The best suitcases make packing and travelling much easier and pain-free. But while it's easy to grab the nearest one at the shop or the first one you see online, it all comes down to what you need the suitcase for.
Are you heading on holiday? A city break? A business trip? Or a round-the-world adventure? Whatever you're about to embark on, you'll need to have the right suitcase to take your stuff in... and luckily, T3 are here to help.
We've rounded up the best suitcases and luggage, from duffel cases so big you could almost sleep in them, to carry-on cases for those times when you need to get on and off the plane as fast as possible. To help you make the right choice, this guide has plenty of advice and top picks for the best suitcases in 2024.
Wherever you're travelling to, make sure to read our guides on the best carry-on luggage and the best backpacks, to find the best option for your next trip.
Beth is Home Editor for T3, covering style, living and wellness. Always off on a weekend away, Beth is often seen dragging a suitcase behind her, so she's well versed in the ones that fit the most clothes, which brands offer the best storage and the models that roll the smoothest.
The top three
Best small suitcase
The Samsonite Cosmolite 55cm Spinner Cabin Case is petite, lightweight, and great for frequent flyers.
For
- Growing, high-quality library
- Stable and reliable
- 30-day free trial available
Against
- The price keeps going up
Best medium suitcase
If you need a medium-sized suitcase (over 55cm), the Antler Clifton fits easily onto flights, trains and other modes of transportation.
For
- Growing, high-quality library
- Stable and reliable
- 30-day free trial available
Against
- The price keeps going up
Best large suitcase
The American Tourister Soundbox Suitcase (77cm) is big, lightweight and surprisingly affordable for such a large case.
For
- Growing, high-quality library
- Stable and reliable
- 30-day free trial available
Against
- The price keeps going up
The best small suitcases
If you’re a frequent flyer, whether it is for business or pleasure, you need to have a Samsonite. You'll be super impressed by the space inside, and it's certainly built to be durable (so is worth the money). What's most impressive is how lightweight this cabin case is. The 4 smooth spinning 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 to the states, and the hard casing means you’ll have peace of mind if you’re ever asked to put your bag in the hold. A highly recommended choice for anyone who travels on a regular basis.
Available in either Black or Pacific Blue, the Tumi V3 International Slim 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 lightweight at just 2.9kg. It’s also made from tough polycarbonate so should be able to clock up as many air miles as you do.
The Tumi V3 International Slim 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, the Tumi V3 International Slim isn’t perfect — there’s no side handle to help make it easier to stow in an overhead locker. That glossy polycarbonate shell also looks prone to scratching. And then there’s the price: it feels like a lot of money for a case like this. Rivals offer similar features for less.
This compact hard shell case from British company, Antler, has been designed to be both lightweight and cabin-friendly, weighing in at 2.5kg (empty, obviously) and measuring 56 x 35.5 x 23cm. This means you can board on 27 different airlines and stow the bag in an overhead locker or under your seat — making it ideal for quick getaways at the airport or short stays away.
Although it’s compact and lightweight, the Antler Juro 56cm comes with four bottom-mounted wheels and a telescopic handle for easy manoeuvrability. It also comes with 3-digit combi lock which is TSA ready for when you travel to the States.
The Antler Juro 56cm should stand out on the baggage carousel thanks to its unique ridged design. Best of all, it comes with a generous 10 year guarantee.
This case from Aerolite is extremely light, and extremely affordable, two things we think are very important. It features four robust wheels and a double-tube retractable trolley grip handle, which make it simple to glide around the airport in any direction. It all feels very well made, despite its affordable price.
The outer casing is made from durable but lightweight anti-scratch ABS hard shell plastic to protect against the rigours of travelling, with chunky zippers on the main body. 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.
This suitcase fits exactly to the maximum possible allowance for Ryanair (one of Europe’s most of the UK’s most popular airlines with the strictest ), as well as fitting within the maximum restrictions for Easyjet, and British Airways, etc.
We love Samsonite's entry-level 'Flux' carry-on suitcase, it combines the brand's expert material knowledge with a secure and flexible double zipper closure. Flux was the very first Samsonite hard-side range offering (hidden) expandability on all sizes, assuring even greater packing volume in times of extra packing needs.
