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The best tried and tested luggage brands to take on your 2025 holiday
Putting the rest of baggage claim to shame
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
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When planning your next holiday, don't overlook one of the most important aspects of the trip: your luggage. A suitcase that's easy to manoeuvre, spacious for packing, compact and lightweight enough to carry and durable enough to hold up to wear and tear will make a massive difference to your experience.
Whether you're looking for an overhead cabin bag for long-weekend trips, or a large check-in suitcase to fit your entire holiday wardrobe in, read on for our guide to our favourite tried and tested luggage brands. You'll also find a guide to what to consider before you shop underneath our reviews.
We’ve also tried and tested the best packing cubes to keep your holiday capsule wardrobe neat and tidy, as well as the best luggage trackers to make sure it arrives safely at your destination. We've also got our experts' pick of the best cabin bags, best suitcases, and best carry-on backpacks.
How we chose the best luggage brands
We've tested hundreds of suitcases in the Good Housekeeping Institute lab across a wide range of luggage brands to find the best for every type of traveller.
We drop every case 52 times from a height of one metre to ensure they're durable enough to be placed in the hold. We pop them in the shower to check any water-resistance claims and we pack them full of clothes and toiletries before wheeling them over different surfaces to check manoeuvrability. We also assess design before awarding a final score.
- Good for longer trips: Aerolite
- Good for affordable luggage: Amazon Basics
- Good for organisation: Antler
- Good for style: Away
- Good premium luggage: Carl Friedrik
- Good soft-shell luggage: Eastpak
- Good for durability: Horizn Studios
- Good for range of colours: July
- Good lightweight hardshell luggage: The Portable Porter Company
- Good under-seat luggage: Tripp
It’s in the name for this brand, as Aerolite is both lightweight and easy on the budget. Despite the affordable price tags, we've always found the spacious and durable.
Our tested pick:
The Aerolite ABS325 Hardshell case has a generous 126-litre capacity, which makes it ideal for longer trips. It features lots of handy compartments, including specific ones for shoes and travel documents. No more airport rummaging.
Affordable, durable, and available next day for those very last-minute trips, Amazon Basics is here to save your holiday. With everything from rolling duffle bags to under seat travel luggage to choose from, there’s a reasonably priced set for every trip.
Our tested pick:
The Hardside Case is a sturdy bit of luggage that's large enough for two on a short getaway It also excelled on our durability test, only suffering a few scuffs after 52 drops.
Heritage British brand, Antler, has been creating stylish luggage made to last since 1914. The high quality, aesthetically pleasing designs, plus the lifetime warranty, mean you can have total peace of mind when travelling
Our tested pick:
Its rotating wheels make manoeuvring Antler's Large Suitcase a breeze. It's as generous as its name suggests, reaching up to our tester’s hip, which means there's plenty of room for your essentials – and then some. Inside, there are two large main compartments, one of which is zipped – perfect for stashing dirty laundry while you're away
It comes in Indigo-Blue, a nice subtle colour, but we’re big fans of the Ember-Orange, which will be super easy to spot on the carousel.
Chic luggage brand Away creates bags for all kinds of travellers: duffles for short trips, large trunks for big moves, and even crossbody bags that look like a miniature version of their cases. If you like style as well as substance, this is the brand for you.
Our tested pick:
Away's The Carry-On cabin case was our winning small cabin bag on test, and for good reason. It has three handles, with one on the base, which makes lifting it into the overhead cabin easy. It also comes with a dirty laundry bag, so you can keep the outfit you wore three times separate from the clothes you were "definitely going to wear...”
It’s also designed with a clever compression divider, so you can fit more in without having to sit on your case to close it. Plus, the outer shell is waterproof and extremely durable. It’s no wonder the brand offers a lifetime warranty.
If you want quality luggage, then look no further than Carl Friedrik. You'll find stylish sets in classic grey, navy and brown. The higher price tag reflects the premium quality of the cases, which will be at your side for adventures to come.
Our tested pick:
You'll be gliding through the airport with The Check In case, thanks to its silent 360 spinner wheels. The shell face proved extremely durable and hard to scratch on test too, and it scored full marks for its waterproof capabilities. So, you can rest assured your belongings are protected from the inside out.
It's slightly heavier than others we've tested due to its aluminium frame, but this is further testament to the quality of this case.
Spotted on the backs of commuters, backpackers and many more in between, an Eastpak rucksack is a common sight. But the brand does lots of other luggage, each recognisable by its practical pockets and zips, and marked with the brand’s trademark logo.
Our tested pick:
Organisation is key for experienced travellers, and the multiple pockets and compartments of the soft Double Tranverz Travel Bag mean that you can separate your clothes from your toiletries, your cables from your souvenirs, and any other important bits from your dirty laundry.
There’s also an inside pocket for your important documents, so you can locate your passport and boarding pass in seconds.
Luxury and modernity are at the core of Horizn Studios. Its luggage comes with lots of handy accessories, including dust bags for storage, separate laundry bags, a toiletry bag and even an identity tag.
