Best carry-on luggage UK for 2024
SOMETIMES when you’re heading off for a few days – a city break or a weekend chilling at a sunny beach resort – you just want to throw a few things in a bag and take off. Literally.
There’s a sense of freedom that adds to the holiday feels with no cases to check in – and the best carry-on bags will provide that carefree vibe while keeping your possessions secure.
They have space for essentials, and often separate sections for your laptop or tablet, as well as pockets to store your phone, passport and boarding pass. You don’t have to manoeuvre them around people or through busy airport cafes, they’re also easier to carry than a wheeled cabin case (you always have to carry it at some point) as they fit snugly to your back or comfortably on your shoulder.
There’s a lot to be said for carry-on bags, not least of which is the enormous choice of designs, colours, sizes and styles available – as long as it fits the airline’s size requirements basically anything goes.
In practice you’re going to want something that’s robust, secure, perhaps a bag you can use daily while you’re away and one that’s going to last. So to help you in your quest for the perfect travel bag, we’ve rounded up a few top contenders – read on for our tried and tested reviews of the best carry-on luggage for your next break.
Best carry-on luggage at a glance:
- Best overall: Away The Weekender
- Best value: Mountain Warehouse Legion Laptop Bag
- Best mid-range: Antler Discovery Backpack
- Best premium: Gomatic Travel Duffel
- Best classic styling: &SONS Getaway Bag
Away The Weekender
Away The Weekender, £195
Pros: Lots of packing space, multiple pockets, laptop pocket, removable shoulder strap, water-resistant
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
This holdall is great for short trips, and I fitted a lot more in it than a weekend’s clothes.
The main section opens on three sides, like a suitcase, which makes for easy packing and has a zipped divider to keep everything in place. The lid provides extra packing space and the divider here incorporates two zipped pockets.
There’s a second zipped section, which is ideal for your laptop and associated bits, and there’s a zipped pocket on the front that’s big enough for your passport, phone, money and cards. This also contains a further pocket and integral key clip.
You can choose to carry it by the handles, which clip together, or with the removable shoulder strap. This is adjustable and padded to take the strain off your shoulder. There’s also a trolley sleeve for securing the bag to your suitcase.
I’m a big fan of Away, they always design their luggage with a wealth of useful features and The Weekender is no exception. Love it.
Size: 53 x 30 x 24 cm, Weight: 1.5kg (1.7kg with shoulder strap), Capacity: 38L, Guarantee: Limited one-year warranty
&SONS Getaway Bag
&SONS Getaway Bag Tan, £180
Pros: Good size, vintage style, comfortable leather handles, sturdy fastenings, lots of packing space
Cons: Initial smell on opening the packaging
Rating: 4.5/5
This is a great heavy-duty canvas holdall that should see you through many trips away from home. It has an old-fashioned charm to it that is enhanced by the contrasting leather accents and reassuringly chunky zips.
The leather is not just for decoration though – it adds a comfortable, soft grip to the handles and offers extra strength on corners, around edges and where the detachable shoulder strap fixes to the body of the bag (via robust metal clips).
Underneath, 10 metal feet make sure your bag remains unscuffed, wherever you set it down.
Inside it has three pockets, one of which is zipped for valuables, while outside two further pockets provide space for your phone and passport.
I packed a week’s worth of clothes into this holdall, as well as associated accessories. The inside is lined in cotton and the waxed canvas exterior is water-resistant so my clothes were protected from bad weather. I would say that the bag has a smell to it when you first take it out of its packaging – I’m not sure if it’s the leather or the wax on the canvas – but it disappeared after a few days.
Size: 52 x 30 x 22 cm, Weight: Unknown, Capacity: 44L, Guarantee: Unknown
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Elizabeth Scarlett Sun Goddess Overnight Bag
Sun Goddess Overnight Bag, £85
Pros: Lovely fabric and design
Cons: Limited packing space, is heavy when full
Rating: 4/5
This is a pretty bag that works for daytime and the gym, as well as travel. The burnt orange fabric is soft, with a velvet feel and the sun design on each side seems fitting for summer getaways.
