Go big or go home — that is when it comes to buying luggage.
While we’re all for toting a carry-on bag for most vacations, and maybe a small weekender bag for a short getaway, other trips often require more items and in turn, more space. Going somewhere for a week or more? Jumping from country to country? Hitting the friendly skies with a few kids? Well, a massive checked bag will often do, but most models don’t beat the sleek design and easy haul of a trunk.
For those unfamiliar, a trunk, at first mention, may make one think of a huge box in grandma’s closet filled with keepsakes or clothing stored from previous seasons, as well as a steamer truck of a bygone era. However, modern trunks for traveling are taller (as opposed to wider) pieces of luggage that offer more structured packing opportunities and ease of moving around because such luggage is structured to be leaner. There is a collapsible handle and four small wheels just like more diminutive baggage.
Certainly, trunks can be an investment, from a few hundred dollars to thousands depending on who is making the model of your choice. And with those price ranges comes a wide variety of materials, including expensive aluminum and less pricey polycarbonate. But whichever option you like and decide to buy, a trunk is going to change the way you see the world, helping you to take more or bring back more souvenirs and items that will enrich your memories of your next great destination. Check out a few trunks for traveling that we would recommend.
Designed to be lightweight but offer extra room, this suitcase (pictured next to a “Bigger Carry-On for size comparison!) is perfect for those traveling for more than three weeks as it can carry up to 21 outfits. The top lid is slimmer with a mesh organizer (that has three pockets), while the bottom is deep with a double compression pad that allows you to carry more. It weighs 12.3 pounds and has a TSA combination lock to truly keep your goods protected.
Available at Away
The Hue Large Trunk Luggage by Calpak comes in a range of colors and is made of a polycarbonate shell to ensure it can be carried for years to come. Weighing 11.75 pounds, it has dual spinner wheels, is expandable, extending the bag’s carrying capacity by two inches, offers an internal organization system, and, yes, comes with a combination lock, too.
Available at Calpak
So, every trunk doesn’t have to be big big. Some brands, like Delsey Paris, offer an option in multiple sizes, including this medium trunk. A cool feature is that the bag’s lining can be removed and washed so that it’s clean and ready for the next trip. This alternative weighs 9.88 pounds, has four double wheels, a TSA lock, is made of shock-resistant polycarbonate shell with an expandable main compartment, and has an ultra strong zipper.
Available at Delsey Paris
Want a trunk but don’t want to pay a hefty price? Amazon carries a few affordable options, including this one that has a scratch-resistant exterior, a TSA combination lock, two large interior compartments with zipper dividers that allow you to keep many, many things in place and that comes in a pretty wine red. It weighs 13.97 pounds.
Available at Amazon
The Hybrid Trunk from Monos is not only sleek but also made of an aluminum frame and a polycarbonate shell with a metallic finish to handle all the hits and bumps that luggage takes. It has two TSA locks, a telescopic handle with four different settings based on your height preference, corner guards, and 360 spinner wheels that happen to be quiet as can be. Inside, it comes with a laundry bag and two shoe bags, as well as a vegan leather luggage tag for the exterior.
Available at Monos
So this is the big dog of trunks. Rimowa offerings tend to cost over a grand but are lauded by fans for their durability and luxury. This option, in gorgeous gloss green, has a dual organization system, including the brand’s patented compression system feature, a multi-wheel system that helps you move the trunk around without much exertion, and a smooth telescopic handle that allows you to make your way through your destination or around the airport with no trouble. It weighs 11.2 pounds and has a TSA lock as well.
Available at Rimowa
Spacious and stylish, this trunk fits 16 days worth of clothes. It’s made of nearly 100 percent recycled polycarbonate and has a lining constructed from recycled plastic bottles. It also has a textured finish that curbs scuffs, and comes with interior pockets and an always convenient laundry bag.
Available at Paravel
This spinner luggage from Traveler’s Choice is equipped with the brand’s Cyclone Spherical 360 spinner wheel system, which is patented, has a telescopic handle that has a downward curve to keep your hand from getting tired carrying it around, is made from 100 percent polycarbonate for the hardshell and comes with a TSA approved combination lock. It weighs 10.8 pounds.
Available at Amazon