Best Place to Buy Suitcases Online: Your Guide to Top Luggage Shops

When we’re on the hunt for a new suitcase, the United Kingdom offers a plethora of options. From budget-friendly choices to luxurious designer luggage, the range of styles, sizes, and features means there’s something to suit every traveller’s needs. Whether we’re looking for a sturdy hard-shell for international travel or a compact carry-on for city breaks, the key lies in finding the right balance between quality, functionality, and price.

Our quest for the best place to buy suitcases should consider both online retailers and physical shops. Online stores often provide a wider selection and competitive prices, making them a convenient choice. However, visiting a physical store enables us to get a feel for the suitcase, test its manoeuvrability, and gauge its true size and capacity.

Top high street retailers such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Argos are known for their reliable customer service and good selections. For those who favour online shopping, websites like Amazon and the dedicated luggage platform, Luggage Superstore, offer extensive choices and detailed product comparisons. When selecting a retailer, we should also pay attention to warranty options and return policies to ensure a hassle-free purchase.

Choosing the Right Suitcase for Your Travel Needs

When selecting luggage, we focus on the key features and materials to meet our travel demands, ensuring a balance between durability and practicality.

Important Features in Suitcases

• Size & Weight: The dimensions of a suitcase are crucial as they must comply with airline regulations. A lightweight design helps avoid excess baggage fees.
• Wheels: Suitcases with four spinner wheels offer 360-degree manoeuvrability, making them easier to navigate through crowded terminals.
• Handles: A sturdy, telescopic handle is essential for comfort and control. Consider suitcases with both top and side handles for versatility.
• Security: Look for suitcases with built-in TSA-approved locks for added security during our travels.

Assessing Suitcase Durability and Material

• Materials:
  • Hard-shell Suitcases: Typically made from polycarbonate or polypropylene, they are robust and provide excellent protection against impacts.
  • Soft Shell Suitcases: Usually constructed from high-grade nylon or polyester, offering flexibility and lighter weight.
• Durability:
  • Zippers: Strong, well-constructed zippers are a must for longevity.
  • Corners: Reinforced corners guard against rough handling.
  • Interior: High-quality lining materials should resist tearing and damage.

Top Suitcase Brands and Models to Consider

When choosing a suitcase, selecting a reliable brand and model that aligns with your travel needs and budget is vital. We’ve compared premium suitcase providers as well as cost-effective alternatives to guide your decision.

Premium Brands Showdown

• Samsonite: Known for durability and design, the Samsonite Lite-Box Alu is a standout with its robust aluminium construction.
• Rimowa: Offers the iconic Rimowa Original Cabin made from high-end anodised aluminium, suitable for both business and leisure travellers.
• Carl Friedrik: Their Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend bag boasts a minimalist design combined with functional elegance.
• Briggs & Riley: The Briggs & Riley Baseline collection promises life-long performance with an exceptional warranty.
• Antler: The Antler Clifton Large model is renowned for its stylish yet resilient hard-shell exterior.

Best Value for Money Suitcases

• American Tourister: The American Tourister Bon Air Spinner is perfect for those seeking a quality product at an affordable price.
• Tripp: Offers the Tripp Holiday 6 range, delivering resilient polypropylene suitcases at very reasonable costs.
• Eastpak: Known for their backpacks, their Eastpak Tranverz line of suitcases is equally versatile and budget-friendly.
• Away: The Away The Bigger Carry-On provides thoughtful features for the modern traveller without the premium price tag.
• Horizn: The Horizn Model M is a smart suitcase equipped with a removable battery pack appealing to tech-savvy users.
• Delsey: Delsey Paris Chatelet Hard+ combines chic French design with security and practicality.
• Trunki: Designed for children, the Trunki Ride-on Suitcase ensures that even the youngest travellers are considered.

Design Innovations and User Convenience

When we look for the perfect suitcase, design innovations and user convenience are of utmost importance. These aspects define how we interact with our luggage, the level of security we can expect, and the ease with which we can travel.

Integrated Security Features

• TSA-approved locks: Our suitcases feature TSA-approved locks ensuring that our belongings remain secure while still allowing for airport security checks without any damage to the lock.
• Durable zips: Strong, tamper-resistant zips are essential. We’ve chosen designs that include self-repairing zippers, adding longevity to our suitcases.

