The best carry-on luggage in the UK, tested on an assault course

## Summary
Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian Review The best carry-on luggage in the UK, tested on an assault course Our seasoned traveller braved obstacles and mud to put the best cabin bags to the test – from hard-shell to budget, wheeled to lightweight The best travel pillows, tested L et’s start by saying that if you can avoid taking a flight, that would be best. Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian Best cabin bag overall: July Carry On luggage July Carry on luggage from £245 £245 at July £245 at John Lewis What we love Combines toughness, style and practicality What we don’t love Borders on oversized for some airlines Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian From £245 at July £245 at John Lewis July’s distinctive suitcase design is at its best here in the Carry On, which pleasingly combines high-quality components such as a rough-textured polycarbonate shell, shiny metal corner guards and nicely shaped zippers. Dimensions: 38.5 x 21.5 x 55cm (WDH) Weight: 3.4kg Capacity: 42l Outer materials: polycarbonate, anodised aluminium corner bumpers Closure: zipper with TSA combination lock July Carry on luggage from £245 £245 at July £245 at John Lewis What we love Combines toughness, style and practicality What we don’t love Borders on oversized for some airlines Best budget cabin bag: Tripp Holiday 8 cabin suitcase Tripp Holiday 8 cabin suitcase from £45 £49.50 at Tripp £45 at Amazon What we love Great style and quality for the price What we don’t love Limited internal storage options Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian £49.50 at Tripp £45 at Amazon Often reduced far lower than its £100 RRP, the Holiday 8 is my top pick for solo travellers who need to pick up a decent cabin bag for a good price. Dimensions: 37.6 x 26 x 56.6cm (WDH) Weight: 4.7kg Capacity: 44l Outer materials: ‘Makrolon’ polycarbonate shell, aluminium lock frame, vegetable-tanned leather detailing Closure: pair of clasps with individual TSA locks Carl Friedrik The Carry-on X from £495 £495 at Selfridges £495 at Carl Friedrik What we love Sensationally stylish, with ample storage options What we don’t love It’s very expensive and quite heavy Best expandable cabin bag: Away the Carry-On Flex Away The Carry-On Flex £265 £265 at Away What we love Excellent expansion capability What we don’t love Likely oversized for some flights Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian £265 at Away Is it a compact bag for one, or is this a case fit for a couple’s weekend getaway?

