Best carry-on overall: the Rimowa Original Cabin at $980, because anodised aluminium plus a global boutique repair network outlasts any warranty document. Best checked case overall: the Rimowa Essential Check-In L at $1,040.
Best value: the Samsonite Proxis Spinner 75 at $535, which weighs 2.9 kg for 88 litres and leaves over 20 kg of a 23 kg allowance for your belongings. Lightest: the Samsonite Lite-Shock Spinner 55 at 1.7 kg. Best warranty: Briggs & Riley, who repair for life including airline damage, with no receipt.
Ten cases ranked · Prices are UK RRP · Verified 12 July 2026 · Affiliate links do not affect the order
— 01 / Decision matrix
Start with the problem, not the brand.
Almost every suitcase question is really a question about allowances, repair access or how the case has to look on arrival. Find your constraint in the left column and the case follows.
Made and repaired indefinitely at the same English factory since 1897.
— 02 / The matrix
All ten cases, every number.
Weight and capacity are the manufacturer's figures for the exact size named. Prices are UK RRP at the verification date and move with seasonal promotions.
Repairable indefinitely at the Hertfordshire factory
8.9
Empty case weight matters more than most buyers expect. On a 7 kg budget carrier allowance, choosing the 1.7 kg Samsonite over the 4.3 kg Rimowa is the difference between packing 5.3 kg of clothes and packing 2.7 kg.
— 03 / Carry-on
Five cabin cases, tested to failure.
The international cabin envelope is 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Four of these five sit inside it. The fifth is flagged clearly, because I would rather you knew before the gate agent did.
This is the case I have owned longest and the one I would replace first if it disappeared. The grooved aluminium shell is the most recognisable object in any baggage hall, and the reason it holds value is not the badge but the repair network behind it: I have walked into boutiques in Paris and Singapore and walked out with new wheels the same day.
— What works
Aluminium takes dents and scratches as patina rather than damage
Same day or next day repairs at boutiques in most major cities
Resale value holds better than any other case on this list
Flex divider keeps shirts flat across a week of connections
— What does not
4.3 kg empty eats a third of a 10 kg budget cabin allowance
Aluminium marks from the first flight, which some owners hate
No expansion, so overpacking is simply not an option
Costs roughly three times a technically comparable polycarbonate case
My verdict
Buy it if you fly full service carriers often enough that the repair network is worth paying for. If you mostly fly Ryanair or Wizz, the weight alone rules it out.
At 1.7 kg this weighs less than most laptop bags, and on a 7 kg cabin allowance that difference is roughly four extra shirts and a pair of shoes. Curv is woven polypropylene: it flexes on impact and springs back rather than cracking, which is why it survives baggage handlers better than cheap polycarbonate.
— What works
1.7 kg empty, the lightest hard shell I have travelled with
Curv shell flexes under impact and returns to shape
Ten year warranty across the whole line
Under half the price of the aluminium cases here
— What does not
Shell feels hollow when you knock it, which reads as cheap
Repairs go through third party service centres, not boutiques
Interior organisation is basic compared with Briggs & Riley
Colour range is limited and the finish scuffs visibly
My verdict
The rational choice. If your decision is purely about how much you can carry for how little, nothing else on this page beats it.
The warranty is the product. Briggs & Riley repair or replace for life regardless of what caused the damage, including the belt loader that cracked mine, and they do not ask for a receipt. The CX system also works in the direction you actually need: it expands to pack, then compresses back to legal cabin depth.
— What works
Repair for life covers airline damage with no proof of purchase
CX compression adds 34 percent volume then shrinks back to legal size
Outboard handle system leaves the interior completely flat
Sealed wheel bearings are the quietest I have used
— What does not
3.2 kg is heavier than the Curv and Monos alternatives
Styling is deliberately corporate rather than beautiful
UK stockists are thin, so buying often means ordering online
$825 for polycarbonate is a warranty premium, not a materials one
My verdict
If your case is a work tool that must never be out of action, this is the one. You are paying for the claims process, and the claims process is genuinely excellent.