Its cutting edge design gives a new blast of boldness, with every detail sculptured into the perfect travel companion to ensure maximum practicality. This collection was designed to make travel easier thanks to its smooth rolling double wheels, double tube wheel handle and fully lined practical interior to arrange your belongings.
The best medium suitcases
Because of the durable materials and contemporary design, we think the Antler Clifton the best suitcase on the market. Clifton is made of Makrolon polycarbonate, one of the toughest materials out there, with built in flex to respond to deal with a the roughest of baggage handlers.
Despite its strong, durable design, the Medium-sized case weighs just 3.9kg, meaning it's light on its feet, and this state-of-the-art case technology is combined with a great deal of attention to detail, giving the Clifton collection a distinctive, Instagram-worthy aesthetic.
That curvy design isn't just for looks, however, because with an expanded capacity of 83L, it's incredibly practical as well, with plenty of space for a fortnight's worth of travelling.
The interior is a winner too, being fully lined with soft-touch premium fabric and a number of useful features to keep your belongings organised. Read our full Antler Clifton Cabin Pocket hard-shell suitcase review for more.
The winner of the T3 Award in 2019 for Best Suitcase, the Samsonite Lite-Box impressed judges with its ability to evoke the feeling of business class travel, even if you're cramped up in economy.
Much of what makes the Samsonite Lite-Box the best suitcase is to do with the materials and contemporary design employed here. Lite-Box is among the lightest and sturdiest suitcases in its class, with the polycarbonate model weighing just 2.7kg and the aluminium model weighing in at 5.9kg.
This state-of-the-art case technology is combined with a great deal of attention to detail, giving the Lite-Box collection a distinctive, business-like aesthetic. That boxy design isn't just for looks, however, because with a capacity of 71L, it's incredibly practical as well, with plenty of space for a week's worth of travelling.
Looking for a durable and lightweight suitcase? This Samsonite luggage constructed from 100% Makrolon polycarbonate, it combines lightness, strength and reliability – ticking all the boxes for starting your travels right.
In order to meet the needs of the frequent traveller, the Tunes interior is fully lined and comes with two zipped divider pads. The distinct design is finished in a high-end matte finish with refined silver accents. The fresh modern lining emphasises the balanced yet distinct overall design.
The multi-directional 4 wheels and push-button telescopic handle offer smooth gliding through airports and city streets, and the case is fitted with a TSA padlock to allow US airport customs to check your luggage without damaging it.
American Tourister is long-established luggage brand whose products come across like a younger, funkier Samsonite, offering a range of stylish suitcases at very affordable prices. You want a Star Wars or Minnie Mouse case? Then American Tourister will heed the call.
This 67cm case, though, is fairly typical. Winner of a Red Dot design award, it’s a hard shell spinner case that nevertheless manages to be expandable too, stretching from 71.5 litres to 81 litres when fully loaded — and it comes in five bright and breezy colours that are guaranteed to make it stand out on an airport carousel, so too will its circular, vinyl record-like design.
Inside the case the top compartment is zipped, with ribbons to keep your possessions in place, while the bottom half features ribbons only.
The American Tourister Soundbox also includes a 3-digital combination lock that's suitable for travel to the USA (it’s TSA-compatible), although our main worry would be its wheels, which protrude markedly from the case bottom, making them vulnerable to damage.
Horizn Studios is a trendy new luggage company, and its 'Model H' suitcase is one of the most stylish options you can buy (especially the Soho House version). It's strong, as well, engineered from aerospace-grade polycarbonate, so even if it's thrown around by the angriest of bag carriers it'll protect your belongings and instantly flex back to its original shape.
This case is set on four 360-degree spinning wheels built by specialists in Japan and designed to be incredibly silent. The lock that secures the two-way zip is TSA-approved so you needn't worry about airport security.
Every suitcase also comes with a one year subscription to Horizn GO – a personal travel assistant. So whether you're planning a trip around the world or on hunting for the hippest hangouts during a city break – Horizn GO sorts everything along the way.
If you’re a corporate jet setter touching down for a meeting halfway around the world you don’t want a crumpled suit. Briggs & Riley’s baseline wardrobe case is designed to help you make a good impression as it’s shaped so you can ‘hang’ your clothes up, essentially folding them in half and stopping them from getting too creased.
