The test winners among cabin luggage cases
In the latest cabin luggage test (17 models), the TITAN UPGRADE S20 was named test winner with a rating of "Good" (1.8). The travelite Air Base 4w S also received a "Good" rating (2.0) – the best-value pick.
View & compare test winners »Suitcases tested 2026 – the models travellers actually buy
Which suitcase is bought most often in 2026? Instead of subjective test verdicts, we show you the most popular models from our shop – hand-picked from our recommendation range. Every model recommended here is currently in stock and popular with our customers.
Last updated: 23 April 2026 · We update this comparison regularly, so you only see models currently in stock.
What really matters when buying a suitcase
Before choosing a model, make sure you're clear on these 8 criteria. Only then will your suitcase truly suit your travel style.
1. Volume & Size
Cabin luggage 40–55 L, weekend suitcase 60–80 L, holiday suitcase from 90 L. More details in our suitcase size guide.
2. Weight
The lighter the case, the more you can pack. Good hardshell cases weigh from 2.5 kg (55 cm) and 3.5 kg (75 cm). The empty weight counts towards your checked baggage allowance.
3. Material
Hardshell suitcases are made from polycarbonate or ABS, softshell luggage from polyester/nylon. Details in our material comparison.
4. Wheel System
4 double spinner wheels (360°) are standard. Quiet wheels for smooth floors, rugged wheels for cobblestones. Larger wheels generally roll more smoothly.
5. Lock
A TSA lock is essential for US travel. Details on how to use one in our TSA guide.
6. Expandable
Many models can be expanded by 15–20% in volume. Ideal for shopping trips or bringing back souvenirs.
7. Interior Features
Compression straps, divider, wet pocket for liquids, laptop compartment. When choosing a business trolley, look for dedicated tech compartments.
8. Warranty
Top brands like Samsonite or Titan offer 3–10 year warranties. Before buying, check exactly which types of damage are covered.
Suitcases – large hardshell trolleys
OUR PICK
Samsonite Base Breeze 78 cm
Our favourite suitcase: expandable, petrol blue, lightweight · from £115
- 78 cm, 118 L capacity, expandable by +10%
- Just 4.6 kg empty weight with excellent stability
- Polycarbonate hardshell with scratch-resistant surface
- TSA lock as standard, 4 spinner wheels
- A popular choice for long-haul trips and family holidays
Also available in Black, Red & Dark Green
PREMIUM
Osprey Sojourn 80 – 75 cm
Wheeled backpack hybrid for adventure travel · from £237
- 80 L capacity, carry or roll as you prefer
- Removable harness system for genuine backpack functionality
- Sturdy 2-wheel construction for rough terrain
- Premium build quality, 10-year Osprey warranty
- Perfect for round-the-world trips and backpacking
BEST VALUE
Wenger Oryson 75 cm
Swiss value-for-money hit: expandable, lightweight · from £76
- 75 cm, expandable by +15% capacity
- Excellent value for money under £100
- Scratch-resistant surface, quiet spinner wheels
- Integrated TSA combination lock
- Swiss quality at a fair price
Cabin Luggage – 55 cm carry-on trolleys
OUR PICK
Samsonite Citybeat 55 cm
Our bestselling carry-on – lightweight, durable, in many colours · from £73
- Airline-compliant 55×40×20 cm, fits almost every carrier's cabin allowance
- Just 2.6 kg empty weight – plenty of packing capacity
- 4 quiet spinner wheels with 360-degree movement
- TSA lock built in as standard
- Fits within Lufthansa and Eurowings cabin allowances
FLEXIBLE
Samsonite Base Breeze 55 cm expandable
More space: +10% capacity via zip expansion · from £95
- Standard 55 cm cabin size + 10% expansion
- 41 L base capacity, expandable to 46 L
- 2.9 kg empty weight
- Polycarbonate construction, 4 spinner wheels, TSA lock
- Also fits within stricter airline size limits
BACKPACK PICK
Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack
A cabin backpack instead of a trolley – ideal for multi-stop travel · from £109
- 55 cm cabin-compliant, 40 L capacity
- Fully opens flat like a suitcase for easy packing
- Stowable harness system for airport check-in
- Ideal for backpackers and minimalist travellers
- 10-year Osprey warranty on all seams
Wheeled Travel Bags – the outdoor favourite
RECOMMENDED
Vaude New Islands Rotuma 90
Top pick: sustainable, 90 L, converts into a backpack · from £150
- 90 L capacity with rugged all-terrain wheels
- Can be carried as a backpack (removable shoulder straps)
- Waterproof base coating, PFC-free
- Recycled PET fabric, Green Shape certified
- Our most-recommended outdoor travel bag
DESIGN
Rains Hilo 52 cm
Scandinavian design, waterproof, urban style · from £67
- 52 cm, a handy weekend size
- 100% waterproof thanks to rubberised outer material
- Clean Scandinavian design, minimalist look
- Ideal companion for city breaks
- Also accepted as cabin luggage
Travel Backpacks – 40 to 55 litres
OUR PICK
Osprey Fairview 40 Travel Backpack
Women's-specific travel backpack, cabin-luggage compliant · from £84
- 40 L capacity, 54 cm – cabin-compliant
- Women's-specific harness system (shorter back length, narrower shoulders)
- Full front-zip access, just like a suitcase
- Stowable straps for airport check-in
- See also our hiking backpack fitting guide
RUGGED
Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Backpack
55 L men's model – for longer trips · from £125
- 55 L capacity with detachable 15 L daypack
- Can be combined as cabin luggage (main backpack) + separate cabin bag
- Sturdy aluminium frame supports loads up to 20 kg
- Sleeping bag compartment at the base, rain cover included
- Great for trekking, long-haul trips and hostel stays
HIKING
Osprey Hikelite 26 Hiking Backpack
Lightweight day hiking backpack with rain cover · from £71
- 26 L day capacity, weighs just 850 g
- AirScape back system for excellent ventilation
- Integrated rain cover
- Trekking pole attachment and hydration-system compatible
- Perfect for day hikes and weekend rambles
Kids' Suitcases – the surprising bestseller
Samsonite's Dream2Go children's range is especially popular with families. With a wide range of designs, Dream2Go is loved by families for being sturdy, lightweight and child-friendly.
