay Mitchell's luggage brand quickly won our hearts with each bag's thoughtful design, customizable inserts, and removable compartments. The bags are certainly large and can fit everything you need for a long vacation or quick weekend getaway — just be mindful that not all of the duffel-style bags will work as personal items. The Weekender is one of our favorites: like Mary Poppins' bag of wonders, this tote seems to expand as you pack it, fitting every item on our list.

When it comes to rolling bags, the 29-inch Large Check-in Roller is our best checked bag for organization . Similar to its weekenders, carry-on bags, and backpacks, Béis' check-in bag is huge and can fit everything you need and more. All of the Béis suitcases we tested also sported durable wheels that smoothly navigated different types of surfaces without gettings tuck, as well as easy-to-use handles that make running through the airport a breeze.

The Details: 45 day return policy | Limited lifetime warranty

Travel + Leisure/

Other Luggage Brands We Liked

Even though these brands did not make our main list, they still have some worthwhile suitcases and bags to consider.

Monos :  Monos items have a nice, sleek look that are generally easy to maneuver. However, when we tested its large check-in suitcase, we found that it carried less items than some of its competitors.

Arlo Skye :  We love this brand's smooth design and stand-out colors, but considering the higher price-point, these bags don't roll quite as smoothly as some other brands.

Roam : We're big fans of Roam's The Check-in hardside suitcase as well as the designs of other Roam bags; however, after one-month of real-world travels, we found these luggage pieces to be more prone to scratching than other brands we tried.

The T+L team has tested more than 450 pieces of luggage, including carry-ons, checked suitcases, duffels, weekenders, garment bags, backpacks, and more in our New York City testing facility. We've tried at least six models from many top-rated brands, performing a range of assessments to evaluate the capacity, maneuverability, durability, design, and overall value. We weighed each bag, then packed it with enough clothes and personal items to get through a four-day trip (more for the larger checked bags).

To see how the luggage would perform in a real-life environment, we rolled them on different flooring materials, across gravel and carpets, over bumps, and around corners. We also threw each piece off a table and whacked it a few times with a metal baseball bat to test for potential wear and tear and how prone it was to scratching or denting. In addition, we recreated an airplane set in our lab, where we hoisted the carry-on suitcases into real overhead bins and stuffed them underneath seats to see how easy they were to lift and how portable they felt.

After lab testing, each suitcase and bag was sent out for real-world testing, and our T+L editors brought the bags on vacations, weekend trips, and overnighters. To test each bag's true durability, convenience, and longevity, we tested each bag on planes, trains, buses, and even cruise ships, checking in after one month, three months, and six months to give our feedback. Considering standout features, size, and price, we created categorized ranked lists of every luggage piece we tested. The luggage brands with the highest average ratings were ultimately chosen for this list of our favorites, which we will continue to update as we test eve more luggage.

How We Chose These Brands

The T+L team tested at least six bags per brand on our winners list to ensure a broad sample size. We tested underseat luggage , checked luggage, and carry-on luggage as well as duffel bags, garment bags, and backpacks, and gave each individual bag a score based on its capacity, design, durability, maneuverability, and overall value.

Next, we created rankings based on the total average scores of all the bags we tested for that brand. We also thoroughly read through all of the tester insights on each luggage item from these three tests to evaluate each bag's details and features. Finally, we determined whether or not we would recommend a bag and its overall brand.

Tips for Buying Luggage

Get to know the brand.

When it comes to researching a new luggage brand, you're already well on your way. For more information on a specific brand, you can check out its website, read customer reviews on products you like, or even take a peek at the items in person. Buying new luggage (whether a singular piece or luggage set ) can be a pricey investment, so be sure you like a brand's style, warranty options, and overall quality before you make that purchase. This is especially important when it comes to splurging on luxury luggage pieces .

Know your organizational preferences

Material and size are important, but some of the best luggage brands stand out for their organizational features. This may include dual main compartments, various pockets, a shoe separator, zippered sections, a toiletry bag , a removable laundry bag, a garment bag, a laptop sleeve, and maybe even a USB port with a power bank pouch — some Arlo Skye luggage includes the power bank itself. While it's not a top priority for all travelers, this can make packing and accessing your belongings much easier.

Look for durability

The best luggage stands up to wear and tear for several years to come. Both softside and hardside luggage options can be very durable. It's really a matter of whether you want to safeguard your packed items from getting crushed or protect the exterior of the suitcase from superficial blemishes (though many softside and hardside models we tested check all the boxes).

Think about mobility

You should also think about maneuverability. When you're running into the airport to check your bags before heading to security, you'll want a suitcase that doesn't hold you back. Four-wheel spinner suitcases tend to be easier to pull and push over different surfaces compared to suitcases with just two wheels, and they're even better if they have a sturdy telescoping handle. Grab handles and padded straps are ideal for other types of luggage, and a lightweight design will make your travel experience much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

You'll see a range of hardside and softside models when browsing luggage, and many of the best brands offer both. What you purchase really comes down to personal preference. Some people appreciate how crush-resistant hardside suitcases protect their belongings. They're also easy to wipe clean and have a sleek, modern appearance.

On the other hand, softside suitcases are typically (but not always) lighter in weight and more flexible, so you can often pack more in them. After testing both types, we can tell you they're often just as durable as hardside options, and they won't dent like hardside bags do. Although a textile exterior might be trickier to clean, it can be better at concealing scuffs and dirt. Regardless of the type of luggage, you can find several effective products to clean suitcases available.

Size limits for carry-on luggage vary among airlines . That said, most allow suitcases no larger than 24 inches tall, 16 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. Some are a little more strict, with limits set around 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Keep this in mind if your suitcase has an expander, as the additional inch or two could put it over the allowed size limit. We recommend checking the airline's website if you're not sure whether your luggage will pass as a carry-on.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, commerce writer Theresa Holland pored over our in-house testing insights, checked return policies, read the fine print for warranties, and evaluated price ranges to create a comprehensive roundup of the best luggage brands out there today.

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Best carry-on luggage 2024: premium cabin luggage and cheap lightweight cases

The best carry-on luggage will help you breeze through the airport and make your journey quick and easy

The top three

• 1. Best overall carry-on luggage
• 2. Best lightweight option
• 3. Best affordable option
• 4. Best premium option
• 5. Best stylish option
• 6. Best elegant option
• 7. Best convenient option
• 8. Best long-haul option
• 9. Best quality option
• 9. Best laptop option

Best carry-on luggage 2024: Jump Menu

00. The top three↴ 01. Best overall : Tumi Tegra-Lite Max Continental 02. Best lightweight : Samsonite Cosmolite 55cm Spinner 03. Best affordable : Aerolite 55cm Hard Shell 04. Best premium : Db Ramverk Pro Carry-on Luggage 05. Best stylish : Eastpak Tranzshell 54cm Hand Luggage 06. Best elegant : Ted Baker Albany 2-Wheel 07. Best convenient : July Carry-On Pro  08. Best long-haul : Victorinox Lexicon 2.0 Dual-Caster 09. Best quality : Aerotrunk Pangolin Carry-On Luggage 10. Best laptop : Samsonite Guard It Rolling Tote

Looking for the best carry-on luggage of 2024? You've come to the right place as our guide has all the information you need to make an informed purchase for your next getaway.

We're long-time proponents of travelling light and think if you’re going on a short or a long trip there's little reason you need to check-in luggage – all you need to do is pack carefully. However, good intentions go nowhere unless you have the best carry-on luggage.

With a small cabin-sized suitcase, you can keep everything you need with you, bypassing both the bag drop queue and the luggage carousel at your destination... and get to the taxi rank before everyone else on your flight.

Looking for something larger? Check out the best suitcases or if you're looking to travel lighter, we suggest the best backpacks and best travel bags . If you're travelling with a baby or toddler then we recommend travelling with the best travel stroller .

Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. Lizzie is lucky enough to travel a lot, so she knows her stuff when it comes to the best carry ons. 

The best overall carry-on luggage

Available in a sleek Graphite grey, the Tumi Tegra-Lite Max comes with four double wheels for stability, a telescopic aluminium handle, and is made from tough polycarbonate so should be able to clock up as many air miles as you do. The Tumi contains three zipped compartments, as well as straps for keeping clothes in place. 

Read more below

The best lightweight option

Customers who use this Samsonite are impressed with the amount of space inside, and say they are definitely worth the cost as they are built to last. Some think the handle feels a little flimsy, but with this cabin case being super lightweight, the 4 wheels make it really easy to get around the airport with no fuss. 

The best affordable option 

This case from Aerolite is extremely light and extremely affordable, two things that make it very appealing. It has four wheels and a retractable trolley grip handle, which make it easy to steer in any direction. It all feels very well made, despite how affordable it really is. 

Best carry-on luggage you can buy today

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The best overall carry-on option

1. tumi tegra-lite max continental expandable carry-on, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Available in a sleek Graphite grey, the Tumi Tegra-Lite Max is the perfect carry-on case for a short trip away. It comes with four double wheels for stability, a telescopic aluminium handle, and is made from tough polycarbonate so should be able to clock up as many air miles as you do. The Tumi contains three zipped compartments for safely stowing all your belongings, as well as straps for keeping clothes in place. The case is secured with a zip fastening too, with TSA-compatible combination locks for security. 

Unfortunately, it's heavier than the other carry-on suitcases on this list, weighing in at 4.99kg. That's by no means uncomfortable to carry around, but it's not quite as impressive as the featherlight cases we've also reviewed.

• Back to the top ⤴

2. Samsonite Cosmolite 55cm Spinner Cabin Case

If you’re a frequent flyer, whether it is for business or please, you need to have a Samsonite. Customers who use this Samsonite are impressed with the amount of space inside, and say they are definitely worth the cost as they are built to last. Some think the handle feels a little flimsy, but with this cabin case being super lightweight, the 4 wheels make it really easy to get around the airport with no fuss. 

It also has a TSA lock which is perfect for those who travel regularly, and the hard casing means your case will be protected when in the hold. 

The best affordable option

3. aerolite 55cm hard shell cabin luggage.

This case from Aerolite is extremely light and extremely affordable, two things that make it very appealing. It has four wheels and a retractable trolley grip handle, which make it easy to steer in any direction. It all feels very well made, despite how affordable it really is.

The outer casing is made from durable but lightweight hard shell plastic which offers a high level of protection. The interior features packing straps and an internal zipped divider with elasticated pockets (perfect for shoes), to keep the contents in place during transit. The case includes a free three-digit combination barrel padlock for extra security, plus a five year guarantee for ultimate peace of mind.

The best premium option

4. Db Ramverk Pro Carry-on Luggage

Our expert review:

The Db Ramverk Pro Carry-on Luggage is the best suitcase for travelling professionals. It's well-made, highly functional and made from mostly recycled materials. It's a bit heavy, and the sturdiness of the bag might be OTT for some travellers; however, photographers and videographers should consider it as their next small travel case. 

For all the details, see our Db Ramverk Pro Carry-on Luggage review . 

The best stylish option

5. Eastpak Tranzshell 54cm Hand Luggage

The Eastpak Tranzshell is available in seven different colours to suit your style. Our favourite is this distinctive Camo print (which is now sold out). It also comes in three different sizes Small, Medium and Large, although we’ve chosen the smallest model here. The Eastpak Tranzshell also promises to be tough and long-lasting with innovative foam and hybrid fabric, impressive 30-year warranty, and smooth-running wheels on its base. It also comes with a comfortable padded handle so it's easy to move around. 

Inside it's just as smart, with two zipped pockets to keep your belongings in place during your travels. This case is reasonably light at 2.9kg, so for a short holiday or business trip away it’s ideal, especially given the large 32-litre capacity. It also includes a locking zip system with is TSA compatible.

The best elegant option

6. Ted Baker Albany 2-Wheel Business Bag

Available in black with a bright `Blue Butterfly`pattern interior, Ted Baker's stylish carry-on suitcase is a real designer piece with a distinctive, elegant look. Made from lustrous 900 denier twill material with rose gold highlights, the Albany also includes two smooth-rolling wheels in its base, plus large handbag-like handles. Inside the classy looks continue with a bright pattern, and plenty of room for your essentials. 

