Best suitcase 2023: Jump Menu
00. The top 3 ↴
01. Best small suitcase: Samsonite Cosmolite Spinner Cabin Case
02. Best medium suitcase: Antler Clifton
03. Best large suitcase: American Tourister Soundbox Suitcase
04. Best small suitcases
05. Best medium suitcases
06. Best large suitcases
07. Best children's suitcases
08. How we test
The best suitcases will depend on what you need them for: are you heading off on holiday? A city break? A business trip? Or are you off on a round-the-world adventure? Whatever you're about to embark on, you'll need to have the right luggage to take your stuff in.
Luckily, T3 are here to help. We've rounded up the best suitcases, from duffel cases so big you could almost sleep in them, to carry-on cases for those times when you really must get on and off the plane as fast as possible. To help you make the big decisions, this guide has plenty of advices and our top picks for the best suitcases in 2023.
If you're travelling with a child, you'll want to read our guide on the best travel stroller for hassle-free holidays. If you're interested in more types of luggage, we'd recommend you check out our guides to the best carry-on luggage, best travel bags, and best backpacks.
Beth is Home Editor for T3, covering style, living and wellness. From the comfiest mattresses to what strange things you can cook in an air fryer, Beth covers sleep, yoga, smart home, coffee machines, grooming tools, fragrances, gardening and much more. If it's something that goes in your house, chances are Beth knows about it and has the latest reviews and recommendations.
The top three
Best small suitcase
For the best small suitcase you can buy, you need to check out the Samsonite Cosmolite 55cm Spinner Cabin Case. It's petite, lightweight, and great for frequent flyers.
Read more below
Best medium suitcase
If you need a medium-sized suitcase (over 55cm), then our favourite is the Antler Clifton. It's stylish, durable and fits easily onto flights, trains and other modes of transportation.
Read more below
Best large suitcase
Sometimes the biggest suitcase is the only answer, and our top pick is the American Tourister Soundbox Suitcase (77cm). It's big, lightweight and surprisingly affordable for a big case.
Read more below
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