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Get your trip off to a flying start by investing in the best suitcases Smart Cabin Bag
A good suitcase can last years or even decades, so it’s important to choose one that will serve you well, whether you’re jetting off to a faraway destination or road-tripping to your favourite British seaside spot.
Ideally, your luggage should improve your travel experience, fitting in everything you need without becoming too heavy or difficult to manoeuvre. And of course, it should be sturdy enough that you can trust it will protect your possessions.
To take the mystery out of luggage shopping, the Good Housekeeping Institute has tried and tested a huge range of suitcases from leading brands and pulled together this helpful guide detailing everything you need to know about buying your next case.
The type of luggage you’ll need depends on the way you travel. There are endless colours and styles to choose from, but it’s a smart idea to consider the practicalities before splashing your cash.
Full-size cases: The weight limit for checked luggage varies between airlines. Check that your suitcase isn’t too heavy before setting off, as excess baggage fees are famously extortionate. Frequent flyers may find it helpful to invest in some luggage scales.
Bear in mind that the lighter your suitcase when empty, the more holiday outfits you can pack. It will also be easier to lift and manoeuvre. The best full-size suitcases we tested weighed as little as 3.1kg when empty, with bulkier options coming in at a hefty 5.9kg.
Cabin cases: Note that some airlines have weight restrictions in place for hand luggage, too. If you don’t want to sacrifice books, gifts and souvenirs, choose a lightweight cabin case or fly with a more relaxed airline.
Full-size cases: When looking for a bigger case, consider where you will store it when not in use, and how its size will impact your travel. If you’re planning to travel to the airport by car, how easily will the suitcase fit in the boot? Will it be easy to lug through crowds? What about the luggage rack on the airport bus; could you hoick it up onto the top rung?
Cabin cases: Just because a suitcase calls itself ‘cabin-size’, that doesn’t mean it will fit in the cabin on your plane. Make sure to check any size restrictions before you travel; you will find a breakdown of each airline's size requirements below.
A padlock is essential wherever you travel, but one with a Transport Security Administration (TSA) function is highly recommended for travellers to the USA.
These locks feature the red TSA logo and have a universal master key. Only the TSA has a copy of this key, which allows American airline security staff to open your suitcase and examine its contents without causing damage. If they can’t open your lock, they have the right to destroy it to gain access during random checks.
Suitcases with handles on the top and side are particularly practical. These extra handles, in addition to the towing handle, make lifting your suitcase on and off check-in scales, luggage racks and baggage carousels much easier.
Most top handles are telescopic and can be extended into multiple positions for optimum user comfort. They are also retractable for pushing down when not in use.
Most suitcases are four-wheelers, sometimes referred to as spinners, meaning you don't have to tilt your case before towing and it can be wheeled alongside you. Suitcases with two wheels tend to have slightly bigger wheels and can be easier to pull up and over kerbs, but spinners win for versatility.
Internal pockets can be found inside most hard shell and soft-sided suitcases, from small integrated pockets and larger pouched compartments that can fit a laptop, to removable laundry bags and garment sections that help keep suit jackets from creasing. External pockets for stowing easy-access items are usually only found in soft-sided suitcases.
Many suitcases feature an expandable panel, which can be unzipped for at least 10% extra packing space. Some of the top-scoring cabin cases and full-size suitcases in our roundups are expandable, and well worth considering if you can’t resist those last-minute gifts and souvenirs.
For longer trips, a full-size suitcase is a must. Most have ample room for two weeks’ worth of clothes and may also prove roomy enough to pack for two.
But not all large suitcases are alike, with lots of variables including weight, pocket designs and shell construction.
Here are the best suitcases we’ve tried and tested at the GHI.
If you’re a long-weekend type of traveller, or you prefer to pack light regardless of the length of your stay, a great cabin bag should more than do the trick.
Here are our top picks for ease of use, durability, and design.
Many airlines have different size and weight restrictions, which can make investing in a new cabin bag tricky. If you’re a frequent flyer, consider buying hand luggage that adheres to the specific requirements of the airline you use the most.
If the airline you fly with tends to vary, however, choose a cabin bag that meets stricter requirements. This will give you more flexibility when it comes to booking and packing.
Note, many airlines now charge for large cabin bags, so make sure to check if any fees apply before you fly. Buying luggage allowance tends to be cheaper when done in advance.
Here’s our up-to-date guide to the different cabin requirements of major airlines:
Size limit: 55 x 40 x 24 cm Weight limit: 10kg Carry-on included: No, charges apply
Size limit: 48 x 33 x 20 cm Weight limit: 7kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 56 x 36 x 23 cm Weight limit: None Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 56 x 45 x 25 cm Weight limit: 23kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 56 x 45 x 25 cm Weight limit: 15kg Carry-on included: No, charges apply
Size limit: 55 x 38 x 22 cm Weight limit: 7kg economy, 10kg premium economy Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 56 x 36 x 23 cm Weight limit: 7kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 55 x 35 x 25 cm Weight limit: 12kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 55 x 40 x 23 cm Weight limit: 8kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 55 x 40 x 20 cm Weight limit: 10kg Carry-on included: No, charges apply
Size limit: 56 x 36 x 23 cm Weight limit: 10kg Carry-on included: Yes
Size limit: 55 x 40 x 23 cm Weight limit: 10kg Carry-on included: No, charges apply
Often considered the most durable type of luggage, a hard shell suitcase has a rigid exterior that is usually made from moulded polypropylene, polycarbonate or ABS plastic, with some using aluminium. They’re less flexible than soft-sided suitcases, making them a better option for protecting delicate items. The shells are water-resistant, but water may still seep through the zipper.
Hard shell suitcases can better withstand the rough handling that checked luggage suffers. The latest models are lightweight with plenty of give, and many have an internal divider for packing your belongings into two halves. They don’t have external pockets, but there are usually a couple inside.
Made of polyester, nylon or a mix of both, soft-sided suitcases usually feature expandable sides for extra packing space. They tend to be less water-resistant than hard shell suitcases, but most have waterproof PVC linings for travelling in light rain.
Soft-sided suitcases usually boast a range of internal and external pockets, making them a good choice for organised travellers. External pockets generally don’t come with their own padlocks, though, so hide valuables elsewhere.
At the GHI, every suitcase is put through a series of rigorous tests to see how they perform in real-life scenarios. We weigh them when empty to make sure they're not too heavy before packing. We pack enough belongings for a long weekend in cabin cases and a fortnight’s worth in full-size suitcases, noting how well they fit and securely hold everything in place. We make use of any internal or external pockets, packing straps and dividers.
Once packed, we test each suitcase’s manoeuvrability across a variety of common terrains – including tarmac, concrete, carpet and cobbles – to check how stable they are in motion and how easy they are to pull. We take durability of the wheels, casing and corners into consideration, and test any water-resistance claims. Overall ease of use, design and clarity of instructions are also reviewed.
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Hannah is our senior homes writer, 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 helps to uncover the best cleaning hacks too, with a focus on easy, natural solutions. 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. You can find Hannah on Instagram on @sewnbyhan
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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