HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUITCASE
Because the Biggest One Is Not Automatically the Best One
IN 10 SECONDS
The right suitcase is not necessarily the biggest, the lightest, the prettiest or the most expensive.
It is the one that fits the kind of trips you actually take.
Before buying luggage, think about five things:
How long do you usually travel?
Do you normally carry on or check a bag?
Will you be moving the suitcase frequently during the trip?
How much does the suitcase weigh before you put anything in it?
Does it fit the baggage rules of the airlines you actually fly?For most travelers, a well made carry on and a medium sized checked suitcase will handle far more trips than a giant matching luggage set.
And one more thing.
Buy the smallest suitcase that comfortably handles most of the trips you actually take. Not the biggest suitcase you can drag through an airport.
Your back, your baggage allowance and possibly your spouse will thank you.
BEFORE YOU BUY A SUITCASE, BE HONEST ABOUT HOW YOU 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 sitting on a shelf may become your mortal enemy once you actually have to live with it.
I see people choose luggage based on all sorts of things.
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 list of features.
It is the one that works for your actual travel life.
A traveler who takes long cruises has different luggage needs than someone who flies to Europe and changes hotels every three nights.
A person who happily checks a bag every time they fly has different priorities than the traveler determined to survive twelve days with one carry on and an expression of quiet superiority.
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 start talking about hard shells, soft sides, wheels and zippers, start here:
WHAT KIND OF TRIPS DO YOU ACTUALLY 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 somehow never wrinkles anything.
The trips you really take.
Do you normally travel for three or four nights?
A week?
Two weeks?
Are you flying to one resort and unpacking once?
Are you boarding a cruise?
Are you changing cities every few days?
Are you taking trains?
Will you be lifting that suitcase into a rental car, dragging it down a sidewalk, getting it on and off a ferry or squeezing it into a small hotel room?
All of that matters.
The more frequently you will be moving your luggage during a trip, the more important size, weight, wheel quality and maneuverability become.
A large suitcase may not feel particularly 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 itself, decide what job you expect it to do.
THE CARRY ON TRAVELER
A carry on can be wonderful.
You keep your belongings with you. You do not have to wait at baggage claim. You eliminate the possibility of the airline temporarily sending your suitcase on a vacation of its own.
But carry on travel does require 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.
Several major U.S. airlines currently publish a maximum carry on size of 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including wheels and handles. Delta, American and United all currently use those dimensions for standard carry on bags. However, 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. (Delta Air Lines)
That last part matters.
The airline operating the flight may be more important than the airline name printed at the top of your itinerary.
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 dimensions.
That means:
Wheels.
Handles.
Side bumpers.
Anything else sticking out.
American Airlines specifically states that handles and wheels count toward its published maximum dimensions, and Delta likewise includes handles and wheels in its measurements. (Delta Air Lines)
A bag advertised as a “22 inch carry on” may refer to the body of the suitcase rather than its true exterior measurement.
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 same 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 enough room without encouraging you to pack the entire contents of your house.
For many travelers, a medium sized checked suitcase is the sweet spot.
Large enough for a longer trip.
Small enough that you still have some hope of staying within airline weight limits.
Manageable enough that you can move it without needing a spotter.
Many U.S. airline checked bag policies use 62 linear inches as a standard maximum size before oversized baggage rules may apply. Linear inches means adding the length, width and height of the bag together. Delta, for example, currently lists 62 total linear inches as its standard maximum checked baggage size. (Delta Air Lines)
But here is the part people forget:
A suitcase can be within the size limit and still be too heavy.
Which brings us to one of the most overlooked things in all of luggage shopping.
THE EMPTY SUITCASE WEIGHT MATTERS
People will spend thirty minutes comparing interior pockets and never look at how much the suitcase itself weighs.
Look.
A suitcase that weighs twelve pounds empty has already taken twelve pounds of your baggage allowance before you pack one pair of shoes.
That matters.
Especially with larger checked bags.
A huge suitcase can hold far more than you may legally or affordably be able to check.
Which 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 comparing two suitcases of similar size and quality, I will almost always 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.
This becomes even more important when you are traveling internationally, where checked bag and carry on weight rules can vary considerably by airline and fare type.
The suitcase should carry your belongings.
It should not use up half the allowance simply by existing.
Now we get into the great luggage arguments:
Hard shell or soft sided?
Two wheels or four?
Is expandable luggage actually helpful?
Do you need that built in lock?
And why, for the love of all that is holy, are some suitcase wheels wonderful while others sound like you are dragging a shopping cart through a gravel parking lot?
What Really Matters When You’re Buying One
If you’ve ever walked into a luggage store, you already know.
Every suitcase claims to be “lightweight,” “durable,” “premium,” or “engineered for today’s traveler.”
Somewhere around the fifteenth luggage tag, they all start sounding alike.
The good news?
Most travelers don’t need the fanciest suitcase on the shelf.
They just need one that’s built well enough to survive baggage handlers, rental cars, hotel elevators, cruise terminals, and the occasional sprint through an airport because Gate B17 suddenly became Gate Z92.
Let’s talk about what actually matters.
