As a travel writer and habitual over-packer, I was quite relieved when I first discovered that retro-inspired trunk suitcases were back in fashion. What exactly is a trunk suitcase? Before the advent of modern suitcases, travel trunks were sturdy, well-constructed luggage compartments designed to withstand long-distance train travel that preceded today's high-speed air travel. Trunks are a major improvement over the small suitcases I'd struggled with for years, typically being taller and narrower in construction and offering more storage capacity, something I experienced first-hand on a recent cruise.
When my sister and I signed up for an 11-day European Grand Viking cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, we were excited about the many unique experiences we would have during the trip. We also booked a few days of lodging to do our own things before and after the trip, so we needed to pack for 15 days of cruising, hiking, biking, exploring the city on foot, and attending a classical music concert in Vienna. With such a diverse range of activities and itinerary, we would obviously need a wide variety of gear. We also needed to bring large luggage because we didn't want to pay the notoriously exorbitant laundry fees that cruises are known for. Our packing list included a large trunk that would hold our shoes, sandals, books, CPAP machine, and two weeks' worth of clean clothes organized in packing cubes.
No matter your budget or travel style, there's a trunk suitcase that's perfect for you. Below, we've rounded up nine of the best travel trunks on the market, including top-rated products from Away, Delsey Paris, and other popular brands.
Leaving the trunk
Away
Let's start with my trunk suitcase of choice: The Trunk by Away. With 107 liters of packing space, this trunk is no lightweight. It can hold 18-21 outfits, which was perfect for our Viking river cruise in Europe. I bought this suitcase because my 7-year-old niece is performing with a Mexican folkloric dance troupe and needed something that could transport her expensive outfits across the country without damaging them. While this suitcase is perfect for her performances, it's also useful for general travel, especially when it comes to transporting large, unwieldy items like snowshoes and bulky camping gear from our apartment in New York to my mom's house in Wisconsin.
Away luggage fans will be happy to know that The Trunk has been completely redesigned from their standard suitcase, which has essentially the same layout but comes in different sizes. This suitcase can fit very large items in the main compartment thanks to a new 70-30 split, and it rolls like a dream thanks to its 360-degree rotating wheels. Plus, an included laundry bag keeps dirty clothes from contaminating everything else, and a TSA-approved combination lock keeps your belongings safe during transport.
July Check Trunk
July
Beautiful traditional design – check. Quiet wheels and soft handles for a quiet, smooth rolling experience – check, check. Beautiful polished finishes, eye-popping colors, and irresistible style – check, check, check. Add in ultra-tough polycarbonate material, a strong aluminum frame, and heavy-duty twin latches that outperform flimsy zippers any day, and you've got a strong contender for best trunk suitcase.
Plus, July's Checked Trunk compression system means you can easily fit 95 liters of luggage in it, and the laundry bag keeps clean and dirty items neatly separated. The 80/20 split means you can stuff larger items into the deep compartment, and the 360-degree rotating wheels make it easy to navigate through the airport. According to one July buyer, on a four-week solo trip through Italy and Germany, the bag “passed the test with flying colors.”
Delsey Paris Peugeot Voyage 26 inch large trunk
Delsey Paris
Travel + Leisure's testing team was most impressed with the durability of the Delsey Paris trunk, especially considering its mid-to-low price range. One tester commented that the trunk “protects your belongings like a tank,” which isn't surprising considering the suitcase is a collaboration between Delsey and French car manufacturer Peugeot. It's not every day you see automotive-grade technology in a suitcase.
The trunk's two main compartments have compression straps and are deep enough for stacking packing cubes or carrying bulky items. Our testing team also found the trunk's wheels to be very easy to turn and maneuver, though it's worth noting that the trunk's weight alone, at about 12 pounds when empty, can be heavy to lift when fully loaded (and keep an eye on the total weight to avoid being charged an overweight fee).
Briggs & Riley Jumbo Trunk Spinner
Amazon
A truly gigantic pack requires a gigantic trunk that can hold the biggest, bulkiest, and most unwieldy items. The Briggs & Riley Extra Large Trunk Spinner holds a whopping 123 litres in two gigantic compartments. The 80-20 lid and tightening garment panel make packing a breeze and keep clothes crisp, even when dealing with delicate items.
In addition to now-standard features like built-in TSA locks and smooth-rolling wheels, this premium trunk takes it to the next level by adding self-repairing zippers and complimentary monogramming. The triple-layer Makrolon polycarbonate material is ultra-lightweight and scratch-resistant. A traveler featured in the review section noted that the suitcase recently survived a 21-day European trip that included six flights, five trains, and one bus. She added, “It fit tons of clothes, shoes, boots, toiletries, and souvenirs. It's about three pounds lighter than other luggage of this size, which is why it arrived underweight on various airlines.”