Monos is the case friends notice and then ask the price of, and are surprised by. The matte Makrolon shell resists fingerprints, the Hinomoto wheels are the same units luxury Japanese brands specify, and the front compartment means the laptop comes out at security without opening the main shell.
— What works
Front laptop pocket saves unpacking the main case at security
Hinomoto wheels roll better than cases at twice the price
Matte shell hides fingerprints and light scuffing well
Includes a compression pad and a vegan leather luggage tag
— What does not
Polycarbonate cracks rather than dents if it takes a hard corner hit
Lifetime warranty is limited and excludes airline damage
Service is ship-it-back only, with no European boutiques
Front pocket costs a little interior capacity
My verdict
The value pick for people who care how a case looks. Accept the shipping-based service model and it is very hard to beat under $380.
Away built its reputation on making premium looking luggage accessible, and the aluminium line is where that promise holds up best. Mine has taken eighty flights. It is not Rimowa in the hand, the latches are stiffer and the edges less refined, but at this price that gap is easy to accept.
— What works
Aluminium construction for roughly 60 percent of Rimowa's price
47 litres is genuinely more usable than a standard 36 litre cabin
Interior compression panel keeps a week's clothes flat
Straightforward direct to consumer returns and service
— What does not
At 57 cm it exceeds the 55 cm limit on several European carriers
4.6 kg empty is the heaviest cabin case here
Latch and hinge finishing is visibly a tier below Rimowa
Limited warranty excludes cosmetic and airline damage
My verdict
A good first aluminium case, provided you check your airline's cabin dimensions before you buy. On strict carriers it becomes a very smart small checked bag instead.
— 04 / Checked
Five checked cases, for the long trips.
With checked luggage the maths changes: every kilogram of empty case is a kilogram of allowance you cannot use. That single fact reorders the whole category.
The polycarbonate Essential is the sensible half of the Rimowa range: same grooves, same wheels, same repair network, roughly two thirds of the aluminium weight. For checked luggage that matters, because every kilogram of empty case is a kilogram of allowance you cannot use.
— What works
85 litres with the same repair network as the aluminium line
80 mm wheels handle cobbles and airport carpet without dragging
1.7 kg lighter than the equivalent aluminium Original
Divider and mesh system keeps two people's clothes separate
— What does not
High-gloss finish shows every scratch from the first handler
Fills to over 23 kg easily, so weigh before you leave
No expansion zip on the Essential line
Still an $1,040 case that will get thrown onto a belt loader
My verdict
The best all round checked case I have used. Choose the matte finish over gloss if you care about how it looks after year one.
The rippled 19 Degree shell is the only aluminium design that does not read as a Rimowa homage, and in person it is the most striking case here. Tumi Tracer, the registration programme that has reunited owners with lost bags for two decades, is a genuinely useful reason to buy beyond the styling.
— What works
Sculpted shell is structurally stiffer than a flat aluminium panel
Tumi Tracer registration has a real track record of recovering bags
Dual spinner wheels stay stable when the case is fully loaded
Service network across department stores and airports worldwide
— What does not
7.3 kg empty is nearly a third of a 23 kg allowance
$2,025 is the highest price to capacity ratio on this page
Sculpting traps grime in the ridges and needs cleaning
Aluminium corners dent on hard drops, as all aluminium does
My verdict
Buy this because you want it, not because the spreadsheet says so. On specification alone the Rimowa Essential is the better checked bag for less money.
Roxkin is Samsonite's own recycled multi-layer shell and it does something no aluminium case can: it returns to shape after impact. A 2.9 kg case holding 88 litres means over 20 kg of your allowance is actually available for your belongings, which on a two week trip is the difference between packing freely and weighing shoes.
— What works
2.9 kg for 88 litres, the best weight to capacity ratio here
Roxkin shell reforms after impact instead of denting
Ten year warranty and widely available European service
Expansion zip adds room for the journey home
— What does not
Looks utilitarian next to the aluminium cases
Recycled shell finish scuffs and shows marks
No resale market to speak of
Expansion makes it easy to blow through your weight allowance
My verdict
The one I recommend most often to people who simply want the best checked case for the money. Nothing else comes close on usable allowance.
