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Large suitcases, even at the best of times, are annoying – they’re heavy, difficult to lug around an airport and, in many cases, often bigger than the humans trying desperately to get them through the check-in desk before a long flight.
Add the extra bulk from travel pillows, travel mugs and, if you’ve got a little one in tow, baby travel accessories.
But the travel experience can range from ‘Margot Robbie gliding through the corridors of Heathrow’ all the way to ‘stressed family sprinting to make their flight’.
While a good suitcase won’t guarantee a perfect trip, it’s a fabulous place to start.
Here, we’ve tried out some of the best hold-sized suitcases, based on performance, practicality and style. All of these models pass our tests: they’re sturdy enough to stay in tact for more than a few flights and glam enough to see you travel in style.
There are ultra-luxury options as well as budget-friendly ones, and a whole host of options to select from in between.
Regardless of your priorities, we’ve got you covered, from super lightweight models to vintage-style designs and suitcases perfect for active adventurers who want more than a weekender bag.
Don’t forget to check your airline requirements before packing, though, as weight and size limits can differ from one carrier to another.
Best suitcases at a glance
How we test
When testing suitcases, we give them the sort of challenges they are likely to face on a typical journey – for example, wheeling along both smooth and bumpy surfaces and being lifted.
As well as evaluating performance, we also look for style, space, size, weight and durability to get a true measure of their abilities. We also make sure all suitcase comply with popular airline sizing restrictions.
Together with a group of expert reviewers at the Daily Mail, we collate and compare how well each product performs, so you can choose the best suitcases for your travels.
You can read more about our testing methodologies across all product categories.
Why trust us?
Our team of travel writers and editors has been testing products and writing reviews for many years, covering a wide range of products. With a focus on travel equipment, such as suitcases, we provide expertise on what travellers need on their journeys.
Our reviews are honest, impartial and based on real-world testing. We take into consideration all budgets and lifestyles when reviewing products to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
The best hold suitcases to buy in 2025
H7 RE Check-In Luggage
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Product Specs
Material97% recycled high-performance polycarbonateCapacity98LSize77cm x 52cm x 28cmWeight4.7kg
What we love
DesignSleek, modern styleWeightLightweight model
What could be better
PriceIt’s a more expensive model
Review
Reviewed by Erin Deborah Waks
This is one of my favourite suitcases ever.
The on-trend glossy brown colour immediately caught my eye, but I was initially sceptical it was just a pretty face with no substance.
But I was wrong.
Horizn is known for innovation and design expertise, and this extremely lightweight model provides both style and performance.
It wheels like a dream – it barely made a sound while I hauled it through several stations and across cities. It’s light and easy to move around.
Plus, it’s in line with Horizn’s sustainability policies. The luggage with a hard shell made from renewed high-performance polycarbonate, which saves over 72 per cent of CO2 emissions without compromising on performance – meaning it’s great for eco-conscious travellers.
Victorinox Suitcase
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Product Specs
MaterialPolycarbonateCapacity98LSize75 x 50 x 32 cmWeight4.1kg
What we love
AppearanceThis case looks stylish and modernInsideThe compartments secure your items nicely
What could be better
HandleSlightly on the smaller side for my personal preference
Review
By Alesia Fiddler
Modern, stylish and sleek, Victorinox’s suitcase is perfect for travellers looking for large, reliable luggage.
The four wheels glide smoothly through the airport, even when the case is packed full and heavy.
Inside, there are two spacious compartments that have plenty of room for all your travel essentials and more.
Both sides are sealed with a zipper, which I found to be much more practical than straps and my items felt secure.
The shell is strong and although it is a shiny plastic, after one return trip to Dublin, the case came out of the airport with minimal marks and scratches.
The telescopic handle feels sturdy, but is slightly on the smaller side for me. Personally, I would appreciate a wider handle for such a large case to help it feel steadier, but others might not have the same issue.
Carl Friedrik The Large Check-In (Core)
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Despite its size, this high-capacity suitcase boasts a lightweight construction, giving you extra breathing room when it comes to rigid airline weight restrictions.
Designed to support you on never-ending trips, this stylish suitcase features dual-zip TSA-approved locks and 360° spinner wheels, which guarantees a smooth ride.
Product Specs
MaterialMakrolon® polycarbonate shell, premium leather and brushed 100% recycled polyesterCapacity90 litresSize76 x 51 x 28 cmWeight5.16 kg
What we love
Lightweight and stylishDespite its size, this suitcase is light and easy to navigate. It’s also available in a stunning sand colourLifetime guaranteeExactly what you need if you’re forking out £445 and your suitcase becomes significantly damaged
What could be better
Shiny materialThe polyester gives off a plasticky look under certain lighting – but this doesn’t affect the suitcase’s use
Review
Reviewed by Jowena Riley
This suitcase meets all the requirements for style, comfort, and seamless navigation – which one would expect given its £445 price tag.
