WITH many airlines – especially budget airlines – charging for cabin cases these days you need to make sure you’re making the most of your baggage allowance.
Charges vary but can add a pretty penny on to the price of your cheap flight or holiday, so the best cabin cases will ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck by meeting the maximum requirements of your airline while incorporating great travel features.
For instance, wheels make getting your cabin bag to the plane easy and stress-free – and if they’re spinner wheels that can move in all directions then so much the better.
A retractable handle is a godsend not just for pushing or pulling your cabin luggage, but for securing your bag on top, while a TSA combination lock means airport staff can open your case if necessary, without damaging it.
The best cabin bags will incorporate helpful packing features, such as compression straps, separate sections and zipped pockets for keeping small items safe. Dividers are great for separating sections for clothes and shoes, while separate zipped sections offer space for your laptop and other devices.
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It's worth noting that airlines’ maximum size requirements include wheels and any handles, so bear that in mind before buying.
Cabin luggage comes in a variety of styles, from holdalls with wheels to hard suitcases, so we’ve included a good selection within our feature to present a broad picture of what’s available. Read on for our reviews of the best cabin bags to buy in the UK right now.
Best cabin bags at a glance:
- Best overall: Away The Daily Carry-On With Pocket
- Best value: IT Luggage 28L Backpack With Two Wheels
- Best mid-range: American Tourister Eco Soft Cabin Suitcase
- Best premium: Katie Loxton Oxford Cabin Suitcase
- Best hard-shell: Antler Icon Stripe Cabin Case
Away The Daily Carry-On With Pocket
Away The Daily Carry-On With Pocket, £200
Pros: Separate work sections, removable internal pockets, compression divider, a dream to move
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This has to be the ultimate work cabin case and it is truly a thing of beauty.
A bit of a hybrid, it’s made from tough polycarbonate with a water-resistant nylon front pocket, which opens to reveal space for a laptop, a large mesh pocket and a smaller pocket with a zipped pocket within it.
Inside, the bottom section has a compression divider to secure clothes in place and there’s also a small, zipped pocket containing a removable laundry bag.
A divider separates the top section from the bottom and this itself incorporates a large, zipped mesh pocket.
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As if that wasn’t enough, there’s a further, removable section with two pockets that are ideal for devices, notebooks or other work items.
I love how adaptable this case is – for business trips fix in the removable pockets and if you don’t need them leave them at home for more clothes space.
The retractable handle is pleasingly solid and has a rubberised comfort grip, while the spinner wheels ensure 360° movement.
As well as the laundry bag, Away also includes a removable luggage tag and a sponge eraser to remove scuffs and dirty marks from your case.
Size: 44 x 42 x 22.8cm, Weight: 3.7kg, Capacity: 36.9L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: Away limited warranty
Antler Icon Stripe Cabin Case
Antler Icon Stripe Cabin Case, £175
Pros: Interior pockets, long retractable handle, comfortable grab handles, great mover
Cons: None I could see
Rating: 4.5/5
Antler has just launched its Icon Collection in time for summer 2024, including Stripe hard-shell suitcases.
The cabin case is available in three versions : Cabin, Cabin With Expander and Biggest Cabin. I received the Cabin for testing in heather purple.
It’s made from polycarbonate so it’s tough and made to withstand the rigours of travelling, with the eponymous stripes adding extra protection as well as being a design feature.
The shell also contains some recycled material, which is good to see from a sustainability point of view.
As you might expect from Antler, the case feels well-made and high-quality, from the feel of the retractable handle to the textured grip of the moveable grab handles. The eight spinner wheels ensure it is a dream to manoeuvre on hard floors, carpet, concrete and grass.
Inside, the top section of the case has a divider, which itself incorporates two zipped pockets, while the bottom section includes luggage straps and narrow zipped pocket for small items.
The lining feels thicker than that of some other cases I’ve tested and I love that it’s made from 100% recycled polyester.
Size: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, Weight: 2.7kg, Capacity: 44L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: Antler lifetime warranty
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Katie Loxton Oxford Cabin Suitcase
Katie Loxton Oxford Cabin Suitcase in Navy, £159.99
Pros: Moves well, can fit a lot inside, traditional style
Cons: None
Rating: 4.5/5
There’s an old-school charm to this cabin case that reminds me of holidays past. It’s made from faux leather with a visible grain and features the brand name embossed in gold on the front as well as gold accents, zip and satisfyingly solid zip pulls.
I received the navy version, which is more of an air force blue I’d say. It incorporates modern features, such as spinner wheels for movement in all directions and a retractable handle. The grab handle on top is chunky and well-padded, which adds to the classic style.