Paravel is the only brand here whose environmental claims survive a proper read. The shell is recycled polycarbonate, the lining is recycled plastic bottles, and every order is carbon offset by default rather than as a checkout upsell. It also happens to be a good looking case in colours nobody else offers.
— What works
Genuinely recycled shell and lining, not just recycled packaging
Carbon offsetting applied to every order as standard
92 litres with expansion, generous for two week travel
Colourways that make it easy to spot on a carousel
— What does not
5 kg empty is heavy for a polycarbonate case
Service is United States based, so repairs take time in Europe
Wheels are competent rather than exceptional
Limited warranty excludes airline damage
My verdict
The best choice if sustainability is a real factor in the decision. If it is not, the Samsonite Proxis is lighter and cheaper.
Globe-Trotter still makes these on Victorian machinery in Hertfordshire from vulcanised fibreboard, a material lighter than leather and stronger than it has any right to be. This is not a practical airport case. It is the one that goes on the train, into the boot, and into the family for forty years.
— What works
Built and repairable at the original English factory indefinitely
106 litres, the largest capacity on this page
Ages into something better looking than the day you bought it
Leather corners and brass hardware can be individually replaced
— What does not
Two fixed wheels mean dragging, never steering
Brass locks are not TSA approved, so US inspectors may force them
$2,730 buys three excellent modern cases instead
Fibreboard dislikes prolonged rain and needs drying properly
My verdict
An heirloom rather than a tool. Buy it for the train, the road trip and the long stay, and keep a Proxis for the flights.
— 05 / Materials
Aluminium, polycarbonate, Curv, Roxkin.
Shell material decides weight, how the case fails and whether it can be repaired. It is the most useful single filter when you are shortlisting.
Suitcase shell materials compared
Aluminium
Curv
Roxkin
Polycarbonate
Vulcanised fibreboard
Typical weight
4 to 7 kg
1.7 kg
2.9 kg
3 to 5 kg
6 to 7 kg
How it fails
Dents permanently
Flexes and returns
Reforms after impact
Cracks on corners
Compresses, repairable
Visual ageing
Patinas
Hides marks
Scuffs visibly
Scratches show
Improves with age
Price floor
$630
$320
$535
$190
$1,525
Repairability
Boutique, same day
Service centre
Service centre
Varies by brand
Factory, indefinitely
Best suited to
Lifetime buyers
Budget carriers
Checked allowances
First hard shell
Slow travel
— 06 / Size guide
What size do you actually need?
Cabin (20 inch)
36 L
55 x 40 x 20 cm Weekend to 7 day trips 1.7 to 4.6 kg empty
Medium (25 inch)
68 L
66 x 46 x 27 cm 1 to 2 week holidays 3.0 to 5.5 kg empty
Large (30 inch)
88 L
75 x 51 x 31 cm 2+ week trips, families 2.9 to 7.3 kg empty
Trunk
106 L
80 x 41 x 37 cm Extended stays, relocations 6.0 to 7.0 kg empty
— 07 / Methodology
How I tested 25 brands across 100,000 miles.
01
Real travel
Every case spent at least 50 flight legs through Heathrow, Changi, JFK and dozens of regional airports. No press junkets and no lab benches.
02
Stress points
I check the same five failure modes on every case: zip teeth, wheel housing, handle telescope, latch hardware and shell impact zones. Two cases lost a wheel at Changi.
03
Warranty claims
When a case failed I filed the claim myself and paid the postage. Briggs & Riley turned mine around in nine days. One brand took eleven weeks.
04
Independence
Every case was paid for personally. No press samples, no sponsored coverage, and affiliate links never change the ranking or the criticism.
— 08 / Frequently asked
Everything you need to know.
