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Amy Axworthy is a travel journalist and product reviewer. She was shortlisted for Best News Writer at the BSME Talent Awards in 2023 for uncovering consumer harm.
In this article
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a reliable case with a solid warranty. But some premium brands offer an edge on durability and smart storage.
We asked Which? members to rate the large suitcases they’d bought in the past five years on everything from storage space to how easy they are to wheel over different surfaces. So you know when it's worth investing, we've only awarded Which? Recommended Brand (WRB) endorsements to the highest-rated brands that have the full package, matching great value with build quality and solid aftercare.
Eastpak and John Lewis topped our table. Customers were impressed by that Eastpak's bags were tough but still very easy to move around. John Lewis' cases were seen as a dependable, mid-range option offering upmarket materials and sleek designs.
Samsonite came third, scored highly in our survey (80%)and was the most-owned label. But members paid more for its luggage than for any other brand - perhaps why it scored just three stars out of five for value for money.
Less expensive brands are available, but they're not all built the same. In our survey, we found two brands costing customers £70-£75 on average for a case. But while one sits close to the bottom of the table, Tripp has a much higher customer score. It was the only brand to secure a five-star rating in value for money, and its average price for a case was the cheapest among all our WRBs.
Find out more about the best brands and where to buy them below.
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As Which? Travel experts, external factors never influence our rankings and you can trust our editorial independence. More than 1,500 travellers gave us their opinions on the full-sized suitcases they’ve owned over the past five years and you can see the 2026 picks below. We’ve combined how satisfied they were with their purchases with how likely they are to recommend the brand. This enables us to rank them from best to worst by calculating an overall customer score. We only report on brands that receive a minimum of 30 responses.
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RECOMMENDED BRAND Eastpak (118) | 85% | £125 | ||||||||
RECOMMENDED BRAND John Lewis (72) | 83% | £122 | ||||||||
Samsonite (355) | 80% | £175 | ||||||||
RECOMMENDED BRAND Tripp (292) | 79% | £75 | ||||||||
Antler (130) | 77% | £163 | ||||||||
M&S (101) | 77% | £75 | ||||||||
American Tourister (102) | 76% | £120 | ||||||||
It Luggage (164) | 74% | £70 |
Table notes: Sample size in brackets. Results from a survey of 1,568 members of the Which? Connect panel and members of the public who told us about suitcases they've owned in the past five years. Research was carried out in Jan to Feb 2026. Average price paid is based on the mean amount members told us they paid for their luggage. Customer score is based on satisfaction and whether members would recommend the brand. The survey was distributed to a representative sample of people. The final data has not been weighted and may not be representative of the target population.
These brands make lots of different styles of suitcases, so take a moment to choose the type that's best for you. As a travel expert, I recommend first thinking about what you want from your new suitcase - do you need to maximise space and weight to help with airline luggage restrictions? Are you a frequent flyer who needs something to handle lots of bumps and tumbles? Or do you want lots of clever compartments to keep your belongings organised?
Hard-shell cases can be more durable, but they often lack handy outside pockets. Four-wheeled cases are convenient when wheeling over long distances at airports, but two-wheeled cases are easier to roll over uneven ground. For more top tips, head to our guide on what to look for when you next invest in luggage.
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Customer score: 85%
Average price paid: £125
Verdict: Tough on the outside, organised on the inside, and comfortable on the move
Top durability scores and up to 30 years’ warranty mean you can expect an Eastpak bag to last. Beyond strong materials, customers praised smart details that make sure every element lasts longer, such as zips over handles to protect them in transit. Such details are likely why it scored a full five stars for durability. Eastpak's large suitcases aren’t too heavy, and one owner told us that a combination of ‘robust build quality and multiple handles means it’s easy to pick up in whatever direction you approach it’.
Lots of customers told us that its designs have pockets that maximise space and keep your belongings organised. One customer liked how well-thought-out the compartments were, telling us: 'It opens in halves with each side having a zipped flap to keep things in and when it is standing upright.'
If you want a case that will stand out on the luggage belt without being garish, Eastpak will deliver, with forest green, egg-yolk yellow and lilac options, in addition to the usual business-smart colours.
This brand is well-known for its soft-shell designs with two wheels. But Eastpak sells hard-shell and four-wheeled alternatives if you prefer. On average, owners paid £125 for a full-sized hold bag. But it received a four-star rating for value for money and won the title of best-rated suitcase brand overall, meaning you won't be disappointed.
Compare the prices of popular Eastpak suitcases at retailers above, or shop direct.
