If you’re the type who travels at any given opportunity, a stamp-stuffed passport and tatty luggage are some of the first places to find physical proof.
While there’s nothing for it but to order a new passport, investing wisely in your next carry-on luggage or hold bag will see it hold its own no matter where your adventures take you.
Hard shell bags are the clear winner when it comes to your next trip, whether you’re off for a weekend jaunt or planning an epic voyage. Not only do they provide great protection for your contents, but they’ll stay looking good for longer with no fabric to snag on luggage belts and scuffs easily buffed off with cleaning spray and a microfibre cloth.
There are plenty of other benefits to choosing a hard shell construction over a soft or fabric bag. British luggage brand Antler has been making bags since 1914, and now has a new hard shell luggage collection called Icon ready for 2024 adventures.
Antler’s MD Kirsty Glenne outlines the appeal of hardy luggage. “Hard shell suitcases are exceptionally well-suited for travel due to their robustness. The hard shell is designed to protect your belongings, eliminating the risk of squashing or pressure that could cause damage throughout a journey. Aesthetically too, they tend to be sleeker, more colourful and easier to keep clean. It is crucial to have complete trust in your luggage”.
It helps that most hard shell bags are light too, saving it from burdening your luggage weight allowance. If you’ve ever wondered how they can be both strong and light, Glenne reveals the secret: polycarbonate.
Durable and made to withstand the rigours of modern travel, most luggage brands use this high-quality material to craft their hard shell bags. “It’s scratch-resistant, water-resistant and shock-absorbent,” Glenne adds, checking more boxes off the list.
However careful you are with your bags, wear and tear is inevitable. While all luggage will clock up some dents and scratches on your travels, scuffs are easy to deal with if you own a hard shell case. Steer clear of them in the first place by avoiding “dragging your suitcase sideways over rough or sharp surfaces”, advises Glenne. She recommends another clever travel hack: using a luggage cover for check-in bags to protect them from the worst of scuffs and scratches.
Whether you’re looking for a small wheeled bag for staycays or a complete luggage set worthy of first class, we’ve rounded up the best hard-shell suitcases that promise to go the distance below.
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Antler Icon Stripe Large in Heather Purple
Tough yet beautiful, the Icon range is made for globetrotters. The collection comes in three sizes - cabin, medium and large - and if you buy the set you’ll, ahem, bag a 15 per cent saving.
The lined interior is spacious and packed with pockets to help organise your stuff while TSA-approved locks mean you can check it in with complete peace of mind. The handle is adjustable and it’s a dream to pull along, rolling silently on spinner wheels that turn a full 360°. Best of all, if you’ve gone to town on the holiday souvenir front, the zip expands to give an extra 5cm to play with.
A shoutout to Antler for the colour palette; the mountain-inspired shades offer a nice alternative to the typical looks out there. Choose from Antler Green, Moorland Pink, Taupe, Black and our top choice, Heather Purple.
Buy now £245.00, Antler
American Tourister Aerostep 4-Wheel 77cm Expandable Large Suitcase
So bright you'll need sunnies to look at it, this neon yellow expandable suitcase is super light but sturdy with an expandable feature that will come in useful when you're packing to come home. There are double wheels to aid transit and a TSA lock to keep things contained safely inside.
Buy now £129.50, John Lewis
Rock Vintage Cabin Hard Case - Navy
An old-world look combined with modern features, this hard case is perfect for those who wish to travel with style. The trunk-style design sits on eight rolling wheels for easy gliding and there's a push-button handle to help pull it along too. There's extra protection against knocks and bumps from reinforced corners while details like metal studs and coloured wheels add a playful tilt. Comes with a 15-year warranty.
Buy now £100.00, Argos
Radley Lexington Colour Block suitcase
There's no missing this clashing colourway on the bag retrieval belt, the red and pink scream for attention. Radley's bag comes with all the trimmings you would expect from a luxury label: think TSA lock, spinner wheels and a height-adjustable telescopic handle. The large case can hold up to 116L when expanded, giving you plenty of room to organise your things.
