Revealed: The Best Carry-On, Mid-Size And Large Luggage

Whether you’re heading off on a long holiday jaunt, overnight affair or work weekender, choosing the right luggage is the key to making your travel run smoothly.

No matter what type of bag you’re in the market for, we’ve found the best solutions for your next trip.

Carry-On

Victorinox Connex Frequent Flyer Carry-On

$599

The Victorinox Connex Frequent Flyer Carry-On is an ideal short-flight companion. The hard-side compact design makes it a practical but stylish solution, with all the compartments you need, and wheels that can make it easy to manoeuvre down the aisle. It you’re short on space it also offers an expandable upgrade.

Pro: Includes an integrated multi-tool with a USB port to charge any electronic device.

Con: A little pricey for the weight.

Weight: 2.9kg.

The Victorinox Carry-On is an ideal short-flight companion

Hershel Mammoth Backpack

$179

Hershel have always provided the best backpacks for day-trippers or adventurers, and their Mammoth Backpack is in-keeping with this theme. With a modern, streamline design, the Mammoth will be your best friend on hiking trips or city exploration. It holds plenty of storage solutions with a 15-inch laptop sleeve, a sunglass compartment and water bottle exterior pockets.

Pro: An affordable, practical, water-resistant and light-weight choice.

Con: Probably the closest to a school bag you’re going to find.

The Mammoth will be your best friend on hiking trips or city exploration

Staple Superior Harold Laptop Briefcase

$99.99

This Sydney menswear label have made a simple and sophisticated laptop bag in pebbled faux leather. Practical and professional, the Harold Laptop Briefcase is the perfect accompaniment to your next work trip. The briefcase fits up to a 15-inch laptop and contains internal padding to keep it safe. Compact sleeves offer great organisation and it can be hand-held or carried with an optional shoulder strap.

Pro: A strong, vegan and affordable selection to protect your laptop.

Con: It won’t fit much more than your laptop and essentials.

RM Williams Leather Duffle Bag

$560

RM Williams bags are as durable as their boots. Known as masters of the leather accessory, their Leather Duffle Bag is no exception. Its vintage style is timeless and made to last, with strong top carry handles and double sticked seams for durability. Inside you’ll find a fully lined interior with zip pockets and an optional shoulder strap.

Pro: It’s a stylish weekender that can be used for multiple occasions.

Con: Made of quality leather, it’s a heavier and non-vegan choice.

RM Williams bags are as durable as their boots

Mid-Size

Away Expandable Medium

$445

Away suitcases specialise in great storage solutions. Their Expandable Medium is perfect for all you over-packers that need that extra space. If your packing gets really out of control (we get it), this case also offers an interior compression system to help you fit even more inside. The soft-side is made out of a water-resistant nylon for added protection, and you’ll also find plenty of compartments to store your gear, including a sleeve that fits a 15-inch laptop.

Pro: Designed to expand an extra 1.75 inches with compartments that make all your travel essential easily accessible.

Con: The expandable storage and padded design makes it heavier than most mid-size suitcases.

Weight: 5.52kg

The Away Expandable Medium is perfect for all you over-packers

Delsey Chatelet Air 67cm Medium suitcase

$629

The French luggage brand has designed one of the chicest bags on wheels. Their Chatelet Air 69cm Medium suitcase is a favourite amongst the style conscious. It’s a surprisingly tough suitcase made out of an anti-scratch shell that also lives up to its name as a lightweight choice.

Pro: A sophisticated, classical style suitcase for the frugal packers. It includes an integrated lock to protect your belongings.

Con: It’s a pricey mid-size bag and chances are the cream exterior won’t stay cream for long.

Weight: 4.2kg

Chatelet Air 69cm Medium suitcase is a favourite amongst the style conscious

The Daily Edited

$399.95

From phones to luggage tags, The Daily Edited have long been our go-to for all things monogramed. Join the style-set and stamp your name on their Black Large Suitcase. Claiming an unbreakable hard-side shell, it’s also practically designed, with 360 degrees multidimensional wheels and a TSA lock – so you no longer have to panic when you lose your padlock key.

Pro: You can personalise it with your name or initials in a selection of colours and fonts. Plus, if your luggage gets lost in transit you might have more luck in tracing it.

Con: Everyone will know your name.

Weight: 4kg

Large

July Checked Plus Suitcase

$395

July are a newly launched Australian luggage brand dedicated to creating sustainable and longer-lasting luggage. Function meets form in their Checked Plus Suitcase which holds up to 110 litres. It’s designed to be waterproof and unbreakable – to withstand even the most violent of luggage-handlers – while also being lightweight. Overall, it’s a modern and affordable choice for an extended getaway.

Pro: Great durability and you can choose from some unique colours, including forest green, burgundy, nude or navy. Each suitcase includes a hidden laundry bag inside.

Con: The lighter colourway tends to show travel grime a little quicker than the alternatives. Opt for a darker shade if you have the choice!

Weight: 4.8kg

The Checked Plus Suitcase holds up to 110 litres

Samsonite Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase

$1299

Samsonite’s extra-large suitcases are created with revolutionary materials to make them as light as possible. Their high-quality Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase is the premium choice, positioning themselves at the forefront of luxury. The easy manoeuvrability of its wheels – a quality hard to find in large suitcases – is compensation for the hefty price tag.

Pro: Extra lightweight without compromising on size, the hard-side exterior also makes it a durable, long-term investment.

Con: Definitely pricey and potentially bulky.

Weight: 3.8kg

Lite Cube Prime 82cm Spinner Large Suitcase is the premium choice

Antler Portland Softcase Large

$369

There’s a reason Antler have dominated the market for affordable baggage. Their Portland Softcase Large is your best option if you’re looking for something inexpensive without compromising on style. Inside it holds two zip pockets as versatile storage solutions.