Other goodies include a 3-digit combination lock with TSA, and contrasting saffiano envelope style front pocket. The Albany case is also available in range of other sizes – so whether you want a carry-on bag, or something larger for an extended trip away, Ted Baker has you covered. 

The best convenient option

7. July Carry-On Pro

Apart from looking great, the July Carry-On Pro has two features that really help it to stand out from regular carry-ons. The first is the power bank that sits just under the handle and can be easily popped out for charging. It’s enough to fully charge your phone a couple of times, a perfect solution when you can't find a wall plug nearby. 

The second feature is a removable laptop sleeve which is padded for protection and will fit a 15-inch MacBook with ease. The fact that it’s removable means that you can easily keep this part in your seat pocket, or take it with you to meetings when you arrive. 

The case runs of four spinning wheels which are nice and smooth to push the case and appear hard-wearing. Priced at £275, it might not be the cheapest carry-on, but it has everything you need.

The best long-haul option

8. Victorinox Lexicon 2.0 Dual-Caster Wide-Body Carry-On

Here’s a carry-on with global importance. Although it’s technically within the 56x45x25cm limit, in practice this carry-on is – when packed (and definitely when expanded) – too wide for short-haul flights in the UK and Europe. However, long-haul routes tend to have far less restrictions (though always check before you travel). 

Able to take 42 litres in an expandable main section, this hybrid case/carry-on has double-spinner wheels for maximum mobility, an adjustable handle with three different heights, and vertical X-shaped compression straps for squeezing even more inside. It’s for those that want to travel far, and travel light… ish.

The best quality option

9. Aerotrunk Pangolin Carry-On Luggage

This Aerotrunk carry-on is made from makrolon polycarbonate materials that are designed to make it as durable and long-lasting as possible. It also features a built-in front compartment for easy access to your travel essentials, including laptops and tablets. This makes it a great option for on-the-move professionals.

It's also fitted with an unbreakable polycarbonate shell, ultra-sturdy telescopic handle, TSA-approved lock, whisper-quiet wheels and vegan leather details. After regular use, it does noticeably cuff, especially on the darker models. However, this doesn't impact its durability at all. 

The best laptop option

10. Samsonite Guard It Rolling Tote

When travelling for business on a regular basis, carrying a laptop can be a real pain. However, this Samsonite laptop carry-on is the best way to ensure your device is protected on your flight. It offers a generous padded compartment which can accommodate laptops up to 17.3 inches, and you get an additional tablet pocket, for screens up to 10.1 inches. 

This carry-on luggage only has 2 wheels for rolling, but it certainly takes the stress out of carrying an additional laptop bag on your shoulder as well as a cabin bag. You’ll still have ample space to fit in your clothing for a short trip.

How to choose the best carry-on luggage

Most airlines these days have the same rules and regulations about carry-on luggage. Common airlines at British airports, such as EasyJet and British Airways, allow you to bring on board a cabin bag with dimensions up to 56x45x25cm. 

However, be sure to check with the specific airline you are travelling with, as they may vary. Read T3's guide to the most popular airline's baggage allowance: luggage limits, excess charges, and how to avoid them .

It is also important to be aware that the budget airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair and Flybe sometimes operate a one-bag policy, which means you cannot have your carry-on luggage and your handbag, as this would count as two pieces (although you can always just shove it inside your case while boarding and take it out again once seated like everyone else). 

So, what’s the best carry-on luggage? That depends on what kind of traveller you are, but know that they come with 2 wheels, 4 wheels or even 8 wheels, so you barely have to make any effort to carry your bag at all. So if you struggle to pack light, at least you won’t struggle through the airport. However, a carry-on size backpack can also be a great option.

If you do plan on cramming in as much stuff as possible, opt for feather-light luggage. They can weigh as little as 2kg and will make your life a whole lot easier when you’re lifting your bag into the overhead compartment. What determines their weight is what they’re made of, but bags made of light fabrics do tend to have more built-in pockets.

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Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. She works closely with Bethan Girdler-Maslen, T3's Home Editor, ensuring all the latest news, trends and recommendations are covered. Outside of T3, Lizzie can be found mooching around Bath, attempting (or at least trying to) a new DIY project or spending time with family and friends.

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• Bethan Girdler-Maslen Home Editor

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American Tourister

Briggs & riley, bric's, luggage faqs, the 11 best luggage brands of 2024, tested by experts.

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The best suitcases let you roll through the airport quickly and confidently, with assurance that your items are well-protected and sturdily organized within.

We selected our picks for the best luggage brands based on years of hands-on testing by several travel editors who regularly take up to 50 flights a year. Since the size of luggage you'll need will depend on your specific travel plans, we focused on the best brands rather than specific pieces. Our top picks are known for making sturdy and reliable luggage, with smart extras to make packing and traveling a breeze. 

Read on for our top choices for the best luggage brands at various price points to consider. If you're specifically looking for hand-luggage, check out our guide to the best carry-on bags . 

Our top picks for the best luggage brands

Shop all luggage at Samsonite

When it comes to value, Samsonite makes excellent luggage at some of the best prices, which is why we named it our top overall pick for the best carry-on . Samsonite offers numerous options for roller bags, including both hard-side and soft-side carry-ons and checked luggage, as well as wheeled underseat bags and even roller duffels. 

Samsonite also sells several two- and three-piece sets if you want to pair small, medium, and large roller bags together. In addition to traditional roller luggage, Samsonite also offers classic backpacks, wheeled backpacks, duffels, briefcases, wallets, dop kits, and more. There are even some cool wheeled garment bags that can fit under your seat and will fit far more than your typical folding or hanging garment bag. I've owned a Samsonite bag for over three years now and it's held up incredibly well.

You can read our full Samsonite Centric Carry-On review for more info.

Worth a look:

Shop all luggage at Away

Away has multiple options for roller luggage, including hard-sided, expandable, and aluminum. Bags are available in both neutral hues and bright, eye-catching colors.

Away's stand-out feature used to be the removable battery pack for charging your electronics on the go, which was previously available as an add-on to its carry-on bags. While the brand retired that feature, we still think its bags have thoughtful extras like in-bag compression, built-in TSA-approved locks, and a removable washable lining. 

In addition to roller bags, the brand also a range of other bags and travel accessories, including backpacks, duffels, pet carriers, totes, packing cubes, and more. I've personally owned Away luggage for years and can attest to its durability and practicality. 

Read our full Away luggage review and Away Carry-On review for more.

Shop all luggage at Travelpro

Travelpro mostly makes soft-side luggage and rightfully earned its spot as our top pick for the best soft-sided carry-on . I personally love the clear attention to detail that comes with a Travelpro bag, from the whisper-quiet spinner wheels to the tear-resistant material and sturdy buckles.

In addition to rolling luggage, Travelpro has options for underseat bags (rolling and not), toiletry bags, backpacks, foldable duffels, garment bags (which often come included with a carry-on), luggage tags, laptop bags, and more.

Read our full Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On review for more.

Shop all luggage at Monos

Monos is a newer start-up that doesn't have as many suitcase options as the other luggage brands on our list, but it's worth mentioning since it's one of the best suitcases on the market with a hard front pocket that gives you an easy place to safely store laptops and extras. Monos suitcases are durable, come in an array of colors, and are well-priced. Plus, all of the luggage comes with a 100-day trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. The same brand also makes some of our favorite durable packing cubes .

Currently, Monos has two sizes of carry-on that either come with a front pocket or not depending on your preferences, plus a medium-sized roller bag and a checked luggage option. Monos also make a backpack, duffel, and folio kit.

You can read our full Monos luggage review for more.

Shop all luggage at American Tourister

Many of American Tourister's carry-ons start under $100, and while they may not last you a lifetime, they certainly won't break down anytime soon either. The hard-sided bags are made from a sturdy ABS material, and the spinner wheels aren't quite as high-end as premium options but still easily roll on most surfaces. While these suitcases don't come with tons of extras (be aware that some don't come with built-in TSA locks), the interiors are still thoughtfully designed for easy packing. 

American Tourister has numerous roller bag options in varying sizes, including both hard-sided and soft-sided suitcases. There is also a line of Disney luggage that kids especially might love. While there are also some nice wheeled underseat bags, American Tourister hasn't branched out much from classic roller bags, so you'll want to look elsewhere if a duffel or weekender bag is more your aim.

Shop all luggage at Rimowa

When it comes to high-end luggage, Rimowa is a consistent standout that uses premium materials to create long-lasting and recognizable pieces. Its ribbed aluminum luggage, which comes in every color from simple silver to a cherry red, is particularly popular — though it will cost you upwards of $1,000. However, thanks to heavy-duty construction that still manages to be lightweight, the rollers might be worth it if budget isn't an issue for you.

For a slightly more cost-effective (though still pricey) option, I particularly love the Essential Lite collection, which I named the best high-end hard-side carry-on thanks to the fact that it's incredibly durable but weighs less than five pounds. Unfortunately, if you're a fan of soft-sided suitcases, Rimowa is not the brand for you, and there aren't as many accessories available as some other brands. 

Read our full Rimowa Essential Lite carry-on review .

Shop all luggage at Briggs & Riley

We named Briggs & Riley our top pick for the best high-end soft-side carry-on. I particularly like the super-smart interior features that truly elevate these suitcases, from a special CX compression-expansion system that increases packing capacity by 25%, to making sure the adjustable handle is entirely on the outside of the bag so no packing room is lost to the poles. These suitcases are certainly investment pieces, but they're built to last and also come with a lifetime warranty.

While I find the soft-sided bags to be some of Briggs & Riley's best options, there are also some nice hard-sided carry-ons and checked bags for those who prefer to go that route. In addition to roller bags, Briggs & Riley also makes backpacks, duffels, weekends, laptop bags, and travel accessories of all types, including packing cubes, bag ID tags, laundry bags, and more.

Shop all luggage at Bric's

Bric's is probably best known for its high-end Bellagio collection of luggage, both recognizable and revered for its durable, but ultra-light polycarbonate exterior with leather trim that gives it a nostalgic trunk feel. It's the little details that set this Italian brand apart, including Hinomoto wheels, matching interior linings, and premium zippers. That's why you've likely seen a luxury travel guru wheeling this bag through the airport, or, if you're an eagle-eyed "Schitt's Creek" fan, may have caught Alexis Rose using this collection to pack up her belongings. 

However, for those not ready to spend $600 on a carry-on, Bric's also has several more affordable suitcases in both hard-sided and soft-sided options. The Capri collection features striking exterior detailing in a wide range of colors at a mid-tier price point, while B/Y Zeus will appear to soft-sided fans.

The brand also has a sale section where you can sometimes score premium collections that typically start at $650 or more for under $200. 

Read our full Bric's Capri luggage review .     

Shop all luggage at Tumi

Like Rimowa, Tumi luggage pieces are an investment. But they're a worthy one since these suitcases will likely last you years, if not decades. With numerous options of all sizes for both hard-sided and soft-sided suitcases, Tumi has bags to suit just about all tastes. 

Its well-thought-out suitcases include premium spinner wheels, heavy-duty zippers, scratch- and tear-resistant exteriors, and well-designed interiors that help travelers maximize every last inch of space. In addition to roller luggage, Tumi is also well known for its premium totes and briefcases, and also makes travel wallets, backpacks, duffels, care kits, travel umbrellas, and more. 

Shop all luggage at Victorinox

Victorinox luggage falls in the mid- to high-tier of pricing but its durability makes it a good value choice. The brand also frequently has luggage on sale during big shopping holidays when you can score suitcases for less. As you might expect from a Swiss Army company, the interiors of most suitcases are also thoughtfully designed to maximize packing space. 

