The Great Travel Bag Debate: Backpacks Versus Cabin Cases
Backpacks are for boys, cases are for men? We'll see about that. Discover why the only luggage worth your loyalty is the one built to last - Aspinal of London’s travel collection.
Mankind has always thrived on rivalries. Beatles vs Stones. Messi vs Ronaldo. Martini: shaken or stirred. And now, another battle joins the list - backpacks vs cases. Because nothing defines a man’s travel style quite like the luggage he chooses to carry.
Picture it: Heathrow at dawn. On one side, the case man - rolling effortlessly, his luxury leather cabin case gliding across the floor with the quiet assurance of a man who knows where all his cufflinks are at all times. On the other, the backpack guy - a born minimalist, hands free, the essentials he needs and nothing more. Both approaches speak volumes. Both say something about your priorities, your style, and the way you face the world.
Of course, each camp has its merits. A case offers structure, space, and the kind of order that reassures even the most frantic flyer. A backpack, on the other hand, champions agility, ease, and the freedom to remain agile in the aisles while buying toiletries. Both camps make a strong case (pun intended) - but none so much as Aspinal of London.
The brand’s luxury travel collection makes picking a side next to impossible - with the best men's cabin cases, backpacks, flight bags and travel briefcases, all handcrafted in fine leather. But which side will you take - Team Backpack or Team Case? Read on to see where you stand.
Making the case for: the best men's leather backpacks and bags
Backpacks and flight bags are for men who know the world isn’t built for wheels. Have you ever tried dragging a case up a spiral staircase in Rome, or over cobblestones in Lisbon? Exactly. With a backpack, your hands are free for more important things: passport, flat white, duty-free Toblerone. No squeaky wheels. No wrestling with overhead lockers like you’re auditioning for WWE.
Flight bags deserve a shout, too. Small but mighty, they slip into overhead compartments without fuss and are perfect for the traveller who packs light, moves fast, and doesn’t need a hard shell to feel secure.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Reporter Backpack in Black Pebble
£595.00
Stylish and spacious, the Reporter Leather Backpack is the new season update you've been waiting for. Handcrafted from the finest premium leather, the semi-structured design is perfect for life on the go and there is even space for a 14-inch laptop.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Zipped Leather Backpack in Tobacco Pebble
£750.00
Perfect for commuting, day trips and even overnight stays, this semi-structured silhouette has been carefully designed to maximise functionality. Internally, you'll find a spacious main compartment with capacity for all your belongings, as well as a dedicated laptop slip pocket for a 15.6" laptop to keep your tech secure.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Hudson Flight Work Bag in Forest Green Milled Pebble
£695.00
Elegant and beautifully crafted, the Hudson Flight Bag is the ideal companion for short-haul travel and refined weekends away when you need a bit of wiggle room. Keeps things hands free by wearing with the adjustable shoulder strap.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Brit Duffle Travel Bag
£850.00
The vintage-inspired Brit Duffle Travel Bag is one piece of luggage you'll never lose in a crowd. Handcrafted from the finest full-grain leather with a distinctive hand-stitched Union Jack flag to the front, the softly structured duffle-style shape is spacious enough for all your travel essentials - again, you can keep your hands free for passports, coffees, obsessively doom-scrolling on your phone by using the shoulder strap.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Harrison Large Weekender Travel Bag in Smooth English Tan
£850.00
Here's where things get really decadent. Handcrafted from the finest full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, this exquisite material is carefully bathed in natural vegetable dyes, enhancing its organic texture and rich tonal depth. It's designed to get better with age, so you'll still be rocking this one in your 60s.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Men's Weekend Bag in Navy Leather-Trim Nylon Canvas
£395.00
Looking for something a little more lightweight? Handcrafted from durable, tight weave nylon canvas accented by a premium full-grain leather trim, this spacious bag is ideal for a smart/casual style you can even take to the gym.
Making the case for: the best men's leather cabin case
Backpacks are fine for gym kit, student days, and pretending you’re “just travelling light.” But when you want to pack like a grown-up, stop messing around and get yourself a case. A proper luxury leather cabin bag is the difference between rummaging for socks in a nylon sack and gliding through the terminal with everything neatly in its place.
A case says you’ve graduated. Suits stay crisp, shirts folded just so, shoes nestled where they should be - not squashed under your laptop. It’s luggage with structure, order and a reassuring sense of calm. And when it’s crafted to last a lifetime, like the Aspinal of London Connaught cabin case, it's a no brainer. When the trip matters - business abroad, destination wedding, that weekend where you want to arrive in style - nothing beats the case. Fact.
Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Connaught Cabin Suitcase in Black Saffiano
£716.00
Stylishly crafted and built to endure, consider the Connaught Cabin Case luggage goals. Handcrafted by leather artisans from the finest premium leather, its compact silhouette is expertly designed to maximise storage without compromising on style. Inside, you'll find that signature extra fancy monogram grosgrain-lined interior, along with a zip-around divider on one side and leather trimmed packing straps on the other, keeping your possessions organised and secure. On the outside, an easy to access pocket for the tech and documents you want to keep close at hand. Perfection.