For a carry on I still rank the Rimowa Original Cabin first at $980, because anodised aluminium plus a global boutique repair network outlasts any warranty document. For checked luggage the Rimowa Essential Check-In L at $1,040 is the best all rounder, and the Samsonite Proxis Spinner 75 at $535 is the better buy on pure value: 2.9kg of case for 88 litres leaves over 20kg of a 23kg allowance for your belongings.
It depends on priorities. Rimowa aluminium (from $980) lasts decades and can be repaired same day at boutiques in most major cities. Samsonite premium lines (from $320) offer comparable durability at a third of the price and roughly half the weight. Rimowa wins on longevity, repair access and resale. Samsonite wins on weight, price and airline allowance efficiency.
Aluminium (4 to 7kg) is extraordinarily durable, endlessly repairable and develops a patina, but it dents permanently and eats your allowance. Polycarbonate (3 to 5kg) is lighter and cheaper but cracks on hard corner impacts. Curv, Samsonite's woven polypropylene, is the lightest at 1.7kg cabin size and flexes back into shape. Roxkin, used in the Proxis line, reforms after impact and gives the best weight to capacity ratio of any material I have tested.
The international standard is 55 x 40 x 20cm, roughly 36 to 40 litres. Every case in the carry on section here fits that envelope except the Away Bigger Carry-On, which is 57cm long and exceeds the limit on several European carriers. Budget airlines also enforce weight: a 7kg allowance with a 4.3kg Rimowa leaves only 2.7kg of clothes, which is why the 1.7kg Samsonite Lite Shock is the rational budget carrier choice.
Briggs & Riley. They repair or replace for life regardless of cause, including airline damage, and they do not ask for a receipt. Samsonite covers 10 years across most lines. Rimowa covers 5 years then charges for boutique repair. Monos, Away and Paravel all advertise limited lifetime cover that excludes airline damage, which is the damage most likely to happen.
The Samsonite Lite-Shock Spinner 55 at 1.7kg for a 36 litre cabin case, made from Curv. For checked luggage the Samsonite Proxis Spinner 75 is 2.9kg for 88 litres. By comparison the Rimowa Original Cabin is 4.3kg and the Tumi 19 Degree Extended Trip is 7.3kg empty, which is nearly a third of a standard 23kg allowance.
Under $380 buys a genuinely good case: the Monos Carry-On Pro at $350 or the Samsonite Lite-Shock at $320. Between $510 and $1,080 you are buying repair networks, better wheels and materials that survive longer, which is where the Proxis, Essential Check-In and Sympatico sit. Above $1,270 you are buying design and heritage, not additional durability. If you fly fewer than four times a year, spending more than $380 is difficult to justify on function alone.
Not automatically. What correlates with longevity is repairability, not price. Rimowa and Globe-Trotter last because you can replace wheels, latches and corners indefinitely. Briggs & Riley lasts because they fix it free forever. A $2,540 case with no service network is a worse long term buy than a $320 Samsonite with a ten year warranty and widely available parts.
Hard shell for anything fragile, for wet climates and for cases that get checked frequently, because the shell distributes impact and stays closed. Soft shell for road trips, awkward car boots and travellers who habitually overpack, because fabric gives where a shell will not. Every case ranked on this page is hard shell, which reflects how I travel rather than a blanket rule.
Four wheels for airports: a spinner glides beside you and takes the weight off your wrist through long terminals. Two wheels for cobbles, gravel, stairs and trains, where a fixed pair rolls over rough ground that jams a spinner. Only the Globe-Trotter trunk here uses two fixed wheels, and that is a deliberate trade for a case built for slow travel rather than connections.
I earn a small affiliate commission when you book or buy through my links to Booking.com, Priority Pass, Airalo, Rimowa, Away, Monos and a handful of other partners, at no extra cost to you. The commission never changes a ranking. No hotel, lounge network, eSIM provider or luggage brand can pay for a place on this site, and no partner reads my copy before it goes live. If a product stops earning its spot, I remove it. Everything here I either paid retail for or tested on my own dime.
Buy the case once, not every three years.
Ten cases ranked, five for the cabin and five for the hold, with the flaws written down alongside the praise. Prices verified 12 July 2026.