Victorinox offers both hard-sided and soft-sided roller bags of numerous sizes including classic carry-ons, checked bags, medium-sized suitcases, and smaller wheeled underseat bags that can fit laptops and accessories. Beyond roller bags, Victorinox also offers briefcases, duffels, backpacks, totes, toiletry kits, garment bags, and more.

Shop all luggage at Delsey

If you like the look of Bric's cream suitcases with leather trim, you may also want to consider Delsey's Chatelet line of hard-sided luggage. While these suitcases start around the same price as Bric's, they can be found on sale more frequently, often for half the price. Delsey's Titanium suitcases are also a fan-favorite option since they are ultra-lightweight but incredibly durable. 

Delsey has numerous options for roller bags for domestic and international travel in both hard-sided and soft-sided variations (though more hard-sided), as well as several luggage sets. It even has an eco-friendly line of laptop bags and duffels using recycled materials.  

Is hard-sided or soft-sided luggage better?

There are pros and cons to each. In general, hard-sided luggage offers more protection for your belongings than soft-sided luggage.

For checked bags, you're best bet is hard-sided luggage, since it can withstand tough handling and having other items stacked on top. Soft-sided luggage may be a good option if you want more flexibility, since fabric-made suitcases have a lot more give. Soft-sided pieces are a good option for carry-ons because they can flex and compress to fit into tight overhead bins.  

What size luggage should I buy?

We think it's best to start with a carry-on size, since it offers the most flexibility, whether you want to keep it in the cabin or check it. Most US airlines cap carry-on size at 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high, including handles and wheels.

When it comes to buying a checked bag, you'll want something between 25 and 29 inches long. Airlines typically charge a fixed fee for checked bags up to a certain weight, so it may be tempting to think a bigger suitcase is always better. However, bigger pieces of luggage come with more weight of their own, don't protect your items well when they're underpacked, and encourage overpacking, which can lead to higher baggage fees (or the dreaded airport floor repacking). 

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

• Main content

The Best Suitcases for Checking

By Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested.

For many travelers, the frequently discussed dream is to never check a bag. But life doesn’t always cooperate—sometimes you need a bigger suitcase.

After researching 30 pieces of checked luggage and testing eight finalists over many years, we can still say that the Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best suitcase for most travelers who plan to check a bag. The bag easily holds two weeks’ worth of clothes, and it looks and feels fantastic. And it comes with a limited lifetime warranty against airline damage.

Everything we recommend

Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner

The best checked bag for most travelers.

This bag provides a luxury feel at a reasonable price, with a capacity, warranty, and reliability that should suit most travelers. The 25-inch model should offer plenty of room for most travelers, without going over airline weight limits.

Buying Options

Travelpro Platinum Elite 29″ Expandable Spinner

Same suitcase, but bigger.

If you need a checked bag that gives you the maximum allowable space, and you don’t mind paying an overweight-bag fee, the 29-inch model is the way to go.

Away The Medium

The best hard-sided checked suitcase.

This great-looking, relatively resilient piece of hard-sided luggage matches our hard-sided carry-on pic. It has the same top-of-the-line components—including wheels that roll as smoothly as any we’ve tested.

Away The Large

The best large hard-sided checked suitcase.

If you need to maximize your allowed space, and you aren’t worried about weight limits, this bag is, as the name implies, the largest one Away makes. Apart from its extra capacity, it’s identical to The Medium.

Upgrade pick

Briggs & Riley Baseline Medium Expandable 26″ Spinner

Hefty luggage for a heftier price.

This bag provides the most satisfying packing experience money can buy. It can fit an additional week’s worth of clothing, when compressed, in the same amount of space as the Travelpro Platinum Elite bag offers.

Briggs & Riley Baseline Extra Large Expandable 31″ Spinner

The same durable bag, but bigger.

This bag is for anyone who needs a somewhat ludicrous amount of space. Fully expanded, this bag is the biggest we’ve found. Fair warning: If you fill it full of clothes, you’re all but guaranteed to exceed airline weight limits.

Monos Hybrid Trunk

This type of luggage brings back the classic silhouette of upright steamer trunks. Due to their design, trunks are considered by some to be easier to pack and to maneuver.

Testing takeaways

We’ve found that the stated dimensions and weights of checked suitcases tend to be more accurate than those of their carry-on counterparts.

Wheel quality can affect how well carry-ons roll, but this is less true for checked bags—their weight smooths out the ride.

Handle shape and size often dictate a carry-on’s usable space. In roomier, checked bags, however, they’re less of a factor.

We considered how well a suitcase handles when it’s fully packed, how durable its materials are, and whether it’s comfortable to use.

The Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the larger, checked-luggage version of our Travelpro carry-on top pick , and everything we like about its diminutive sibling applies again here.

It’s made of a hard-wearing nylon that’s both sleek and durable. And it looks and feels like a bag that costs a lot more than it actually does.

For a checked bag, it’s also surprisingly nimble. That’s thanks to the height-adjustable handle and the magnetically locking MagnaTrac wheels, which make the bag noticeably easier to maneuver—especially when it’s loaded with 50 pounds of stuff. And this suitcase is protected by a lifetime warranty, with stated protections against airline damages.

Internally, the Platinum Elite is well organized, and it includes a built-in garment folder for formalwear, with a removable folding board (similar to the one in our upgrade pick ). If you need a little more space, consider the Travelpro Platinum Elite 29″ Expandable Spinner .

Note that with luggage this capacious, it’s easy to overpack and exceed the 50-pound (22-kilogram) weight limit imposed by most airlines. But if you’re willing to pay the fee, the Platinum Elite can easily withstand the extra weight.

For anyone who enjoys the look and simplicity of hard-sided luggage—as well as the comfort of knowing that this one is virtually impossible to overpack— The Medium suitcase from Away is an excellent choice with an excellent warranty.

Soft-sided luggage typically has a longer lifespan than hard-sided bags, typically made of ABS plastic or polycarbonate. And soft-sided luggage typically has features like exterior pockets, making organization easier. However, the differences in durability and utility between hard- and soft-sided luggage are increasingly marginal, and plenty of people prefer the aesthetic and additional color options of polycarbonate suitcases.

Away builds its luggage with high-quality components. We tested the Away bag for three years before first recommending it. This suitcase has been our pick for over six years now, and we are confident in its long-term durability and the reputation of Away’s limited lifetime warranty . Away also makes a bigger checked-luggage model, The Large . We’ve found, however, that it’s very easy to overpack suitcases of this size, even ones that are hard-sided.

If you identify as a frequent flier or a serious overpacker, or if you have a large family and are willing to invest in higher-quality luggage for traveling, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Medium Expandable 25″ Spinner .

Although the Travelpro Platinum Elite is great for the price, the Briggs & Riley Baseline bag is great, period. Every detail is made to the highest standards of any luggage maker—from the zippers to the wheels to a unique compression system (which lets you fit an additional week’s worth of clothing into the same volume as offered by the Travelpro bag).

You won’t get the unique styling that other luxury brands specialize in, but Briggs & Riley’s reputation for reliability and durability is unmatched. The bag also includes a garment folder, as the Travelpro bag does.

If things go awry, user-replaceable parts and a network of repair centers located around the world make quick fixes easy, and the reliable lifetime warranty covers repairs for any kind of damage. We’ve traveled with this durable bag for six years now on multiple national and international trips. And it’s still in great shape and a dream to pack. Also, its expanding capability has rescued us more than once when we wanted to bring something extra home.

Trunk luggage, including the Monos Hybrid Trunk , replaces the 50/50 split of a clamshell design with a deeper central compartment. It’s a small change, and it makes packing this type of case very pleasant.

However, this luggage seems best for destination travel, when you pack up once and unpack once. Living out of a trunk requires more layers of packing and unpacking. So using trunk luggage across multiple stops could seem potentially onerous, compared with using a bag that has a typical clamshell design.

Monos continues to impress us with its luggage lines and construction. But the Hybrid Trunk stands out for its reinforced aluminum frame and denser-feeling polycarbonate, and it has a lifetime warranty for any damage that renders the luggage unusable.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, the best checked luggage: travelpro platinum elite 25" expandable spinner, our pick for the best hard-sided luggage: away the medium suitcase, upgrade pick: briggs & riley baseline expandable spinner, the best trunk pick: monos hybrid trunk, other good suitcases for checking, the competition, what to look forward to.

I’ve been covering luggage and travel-bag design for Wirecutter for nearly a decade, and I have personally researched, tested, and compared hundreds of bags in that time. Over the years, we’ve also spoken with plenty of experts : flight attendants for major airlines; product designers and creative directors for luggage and gear companies; and travel writers. My conversations with these people have helped shape our coverage, and we owe much to their collective knowledge.

We’ve spent more than 160 hours researching luggage, continually testing to understand what makes good luggage. In the nearly eight years we’ve covered this category, the products have evolved—and so has our thinking about what kind of luggage is best for most people. Based on what’s available and what different travelers prefer, we think the following travel bags are the best checked luggage you can currently find.

There may be thousands of different types of checked luggage available for sale. Even after we excluded models that didn’t meet our basic criteria—a reliable warranty, reputable luggage reviews, and quality materials—we found hundreds of bags worth testing. And we went on to evaluate the choices between nylon and polyester, the difference in wheel-bearing designs, why alloys in telescoping handles matter, and more.

Besides the suggestions from our experts, we researched editorial and user reviews of luggage, making sure to include popular brands, such as Samsonite and Tumi, as well as more-esoteric names, like Hideo Wakamatsu. In addition to our interviews with experts, we’ve spoken with assorted salespeople, brand engineers, and media-relations folks, to make sure we found the best models from each company.

If you want a general rundown of our testing process, check out the corresponding sections from our best carry-on luggage review , since our testing of the larger bags mirrored that process. But we did uncover some differences—mostly having to do with the larger size of checked luggage—that led us to modify our analysis.

The smaller the luggage, the more intricate the design must become to accommodate travelers’ needs. While testing carry-on luggage in the past, we found that company claims of luggage weight and measurements weren’t exactly precise, with capacities exaggerated and weights minimized. Oddly, for checked bags, we didn’t find so much fudging of the numbers. Our best guess is that with the looser size and weight restrictions for checked luggage, manufacturers aren’t as motivated to manipulate their figures when advertising their larger bags.

When we tested carry-ons, we noticed the varied and individual way that each bag handled rough surfaces, depending on their wheels and build quality. With checked bags, this wasn’t a problem. When any checked bag was fully packed, the weight carried it over the roughest of surfaces, without a strong discernable difference between models.

With bags this large, the subtler points of comparison aren’t as pronounced. For instance, the handle’s size and shape can significantly change a carry-on bag’s usable space and your overall packing experience. But when space limits aren’t an issue, this doesn’t really matter. As a result, we focused on the obvious design comparisons, including how these bags handled when full, how durable their materials were, and whether the bags were comfortable to use.

For the majority of families who fly less than 25,000 miles a year together, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best choice for checked luggage.

It’s the bag to compare others against. The Platinum Elite suitcase is a durable, attractively styled, well-organized bag for a reasonable price. It holds a full seven days’ worth of clothes for two people, and it’s protected by a warranty that covers carrier damage, as long as you register the bag within 120 days of purchase. (The registration is a very simple process, and it can be done in 5 minutes with a smartphone: Simply take a picture of the registration code, which comes with the luggage; send that picture to a number Travelpro provides; and fill out the form in the response link .)

During a trip to New Zealand, our tester was able to pack two weeks’ worth of clothes—without a laundry stop—and several pieces of camera equipment into the Platinum Magna (the previous, largely identical model of the Platinum Elite) without issue. Like every large piece of checked luggage we tested, the Platinum Elite comes only in a four-wheel (or “spinner”) configuration. More wheels mean more bits with the potential to break (as well as some reduction of interior space), but that’s a necessary compromise for bags this size, if you want any hope of managing them in a busy airport.

It shrugs off wear and tear. The Platinum Elite’s exterior is made of ballistic nylon, which can take more overall abuse than polycarbonate and will show less wear in the long run. As we’ve said with regard to carry-ons , we don’t think polycarbonate hard-shell bags are as versatile or durable as soft-sided nylon bags. (Travelpro tests its bags by filling them with 70-pound loads and passing each handle through 7,500 automated lift tests.)

