Whenever I see a photo of cobblestone alleys, usually in some small European towns, it’s always scenic and romantic. But what nobody tells you about cobblestone streets is that you’re in serious trouble if you’ve got a heavy suitcase and you need to maneuver it on cobblestones.
At A Glance: Best Luggage For Cobblestone Streets
Cheap suitcases often fail the test of cobblestone because the wheels get stuck or damaged. That’s why you need a durable suitcase with sturdy wheels, and this guide to the best luggage for cobblestone streets will tell you everything about the best options on the market!
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![]() | Best Hardshell Luggage
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Best Softshell Luggage
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Best Carry-On Luggage
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Best Backpack For Cobblestone Streets
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![]() | Best Checked Luggage
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Travelpro manufactures some really good luggage and the Maxlite 5 Collection is one of their most popular up to date. These softshell suitcases are durable and lightweight, and feature everything you would expect in a high-quality suitcase.
The luggage has single-spinner wheels that are smooth and silent, which is great for both cobblestone streets and smooth airport floors. The wheel handle is telescopic and height-adjustable, making this bag very easy to maneuver.
The Travelpro Maxlite luggage also features low-profile grab handles on the top and side, as well as an extra grab handle at the bottom. This is especially convenient on carry-on luggage because it makes it so much easier to pick up the bag and place it in an overhead bin.
There’s one large packing compartment inside this suitcase and it features tie-down straps to secure the clothes in place. The top cover features a zippered mesh pocket, plus there’s also an external compartment for items you want to keep more easily accessible. The Maxlite luggage has an expandable capacity, so you’ll be able to fit a lot of items inside this suitcase.
The Winfield 2 is a very popular Samsonite suitcase. It’s manufactured from durable polycarbonate and it’s one of the brand’s most affordable options, so it’s an excellent option for people who are on a tight budget but want quality luggage. The Winfield 2 is inexpensive and will perform just as well as luggage with a much higher price point.
The durable polycarbonate is the main reason for the excellent quality of the suitcase, but there are also other features that make it a great piece of luggage. The Winfield 2 boasts smooth and silent spinner wheels, a height-adjustable wheel handle, a TSA-friendly combination lock, and an expandable capacity.
It’s worth noting that the 20-inch luggage is the only non-expandable option, so just keep that in mind. The single spinner wheels on the Samsonite luggage will perform well on cobblestone streets, but they won’t be perfectly silent.
Additionally, this luggage features a fully lined interior with a zippered divider in the top compartment and tie-down straps in the bottom one. There are two zippered pockets on the divider, which will help keep your Samsonite suitcase organized.
Briggs & Riley Baseline is a personal favorite and the suitcase I would recommend to anyone who is specifically looking for a large softside suitcase. This brand is known for the excellent quality of its products, and the Baseline is one of the best bags they’ve ever manufactured.
The main reason why I’m so impressed with this suitcase is their proprietary CX compression system. It allows you to expand the bag by approximately 22%, and what’s best is that the suitcase doesn’t have an expansion zipper. The compression system uses buttons on the side, and when you’ve packed the bag to the brim, you just need to push on the front panel to compress everything inside.
The suitcase also features double spinner wheels, an Outsider wheel handle that doesn’t take away from the packing capacity of the main compartment, and a convenient external pocket. The wheels on this suitcase are absolutely amazing and they will handle cobblestone alleys like champions.
The packing compartment is fully lined and features multiple pockets for easy organization. There’s even a suiter section with a hanger bracket in the top cover, which is great for items you want to ensure don’t get wrinkled in transport.
Eagle Creek Warrior is an interesting piece of luggage because it’s a combination of a duffel bag and a suitcase. It’s shaped like a duffel and has the compression straps and grab handles of duffel bags, but features a narrow body, wheels, and a telescopic wheel handle just like a regular suitcase.
What’s great about this piece of luggage is that it has some awesome organizational features. I’m not talking just about pockets, which can be found all over the bag; I’m talking about the external attachment points that allow you to store bulky gear on top of the Warrior case.
The compression straps on the front of the bag are great for controlling its size when it’s not filled to capacity. The spinner wheels are smooth, quiet, and sturdy enough to roll on cobblestones without any issues. The wheel handle can be stored inside its own compartment, plus the bag has multiple grab handles all over the body so you can always pick it up easily. Also, the zippers on this bag are lockable for extra security.
Warrior luggage is an excellent option for any traveler who enjoys organizing their bags. This case has too many pockets to count, including internal pockets, external compartments, and a handy attachment strap at the top for extra clothes or other bulky items.
The Rockland Pasadena luggage is a good budget option. If you need a suitcase for one specific trip and you do not care what happens to it after, this is probably one of the best options because it normally retails for less than $50.
It’s a standard softshell suitcase made from 100% polyester. The durability of the bag is honestly nothing special and I would not recommend it for checked luggage because I highly doubt the case would survive more than a couple of trips, but the carry-on is certainly a good option. You don’t have to worry about the bag falling apart before it makes it to the conveyor belt, plus it’s got some big spinner wheels that can easily move on cobblestones.
The suitcase features an expandable capacity, internal and external pockets for easy organization, and a durable aluminum handle. It’s even got reinforced corners for better durability and impact resistance, as well as riveted top and side grab handles.
This might not be the best-looking luggage out of the bunch, but it’s definitely a solid option if you can’t afford a high-end suitcase. The main compartment of the Pasadena suitcase is fully lined and equipped with tie-down straps, as well as a large zippered pocket on the top cover.