KIDS' FAVOURITE
Samsonite Dream2Go Disney Marvel Spiderman
Disney licence for little superheroes · from £58
- 52 cm kids' cabin size
- Easy to pull thanks to 4-wheel system
- Official Marvel licence (Spiderman, Mystery design)
- Sturdy hardshell withstands everyday kids' adventures
- TSA lock included as standard
RECOMMENDED
Samsonite Dream2Go Ice Cream Van
The classic – playful, retro, well-loved · from £57
- Our most popular children's design in a classic style
- 52 cm, 25 L, cabin-compliant
- Lightweight empty weight, easy for children to handle
- Sturdy hardshell, child-friendly
- TSA lock plus internal name tag panel
DESIGN
Samsonite Dream2Go Disney Motorbike
Dynamic motorbike design for little adventurers · from £64
- Motorbike design for young speed enthusiasts
- 52 cm, approved for the aircraft cabin
- 4-wheel system, effortlessly easy to handle
- Polycarbonate hardshell, scratch-resistant
- An ideal holiday suitcase from age 4 upwards
All top-sellers compared
| Model | Category | Price from | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Samsonite Dream2Go Ice Cream FAMILY FAVOURITE |
Kids' 52 cm | £57 | In stock, 4.9★ |
|
Vaude Rotuma 90 TRAVEL BAG |
Travel bag 75 cm | £150 | In stock, 4.7★ |
|
Samsonite Citybeat 55 CABIN LUGGAGE |
Cabin luggage 55 cm | £73 | In stock, 4.6★ |
|
Samsonite Base Breeze 78 SUITCASE |
Suitcase 78 cm | £115 | In stock, 4.7★ |
|
Osprey Fairview 40 WOMEN'S BACKPACK |
Women's travel backpack 54 cm | £84 | In stock, 4.8★ |
|
Samsonite Dream2Go Marvel KIDS |
Kids' 52 cm | £58 | In stock, 4.8★ |
|
Osprey Sojourn 80 PREMIUM |
Wheeled backpack 75 cm | £237 | In stock, 4.8★ |
|
Osprey Hikelite 26 HIKING |
Hiking backpack 51 cm | £71 | In stock, 4.7★ |
|
Wenger Oryson 75 BEST VALUE |
Suitcase 75 cm | £76 | In stock, 4.5★ |
|
Rains Hilo 52 DESIGN |
Travel bag 52 cm | £67 | In stock, 4.7★ |
Frequently asked questions about buying luggage
Which suitcase is especially popular in 2026?
Our top recommendations for 2026 include: the Vaude Rotuma 90 travel bag, the Samsonite Dream2Go kids' suitcase, the Samsonite Citybeat 55 cabin case, and the Samsonite Base Breeze 78 suitcase. Every model is currently in stock.
Hardshell suitcase or softshell luggage – which is better?
Hardshell offers better protection for fragile items and is weatherproof, while softshell luggage is lighter and expandable. For flights with checked baggage, hardshell (polycarbonate) is often preferable; for car and train journeys, softshell luggage is often the better choice. Details in our material comparison.
What suitcase size do I need for which type of trip?
Short 2–3 day trips: cabin luggage 55 cm (35–40 L). Weekend trips: 65 cm (65–75 L). One-week holidays: 75 cm (90–100 L). Longer trips or family holidays: 80 cm (110 L+). See our suitcase size guide.
What does a good suitcase cost?
Entry-level quality starts from £57 (Samsonite Dream2Go, Wenger Oryson), mid-range models cost £85–£127 (Samsonite Citybeat, Base Breeze), and premium options start from £170 (Osprey Sojourn 80, Vaude Rotuma). If you travel several times a year, a mid-range model usually pays for itself quickly.
Which kids' suitcase is worth buying?
Our top pick for 2026 is the Samsonite Dream2Go (52 cm, from £57) – our family favourite. Available in various designs (Ice Cream Van, Marvel Spiderman, Disney Frozen, Motorbike). Cabin-compliant, lightweight and sturdy.
Travel backpack or suitcase – which is better?
For classic package holidays: a suitcase. For multi-stop travel (several destinations, hostels, stairs, cobblestones): a backpack. The Osprey Fairview 40 (women's) and Farpoint 55 (men's) are our top picks among travel backpacks. Details in our backpack guide.
Our verdict – data-driven recommendations, not guesswork
Rather than offering a subjective test verdict, we show you the models that other travellers are genuinely buying. All the suitcases and bags recommended here are currently in stock, have average customer ratings of 4.5 stars or higher, and are firmly established favourites among our customers.
- Travel bag favourite: Vaude Rotuma 90 – sustainable, multi-functional, 90 L
- Suitcase favourite: Samsonite Base Breeze 78 – expandable, lightweight, sturdy hardshell
- Cabin luggage favourite: Samsonite Citybeat 55 – airline-compliant, lightweight, TSA lock
- Kids' favourite: Samsonite Dream2Go Ice Cream – sturdy, lightweight, child-friendly design
- Backpack favourite: Osprey Fairview 40 – women's-specific fit, cabin-luggage compliant
- Best value: Wenger Oryson 75 – Swiss quality for under £100
No test models that have been out of stock for years. No ranking bought and paid for by marketing budgets. Just honest recommendations based on our hands-on experience.
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