The interior also has a gusseted front pocket with a small section for keeping chargers etc, and a D-ring to hold hanging hooks, while the door panel has two mesh pockets for underwear, a zippered shoe pocket, a tie or scarf pocket, and another one for jewellery, tech bits or whatever else you like. The case is made from tough-wearing nylon that’s designed to repel water and resist scuffs and tears. It has four wheels to make it easily manoeuvrable when you’re running for a plane. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Whether you're off on a city break or travelling for business, Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano's 'Spinner' suitcase is a hardy and robust option. Not to mention, its bright aluminium case really looks the part.
Inside you'll find two internal dividers, four leather straps, and zipped pocket to encourage neat and tidy packing, while the tough outer shell will keep everything safe and secure.
For peace of mind, it fastens with combination and butterfly locks that can be used with or without the padlocks included.
If you’ve Marie Condo-ed your house and like your clothes organised, Antler’s Urbanite suitcase might be for you. It’s a light, durable upright case with multiple zip compartments to keep your bits and pieces in place and easily accessible. This 2-wheel suitcase can be carried in different ways with its variety of handles, from the zip-away pull handle at the top to the securely sewn webbing hand straps.
And there are yet more straps inside to secure your clothes and gadgets, including a zip closure mesh compartment that’s ideal for underwear and small items. The case is great value for a large, durable design that comes with a three year guarantee.
The best large suitcases
Ideal for longer trips away, the American Tourister Soundbox 77cm Suitcase is a large suitcase with a hard polypropylene shell and TSA-ready locks. The big draw here is that, rather unusually for a hard case, it is expandable on all sides, allowing for that extra bit of wriggle room when returning home with those holiday souvenirs.
As this is a spinner case, it comes with four double wheels on the bottom as well as a double-tube handle for easy manoeuvrability. Its design is inspired by a vinyl record, and it'll certainly stand out on the luggage carousel.
American Tourister Soundbox cases are available in a huge number of colours (but we prefer this mint green colour) and a selection of sizes as well.
Available in Black, Blush, Mint, Taupe and White, the Antler Clifton Large is the perfect case for a ski trip or a long family holiday. With four double wheels that handle uneven terrain, and a strong telescopic handle, it’s easy to push and drag anywhere even when full. If things get too squeezed, a zip expands the width to open-up another 11L.
Made from super-lightweight Makrolon polycarbonate with built-in flex, and weighing 5kg, the Antler Clifton Large has a few niceties that competitors lack; inside is a long, zipped pocket for storing sundries, as well as a ‘wet pocket’ for toiletries (or wet swimming gear).
The case is secured with a TSA-compatible combination lock for security, but the real selling point is all that gear you can get inside … and then some.
Samsonite is commitment to reducing its impact on the planet, and, as such, has recently launched the Magnum Eco Spinner. The Eco Spinner is made in Europe and crafted with recycled post-consumer waste: using recycled yoghurt cups for the shells and recycled PET bottles for the interior lining. These suitcases are the fruit of Samsonite's commitment to sustainability, without compromising on quality and comfort.
It comes in a range of stylish and understated colours that are inspired by nature, as well as a range of sizes, from cabin size right up to 81cm. Of course, being a Samsonite case you can expect security and durability and lightweight.
If you're planning on travelling in style, you need one of Globe-Trotter's iconic suitcases. The British brand's luggage has been carried by some of the world's most influential historical figures, including Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Winston Churchill, and HM Queen Elizabeth II.
This Trolley Case from the 'Centenary' collection is made from sturdy yet surprisingly lightweight vulcanised fibreboard, featuring smooth leather straps, polished silver hardware and a spacious canvas-lined interior.
Yes, the Globe-Trotter Trolley Case is on the more expensive end, but when you consider it's been handmade in England, and will become a family heirloom, it's a lot easier to justify.
Eastpak started life making canvas bags for the US military in the 1950s, and in the intervening years since it’s clearly learned a lot about making tough, lightweight, roomy bags for just about any need. The Eastpak Tranverz L is ahem, a case in point.
First up the Tranverz L is a made from flexible, but tough polyester, which enables you to cram in a good deal more stuff than it’s 121-litre volume suggests. It also folds relatively flat when empty, yet can still stand upright when it is thanks to its carcass, which includes a double-tube extensible handle, with two recessed wheels in the base.
One thing we love about this bag is that there are handles everywhere — making it easy to pick up from any side, while also making its bulk easier to handle as you can grab more than one handle at once. It also rolls easily on its big, smooth-running wheels.
