The best carry-on luggage to fit all airlines, tested on planes, trains and cobbled streets

Airlines love to catch passengers out with extra hidden costs, from seat reservations to luggage. But you can avoid paying excessive hold luggage charges by packing light (our guide to packing cubes will help) and investing in carry-on luggage.

There are many different styles on offer. Do you go for a soft shell cabin bag, or hard? Four wheels, two or a travel backpack? Expandable or not? Fashionable or pragmatic? Laptop sleeve or bigger capacity? Hand luggage that fits every airline, or one that suits the airline you fly with most often?

I’ve reviewed the best carry-on luggage in each of the above styles and spoken to ex-British Airways cabin crew. You’ll find their advice on carry-on rules and tips on the best luggage brands at the bottom of this article, beneath my reviews. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best carry-on luggage: At a glance

How to choose the best carry-on luggage

“Check the weight of the bag”, says ex-BA cabin crew member Taylor Collins. “Carry-on luggage often has a weight limit up to 10kg, meaning the more your suitcase weighs, the less you can pack inside.

“I always tend to opt for a four-wheeled case, as this is the easiest to take around the airport. You will also need to ensure that you can lift it up and down into the overhead lockers.”

Collins’ final two pieces of advice are to choose a suitcase with a lock for security and either to mark your suitcase by tying a ribbon around the handle, or steering clear of black suitcases. It’s never any fun trying to tell your black suitcase apart from every other unremarkable black suitcase on the same flight.

How I test carry-on luggage