HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUITCASE: Because the Biggest One Is Not Automatically the Best One
In 10 Seconds
The right suitcase is not the biggest, the lightest, the prettiest or the most expensive. It is the one that fits the trips you actually take.
Before you buy, answer five questions:
• How long do you usually travel?
• Do you normally carry on or check a bag?
• How often will you be moving the suitcase during the trip?
• How much does it weigh empty?
• Does it fit the baggage rules of the airlines you actually fly?
For most travelers, a well made carry on plus a medium checked suitcase will handle more trips than a giant matching set ever will.
Buy the smallest suitcase that comfortably handles most of your trips. Not the biggest one you can drag through an airport. Your back, your baggage allowance and possibly your spouse will thank you.
Be Honest About How You Actually Travel
Suitcase shopping is a little like buying jeans. There are entirely too many choices, the sizes are not nearly as straightforward as they ought to be, and something that looks wonderful on a shelf can become your mortal enemy once you have to live with it.
I watch people choose luggage for all sorts of reasons.
It is pretty. It matches. It was on sale. It has a cup holder. It has a USB port. It comes in a set of seven pieces, including one suitcase approximately the size of a studio apartment.
But the best suitcase is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that works for your actual travel life.
A traveler who takes long cruises has different needs than someone who flies to Europe and changes hotels every three nights. A person who happily checks a bag has different priorities than the traveler determined to survive twelve days with one carry on and an expression of quiet superiority. And someone traveling by car can get away with a suitcase that would be an absolute nuisance on cobblestones, trains, ferries and tiny hotel elevators.
So before we talk about shells, wheels and zippers, start here.
What kind of trips do you really take?
Not the trip you might take someday. Not the fantasy version of yourself who packs six linen outfits into a tiny European carry on and never wrinkles a thing. The trips you really take.
Three or four nights? A week? Two? One resort where you unpack once, or a new city every few days? Will you be lifting that suitcase into rental cars, dragging it down sidewalks, getting it on and off ferries, squeezing it into small hotel rooms?
The more you will be moving your luggage during a trip, the more size, weight, wheel quality and maneuverability matter.
A large suitcase does not feel large when you are rolling it across your bedroom floor. Try getting it onto a train while forty people stand behind you. Suddenly, she has become a problem.
The First Decision: Carry On or Checked Bag?
Before choosing the suitcase, decide what job you expect it to do.
The Carry On Traveler
A carry on can be wonderful. Your belongings stay with you, there is no waiting at baggage claim, and you eliminate the possibility of the airline sending your suitcase on a little vacation of its own.
But carry on travel requires restraint. And I say that as a woman who understands the temptation to pack for every possible weather condition, social event and emotional mood.
The biggest mistake people make when shopping for a carry on is assuming that anything labeled “carry on size” is automatically acceptable on every airline.
It is not.
Delta, American and United all currently publish a maximum carry on size of 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and that measurement includes wheels and handles. But airline rules differ, and international airlines may have smaller size limits, stricter weight limits or both. Always check the airline operating your flight before assuming your bag qualifies.
That word matters. A ticket purchased through a U.S. airline can include a flight operated by an international partner with different baggage rules. That is not the morning to discover your “international carry on” is only international in the opinion of the company that sold it to you.
Jani’s Rule for Buying a Carry On: Do not trust the luggage tag. Measure the suitcase yourself.
Measure the full exterior. That means wheels, handles, side bumpers and anything else sticking out. If it sticks out, it counts.
A bag advertised as a “22 inch carry on” may be measuring only the body of the suitcase, not its true exterior size. And yes, that is annoying. Welcome to luggage shopping.
The Checked Bag Traveler
There is absolutely nothing wrong with checking a suitcase.
I know carry on only travel has developed something of a fan club, and some people discuss packing for fourteen days in one small bag with the intensity normally reserved for Olympic competition. Good for them. Truly.
But if checking a suitcase makes your trip more comfortable, check the suitcase.
The key is choosing one that gives you room without encouraging you to pack the entire contents of your house. For many travelers, a medium checked suitcase is the sweet spot. Large enough for a longer trip. Small enough that you have some hope of staying within airline weight limits. Manageable enough to move without a spotter.
Most U.S. airlines use 62 linear inches as the standard maximum checked bag size before oversized fees kick in. Linear inches simply means adding the length, width and height together.