Inside the lining looks expensive, with a satin finish. There’s a generous zipped pocket and luggage straps, while the lid incorporates another zipped pocket and two elasticated pockets, which are great for shoes. Overall the vibe is of a traditional vanity case, which appeals to the old Hollywood film fan in me – I can just see Lauren Bacall travelling with a case like this.
There’s an integral luggage label on the back and a combination lock for security.
Size: 53 x 39 x 21cm, Weight: 3.6kg, Capacity: 40L, TSA lock: No, combination lock, Guarantee: one-year warranty
American Tourister Eco Soft Cabin Suitcase
American Tourister Eco Soft Cabin Suitcase Khaki, £115
Pros: Moves well on two wheels, good-size retractable handle, two separate compartments inside, outside pockets, external luggage straps outside for extra security
Cons: None I can see
Rating: 4.5/5
Now I love this bag. It came with me to a yoga retreat in the middle of the countryside and it had no problem being pulled over a bumpy field while packed full, even though it only has two wheels.
Inside, luggage straps keep your clothes in place and there are two dividers – one in each section! There’s no pockets inside, but I coped.
Outside, there’s a generous pocket and a smaller pocket at the top of the bag, which I found useful for carrying my phone and train tickets.
The retractable handle was long enough for me to comfortably fit my work bag on top and still be able to easily move my hands. There’s a fabric grab handle on the top and another on the bottom, while integral luggage straps on the outside provide extra security should your bag be damaged in transit. These straps are adjustable to fit no matter how much you’ve packed inside.
Size: 55 x 35 x 20 cm, Weight: 2.5kg, Capacity: 55L, TSA lock: Yes, Guarantee: Manufacturer’s two-year guarantee
Kipling Spontaneous S Cabin Bag
Kipling Spontaneous S Cabin Bag in Blooming Pink, £195
Pros: Easy to move on a variety of surfaces, expandable, double TSA combination lock
Cons: No pockets in main packing sections
Rating: 4/5
Pink is one of my favourite colours so this cabin case is right up my street. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the Spontaneous S is also practical and the outside is made from 56% recycled polyamide.
Inside, the lining is bright pink and 100% recycled, with a divider on one side and luggage straps on the other. The top of the case houses another packing section – it’s expandable so gives you extra space if you need it, but lies flat if you don’t, and it incorporates a large, zipped pocket.
The TSA combination lock accommodates both sets of zippers, which is a thoughtful touch.
There’s a padded grab handle on the top and a non-padded one on the side, which you wouldn’t want to carry the case with for too long, but is handy if you need to pull it out of the overhead locker.
Eight spinner wheels and a retractable handle make for easy movement – I manoeuvred this across carpet, concrete and hard flooring without any problems. I also like the reinforced corners that give extra protection in case your case is bumped or dropped during the journey.
For those who aren’t into pink, it’s also available in black, metallic beige, and various shades/ patterns of blue.
Size: 53 x 33 x 21 cm, Weight: 2.8kg, Capacity: 37.5L, TSA lock: Double TSA lock, Guarantee: Two-year warranty
Vango Shuttle 45 Roller
Vango Shuttle 45 Roller, £105
Pros: Can access the top section separately from the bottom, padded pockets, lined pocket
Cons: No lock
Rating: 4/5
This bag has been designed with a lot of thought into what a traveller might need and is ideal if you love organising your packing so you know where everything is.
The deep, bottom section of the bag has adjustable compression straps to keep everything in place. A zipped divider separates the top from the bottom, giving two packing sections; the great thing about this bag though is you can access the top section separately to the bottom.
With the divider fastened and the main zipper closed, you can still get to what you need in the top section. How’s that for an organisational dream! And the detail doesn’t stop there.
The front of the bag has a zipped pocket at the top, lined with a soft fabric to protect your devices. There’s a larger pocket on the front, accessed from the side, that holds within it a further zipped pocket, small open pocket and two pen holders. The whole of this pocket section is padded to protect whatever you store in there.
It has two wheels and a good-sized retractable handle, which means you can easily fit another bag on top. There’s a fabric grab handle on the front at the top and a plastic grab handle on the bottom.
