The Best Carry-On / Hand Luggage

A Practical Guide to Hand Luggage Types, Features and Sizes

Two factors go into deciding on the best hand luggage for your needs. The first is down to personal taste. Most people intuitively know whether they like the idea of a wheeled hard-shell spinner or would prefer a cool backpack or holdall instead.

Secondly, those all-important aircraft hand-luggage size restrictions need to be factored in. Here, you’ll find different rules for the lower cost airlines compared to the ‘flag carriers’ like BA and Virgin.

This page outlines your options in a clear and practical format – taking into account that everyone’s taste is different.

Here are the different carry-on bag types covered in depth below:

• Hard Shell (wheeled; includes both budget and branded)
• Soft Shell (spinners / wheeled at different price points)
• Laptop / Business Bags
• Backpacks
• Shoulder Bags / Holdalls
• Ryanair / Low-Cost Airline Compatible Hand Luggage

Within these types you’ll have options for bright colours, funky designs or regular (black / grey) cases. You’ll find size differences too. If you want your hand luggage compatible with Ryanair, who are ultra-strict, then you’ll need less than 40cms high. Traditional airlines go for 56cm max. Security features and price are also important factors.

Below you will find an overview of the features, plus write-ups on the most popular cases from each category. First up, the table below shows the most popular adult options.  Note that children’s hand luggage is covered on this separate linked page.

(TABLE)

If you scroll down, you’ll find more details on all of these cases, plus some alternative options for each of the categories. First, a look at the sizes allowed on different airlines, and a more detailed look at the types of hand luggage and key extras to look out for.

Best Hand Baggage: What Sizes are Approved for Different Airlines?

Some airlines are strict about hand luggage sizes. If you are flying on one of the many new ‘super low cost’ airlines, then I do recommend you check.

‘Ryanair Compatible’ is a good guideline measure. Even if you are not flying on Ryanair, hand luggage which is ok for their (non-premium) customers will be ok for any other airline you could think of. These cases are 40cm x 30cm x 20cm. Note that if you pay for ‘premium’ seating, you’ll be able to take a regular sized carry on up to 55cms.

When it comes to the major airlines, there is a single centimetre of difference. Some opt for 55cms tall, while others allow 56cms. This does include the wheels. When it comes to the likes of BA, Delta or Virgin the enforcement is not strict unless you are obviously trying it on. Even EasyJet, who pioneered lower cost flying, allow a full 56x45x25cm carry on.

A good rule of thumb is that 55cms will be no problem anywhere. 56cm is fine for business travellers and those sticking to the biggest and best airlines.

Types of Carry On Cases: More Detail on Your Main Options

While some types of hand luggage are clearly in one category or another – there is a lot of overlap. For example, backpacks and laptop bags overlap. As do soft shell cases with laptop / business type bags. There is more information on exactly what your options are in the section below.

After that, some of the smaller features which can make a big difference are covered. Some are practical, others are nice to have or design flourishes. Once you know what kind of things to look after, you’ll be able to narrow down your search for the best cases to take onboard.

Different Categories of Hand Luggage

Best Hard-Shell Carry On Cases

You’ll the word ‘spinner’ used a lot for both hard and soft cases. This term was coined by Samsonite, though now widely used to describe case with 4 wheels that can move in any direction. You can push them, pull them or (as the name suggests) spin them around.

The other option for hard-shell carry-on cases is 2 fixed wheels. You can pull these along, which is fine for most purposes.

Hard shell cases are made of a lot of materials. Only a handful of years ago, these were heavier options compared to fabric cases. This is no longer true – though if you want a super-light case (like the Neopulse range) then you’ll need to pay a little more.

Keep in mind that some hard-shell cases get scratched easier than others. There can also be issues with residue from stickers accumulating on them over time. Look out for models with side pockets so you won’t need to open them as often while at the airport or after boarding. Zippable compartments inside – on at least one side – is also a plus.

While many brands advertise their TSA locks, these are not so important for hand luggage cases. The idea is that US customs can access your case if you are not available. Since your hand luggage will be with you, that situation is unlikely. Having said that, a simple combo lock can deter casual thefts and will give you peace of mind.

Hard shell hand luggage is likely to be on the bigger side. With many between 55cm and 56cm tall, effectively the maximum for the traditional airlines.