But here is the part people forget: a suitcase can be within the size limit and still be too heavy.
Which brings us to the most overlooked number in all of luggage shopping.
The Empty Suitcase Weight Matters
People will spend thirty minutes comparing interior pockets and never once look at how much the suitcase itself weighs.
A suitcase that weighs twelve pounds empty has already spent twelve pounds of your baggage allowance before you pack one pair of shoes.
That is how travelers end up standing beside an airport scale at 5:42 in the morning, moving underwear, shoes and a hair dryer between bags while their spouse stares into the middle distance reconsidering every decision that brought them to this moment.
When I compare two suitcases of similar size and quality, I pay attention to the lighter one. Not flimsy. Lighter. There is a difference. You want enough structure to protect your belongings and survive normal travel abuse, but every pound the suitcase weighs is one less pound available for what you actually wanted to bring.
The suitcase should carry your belongings. It should not use up half your allowance simply by existing.
Hard Shell or Soft Sided?
The most common suitcase question I hear. The honest answer? Neither is automatically better. They are built for different styles of travel.
Hard shell luggage protects fragile items, resists light rain, keeps its shape, and those rigid sides can help stop you from cramming “just one more thing” into every available inch. Well… sometimes. It is especially nice for electronics, wine, artwork or anything that would rather not be crushed under someone else’s bowling ball in the cargo hold.
The downside? Rigid sides do not forgive overpacking. When it is full, it is full. There is no negotiating. Hard shells also show scratches more easily. Personally, I do not mind. A few scratches tell me my suitcase has actually seen the world instead of spending its life in a closet.
Soft sided luggage has been around forever because it still works. The biggest advantage is flexibility. One more sweatshirt? Usually possible. Quick access to a jacket, book, medications or documents? Exterior pockets make that simple. Soft luggage also absorbs bumps without showing every scratch.
The tradeoff is a little less protection for fragile items. If you are checking expensive camera equipment or delicate souvenirs, pack carefully no matter what suitcase you choose.
So which do I recommend? Most travelers will be happy with either. If you love organization, clean lines and maximum protection, you will probably love a hard shell. If you appreciate flexibility and outside pockets, soft sided may fit you better.
Buy quality first. Material second.
Two Wheels or Four?
Now here is one where I actually have an opinion.
Four wheel spinners are what nearly everyone in a large airport is pulling, and there is a reason. Good spinner wheels glide beside you instead of dragging behind you. Push them, pull them, roll them sideways, stand them upright in line. If your travels mostly involve airports, hotels and cruise terminals, four quality spinner wheels are hard to beat.
Two wheel rollers still have their place. Those wheels are usually recessed into the suitcase, making them harder to damage. They are also excellent on rough sidewalks, gravel, uneven pavement and cobblestones, because you pull them behind you at an angle instead of trying to balance them upright. If your plans include lots of European streets or older cities, do not dismiss the humble two wheeler. Sometimes it is the smarter choice.
But the wheels matter more than the number. Cheap wheels are miserable, and I do not care whether there are two or four. If they wobble in the store, they will wobble worse in Frankfurt.
Spin them. Roll them. Turn corners. A quality wheel should feel smooth, solid and quiet. If it sounds like you are dragging a grocery cart with one square tire… keep shopping.
Don’t Ignore the Handle
Raise the telescoping handle all the way up. Now wiggle it.
A tiny bit of movement is normal. A lot of movement is not. Handles take tremendous abuse: airport curbs, rental cars, baggage handlers, hotel bell carts. If it feels loose sitting in the store, imagine it after three vacations.
Make sure the height feels comfortable too. You should not have to hunch over or hold your arm at an awkward angle just to roll your own luggage.
Zippers Are More Important Than You Think
The zipper is the hardest working part of any suitcase. Open it. Close it. Do it several times. It should glide without catching.
Heavy duty zippers outlast tiny lightweight ones, and a zipper that feels stubborn before you have packed a single thing is not going to improve with age.
Expandable Luggage
That extra inch or two can be a lifesaver coming home, when your carefully packed clothing has somehow multiplied into local coffee, Christmas ornaments, handmade pottery, two bottles of olive oil, and three shirts you absolutely did not need but bought anyway.
The catch? Expansion makes it very easy to exceed airline size or weight limits. Just because you can expand it does not mean you should.
Think of expansion as your emergency reserve. Not your everyday packing plan.