Designed in a beautifully classic shade of sand and brown, this suitcase is simple yet statement.
The thread stitching on the top and side handles is immaculate, and the bespoke logo printed on the soft interior material only adds to the suitcase’s luxury.
The dual-zips are a great feature – the suitcase closes at the middle and the zips are instantly secured into a lock compartment which you can set a combination for.
This makes finding the zips much easier than traditionally – and annoyingly – brushing your hands across the bottom and sides to locate them.
Although the collapsible handle may appear to extend only a short distance, the overall height of the suitcase allows for comfortable handling and pulling – perfect for those of a taller height.
Actually navigating the suitcase around is seamless – I managed to roll it with ease both behind and alongside me across carpeted floors, bumpy, uneven pavements and granite roads, which barely knocked it from its path.
In addition, the wheels are so quiet you’d barely know you’re travelling with it.
For me, the only and most undesirable part of this suitcase is the recycled polyester material, which can give off a plasticky appearance when light is reflected off of it, though this does not affect the suitcase’s use.
The material is also quite flexible to the touch – certainly not as sturdy as other hardback cases – so it’s hard to tell whether this can take on years’ worth of hard knocks while being transported from airport to plane.
American Tourister FastForward 78cm
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Product Specs
Material100% PolypropyleneCapacity118LSize78 x 50 x 30 cmWeight3.9kg
What we love
PriceCheaper suitcaseWeightOne of the lightest we tested
What could be better
StyleNot as luxurious feel
Review
Reviewed by Erin Deborah Waks
This is the best budget case.
On the cheaper end of the scale, this case is great value for money. It’s functional, simple and spacious, making it easy to pack.
It’s also really light, at just 3.9kg, so would be easier to lift, and won’t take up too much of your weight allowance.
It lacks the style of some of the other cases reviewed, though – so it might not be for the glamorous traveller.
But if you’re after function, space and convenience, this might be the option for you.
Large trolley Bellagio
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Product Specs
MaterialPolycarbonateCapacity96LSize54 x 76 x 30cmWeight5.5kg
What we love
StyleSuper glamorousWarrantyLifetime
What could be better
PriceThis is almost £600
Review
Reviewed by Erin Deborah Waks
Gliding along with Bric’s Bellagio case in tow, I felt like Cara Delevingne or Kendall Jenner waltzing through an airport on the way to Milan Fashion Week.
To say this suitcase is pretty to look at is an understatement – the design feels like something a wealthy traveller on the Orient Express would have.
It’s not just nice to look at, though – it functions extremely well. The wheels move seamlessly, so you can move through the airport almost silently.
It’s got all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a suitcase of this calibre, too – lock, packing compartments, real leather accents.
It’s on the pricier side, though, so won’t be for everyone, but for the luxury-lovers out there, it could be the option for you.
Ogio Renegade Vault Checked
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Product Specs
Material100% Polycarbonate shell, lining 100% recycled polyester 200D with water repellent finishCapacity95LSize46 x 77.5 x 32 cmWeight5.7kg
What we love
CompartmentsThere are lots of compartmentsWheelsRolls quietly
What could be better
HeightVery tall
Review
Reviewed by Marti Stelling
My first impression of this suitcase was its size. It is 30.5 inches in height and has a 95-litre capacity. At 5’1, it comes to my hip. While this wouldn’t be a problem for somebody taller, it is something to be aware of if you are short.
Inside, it has 11 pockets and a shoe/laundry bag. This is the most pockets I have ever seen inside a suitcase and would be great for organising items for an extended trip. It also comes with an internal AirTag pocket, a hidden passport pocket and it has corner protectors to protect it against wear and tear.
To test its performance, I took the suitcase through the rain onto a busy, rush-hour tube, then wheeled it with me on the 20-minute walk across uneven pavement and puddles to my flat.
While it was a challenge to navigate the stairs with this bulky suitcase and find space for it on the train, I found that on the pavement, it rolls quietly. Its 360-degree spinning wheels made it easy to manoeuvre and it survived being bashed around a bit.
At £270, this is definitely a high-end purchase. However, it is a great quality case with plenty of features which make it worth the investment, in my opinion.
