10 of the Best Carry On Luggage for Women [2025]

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A round-up of the best carry on luggage, specifically small wheeled suitcases, for women and female travellers…

If you’re travelling on a budget, packing everything into a small suitcase can help you save money – especially on short-haul flights where hold luggage is rarely included. You’ll also save time at the airport, as you won’t have to wait at the baggage reclaim belt for your bag to resurface.

In this post, I’ve chosen my favourite carry on suitcases, and also gathered recommendations from fellow travel bloggers, to make sure this list only includes tried-and-tested cabin bags that you can trust.

Some (not all) of the cases included below were gifted to me or to the bloggers who recommended them. But no one asked us to inlcude them in this round-up, so these really are genuine recommendations.

My Top Picks

10 Best Carry On Luggage for Women

Top Tip: Don’t forget that some budget airlines these days now only include a “personal item” in the ticket price. So you may need to pay extra to add a cabin suitcase. Check the table at the bottom of this page for clarification.

1. American Tourister Bon Air Spinner Hand Luggage – 32L

Recommended by Emily: I’ve had the larger Bon Air Spinner suitcase from American Tourister for years (read my review here), so I know exactly how durable these cases are. It unfolds into two halves with a mesh divider and several pockets to aid organisation.

2. IT Luggage “World’s Lightest” Cabin Suitcase

Recommended by Emily: The best thing about this two-wheeled case is that it’s ridiculously lightweight, which means it’s a great carry-on case for solo female travellers as it’s much more manageable than a heavier case. I’ve had mine for years, and it’s survived so well!

3. Cabin Max Anode Carry On Suitcase – 35L

Recommended by Emily: One of the unique selling points with this bag is its built-in external USB charger port, which connects to an internal power bank pocket (power bank not included) so you can charge your phone on the go! It’s also made from a super-strong and lightweight material, opens into two halves, and has 4 smooth spinner wheels.

4. Sunwave by Rock Luggage – 35L

Recommended by Emily: I absolutely LOVE the Sunwave Small Suitcase from Rock Luggage. The design is really pretty and there’s a fun range of colours to choose from. I’ve been using mine for several years now and it’s still going strong.

5. The Travel Hack Pro Cabin Case – 28L

Recommended by Justine, Wanderers of the World – read her Travel Hack cabin case review: “Ultimately, this is a super-stylish luxury cabin case without the hefty price tag!”

6. Tripp Holiday 8 – 37L

Recommended by Emily: Another hardshell case that opens into two halves, which is always my personal preference as it makes packing so much easier. It’s made from the same material as the Bon Air above, polypropylene, a lightweight yet incredibly tough and durable material.

7. Gear Warrior Wheeled Duffel International Carry On by Eagle Creek – 37L

Recommended by Katy from A Rambling Unicorn: “I love the rugged yet stylish design. It only has 2 wheels, which maximises space and keeps the total weight down (it only weighs 2.15 kg). This luggage is exceptionally durable. I’ve been travelling around the world for over two years, and it has held up like a champ!”

8. Away Carry On – 39.8L

Recommended By Shannon from Adventuring with Shannon: “The design includes a durable polycarbonate hard shell and the 360 spinner wheels really hold up over time. The centre opening gives you two separate compartments for ideal organisation, and the case comes with a laundry bag.”

9. Tumi Latitude International Carry-On – 35L

Recommended by Mikaela from Voyageur Tripper: The Tumi Latitude is an excellent suitcase. It’s incredibly lightweight and has been thoughtfully designed such that it offers ample organisation and attractive straps and zippers.

10. Tumi International Dual Access Carry-on Alpha 3 – 35L

Recommended by Claudia, the packing expert from Claudia Travels: “Tumi’s International Dual Access Alpha 3 Carry-on bag weighs just over 4.5kg and is made of ballistic nylon. It’s incredibly sturdy, and features protective bumper rails and moulded side panels.”

Carry On Luggage Sizes for Budget Airlines UK – 2025

These days, many budget airlines only include a small cabin bag in the standard ticket fare, referred to as “underseat luggage” or a “personal item”. These are pretty small and have to fit under the seat in front of you.

If you want to take a larger carry-on bag, you’ll need to pay extra. It’s also sometimes included if you pay for priority boarding or an upfront seat, so check out your options when booking your flight.

The tables below should give you a rough idea of what size luggage travellers can take on most budget flights from the UK. These are always subject to change, though, so be sure to double-check before booking anything…

Included (Free) Hand Luggage Allowance

Last updated Feb 2025:

Airline	Size	Weight
Aer Lingus	Personal: 25 x 33 x 20 cm 10kg Bag: 55 x 40 x 24 cm* *Free when checked in at the airport	10kg
British Airways	Personal: 40 x 30 x 15 cm Cabin: 56 x 45 x 25 cm	23kg total
easyJet	45 x 36 x 20 cm	15kg
KLM	Personal: 40 x 30 x 15 cm Cabin: 55 x 35 x 25 cm	12kg total
Ryanair	40 x 20 x 25 cm	NA
TUI	Personal: 40 x 30 x 20 cm Cabin: 55 x 40 x 20 cm	10kg
Wizz Air	40 x 30 x 20 cm	10kg

Large Cabin Bag (Pay Extra or Included with Upgraded Ticket Types)

Last updated Feb 2025:

Airline	Size	Weight
Aer Lingus	55 x 40 x 24cm*	10kg
British Airways	Included (see above)	23kg total
easyJet	56 x 45 x 25 cm	15kg
KLM	Included (see above)	12kg total
Ryanair	55 x 40 x 20cm	10kg
TUI	Included (see above)	10kg
Wizz Air	55 x 40 x 23 cm	10kg

*Air Lingus Update: There are now two options for your 10kg bag with Air Lingus. It is free if you drop off your bag at check-in, but you pay (from £9.99) if you take the bag on board with you. Please note the cabin baggage allowance on regional flights is slightly smaller. Read more here.

Read More

I hope you found this round-up of the best carry-on luggage for women useful! Feel free to leave a comment with any questions – or to share your own favourite cabin-sized bags.

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