Hard-shell bags usually weigh about 4 pounds less than soft-sided equivalents. However, their increased failure rate and affinity for displaying scratches and wear aren’t worth it, unless the bag’s contents really need the extra protection from sharp jabs.

The soft fabric design allows for extra flexibility and the inclusion of exterior pockets, for quick access to small items. The Platinum Elite has two pockets: a flat one (suitable for documents and boarding passes) and an accordion-style one (which provides extra storage for miscellaneous small items; this can be a lifesaver if you’re traveling with kids and need quick access to extra-small toys, coloring books, clothes, or other supplies).

Organization makes the dream work. During her three-week trip in New Zealand, photographer Caleigh Waldman said of the earlier, nearly identical model in the Platinum line, “On this trip I never stayed in the same location for more than three days and was forced to constantly unpack, repack, and maneuver [the bag]. Usually living out of any suitcase makes me crazy, but the many zip compartments [of this bag], both inside and out, make it easy to compartmentalize your things. The pockets, zippers, and interior liner seemed sturdy, and the large pull-back cover allowed me to access everything I had in the bag with ease.”(Full disclosure: Years later we married, but I don’t think that influenced her review.)

Similar to its smaller Travelpro sibling, the Carry-On Rollaboard , this suitcase has a built-in garment folder (or “suiter”). Additionally, a 2-inch-wide expansion zipper runs along three sides of the Platinum Elite, allowing the bag to accordion-open a touch, if you need the extra space (though we found this more useful as a way to compress what you’ve already packed than as an additional-space-providing feature).

It moves through the world with ease. The Platinum Elite handles beautifully for its size. Its aluminum handle extends to three different heights (38 inches, 40 inches, and 42½ inches). Although every bag we tested for this guide had similar levels of maneuverability, the Premium Elite’s MagnaTrac wheels, which align in the same direction, rolled past the rest of the competition with ease. On smooth surfaces, like those found in airports, it felt as if the bag were almost directing itself across the floor.

During her trip, Caleigh appreciated this suitcase’s smooth rolling, even when the bag was overpacked, saying, “It was not always easy to maneuver on rough or gravelly surfaces. Overall, though, given the limitations of traveling with this much stuff, I thought [this bag] did a great job moving through a variety of environments.” And it has sealed wheel bearings; these extend the wheels’ life by preventing dirt and grime from entering and breaking down the components as quickly. That’s a feature not usually found on cheaper bags. And chances are good that if a bag isn’t clearly advertising sealed bearings, you should assume it doesn’t have them. If, for whatever reason, the wheels do break, you can easily swap them out yourself with Travelpro’s readily available replacements .

It’s light yet cavernous. The Platinum Elite weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces when empty, which is average to heavy among checked bags. That’s a workable weight, though, for the bag’s spacious, 6,982-cubic-inch interior—twice what its carry-on sibling can hold! But when you’re selecting luggage this large, weight shouldn’t be your primary concern because all of the bags we tested felt about equally heavy once fully packed. The important thing is that, in our testing, the Platinum Elite swallowed up a week’s worth of clothes for two people with no problem, with a good deal of room to spare.

Travelpro also sells a Platinum Elite model that’s 29 inches tall . It’s important to emphasize just how absurdly large this suitcase is for most people. Given its capacity of 7,710.6 cubic inches (143 liters), the challenge here is to pack without breaking airline weight limits. I suppose if you were on a (very) long cruise, a bag this size might make sense.

How the Platinum Elite has held up

After my wife’s world travels, a neighbor borrowed this bag for their children’s college travels (Hawaii to New York), making several trips over the past few years. The Platinum Elite is still going strong.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

We should note that bags of this size can hold almost too much. The Platinum Elite bag already weighs over 9 pounds. So when you pack it to its limits, it may be hard to keep it below the 50-pound weight limit of most airlines—and that means extra fees. But this is true of all checked luggage.

During her New Zealand trip, Caleigh Waldman packed the Platinum Magna 2 (29-inch model) for two weeks, with enough clothes, toiletries, and different types of shoes and activewear for the terrain. Though she didn’t fill the bag completely, she still found that her luggage came in over the 50-pound limit. “Every flight I took, I had to cough up the overweight-baggage fee, and it was a monster to carry up stairs and toss into car trunks,” she said.

We still think most travelers would be better off with one of our soft-sided picks than with a hard-sided carry-on. That’s because soft-sided luggage shows less wear and typically lasts longer than hard-sided luggage. But if you prefer the look of hard-sided luggage, or you want the security of knowing you can’t overpack your suitcase, Away’s The Medium is the one we recommend.

From wheels to warranty, it’s the best polycarbonate option. Its wheels and zipper are as well made as those of our soft-sided picks, and its polycarbonate showed fewer scratches than its hard-sided competitors. And it’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

It provides more than enough space. The Medium weighs 9.9 pounds and measures 26 by 18.5 by 11 inches—a fairly standard weight and size for checked luggage this size. (By comparison, the Travelpro Platinum Elite 25-inch bag weighs 9.8 pounds and measures 28 by 18.5 by 11.75 inches.) If you need extra room,  Away’s The Large offers the maximum allowed space in a piece of checked luggage. The Large weighs 11.6 pounds and measures 29 by 20.5 by 12.5 inches. But with bags this big, it’s easier to overpack and exceed airline weight limits, which is why we recommend the Away Medium for most people.

Don’t sweat the flex. The Away bag’s modern and minimalist look comes at a cost: Its polycarbonate shell is ultimately—according to every luggage designer we’ve ever interviewed—more likely to break than the nylon fabric of our other picks is to tear. Still, the shell feels similar to those of higher-end (and significantly more expensive) suitcases, such as the $1,000-plus Rimowa Essential Check-In M ; it’s strong and flexible, and the Away bag itself feels good in your hands.

Away builds its luggage with impressive components. The wheels are noticeably better than those on any of the hard-sided competitors we’ve tested. We’ve rolled these wheels across every conceivable surface, from cobblestone streets to the smoothest airport surfaces, and they were always a pleasure to use. When we first started testing The Away bag, in 2016, we found that flexibility to be a liability, especially on airport carpets. The first version of this bag that I tested tended to flex into itself and jam up its own wheels when I pushed it in front of me. But I haven’t had that issue with any of this suitcase’s latest models.

Its interior matches its minimal exterior. The Away bag’s interior is almost as bare-bones as its exterior. Unlike our other picks, this bag has no included suiter or suit folder, but you can buy one for $85 . The interior is split in half: One side closes with a zippered flap, and the other side has a built-in compression panel and straps, which work decently well.

It’s better to stick with the basics. We tested Away luggage for three years before making our recommendation. We traveled with it ourselves across the country, and we lent models of the bag to several testers and frequent travelers to see how they enjoyed using them. Away makes two similar models of checked suitcases with an expandable zipper: The Medium Flex and The Large Flex . For all intents and purposes, these are the same overall bags as the standard Medium and Large, except for the expanding center zipper and the price (they each cost $50 more). Personally, I’m not a fan of expanding zippers. They feel like potentially just one more thing to break. Also, they can increase the likelihood of exceeding the airline’s weight limit. But some people may prefer having the extra flexibility.

Like our other picks, the Away pairs with its matching carry-on : The models are virtually identical, except for their sizes. Matching your luggage sets is visually appealing. But the real value in matching your carry-on to your checked luggage is that the smaller suitcase can, when you’re back home, nest within the larger one. (This holds true for every set of luggage we’ve ever tested. Here’s why: Nesting luggage is the most economical way for luggage manufacturers to ship their wares from their factories overseas.)

The lack of a suit panel for important items, like dresses and suits, may limit this suitcase’s appeal for some travelers. With a bag that has this much space, though, there are other ways to pack fancy clothes (video) without wrinkling them.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles per year, it’s worth investing in luggage that goes beyond the minimums and somehow improves your travel experience. The Briggs & Riley Baseline Medium Expandable 25″ Spinner is that kind of bag. It costs more than twice as much as our top soft-sided pick, but after using all of these bags side by side, I’m sure there’s more than twice as much value hidden within this luggage: This is one of the best checked luggage systems we’ve found for international travel.

It has the best compression system. This suitcase’s most impressive feature is its compression system. Briggs & Riley’s proprietary compression system is superior to anything else we’ve seen—it allows you to fit an additional week’s worth of clothing into a bag with the same external dimensions as those of the Travelpro Platinum Elite suitcase. To manage it, you pull upward on two plastic handles inside the bag; this extends its depth by a full 2½ inches. Load the bag as full as you need to, and zip it closed without putting stress on the zippers. Then you simply push on the bag to compress it back down again, and a latch mechanism keeps it securely in place. Unlike cheaper zippered expansion systems, which are either fully open or closed (like the Delsey bag’s ), this one can lock in at variable degrees of expansion or compression. This suitcase is unique and satisfying to use. (If you prefer a polycarbonate shell, Briggs & Riley has designed a similar compression system around a hard-shell case, for its Sympatico Spinner line. Still, we prefer the pliability of a soft-sided shell for any compression system.)

Measuring the extra capacity of the Baseline isn’t exact. The bag’s base (that is, where the wheels are) measures an inch deeper than the top of the bag (where the handle is); this design is, I believe, to make the base of the bag heavier when fully packed. At the base, the exterior of the Baseline Medium measures 25 by 18.5 by 10 inches; expanded, it measures 25 by 18.5 by 12 inches.

It takes hits like a brick. The Baseline Medium’s exterior is wrapped in 1,680-denier ballistic nylon, which is durable and puncture resistant. (Denier is a measure of the fiber thickness in a fabric.) But even more impressive is what’s underneath the nylon. The Baseline Medium’s frame is the strongest we’ve seen among any of the soft-sided luggage we tested. This bag can take considerable pressure from any angle. Like the Travelpro Platinum Elite, the Baseline Medium has two external pockets: a small one for tickets and passports and a larger one for small items or light outerwear. Briggs & Riley also makes a 31-inch Extra Large version of this bag, with nearly 10,000 cubic inches of interior space. It’s a good bag, but we can’t see the point of something this large. As it is, you can easily exceed most airlines’ weight limits packing the Medium to capacity.

Similar to its carry-on version, the Baseline Medium’s handrail tubes are on the outside of the bag; this makes the inside back wall almost completely flat, so packing is easier because there are no crevices to work around. We liked this feature for lighter carry-on luggage, since exterior plastic handrail tubes can protect the bag when it’s going over an edge, without risking too much damage. However, that all changes when you’re bouncing a 50-pound bag over a curb; in that case, an exposed handrail system seems like an unnecessary risk, especially since there’s so much room for an internal rail system.

Trunks are a welcome new addition (reimagined from a somewhat older tradition) to checked-luggage lines. Longer than they are wide, modern travel trunks—including our pick, the Monos Hybrid Trunk —stand out against the more-common squat, square luggage of the last few decades.

It has a pleasant shape, and it’s easy to maneuver. The Monos Hybrid measures 30 by 15.7 by 14.3 inches, with a capacity of 6,735.3 cubic inches, and it weighs 13.2 pounds. Imagine something like a small steamer trunk, except without the team of stevedores to move it.

In our early testing, we’ve found that the Monos Hybrid, with its taller, narrower shape, is easier to wheel around than other checked luggage. There’s something about the four wheels’ relative proximity to one another that gives the trunk a remarkable agility across most surfaces. Its wheels make it handle more like a carry-on bag than the other checked luggage we tested.

It’s a pleasure to pack. This element is harder to explain. Packing the trunk somehow just feels more pleasant than packing other types of luggage. Maybe it’s the main compartment’s higher walls, which give a comforting feeling of placing your clothes deep within the confines of a box. Or perhaps it’s the shape’s somewhat vintage appeal, bringing up nostalgia for a type of travel you’ve never experienced except in movies. Packing clothes into the Hybrid Trunk for a long journey is like stepping back in time just for a moment.

