Best large check-in spinner suitcases

Top pick: Away The Large — the best all-rounder for most people. A 29" hardside spinner with about 99 L of space, a tough polycarbonate shell, smooth 360° wheels and a built-in compression system that lets you pack more than the size suggests. It's the one to buy if you want a big, easy-to-live-with checked bag.

Who the others suit:

• Travelpro Platinum Elite Large Check-In — soft-sided, lightest of the serious bags, and the pick if you want pockets, expandability and airline-crew-grade build.
• Briggs & Riley Large Expandable Spinner — the buy-once option: soft-sided, expands generously, and backed by a lifetime warranty.
• Samsonite Freeform Hardside — the value hardside; light, expandable and widely sold, good if you'd rather not spend premium money.
• July Checked Expandable — a stylish hardside with a built-in battery-free design and expandable zip; suits travellers who want looks plus function.
• Delsey Helium Aero 31" — the biggest capacity here, for long trips and overpackers.
• Nobl Check-In 28" — a solid mid-priced hardside if you want something a bit different from the big brands.

Skip the very cheap no-name 28" hardsides if you fly often — the shells and wheels are the first things to fail.