HARD SHELL OR SOFT SIDED?
This may be the most common suitcase question I hear.
The honest answer?
Neither is automatically better.
They’re simply built for different styles of travel.
HARD SHELL SUITCASES
Hard shell luggage has become incredibly popular over the last decade, and for good reason.
It protects fragile items better than soft luggage.
It resists light rain.
It keeps its shape.
And if you tend to be a souvenir shopper, the rigid sides can help prevent you from cramming “just one more thing” into every available inch.
Well… sometimes.
Hard shell luggage is especially nice for travelers carrying electronics, wine, artwork, ornaments, or anything that would rather not be crushed under someone else’s bowling ball in the cargo hold.
The downside?
Those rigid sides don’t forgive overpacking.
When it’s full, it’s full.
There isn’t much negotiating.
Hard shells also tend to show scratches more easily.
Personally?
I don’t mind.
A few scratches tell me my suitcase has actually seen the world instead of spending its life in a closet.
SOFT SIDED SUITCASES
Soft sided luggage has been around forever because it still works exceptionally well.
The biggest advantage is flexibility.
Need to squeeze one more sweatshirt inside?
Usually possible.
Need to slide a travel umbrella into an outside pocket?
Easy.
Need quick access to a jacket, book, medications or travel documents?
Exterior pockets make that much simpler.
Soft luggage also tends to absorb bumps without showing every little scratch.
The tradeoff is that it offers a little less protection for fragile items.
If you’re checking expensive camera equipment or delicate souvenirs, you’ll want to pack carefully regardless of what suitcase you choose.
SO… WHICH DO I RECOMMEND?
Honestly?
Most travelers will be happy with either.
If you like organization, clean lines, and maximum protection, you’ll probably love a hard shell.
If you appreciate flexibility and outside pockets, soft sided luggage may fit your style better.
There isn’t a wrong answer here.
Buy quality first.
Material second.
TWO WHEELS OR FOUR?
Now here’s one where I actually have an opinion.
FOUR WHEEL SPINNERS
If you’ve flown through a large airport recently, you’ve probably noticed almost everyone pulling a spinner.
There’s a reason.
Good spinner wheels glide beside you instead of dragging behind you.
They turn effortlessly.
They make navigating airport terminals much easier.
You can push them.
Pull them.
Roll them sideways.
Even stand them upright while waiting in line.
If your travels mostly involve airports, hotels and cruise terminals, I think four quality spinner wheels are hard to beat.
TWO WHEEL ROLLERS
Two wheel luggage still has its place.
Those wheels are usually slightly recessed into the suitcase, making them less likely to be damaged.
They’re also excellent on rough sidewalks, gravel paths, uneven pavement and cobblestone streets because you’re pulling them behind you at an angle instead of trying to balance them upright.
If you’re planning lots of European streets or older cities, don’t dismiss the humble two wheeler.
Sometimes they’re actually the smarter choice.
THE WHEELS MATTER MORE THAN THE NUMBER
Here’s the part people overlook.
Cheap wheels are miserable.
I don’t care whether there are two or four.
If they wobble in the store, they’re going to wobble even worse in Frankfurt.
Spin them.
Roll them.
Turn corners.
Push them.
Pull them.
A quality wheel should feel smooth, solid and quiet.
If the wheels sound like you’re 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 a tremendous amount of abuse during travel.
Airport curbs.
Rental cars.
Baggage handlers.
Hotel bell carts.
If it already feels loose sitting in the store, imagine what it’ll feel like after three vacations.
Also make sure the handle height feels comfortable for you.
You shouldn’t have to hunch over or hold your arm up at an awkward angle just to roll your luggage.
ZIPPERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK
The zipper is probably the hardest working part of any suitcase.
Open it.
Close it.
Do it several times.
It should glide smoothly without catching.
Heavy duty zippers generally last longer than tiny lightweight ones.
If a zipper already feels stubborn before you’ve packed the bag, it’s not likely to improve with age.
EXPANDABLE LUGGAGE
Expandable suitcases sound wonderful.
And sometimes they are.
That extra inch or two can be incredibly useful 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 also makes it very easy to exceed airline size or weight limits.
Just because you can expand it doesn’t always mean you should.
Think of expansion as your emergency reserve.
Not your everyday packing plan.
BUILT IN TSA LOCKS
Many newer suitcases include built in TSA compatible locks.
They’re convenient.
They’re neat.
They’re easy to use.
But here’s the truth.
A lock mostly keeps honest people honest.
It isn’t going to stop someone determined to get into your suitcase.
Use it for convenience.
Not because you believe your luggage has suddenly become Fort Knox.
WATER RESISTANT DOES NOT MEAN WATERPROOF
This one surprises people.
Most suitcases are designed to handle light rain and normal travel conditions.
Very few are truly waterproof.
If you’re carrying medications, electronics, passports or important paperwork, don’t assume your suitcase will keep them perfectly dry in every situation.
Those items belong in your carry on whenever possible.
MY PERSONAL SHOPPING PRIORITIES
If I were buying a new suitcase tomorrow, this is the order I’d shop.
