American Tourister—Maximum Volume Plus
With its extra thick design, this bag has 30 percent more space than other luggage of the same length. There’s also a vertical opening on the side, allowing you to grab stuff within even when the bag’s stowed. Construction’s solid, too: it’s sealed with an inbuilt TSA combination lock, which has been tested 15,000 times in quick succession. Find it in three sizes, with an upright height of 50cm, 68cm or 78cm. From $140.

Samsonite—Black Label Cubelite
Strong and light, the Cubelite is made with Samsonite’s patented CURV material—thin sheets of polypropylene which are stretched, layered then hot compressed to make a shiny shell. It also boasts a four wheel hub for extra stability, an integrated TSA combination lock and palladium zippers. From $790.

Tumi—Tegra-Lite
The stylish Tegra-Lite collection comes highly recommended for its durability and impact resistance features. Each piece is created using Tegris, a thermoplastic composite material that’s usually used in lifesaving armor and NASCAR race cars, and is intricately lined throughout. The full collection comprises two-wheeled and four-wheeled carry-ons, as well as four-wheeled packing cases. $1,060 upwards.