Buy now £139.00, Radley
July Carry On
Size: 55 x 38.5 x 21.5cm
Feel like you're flying first even if you're just going on a cheap Continental escape with Aussie brand July's cabin wheelie in tow.
Available in fun colours including a small palette of limited edition hues, the German polycarbonate hard shell design sits on silent-operation spinner wheels to take on practically any terrain with a multi-stop telescopic handle to pull it around with ease, no matter how heavy.
Extras include an odour-proof laundry bag, compression straps, a mesh compartment for laptops and anti-stain lining to dispel any accidental stains and spills. You can also charge small gadgets without opening the bag thanks to an ejectable battery and USB and USB-C docks.
Sold with a lifetime warranty on manufacturing faults.
Buy now £245.00, July
Carl Friedrik The Carry-on X
Size: 38 x 55 x 25cm
Yearning for the days of luxury flight travel? The bar-like interiors may be long gone but you can retain a scintilla of class thanks to luxury bag brand Carl Friedrik. The company builds robust bags for both the cabin and hold with a raft of ingenious ideas to help business and leisure travellers alike.
The hard shell cabin design is fitted with the usual features - Hinomoto spinner wheels, telescopic handle, TSA locks - but also boasts compression straps and pads to squeeze more into the case (up to 43L). A front pocket keeps essentials close to hand while contrast leather detailing increases the luxe appeal. A delight to have and to hold.
Comes with a lifetime warranty.
Buy now £465.00, Carl Friedrik
Samsonite Proxis 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case
Best for: business
It’s hard to beat Samsonite if you’re someone who travels regularly and the brand’s Proxis 4-Wheel 55cm Expandable Cabin Case is a top choice for effortlessly carrying your belongings from A to B to C and then back again to A. The Proxis suitcase is a globetrotter’s dream, with a hidden section that expands to provide extra storage space, a TSA-approved lock for security, and four double wheels to ensure easy movement. Lightweight, and fitted with two carry handles, it’s also easily portable.
Buy now £359.00, John Lewis
AWAY The Carry-On Flex
Size: 55.1 x 34.8 x 22.9cm
AWAY makes some of the hardest-wearing cabin bags in the game, making them a favourite for frequent fliers.
Its Carry-On Flex range comes in muted colours as well as bold and bright shades like this sorbet orange that you'll be able to spot a mile off.
The Flex is so-called because it can expand by up to 6cm, making it more forgiving if you've overdone souvenir shopping. This upgrade separates it from AWAY's line of standard cabin bags, but both ranges offer TSA combination locks, 360° spinner wheels, a polycarbonate hard shell and a telescopic pull handle to guide it along terminals, cobblestones and pavements smoothly.
Buy now £265.00, AWAY
Horizn Studios H5 Cabin Luggage
Size: 40 x 55 x 20cm
Making a minimalist statement, this sleek bag can accommodate up to 36L, offering a generous capacity that should see you through up to five days of travel.
While choosing white hold luggage suggests a devil-may-care attitude, a white cabin bag is in altogether safer hands (yours) away from careless baggage handlers. Besides, if you do rack up a few scuffs, the polycarbonate hard shell makes them easy to clean off.
Inside you'll find an organisation wonderland of compartments and mesh screens, all lined with recycled polyester and secured with a TSA-friendly lock. A set of four spinner wheels glide along smoothly and silently, helped by a four-stage telescopic handle. There are also compression bags to help you pack and a laundry bag to separate dirty clothes from fresh ones.
Buy now £360.00, Horizn
Flight Knight Lightweight 4 Wheel ABS Hard Case Suitcases
Best for: runway style
From British Airways to Wizz Air, this cabin bag has been approved by a host of carriers as a free carry-on. A strong ABS shell keeps your things protected and also helps you stay within strict luggage policies, while a one-metre telescopic handle and 360-degree spinner wheels make it a dream to transport from check-in to the departure gate.
Inside, the main compartment can be split into two with a zipped divider and there are luggage straps to keep everything in place. It makes use of every millimetre of space, and as well as trips away, is useful for hospital stays and overnight wedding events too.
Buy now £44.99, Amazon
