Thomas Lyons 
As the world slowly recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, many are eager to take their first proper holiday abroad in years. However, before jetting off, it’s important to ensure you have the right luggage to meet your travelling needs. Whether you’re looking for something stylish, durable, or with innovative tech features, we’ve rounded up the expert picks to suit all holidaymakers.
For families, the Tach V3 three-piece set (€393, Amazon) is a clever, connectable solution to family packing. The three hard-shell cases – including one cabin size, one medium, and one large – connect together as one rolling unit, allowing you to have one hand free for holding hands with the kids or reaching for passports and travel documents. The connecting system uses a quick-touch fastener for minimal fiddling about, and it comes with an adjustable strap to reduce pulling drag. Each case also features two charger ports, a combination lock, and a five-pocket interior for organising your belongings.
For solo travellers, the Hard Shell Medium Case 24in (€65.00) from Woodies in glossy pewter is a great option. It’s spacious enough for all your trip essentials, durable enough to keep to the airline’s weight limit, and light enough to carry around with ease. It has an expandable zipper to fit more clothes in, internal compartments, and a TSA locking system. With eight wheels, it can be wheeled in all directions, making it easy to bring with you while travelling.
Travelling with kids can be a challenge, but making them feel like they’re doing their part as a member of the travel crew always works a treat. You may not even need to buy a new bag – depending on where you’re headed, a school bag can double up as a travel bag. The backpacks from Eastpak, such as the top-selling Padded Pak’r (€55, eastpak.com), are great options. They come in more than 100 colours and feature a padded back panel and adjustable padded shoulder straps for comfort.
For those who want to stand out from the crowd, Mary recommends the Rock Luggage Novo Medium 8-Wheel Suitcase (€109.99, very.ie). It’s available in baby blue, mint green, navy, or black and comes in a cabin size (€99.99) as well. It has eight wheels, a lock, internal packing straps, and a hard shell fabric. It’s also lightweight, weighing only 3.9kg.
Berlin-based “smart luggage” company Horizn Studios seeks to incorporate digital innovation in its range of trolleys, including a removable smart charger. Mary likes the M5 cabin luggage (€445, Horizn-Studios.com), which comes in matte black, khaki, sand, or grey shades, and glossy graphite or midnight blue. Designed for long-term use in sustainable polycarbonate, this suitcase is compact and has a water-resistant front pocket that holds a 15in laptop. With four 360-degree spinner wheels and a combination lock, the hard-shell case is made with vegan and recycled materials and includes a compression pad to maximise storage capacity and an interior mesh divider to secure your belongings.
If you’re fed up with trying to repair flimsy suitcases, check out the All-Weather 4-Wheeler Suitcase 30in (€410, NorthFace.ie), recommended by Mary. North Face has a reputation for quality, and this bag fits the bill. It’s tough and hardwearing because it’s made of ultra-durable recycled ballistic nylon. It has a waterproof hard-shell exterior, which is built for all weather conditions, and the wide, extendable handle makes the bag easy to roll, even when heavy. Available in black and taupe green, the case is fully waterproof to protect your belongings from rain or even snow, with a clamshell design that eliminates the need for fiddly zippers.
No matter what your travel needs are, there’s a suitcase out there for you. Just make sure to do your research and invest in a quality piece of luggage that will last for years to come.
