Latest hold luggage

Marisa Cannon puts the latest crop of larger suitcases through their paces to help you prepare for your next long-haul trip

American Tourister Sunset Square ABS

This bright red, water-resistant, polyester bag comes in a hardshell. At 55cm x 20cm x 40cm, it weighs only 2.9kg. It has four wheels, an adjustable handle on the top, and a separate grip on the side. Inside, it is divided into two compartments. The mesh zip-up pocket and X-shaped straps keep items in place, although, when full, it can be a little unsteady. There is an additional small pouch, attached inside, to hold lose items. The bag doesn’t come with a separate laptop compartment, but the padding on one side can work as protection for delicate items. There are no outer pockets. It has a number lock system.

VERDICT

A sturdy, lightweight case that can pack in a heap of items.

Delsey Montsouris

This expandable trolley case has a hard-shell underside and a soft top, with two capacious compartments inside. Available only in black, it’s not the most attractive of the bunch, although it is roomy and durable, with a patented Securitech expandable zip (apparently 41 times more resilient than conventional zip fasteners), two interior horizontal straps, and heavy-duty outer clips for extra compression. What it lacks in looks, it makes up for in practicality, with anti-tilt stability feet, two large outer pockets, hardwearing wheels, TSA locks, Smart zip pullers and a soft-touch side handle for a smooth grip.

VERDICT

A robust case with a number of useful storage features and plenty of expandable space.

Samsonite Fuze Spinner

The name of this collection draws on its combination of hard and soft shell features, with the case boasting a robust, moulded frame alongside soft, woven nylon panels that allow greater flexibility. It has double tube handles, top and side grab points, four smoothrunning wheels, and front and back pockets that are handy for holding documents. There are interior straps to keep clothes in place, plus a zip-up compartment with an extra pocket to keep loose items. An outer zip allows the case to expand a further 4cm, with TSA locks and a telescope handle that releases at two levels.

VERDICT

A good-sized checkin case with plenty of pockets to help you stay organised. Black is best for hiding stains.

Swiss Military TL8 – 20 IN Travel Luggage

This lightweight (2.4kg) bag is loaded with pockets and compartments, making it easy to pack for four- to five-day trips. On the front, the two zip-pockets can be utilised to store a cellphone, passport and other small essential items that need to be easily accessed. Inside, a mesh zip-up pocket, mesh zip-up pouch, and straps hold items firmly in place. The straps only work well when the bag is full. It is made of water-resistant material — nylon — and comes with an expandable feature. Twin grips (top and side) make handling easy, as do the overhead pullout handle and four rotatable wheels. For safety, there is an anti-theft zip on the outside and inside of the bag.

VERDICT

Functional and hardwearing, and can endure hectic travel schedules.

Thule Subterra 3-in-1

An inventive case that splits into two, with a zip-on outer bag that detaches to create a cabin-size rolling duffel. A clip-on strap also allows the outer section to convert to a separate overthe-shoulder bag. Although confusing at first, the design is impressive, with segments attaching and detaching via a series of zips and fastenings. When all parts are attached to the trolley, plastic clips help to compress the contents. It has two wheels, a telescoping handle, top, side and bottom grab points, plus internal straps to keep clothes in place. An interior mesh pocket along the length of the bag is good for carrying keys and currency.

VERDICT

The case holds just enough for a three- to four-night trip, but its design is great if you want a number of bag options.

Tumi V3 Short Trip Packing Case

A new polycarbonate case from Tumi’s lightest hard-side collection, this case weighs only 3.8kg – light given its size, and larger than its “short trip”description suggests. It is easy to handle when filled, and requires little effort to manoeuvre, thanks to four wheels. There are two main compartments, with a large zipup pocket containing a plastic hanger bracket for storing suits. The other section is open and covered with dark grey lining, with X-shaped tie-down straps and a third compartment on the outside of the flap which is useful for storing documents. A three-stage telescoping handle allows for good control when handling. It also has an integrated TSA lock.

VERDICT

A solid, spacious case that is easy to handle. Best for trips lasting several days.

Victorinox Etherius Medium

Made from Bayer polycarbonate, this hard-shell case is streamlined and sturdy, with four wheels and a retractable handle that can be set at three different positions. Separate grips on the side and top make it simple to lift. It has two zip-up dividing walls made out of mesh and nylon fabric, plus two elasticated Y-shaped compression straps to help keep clothes in place. It also expands to allow up to 27 per cent more volume. A welcome layer of security comes from the Access lock combination recovery programme, whereby owners can register their security codes online and retrieve them if forgotten.

VERDICT

Stylish and good value for money, with utilitarian interiors that help to keep items in place.Q