I often find it difficult to travel with hand luggage only, but since I bought this case packing has felt so much easier, and I’ve managed to get three nights’ worth of clothes inside without a struggle

Travelling with hand luggage only has a lot of advantages. It’s often much cheaper than putting a bag into the hold, and when you step off your plane you don’t spend the first half-hour of your holiday stood by the conveyor belt.

That said, as a chronic over-packer who has tried all sorts of packing methods, I still get a little panicky when faced with the prospect of taking everything I need for a short break in a small suitcase. When the wheel broke off my old case, I decided to treat myself to a decent cabin bag in an attempt to help me to learn to pack light.

Looking on Amazon, I found the FLYMAX cabin suitcase, which is perfectly proportioned at 55x30x20cm. At £24.99 for the cabin-sized case, this is an inexpensive option compared to some similar cases I found. I was flying with easyJet and could take a bag up to 56x45x25cm, so this bag gave me a couple of centimetres of wiggle room. It would also work on Ryanair, which allows you to bring a paid-for cabin bag of up to 55x40x20cm, and TUI which has the same requirements for cabin bag sizes.

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The case has a solid hard-plastic shell. I know some people prefer a soft case, thinking they can squish more in, but this can be a dangerous gamble on budget airlines. If your zip does up, but your bag’s bulge takes it over the bag sizer line, you can end up with a hefty fee to check it at the gate. I prefer having a hard shelled case knowing it’s more difficult to overpack it.

Inside, the bag has a zipped compartment and one side with a strap, which was handy for separating clean and dirty clothes. There was also a small mesh pocket that I used for jewellery and small items I didn’t want to get lost.

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I also liked that the case has four wheels, so you aren’t dragging it behind you, but can simply glide it along the polished floors of the airport. The wheels worked well in multiple directions, meaning I could manoeuvre it round the aisles of the duty free shop.

One downside was that it struggled a little on carpet. When we arrived at our hotel, a slightly fluffy rug made it harder to move, so I resorted to pulling it behind me.

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Generally, reviews for the case are positive. One buyer said: “Great suitcase for the price, ideal size for a week away and a lovely colour.”, while another added: “Absolutely delighted with this suitcase . Love the colour. Also the to compartments that are separated by a zipped compartment.”

However, one person claimed: “Got back from first use and the inside zip compartment has broken case didn’t feel as durable whilst travelling.” Another disgruntled customer added: “It got visibly damaged on the first trip (the area that the zip is attached to is dented inwards).”

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Brands such as Samsonite also do a range of cabin luggage that is suitable to take as hand luggage on most planes. However, you should check the dimensions before you fly. Its C-Lite range currently comes with free packing cubes, making it easier to organise all your essentials.

You can also maximise your luggage allowance by choosing an underseat bag that matches the airline’s dimensions. For example, the xlodea cabin bag is a rucksack that measures 40x30x20cm, making it just the right size to take as a Ryanair free personal item. Just be careful not to stuff too much in as this could make it difficult to fit into the sizer.

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