Pro: The Portland offers great affordability with plenty of packing room for extended stays. It’s also one of the lightest large suitcases on the market.

Con: The soft-side exterior will be less durable.

Weight: 3.5kg

The Portland offers great affordability with plenty of packing room

Get around the natural beauty and bounty of regional Victoria on a guided tour that reveals extraordinary moments from coast to country.

Walk the Great Ocean Road

forest walk along the Great Ocean Road — Swap your car for walking shoes on the Great Ocean Road.

The Australian Walking Co’s immersive three-day, lodge-based walk is absolute bucket-list fodder. The easy-going, guided coastal hike is marked by epic scenery and end-of-day luxury. You’ll have no need for heavy packs or tents, instead expect fresh-caught crayfish, post-walk canapés and local wines. Each day explores the drama of this ocean-facing landscape with an approachable three-hour-ish walk, leaving plenty of time to unwind at the lodge.

Swim with seals and dolphins at Port Phillip Heads

dolphins swimming in Port Phillip Head Marine Park — Swim with dolphins in Port Phillip Head Marine Park.

Dive into Popes Eye, within Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, for this wild swimming experience with mankind’s BFFs of the sea. On the See All Dolphin Swims 3.5-hour experience, departing from Queenscliff, you’ll begin in shallow, calm waters before venturing off to Chinaman’s Hat and beyond to meet seals and dolphins in their own habitat. All gear is provided and all ages are welcome.

Get your ghost on in the Grampians

For those with a penchant for the paranormal, get ready for goosebumps when you embark on the Lantern Tours J Ward Paranormal Investigation excursion that takes place under the moonlight in the west wing of Aradale Lunatic Asylum. As you keep a lookout for supernatural activity, you’ll enjoy tales of the criminally insane inmates that will make the hairs on your neck stand to attention.

Paddle along the mighty Murray

a woman on a stand-up paddle board along the Murray — Glide along the scenic Murray on a stand-up paddleboard.

Swoosh softly through the silky waters of the mighty Murray on a stand-up paddle board with Echuca Moama Stand Up Paddle . This gentle downstream sojourn meanders for one-and-a-half hours covering 4.5 kilometres of the river, taking in the beauty on the banks and the vibrant birdlife. From Echuca Moama slip under the Moama Bridge and glide beside its iconic paddlesteamers and the historic port.

Sip and cycle in the Yarra Valley

cyclists exploring Yarra Valley — Cycle around Yarra Valley wine country.

Wine and wheels make a great pairing on the Tour De Vines six-hour Yarra Valley tour that weaves through vine-threaded roads. It’s a relaxed pace along 20 kilometres of the Warburton Rail Trail as you spot native birds and stop in at local vineyards and produce stores. You’ll pull in at a local winery for a tasting and enjoy lunch before hitting up a couple of cellar doors. Depending on your pedal power, there may be time to sneak in a visit to a chocolate or cheese factory.

Dig for gold in Bendigo

Think you have what it takes to unearth a gilded treasure? Try your hand at prospecting and learn the art of gold-digging (in the geological sense) on the two-hour Gold Nugget Hunter tour in the Loddon Valley. On the tour, mine the wisdom of locals Shane and Jackie – who have honed their hobby of gold-detecting into an art – to learn how to read the land and use a gold detector. You may even go home with a nugget of your own.

Cruise around Wilsons Promontory

the Skull Rock in Wilsons Prom — Cruise around Skull Rock in Wilsons Prom. (Image: Connor Vaughan)

It’s a thrill to drive directly from the sand into the waves aboard the Wanderer Adventures ’ bright-yellow amphibious boat. On this 2.5-hour tour, you’ll skip along the water to take in Wilsons Prom’s top highlights, such as the imposing Skull Rock, The Glennies, Anderson Islets and Anser Island. Spot seals, penguins and seabirds as you absorb the tranquillity of this stunning environment.

Walk with llamas in the Macedon Ranges

Make friends with a llama in the Macedon Ranges.

If you’ve always felt an affinity for long-lashed camelids, then bonding with a llama on a leisurely walk might just be the thing for you. Opt for either a three-hour, five-kilometre hike or a longer 12-kilometre trek along the Domino Rail Trail paired with a gentle, hooved friend. Things kick off with a llama orientation, where you’ll learn how to lead and look out for your new mate before you hit the track. It’s a lovely way to explore the beauty of the region with a sensitive and curious companion by your side.

Go underground in the Grampians

Take a subterranean tour of Seppelt Wines. (Image: Ben Savage/We Are Explorers)

Oenophiles and cave-lovers alike will enjoy going underground at Seppelt’s ‘Drives’ . The largest underground cellar in Australia, The Drives were dug by local goldminers in 1868 and meander for three-kilometres – keeping wine treasures at a temperate 16-degrees year-round. A 50-minute tour through the heritage-listed granite tunnels happily conclude with a tasting of the label’s celebrated sparkling wines.

Discover island life in the Mornington Peninsula

Discover the Mornington Peninsula’s flora and fauna on a guided tour of French Island.

Eject from the mainland on a catamaran bound for the wildlife haven of French Island with Naturaliste Tours . Once you disembark from the boat, you’ll hop into a 4WD to explore the pristine flora and fauna, from salt marshes to vast Fairhaven Beach. Look out for echidnas and koalas and enjoy short walks and historic sites on this half-day tour.

seals in Wilsons Prom — The southernmost tip is a haven for wildlife. (Image: CMcConville)

Revealed: the best carry-on, mid-size and large luggage

Whether you’re heading off on a long holiday jaunt, overnight affair or work weekender, choosing the right luggage is the key to making your travel run smoothly.

Carry-On