Briggs & Riley Large Expandable Sympatico Spinner Suitcase
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Product Specs
MaterialRecycled PC/Recycled PolyesterCapacity110 – 131 litresSize76.2cm x 50.8cm x 30.5cmWeight6.2 kg
What we love
DesignThe push button expansion functionality – no more having to sit on a suitcase to close it!SafetyBuilt-in locks easily accessed via a three-digit code
What could be better
PriceYou might be paying more for your suitcase than your holiday
Review
Reviewed by Joanna Tweedy
This hard-shell Expandable Spinner is the larger model in Briggs & Riley’s popular range.
It’s not cheap at nearly £700 but it does lots to shout about, including a capacity of 131 litres at its full expansion.
The clever Compression-Expansion technology – essentially a button then expands the suitcase and once you’ve filled it, and then lets you push it back down to a more compact size – does away with the battle of trying to zip up a bulging suitcase.
I like the classic colour palette of navy on the exterior and cream on the interior, and there’s plenty of functional pockets to separate out accessories.
How does it wheel? Really well, it handled Heathrow’s long walks with ease and turns on a sixpence too.
8. Best hold suitcase for compartments: Away The Large
Away The Large
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Product Specs
Material100% polycarbonate shellCapacity104 LSize73.6 cm x 52.1 cm x 31.8 cmWeight5.5kg
What we love
CompartmentsLots of spaceCapacityEasy to fit belongings
What could be better
DurableScratched after one flight
Review
Reviewed by Hayley Minn
Carrying the Away suitcase across London without anything in it, I couldn’t believe how light as a feather it was – despite being so metallic and sturdy.
People kept looking at me like I was Eddie Hall, as I walked up the escalators, lugging it around without a care in the world.
I was also so impressed by how many compartments the suitcase has, including a bag that doubles up as a space to keep your shoes clean and also a dirty washing bag.
Plus, due to the lightness of the suitcase, I was able to fit so much in, including heavy jumpers, and it still be well under the 23kg baggage limit.
However, after just one flight, it was left pretty scratched up, which was disappointing.
July Checked Plus Casesafe
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Product Specs
MaterialAerospace-grade German polycarbonate shellCapacity110LSize77cm H x 50cm W x 31cm DWeight4.8kg
What we love
CaseSafeTrackable caseColourEye-catching design
What could be better
PriceAt £325, it’s not the cheapest option
Review
Reviewed by Hayley Minn
In bright Barbie pink, I felt like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde wheeling this suitcase on the tube across London – and got a lot of stares for my bold colour choice.
The eye-catching shade most definitely made up for the fact that the holdall is slightly on the heavier side and a tad clunky when it comes to manoeuvring.
Another big factor of this July suitcase is that it has a built-in Find My tracker – meaning it’s unlikely to ever go missing.
It’s so easy to set up, simply connecting to the Find My app in my iPhone via Bluetooth, and working immediately.
Watching my suitcase’s journey through the airport after I checked it in was very satisfying – and made me far less worried it was getting on the wrong flight, or left behind.
With the pink being quite a light shade, the suitcase did get dirty after one use – but it was really easy to wipe clean, thankfully.
Another great part of July’s case is it comes with a hidden laundry bag – ideal for a long holiday.
Our verdict
If we were to buy any suitcase on this list, it would be the Horizn model or the Victorinox Airox Hardside Case. A perfect blend of style and function, they are both fab additions to your travels.
However, we’d be tempted by the American Tourister Fast Forward suitcase – it’s the cheapest on the list, and still stands up very well in comparison to more expensive models.
We’d also highly recommend Bric’s Large Trolley Bellagio for an extremely classy purchase that will last a lifetime, and mean you’ll always travel in style.
The suitcase styles to avoid
There are certain types of suitcases we recommend that you avoid.
For example, soft-shell ones can rip easily – hard-shell cases tend to be more durable. Also, some suitcases say they fit in the airline restrictions but don’t, so make sure you double check with the requirements.
And plain colours may mean they your case could get lost or confused with other people’s, especially if it’s a popular design. We’d advise steering clear of plain black cases for this reason.
FAQs
What is the best hold luggage?
We love the models from Horizn, Victorinox and American Tourister.
But it depends what your priorities are. For instance, if you’re looking for a durable case, perhaps for active holidays, Ogio’s offerings might be for you.
Is it better to have hard or soft shell luggage?
Soft-shell cases can rip easily – hard-shell cases tend to be more durable.
However, soft-shell cases can also be more flexible, so it depends what matters most to you.
What is the difference between a cabin bag and hold luggage?
The difference between these cases is the size.
Cabin bags can be taken on board with you, provided they fit airline restrictions, while hold luggage must be checked in before a flight and stored in the hold during the journey.