THE best suitcases are real investment pieces that should be durable, lightweight and last for years to come.
We’ve rounded up some of the most popular brands, whether you’re looking for a carry-on bag for a long weekend or a bigger suitcase for family holidays.
Where to buy suitcases
Suitcases are widely available online, where you might also be able to find better deals.
High street brands like Argos and Sports Direct have a good range of budget-friendly options.
Premium brands like Away and Tumi also have their own online shops where you can find their full collection and even get your luggage customised.
In terms of the price, it all depends on how often you travel.
If you only go away once or twice a year, a budget-friendly option costing less than £50 would be more than adequate.
But if you fly a few times a year, you’ll need a more durable, lightweight option – you should be prepared to pay upwards of £80 for these.
We’ve rounded up some of the most popular brands around.
This article and featured products have been independently chosen by Sun journalists. It contains links which are ads, and if you click a link and buy a product we will earn revenue.
1. Tripp Holiday 6 large four-wheel suitcase
- (AD) Tripp Holiday 6 large suitcase, £65, Amazon – buy here
Coming in at 32cm x 50cm x 76cm, the Tripp Holiday 6 large suitcase is great for long haul holidays.
The four-wheel design makes it easy to move around and the polypropylene shell is strong and lightweight.
To keep the contents safe, the suitcase is secured with a TSA-approved combination lock.
2. American Tourister Bon Air medium spinner
- (AD) American Tourister Bon Air medium spinner, £58.69, Amazon – buy here
American Tourister’s Bon Air suitcases are also available in a few different sizes and colours.
The medium measures 55cm x 66cm x 75cm and features a lightweight polypropylene exterior.
Thanks to its four wheels, it’s easy to move around and all your stuff will be kept safe with the TSA-approved combination lock.
3. We tested: Away The Medium suitcase
- Away The Medium suitcase, £265, Away – buy here
Away’s The Medium measures 66cm x 47cm x 28cm, and is a decent size for most trips.
We loved that the different compartments made it super easy to pack, and there’s also a waterproof laundry bag included so you can enjoy a last minute dip in the pool before a flight out without worrying about all your stuff getting wet.
The £265 price tag is hefty but that’s because the suitcase is covered by a limited lifetime warranty – if anything goes wrong, they will just fix it or replace it.
For those who aren’t sure about splashing out, Away offers a 100-day trial on any unpersonalised suitcases so you can see whether it’s a good fit for you and return it if it’s not.
4. IT Luggage World's Lightest 2-wheel cabin suitcase
- IT Luggage World's Lightest 2-wheel cabin suitcase, £30, Argos – buy here
For something seriously budget-friendly, look no further than this soft shell cabin bag from IT Luggage.
Weighing just 1.58kg, the 55cm x 39.5cm x 19cm case will fit the carry-on restrictions for most airlines.
The two-wheel design might not suit everyone but given its size, you’re unlikely to be packing anything too heavy anyway.
5. Antler Rochester hard suitcase
- Antler Rochester hard suitcase, £55, Sports Direct – buy here
The Rochester design from Antler comes in three different sizes and two colours – black and purple.
This one, the carry-on luggage, measures 55cm x 40cm x 22cm, and is suitable for most airline cabins.
The four 360 degree wheels make this case easy to move around and the TSA-approved combination lock will keep all your contents safe.
The bigger versions of this design are also expandable, which is great if you know you’re going to bring back souvenirs.
How to choose the best suitcase
When it comes to choosing the best suitcase for you, there are a few things to think about.
The first is the size, and this will depend on how you travel and who you travel with.
You can also choose between whether it’s a two-wheel or a four-wheel suitcase, and whether it’s a soft shell or hard shell.
What size suitcase do I need?
Budget airlines like Ryanair have stricter size requirements for carry-on luggage, which means a suitcase that’s suitable for other airline cabins might be too big for Ryanair.
At the moment, Ryanair will let you take on a suitcase measuring up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm if you pay for their “Priority & 2 Cabin Bags” upgrade.
Otherwise you can only take a bag measuring up to 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, which must be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.
Similarly, easyJet will let you take a bag measuring up to 45cm x 36cm x 20cm on board for free.
If you’ve booked an Up front or Extra legroom seat, you can also bring on board a case that measures 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
For premium airlines, most standard carry-on suitcases will be fine.
Depending on your ticket and fare class, British Airways will let you take on a suitcase that measures up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm as well as a personal bag of up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm.
If you’re always checking your luggage into the hold, then you can be really flexible with sizes.
A medium-sized suitcase that’s around 65cm high would be more than big enough for most holidays.
But if you pack heavy, or tend to travel long haul for longer periods of time, there are also suitcases that go up to 81cm.
2 wheel vs 4 wheel suitcases
If you have a choice, always go four wheels rather than two for bigger cases as these are much easier to move around. This is most helpful when there isn’t much room and you can’t pull the suitcase along in the usual way.
The one benefit that two-wheeled suitcases have is that they won’t roll away when the ground isn’t level, or when you’re on a moving bus or train.
Are hard shell suitcases good?
Hard shell suitcases will offer your belongings more protection, especially if you want to bring back a bottle or two from abroad.
Newer materials, such as polycarbonate, are also lightweight and flexible enough that they’re less likely to shatter on impact.
Plus, they have the added benefit of being more weather resistant, so are more likely to keep your stuff dry if it rains.
Soft shell suitcases can be cheaper, and they are generally made from tough, scratch resistant fabric.
These tend to feature expandable designs, which is perfect for those who want to buy souvenirs to take home – though you should avoid anything breakable.
Some soft shell designs also compress down when empty, which can be handy for storage.
Check out our guide to the best carry on luggage for every airline.
For those who like to travel light, we’ve picked out the best lightweight suitcases.
And if you’re not quite ready to splash out yet, we’ve put together a round up of he best cheap suitcases.
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