That said, unlike the steamer trunks of yore, the modern Monos Hybrid doesn’t have a ton of extra organization. One side has a fabric cover that completely zips in the contents; the other side has a compression panel with two zippered pockets. That said, for most modern travelers using (I hope) a good set of packing cubes , these simple dividers should be plenty to keep everything in the right place.

The Hybrid Trunk does away with the standard zipper closure, opting instead for an aluminum frame that runs along the seam of the luggage, where a zipper might have been. The case has two TSA locks, which close with a satisfying latch. We’ve reviewed a few bags with latches like this, and they’re great. Our only concern is that these locks have lots of small moving components, which could be a weak point over time.

It’s made for long, tough journeys. The only trunk models we’ve seen so far are made of polycarbonate. The Monos Hybrid immediately stands out with three details: an aluminum frame around the center seam that reinforces the body of the luggage, aluminum corner guards, and a reassuringly robust polycarbonate.

The Monos Hybrid Trunk, like our other picks, is protected by a lifetime warranty.

• The one potential flaw we’ve found so far (we’ve tested trunks for only a few months) is that a trunk design may require more packing and unpacking to find what you need if you’re making lots of stops while traveling. A suitcase with a clamshell design, on the other hand, has both sides more or less open to you for easier access.
• Like the Away, the Monos Hybrid Trunk doesn’t have a dedicated suit folder or suit compartment for dresses or formal wear. Again though with this much space to pack in, there are a number of ways to protect clothes like this.

If the Monos Hybrid Trunk is unavailable: Consider Away’s The Trunk , which has a similar design (apart from having a zipper, instead of latches) for a similar price. However, though we’re generally fans of Away’s luggage, The Trunk isn’t as satisfying to use as the Monos Hybrid . The Away Trunk’s shell is flexible and its body is light, so it lacks the robust feel of the Monos Hybrid.

The Delsey Helium Aero , our previous hard-sided pick, comes in a 25-inch and a 29-inch version, so you can choose how much capacity you need. Like the Away suitcase, this bag is made of 100% polycarbonate, so it should last longer than cheaper, less-durable ABS plastic suitcases. However, Delsey’s 10-year limited warranty doesn’t match Away’s limited lifetime warranty.

Briggs & Riley makes excellent luggage, but we don’t think you need to spend this much on a hard-sided case without any extra frills, like the Briggs & Riley Torq Medium Spinner .

The Delsey Peugeot Large Trunk Spinner has a similar zipperless design as the Monos Hybrid, but the Peugeot bag lacks the corner guards and, more importantly, the lifetime warranty. Instead, the Peugeot is backed by a 10-year warranty.

Rimowa defined hard-sided luggage in the 1940s and redefined it in 2000, when it introduced polycarbonate luggage. But paying just over $1,000 for “virgin German polycarbonate” is silly. These bags, including the Rimowa Essential Check-In M , are smart-looking, though.

If you’ve ever wondered how much people pay for those handsome aluminum pieces of luggage, we’ll tell you: at least four figures. The Rimowa Classic Check-In M is twice as expensive as a ticket to Europe, yet it’s little more than a status symbol.

We also tested and dismissed Pelican and Samsonite suitcases that have since been discontinued.

We’re taking a look at the Level8 Voyageur Check-In . Its standout feature is the unusually wide handle, which seems to help its handling. The Level8 bag is less expensive than other luggage of its size and apparent quality. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty. To make a decision, however, we do need to study the handle and the build quality a bit longer.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Further reading

Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks in September 2022

by Wirecutter Staff

These 100 useful things were the most-purchased Wirecutter picks in September 2022.

We’ve Loved Luggage From Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Line for a Decade. Here’s Why.

by Kit Dillon

Travelpro Platinum Elite is our most loyal travel companion.

Wirecutter’s 100 Most Popular Picks of January 2024

Here are the 100 things our readers loved most in January, from carry-ons to humidifiers and more.

Are Away Carry-Ons Worth the Hype?

Although we still prefer the better durability of soft-sided luggage, if you want the look and feel of a hard-sided case, we recommend the Away Carry-On .

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then   View saved stories .

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The Best Travel Bags for Wherever You’re Headed

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Best Carry-On for Most People Travelpro Maxlite 5 Read more

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On Away Carry-On Read more

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On Yeti Crossroads 35L Read more

Best Bag for a Lifetime Briggs & Riley Baseline CX Read more

Whew! You've made it all the way across the globe. But have your toothbrush, pajamas, and running shoes made it, too? If you're a frequent traveler, it's easy to obsess over the logistics of getting your stuff clean, organized, and in good working condition upon arrival. Paying for a decent travel bag and a few useful accessories means buying a little peace of mind, especially when a few yards of zippers and some nylon are the only barriers between your precious belongings and the belly of an airliner.

Whether you're slinging a duffel into a car trunk for a weekend trip or packing for a whirlwind jaunt across Asia, we've got you covered. Need a bag for your passport or groceries? Don't forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Recycled Bags , for more picks.

Updated April 2024: We reorganized this guide and added new picks, such as the Yeti Crossroads, Tom Bihn Aeronaut and Trinity, the Frame Carry-On Max, the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, the Camelbak A.T.P. 20, the Calpak Luka Duffel, and the Rux 70. We also updated the information on sizing and checked links and prices.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED. com. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Carry-On for Most People

Look around any airport—if you see flight attendants or pilots, they will probably be rolling around a Travelpro suitcase. We like Travelpros because you get a lot of bang for your buck. They're durable, light, and not too expensive.

For only a little over $100, the Maxlite 5 is one of the more affordable Travelpro suitcases, and at 5.4 pounds, it's very light! The exterior toiletry pocket is a nice touch for when you go through security and need to take out your liquids, and the zippers are also quite strong and don't tend to get stuck. The wheels also rolled nicely on both the spinner and roll-aboard versions. Reviewer Matt Jancer did note that the aluminum handle extensions did sometimes stick and the main grab handle on the bag is only single-stitched, which may cause durability issues farther down the line. However, he has seen no issues yet. This probably the best bag you can get in the $100 to $150 price range.

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On

Away's business practices may have raised some eyebrows , but there's no denying that this company changed the travel market entirely. It has increased in price since we first tested it, but multiple WIRED staffers still use the classic Away hard-shell carry-on ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) as their travel suitcase.

Hard-shell suitcases tend to be heavier. There's also not as much give in the case, so you may find it hard to squeeze in more items than in a soft-shell bag, bu they look a lot sleeker than their soft-shell counterparts and protect fragile items better. The Away weighs 7.5 pounds, which is pretty standard for a hard-shell carry-on. When I tested it, I liked that it had multiple height settings and that the polycarbonate shell wiped clean and stayed mostly scuff-free (it helped that my tester was in the darker navy color). Away's suitcases also come with a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, four spinner wheels capable of rotating 360 degrees, and an included laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate from the rest of your stuff. The handle did feel a bit wobbly, though.

★ Alternatives: So many companies now offer a direct-to-consumer, stylish, hard-shell carry-on similar to the Away's. We've tried ones by Monos ($255) and July ($295) . Besides price, the differences are mostly negligible. I like July's aluminum bumpers, but they do add weight. The Monos's handle rolls out more smoothly, but the July's pebbled surface doesn't show scuffs as badly. Both have survived multiple cross-country trips, being checked as baggage, and being ridden on by two small children with no damage.

Paravel also offers an Aviator carry-on ($395) that touts itself as the world's first carbon-neutral carry-on; it has an interior lining made of recycled plastic bottles, a telescoping handle made of recycled aluminum, and vegan leather trim to help it stand out from all the plain black bags at the airport. Product reviewer Jaina Grey fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On

Yeti's coolers and cups are famous for being bomb-proof. The company recently launched a luggage line that's similarly overbuilt. The Yeti Crossroads 35L is a 22-inch roller bag that's carry-on size for most major airlines. It weighs 7.7 pounds, on par with soft-sided competitors of the same size.

I recently spent a week dragging the Crossroads up and down grimy subway station escalators, thumping it across cobblestones, and scrunching it into overfull overhead bins during a trip to London, Paris, and Brussels. The blue 700D nylon on the front and sides looks just as fresh as it did out of the box while the molded polycarbonate shell on the back has a few well-earned battle scratches. The two extra-large fixed wheels are rolling as smoothly as ever and hopped up curbs so well that I grew to favor them over smaller spinner wheels. The Crossroads has a half-dozen well-placed pockets and sturdy zippers that didn't give me any anxiety even as I tugged them hard while smooshing down to fit souvenirs into a carry-on with 8 days of clothing. —Martin Cizmar

Best Bag for a Lifetime

Do you only want to buy one suitcase and never think about it, ever again? Briggs & Riley is one of the few companies with a lifetime unlimited warranty. I bought a Briggs & Riley carry-on as my first and only post-college purchase. Right now, it has lasted over 20 years. Periodically, I bring it into the one Briggs & Riley-approved dealership in my town to get a zipper pull put back on, and it's fixed for free in a few days. Its components are top-of-the-line. The face fabric is a heavy-duty ballistic nylon that’s water-repellent and abrasion-resistant. After having been dragged all over the globe, from the Philippines to Turkey to Iceland, the gleaming red is just as bright.

The low-profile wheels nor handles have never broken. The grab handles are also luxuriously smooth and padded, and there's an interior folding garment bag for my husband's suits. The only downside is that at 9.3 pounds, it’s pretty heavy.

★ Alternatives: If you need an absolutely bomber-tough rolling suitcase and don't mind its 9.6-pound weight, the Pro Front-Access Carry ($799) will stand up to more abuse than most rolling bags, with its aluminum frame and 70-percent-recycled polycarbonate body. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam says it's his favorite rolling bag in years. Jancer also likes Travelpro's Platinum Elite carry-on ($315) , which he calls one of the most high-end polycarbonate bags on the market.

Scott Gilbertson

Boone Ashworth

Gabrielle Caplan

Louryn Strampe

Best Backpack

When I reviewed the Cotopaxi Allpa in 2018 ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ), it had only recently launched. Now, a half-dozen years later, it is one of the most popular travel backpacks that I see online and in airports all over the world. It's a combination of a camping backpack, a suitcase, and a soft, frameless duffel. You can splay it open like a sandwich to pack it easily; access items through a side zip; put it on your backpack and secure its weight with a sternum strap; or squash or stomp it into any overhead compartment or corner of your car trunk. The use case for this bag is extremely specific—the same people who are bopping around Thailand for several weeks in one backpack are not the same people trying to look professional at a work conference. But it is sturdy and comfortable.

★ Alternative: I took the Ekster Packable Duffel ($250) on several weekend trips this spring, and found that it more than upheld its claims of being built for “smoother journeys, on and off the grid.” This travel bag converts from a backpack to a duffel, with two separate compartments that also splay open for easier packing. The 600-denier exterior and water-resistant zippers are so sturdy that when we ran out of space in the car, we lashed it to the roof rack with surf straps and drove for hours in the rain. It, and its contents, remained pristine.

Best Convertible Bag

Every serious traveler knows the name of Seattle-based Tom Bihn, manufacturer of bomber bags that will last you a lifetime. The Aeronaut 45 is the classic Tom Bihn convertible carry-on, which the size of the maximum allowable carryon bag on a plane.

You get everything from a Tom Bihn bag that you pay for. It’s made of incredibly sturdy 1050 denier ballistic nylon, with bombproof YKK zippers. It has both hidden backpack straps and an extremely comfortable cross-body strap. This is commerce director Martin Cizmar's bag, and he's tossed it around and lugged it down rough streets and through crowds where roller bags are a liability. He owns two and the first lasted for more than a decade. This is the bag that both he and I would use, if we didn't have to constantly test other bags.

Best Personal Item

Some airlines are not content with charging you extra for checking a bag and now charge you for overhead bin space . The Tom Bihn Trinity ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) addresses that problem by providing a space for you to pack everything you need while still fitting underneath the seat in front of you. As the name suggests, it has three main compartments and three ways to carry—either as a briefcase with padded grab handles, a backpack, or as a shoulder bag with two attachment points.