The Eastpak Tranverz L is available in 19 different colours — so doing its bit to stand out on airport carousels. It also has an incredibly smartly arranged interior, with zipped compartments top and bottom. It’s also relatively light for a big bag, weighing in at just 3.635kg. The bag's only downside is that it’s not particularly secure — you can make it so by attaching TSA-ready padlocks (not supplied) to its patchwork of zips.
Sometimes only a huge suitcase will do — and this rolling duffel case from premium luggage maker, Briggs & Riley, fits the bill perfectly.
Ideal for extended trips away, its huge 125.9-litre capacity is roomy enough for all your clothes, toiletries and other travel items. It comes with a removable metal frame to make the bag rigid when in use and comes with two main compartments — a duffel section, which comes with garment panels to minimise wrinkling, and a flat-packing section for other items. It also includes internal and external zipped pockets so you can keep the most important items close to hand.
Despite its size, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Upright Duffel only weighs 5kg when empty and comes with two sturdy, smooth-running, recessed wheels and an external telescopic handle so you can pull it along. Further handles at the top and sides also make it easy to manoeuvre, while self-healing ballistic nylon and reinforced corners will keep it looking good for years — no wonder it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Having said that the Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Upright Duffel is fairly expensive. The zipped main storage compartment, is the only part that is lockable, although a TSA-compatible padlock is supplied.
Sold in Cool Grey, Living Coral, Purist Blue, Onyx Black and Midnight Navy, the super-light American Tourister Airconic 77cm is designed for long trips with the family and any other trip where you need to take a lot of gear. About 101L, to be exact. That its makers have been able to make a case that holds so much and yet weight just 3.2kg is impressive, though design-wise it’s little more than a big box; inside is just a basic divider panel containing a mesh pocket.
Its four double wheels cope with all kinds of terrain, and though the telescopic handle feels a little wobbly, it’s good enough to handle all that gear inside. Secured with a TSA-compatible combination lock, the American Tourister Airconic 77cm is pretty basic, but also pretty incredible if you're after something for long trips that demand a lot of gear.
Ideal for longer trips away, the Samsonite S'cure ECO 75cm large suitcase with a recycled polypropylene shell and TSA-ready combi locks. Constructed using a minimum of 85% polyproplene, the core outside compartments are enriched with recycled wood waste.
The interior also benefits from recycled materials, with the textiles engineered from 100% post-consumer PET plastic bottles.
As this is a spinner case, it comes with four double wheels on the bottom as well as a double-tube handle for easy manoeuvrability. Internally, it comes with a bottom compartment with elastic cross ribbons for storing clothes, a zipped divider, and large side pocket.
Samsonite S'cure ECO cases are available in a number of sizes: 55cm, 69cm, 75cm and 81cm, so there’s bound to be one that meets your needs.
Are you travelling with the family? Then you'll want this luggage set from Aerolite. It comprises of a 55cm cabin case (which meets cabin regulations of all major airlines), a 69cm medium case, and 73cm large case. Combined, this will give you 250 litres of luggage space!
All three cases feature four spinner wheels and a double-tube retractable trolley grip handle. The outer casing is made from durable, anti-scratch ABS, so you definitely won't have to worry about your luggage after checking it in.
Aerolight suitcases really are fantastic value, and, best of all, they all come with a 5 year guarantee for peace of mind.
The best children suitcases
And finally, we couldn’t possibly do a suitcase round-up without including the incredible kid-friendly cases from Trunki. Available in 22 different designs — including this limited edition Gruffalo one — the hard shell cases are designed to be ridden on and come with lots of neat touches, from 'seat-belts' (read: ribbons) for teddy bears and secret compartments, to ‘horns’ for children to hold on to while they’re pushing or being pulled along when riding the case.
We also love the fact that these cases are affordable and hard-wearing, being made from the same material as adult cases. They're also sized to be able to used as carry-on bags – perfect for when your kids decides they must have their favourite toy at 30,000 feet.
The MiniMax is ideal for children to pull alongside them on their travels and features adjustable front straps, so they can carry along their favourite cuddly toy. The MiniMax also features adjustable backpack straps, which allows the bag to be carried when, inevitably, your little one gets fed-up of pulling it. These straps are concealed in a zipped rear pocket when they are not in use.
