1 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
These are the best cabin bags for short‑haul trips if you hate stressful packing
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Short-haul flights are great, but packing for them can be tricky. What are the essentials you need? How much can you fit? But it all comes down to what bag you’re planning to put it all in.
You want a bag that says I’ve got you covered. However, with airlines setting more restrictions on dimensions and weight, it now seems more of a stressful experience than exciting. You need one that fits perfectly into the overhead locker, or if you’re going to try your luck, even under the seat in front of you. But it needs to be accessible to grab your essentials if you need them, like your passport or your purse for those in-flight refreshments.
So, whether you’re heading off on a weekend city break, a last-minute getaway or even a work trip, these are the best travel bags with compartments, comfy straps, and designs that will have you booking your next trip before you’ve even been on your first. Think cabin cases, hold-alls, and backpacks. These are the options that are perfectly suited to short-haul flights, and will make packing far less of a headache.
Shop the Best Travel Bags Below:
IT Luggage Slipstream Hard Shell Suitcase
If you like to keep your travel simple and stress-free, a compact hard-shell suitcase is hard to beat. This one keeps everything neatly zipped away, glides easily through the airport and takes the panic out of overhead locker packing. It’s lightweight, affordable and comes available in medium and large suitcases if you want a matching set.
The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel 32L
Reliable and deceptively spacious, this duffel is ideal if you want something that will last for years to come. The 32L size is spot-on for hand luggage, with practical compartments and comfortable carry options. It’s especially good for breaks where you’re constantly on the move.
Antler Icon Weekender Bag in Black
We all need a weekend bag that we can reach for whenever we need it. This smart, structured, and spacious option from Antler is one of the best out there. It is designed to slide neatly into overhead lockers while still fitting in everything you need for a short break. Multiple internal pockets for laptops, tablets, and other devices make it brilliant to keep things organised.
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Samsonite Ecodiver Duffle with wheels 55cm
A duffle is all good, but once they’re full to the brim, they can become heavy, which makes this option with wheels one to invest in. Not only is it fitted with a TSA lock, but it’s spacious to fit all of your essentials in, it's made from recycled materials, and it’s water-resistant, which makes it perfect for quick city breaks. If you are flying with airlines that have smaller requirements, luckily for you, you can get it available in 45cm.
Tripp Affinity Grey Marl Backpack
Backpacks are always a good idea, and you don’t need to worry about whether everything will fit when you’ve got one like this. Tripp has ticked all of the boxes with their Affinity Backpack. Lightweight, multiple pockets and compartments for toiletries and tech, perfect size for under-seat storage, and it’s also now half price, making it a bargain to snap up for your next trip.
Away The Softside Compact Carry-On in Coast Blue
Away has taken the usual cabin bag and redesigned it to meet airline size requirements, so you don’t have to experience that last-minute panic about whether it will be allowed or not. It features clever internal compression that keeps the case balanced when full, an expanding zip if you need a little more space, and also has a hidden padded front pocket for items like tablets and passports. It also has a nifty underside grab handle for efficiency to pull it smoothly out of the overhead locker.
Stackers Weekend Bag
Stackers are known for their innovative designs, and this weekend bag is no different. This isn’t just a bag to pile your clothes in; it fully unzips so it lies flat for maximum packing potential, doubling as a clothes bag with a coat hanger loop. It also boasts inside zip pockets and an extender for extra garments if needed. It fits neatly in overhead lockers and looks effortlessly stylish.
Eastpak TRANVERZ S Cabin Bag
This soft cabin case offers flexible packing space and dual compartments for organisation. It’s lightweight, durable and ideal if you like a bag that adapts to what you’re packing, especially handy for return flights when you’ve been on a shopping spree.
Osprey The Voyage Nylon Weekender in Chocolate
This is a great pick if comfort is high on your priority list. Created with travel specifically in mind, this bag features padded straps for extra comfort, internal organisational compartments and is made in a lightweight nylon fabric so you don’t have to worry about breaking your back. It also looks super stylish when strutting through the airport.
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