Away

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 25 October 2026

The top luggage brands available in the UK cater to different budgets, styles, and travel needs:

### Best Overall & British Heritage: Antler

- Why buy: A classic British brand known for stylish, minimalist hardshell and softshell cases. - Top models: Antler Icon Stripe, Antler Single Stripe. - Price / Warranty: Around £200-£230; backed by a lifetime warranty.

### Best Budget & High-Street Value: Tripp

- Why buy: Frequently rated as the best high-street value brand in the UK for durable polypropylene and polycarbonate bags without a massive price tag. - Top models: Tripp Holiday 6 / Holiday 8 Large. - Price / Warranty: Around £70; includes a 5-year guarantee.

### Best Lightweight & Durable: Samsonite

- Why buy: A global leader specializing in ultra-lightweight, resilient materials like Roxkin that flex and bounce back from heavy airport impacts. - Top models: Samsonite Proxis Spinner, Samsonite C-Lite. - Price / Warranty: Varies by collection (~£200-£500+); typically comes with a 10-year warranty.

### Best Investment & Lifetime Repair: Briggs & Riley

- Why buy: Famous for smart organizational features and a "simple as that" lifetime warranty that covers even airline damage. - Top models: Briggs & Riley Baseline Expandable Spinner. - Price / Warranty: Around £789; lifetime guarantee.

### Best Luxury & Status: RIMOWA

- Why buy: Iconic aluminum and high-performance polycarbonate suitcases designed for frequent flyers who want high-end engineering and aesthetics. - Top models: RIMOWA Essential Sleeve Cabin, RIMOWA Classic. - Price / Warranty: Around £835+; lifetime warranty.

### Other Popular Options

- Away: Loved for sleek polycarbonate designs and smart modular storage (The Large is a common editor pick). - Eastpak: Consensus choice on platforms like Reddit for rugged, long-lasting softside bags with a generous 30-year warranty. - Horizn Studios & Carl Friedrik: Great premium European brands focusing on sleek lines and front-pocket accessibility.

You can browse a curated selection of tested top-tier options via CN Traveller.To help you narrow down the best choice, tell me:

- What type of trips do you take most often (short city breaks, long-haul flights, or business)? - Do you prefer a hard-shell or soft-shell case? - What is your budget range?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 25 October 2026

# Best travel gear brands in the UK

The best travel gear brands depend on whether you're looking for a durable suitcase, a lightweight backpack, packing organisers, or accessories for long-haul trips. For UK travellers, I'd focus on brands that combine reliability, practical design, warranty support and good value.

Here's a shortlist of brands worth considering, from premium luggage to affordable travel essentials.

## Top travel gear brands to know

!Antler Icon Stripe 4-Wheel 55cm Cabin Case, Antler Green

1\. Antler - Best premium all-rounder

(Best overall pick)

Stylish suitcases, thoughtful organisation and a premium feel. A strong choice for frequent holidays and travellers who want luggage to last.

Budget: £££ · Official website

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2\. Samsonite - Best for frequent flyers

A broad range of hard-shell and soft-shell suitcases, from cabin bags to large checked cases. A dependable option if durability is your priority.

Budget: ££-£££ · Official website

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!Tripp Ultra Lite Black Cabin Suitcase 55x40x20cm

3\. Tripp - Best value for money

An excellent starting point for holiday luggage without a premium price tag. In Which?'s 2026 suitcase survey, Tripp received five stars for value for money. www.which.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukwww.which.co.ukwww.cntraveller.com

Budget: £-££ · Official website

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!Osprey Farpoint 40 black 10007389 | Travelbags.nl

4\. Osprey - Best for backpack travel

Excellent for backpacking, rail trips and travelling between multiple destinations. Its travel packs open like suitcases while retaining backpack portability. www.which.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukwww.which.co.ukwww.cntraveller.com

Budget: ££-£££ · Official website

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!Thule Subterra 26L Travel Backpack, Black

5\. Thule - Best for practical, rugged gear

Well-designed backpacks, duffels, luggage and packing organisers. Particularly appealing if you want understated styling and versatile equipment.

Budget: ££-£££ · Official website

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!Backpack finder | Find your new backpack | Eastpak UK

6\. Eastpak - Best for everyday durability

Great for backpacks, city breaks and casual travel. Eastpak topped Which?'s 2026 large-suitcase brand survey with an 85% customer score. www.which.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukwww.which.co.ukwww.cntraveller.com

Budget: ££-£££ · Official website

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!The North Face Australia

7\. The North Face - Best for adventure travel

Rugged duffels, travel backpacks and outdoor-ready bags suited to active holidays, road trips and rougher conditions.

Budget: ££-£££ · Official website

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!The Carry-on Suitcase · CarlFriedrik

8\. Carl Friedrik - Best for luxury design

Refined, minimalist luggage with premium finishes. Worth considering if appearance, business travel and sophisticated styling matter as much as practicality.

Budget: £££-££££ · Official website

## Which brands should you choose?

| Your priority | My pick | |--------|--------| | Best overall suitcase | Antler | | Best budget luggage | Tripp | | Frequent air travel | Samsonite | | Backpacking and multi-stop trips | Osprey | | Rugged travel bags | Thule or The North Face | | Everyday backpack and cabin luggage | Eastpak | | Luxury, minimalist style | Carl Friedrik | | Packing cubes and organisers | Thule or Eagle Creek |

These are category-based recommendations informed by current UK travel gear coverage and consumer survey results, rather than a single universal ranking. www.independent.co.ukwww.which.co.ukwww.which.co.ukwww.cntraveller.com

## Let's narrow it down

What kind of travel gear are you most interested in?

1\. What are you shopping for?

Suitcases and cabin luggage

Travel backpacks and duffels

Packing cubes and accessories

A complete travel gear setup

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2\. What's your budget?

Under £50

£50-£100

£100-£300

£300+

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3\. What type of travel do you do most?

Flights and city breaks

Long-haul and frequent travel

Backpacking and adventure

Road trips and weekends away

[Find my best brands]

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 25 October 2026

The best suitcase brands in the UK depend on your budget and priorities:

- Best overall: Antler - Stylish, lightweight cases with a lifetime warranty; a strong all-round choice. It is frequently recommended by UK travel publications. - Best for durability: Samsonite - Reliable construction, smooth wheels and a broad range of sizes; Which? rated it highly for durability and manoeuvrability. - Best value: Tripp - Affordable cases that perform well for occasional travellers and offer particularly good value. - Best budget option: IT Luggage - Lightweight, widely available and generally inexpensive. - Best premium/luxury: Rimowa - Excellent aluminium and polycarbonate cases, but very expensive. - Best stylish premium option: Carl Friedrik - Elegant, modern designs aimed at travellers who prioritise appearance and materials. - Best for frequent travellers: Away - Durable cases with smooth wheels, useful internal organisation and a lifetime warranty. - Best mid-range option: American Tourister - Lightweight, durable and generally good value. - Best British high-street option: John Lewis - Dependable mid-range luggage with sleek designs; Which? rated it among its top brands. - Best soft-sided luggage: Eastpak - Tough, easy to manoeuvre and highly rated for durability by Which?.

Quick recommendation: choose Antler for the best balance of style and quality, Samsonite for maximum reliability, or Tripp if keeping costs low. Expect to spend roughly £60-£150 for value brands, £150-£300 for mid-range luggage, and considerably more for luxury cases.