Suitcases

Suitcases at FlipBuy UK — hard shell ABS luggage sets with 360° spinner wheels and TSA locks, cabin-sized carry-ons, and a hard cosmetic case. Sets from £59.99, individual cases from £16.99.

How to choose a suitcase size

Most people own the wrong sizes because they buy for the longest trip they might take rather than the ones they actually take.

Cabin (around 20"): the size that earns its keep. Fits most airline overhead lockers and covers trips up to about four days. If you buy one case, buy this.
Medium (24-26"): a week to ten days, or two people sharing for a long weekend. The most useful checked size.
Large (28"+): extended trips and family holidays. Easy to overpack past the 23kg airline limit — a large case full of clothes will often exceed it.

Multi-piece sets nest inside each other for storage, which is the practical argument for buying a set rather than one case at a time.

Hard shell or soft shell

Hard shell (ABS or polycarbonate) protects contents, wipes clean, and is water-resistant. It doesn't compress, so it won't squeeze into a tight sizer, and it scuffs visibly. Soft shell has external pockets, gives slightly under pressure, and absorbs knocks without cracking — but offers less protection for fragile items.

For most travel, hard shell in a mid or dark colour is the practical choice: darker finishes hide scuffs, which is what makes a case look old.

What to check before buying

Wheels are what fail first. Four-wheel spinners glide beside you and turn easily in aisles; two-wheel cases tilt and pull, which handles rough pavements better. Spinners are easier in airports, two-wheelers survive cobbles.
Weigh the empty case. Every kilo of case is a kilo less of contents against a 23kg allowance. Lightweight matters more on checked bags than cabin ones.
Check the handle has multiple stops, not just up and down — it makes a real difference if you're not average height.
TSA locks can be opened by US security with a master key rather than cut off. Only relevant if you travel to or through the United States; harmless elsewhere.

How to pack a suitcase properly

Roll clothes rather than folding. Fits roughly 20-30% more and creases less.
Heavy items at the wheel end. This keeps the case stable when upright — heavy items at the top make it tip when you let go.
Shoes in bags, around the edges, stuffed with socks so the space inside them isn't wasted.
Weigh it before leaving. Bathroom scales work: weigh yourself, then yourself holding the case. Excess baggage charged at the airport is the most expensive weight you'll ever carry.
Leave a little room for what you buy while away.

How to make luggage last

Wheels need cleaning after sand or grit, which grinds into the bearings and is the usual cause of a seized wheel
Don't force an overpacked zip. It's what breaks the slider — and a broken zip usually ends the case
Store with the lid slightly open or with a dry cloth inside; a sealed case that goes away damp comes out smelling of mildew
Store nested in a dry cupboard rather than a loft, where temperature swings make ABS brittle over years
Photograph the case and contents before checking it in. If it's lost or damaged, a claim is far simpler with evidence

Common questions

Will the cabin case fit Ryanair or easyJet overhead lockers?

A 20" case typically fits the larger paid cabin bag allowance, not the free under-seat allowance. Airline dimensions differ and change — check your carrier's current sizes before flying.