Size: 54 x 35 x 24 cm, Weight: 2.45kg, Capacity: 45L, TSA lock: No lock, Guarantee: two-year warranty
IT Luggage 28L Backpack With Two Wheels
IT Luggage 28L Backpack With Two Wheels, £40
Pros: Great price, lots of separate storage compartments, padded pocket for laptop, can wheel or carry the case
Cons: Retractable handle not as comfortable to pull as some
Rating: 4/5
This is a bit of a multi-purpose cabin bag as it combines a main packing section with a host of briefcase-like functions so it’s great for work trips – and you can either wheel it along or wear it as a backpack.
Starting from the inside, there’s a generous-sized compartment that will hold enough clothes for a couple of days away, maybe more if you pack light. In front of that there’s a second section that could also be used for packing clothes and this incorporates a laptop pocket, secured by a Velcro strap.
The third section is large enough for a couple of books or a tablet, and has three more pockets and two pen holders.
Outside you have two wheels and a retractable handle for easy movement, though the grip on the handle isn’t that comfortable to hold. There’s a well-padded handle on top of the bag and a plastic grab handle on the bottom. There’s a zipped pocket on the front and as if that wasn’t enough, you also get a mesh pocket on the side for a water bottle and a small, zipped pocket on the other side.
A large pocket across the back keeps the shoulder straps out of the way until you wish to use them. When you do want to carry the bag, the straps secure to plastic D-rings, one on each side.
So many functions and all for only £40!
Size: 50 x 33 x 20 cm, Weight: 2.1kg, Capacity: 28L, TSA lock: No lock Guarantee: Manufacturer’s 10-year guarantee
How we tested these products
All of the cabin cases tested for our feature were rated against a number of criteria, including design (inside and outside), ease of movement, robustness, packing features and price.
We filled the cabin cases as we would for a trip away and looked at how easy they were to pull and push on carpet, hard flooring and concrete, how stable they were, as well as how heavy they were to lift when full.
Weight when empty, maximum packing capacity, case measurements and handle comfort was also considered.
Details, such as interior dividers, pockets, luggage straps and extras, such as laundry bags, were also noted in our reviews as we believe it’s often the added features that elevate the best cabin cases to must-have luggage.
Where to buy cabin cases
You’ll find cabin cases to buy from a variety of retailers, both online and on the high street.
Check out department stores, such as John Lewis, or popular chains – Marks & Spencer offers a luggage range. In summer, even supermarkets offer a few options, while value stores, including Primark and Matalan are also worth looking at.
Luggage sort of crosses the divide between homewares and fashion, so home stores like Dunelm and The Range also have a selection of cabin cases, suitcases and carry-on bags.
Online of course, Amazon should be on your list of retailers to research, as well as the websites of individual brands.
The cases reviewed in our feature came from:
- Antler
- Argos
- Away
- Katie Loxton
- Kipling
- Rock
- Vango
How much do cabin cases cost?
Cabin cases are available at a number of prince points so no matter what your budget, you should be able to find something to suit.
At the inexpensive end of the market, we’ve seen wheeled cabin bags starting from £20+, with a good medium range being £35 - £90 and higher-end hand luggage coming in anywhere between £90 and several hundred pounds.
Before buying your cabin case though, consider what you need it to do. Are you going to be travelling long-haul or away for a number of weeks? Do you prefer hard or soft-sided luggage? Do you want internal storage dividers and separate pockets? Is longevity a must-have for you? All of these factors influence price.
The cabin cases we reviewed here range in price from £40 to £200.
Cabin case luggage limits for popular airlines
The requirements of major airlines vary regularly, and these can even differ within the same company, depending on what class you’re travelling.
All measurements include handles and wheels.
At the time of writing in April 2024, the maximum size and weight limits for a cabin case are:
- EasyJet: 56 x 45 x 25cm, 15kg – pay extra
- Ryan Air: 55x40x20cm, 10kg – pay extra
- Jet2: 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, 10kg – free of charge
- Tui: 55 x 40 x 20cm, 10kg and a small handbag or laptop – free of charge
- British Airways: 56 x 45 x 25cm, 23kg and a personal bag 40 x 30 x 15cm – free of charge
- Emirates: 55 x 38 x 22cm, 7kg (Economy Class); 55 x 38 x 22cm, 10kg (Premium Economy); 55 x 38 x 22cm, 7kg and a briefcase (max size 45 x 35 x 20cm) or garment bag (no more than 20cm thick when folded) up to 7kg (Business and First Class)
- Virgin: 56 x 36 x 23cm, 10kg (Economy and Premium); 56 x 36 x 23cm, two pieces of hand luggage weighing a total of 16kg (Upper Class)
- Air France: 55 x 35 x 25cm, 12kg (Economy and Premium Economy); 55 x 35 x 25cm, 18kg (Business and La Première)
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