The Best Lightweight Luggage, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Samsonite Uplift Hardside Carry-on

View on Samsonite

The Samsonite Uplift Hardside Carry-on was a favorite in the lab, impressing us with its weight at just over 5 pounds, which made it easy to maneuver and lift into an overhead bin even when it's packed full. The wheels rolled like a dream around our obstacle course, and we had no issues taking it over carpet and concrete curbs. We like that we could easily adjust the handle to multiple heights at 1-inch increments, making the bag ideal for travelers short and tall. This carry-on also has a built-in TSA lock that was simple to use.

This is a relatively compact carry-on, and the organizational features of this bag are pretty simple: it has a clamshell opening with two open compartments that don't include any pockets or compression panels. While we would love to see a few pockets inside to help keep smaller items separate, the lack of internal features does help maximize packing space and helps keep the bag lightweight. The bag is also expandable for an extra inch of space. Even though this suitcase is extremely lightweight, it doesn't skimp on durability — we only saw a couple of scratches after hitting it with a baseball bat, and we were able to buff them out with a finger. Combine those features with the under-$200 price tag, and this simplistic carry-on is hard to beat.

The Details: Carry-on | 5.07 pounds | 22 x 14 x 9 inches | Expandable (1 inch) | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels

Best Expandable

Antler Icon Stripe Carry-on with Expander

$265 $186 at Antler.com

Whether you tend to overpack or like to bring home souvenirs, expandable bags can really save the day. We love that the Icon Strip Carry-on from Antler expands just about 2 inches, allowing you to fit even more items in the already spacious interior. The bag looks compact, but it's has nearly 40 liters of packing space inside, which is decent for a carry-on, and then you can unzip the expansion when you need to squeeze in more. It also weighs just over 6 pounds, so we aren't concerned about it getting too heavy even when expanded.

The bag's interior has two zippered pockets on the compartment flap and one narrow pocket on the inside of the other compartment, as well as a compression strap on one side to hold everything down. We'd love to see another pocket or two but felt that this was sufficient for staying organized. From wheels to zippers to handles, everything worked smoothly and felt very luxe. We particularly loved how well this rolled around, and think it would make it easy to get through big crowds or go through narrow airplane aisles. The bag also held up well to our durability tests, making it a sturdy, spacious bag that feels up to the task of any trip.

The Details: Carry-on | 6.17 pounds | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9 inches | 39.6-liter capacity | Expandable (2 inches) | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels

Best Compact Carry-on

July Carry On Light

View on July.com

If you value a light bag over a spacious one, the July Carry On Light is a great choice. It's quite compact, offering just 32 liters of space, but that small size only weighs 3.9 pounds, making it the lightest rolling suitcase on this list — and the lightest wheeled carry-on we've ever tested. It would be nearly impossible to go over weight restrictions even when this is packed full, considering it's pretty small and does not have an expander. There are no extra pockets or compression straps inside, although each compartment does zip fully closed, which allows you to make the most of the space inside. If you want something a little larger, you can get the July Carry On Light Expandable — it weighs 1 pound more and has up to a 40-liter capacity when expanded.

This bag is easy to maneuver over various types of flooring. It doesn't go over curbs very well because it's low to the ground, but it's light enough that you can just pick it up by its handles if necessary. All of the zippers work well, and you can adjust the handle to three different heights. The carry-on sustained a few scuffs after we hit it with a baseball bat and threw it off a table, but the interior remained safe, and we think July luggage is reliable, so we don't think durability is an issue (you also probably won't be checking this small bag, so it's less likely to get scuffed). We think this would be a great carry-on for overnight trips, short getaways, or when flying on airlines with strict overhead bin size requirements.