Here are some of the different options reviewed in detail here at Luggage Review:

• Samsonite Flux Carry On Cases
• Samsonite Neopulse Spinners
• Budget Hard Shell Cases from Coolife

Soft Shell Hand Luggage Options

You’ll get more options in terms of style for soft-shell carry on cases. The material used is synthetic, with hard-wearing polyester the ideal mix of flexible, water-resistant and robust. If you are after lightweight cases, then soft sided ones are a lot cheaper than the super-light hard options. The ‘Worlds Lightest’ cases are from IT. These combine fibreglass frames with light polyester – they look great too.

There is a lot of overlap with wheeled laptop bags and general soft-shell carry on cases. Aimed at frequent business flyers, the laptop versions look stunning, with compartments for accessories, your suits and that all-important computer. Check out the higher-end ones from Tumi or Briggs and Riley for luggage which is simply stunning.

Designs range from smart and ‘conservative’ single colour to some bright and crazy prints. In between you have things like the IT Duotone, or the Funshine range from American Tourister, which have striking colour combinations. If you are looking for something a little more individual, there are plenty of bright, quirky and fun designs available too.

Soft shell hand luggage comes with 2 or 4 (spinner) wheels.

Laptop / Business Carry On Bags

These days, many people are choosing wheeled laptop bags for daily office use – as well as for business trips. This makes sense, as the amount of devices you need to carry (along with chargers and extras) keeps on growing.

You’ll find reviews of bags, mostly soft-shell types, which have been designed flying for business trips in mind here. These range from the top end Italian styling and super-high quality (Tumi) to the regular brands (Samsonite do some excellent business luggage) and lower-cost versions.

Look out for hard wearing materials. Nobody wants to go to an important international meeting with a bag starting to get tatty. With so many people going for the same old brands, you can make your bag easier to locate by choosing a slightly different finish or design.

Here are some of the business travel hand-luggage options reviewed in detail here:

• Briggs and Riley Baseline Carry On (higher price bracket)
• Antler Business 200 Mobile Office
• Tumi Alpha 2 Hand Luggage
• Samsonite X-Blade 3

Holdalls / Weekend Bags

It is easy to overlook a smart shoulder bag as your hand luggage option. These have the advantage of making it easy to get around the airport. Matching luggage sets always sound good. In a crowded terminal, pushing one bag while pulling another and trying to weave around hordes of people who never seem to give way can be a real effort! With one bag on your shoulder, or on top of your main spinner luggage, you’ll be a lot more manoeuvrable.

There are a lot of soft bags which could fall into this category. Canvas is always good, though can hold water too easily. Leather works and looks stylish, look out for those soft versions – especially those with a vintage look and feel.

You will find plenty of shoulder bags which fall within the guidelines for Ryanair (and other strict lower cost airlines). Here are some of the options which already have detailed reviews:

• Classic Canvas / Leather look Weekend Bag

Best Hand Luggage Backpacks

If there is one item of hand luggage which is able to cover all possible uses – it is the backpack. You’ll find versions for laptops, big ones which make the best of your 56cms of space and plenty of smaller backpacks which fit snugly under the seat in front of you. Add to this the huge range of styles and colour / fabrics, and you have a lot to choose from.

Backpacks for everyday office, college or school use are covered in more depth elsewhere here at Luggage Review. If you are looking for one to carry-on, then security and versatility come into the equation. Look for bags with a smaller carry strap on top, which can come in handy when you are manoeuvring around those crowded plane aisles.

Here are some of the popular backpacks which would work perfectly as carry-on items already reviewed in detail:

• Veevan Backpacks: Range of Colours / Prints
• Tumi Voyager Carson Backpacks
• American Tourister at Work Casual Daypack

Ryanair Compatible

If you don’t already fly Ryanair, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about with compatibility… What you’ll find is that Ryanair not only have the strictest guidelines, they are the most likely to implement them – refusing to allow hand luggage which is over their measurements.

You can also use this as a proxy for other lower cost airlines. The idea is that if you hand luggage is Ryanair compatible, it will get on board just about any airline!

Bags need to be 40cm by 30cm by 20cm or smaller. Here is a selection of bags in different categories which already hit that sweet spot.

• Ryanair Approved Set of Two
• Aerolite Pink Holdall: Ryanair Compatible