Built In TSA Locks
Convenient, neat, easy to use. But here is the truth: a lock mostly keeps honest people honest. It will not stop someone determined to get into your suitcase.
Use it for convenience. Not because you believe your luggage has become Fort Knox.
Water Resistant Does Not Mean Waterproof
Most suitcases handle light rain and normal travel conditions. Very few are truly waterproof.
Medications, electronics, passports and important paperwork belong in your carry on whenever possible. Do not trust the cargo hold with anything you cannot afford to soak.
My Recommended Sizes
Carry On, about 21 to 22 inches. Weekend trips, business travel, cruises with laundry available, and travelers who simply prefer keeping everything onboard.
Medium Checked, about 25 to 27 inches. If I could recommend only one checked suitcase for most travelers, this is it. Handles a week to ten days comfortably, stays liftable, and is far less likely to tempt you into packing for a six month expedition.
Large Checked, about 28 to 30 inches. It has its place: long international vacations, family travel, bulky cold weather clothing, extended cruises. But for many travelers, it is simply bigger than they need.
And about that thirty inch suitcase. Can you fill it? Absolutely. Should you? That is another conversation. Bigger luggage rarely solves overpacking. It usually encourages it. Before you know it you have packed four pairs of shoes “just in case,” three jackets, and clothing for weather forecasts that never happened. Then comes the airport scale, and suddenly you are kneeling on the floor deciding which shoes deserve to make the trip while your spouse pretends not to know you.
I have seen it. More than once.
Don’t Buy the Entire Matching Set
I know. They look beautiful sitting together in the store. Three suitcases, a duffel, a garment bag, a cosmetic case, possibly something that resembles a small moon rover.
The truth? Most people use one or two pieces regularly and store the rest.
Build your luggage over time instead. Buy the carry on you love. Then add the checked suitcase you will actually use. Your future self, and your storage closet, will appreciate it.
What About Color?
Black luggage is classic. It is also approximately eighty seven percent of what arrives on the baggage carousel. That statistic is completely unofficial. It just feels true.
Nothing wrong with black. Just make it easy to identify: a colorful tag, a bright handle wrap, a patterned strap. Something that keeps you from grabbing someone else’s bag by mistake.
And if you prefer bright luggage? Go for it. There is something wonderfully satisfying about spotting your suitcase immediately while everyone else is still squinting at the carousel.
Should You Buy the Expensive Brand?
Sometimes. Sometimes not.
Higher quality luggage usually buys you better materials, smoother wheels, stronger handles, more durable zippers and longer warranties. If you travel several times a year, that investment can absolutely be worthwhile. If you take one vacation every few years, a solid midrange suitcase may serve you just as well.
Buy the best quality that fits your budget. Not the fanciest logo.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
Sometimes the inexpensive accessories make the biggest difference.
Packing cubes keep clothing organized. A luggage scale can save you overweight fees. A TSA approved lock adds a little peace of mind. An AirTag or similar tracker makes it much easier to locate a checked bag that takes an unexpected detour.
None of these are required. Several of them make travel noticeably less stressful.
My Suitcase Shopping Cheat Sheet
Before you buy, ask yourself:
- Can I comfortably lift it?
- Does it roll smoothly?
- Does the handle feel sturdy?
- Are the zippers well made?
- How much does it weigh empty?
- Will it fit the airlines I fly most often?
- Will I actually use a suitcase this size?
If the answer is yes down the line… you have probably found a winner.
One Last Thing…
I have planned trips for families heading to Disney, couples celebrating anniversaries, retirees crossing oceans, and travelers checking off lifelong bucket lists. Here is what I have learned.
Nobody comes home talking about how beautiful their suitcase was. They remember sunsets. Great meals. Unexpected conversations. That tiny café they stumbled into. The laughter.
A suitcase is simply the tool that gets your belongings there. Choose one that is dependable, treat it well, then stop thinking about it and go make some memories worth bringing home.
And if you would rather spend your energy on the memories and let someone else sweat the logistics? That is quite literally what I do for a living.
When you are ready to plan the trip that suitcase was made for, I would love to help.
XOXO, Jani
Updated August 2026
Airline baggage policies, size limits, weight limits, fees and carry on allowances can change. Always check the current rules for every airline on your itinerary before you travel, especially when flying internationally or connecting on partner airlines.
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