10 best cabin bags, tried and tested by a travel editor

This bag is suitable for budget airlines with the toughest size restrictions, but it still offers a range of useful features. The carry-on is light and compact, but can be extended to provide extra packing space for premium airlines. One of the best features is that you can charge your devices via the port below the handle, which prevents you from unpacking all your cables in the middle of the airport.

The bag feels sturdy, and the quality is apparent in the small details, such as the zips and internal lining. The only cons here would be the price and the overall look, which is not as modern or chic as other hard-shell bags we tested, such as those from Aer or Paravel. Of all the bags we tested, though, this carry-on stood out for its sturdiness and versatility, which ultimately secured it our top spot.

Finding a good travel bag that will stand the test of time but won’t break the bank is not an easy task. I tried several budget options, but many seemed too flimsy to be worth the initial savings on the price. This 40l bag from Cabin Max, however, is relatively inexpensive, costing just a little more than £50, and it meets the specs for most of the big budget airlines.

The simple bag doesn’t offer the cool looks or luxury finish of those from the likes of July or Carl Friedrik, but we found it to be a decent, practical option for annual trips away. It features spinner wheels, making it easy to cart around, and comes with a built-in combination lock to keep your possessions safe. Although more-expensive hard-shell bags will offer more in the way of sturdiness, if you’re not a frequent flyer looking for extra durability, this bag should make for a great travel companion.

Featuring a water-resistant, stain-proof lining, a sturdy polycarbonate shell, and a built-in, detachable charger located below the handle, this carry-on bag complies with most major airlines' size restrictions and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Inside, zippered mesh compartments and compression straps helped keep our belongings organised and in place during testing.

However, there’s no front pocket or laptop sleeve included here, so this is perhaps not the best bag to opt for if you’re looking for a cabin bag for frequent work trips. For those who like their luggage to stand out from the crowd, though, this bag comes in 13 different colourways, providing much more choice than many competitor brands.

A favourite among flight attendants, Briggs & Riley is a safe choice when looking for luggage, but the brand’s bags come with hefty price tags. So, what do you get for your money? This bag oozes quality and comes with plenty of nice features: the extendable handle mechanism is external, which means there are no annoying ridges inside the bag, and there’s a small external pocket that’s perfect for carrying a foldable umbrella.

The bag can be expanded with a click, too – once it’s zipped up, you can compress it again by pushing down on it, which worked perfectly during testing and meant we could fit a lot more inside compared with some other bags. Another unusual but welcome feature is the built-in tri-fold garment folder, which is useful if you are travelling for an event and need your outfit to remain wrinkle-free.

Not everyone will want to spend £600 on a cabin bag, but for those happy to splurge, there are plenty of details here that make packing and travelling that little bit easier.

This bag is the epitome of understated luxury. Here, it’s all in the details. Below the handle, there’s a wheel lock that prevented the carry-on from rolling away from me when my hands were busy.

I found its wheels are almost silent, too. Inside, there’s a hidden pocket for your AirTag, a leather luggage tag, plenty of pockets that helped me organise my belongings efficiently, and a sleek compression belt. Overall, this is a well-made, functional bag that’s perfect for design-led travellers.

We were dubious about how much we’d be able to fit inside this smaller carry-on, but we found it held everything I needed for a weekend away – and it’s much easier to handle than your average cabin bag thanks to its compact size.

Unlike many of the other options included in our list, this bag is small enough to qualify as hand luggage with some airlines, but still manages to fit wheels and an extendable handle into its design. Meanwhile, the double-layered front pocket features a laptop sleeve, and there’s a built-in combination lock to help keep everything secure. Even though it’s far from the priciest option on our list, this bag also comes with a lifetime guarantee. The only drawback is that its 30l capacity is less than a standard cabin bag. It’s a great choice for a city break, but might not work for a package holiday.

Although the small details here might not be as refined as some other carry-ons from the likes of Aer, this American Tourister offering is still a fabulous product at a relatively affordable price.

This simple, hard-shell suitcase meets most airlines’ size requirements and has a modern, playful look. Inside, the bag is divided into two sections, with four pockets, and we found it offers plenty of space to play with – you should have no problem packing the essentials for a weekend away.

Considering the price, quality and overall look of this cabin bag, it has become a firm favourite. Any functional damage to the bag, such as a broken wheel or ripped zipper, is covered by a lifetime guarantee, which means this could be the last bag you have to buy. Aesthetic wear and tear is not covered under the guarantee, but a scuff eraser is included with the bag.

Inside, there is a handy laundry bag and a compression board to help you get the most out of the available space. However, unlike Carl Friedrik’s carry-on, the board can’t be removed. One addition that helps set this bag apart is an underside grab handle, which makes it a lot easier to position this bag in overhead bins. This is a rare but thoughtful feature that we are only used to seeing in much pricier carry-ons, such as Briggs & Riley’s. Overall, this cabin bag offers great quality for the price.

Inside this bag, you’ll find plenty of space, a removable interior compression board and incredibly strong straps, which helped to keep our belongings in place. Made of polycarbonate and aluminium, this case looks and feels like it wouldn’t break even if you threw it from the fifth floor (we didn’t go as far as to test that theory, though). The TSA-approved lock closure is secure and elegant, and the 360-degree spinner wheels were extremely smooth and silent during testing.

The front pocket opens completely, which makes it easier for us to pack, and there is a padded space for a laptop. Other small pockets are ideal for documents, notebooks, passports and pens, which helps make this bag ideal for those travelling for business. The only downside is that the bag is slightly too big for low-cost airlines with strict size restrictions. It’s a great option for travelling further afield, but might not work for short trips in Europe.

At first glance, this duffel bag is very unassuming, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tested it. The issue with duffel bags is that they often lack pockets or space for a laptop, but this one has a padded front pocket that was perfect for protecting tech. The fabric and zips are waterproof, too, making this design even more practical. On the other side of the bag, another compartment has an AirTag pocket and space for the usual essentials, such as keys, passport and phone.

The main compartment of the bag is spacious, but there is the option to expand it, too – two zips located at the base enabled us to expand the bag twice, which I found very handy when cramming clothes inside. The only downsides to this design are the price and the fact that, as with any typical duffle bag, it can become heavy to carry, as there are no wheels to help you transport it from A to B.