First, quality wheels.
Second, comfortable handles.
Third, lightweight construction.
Fourth, sturdy zippers.
Then I’d decide whether I wanted hard shell or soft sided.
Notice what isn’t at the top of my list.
USB charging ports.
Cup holders.
Fancy gadgets.
Bluetooth tracking.
Some people love those extras.
I’d rather spend the money on wheels that don’t make me question my life choices halfway across Terminal C.
We’ve picked a suitcase.
Now let’s talk about choosing the right size, matching luggage sets, packing cubes, luggage tags, AirTags, colors, warranties, and the biggest suitcase myths I hear every single year.
Because yes, we absolutely need to discuss why that enormous thirty-inch suitcase isn’t always your best friend.
My Best Suitcase Advice After Years of Travel Planning
By now, you’ve probably figured out there isn’t one “perfect” suitcase.
There is only the right suitcase for the way you travel.
After helping hundreds of travelers prepare for trips, I’ve noticed something.
The people who enjoy packing the most usually aren’t the ones with the biggest suitcases.
They’re the ones who bought the right size to begin with.
MY RECOMMENDED SUITCASE SIZES
If someone asked me where to start, this is what I’d suggest.
Carry On
Approximately 21 to 22 inches.
Perfect for weekend trips, business travel, cruises with laundry available, and travelers who simply prefer carrying everything onboard.
Medium Checked Suitcase
Approximately 25 to 27 inches.
If I could recommend only one checked suitcase for most travelers, this would be it.
It handles a week to ten day vacation comfortably.
It usually stays manageable to lift.
And it’s far less likely to tempt you into packing enough clothing for a six month expedition.
Large Checked Suitcase
Approximately 28 to 30 inches.
This size definitely has its place.
Long international vacations.
Family travel.
Cold weather trips requiring bulky clothing.
Extended cruises.
But for many travelers?
It’s simply bigger than they actually need.
THE THIRTY INCH SUITCASE HAS ENTERED THE CHAT
Can you fill a thirty inch suitcase?
Absolutely.
Should you?
That’s another conversation.
The larger the suitcase, the easier it becomes to exceed airline weight limits.
Before you know it, you’ve packed four pairs of shoes “just in case,” three jackets, enough toiletries to open a small pharmacy, and clothing options for weather forecasts that never actually happened.
Then comes the airport scale.
Suddenly you’re kneeling beside your suitcase trying to decide which shoes deserve to make the trip while your spouse pretends not to know you.
I’ve seen it.
More than once.
Bigger luggage rarely solves overpacking.
It usually encourages it.
DON’T BUY THE ENTIRE MATCHING SET
I know.
They look beautiful sitting together in the store.
Three suitcases.
A duffel.
A garment bag.
Two packing cubes.
A cosmetic case.
Possibly something that resembles a small moon rover.
The truth?
Most people end up using only one or two pieces regularly.
Instead of buying an entire collection because it matches, consider building your luggage over time.
Buy the carry on you love.
Then add the checked suitcase you’ll actually use.
Your future self, and your storage closet, will appreciate it.
WHAT ABOUT COLOR?
Black luggage is classic.
It’s also approximately eighty seven percent of what arrives on the baggage carousel.
That statistic is completely unofficial.
It just feels true.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with black luggage.
Just make it easy to identify.
A colorful luggage tag.
A bright handle wrap.
A patterned strap.
Something that lets you recognize your suitcase without grabbing someone else’s by mistake.
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.
A suitcase doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to serve you well.
What you’re paying for with higher quality luggage is often better materials, smoother wheels, stronger handles, more durable zippers, and longer warranties.
If you travel several times a year, investing in a quality suitcase 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 it’s the inexpensive accessories that make travel easier.
Packing cubes help keep clothing organized.
A luggage scale can save you overweight baggage fees.
A TSA approved luggage lock offers a little extra peace of mind.
An AirTag or similar tracking device can make it much easier to locate checked luggage if it takes an unexpected detour.
None of these are required.
But several of them can make travel noticeably less stressful.
MY SUITCASE SHOPPING CHEAT SHEET
Before you buy, ask yourself these questions.
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 to those questions is yes…
You’ve probably found a winner.
MY FINAL THOUGHT
I’ve planned trips for families heading to Disney, couples celebrating anniversaries, retirees crossing oceans, and travelers checking destinations off lifelong bucket lists.
Here’s what I’ve 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.
The memories.
A suitcase is simply the tool that gets your belongings there.
Choose one that’s dependable.
Treat it well.
Then stop thinking about it and go make some memories worth bringing home.
One page at a time, we’re building a smarter way to travel.
XOXO, Jani– Personal Travel Advisor | Take Time To Travel, LLC
Updated July 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 using more than one airline.
RELATED TRAVELER’S HANDBOOK ARTICLES
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR & Digital ID
• Packing Like a Pro (Coming Soon)
• Airline Baggage Fees Explained (Coming Soon)
• Packing Cubes, Worth the Hype? (Coming Soon)
• What Belongs in Your Carry On? (Coming Soon)
Journeys With Jani: Traveler’s Handbook 
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