After travelling for almost 50 weeks of the year, I’ve learnt that efficient packing isn’t about taking less, it’s about choosing luggage that works as hard as you do.
getty
People often ask me about the hotels I stay in, the airlines I fly or the destinations I return to time and again, and my restaurant top tips.
The question I’m asked most often, though, is much simpler.
“What luggage do you actually use & what is your packing technique?”
After travelling for business for the best part of 48 – 50 weeks a year, I’ve learnt that the difference between a good trip and an exhausting one isn’t always the flight or the hotel. More often than not, it’s the case you’re pulling behind you.
I’ve tested plenty over the years, but these are the three pieces that have genuinely earned a permanent place in my travel routine.
1. Briggs & Riley Extra-Large Trunk Spinner (From $699)
My trusted check-in case for more than six years. The trunk-style design keeps long-haul business travel organised, while the capacity comfortably handles extended trips without compromise.
Briggs & Riley
If I’m travelling internationally for two or three weeks, this is the case that comes with me every single time, it is literally my ‘home from home’.
I’ve owned my Briggs & Riley Extra-Large Trunk Spinner for many years , and despite crossing continents, countless airport baggage systems and more hotel lobbies than I could ever count, it still performs exactly as it should. It has had two repair cycles with its lifetime guarantee – and both were without any issue.
What I love most is the trunk-style design. Rather than one large cavern, the split compartments make packing far more organised. I can separate outfits, shoes and workwear, compact gym equipment, a compact tea-kettle (yep, British person proud of my tea-addiction here) without constantly unpacking the entire suitcase every time I reach a new destination.
The capacity is exceptional too. When work requires multiple wardrobes, filming equipment or several weeks away, comfortably packing up to the max 32kg airline allowance makes a genuine difference.
It’s certainly an investment, but when a suitcase becomes one of your most-used business tools, reliability quickly outweighs price.
2. TUMI 19 Degree Aluminium International Carry-On (from $1295)
My go-to international carry-on. Lightweight, beautifully balanced and engineered to glide through busy airports, with enough organisation to travel for several days without checking a bag.
TUMI
For shorter international trips, this is my trusted companion.
There are occasions when I’m flying for just three or four days, often with meetings, and evening events packed into a tight schedule. This case comfortably handles all of it without needing checked luggage.
The aluminium shell has become something of a TUMI signature, but for me the real value lies inside. The integrated garment section allows me to carry a suit properly, while thoughtful internal organisation means everything has its place.
What people often overlook with luggage, however, is the importance of movement.
I spend enough time in airports to see the same problem repeated over and over again. Travellers dragging heavy two-wheel cases behind them, weaving through crowds and creating bottlenecks simply because their luggage isn’t working with them.
A great carry-on should almost glide.
Four genuinely smooth spinner wheels, a comfortable telescopic handle and balanced weight distribution reduce the physical effort of travelling far more than most people realise. Once you’ve experienced luggage that moves effortlessly through an airport, it’s surprisingly difficult to go back.
3. NOBL Duo (from $299)
For domestic trips and overnight stays, the NOBL Duo proves that thoughtful design matters. Clever storage, effortless manoeuvrability and practical features make travelling noticeably easier.
NOBL
For domestic travel, overnight stays and shorter business trips, I’ve increasingly found myself reaching for the NOBL Duo.
It strikes an excellent balance between practicality and style, looking equally at home walking into a client meeting or rolling through a railway station.
The details are what elevate it. The integrated cup holder quickly becomes one of those features you wonder how you ever travelled without. The charging port keeps devices powered between meetings, while TSA-approved locks, smooth 360-degree wheels and clever storage solutions make it feel exceptionally well thought through.
I also like that NOBL offers a wide range of colours without compromising on a clean, professional aesthetic (though next time, I will be nudging towards a darker palate selection)
Sometimes the smartest products aren’t those that reinvent travel.
They’re the ones that quietly solve the small frustrations we experience every single week.
The Best Luggage Isn’t About Luxury
After years of travelling almost constantly, I’ve realised that great luggage isn’t really about status.
It’s about reducing friction.
When you’re moving through airports, train stations and hotel receptions week after week, every thoughtful detail matters. Better wheels. Better organisation. Better balance. Better durability.
Travel is demanding enough without your luggage making it harder! Safe travels.