Smart Suitcases and Accessibility Options

• Expandable design: We provide suitcases with an expandable option, which allows us to increase the packing capacity as needed, giving us flexibility in how much we can carry.
• Internal organisation: With multiple internal pockets and adjustable compression straps, we ensure efficient use of space, allowing us to pack more effectively.
  • Pockets: well-placed internal pockets for easy access to essential items.
  • Compression straps: to secure our clothes and reduce the volume of our packing.

Ease of movement: Suitcases with four spinner wheels offer excellent manoeuvrability, making it a breeze for us to navigate through busy airports.

Lightweight materials: Our suitcases are constructed from lightweight materials, so they won’t add unnecessary weight, allowing us to pack more and adhere to weight restrictions.

Water-resistant features: Selections include water-resistant or waterproof materials to protect our belongings from the elements.

In our quest for the perfect travel companion, attention to these design details and user-focused features ensures our journeys are as stress-free and secure as possible.

Optimising Your Packing Experience

When it comes to packing for travel, using the right organisational tools can transform your suitcase into a neatly arranged cache of belongings, ready for any trip. We’ll show how with proper tools, you can maximise space and protect your items effectively.

Suitcase Organisation Tools

• Packing Cubes: These are essential for segregating clothes within your suitcase. Investing in a set of packing cubes allows us to organise by category, and they often come in varied sizes for different garments. Look for features such as:
  • Lightweight fabric: This helps to keep the overall weight of our luggage down.
  • Recycled materials: For those of us conscious about sustainability.
  • Volume: Cubes that can be expanded or compressed to fit more or less content.
  • Waterproofing: To prevent the transfer of moisture between cubes.
• Laundry Bag: Integrating a laundry bag to separate worn clothes from fresh is a game changer. Ensuring it is washable and possibly water-resistant maintains hygiene and simplifies post-travel chores.
• Travel Bags for Electronics: Protecting our gadgets is non-negotiable. We utilise dedicated travel bags that are padded and offer compartments to keep electronic accessories organised and accessible.
• Water-resistant Toiletries Bag: We safeguard our luggage from potential spills by using water-resistant toiletries bags. These ensure that our other belongings remain pristine, even if there’s an unfortunate leak in transit.
• Cabin Bags: For our essentials, we opt for a sturdy cabin bag with easy-access pockets. Ensuring it meets airline size regulations, we can have peace of mind that our valuables and necessities are with us under the seat or in the overhead bin.
• Dust Bags: Protecting shoes and delicate items from scuffs and dirt is done through the use of dust bags. They keep everything else in our luggage clean and organised.

The focus on utilising these organisation tools and selecting the right lightweight suitcase with volume flexibility affords us a seamless packing experience, every time. It’s not just about space-saving; it’s about arriving with our belongings in the best condition, ready to face our destination.

Care and Maintenance of Your Suitcase

To ensure your suitcase remains in top condition, regular care and maintenance is crucial. Here are some practical steps we can take:

• Quality and Durability: Purchase from reputable brands that offer a lifetime warranty, which usually indicates better build quality. This implies a commitment to durability, should you need repairs or replacements.
• Cleaning:
  • For hard shells, use a gentle soap and water mix.
  • Use a soft cloth to avoid scratching.
  • For fabric exteriors, use a fabric cleaner and follow the instruction on the label. It’s preferable to spot clean rather than submerge the entire bag in water.
• Waterproofing: Apply a waterproof spray to fabric suitcases. This adds a layer of protection against moisture and can be re-applied annually or as needed.
• Storage:
  • Store your suitcase in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.
  • Keep it open occasionally to air out the interior and avoid musty smells.
• Repair: Address any issues such as broken wheels or torn fabric immediately. Some brands may offer repair services under warranty terms.
• Scuffs and Marks:
  • Remove scuffs with a gentle eraser or specific cleaning product designed for suitcase materials.
  • For leather, a leather conditioner can help maintain the surface.
• Flexibility: Use expandable suitcases with care to avoid overfilling and straining the zippers. Always ensure that the suitcase can close comfortably without forcing the closure mechanism.

By adhering to these practices, we can significantly extend the life of our suitcases. Remember, consistent care will result in lasting performance and appearance.