The Details: Carry-on | 3.9 pounds | 21.25 x 14.17 × 7.5 inches | 32-liter capacity | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels

Most Durable

Samsonite Proxis Global Carry-On Spinner

View on Samsonite

We've tested hundreds of bags (literally over 600 pieces of luggage) over the years, so we're always excited to see new innovations in the industry. You can imagine our surprise when we heard the Samsonite Proxis Global Carry-On Spinner had been dropped from space and survived with zero damage — what? While we couldn't perform the same NASA-level test, we did bring this carry-on to our lab and were thoroughly impressed with its durability. After hitting it with a baseball bat several times and jumping up and down on it for good measure, we didn't see any signs of scuffing, scratching, or denting whatsoever. The hardside shell is made with Roxkin, a Samsonite-exclusive material, and is layered in a way that allows it to bounce back after pressure is applied. Not only does this make the bag strong, but it's also incredibly light (the entire carry-on weighs less than 5 pounds) and stylish to boot.

Inside, you'll find pretty standard organizational features like mesh zippered pockets, compression straps, and fabric dividers. But they get the job done — we were able to fit a decent amount of items (including two pairs of shoes, three pairs of pants, a blazer, four shirts, two sweaters, two pairs of pajamas, and more) without needing packing cubes. The bag also expands a small amount if needed, and we don't think we'd have a problem fitting it in the overhead bin even when fully packed and expanded. We thought it was effortless to maneuver the suitcase over various surfaces, spinning it with ease on linoleum, a carpet, and concrete. This carry-on has a high price tag that won't be realistic for everyone, but we think it's worth the money if you're willing and able to splurge.

The Details: Carry-on | 4.9 pounds | 22 x 14 x 9 inches | Expandable (0.5 inches) | USB charging port | Roxkin outer shell | 4 dual spinner wheels

Best Checked

Samsonite Proxis Medium Spinner

View on Samsonite $550 at Macy's $381 at Staples

We also loved the larger checked suitcase from Samsonite's Proxis line and were happy to see how lightweight it was at 6.9 pounds — a rarity in checked luggage. Though this bag was not dropped from outer space like the Proxis carry-on, it still felt extremely durable and is made from the same Roxkin material. It showed no signs of damage after we hit it with a baseball bat during testing, so we're confident it will stand up to being tossed around during travel.

There is plenty of space inside this bag, which has to do with the thin mesh lining sewn close to the shell (as opposed to the billowy nylon you see in most suitcases). Because of this design, it feels like there isn't a bit of space wasted. This bag rolled smoothly during testing, and it was effortless to maneuver and pick up, even when fully packed.

The organizational features are fairly simple, with an X compression strap on one side and a large zippered mesh pocket on the other. The outside of this hardside bag feels sturdy and also looks great. "This suitcase is an absolute stunner," says T+L Senior Editor Jasmine Grant. "The outer shell is textured and resembles superhero-like armor, which is so gorgeous."

The Details: Checked | 6.9 pounds | 27.2 x 18.9 x 11.4 inches | Roxkin outer shell | 4 dual spinner wheels

Best Softside

Antler Soft Stripe Carry-On

$255 $179 at Antler.com

In addition to being an objectively stylish bag, this softside carry-on from Antler is incredibly lightweight, weighing just over 4 pounds when empty. While it's on the smaller side for a carry-on, it's quite spacious inside with one main compartment, one large pocket on the front of the opening flat, and one large pocket on the back of the opening flap. Unlike hardside luggage, softside bags have more flexibility if you need to squeeze in a few extra items. We didn't have any issues fitting our packing list during testing and liked that we could toss in another pair of shoes without worrying about exceeding the airline's weight limit.

"This carry-on feels weightless when it's empty and still pretty lightweight when fully packed," says T+L Testing Editor Jackie Cucco. "It was so easy and effortless to lift the fully packed bag above my head into the overhead bin on our airplane set. The grab handles are large and padded, too, which makes it even easier. I could basically swing the bag around over my head without any effort."

We did experience some lagging when trying to zig-zag this suitcase through an obstacle course and felt that the wheels and zippers weren't as smooth as we would have liked. But we'll still be reaching for this bag when weight is a priority, as we don't think this will be a huge issue thanks to its lightweight nature.

