Choosing the Right Cabin Bag for Your Travel Needs
Travelling light is an art that requires a reliable cabin bag. As someone who travels frequently, I’ve tested numerous cabin bags under real-world conditions, sometimes for years, and have handpicked my top favorites for every type of traveler, journey, and budget.
When selecting the right cabin bag, the first thing to consider is its size in compliance with your airline’s luggage restrictions. To avoid extra fees or being forced to check your bag at the gate, I’ve noted airlines that allow the bags I’ve reviewed as a free carry-on. These restrictions can be more lenient for certain ticket types, so it’s still worth checking. For example, Tripp’s suitcase exceeds Ryanair’s free cabin bag allowance but will be accepted for Ryanair Priority.
Cabin bags should be comfortable to move around, whether you’re dragging them across cobbled streets or hauling them around a train station. They also need to be spacious enough, possibly with the help of a packing cube, for a couple of days’ worth of outfits at least.
Whether you’re looking for a simple duffel bag, a backpack-style option for hands-free travel, a wheeled suitcase to lighten the load, or, for ultimate versatility, a combination of these, keep reading to find out which cabin bags will go the distance. Need some more space? We’ve also expert-tested the best check-in suitcases for your next big trip.
The Best Cabin Bags for 2026
Best Overall – Antler Cabin Suitcase: £185
The Antler cabin suitcase is the best overall choice. It’s compliant with all airlines, including budget options like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air, which is where most high-quality bags fall short.
The outer shell feels very sturdy and resistant. The wheels glide without an issue on any surface, and while the handle might not feel as stable as that of more expensive options, it is comfortable to grab and never gets stuck.
Inside, there is a zipped compartment with two mesh pockets, and on the other side, there’s an internal compression strap to keep your belongings in place. There’s also a small pocket on the inner side, which I found great for storing extra cables.
At £185, it’s relatively accessible, sitting in the mid-range, plus it comes with a lifetime guarantee. Overall, this is a great staple to have in your travel arsenal.
Buy now
£185, Antler.co.uk
Best Budget Buy – M&S Oslo Four Wheel Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase: £95
The M&S Oslo four wheel hard shell cabin suitcase is the best budget-friendly option. Its zips are reinforced and glide fairly smoothly. The wheels do a good job too, but they aren’t comparable to the wheels I’ve used with cases from more high-end brands.
The handle doesn’t feel as sturdy and comfortable as Bellroy’s or July’s, but the price difference is enough to justify the slight wobble. The suitcase holds a good amount of clothes. Inside, both sides of the case can be zipped up, which creates two compartments. There are also a few inner pockets. It’s about 1kg lighter than the average cabin bag, ideal if you’re bringing heavy souvenirs on a return flight.
Buy now
£95, Marksandspencer.com
Best Hard Shell – Bellroy Transit Carry-On: £279
Bellroy’s transit carry-on is not only the best hard-shell cabin bag, it’s the most beautiful piece of luggage I have ever used. Every little detail has been carefully curated, so if you like a travel set that is high-quality, practical and looks fabulous on the conveyor belt, I can’t recommend it enough.
It’s incredibly durable, and it makes travel as hassle-free as possible. On the outside, the hard shell is curved for extra protection from bumps and scratches. The two handles are made of a resistant yarn that feels nice to the touch, while the zippers are strong, and the wheels are silent and smooth, even when running on uneven surfaces.
It’s spacious, too, with plenty of pockets to separate clothes. On one side, there’s a traditional closed space with an extra mesh pocket, but on the other side, instead of a hard compression panel, there are two detachable packing cubes, which can also be used as a divider – an unusual feature that I really appreciated.
Buy now
£279, Bellroy.com
Best Soft Shell – Briggs & Riley Global Carry-On Expandable Spinner: £499
Briggs & Riley’s global carry-on expandable spinner is the best soft-shell cabin bag. Ideal for frequent travel, it feels almost impossible to break or ruin, plus it comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Compression power is impressive. Inside the bag, there’s a very effective, semi-rigid compression panel, but extra compression comes from the expansion feature. This can be zipped down to make the case more compact, while unzipping it provides five additional centimetres of space. Thanks to the sturdiness of the case, it’s fairly easy to squash it back into place while creating 25 per cent more space for your clothes.
Buy now
£499, Briggs-riley.co.uk
Additional Recommendations
July Carry-On with Casesafe: £275
July’s carry-on with casesafe is sturdy and sleek, but its technical features are what caught my attention. It features an integrated ejectable battery with USB-C for phone charging, as well as an integrated, trackable TSA-approved lock that is compatible with both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks.
Other notable features include the bag’s very resistant shell with reinforced corners, a built-in compression panel and smooth wheels. However, it’s worth noting it’s slightly too big to be used as a carry-on with budget airlines like Ryanair.
Buy now
£275, July.com
Stubble & Co Wheeled Duffel: £225
Stubble & Co’s wheeled duffel wins at versatility, as it features wheels as well as straps that transform it into a backpack. It’s perfect for a multi-destination trip requiring different means of transportation, but especially good for railway journeys.
It features a sturdy handle, two wheels that look like they were created for a four-by-four, and four handles (three soft and one made of hard plastic) – one on each side of the bag.
Buy now
£225, Stubbleandco.com
Troubadour Apex Travel Duffel: £269
The Troubadour apex travel duffel is the best duffel cabin bag. It’s expandable, padded straps make it comfortable to carry, and it has waterproof fabric and plenty of pockets.
The outer is made from a resistant, waterproof fabric, while the zips are waterproof and very smooth. There’s one pocket on the front, with a designated space for your phone and an AirTag, plus another big padded pocket on the back to safely store your laptop.
Buy now
£269, Troubadourgoods.com
Final Thoughts
If, like me, you’re a frequent traveller, then it might be worth investing in a few different options to suit different trips and modes of transport. For most travellers, Antler’s cabin suitcase strikes the best balance between durability, price and airline compatibility. If your budget is less than £100, though, both M&S’s Oslo four wheel hard shell cabin suitcase and Tripp’s holiday 8 cabin suitcase fit Ryanair luggage restrictions.
If you are looking for a duffel, nothing beats the quality and comfort of Troubadour’s apex travel duffel, while Eastpak’s travelpack is a great backpack-style option. Or for the best of both worlds, Stubble & Co wheeled duffel transforms into a backpack, too.
