Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Suitcase for Every Travel Circumstance in 2022

Nick Hilden
By

Back in the day, luggage was pretty basic, serving as little more than a boxy receptible in which to corral all your stuff over the course of your journey. It wasn’t until the 1970s that someone actually “invented” the concept of attaching wheels to a suitcase, thereby making travel forever easier. Since then, the best suitcases have featured an ever-growing array of slick features to make them more functional, and they’ve often become more pleasing to the eye to boot.

With that in mind, we’re taking a look at the best suitcases for venturing forth. These have been selected to suit a wide range of travel styles and needs, ensuring that you can pack the right bag for every circumstance.

Recommended Videos

Related Guides

Most Stylish Carry-on Suitcase: Arlo Sky The Zipper Carry-On Max with Front Pocket

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is, simply put, a beautiful piece of luggage. From its finely crafted shell to its uniquely gorgeous color options, it’s a decidedly hip-looking bag. The Max edition means that it offers a bit more packing space, and the foldout front pocket not only provides great organization and protection for your laptop, but makes it easy to whip out your computer while passing through security. It also has a built-in charger for your phone and other devices and is super durable all-around.

Related

Best Carry-on Suitcase for Professionals: Level8 Pro Carry-on with Laptop Pocket

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the professional traveler who needs unrivaled protection for their laptop while keeping everything accessible, you can’t beat this carry-on from Level8. The front laptop pocket not only folds out and provides stellar organization, but it locks shut and becomes virtually impervious to theft or impact. It also features an interior compartment for a power bank and looks great all-around.

Best Custom Suitcase: Roam The Jaunt XL

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you want a bag that truly represents your sense of style, check out this expandable carry-on from Roam. It allows you to choose the colors of the two different halves and trim, and add a personalized nameplate. The finished product looks amazing with its unique coloring and elegantly sculpted molding and will certainly stand out at the airport.

Best Aluminum Suitcase: Away Carry-on Aluminum Edition

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For a bag that grabs attention fast, we’d like you to meet the Aluminum Edition from Away. This snappy suitcase boasts a bold exterior that is available in four different colors, twin latch closures with TSA-approved combination locks rather than a zipper, and it can be equipped with an optional power bank. This is a perfect, one-of-a-kind suitcase for a business trip or weekend getaway.

Best Check-in Suitcase: Away The Large

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Away’s non-aluminum suitcases are great, too. The brand’s check-in luggage is big enough to pack along over a week’s worth of clothing, and it has a built-in compression pad and laundry bag to keep everything organized and clean. It’s also highly durable, and will last through a lifetime of travel.

Best Check-in Trunk Suitcase: Level8 Trunk

Level8 Trunk.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re looking to pack along a whole lot of stuff—and we mean everything plus the kitchen sink—this tremendous trunk from Level8 will get the job done. With a cavernous carrying capacity of 99 liters, it will hold just about everything you could want to cram in it. It’s also highly durable and has TSA-approved locks, so you can check it with peace of mind.

Best Wheel Backpack: Osprey Farpoint Wheeled Travel Pack Carry-on

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For a bag that is hyper-versatile in terms of how you travel with it, check out the Farpoint from Osprey. This multifaceted bag can be wheeled or carried like a suitcase, or you can bust out the shoulder straps and wear it as a backpack. This can be incredibly useful when navigating uneven surfaces like the cobblestones of Europe. It’s also as durable as they come, features well-organized pockets, and is available in larger check-in sizes if you need more space.

Best Underseat Suitcase: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside

Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you’re looking for a great underseat bag, less is more. You need it to be small enough to squeak under your seat, but you also want to carry as much as you possibly can. The Maxlite from Travelpro delivers on these needs dependably, providing a roomy bag that will still meet the size restrictions. It’s also highly durable and built to last.

Best Luxury Suitcase: Globe Trotter Centenary Medium Check-in

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re looking to splurge—and we mean really live it large and travel in unrivaled style—then you must see the Centenary line from Globe Trotter. These elegantly crafted cases look beautiful, boasting a classic travel vibe. While they’re available in a range of sizes, the medium seems like a fine Goldilocks choice: Not too little and not too large.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Hilden
Nick Hilden
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Hilden is a lifestyle and culture writer whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Afar…
Fly high in style with the best travel accessories for long flights in 2024
Modern air travel can really suck, but with the right gear, it doesn't have to
Passengers walking through an airport.

Without a doubt, taking a flight is still the most convenient mode of transportation, but let's be honest, modern air travel kind of sucks. Thanks largely to the pandemic, it's only gotten worse in the last three years. On the list of humanity’s favorite pastimes, flying ranks just above listening to babies cry and just below eating a partially frozen chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, many flights feature both.

However, flying can be much less terrible if you're prepared with the right gear. If you’re fortunate enough to sit in first class, you're probably sitting comfy with a pre-flight bourbon, back rubs, and a complimentary amenity kit. For the rest of us plebs, however, we need to make our own. So recline your seat the full inch, put that tray table down, and check out this list of the best air travel accessories to pack for your next long flight.

Read more
Get ready for your next trip: The best luggage brands for every type of traveler
Whether you're a backpacker, urban explorer, or resort lover, upgrade your next trip with the top luggage brands
Man standing outside a door with two large travel suitcases

For some travelers, luggage is purely functional. Their suitcase, backpack, or rollaboard is merely a tool to haul their stuff from point A to point B. For others, it’s as much an extension of their personality as the car they drive. Most of us fall somewhere in between. We want luggage that’s affordable, durable enough to survive whatever punishment the airlines subject it to, and a little bit of style doesn’t hurt, too.

With so many options, finding the right luggage can be a challenge. There is no best luggage, rather, it’s about what’s best for you, and that all depends on how you travel, how long you plan to be away, and what you typically pack. Should you opt for hard-sided or soft-sided luggage? Perhaps a carry-on, a checked bag, or a combination of the two?

Read more
The 8 best travel-sized men’s grooming products to please TSA officers
Keep all your comforts at hand with these travel-sized containers
TSA going through toiletries

Travel is fully back in the swing of things, but there are still some critical elements you need to add to your bag (and your dopp kit) before you hit the road again, like the best travel-sized men's grooming products. Keeping your grooming routine in check while on the road is as important as knowing what to pack, be it the best slip-on boots or an everyday carry-approved wallet. And properly sized grooming selections, the kind that won't get confiscated and thrown out by the TSA, are a must-have for the modern man on the go these days.

It's not as hard as it sounds at first, because plenty of your favorite grooming brands have downsized their essentials in ways that are very friendly to your dopp kit and your wallet. The great news is that you can even replicate practically every step of your routine when on the road, thanks to handy travel-sized picks (remember, liquids, gels, creams, or paste must weigh under 3.4 ounces in a travel-sized container).

Read more