The best suitcase for hand luggage fits your airline's cabin limits, weighs little enough to leave room for your things within the allowance, and is built to be used every week rather than twice a year. For most travellers that means a hard shell carry-on of around 55 × 40 × 20 to 25 cm, with quiet spinner wheels, a steady handle and an interior that keeps everything in place. Below we explain what to look for and how to choose.
Why travel with hand luggage only
For trips of one to four days, a well packed carry-on is almost always enough. You walk straight out of the terminal, there is no wait at the baggage belt and no risk of a suitcase going missing on a connection. On many fares you also avoid the cost of a checked bag.
For frequent flyers this changes the rhythm of travelling. Your suitcase stays with you from the front door to the hotel room, which is exactly why it is worth choosing with care. It is the object you use most, and the one people see most.
What makes a good carry-on suitcase
A size that matches your airline
Most European airlines use cabin limits of around 55 × 40 × 20 to 25 cm, including wheels and handles. The differences are small, but they matter at the gate. As of 2026, KLM allows 55 × 35 × 25 cm on Economy Light, Standard and Flex, plus a small bag of 40 × 30 × 15 cm, with 12 kg combined. TUI fly Netherlands allows large hand luggage of 55 × 40 × 20 cm up to 10 kg. Transavia and Corendon work with 55 × 40 × 25 cm and 10 kg, although on their lowest fares the cabin trolley has to be added or is not included. Fares and rules change, so always check with your airline before you fly. Our article on hand luggage and hold luggage sizes goes into more detail.
A sensible empty weight
With a cabin allowance of 10 to 12 kg, the weight of the suitcase itself counts. Aluminium weighs a little more than plastic, so it helps to know the numbers: the Original Carry-on weighs 4.2 kg and the Florence Carry-on 4.1 kg. That still leaves room for a few days of clothing, a wash bag and a laptop, as long as you pack with some method.
Protection for what you carry
A carry-on often holds the most valuable things you travel with: a laptop, documents, a camera, a watch. Soft bags are flexible, but they offer little structure. A hard shell protects against knocks and pressure, and aluminium does this with a calm, solid feel that holds its shape for years.
Wheels, handle and lock
These are the parts you use on every trip. Look for four silent 360° spinner wheels that roll smoothly over terminal floors and cobblestones, a telescopic handle that stops at a comfortable height without wobbling, and a TSA-approved combination lock, so security staff can open the case without damaging it.
An interior that keeps things in order
A fully lined interior with a strap on one side and a zipped divider on the other keeps clothes flat and separates them from shoes or toiletries. It sounds like a detail, until you open your suitcase in a hotel room after a long day of travel.
Why aluminium suits frequent flyers
Ask people who fly often what they travel with, and many will say aluminium. It holds its shape, it lasts, and it is easy to recognise in a row of dark suitcases. Over time it gathers small dents and scratches. We see that as patina rather than damage: every dent tells the story of where you have been.
There is also the question of buying once. A carry-on that is used forty times a year needs a frame that does not bend and wheels that keep running. Our Original collection carries a lifetime guarantee against material and manufacturing defects, such as faults in closures, locks or construction.
Choosing between the Amice carry-on suitcases
- Original Carry-on: 53 × 39.5 × 22 cm, 38 litres, 4.2 kg. 100% aluminium, hand-finished, in Silver or Black. Fits the 55 × 40 × 25 cm limits of Transavia and Corendon.
- Original Carry-on Front Pocket: 53 × 39.5 × 23.5 cm, 40 litres, 4.8 kg. Adds a front pocket for a laptop and documents, so you can reach them at security or on board without opening the case.
- Florence Carry-on: 53 × 34 × 20 cm, 38 litres, 4.1 kg. Slimmer, with an aluminium shell in Silver, and made to fit the stricter limits of KLM (55 × 35 × 25 cm) and TUI fly (55 × 40 × 20 cm).
For KLM and TUI fly, the published limits are a few centimetres smaller than the Original Carry-on on one side. Either check with the airline or choose the Florence Carry-on. Our size guide lists each model against the main airlines.
Light travel and city trips
For a weekend in a city, a compact suitcase with good wheels is often easier than a backpack. You move through stations and narrow streets without the weight on your shoulders, and your clothes arrive without creases. Roll soft items, place heavier things near the wheels and use the divider for shoes. With a little method, three to five days of clothing fits comfortably.
Keep the cabin rules in mind as well. Liquids usually go in containers of up to 100 ml in one resealable 1 litre bag, although airports with newer scanners are relaxing this, so check your departure airport. Power banks belong in your hand luggage, never in a checked suitcase.
When a carry-on is not enough
For trips of a week or longer, or when you travel with formal clothing or sports gear, a carry-on alone becomes tight. Many travellers then combine a check-in suitcase with a carry-on for the things they want close. We cover that in our guide to the best suitcase for long trips.
If you would like to see the sizes side by side, the carry-on collection shows every model in its finishes.
FAQ
What size is a carry-on suitcase?
As of 2026, most European airlines allow around 55 × 40 × 20 to 25 cm including wheels and handles. KLM uses 55 × 35 × 25 cm and TUI fly 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Always check with your airline before flying.
Is an aluminium carry-on too heavy for hand luggage?
Not in practice. The Amice carry-on suitcases weigh 4.1 to 4.8 kg, which leaves room for several days of packing within a 10 to 12 kg allowance.
Which Amice carry-on fits KLM and TUI fly?
The Florence Carry-on, at 53 × 34 × 20 cm, fits both. The Original Carry-on is a few centimetres larger than their published limits on one side, so check with the airline first.
Does the guarantee cover dents and scratches?
No. The lifetime guarantee on the Original collection covers material and manufacturing defects. Dents and scratches are part of aluminium's character, and damage caused by an airline should be reported to the airline.