Our tested pick:
Horizn's Large Suitcase has a capacity of 98L and is a great choice for those longer, two-week summer holidays.
Our experts were impressed with the brand's attention to detail. On test it scored best for durability, proving impervious to repeated drops, kerbs and stairs.
Travel in ultimate style with July luggage, as you can match you case to your airport outfit with one of the brand's endless colourways. The shell cases are also made to last. In fact, the brand is so confident on the durability of its cases that it offers a lifetime guarantee on them all.
Our tested pick:
The Checked Suitcase is made from a durable and protective hardshell case, and is best suited to one or two-week holidays. It has lots useful pockets to help organise your packing, and the internal strap helped keep clothes in place.
It moved smoothly across all four surfaces in our tests: tarmac, cobbles, concrete and carpet. There’ll be no holding you back with this one!
This is another British luggage brand that puts quality and design at the forefront. The Portable Porter keeps it simple by offering just two different models: The Check In and The Carry On. The no-nonsense brand puts all its focus into smaller pieces of luggage and it shows.
Our tested pick:
Our experts put the Carry On through its paces with a series of tough challenges, but it emerged with only minor scratches and removable dents, and it still wheeled perfectly. That's resilience.
Despite its sturdy build, it's still lightweight, so you won't tire yourself wheeling it to and fro.
Tripp's eye-catching hardshell cases are a common sight in airports, and you'll be pleased to know that practicality isn't sacrificed in the name of its attractive design – every case comes with a padlock or code system to make sure your belongings are safely stored inside.
Our tested pick:
You don't want to be landed with a baggage fine right at the beginning of your holiday – or even worse, to add to the holiday blues when you're on your way home – which is what makes Tripp's under-seat suitcase ideal. The compact size complies with most airline allowances, but you'll have to be selective with what you're packing. Put the additional seven pairs of underwear back in the drawer…
On test, it lagged a little on carpets, but had no issues on hard floors, so you'll be moving smoothly and swiftly through passport control.
What is the best material for luggage?
✔️ Hardshell luggage: These cases have become increasingly popular because they're often more durable, but also lightweight. However, not all hardshell cases are the same. Here's a breakdown of the benefits of each material.
- Polycarbonate: It's lighter than metal (like aluminium) yet more durable than plastic, making it the most common hardside material on the market. Polycarbonate is known for its high impact resistance – i.e. it protects against drops – but it has lower scratch resistance. Sometimes, a special coating is applied to prevent scuff marks.
- ABS plastic: Most low-cost hardside luggage is made of this material. It's more affordable and more lightweight than polycarbonate but not as durable, and it can be prone to scratches.
- Polycarbonate/ABS composites: You can find luggage that combines these materials, typically using ABS plastic underneath with a polycarbonate coating on top. The hybrid gives you the benefits of both, but it still isn't as strong as 100% polycarbonate.
- Aluminium: The metal is more durable, but it's heavier and more expensive than both polycarbonate and ABS, making it a less popular choice.
✔️ Softshell luggage: Because it's fabric-based, this luggage can be easier to fit into tight spaces and fill up with more items. The material also doesn't show scratches or dents, though certain fabrics can abrade more easily over time so you still need to shop with care.
- Nylon: This is the most common material used in soft fabric luggage. A synthetic fibre, it's highly durable and can withstand abrasion, making it ideal for frequent travellers who are rough on their bags. Nylon is also fairly water-resistant.
- Polyester: This one's also synthetic, but it's typically less expensive and more lightweight than nylon. The downside is that it's also less durable.
What features should I be looking for in luggage?
Aside from the material, factor in your type of travel, length of trip and other individual needs before you buy.
✔️ Size: Do you need a carry-on that can come onto an airplane with you or a checked case that holds more holiday outfits? While a larger suitcase can fit more inside, it will also weigh more and take up more storage space, so it's worth weighing up all the pros and cons.
✔️ Weight: Hardshell luggage isn't always heavier than softshell, but added components like wheels and handles can certainly add weight. Besides airline weight limits, a heavier suitcase can also be a burden to carry while travelling.
✔️ Wheels: Your options are no wheels, two wheels or four wheels. Four-wheel luggage is the easiest to manoeuvre because it can be pushed, pulled and moved in all directions, plus you can tip it back and use it like a two-wheeler. Two-wheelers only roll when you tilt the luggage, and you can only pull it back and forth instead of side to side.
✔️ Handles: A telescopic handle should be easy to lift and lower and should be comfortable to hold, especially for larger luggage with a heavy load. Also, consider side handles — especially for carry-on luggage — if you're going to be lifting and lowering the case throughout your trip.
✔️ Compartments: Consider whether you prefer a large open space that can hold a big load or smaller compartments to help you organise your wardrobe. Some luggage also has exterior pockets for easy access, but this may take away from packing space on the inside.
8 April 2025: We updated this article to reflect the current prices and stock levels. We also added in links to other useful and relevant Good Housekeeping articles.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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