If you travel regularly and need to move around crowded airport terminals, you'll almost certainly need a suitcase. These wheeled cases with handles are adapted for modern travel, and are ideal for clothing and electronics. With hard shell and soft designs, various wheel setups, and a dizzying range of colours available, they are also increasingly diverse. So whatever your needs, there should be a case to match them.
Cases of some sort have been used for centuries, but the suitcase is quite modern. Wheeled cases with built-in handles appeared in the 1930s, and were made with aluminium for elite travellers. From the 1960s, they became mainstream, as synthetic fabrics drove down their cost and weight.
Now, there are plenty to choose from, so let's dive in and explore how to find the best suitcase deals.
Looking for a new suitcase but not sure what to look for? Check out this simple checklist for suitcase features to look out for:
First of all, suitcase buyers need to think about what size to buy. A large suitcase could measure as much as 76 x 48 x 29cm, while smaller versions can shrink down to 48 x 32 x 18cm. If you need cabin luggage, stay small. Medium sizes are fine for couples, while families will probably need larger models.
Alongside size, suitcase buyers also need to consider capacity. Capacities are measured in litres (L) and vary from cabin size suitcase designs offering 20L of space, up to large cases providing 100L or more.
Whatever size of suitcase you pick, it pays to choose lightweight models. That should help to avoid excess baggage charges. Larger cases stretch from 4-6kg, medium cases tend to weigh 3-4.5kg, and cabin sized options will be lower. The best models mix strength and light materials and are often the best ones to choose.
As anyone who has experienced damaged luggage will attest, strength matters. If you are transporting fragile items, opt for a hard shell suitcase which can withstand heavy loads. Clothes and softer items will be fine in fabric cases, especially those made from nylon synthetics such as Cordura.
If you are travelling to the USA, a TSA security lock will be essential. Otherwise, it's advisable to protect all suitcases with some form of combination lock, possibly in conjunction with zip ties which can be cut easily and make zips more secure. Hard shell models will be more secure than fabrics due to their inherent strength.
If you are packing heavy cases, look for luggage deals featuring wheels. Look for polyurethane in-line wheels for the best stability and smoothness. If not, ergonomic handles and shoulder straps can come in handy. And some models also have mounts for luggage trolleys, which make navigating airports easier.
Suitcases should primarily be functional, but looks always matter. For instance, many travellers adore the look of Trunki suitcase designs, which are particularly fun for kids to use. And brands like Samsonite or Horizn are masters at blending sleek forms and practical features.
When shopping in a luggage sale, don't forget to look inside. For example, business travellers will want padded laptop compartments, and it's often good to have separate compartments for fluids as well.
It's not always the primary consideration, but many people prefer brightly coloured suitcases as they are easier to pick out on luggage carousels. So if you want to shave a few seconds off airport transfers, that could be something to think about.
Here are some great suitcase brands to check out:
Samsonite – American firm Samsonite is probably the most famous luggage manufacturer in the world. Known for its sturdy business cases marked by excellent longevity and practical features. The prices should be fairly reasonable too, although plenty of premium Samsonite models are available.
Trunki – Created by UK designer Rob Law, Trunki's super-colourful suitcase designs have been a huge success story in recent years. Designed to allow kids to sit on their luggage while they wait at check-in or elsewhere, Trunki suitcase designs mix smooth wheels, strong materials and oodles of charisma.
Eastpak – Boston-based Eastpak is another popular brand with professionals and leisure travellers. Starting off as an outdoor recreation brand, Eastpak's cases are generally more rugged and durable than the competition. So if you want cases that can stand up to any journey, it's a company to check out.
Antler – One of the UK's homegrown luggage manufacturers, Antler make attractive and extremely strong hardshell cases. Designs like the Juno are light but strong, and couple physical properties with reliable locks for extra security. Clever internal layouts make them a hit with laptop owners.
American Tourister – Another major American contender, Tourister have found a niche in the sustainable travel market thanks to designs like the Eco-Wanderer Spinner. These wheeled medium-sized models are made from 100% recycled plastic, helping to offset carbon emissions from flights.