It has three main compartments which can be arranged to your liking; for example, on one of the side compartments, you can zip a water bottle holder into place or unzip it for more room. It wasn't quite as versatile as I expected; I found that I prefer a small duffel with one main compartment that I can organize as I like. However, it does fit under the seat in front of me, even with clothes, laptop, and four (four!) hardcover books that I somehow stuffed inside it.

Best Work Bag

I've been traveling a lot for work and for family reasons in the past few months, and the bag I prefer for my personal item is the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, which is the larger version of the brand's Nouvelle purse ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). It comes in a medium and a large version; the medium is adequate as an everyday bag, but the large turns it into a versatile work/travel bag. It’s low-profile and has both smooth leather grab handles as well as a shoulder strap. I have kicked it under plane seats and around airports, and the nylon doesn't show any damage. There's a hidden separate compartment if you spill water on yourself, and it has sturdy feet so you can put it on an airplane bathroom counter and dig for your makeup without it falling over or getting the bottom of the bag too disgusting. The toothed zippers do tend to crinkle and snatch at your knuckles when the bag gets overstuffed, but I suppose you could always, uh, avoid overstuffing your bag.

★ Alternatives: We have plenty of recommendations in our guide to the Best Laptop Totes , but we love Lo & Sons. The Catalina Supreme Tote ($338) is also great for weekend trips. Again, there's also a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes, or anything else you need to keep separate.

The Best Hiking Daypack

The Camelbak A.T.P. is so useful that I’m always startled to realize it only has a 20-liter capacity. I have it in the 100 percent recycled white color, which saves water and only emits half the greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the dying process. It’s a panel loader, which means you can unzip the top and see exactly where everything goes, like a duffel. This is convenient when packing for trips—I was able to fit clothes, a Dopp kit, and electronics for an overnight trip. (I know these types of zippers fail more often than top loaders, but it does make it easier to arrange and sort items near the bottom of the pack.)

I particularly like how narrow it is. It fits my back and goes under airplane seats that even my children’s backpacks can’t. The bottle pocket has a zipper that makes it expandable so it can fit a little coffee thermos or my giant Yeti water bottle . Exterior compression straps also help squeeze my clothes even smaller. This is a great backpack if you want something that looks sleek enough for a work bag but is durable enough to take on a weekend trip to Yosemite.

★ Alternative: I also love the Patagonia Black Hole Backpack ($149) . This 25-liter bag is the perfect combination work/adventure bag. The suspended 15-inch laptop pocket clips shut, and the rest of the pockets are thoughtfully placed. It’s extremely light (a little over a pound) and is made from 100 percent recycled ripstop fabric.

Best Duffel Bag

The Big Haul ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite duffel because it hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. The standout feature of the Big Haul series, which comes in 28-liter to 120-liter options, is the ability to easily reposition the carrying straps, which feature plastic fishhook-style ends that slip into fabric loops. You can connect one strap end-to-end or double up on two straps in an H pattern for more stability with heavy loads. Adding and removing the straps isn't super fast, but it's not difficult, either, and six low-profile loops seems less intrusive than six rattling plastic buckles.

Two small interior pockets and an exterior pocket keep small things organized, and its water-resistant fabric is thick and tough without being stiff. All the sewing around the grab handles feels very robust too. Padded backpack straps hide away under a padded pocket on the top of the bag. This means that when you sling the Big Haul over your shoulders to give your arms a rest, your back is against the relatively clean top of the duffel, rather than a wet, dirty bottom side that's been set down on the ground. The current iteration of the Big Haul is also made with recycled nylon. What's not to love? —Matt Jancer

★ Alternative: For slightly more money, the classic duffel in this category is the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel ($159) , which also comes in a variety of colorways and sizes. You can either carry it by the grab handles or with the shoulder straps, and it's made from 100 percent recycled polyester with a TPU-film laminate. I (Adrienne) have had the 40-liter version for almost 15 years now and the laminate has yet to peel. It also fits as a carry-on on flights.

The Best Expedition Bag

If you like outdoor sports, you probably need a good expedition bag—that is, a huge, burly duffel that you can just throw all your pointy ice axes, trekking poles, or camp chairs into that you can take anywhere and everywhere. Reviewer Matt Jancer's expedition bag of choice is the Red Oxx PR5. He's used it for whitewater paddling trips and to lug mountain climbing equipment from coast to coast without a single frayed thread. Everything about Red Oxx is overbuilt. The zippers are huge, its thick pieces of nylon webbing are robustly sewn, and chunky metal rings hang the detachable carrying strap. All that said, it's not abominably heavy. At 3.4 pounds it's still lighter than many wheeled bags.

★ Alternative: If you've ever gone to a popular outdoor destination, like Yosemite or Everest, you've probably seen stacks of North Face Base Camp duffels . This is the quintessential expedition bag. My own personal bag is the OnSight Tarmac EPO , but the company no longer exists; I also have a Mountain Hardware duffel ($180) and after 20 years, the coating has finally started to peel.

Best for Camping

We love everything from Rux; I'm currently testing the waterproof adventure tote ($150) and I use it for everything from my climbing gear, to picnic gear, to bringing my kids' roller skates and soccer balls to the park. I have also leaked an entire water bottle in it and it stayed contained and out of the bottom of my car.

But for camping (or any outdoor pursuit, really), what you need is a Rux storage system , which, as the artist and filmmaker Van Neistat puts it, will help you kit your shit . It holds its frame shape, which means you can stack and organize inside of it just like a box, but it folds down like a bag for easy storage once you're at your destination. It's also light and waterproof and comes with a wide array of accessories . This is an upgrade for everyone who currently sorts their camping, climbing, or snowboarding gear in a series of $5 plastic totes and stacks them in their trunk.

The Best Aluminum Suitcase

Perhaps you've seen those Instagram-friendly, shiny aluminum suitcases and wonder whether it's worth the investment. Aluminum is extremely durable and can be machined with precision. That means it will protect your belongings better, and you can close them with latches instead of zippers. Your suitcase will last longer and be more secure— zippers are pretty easy to break into —and generally have fewer points of failure.

In my opinion, the cost-benefit analysis generally weighs against them. Aluminum suitcases are usually heavier and won't flex as much if you have overpacking tendencies, and I find them painfully conspicuous. Any suitcase with a decent warranty policy will painlessly cover any repairs. If you must have one, we like Arlo Skye's the Frame. Arlo Skye was founded by alumni from Louis Vuitton and Tumi, and reviewer Matt Jancer says that everything about the Frame screams robust quality, from the leather grab handles to the combination-lock latches. It also comes with a removable battery bank and has a few more liters of carrying capacity than the similarly-sized Away. The main disadvantage is that the interior organization is a bit lacking.

★ Alternative: Do you want the benefits of an aluminum suitcase without the drawbacks? You might want to consider Monos's Hybrid Carry-On ($325) . You won't fool anyone into thinking you've shelled out for a 100 percent aluminum suitcase, but Jancer notes that it's only a pound or so heavier than the competition and the aluminum frame offered better protection than any 100 percent polycarbonate suitcase that he tried.

A Good Emergency Go Bag

To be clear, any bag here could be considered a go-bag—even a grocery bag works when you have to leave the house imminently. But reviewer Nena Farrell used Calpak's duffel for an emergency surgery, and she is kicking herself for not getting it sooner. It was big enough for everything from makeup bags and extra outfits to a massive book and Nintendo Switch, and was comfortable to carry thanks to the large straps.

The shoe compartment was big enough for sandals and slides, but not big enough for shoes with an ankle. It was also a great place to stash haphazard Ziplocs of emergency toiletries and medications. There are some side pockets inside too, plus an exterior side pocket and a pass-through panel to place it on top of your luggage. It was a great hospital companion, but Farrell can't wait to take the Luka somewhere a little more fun.

Other Bags We Like

Not every good product can snag a best-in-category title, but there are several more bags we've tested that get our thumbs-up.

Osprey Ozone 40L for $280 : At 4.47 pounds, Osprey claims this bag is the lightest carry-on suitcase. It's also made from 400D recycled bluesign-approved nylon and is treated with DWR. This bag is light enough to easily hoist above my head and has also been checked multiple times.

Gregory Alpaca 40 Duffel for $140 : This duffel weighs a scant 2.7 pounds, but the water-resistant fabric and extraordinarily beefy (though plastic) buckles make it a solid bag for adventuring. There's an exterior pocket for storing shoes or dirty clothes. The backpack straps don't tuck away for storage—you have to unclip them—but might be the most well-padded, comfortable straps I've encountered on a duffel. Exterior daisy chains and an interior zippered pocket round out the impressive features list.

Land's End Waxed Canvas Duffel for $180 : Most duffel bags these days are made of nylon, and while it's tough to call a material that's been popular since the 1940s “modern,” nylon bags don't have the old-school charm that this waxed canvas bag does.

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 40L for $149 : This bag weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces, which is only slightly heavier than air. It also has backpack straps that stow away in a front pocket.

Skyway Epic Carry-On for $160 : At 7.1 pounds, the Epic is an average weight. The handle is a wee bit more finicky than our top pick, and the Travelpro's wheels glide a little more nicely. Still, the Epic is a solid choice.

Target Signature Weekender Bag for $81 : Looking like a cross between a duffel and a handbag, the Weekender has a structure that product reviewer Louryn Strampe says can become overfilled, so keep that in mind if you plan to bring it onto a plane as a carry-on. She appreciates its durability and the many internal pockets for organization, though, and its rather long five-year warranty.

Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus for $345 : It's a tiny bit over what most airlines list as the maximum dimensions, but the difference is so small that it's accepted 95 percent of the time. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe praises its optional clip-in closet clothing organizer, which makes for efficient packing. The built-in TSA lock is easy to use, and there's an internal power-bank pocket. This suitcase is included in our Favorite Recycled Products guide.

Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On for $200 : This is a hard-side, four-wheeled spinner carry-on made from an outer shell of durable polypropylene. Standout features include an interior fabric made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and a “WetPak” storage pocket for keeping damp items separated from the rest of your luggage.

Adidas Defender Duffel for $40 : If you're looking for an inexpensive duffel that'll handle some light-duty traveling, this is a good way to save $100. The fabric is significantly thinner and less sturdy than that of other duffels in this guide, and it lacks backpack straps. But for taking on the train or tossing into a car trunk, it'll do the trick.

Bags We Don’t Like

Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.

Peugeot Voyages Carry-On Spinner for $595 : What a price tag for a plastic-case suitcase. You can see where Peugeot tried to imbue the Voyages with some luxury, such as the metal riveting and built-in travel locks, but the case felt no more solid than a budget hard-sided bag, and the USB charging port felt cheap, like an outlet you'd find built into a seat in an airport terminal.

Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On for $469 : At 6 pounds, 2 ounces, this bag is a bit heavy. There's a zip-off 19-liter backpack that you can separate from the rest of the 37-liter bag, but when they're zipped together, the combined size doesn't meet carry-on restrictions.

Ebags CTS Carry-On Spinner for $200 : This one wasn't awful, but there are much better options for the money. Its hard plastic sides felt more brittle than the hard-sided plastic Away suitcases. The handle rattles a lot and it didn't roll quite as smoothly as other bags.

A Few Travel Accessories

Once you've got your bag, you'll want to pack it with a few more useful items:

Apple AirTag for $24 : If you have an iPhone, it's one of the best ways to keep a digital eye on your bags. Drop an AirTag into an interior pocket to make sure you and your luggage are reunited at your destination. Don't have an iPhone? We suggest the Chipolo in our guide to the Best Bluetooth Trackers .

Eagle Creek Specter Pack-It Cubes Three-Pack for $35 keep everything inside your bags organized by allowing you to separate it into different cubes, so you won't ever have to hunt through seven pairs of socks to find your bathing suit again.

Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case for $75 : Calpak’s viral clear cases come in three sizes and a ton of colors for the edge trims. Reviewer Nena Farrell loved the small size for my gym bag and traveling with a smaller carry-on bag, while the medium was a great size for my daily makeup or larger suitcases.

Troubadour Buddy 2.0 Tech Case for $75 : You probably need a case to organize your spare charging cables and power banks. I've been testing this compact, waterproof, and recycled bag that fits neatly into my personal item.

UrPower Portable Steamer for $24 beats a travel iron because it's far lighter and you don't need to hunt down an ironing board at your hotel. WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano and I both have been using UrPowers for years. For a tiny thing, it's powerful and effective at steaming practically anything. You just need to refill it often.

Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15 is handy when you're packing a heavy bag for an upcoming trip. Use it to weigh your luggage and make sure it's within the weight limits. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.

InCase MacBook Sleeves for $50 will keep your laptop from bearing the damage caused by airport security lines. Travel through an airport without a case and it's only a matter of time before a bare laptop or tablet picks up nasty scratches and dents. Check our guide to the Best MacBook Accessories for more.

How to Pick the Right Size Bag

Every airline sets its own dimensional requirements for carry-on baggage, so if you want to be safe, you should check your airline's requirements before packing. But broadly, they're split into two categories: domestic and international.

Domestic flights by US airlines (and a few others) have standardized on 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

International carry-on bag sizes tend to be about 21 inches tall and a bit narrower, but they're all over the place. It's tough, because many international airlines will measure your bags at the airport and reject anything even slightly bigger than the allowed size. If you fly outside the US a lot, you may as well buy a bag sized for international flights.

You'll also want to check each airline's weight limits. They vary wildly, but some international airlines restrict you to 15 or 20 pounds, including the weight of the bag itself. For example, there are some East Asian airlines that limit carry-on bags to 11 pounds. Once you subtract 6 or more pounds for the bag, you're not left with much wiggle room to put stuff inside.

When to Remove Battery Banks

Battery banks, also known as power banks, are a travel must-have. Whether you're using a tablet to watch movies on your flight or relying on your phone to coordinate rideshares, hotel check-in, and handle your boarding passes, you've got to keep those devices charged and topped up. Many bags offer a removable battery bank that slides into a special pocket or notch of the suitcase.

For carry-on luggage on a flight in the US, you're allowed to bring a lithium-ion battery of 100 watt-hours or less. You don't need to remove it from the suitcase's pocket if you're storing your bag in the overhead bin.

Lithium-ion battery banks are not allowed in checked luggage. If you check your bag or have to gate-check it, make sure to remove the battery bank before you give your suitcase to the gate agent. Slip the battery bank into your purse, backpack, or pocket for the duration of the flight.

Adrienne So

Medea Giordano

Nena Farrell

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Shopping | ES Best Home | Home & Garden

Best wheeled travel bags and suitcases to make your next getaway a breeze

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You're heading off for an exciting trip - yay!

...but your current travel bag just isn't cutting it any more. It's time to invest in a new one .

This time you'll be doing it properly, which means buying a bag that promises to withstand the overzealous handlers who throw around each suitcase as if they're feather pillows.

If you're a seasoned traveller, you'll know that the easiest way to get from A to B without looking like you've just run a marathon is to invest in a travel bag with wheels. Two wheels or four - it doesn't matter: the main thing is the ability to seamlessly glide from the terminal to your hotel without ever having to lift a finger.

But there are thousands of travel bags with wheels out there and you want to choose the right one. Before buying your next luggage companion, think about how long you'll be travelling and how much you need to pack. If you're a regular jet-setter, think about whether this specific bag investment will be your weekend warrior or your long-haul travel partner. Choose a size accordingly.

Something that's especially important, if it's the latter, is looking for a travel bag made of high-quality materials like ballistic nylon, polyester or carbon fibre. The bag should be sturdy and durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of travel, especially if you'll be using it often.

Arguably the most crucial part? The bag's wheels: Look for a bag with sturdy and smooth-rolling wheels that are large enough to easily manoeuvre over different terrains like carpets, concrete and gravel. Two wheels are good, four wheels are better.

Look for a bag with multiple compartments to keep your belongings in order. Some bags come with exterior and interior pockets, which are useful for storing items like passports, tickets and travel documents as well as separating clothes into clean and dirty piles or, if you're really organised, setting out your daily outfits.

Best wheeled travel bags at a glance

• Best for overall: Antler Clifton cabin in navy - £170, John Lewis
• Best for business: Samsonite Proxis 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case - £359, John Lewis
• Best for spotting from a mile off: travelite Basics Fresh Travel Bag with Wheels - £63.55, Amazon
• Best for easy storage: Lifeventure Expedition Duffle Bag - £68.83, Amazon
• Best for packing extra souvenirs: Bon Goût Large Wheely Travel Duffel Bag - £47.99, Amazon
• Best for going the distance: Eastpak Double Tranverz two-wheel large woven suitcase - £133, Eastpak
• Best for shielding your stuff: American Tourister Airconic 77cm Four-Wheel Large Suitcase - £169, Fenwick
• Best for compartmentalising: Tumi Tall 4 wheeled duffle packing case - £1450, Selfridges
• Best for budget: Argos Large Grey Wheeled Holdall - £30, Argos
• Best for distinctive style: Away The Bigger Carry-On - £129, Away

We've rounded up all of the best travel bags with wheels.

Best lightweight luggage, from cabin bags to larger cases

Best mini underseat cabin bags that fit beneath an airline chair

Best long haul flight essentials, from neck pillows to earplugs

Best luxury luggage brands: Stylish suitcases for weekends away or longer trips

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Antler Clifton cabin in navy

Best for: overall

From sets of three cases to overnight bags, Antler has a vast selection of premium luggage in a range of colours.

Offered in a selection of hues including a smart dark navy, the Clifton wheeled cabin bag features everything we could want from a suitcase. It is hand-finished, lightweight, and a colour-fast option, meaning that it will even retain its colour when it inevitably gets scratched. It also slots nicely into bigger bags in the same range making for easy storage of an entire set.

Away The Bigger Carry-On

Best for: distinctive style

Away's limited edition colours add something special to the travel luggage industry. They’re also famed for being some of the sturdiest and come with a range of extra features that you’ll soon grow to appreciate as an essential rather than a luxury.

The Bigger Carry-On has a sleek coastal blue hue on a durable polycarbonate shell and includes a matching luggage tag. Its 360° spinner wheels ensure a smooth ride, while the interior compression system and water-resistant laundry bag make it easy to pack it all in. It is available in a range of colours.

Samsonite Proxis 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case

Best for: business

It’s hard to beat Samsonite if you’re someone who travels regularly and the brand’s Proxis 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case is a top choice for effortlessly carrying your belongings from A to B to C and then back again to A. The Proxis suitcase is a globetrotter’s dream, with a hidden section that expands to provide extra storage space, a TSA-approved lock for security, and four double wheels to ensure easy movement. Lightweight, and fitted with two carry handles, it’s also easily portable.

travelite Basics Fresh Travel Bag with Wheels

Best for: seeing from a mile off

travelite’s bags come in a range of bright colours, making them a top choice for instantly spotting on the baggage carousel and wasting no time before heading off to your next destination. The brand’s Basics Fresh Travel Bag with Wheels won’t usually set you back more than £50 either, which means more money reserved for holiday souvenirs and other fun experiences. Despite its low price, this is a bag that promises to withstand a bit of wear and tear.

Lifeventure Expedition Duffle Bag

Best for: easy storage

The Lifeventure Expedition Duffle Bag might look like an oversized bag but, when it’s not in use, it can easily be folded away. Think of it as something akin to Mary Poppins’ bag, travel edition. One of the best wheeled travel bags no matter where you’re going, this Lifeventure Expedition Duffle Bag features two large and robust, smooth-rolling wheels to make this rolling duffle bag easy to handle and manoeuvre when you’ve accidentally overpacked.

Bon Goût Large Wheely Travel Duffel Bag

Best for: packing extra souvenirs

Bon Goût’s Large Wheely Travel Duffel Bag is perfect for short or long breaks due to its ability to expand. This wheeled holdall is easy and convenient to use. It’s an excellent alternative to a bulky suitcase, while also allowing a little extra room thanks to its soft-rimmed nature.

Another budget-friendly option, it’s lightweight but durable, featuring an aluminium frame with a telescopic push button handle. There are also padded carry handles and an additional grab handle at the top of the bag to allow for easy handling when it’s not being wheeled.

Eastpak Double Tranverz two-wheel large woven suitcase 79cm

Best for: going the distance

Eastpak makes a huge range of backpacks and, if you’re looking for a durable bag that promises to outlive many of your holiday memories, this is the brand to opt for. The Double Tranverz two-wheel large woven suitcase is a fusion of a duffle bag and suitcase, with a soft yet durable shell that promises to fit all of your clothes and possibly even the kitchen sink, too. It features a handle at the top and side, a telescopic handle at the top, a TSA lock with a three-digit combination, two zip pockets and two wheels.

American Tourister Airconic 77cm Four-Wheel Large Suitcase

Best for: shielding your stuff

The American Tourister Airconic 77cm Four-Wheel Large Suitcase has a hard shell, which means it’s among the best for keeping your belongings packed tightly inside without any unexpected damage on arrival.

Constructed from a resistant polypropylene outer shell that can handle the rigours of any corner of the world you’re visiting, the double 4-wheeled design gives you extra rolling comfort through the terminal.

Tumi Tall 4 wheeled duffle packing case

Best for: compartmentalising

Tumi’s Tall 4-wheeled duffle packing case might not be the most budget-friendly suitcase around. But this holiday-ready bag is one of the finest if security and durability are two of your priorities when it comes to choosing a new travel partner. This oversized case is also one of the largest around, making it a great choice for long-haul travel.

The Alpha 3 four-wheel duffle bag is made from FXT ballistic nylon and is fitted with bumper rails. Inside, you’ll also find five individual sections - perfect for differentiating between clean and dirty clothes.

Argos Large Grey Wheeled Holdall

Best for: budget

If you’re not fussed about a bag with all the bells and whistles and just need something sturdy with wheels attached, Argos’ Large Grey Wheeled Holdall is a great choice. This spacious bag opens like a traditional bag, making it a better choice for unpacking and taking out just one specific item rather than aimlessly rooting around inside an expansive duffle that only opens from the top.

Featuring two wheels and a retractable tow handle, this holdall is perfect for carrying your belongings through an endless stream of airports. It’s made from durable, splash-proof material.

Antler's Clifton comes in a range of cute colours with a strong but light polycarbonate shell and plenty of room in the compartments inside. Being set on four wheels means it's a dream to glide around while a TSA lock keeps all your precious things secure. For short trips and as hand luggage for long-haul trips, we'd reach for it every time.

• United Kingdom

We Found The Best Luggage For International Travel

The best luggage for international travel to make your summer trips smooth af, more from travel, r29 original series.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

The reason why Ryanair urges passengers to pack this everyday item in hand luggage

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Squeezing all your travel necessities in your hand luggage can be a struggle but Ryanair wants passengers to remember to pack this specific item.

The airline has a strict hand luggage policy and sometimes, when there are too many cabin bags to load into overhead lockers or under the seats, some passengers may be asked to check their bags into the hold without being charged.

This is why Ryanair encourages all passengers to bring along a small, foldable bag tucked away alongside your valuables in your hand luggage.

In the ‘need to know’ section on its website , the budget-friendly airline tells passengers to pack a ‘lightweight, foldable bag inside your carry-on luggage’.

Bringing a small foldable bag will give you a secure place to stash your phone, money snacks and other valuables and ensure they stay with you during the flight.

This small bag can then be tucked away under the seat in front of you. 

Passengers occasionally arrive at the gate with a cabin bag that exceeds the free hand luggage allowance, and they may be required to check their bag into the hold, unless they paid for an extra cabin bag.

Travellers who do not wish to pay for any extra luggage are permitted one small personal bag measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm and it must fit under the seat in front of you.

