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

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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

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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

Stamp your name on the Black Large Suitcase

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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
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Theatre, art and music: Our top picks from this year’s Perth Festival lineup

Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy

    Lynn Gail Lynn Gail
    Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.

    Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:

    1. East Perth Power Station

    East Perth Power Station during Perth Festival
    See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)

    Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.

    A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.

    2. St Mary’s Cathedral

    Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth
    Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)

    Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.

    The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.

    3. Lotterywest Films

    guests at Lotterywest Films as part of Perth Festival
    Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)

    One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.

    4. The Embassy

    guests at The EMbassy as part of Perth Festival
    Step into the old world glitz of The Embassy. (Image: Franz Bato)

    Modelled on Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, a devilish dance venue that operated in the 1900s, The Embassy in Perth Town Hall, serves sophistication in its A-list shows. Set your sequins a’sparkle at the, What’s TINA Got to Do With It extravaganza where guest artists play tribute as they belt out the glitzy star’s hits. The returning act, Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band, will have you jiving as you take to the dance floor reimagining a bygone era. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Black-bearded drag sensation, La Gateau Chocolat puts the raw in cacao. World-renowned for his feisty range of storied songs, he reveals the inner-man come artist through his deliciously sweet and intimate act.

    5. Unusual locations

    still from The Trial theatre
    Watch a star-studded cast in The Trial. (Image: Cole Baxter)

    We’ve all heard of the hit show, The Office, but a spinetingling operatic thriller acted out in disused office space? Philip Glass’ nail-biter, The Trial, has a star-studded line-up. Together they deliver a dramatic ordeal showcasing Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton’s libretto; the suspense lingers after the final bow.

    Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence.  Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.

    6. A View From A Bridge

    A View From A Bridge special event at Perth Festival
    Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.

    Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.

    What else to do in Perth

    Shadow Wine Bar in perth
    Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.

    Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

    After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.

    Start planing your 2026 trip to Perth Festival at perthfestival.com.au.