It features two outside pockets – one on each side – which are ideal for storing tickets, passport, phone and bank cards. Inside, there’s a large, zipped pocket and another that fastens with a snap fastener.
There’s certainly enough space for a couple of days’ worth of clothes, but I found the bag was a little on the heavy side when full and the detachable shoulder strap isn’t padded.
Size: 48 x 30 x 29cm approx, Weight: Unknown, Capacity: Unknown, Guarantee: Unknown
Mountain Warehouse Legion Laptop Bag
Mountain Warehouse Legion Laptop Bag, £42.99
Pros: Padded to protect your laptop, lots of pockets, different sections to hold a variety of items, padded shoulder straps, adjustable waist belt, exterior compression straps
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
If you’re off on a work trip and just want something to protect your laptop and carry your business gear then this bag is ideal. The laptop section is padded but you’ll also fit a few clothes in here – definitely enough for a night or two away.
The back of the bag is also padded for comfort and covered with mesh, which helps with breathability (who wants a sweaty back after all), while padded shoulder straps add to the comfort factor.
Besides the laptop section there’s a further zipped compartment that opens to reveal multiple pockets, and there’s two sturdy zipped pockets on the front of the bag. Webbing on the front of the backpack creates numerous attachment points for bottles, torches and whatever else you might want to fix there, while an integral clip means you’ll always be able to find your keys.
Finally, a pocket on the bottom of the bag holds a rain cover that fits over the bag, providing protection when it’s wet.
Size: 47 x 27 x 23cm approx, Weight: 1.2kg, Capacity: 35L, Guarantee: Antler lifetime warranty
Gomatic 40L Travel Duffel
Gomatic 40L Travel Duffel, £269
Pros: Feature-packed, loads of pockets, RFID pocket, water-resistant, multiple ways to carry
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
If you’re looking for a bag that’s part backpack, part holdall, then look no further. The Gomatic Travel Duffel is chock full of features and can easily hold enough clothes for several days away.
The main compartment unzips on three sides, giving you easy access to pack your clothes, and includes a mesh laundry bag. The lid of this section includes a padded laptop pocket and separate tablet pocket, both secured with a Velcro fastening.
One side of the bag opens to reveal a long pocket, which in turn incorporates an RFID-safe pocket, a zipped pocket and four open pockets. The other side has a further two zipped pockets and there’s a shoe compartment, together with a grab handle on the bottom of the bag.
And we’re not finished. The top of the duffel has a soft-lined zipped pocket for small devices, another large pocket and a generous waterproof pocket, which is big enough to hold a water bottle or wet swimwear – all are zipped.
When carrying the bag choose between padded shoulder straps or holdall straps that fasten together with a comfy grip. There’s a removable padded waist strap (incorporating two more zipped pockets) and the bag even has a luggage sleeve to secure it to your suitcase.
Size: 53 x 36 x 23cm, Weight: 1.55kg, Capacity: 40L, Guarantee: Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
D-Robe The Roll-Top
D-Robe The Roll-Top, £84
Pros: Robust, lots of space, generous pockets inside, laptop pocket, water-resistant, recyclable fabric, size can be adjusted
Cons: Fabric lacks give
Rating: 4/5
This backpack is made from TPU, which can be welded to create tougher seams and is water-resistant. The material is flexible and won’t crack in the sun; it’s also recyclable, biodegradable and more eco-friendly than PVC.
The roll-down top allows you to increase or decrease the capacity of the bag, depending on how much you have in it, which is a great idea.
Inside there’s two large pockets, one zipped and the other padded with a Velcro fastening for a laptop, as well as two smaller pockets.
Outside there’s a pocket on the front for your phone, a deep zipped pocket and grab handle on the back, and adjustable shoulder straps. These are padded for comfort and there’s also padding on the back of the bag itself, which provides extra cushioning to your back.
I think this is a great bag if you’re going away for an activity break or you expect to be doing a lot of walking at your destination. It easily holds enough for two or three days away and it’s comfy to wear.
