Nearly 800,000 votes were cast in this year's Readers' Choice Awards, and when it came to luggage, the message was clear: travellers want bags that survive trip after trip, not just look good on the carousel.
The surprise winner? Solo New York. The affordable brand tops the 2026 list thanks to bags made from recycled materials, with practical touches like a push-button telescoping handle, compression straps and even an interior travel checklist. It beat out pricier heavyweights including Louis Vuitton (number 9, the top designer pick thanks to icons like the Keepall 55) and Rimowa (number 10), whose aluminium cases come with a lifetime guarantee and repair system.
Rounding out the top five: Briggs & Riley, founded in 1993 and praised for clever handles that free up packing space and a smart expansion-compression system; Arlo Skye, whose expandable carry-on with a front pocket some editors call their favourite suitcase of all time; Béis, the social-media-favourite label founded by actor Shay Mitchell in 2018, known for its viral Weekender bag and a built-in weight indicator; and Travelpro, a long-running champion of soft-sided, budget-friendly and roomy suitcases.
A few other standouts are worth a look depending on how you travel. Away (number 6) keeps things simple with impact-resistant shells, 360-degree wheels and a drawstring laundry bag — editors keep returning to the Bigger Carry-On even after testing over 150 cases. Tumi's 19 Degree Aluminium carry-on earned raves for looks and an easy push-button lock. July makes lightweight expandable suitcases with a built-in tracking device, so there's no fiddling with an AirTag. Delsey Paris impressed readers with a brake system that stops bags rolling away, plus warranties of up to 10 years — one reader reported a checked bag still going strong after 100,000 miles. Hartmann's tweed carry-ons have apparently lasted readers more than 30 years of intercontinental flying, while Roam's cases expand by 30% for shopping-heavy trips, and budget shoppers were pointed toward American Tourister's reasonably priced luggage sets.
Why it matters: luggage is one of those purchases where a bad choice haunts you for years — wheels that jam, shells that crack, zippers that burst at the worst moment. This ranking is essentially a crowd-sourced durability test, filtered through hundreds of thousands of real trips. Whether you need a sub-$150 starter set, an indestructible checked bag for frequent flying, or a leather duffel that improves with age (see Ghurka at 16), there's a brand here for your travel style and budget.
