The best luggage, according to editors who travel a lot

Treat yourself to one of these stylish cases

Best Luggage
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Investing in the best luggage can make a stressful journey into a breeze in my experience - as long as you leave yourself plenty of time to make your train or flight, they're not magic.

As a fashion editor who travels a lot for fashion weeks and press trips, I've come to rely on good suitcases and bags that will take the stress away from packing and travelling, when there are a million other things to organise, such as tickets for fashion shows and designer interviews.

The research for the right luggage can be time consuming, especially when factoring in baggage restrictions, storage needs, durability, weight etc - but it's worth it.

So I've done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the most stylish bags from mine and team Marie Claire UK's favourite luggage brands. All of these brands have been tested by our editors on various trips over the years. There's everything from carry-on bags, weekend holdalls, large suitcases and more. Whether you're heading off on a two-week trip or a short weekend away, it's all covered.

Don't forget to check out our guide on how to pack a suitcase while you're at it for lots of tips and tricks. We've also rounded up the best beauty travel kits to save you at airport security. 

Best carry-on luggage

If you're going on a short weekend away, or you're lucky enough to be a light packer, then a carry-on suitcase or bag is for you. Cabin size luggage is usually 55cm x 40cm x 23cm, which is the allowance permitted by most airlines including British Airways. However it's always worth checking with your airline for the luggage options, as they can vary.

For example Easyjet's allowance is smaller at 45cm x 36cm x 20cm, so make sure your suitcase is the right size, or you might incur additional costs. Here are some of our favourite cabin size suitcases which also work a treat for weekends away.

Best Luggage

(Image credit: Getty)

Best large suitcases

Long-haul destinations call for large suitcases, which saves you whittling down your holiday wardrobe too much. The best ones come with four wheels for easy handling, and separate zip-up compartments for your more delicate items. Though fabric suitcases are generally lighter, for long trips I recommend hard shell cases as they're far more durable and are less likely to get damaged in transit.

Best light suitcases

If you're worried about weight allowance or simply want to save your arm strength, then there are plenty of lightweight suitcase options around, especially those made of fabric shells.

Best travel bags

Though less easy to drag around than a suitcase, a travel bag is a great space-saving choice, especially if you're heading on a mini break by car. 

Best travel accessories

Travel accessories don't often get the recognition they deserve, when they do most of the heavy lifting. Vanity cases and packing cubes might not sound very exciting, but I can't live without them.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.