The Details: Carry-on | 4.19 pounds | 21.7 x 13.8 x 8.3 inches | 32-liter capacity | Recycled polyester | 4 dual spinner wheels

Best Underseater

Calpak Luka Soft-sided Mini Carry-on Luggage

View on Calpaktravel.com $165 at The Container Store

This underseater is surprisingly spacious for its smaller size thanks to its deep compartments and front pocket: we were able to pack two outfits, a pair of sneakers, two toiletry bags, a laptop, and a charger inside, making it useful for quick weekend trips or as a supplement to a larger bag. We love the puffy, water-resistant material; the luggage trolley sleeve if you want to place it on top of a carry-on or checked bag; and the cushioned top and side handles that made it easy to lift (especially since it only weighs 5.3 pounds).

As with many other Calpak luggage pieces, there are plenty of pockets to keep your belongings organized, including a laptop sleeve on the lid of the suitcase, a small pocket on the outside to store a phone or keys, and three small accessory pockets lining the main compartment. We liked the semi-accordian style opening that allowed us to unzip the bag while it’s standing upright, though if you open the bag all the way, the zippers land below the accordion flap, which can then be tricky to open up again. You should be able to fit it underneath most airplane seats.

The Details: Carry-on/personal item | 5.3 pounds | 16 x 14.25 x 9 inches | 22.5-liter capacity | Polyester | 4 dual spinner wheels | Water-resistant

Best Weekender

MZ Wallace Nik

View on Mzwallace.com

The most lightweight option on this list, the MZ Wallace Nik Duffel Bag is so resourceful for travel: it’s compact enough to use as an overnight bag or even a daily commuter bag, but you can also use it for a longer four or five day trip if you maximize packing space with all the pockets and compartments. This weekender shines when it comes to organization since there are tons of pockets and storage space, including seven pockets on the outside, nine pockets on the inside, a 16-inch laptop sleeve, a detachable pouch, and a key ring strap. Even when we packed this bag full, it still felt comfortable to carry because of the quilted material that has a natural padding, although the crossbody strap doesn’t have any padding on it. It has long top handles; a detachable, adjustable crossbody strap; and a trolley sleeve, giving you the option to carry it in so many different ways. All in all, we think the high price tag is well worth it for this versatile weekender.

The Details: Personal item | 2.1 pounds | 16.93 x 7.09 x 12.2 inches | REC Oxford, Italian leather

Best Carry-on Duffel

Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L

$189 at Amazon

If you prefer a duffel to a wheeled bag for your carry-on, this 45-liter Bellroy duffel is a great option. This spacious duffel bag easily fit our full packing list during testing, including four shirts, a jacket, pants, a toiletry kit, a makeup kit, a laptop, chargers, two pairs of shoes, and more, with plenty of room to spare. The bag has two top handles; a detachable, padded shoulder strap; a luggage pass-through, internal slip pockets for smaller items; an external pocket with a key clip; and an internal Apple AirTag slip pocket. Some large bags can't help but feel bulky when you're wearing them as a crossbody, but this 45-liter bag has a barrel shape that makes it slim and easy to carry, and we noticed that it managed to feel more lightweight and portable than some other bags we tested that had the same exact packing list. You can also feel safe if you have to carry this bag in the rain thanks to the water-resistant polyester material (made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic bottles) and storm flaps that protect the main zipper. 

The Details: Carry-on | 2.2 pounds | 15 x 25.6 x 15.75 inches | 45-liter capacity | Recycled ripstop | Water-resistant

Best Checked Duffel

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler

$229 at Amazon $187 at Backcountry View on Eaglecreek.com

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is an excellent checked luggage option, and at 4.7 pounds, it weighs less than most carry-ons. We could easily fit all items on the packing list, though a couple more pockets or separators would have helped keep things organized. This extra-large duffel has two wheels and glides pretty well, but since it doesn't have an extendable handle, rolling it around isn't very comfortable. However, the shoulder straps allow you to carry it like a backpack.

This durable, wheeled duffel showed no signs of damage during our whacking and shoving tests. The bold monochrome colors add a tasteful touch to the rugged design while helping you quickly recognize it at baggage claim. While it's a bit pricey for this type of luggage, the Cargo Hauler seems like it'll last a long time. We think it's a solid choice for camping, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor excursions.

The Details: Checked | 4.44 pounds | 34 x 15 x 13.75 inches | 129-liter capacity | 800D nylon dobby, 1680D ballistic polyester, recycled 200D polyester | 2 standard wheels