Here are some top suitcase models you might want to consider when looking for a new suitcase:
Here's a very general guide, and one that won't necessarily apply to those with expensive electronic equipment or large amounts of clothing. However, whatever you carry, it pays to take care to compress your luggage and make the best possible use of the space available.
Firstly, plan what you'll need to take on your trip. As a rule, you should be able to get by during a week-long vacation with 5 vests, pants or socks, around 3-4 t-shirts or casual shirts, one sweater and 1-2 pairs of shorts or trousers.
When you know roughly what you want, you'll need to find a suitable case. For solo travellers, small hard-shell cases should be fine for week-long trips. Hard cases can work well for those who want to be ultra space efficient, as they won't let you cram in extra socks or accessories that aren't completely necessary.
Make the best use of space by packing clothes within clothes. For instance, you can stuff a couple of pairs of socks into most shoes. When you pack shoes, it's also a good idea to enclose them in a plastic bag to keep other clothes dirt-free.
Most clothes can be rolled up to save space. In some cases, you may find that packing them in separate packing cubes helps to compress them even more.
Pack clothes on top of footwear, and then add wash bags and toiletries. This will make them accessible if airport staff feel the need to inspect your luggage.
Finally, coats and other items that can't be rolled or folded, can be placed on top of everything else – possibly with a liner in between them and your other items.
Here are some key travel accessories you might want to consider with your suitcase:
Aluminium suitcases were first created for Erle Halliburton in the 1930s, while nylon cases emerged in the 50s and 60s. The first standardised wheeled suitcase was created by Bernard Sadow in 1972. Polycarbonate models were pioneered by Rimowa in the 2000s.
Suitcases are a traveller's best friend, so it makes sense to pick a model that suits your style and personal needs. From hard shell to canvas designs, and from kid-friendly Trunkis to sober professional Samsonites, there are plenty to choose from, and the best designs won't always come cheap.
You can expect high-end cases to retail for well over £100, potentially boosting the cost of travel significantly. However, listed prices don't need to constrain your options. There are ways to save money on suitcases, leaving you extra spending money to make the most of your trip.
Firstly, take some time to browse different suitcase styles and brands, and settle on a set of specifications that meet your needs. Think about how much luggage you tend to need for one or two week holidays, and try to match that amount to suitcase capacities. Remember: it's good to leave a little extra space for souvenirs, but so much that you are always carrying around more case than you need.
And don't forget to pick a model that is easy to move around. The worst thing to do when buying suitcases is to be stuck with a heavyweight 2-wheeler when you need 4 wheels to actually move it around.
When you know what type of case you need, the next question is where to buy suitcase brands that you can trust. The best option here is to head over to the hotukdeals suitcase listings. Our listings feature luggage sale bargains from Trunki, Eastpak, Samsonite, and American Tourister, as well as own-brand creations from popular retailers like Matalan. All of the UK's biggest travel merchants are part of the mix, such as John Lewis, Amazon, Argos, and many other favourites.
Our listings cover individual suitcases, with models for professionals and leisure travellers. However, it's worth taking a look at suitcase set deals as well. Almost all of the leading brands offer sets with large, medium and small cases – potentially the ideal way for families to cut the cost of building a luggage collection.
Finally, if you aren't in urgent need of new luggage, waiting for sale events can pay dividends. Black Friday in November sees off-season suitcase deals, as do the New Year Sales. And there should be pre-summer deals in May and June. So keep your eyes peeled and check back regularly with hotukdeals.
Whether you have a big work trip on the horizon or you're planning a family holiday, having the right suitcase could make all the difference. And there are plenty of styles to think about, from models which keep laptops safe, add colourful Trunkis to your collection, to durable standbys that will last for years. Whatever your requirements, finding the best price is simple. Just head to the hotukdeals suitcase listings.
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(:I (lol) (y)
In the past, pre Covid, people used to go on these soulless pre packaged experiences called holidays. Travelling on mechanical flight machines that used to fill the sky and wreck the atmosphere. They needed these little things to bring a very small amount of belongings with them, anymore they would be charged with a mechanical flight machine tax for oversized item
Can anybody tell me what this is and what its used for please (lol) (lol) (y)