At the Carousel Oct/Nov '11

To ring in spring, American Tourister offers a fun hardside collection, Cube Alfa. Made from 100 per cent polycarbonate, the Cube Alfa has a sleek design with an ultra-gloss finish. It includes a telescopic pull handle, combination lock, internal divider and straps, and a three-year warranty. Available in apple green, red and sky blue, as well as varying sizes: 44 litres, $279; 71 litres, $319; and 104 litres, $349. americantourister.com.au

Skip the carousel with Hideo Wakamatsu’s 19-inch Jelly Bean Cabin Trolley. This compact case features industry-standard zipper locks and an anti-bacterial inner lining to guard against odours and mildew.

It also comes with four ‘silent wheels’ designed to glide along, unlike older-style hollow plastic wheels, which have a tendency to rattle.

28 litres, $199. hideo.com.au

Hitting stores this month is Samsonite’s Aeris Comfort range. Available in a variety of summery colours, each case is made from polypropylene plastic, so it’s strong, lightweight and moisture resistant. It also comes with a fixed combination lock, adjustable push-button handle on top, side handle, internal divider and spinning, wide-track wheels.

87 litres, $479, or 118 litres, $499.

samsoniteaustralia.com