Nice smart wheeled small suitcase for work trips for a man

[ChillinwiththeVillains]

Clumsy title, sorry. I need a nice smart carry on for my husband. Just started a new job involving travel and it turns out that we upgraded our big suitcases but not our little ones. I don’t want to buy the wrong thing, just want something understated and functional.

What kind of price buys a good suitcase?
What is a good brand? For our big suitcases I just chose hard shell samsonite in metallic turquoise as no one else wanted them so reduced and they stand out at the airport. But don’t think that is the right vibe for DH’s new serious job.
Thank you,

Have you tried tripp, they make good suitcases prices start about £50

Black Samsonite, but if he’s on business trips and has to check it in, he will have fun trying to spot his from the carousel! So a distinctive label as well!

Dh and I use Eastpak xs soft suitcase for business trips. I have black and he has blue, but there’s other colours.

Its smart enough, but practical that it’s lightweight, can be squeezed in next to you on trains, and fits in even Ryanair handluggage requirements. Squashes flatter if not full so you can fit coat etc ontop on plane easily in small space. Decent side handle so I often carry mine inside of wheeling for ease on escalators or stairs or over bumpy paths or cobbles.

I bought my husband one of these and he loves it. I think he has the carry-on. It even charges his phone.

He always tells me that other men come over and ask where he got it from. 😂
www.awaytravel.com/uk/en/shop/suitcases?gclid=Cj0KCQjw48OaBhDWARIsAMd966BQ7j9uI19pfV1wBVXunThk217B2GHGQwsxDDeFn6vCF7WQW775lMQaAsbpEALw_wcB

Thank you all! I thought this was so boring a question that I would be whistling into the wind. Will get looking. Really appreciate it.
Also @FedUpToTheBackTooth I think I need to revise my cost expectations, they are beautiful suitcases but I think my mental pricing is stuck in the early 2000s!

Depending on who he will be travelling with I would buy the smallest allowed for hand luggage. I am talking about flying here.

Dont take for granted one size fits all and certainly dont believe the manufactures who say fits all, they dont!

Remember to include wheels in the measurements as well.

I now have a number of redundant Samsonite/American tourister bags which are now to big for 90% of airline carry on rules.

But having said all that I would get a soft sided case which if he needs to check in has an expander zip, I also prefer cases which have at least one outside pocket for passports/boarding cards etc or the liquid bag so I can access then easy (one of the reasons I dont like a hardsided carry on) Prefer a spinner (4 wheels) over 2 wheels as easier to manoeuvre esp if your DH may be putting a laptop bag on the top using the back sleeve to attach to the handle.

Cost, depending on how much your wanting to spend, you do get what you pay for, go for Samsonite/Tumi and the like, oh and extra things inside like a wet pocket I find handy as well as clothes dividers but personal preference does come into it

I have this

https://www.eastpak.com/uk-en/luggage-c140/tranverz-s-cloud-navy-pEK61L22S+00+999.html

I recently bought my DH one. A bit expensive but I’d buy again from this company

briggs-riley.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_pmfttPw-gIVg-_tCh24VQyYEAAYASAAEgIa7_D_BwE

The s traverse above can be too big for many airlines, so recommend checking the xs traverse. Easily fits 1 week traveL if careful

Have a look at cabinmax - they do many that are designed as carry on

I quite like this hybrid one (but have no need for one 😂)

Cabin max hybrid

Rimowa. DH and I both have them. They’re expensive but solid as anything and well-designed inside. Look smart, too.

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16231992/technicals-exodus-lite-luggage-set-16231992
We've got this 3 piece set from Go Outdoors. Handy sizes for diffeent durations, the smaller 2 are within most airlines hand luggage guidelines. Wheels and a long strap. Thick material and zips don't seem cheap.

DH has a black Tripp hand luggage sized one for work trips (and for use as hand luggage of course). We get ours from the Tripp outlet shop at Cheshire Oaks if you live anywhere near or there may be others in different Outlet places.

TKMaxx usually has a great range of quality luggage at reduced prices.
If you are splashing out then Hugo Boss make some lovely bags.

This is all useful. I hadn’t thought of four wheels better than two wheels, nor whether hard or soft shell made more sense. I liked the look of east pak tranverz but it looks to be a two wheeler so back to drawing board. Two recommendations for Tripp which is good. May end up defaulting to samsonite but will definitely have a good browse. @NameChangeForARaisin I did look in TK Maxx and found a nice one for my daughter but not sure their range looked right for him- will keep checking as it’s always changing anyway.
Thank you!

TKMaxx do have quite a few, but I do think some of the 'fashion' brands are more just for the name rather than a good quality piece of luggage.

As I said up thread a spinner is so much easier to handle, oh and talking of handles, if your DH is tall the cases with the more adjustable telescopic handles are great.

God I sound like a right anorak about carry on!

I bought this hardshell:

Rocklands London Lightweight 4... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B6WWS3P8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Which is polycarbonate which is a better material that most hardshells, inexpensive and fairly light. I packed enough for 10 days into it plus a backpack small enough to meet the underseat regs so I think it would be satisfactory for business travel.

There are plenty of colour choices but if he picks something dark for business travel I would also buy a distinctive strap/tag too. I found it hard to find luggage tags at the airport so a nice one might be a nice addition to an inexpensive suitcase?

@ChillinwiththeVillains - the Eastpak is two wheels but they are much sturdier than most 4 weeks. Kind of thick rubber as well for pavements. We have the 4 wheel spinner Tripp ones for larger luggage and the wheels are rubbish in comparison

John Lewis have god a good selection on line for you to compare........just been perusing........

@GetUsedToTheHeatAgain I am definitely a fan of experts/ anoraks. He is v tall so will look for that too. I have also been looking at JL and at the nice looking samsonite/tumi and rationalising that if our cheap ones have lasted 15 years then these will likely last us out so probably worth the £.

@Caspianberg I think a bit shiny for him but they look really good. May show my daughter and see which she prefers for her (from my TK selection or that). Thank you.

@Caspianberg i may see if I can try them out in a real shop. I know what you mean about robust vs suitcase designed for life of pampered leisure

I think John Lewis had a decent ish selection a few years ago if you can get to a large one to trial some out and compare

If he is traveling regularly I'd suggest spending a bit more, Travel Pro are great and last really well.

Definitely check the size allowance fir the likes of EasyJet/Ryanair as they are likely to be the smallest! I did that then found some great ones from Tripp for my adult Dd and DC. I managed to get a discount code (can't remember if it was from here but was pretty covid as they had plenty of travel plans...!), got cashback on quidco and they had a sale on. It must have been around this time of year as they were for Christmas. Sorry, probably doesn't help but on the plus side their cases are roomy but fit with EasyJet/Ryanair etc.