Finding good luggage that’s both stylish and practical – as well as affordable – is harder than it ought to be. But luckily, we recently discovered Thule, a Swedish travel accessories brand that has all the qualities we’re looking for without the need to take out a bank loan to afford them.
Thule has won numerous awards for its car racks and kids’ pushchairs, bike seats and bike trailers, and it’s chalked up another win with a prestigious iF design award for its 55cm carry-on (£200) from the new Subterra luggage.
The carry-on has an internal compression panel to keep neatly folded shirts in place and wrinkle free, plus it keeps them separate from dirty or wet clothes. There’s an easy-access front flap with key clip and zippered mesh pocket, as well as a piggyback strap to neatly attach a laptop bag. Handles on the top, side and bottom help make it that little bit easy to hoist it up to the overhead lockers on a plane.
We’re also fans of the duffle bag (£119.95-£134.95), a more casual option that can double up as carry-on luggage for a weekend city break and an everyday gym bag. The duffle boasts the same attention to detail as the carry-on, with easy-access internal and external pockets, magnetic top handles, and flaps that can be released to extend the capacity of the bag.
Other highlights include a range of backpacks (£95-£125) that all cram in more than enough pockets to satisfy meticulous bag organisers like us. There are even cable managers so you can charge tablets and phones from your laptop while they’re safely tucked away. Another welcome feature is the pass-through panel that slips over the telescopic handles of a carry-on.
See the entire collection on thule.com