## Article Content
Keep calm, and carry on: writer Pete, dressed for Hawaii but in Leeds, testing luggage assault-course style.
Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian
View image in fullscreen
Keep calm, and carry on: writer Pete, dressed for Hawaii but in Leeds, testing luggage assault-course style.
Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian
Review
The best carry-on luggage in the UK, tested on an assault course
Our seasoned traveller braved obstacles and mud to put the best cabin bags to the test – from hard-shell to budget, wheeled to lightweight
The best travel pillows, tested
L
et’s start by saying that if you can avoid taking a flight, that would be best. Aviation accounts for
2.5% of global carbon emissions
– and the levels released by aircraft
could double or triple by 2050
.
Regrettably, you can’t always reach your destination by rail, sea or
hot-air balloon
. If flying is unavoidable, one way to reduce your carbon footprint is to take a cabin bag, rather than hold luggage. This encourages you to pack less, so your baggage is lighter, and less fuel is required to spirit it through the stratosphere. If that doesn’t move you, consider that you’ll also pay lower fees to the airline.
Cabin bags should be sized to slot neatly into a plane cabin’s overhead bins, rather than sliding under the seats as hand luggage. They’re also handy for rail travel, as operators including LNER allow passengers to place these bags in a train’s overhead racks – surely preferable to marooning a larger case on the racking near the door.
Within reason, many bags can be used as carry-on luggage, but appropriate cabin bags are adapted for travel. There are hard-shell examples that rank among
the best suitcases
; hybrid or soft-shell ones that can keep weight to a minimum; and versatile alternatives, such as duffels, that may come in handy at your destination. Many cabin bags have features intended to help you travel smoothly, including telescopic handles, casters and, in a few cases, integrated
power banks
for device charging.
At a glance
Best cabin bag overall:
July Carry On luggage
From £245 at July
Best budget cabin bag:
Tripp Holiday 8 cabin suitcase
£45 at Amazon
Best luxury cabin bag:
Carl Friedrik the Carry-on X
£495 at Selfridges
Best expandable cabin bag:
Away the Carry On Flex
£265 at Away
Why you should trust me
If there were a product-testing passport, mine would be inky with travel-themed stamps. As a regular contributor to the Filter, I’ve reviewed countless on-the-go items, including
travel pillows
,
reusable coffee cups
and
luggage
. I’ve spent months of my working life assessing travel essentials, which taught me a good deal about what makes the portable functional, from materials and dimensions to features and finishing.
My actual passport has also accumulated a fair number of stamps, and my own travel experiences affect how I test things like suitcases. Since not every trip goes smoothly, I always add stress-testing to the review process.
How I tested
A test of wheels and will. Video: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian
So, as any rational person would, I tested seven cabin bags by carrying them over an assault course. I had first tested a wider field of 11 bags in more leisurely, real-world conditions – packing them, wheeling them over tarmac, and trying the locks and other features to get a feel for each model. Having weeded out the worst performers, I rewarded the best cabin bags by dragging each one over obstacles and through mud to find out which could be handled easily under duress, while weathering scuffs, scrapes and uneven terrain.
The reviews below are equal parts assault course and concourse. I’ve focused heavily on manoeuvreability and packability, with one eye on the jumble of baggage limits imposed by different airlines. Durability was a factor too, although I believe this is a more important facet in
larger suitcases that might be dropped from a great height
during baggage (mis)handling.
We’re grateful to the kind staff at
West Leeds Activity Centre
for facilitating our testing. Alongside other activities such as rafting and go-karting, the centre also gives support to young people living in challenging circumstances, and the cabin bags left over from testing have been donated for their use.
The best carry-on luggage and cabin bags in 2026
View image in fullscreen
Cabin pressure: the luggage ready to ‘go’, if go means being dragged along an assault course at West Leeds Activity Centre.
Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian
Best cabin bag overall:
July Carry On luggage
July
Carry on luggage
from
£245
£245 at July
£245 at John Lewis
What we love
Combines toughness, style and practicality
What we don’t love
Borders on oversized for some airlines
Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian
From £245 at July
£245 at John Lewis
July’s distinctive suitcase design is at its best here in the Carry On, which pleasingly combines high-quality components such as a rough-textured polycarbonate shell, shiny metal corner

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Durability was a factor too, although I believe this is a more important facet in larger suitcases that might be dropped from a great height during baggage (mis)handling.
- Storage options inside the case are excellent.
- Dimensions: 37.6 x 26 x 56.6cm (WDH) Weight: 4.7kg Capacity: 44l Outer materials: ‘Makrolon’ polycarbonate shell, aluminium lock frame, vegetable-tanned leather detailing Closure: pair of clasps with individual TSA locks Carl Friedrik The Carry-on X from £495 £495 at Selfridges £495 at Carl Friedrik What we love Sensationally stylish, with ample storage options What we don’t love It’s very expensive and quite heavy Best expandable cabin bag: Away the Carry-On Flex Away The Carry-On Flex £265 £265 at Away What we love Excellent expansion capability What we don’t love Likely oversized for some flights Photograph: Christian Hopewell/The Guardian £265 at Away Is it a compact bag for one, or is this a case fit for a couple’s weekend getaway?
- As I’ve come to expect of Away cases, this is an impressively constructed piece of luggage with a tough exterior, comfy handles and comprehensive internal organisation.

### Areas for Consideration
- However, this was the most difficult bag to carry over the assault course, due to its weight.

### Implications
- Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global carbon emissions – and the levels released by aircraft could double or triple by 2050 .
- Cabin bags should be sized to slot neatly into a plane cabin’s overhead bins, rather than sliding under the seats as hand luggage.
- There are hard-shell examples that rank among the best suitcases ; hybrid or soft-shell ones that can keep weight to a minimum; and versatile alternatives, such as duffels, that may come in handy at your destination.
- At a glance Best cabin bag overall: July Carry On luggage From £245 at July Best budget cabin bag: Tripp Holiday 8 cabin suitcase £45 at Amazon Best luxury cabin bag: Carl Friedrik the Carry-on X £495 at Selfridges Best expandable cabin bag: Away the Carry On Flex £265 at Away Why you should trust me If there were a product-testing passport, mine would be inky with travel-themed stamps.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers cabin, love, carry topics. Notable strengths include discussion of cabin. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 2513.