There’s also the Priority boarding option, which gives customers an additional cabin bag which can measure up to 55 x 40 x 20cm and weigh up to 6kg. The price of this little luxury depends on the route and selected dates of travel. 

In related travel news, a flight attendant shared an amazing and simple way to stay safe on flights.

When it comes to flying, the pressure can increase the risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a vein), particularly on flights that are longer than four hours.

So, the next time you jet off, consider building the ‘alphabet’ hack into your routine to prevent clotting and keep your mind at ease. It’s easy to remember (and if you forget, you can sing along the alphabet song as you practise it).

‘To prevent blood clots during long flights, consider incorporating a few simple strategies,’ TikToker @ciciinthesky, who is a flight attendant and often shares travel tips and inspiration to her account, explains.

‘First, remember the alphabet exercise – trace each letter with your foot to promote circulation,’ CiCi outlines in one video.

‘Second, wear compression socks, which help maintain blood flow and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

‘Finally, make it a point to stand up and walk around every hour or so if possible. This helps activate your leg muscles, encouraging blood to flow more freely.

‘Combining these techniques not only enhances your comfort but also significantly lowers the risk of developing blood clots during extended periods of inactivity.’

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You can pick up compression socks for a relatively low price in Boots, at £13.68 or you can get them on Amazon for as little as £7.99.

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The best (and worst) budget airlines in the UK

T hey’re the airlines we love to hate, whisking passengers to Europe and beyond for miniscule fares with incredible regularity – in theory, at least. But the reality of “budget” airlines , as all-too many of us know, can be fraught with hidden fees, confusing baggage allowances and copious delays.

However, not all budget airlines are created equal. In a bid to find the best low-cost carrier, we’ve compared Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair on all of the key credentials. There is a clear winner – and loser – but do you agree? Have your say in the poll and comments below. 

Explore the categories

Best for routes and connections, best prices for summer 2024, best for seat comfort, best for punctuality, best for hand baggage allowance, best for fines and fees, best for priority boarding, best rated on trustpilot , best rated by the telegraph readers, the verdict.

By passenger numbers, Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline group: it carried 182 million people in 2023. This summer, it will have a fleet of 600 aircraft – by far the biggest of our survey, serving more than 250 airports across 40 countries.

Ryanair is also the best-connected of the bunch. It flies from 22 UK airports, including lesser-served ones such as Newquay and Teesside, so we’re rating it top for UK range. Its routes include rarer low-cost destinations too, such as Jordan, Montenegro and Morocco . 

Currently operating from 18 UK airports, easyJet serves 155 airports across 36 countries. It is Europe’s second largest airline by passenger numbers (pipped by Ryanair), with a large fleet of 336 planes.

In March, easyJet opened a new three-aircraft base in Birmingham – joining the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh . For connectivity, it comes second place to Ryanair.

In third place is Wizz Air, which serves 95 routes to and from the UK, to more than 30 countries – including cities in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. 

There are 207 aircraft in the Wizz Air fleet, and it has hubs at London Luton and Gatwick. It flies from a further six UK airports: Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Leeds and Liverpool, so has a fair regional coverage.

For routes and connectivity, Jet2 ranks fourth. It flies to over 65 European destinations from 11 UK airports, with a new base at Liverpool opening in March. Other hubs include Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Stansted.

It operates 119 aircraft, and is the UK’s third largest scheduled airline; notable destinations include Norway , Morocco, Cyprus and Iceland . 

The winner: Ryanair

The loser: Wizz Air has a higher number of destinations than Jet2 – but the latter scoops Wizz on its choice of UK airports. It’s a tie.

Let’s say you want to fly from London to Malaga this summer, 13 to 21 July – hand luggage only , on the lowest-cost tariffs. Which airline has the cheapest return fares? 

The price per adult offered by Ryanair currently starts from £127.90 (departing Stansted, though you’ll need to leave Malaga at 5.55am); with easyJet it is £133.98 (from Gatwick, arriving in Malaga just after midnight). 

Wizz Air’s fares start from £219.98 (leaving Gatwick at 5.55am); Jet2’s start from £231 (departing Stansted at 9am). 

Prices were sourced directly from the airlines on April 18, 2024, and are inclusive of booking fees.

The winner: Ryanair, for a superb £127.90 per adult fare, return.

The loser: Jet2. However, this was the airline with the most “decent” flight timings for its cheapest tickets: departs Stansted at 9am, and departs Malaga at 8.25pm.

When it comes to seat width (which the industry generally measures in inches), our four airlines are pretty much equal. On Wizz’s Airbus A320 and easyJet’s Airbus A321neo, the seats are 18in wide. Opt for Jet2’s Boeing 737-300 or Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800, and you’ll miss out on an inch: their seat width is 17in.

But when it comes to seat pitch, there’s a clear winner. This is the distance between any point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front – so is a good measure of not only leg room, but “headspace” and perception of roominess in the cabin. According to Seat Guru, and verified by the airlines, Wizz’s seat pitch is 28in, easyJet’s 29in, Ryanair’s 30in, and Jet2’s 31in. 

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Wizz Air

If you boarded a flight anywhere last summer, chances are it was delayed or cancelled . Airport strikes, wildfires, air traffic meltdowns: which airline fared best against the odds?

The aviation analysts at OAG provided Telegraph Travel with data across more than half a million flights from June 1 to September 3, covering airlines departing from 48 UK airports. 

Ryanair operated 91,897 flights, of which 31.8 per cent arrived or departed on time. For easyJet, 44.7 per cent of its 111,551 flights were on schedule, while 57.7 per cent of Jet2’s 38,986 services ran as planned. 

The data from OAG suggested that Wizz Air managed to depart or arrive on time on just 7.8 per cent of its services. The airline contested the figure, insisting that “almost half” of departures and “almost 40 per cent” of arrivals were on time. It added: “The majority of delays were due to issues outside of Wizz Air’s control, such as the recent air traffic control fault, meaning these statistics are not an accurate representation of our overall performance.”

The loser: According to OAG, Wizz Air experienced the most disruption – though this figure was disputed by the airline – therefore it’s a tie between Wizz Air and Ryanair.

We compared the size and weight limits for free hand baggage, on a standard ticket. 

Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25cm (total volume 63,000cm3); maximum 10kg.

easyJet: 45 x 36 x 20cm (total volume 32,400cm3), “which needs to fit in our baggage gauge and under the seat in front of you”. Maximum 15kg.

Wizz Air: 40 x 30 x 20cm (total volume 24,000cm3), and “must be placed at the feet of the passenger under the seat in front of them”. Maximum 10kg.

Ryanair: 40 x 20 x 25cm (total volume 20,000cm3); no weight limit is listed.

The winner: easyJet’s 15kg limit is the most generous weight – but for size, Jet2 is the best. Its volume allowance is more than three times the size offered by Ryanair.

The loser: Ryanair

Best for checked-in luggage

When you pay to bring a suitcase, the fee structure varies wildly. For ease of comparison, the following covers luggage weighing 20kg or more, booked at the same time as your flight. 

With Ryanair, a 20kg bag costs £18.99 to £59.99, according to your route and travel dates – the lowest weight allowance of our four airlines. Excess baggage ranges from £9 to £11 per kilo, the cheapest fee in this comparison.

Jet2’s baggage add-on covers bags up to 22kg: costs vary, and it doesn’t quote a ballpark fee online if you don’t have a booking. According to mybaggage.com, the average cost is £21 each way. Excess weight is £12 per kilo.

Wizz charges between £8.25 and £87.11 for a 20kg bag, in peak season, with an excess fee of £12 per kilo. On easyJet, 23kg of hold luggage costs from £9.49 per item; excess weight is £12 per kilo.

The winner:  The varying prices make it hard to compare fees, but easyJet’s baggage allowance is the most generous, at 23kg.

The loser: It’s a tie: Ryanair and Wizz Air offer 20kg each. The latter’s upper threshold is the most costly, though Jet2 isn’t transparent about its fees unless you have a booking with them.

To change a name on a booking, Ryanair charges £115 per flight. To change your flights costs £45, plus any additional fare. To check in at the airport rather than on the app, Ryanair charges £30 or £55 if flying from Spain. Boarding pass reissue is £20.

Name changes with Jet2 cost £35; flight changes are £35, plus any additional fare. No charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out.

With easyJet, name changes cost £55; flight changes are £25 if more than 60 days before travel, or £49 if within 60 days, plus any additional fare. There is no charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out. 

Name changes with Wizz cost £55; flight changes cost £36.50 to £46, plus any additional fare. If you want to check in at the airport, you can pre-book online for £11.50 per flight; airport check-in without pre-booking costs £35.50.

Be warned: in many instances, the above fees are higher if arranged via a customer services agent, rather than online. 

Jet2 is the only airline not to offer speedy boarding as an optional add-on. But if you want to board first (or at least be in the queue to board first), Ryanair’s priority access costs from £6 to £36, and includes two cabin bags.

Wizz’s package costs up to €58.80 (£50.62) when booked in advance, and includes priority boarding and check-in, plus a carry-on wheelie. To get “Speedy Boarding” on easyJet, you’ll need an easyJet Plus card (£215 annually), pay for a Standard Plus or Flexi fare, or add a large cabin bag to your booking – priced “from £5.99”.

The winner: There really isn’t much between easyJet and Ryanair

The loser: Jet2, for not offering the option

On customer review website Trustpilot, Jet2 is by far the best-rated of the airlines – scoring an overall 4.5 (“Excellent”) out of a possible five. It has five-star reviews from 72 per cent of reviewers; four stars from 14 per cent; and one star from 7 per cent. 

“Pleasant and attentive cabin crew,” reads one verified Jet2 customer review. “Friendly and informative captain. Took off an hour late but we made up 25 minutes. Excellent.”

It’s a different story for the rest of the pack. Ryanair and easyJet both score 1.4 stars overall, and Wizz Air 1.3 stars (out of five). A total of 89 per cent of Wizz customers awarded it just one star.

“Robbery,” states a reviewer of one of the airlines. “I don’t understand why people still buy ticket[s] from that airline… [it] should not be allowed to operate in our society.”

The loser: Wizz

In last year’s Telegraph Travel Awards, Jet2 was voted “best short-haul airline” – scooping the top spot for the second consecutive time. Almost 30,000 readers voted in the awards, widely praising Jet2 for its clear contact with passengers, and giving refunds without fuss . 

Further down the table, easyJet took 10th place, Ryanair 22nd and Wizz Air came 23rd – the very last place. Wizz faced criticism from Telegraph readers for its slow refunds, last-minute cancellations and poor customer service .

Bravo to Jet2, which is rated consistently high for customer satisfaction, baggage allowance and comfort – while offering the lowest fees and fines among its peers. Our study suggests it doesn’t come cheap, though: in our fare comparison, it was the most expensive by £103.10.

At the other end of the spectrum, the wooden spoon goes to Wizz. It tallies three individual “loser” titles and three shared ones, and no “wins” to its name – thanks to hefty delays, terrible reviews, reportedly poor service and measly bag allowance.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “We do not consider these findings to be representative and the results are most certainly not what we are hearing from our customer surveys.

“Our most recent customer data shows Wizz Air’s brand consideration to be higher than our main UK competitor. We also perform better in customer service, refunds, ease of booking and information provided to customers.

“We are proud to have offered more than 90 million customers affordable airfares, getting them from A to B for the lowest price possible.

“Regarding costs, ticket prices and optional extras are clearly outlined on our website and app. We are an ultra-low-cost carrier and to keep our fares low, we offer optional add-ons at an additional charge, such as checked luggage or preferential seating. Unbundling products means that customers only pay for what they need and we can offer the most affordable and exciting travel opportunities.

“In terms of performance, 2023 was one of our strongest summers to date. We completed more than 99.36 per cent of our flights and saw a 67.4 per cent reduction in the number of cancellations. In the last fiscal year, our on-time performance was better than all but one of our major competitors.”

This story was first published in December 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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