The two font facing pockets allow children to easily store items and the compact design of the MiniMax means it will fit most airline cabin restrictions. Despite being a case made for children, it's still robust and sturdy, coming with a 2 year warranty for extra protection.
How to buy the best suitcase
There are all kinds of considerations when it comes to picking the best suitcase: budget, size, how long you’re going away, security and even longevity (how long you expect the case to last). In essence, you have three main choices when it comes to size: up to 56cm for cabin luggage, between 57-71cm for what we'd call a medium-sized suitcase, and 71+ for large suitcases. How much you plan to take on holiday, and whether you like to travel light, will dictate what size of suitcase you need. Each of these size ranges can then be divided into whether you want a hard or soft case.
Hard or soft case?
Hard or rigid cases are usually made from polycarbonate or ABS plastic. In theory, they offer better protection for fragile items and can withstand a reasonable level of abuse without damage, although some glossy-finished cases can get scratched all too easily.
Hard cases are generally more waterproof and secure than soft cases, although that obviously depends on the quality of the seals / locks / zips located around the case. Some of the better soft cases are waterproof too. The downside is that hard cases don't offer much in the way of flexibility bringing back holiday souvenirs along with all the stuff you took on holiday in the first place?
The rigid nature of hard cases means you may not be able to fit your purchases inside. Having said that, some cases now – including the Samsonite Flux – do include some level of expandability, but even then they don’t have the flexibility that a soft case does.
Soft cases, on the other hand, are flexible by their very nature – the sides of the case will bulge out to accommodate the extra items you’re trying to stow inside. They are also more likely to have external pockets for stowing additional items in and the best examples are also made from waterproof materials with waterproof zips, helping to keep the stuff inside dry.
The flip-side is soft cases are more vulnerable to having their contents stolen, since they often rely on zip fastenings. However suitcases of either type often include 3-digit combination locks so you don't have to worry about losing an extra set of keys, and most are TSA-compliant – that is they are able to be opened easily by security at US airports should the need arise.
2-wheels or 4-wheels?
Most suitcases come with either two sets of wheels on the base, or four. Which one you choose is largely down to personal preference.
Two-wheel ‘puller’ cases are easier to manoeuvre in the real world of pavements and staircases where you can just tilt the bag and pull; Four-wheel ‘spinner’ cases are ideally suited to places with smooth floors, like hotel lobbies and airports where they get to glide around on all four sets of wheels – come across trickier terrain though, and you’ll have to drag them along on two wheels just like the others.
Of more concern, potentially, is how robust and smooth-running the wheels are: ideally, they needed to be bolted (rather than riveted) to the case so they can easily be replaced if one does break, it also helps if they're recessed into the case corners a little – this makes them less vulnerable when they’re being tossed around by baggage handlers and have the advantage of making the footprint of the case slightly smaller.
Suitcase sizes explained
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When you’re buying a case, you obviously need to think about why you're buying it, and what you’re going to use it for – you’re clearly not going to want to take a massive case with you if you’re going on an overnight business trip or a weekend away; but likewise you won’t want a tiny case when you’re off for a month in Kathmandu.
For many travellers though, the most important thing is that they buy a case that can be stowed either in an overhead locker or under the seat in an aeroplane cabin – that means they don't have to hang around for ages in baggage reclaim, they can just grab their bag and go.
Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules on what constitutes a carry-on case; different airlines have different size and weight limits and what might be acceptable on one airline won’t be on another.
It pays to do some research – and make sure any case you buy complies with size limits for your favourite carrier, otherwise you may find your suitcase ends up in the hold after all.
How we test the best suitcases
We spend a lot of time reviewing the best suitcases, so when it comes to recommending what luggage to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we'll recommend the best options for you.
Where possible, we take these suitcases travelling with us. This gives us an idea of what they're like to use in the real world; how practical they are, how smoothly the wheels glide along the airport floor, and generally how robust they are. While we can't take every suitcase we recommend on holiday with us, we do look at the materials they're made from, the design features, durability, and specs, to understand whether they work as intended or not.
Once the initial review period is complete we'll publish a full review, give the luggage a star rating, and add an abridged review to this guide. If it's really good then we'll also continue using the suitcase, and update our recommendation if we discover anything interesting after extended use. This is particularly important for suitcase reviews, as they might work perfectly on one trip, then fall to pieces on the next.
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