The best carry-on suitcases to beat checked baggage charges

Flying with just a cabin bag is the future of air travel, whether you like it or not - with many airlines, and increasingly not just budget and short-haul carriers, levying hefty charges for checked luggage. If you’ve yet to embrace the art of the capsule wardrobe, expertly packed with the assistance of a YouTube tutorial, the time is now: your 2019 city breaks (and longer trips) will be revolutionised by stepping off the plane and bypassing the dreaded luggage belt, trust us. Here are eight of our favourite cases for the job, that fit the size restrictions of all major UK airlines (though note that if flying Ryanair you will now need to pay extra to carry on any of these).

Away, The Carry-On

The Away is the Steve Jobs of carry-on: straight out of Silicon Valley; minimalist; beautiful and useful. It comes in 12 colours, from millennial pink and pastel blue to classic shades. I tested out its smallest version, The Carry-On, on a five-day trip to Los Angeles. It’s full of clever features, my favourite being the fold-up dirty laundry bag, and appeals to the digital nomad with its pouch of multi-way adaptors and leads, and built-in removable charging pack.

It feels sturdy and was so easy to navigate through the airport I barely noticed it gliding alongside me. Closing it I found slightly more difficult; I feel it’s more suited to ‘creative professionals’ zipping off on short business trips (i.e. packing lightly) than holidaymakers trying to cram in a week’s worth of clobber; but I managed it nonetheless. What really helps is the brand’s own packing cubes. Crucially, for what is becoming such a well-regarded brand (it recently opened a London outlet), the price is fairly reasonable. ￡225, awaytravel.com.

By Rachel Cranshaw

Briggs and Riley, Sympatico Carry-On

A good test of any suitcase is to wheel it through the streets of Paris in winter, when you can expect cobblestones, puddles and crowds. This case survived being dragged around – its four-wheel suspension is excellent and the extended handle is sturdy. It’s light but hard-wearing, owing to its shell, which comes in Bronze, Black Onyx, Fire (red), Navy and Silver. Inside, two flaps of material on one side mean you can compress and stack up clothes like a shelf.

A compartment with a nifty cylinder claims to help shirts and suits not get creased (I couldn’t figure it out - a diagram would have helped). The magic part is the fact that you can expand and then collapse the suitcase: pull out an invisible bit of extra shell, pack, close the suitcase and then press down so it pops back to the original size, saving 22 per cent on space. A class act of a suitcase, but with a price to match. From ￡429, johnlewis.com.

By Jade Conroy

Samsonite Duosphere

Function and form come together in the Samsonite soft-sided Duosphere carry-on – at a pleasingly understated price. There’s plenty of space: from two front pockets that can hold a laptop, iPad and plenty more to generously sized interior compartments plus a side pocket for valuables and a mesh divider. Samsonite markets this as a weekender bag but I easily managed to fit in a whole week’s worth of clothing. With hidden expandability, it could have easily accommodated more.

It cuts a handsome figure too, and comes in classic shades, including black and dark blue. With its soft-sided exterior and metal finished handle grip, the case feels sufficiently robust that I’d be quite happy checking it in if needed without fear of it becoming misshapen or scratched. ￡155, samsonite.co.uk.

By Trisha Andres

Antler Juno II Cabin Suitcase

It's surprising how much you can fit inside this little case, a hard carry-on with four wheels. I managed to squeeze in enough for a long weekend of walking through the Irish mountains. This included a pair of rather bulky hiking boots, trainers, two pairs of trousers, a waterproof, three jumpers, a couple of tops and t-shirts as well as toiletries and odds and ends.

The Juno II is fairly robust and easy to push around with the four wheels running smoothly across all manner of surfaces. It fit perfectly wheels-first into the overheard compartment of a domestic Aer Lingus flight. While it looks good, the handle feels a little flimsy and the inside does not offer any additional compartments beyond the standard zip mesh separator and elasticated fastening. ￡145; antler.co.uk.

By Penny Walker

Horizn Studios M5

I didn't know it was possible to feel so strongly about a suitcase - but I love this thing. Horizn's M5 carry-on is sleek, practical and robust. To maximize space, it has inbuilt compression pads, a front pocket in which to slip your laptop (up to 15 inches); and, sold separately (￡59), a wash bag-sized ‘top case’ for your gadgets and liquids that fits over the handle.

It's tough but light, with an aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell and smooth-gliding 360-degree spinner wheels. Finally, the pièce de résistance, a one-click removable smart charger that's cabin-approved for all airlines. All this makes it expensive, but it quite literally packs a lot in for its size. ￡329; horiznstudios.co.uk.

By Annabel Fenwick-Elliott

Chrome Macheto Travel Pack

This appears to be a pretty nifty business traveller choice, with a sensible (and sturdy) black nylon exterior that has the look of a versatile briefcase, with flaps and zips opening plenty of pockets. But an all-round zip means it surprisingly expands – more than doubles, in fact – into something big enough for a few days on the road; the compression straps allow you to pull tight on contents, leaving a taut cube.

The handles feel uncomfortable when the bag’s heavy – transform it into a backpack with the help of previously hidden straps for easier transporting. ￡160; velorution.com.

By Ben Parker

Eastpak Tranverz S

This Eastpak carry-on, if not stylish, is a reliable choice. At full capacity (compression straps decompressed, that is) the Tranverz S is roomy enough for a long weekend - though no longer. Its soft twill case, while flexible, means your belongings aren’t completely protected from the elements. The wheels? Delightfully agile - just the sort to expedite the duty-free dash familiar to those who are consistently late for flights. My verdict: an unfussy case - less ‘professional jet-setter’, more ‘grown-up backpacker’, both in its basic components and aesthetic. ￡100, eastpak.com.

By Robert Hodges

Zinc Flyte scoot-case

Once children are ambulatory, shepherding them through an airport is a trial. The secret to survival is to give your child ownership of something. The Zinc Flyte scooter is a great way to keep reluctant walkers aged roughly between two to eight on the right track – and it fits all cabin luggage requirements (the metal scooter base folds neatly into the case for easy storage).

The lightweight, soft case has enough space for a child’s (warm) holiday wardrobe for a week, with a zip compartment for pants and socks. If your child is a responsible scooter, this will change your life. ￡80; zincflyte.com.

By Sally Peck