Size: 55 (43 rolled) x 31 x 15cm, Weight: 1.1kg, Capacity: 20L, Guarantee: one-year manufacturer’s warranty
Antler Discovery Backpack
Antler Discovery Backpack, £140
Pros: Very lightweight, lots of packing space, padded back as well as straps, external compression straps, made from recycled polyester
Cons: None
Rating: 4/5
The main section opens on three sides to reveal a generous packing area. This incorporates a zipped mesh pocket and a Velcro-fastened elasticated pocket. There’s room on top of this for a couple of days’ clothes.
Unzip the divider on the top section to find more packing space and a further pocket.
There’s a second zipped section at the rear of the bag containing a padded laptop pocket and a tablet pocket. This padding extends to the outside, so cushioning your back as you carry the bag.
On the outside, you’ll find more pockets and a water bottle holder.
Padded shoulder straps add comfort while grab handles mean extricating your bag from the overhead luggage lockers is a breeze.
External compression straps provide an extra layer of security and a trolley sleeve fixes the backpack to a suitcase.
Size: 45 x 31 x 20cm, Weight: 1.17kg, Capacity: 28L, Guarantee: Antler lifetime warranty
How we tested these products
When testing the best carry-on luggage I considered a number of factors, including how much I could fit into each bag for a few days away and how heavy it was to carry. How much thought had been put into the design was also important – did the bag have pockets for keeping passport, tickets and money safe and easy to reach? Were there separate sections inside for devices? Were the handles padded for comfort?
Not all bags are made specifically for flying but obviously any bags included had to meet airline requirements as to size – these do vary so check with your particular airline before flying.
Some carry-on bags have more features than others, but I’ve aimed for a good range of styles so there’s something for everybody. Where possible, bags have been tested in real-life situations and I’ll continue to test them over the coming months.
Where to buy carry-on luggage
The only limit to carry-on bags that can be used as hand luggage is size: the bag has to fit the individual airline’s requirements, which means your carry-on luggage could come from any department store, high-street chain, supermarket, boutique, market or online retailer. Indeed the sky’s the limit!
This also means you’ll have no problem finding a bag you can use as hand luggage no matter what your budget. Check out Amazon for a massive selection of travel bags or department stores such as John Lewis.
If you have a favourite luggage brand then always take a look at the company’s website before buying elsewhere as you may find special offers only available on the site, or discounts for signing up their newsletter (which can be as much as 20% off).
We found the carry-on bags I reviewed in this feature at:
How much does carry-on luggage cost?
There’s a huge price range when it comes to carry-on luggage, from the cheap and cheerful to the eye-wateringly expensive.
Bags designed specifically for travel may cost more than those that aren’t but this isn’t necessarily the case – a designer tote for example could cost a lot more than a chain-store backpack.
It’s good to know though that whatever your budget you will be able to find something to satisfy your needs. In summer you’ll find travel bags and even cabin cases and larger suitcases at many supermarkets.
The carry-on bags reviewed in our feature range in price from £42.99 to £269.
What are the size requirements for carry-on luggage?
Each airline has its own rules when it comes to the size of carry-on luggage allowed and this can change without notice. Always check the latest requirements before you go to the airport as you don’t want to be landed with an extra cost for checking your bag right before you fly, which is guaranteed to evaporate your holiday mood.
Budget airlines appear to allow one underseat bag for free then carry-on luggage and cabin cases are charged extra. Other airlines allow for a personal underseat item and your carry-on bag for free. All have size and generally weight limits though.
Currently – as of May 2024 – the requirements for popular airlines in the UK are:
- Ryanair – an underseat bag is included in the price of your ticket but carry-on luggage to store in the overhead lockers costs extra. It should be no larger than 55 x 40 x 20cm and weight no more than 10kg.
- EasyJet – underseat item included in ticket price, extra for carry-on bag. Size limit is 56 x 45 x 25cm and your bag should weigh no more than 15kg.
- Tui – your ticket price includes a laptop bag or handbag as well as one carry-on bag up to 10kg and measuring no more than 55 x 40 x 20cm.
- Jet2 – a carry-on bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and weighing no more than 10kg is included in your ticket price.
- Virgin – it depends on your ticket class, but for Economy and Premium you are allowed one piece of carry-on luggage no bigger than 56 x 36 x 23cm and weighing 10kg max.
- British Airways – your ticket price includes a cabin bag up to 56 x 45 x 25cm and a handbag.
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