The Platinum Elite luggage from Travelpro is another great option for cobblestone streets because of its large spinner wheels. They’ll handle the bumpy cobblestone like champs and the height-adjustable wheel handle ensures you can comfortably maneuver this luggage everywhere.
This luggage is one of the better options for business trips, thanks to the interior suiter section that allows you to pack clothes without wrinkling them. The capacity of the Platinum Elite is expandable, plus the main compartment features several pockets and a compression pad for easy packing.
One important thing to note is that the 21” carry-on measures 23.5” with wheels and handles, so it’s most likely too big to be an international carry-on. It can work for flights with select airlines in the United States, but not for most airlines in Europe.
Other features of this Travelpro softside luggage include a USB port for charging with a dedicated power bank pocket, a removable TSA-compliant bag for liquids, and multiple exterior pockets with easy access. Another thing I must mention is that the luggage is designed to have a low center of gravity, which keeps it from tipping over even when the capacity is expanded.
The Amazon Basics spinner suitcase is a good option for travelers on a tight budget. If you need a suitcase and you can’t afford to spend a lot of money on it, this is a solid choice with an affordable price point.
The suitcase is made from ABS plastic so it’s not the most durable option out of the bunch, but that only really matters if you’re interested in checked luggage. ABS plastic is perfectly fine for carry-ons, and I’m speaking from personal experience here.
The shell of the suitcase is textured to hide scuffs and scratches, and the spinner wheels should perform well even on cobblestone. The luggage won’t be perfectly silent, but it should be pretty easy to maneuver on uneven terrain.
On the inside, the Amazon Basics suitcase doesn’t differ too much from your average carry-on suitcase. It’s got two fully lined packing compartments, featuring a zippered divider in the top one and elastic cross straps in the bottom one. The two pockets on the divider will help you stay organized when packing, plus there’s an extra zippered pocket in the bottom compartment.
Away luggage is always premium quality, and the brand is a good option if you’re looking for a reliable and durable suitcase. The Carry-On Flex is special because it features an expandable capacity, which is a feature Away’s standard suitcase collection lacks.
What’s important to note here is that the carry-on luggage has an expandable capacity that can help you fit a lot more items inside, but it will also transform your carry-on into a checked bag. If you are not able to zip up the expansion when it’s time to fly home, the luggage will be too big to be a carry-on.
But that’s the only negative thing I have to say about the Away suitcase, and even that’s an issue only in specific situations. This is still an excellent suitcase manufactured from durable and flexible polycarbonate, and with durable spinner wheels that can glide over any terrain.
The wheel handle is height adjustable for easier maneuverability, the TSA-friendly lock will give you some peace of mind about your belongings, and the low-profile grab handles make it super easy to pick up the suitcase.
The main compartment of this luggage is fully lined and features a zippered divider on one side and a compression pad on the other. Because of the compression pad, this suitcase can fit a lot more items than you might initially think, and that’s my favorite thing about it.
Osprey is one of my favorite brands for backpacks and if you’re not looking for a standard suitcase, the Farpoint 65 is certainly a piece of luggage you should be considering. It’s an excellent backpack with wheels, a large capacity, and an extremely comfortable back system.
The wheels on the Farpoint are very large so the bag will be super easy to maneuver on cobblestone. They are in-line skate wheels and not spinner wheels, but honestly, that might be better for cobblestone because it would take a lot of effort to damage the wheels on this pack.
Also, the entire back system is padded and ventilated for your comfort, plus the sternum strap and hip belt will help keep the weight of the load off your shoulders.
It’s important to note that this backpack is too big to be a carry-on bag, so consider it only if you want checked luggage. It’s got a capacity of 65 liters, which is more than some suitcases that are a similar height. Also, the Farpoint is miles better for staying organized than any suitcase, thanks to the variety of internal and external pockets.
This bag even features compression straps that are extremely helpful for keeping the backpack stable when it’s not filled to capacity. On top of all that, the Farpoint is compatible with Osprey’s Daylite backpacks, and you can easily attach the small daypack on top of this bag for even more storage!
Delsey Helium Aero is another personal favorite and I think it would work really well on cobblestone streets. The spinner wheels are durable and smooth-rolling, so I don’t have any doubts you’d be able to maneuver this luggage with ease on uneven terrain. The wheel handle is height adjustable, making it super easy to set it to a height you find most comfortable.
This hardside suitcase is made from polycarbonate, the best and most durable material used in the manufacturing of luggage. The shell is also textured for better resistance to scratches, and it’s what makes this case one of the best options for checked luggage.
The Helium Aero suitcase also features an expandable capacity, a TSA-friendly lock, and low-profile grab handles on the top and side. On the inside, the suitcase features two fully lined packing compartments with elastic cross straps on the left side and a full-panel zippered divider on the right side.
The only downside of this luggage is that it doesn’t feature any pockets. The organizational features are seriously lacking, but with luggage of this size, that problem can be solved with packing cubes.
Yes, you can use two-wheel luggage for cobblestone streets. While spinner luggage is generally preferred because it’s easier to move around with it, two-wheeled luggage is sometimes the better option for cobblestone streets because the wheels are more durable.
It’s recommended to get luggage as small as possible for your trip. If it’s at all possible, pack in a carry-on, and if you must take a checked bag, go with a medium size. It’s easier to maneuver smaller and lighter bags on cobblestone streets, especially if you’re able to pick up the bags without being in pain.
Yes, soft-sided luggage can be used on cobblestone streets without any issues.
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