Level 8 Large Trunk Suitcase
Amazon
While most trunk suitcases are pricey, Level 8 proves that a more affordable travel trunk is still possible. Amazon's popular luggage brand's Large Trunk Suitcase offers all the key features of more expensive models, including 360-degree rotating wheels, a four-way adjustable handle, a built-in TSA lock, and a spacious interior (holds 99 liters). The bag comes in five colors, including a beautiful frosty pink, which stands out among the black, blue, and beige options that make up the majority of Carousel's bags.
“This is hands down the best suitcase I've ever owned,” raved an Amazon shopper, noting that it can hold two weeks' worth of luggage and has “at least four or five different sleeves, several dividers, and multiple straps for securing larger items like shirts, pants, shoes, etc.” The outer shell is “super tough, so it should be able to withstand rough handling by airport agents and general wear and tear while traveling,” he added.
Traveler's Choice Max Porter II 30″ Hardside Spinner Trunk
Amazon
Another affordable option for an extra-large capacity trunk is the Maxporter II from Traveler's Choice. This 106-liter trunk features a 70-30 split, so you can store larger, bulkier items in the main compartment, but it also comes with two removable dividers for even more organization. Spinner wheels make it easy to move around, and protective corner guards prevent your suitcase from hitting the conveyor belt.
The suitcase's long, narrow design was a big hit with one Amazon shopper, who said it could be placed upright in a small Japanese hotel room without taking up much floor space. He went on to say that the model's large storage capacity meant “I could easily fit a full set of clothes, plus winter items in the top zippered section (packable shell jacket, insulated hiking boots, and dress clothes),” and joked that “I could easily exceed airline weight limits with this suitcase.”
Herschel Supply Co. Heritage Hardshell Large Luggage
Nordstrom
Herschel Supply Co. may not call this a trunk suitcase, but its large, tall, and slender build definitely ticks the boxes. With a 95-liter capacity, this beauty is perfect for the runway (or jetway). It checks off all the basic boxes with a TSA lock, 360-degree rotating wheels, and a handy side carry handle. Plus, the Heritage also comes with other great features like reinforced corners, an internal mesh storage sleeve, and a clothing strap. If a white checked bag isn't your first choice, it's also available in a punchy (and nearly sold out) camouflage pattern to jazz up your travel gear.
One Nordstrom shopper summed up the suitcase as “sleek, stylish, and great to use,” adding, “As someone who likes to overpack, it's the perfect size to feel like I have enough luggage, but it's also super light, making it a breeze to take on trips.”
Delsey Paris Cruise 3.0 Hardside Expandable Luggage Trunk
Amazon
Don't let the price fool you. This affordable suitcase is one of the best trunks T+L editors have tested for both value and durability. The polycarbonate shell and spinner wheels showed no signs of wear and were extremely easy to maneuver on a variety of surfaces. Even fully loaded (which tends to make heavy trunks even more unwieldy), the suitcase turned quickly and without resistance, which our testing team found impressive. With a 90-liter capacity and handy features like double spinner wheels and three TSA combination dial locks, you'll love this bag right away. Plus, the 70:30 split allows for flexible packing, and the removable mesh divider and lining (which are machine washable) are just the perfect finishing touches to keep everything tucked away and looking tidy.
But the bag's best feature is Delsey's patented Overweight Indicator, which will let you know if your luggage weighs over 48.5 pounds. With airline checked bag fees continuing to rise, this handy feature can easily save you $30-50 per trip. In fact, when comparing this bag to previous versions, Amazon shoppers happily report that “it's noticeably lighter than other bags and I was never overweight, even when fully loaded. Previously, I could only pack half my checked bag because it would be overweight, but with this bag, that's not as much of an issue.”
Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 26″ Spinner Trunk
Delsey Paris
This amazing suitcase offers 91 liters of space in a modern, attractive design while staying true to the original trunk's values ​​of sturdiness and reliability. T+L testers reviewed the trunk over a period of three months, stuffing it with bulky, oddly shaped gear, like ski boots and helmets. While this beautiful trunk can hold larger sports equipment, our test editors also loved that the two divider flap zippered pockets can be used for smaller items. What's more, we found this trunk to be a great fit for packing cubes, with the cubes easily stacking inside the deep compartment.
The true test of durability is how well a suitcase holds up during and after an extended trip, and T+L testers were pleased to find that the sturdy polycarbonate construction and the trunk's four double spinner wheels hold up remarkably well, even after multiple bumps and drops. This was also the case with the dreamy, cream-colored Angora, so you won't have to worry about it getting damaged at baggage claim.
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