Customer score: 79%
Average price paid: £75
Verdict: Great products at an even better price
If you’re looking for hold baggage on a budget, Tripp should be your go-to choice. It received a high customer score, just 1% lower than the pricier Samsonite, and cost buyers just £75 on average per piece of large luggage. No wonder it was the only suitcase brand in our survey to be awarded five stars for its value for money.
Customers said they found Tripp's cases lightweight and easy to wheel on different surfaces, with good durability. One owner said: 'It protects the contents and is better than any other suitcase that I have had in the last 60 years. It holds up well to rough handling.' Although dents can appear in its popular hard-shell designs, most can be easily pushed back out.
We were also pleased to hear that Tripp delivered when a customer asked for help with a broken lock. The owner told us: 'After contacting the manufacturer, they sent me a replacement free of charge and provided an excellent customer service.'
One drawback for some customers may be a lack of external pockets and space for storage. The brand scored an average rating of three stars out of five in this category — likely because Tripp’s cases are mostly hard-shelled. So, if exterior pockets are a dealbreaker, look at its soft-shell bags instead.
Tripp suitcases are available to buy at Next, Amazon or directly from Tripp's website.
In our survey, customers told us that they paid a similar amount on average for their IT Luggage case (£70) and their Tripp luggage case (£75). But which is better?
IT Luggage achieved a decent customer score of 74% in our survey. Customers were pleased with the storage space, how easy the cases were to lift and said they were value for money.
But in most instances, Tripp's scores were higher. IT Luggage had a lower three-star rating for its durability. One customer told us: 'I would recommend [IT Luggage] for people who want light cases, but not the most durable.' Another explained they're 'probably not the most robust... perfect for occasional flying.' A couple cases more ended up with a broken zip or wheel over time.
IT Luggage also achieved a three-star rating for how easy its cases are to wheel around, in comparison to Tripp's four stars. Two customers found that the wheels gradually became wonky and interfered with the effortless glide of the cases.
Overall, Tripp is the more reliable choice.
Discover the best value for money luggage brands
Customer score: 80%
Average price paid: £122
Verdict: Stylish and lightweight with intuitive storage
One customer described their John Lewis case as ‘Goldilocks – just right!’, and it’s a feeling shared by many who found the brand to deliver high-end features at a good price. It came second in our table and scored at least four stars across every category we assessed.
Its bags have a polished and robust feel, and come with a 10-year guarantee (for bags in the cheaper Anyday range, it’s likely to be five years). When one traveller had an issue with a handle, the case was replaced without quibble.
Its large suitcases are lightweight and easy to manoeuvre on solid wheels. They have useful storage compartments, and some customers liked the expandable ones for longer trips. They’re not as durable as Eastpak’s, and your John Lewis case might scuff over time, but it shouldn’t break.
You can buy a John Lewis suitcase from its website or in-store.
Eastpak and Samsonite were found to be the most robust full-sized suitcases in our 2026 survey.
In previous tests, we've not always found hard-shelled luggage more durable than those with soft shells. Both have pros and cons, but to ensure your next bag goes the distance, we've outlined what to look for when buying luggage.
Customer score: 80%
Average price paid: £175
Verdict: Has refined designs, but other brands do the same for less
A decent suitcase should last decades. That’s possibly why so many UK holidaymakers favour Samsonite – it’s a quality label and scored five stars in every category for durability. But so did rival Eastpak (85%), which is noticeably cheaper on average.
Samsonite’s three-star value-for-money rating suggests that prices are, in fact, too high to be deemed excellent value. Its large suitcases (with an average price of £175) cost £50 more than Eastpak bags (£125), and £100 more than Tripp’s (£75), according to customers in our survey. A quick scour of Samsonite’s website and you’ll even find a few cases costing in excess of £800, made from long-lasting aluminium rather than the polycarbonate or polypropylene used for hard-shell bags. Its aluminium luggage is the most iconic of its suitcases, but it has downsides: aluminium still scuffs and, at 7kg (for a 91-litre case), it’s relatively heavy.
There’s no denying that Samsonite bags are excellent and stylish, but if you can look beyond the brand name, your bank balance will be better off, and there are plenty of cheaper options ranked highly in our survey.
We've listed some of its popular suitcases at retailers above, or you can shop Samsonite suitcases direct.
Samsonite's cabin luggage also scored highly. See how other brands fared in our cabin bag survey results.
All suitcase labels that appeared in our survey scored highly and were awarded at least three stars in individual categories, too, with most gaining four or more – a testament to the robustness and manoeuvrability of their suitcases.
Our advice? Look to Tripp (above) and M&S (below) for good-value, high-quality cases.
Customer score: 77%
Average price paid: £163
Shop directly at Antler or compare the prices of its popular suitcases at retailers below.
Customer score: 77%
Average price paid: £75
You can buy M&S suitcases or in-store.