We also loved the case’s USB functionality – simply attach a power bank to the internal cable and you’ll be able to plug your iPhone in via the case’s external port. There are plenty of pockets and options for customisation in the main compartment, too. The TSA-compliant locking system is ultra-secure and features a combination lock which can be used in conjunction with a padlock, and we loved how the front of the case unzips to reveal an expandable pocket with room for our laptop and essential documents. We can only assume Briggs and Riley’s suitcase savants are well-travelled, because this particular bag has all the features we crave, but rarely see. Although for us, it was the overall design which made this case a winner. Which, in a time when social media is filled with footage of rogue baggage handlers drop-kicking luggage into the aeroplane’s hold, is no bad thing. One of Briggs and Riley’s USPs is the lifetime guarantee – its expert repairers will fix any damage to functional elements of any case, no questions asked.
Best for comfort – North Face base camp duffel 50L: from £115, .uk.Best for travelling light – Millican the core roll pack 15L: £65,.Best for internal storage – Fjallraven travel pack small: £193.99,.Best for toughness – Gomatic navigator carry on 37L: £349, .uk.Best soft-sided suitcase – Eastpak transit’r s national geographic fish: £135,.Best for top quality construction – Thule subterra carry-on luggage: £248.95, .uk.Best hard-sided suitcase – Samsonite proxis spinner expandable: £349,.Best for business trips – Briggs and Riley torq four-wheel carry-on spinner: £499, .uk.Best overall – Tropicfeel hive backpack: from £175,.
Most spacious carry on luggage zip#
Once you’ve finished packing, have a rule that you’ll always take three things out.”įinally, key features to look out for include external pockets (if you’re not checking in baggage, you’ll have items such as liquids and electronic devices in your cabin bag, all of which will need to be removed at security), built-in RFID pouches in which to stash hackable items such as car keys and wallets, and built-in compression systems (whether zip or ratchet-based) to compress the contents of your backpack or case. “Most people overpack and then don’t use many of the items they bring. “You definitely need much less than you think,” says intrepid explorer Levison Wood. Globetrotting Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh says, “If you want to get away with a bigger carry-on allowance, you’re much less likely to get stopped for oversized or overweight cabin baggage if you have a backpack discreetly strapped to your back.”įor obvious reasons, the size and capacity (measured in litres) are both important factors, although it’s important to bear in mind that it’s highly unlikely you need as much space as you think. But in a sea of backpacks with built-in compression pouches to wheeled cases with external pockets perfect for essential travel documents, where do you begin?Ĭabin bags, whether suitcases of backpacks, vary hugely, but factors worth considering include whether your ideal bag is hard-sided or soft-sided, and whether you prefer a backpack or a wheeled case. Thanks to the new breed of innovative, stylish cabin-friendly luggage options, travelling light has never been easier. And, believe it or not, that is easier to do than you might imagine. Whether it’s due to the mountains of lost luggage we’ve seen piling up at airports, or a desire to save money by ditching the checked bags, a growing number of travellers are ditching checked baggage and downsizing to a single cabin bag.