The Best Lightweight Luggage We've Tried

• Expandable capacity for over-packers-in-denial
• Smooth, silent spinner wheels
• Durable yet sleek German polycarbonate shell

• No external pocket for quick-grab items
• Expansion zipper reduces shell rigidity slightly

This thing is light—like, eat-an-extra-airport-croissant light. At just 4.9 pounds, the July Carry-On Light Expandable is a minimalist’s dream with a secret weapon: unzip it, and suddenly, you’ve got room for two more outfits and maybe a bottle of duty-free bourbon. With a sleek, aerospace-grade shell and wheels that glide smoother than your boarding group, it’s built for speed, style, and sanity.

Designed for quick getaways or sleek business trips, it strikes the perfect balance of durability, weight, and ample space for 4 to 6 days of wrinkle-free outfits. We tested it. We rolled it. We admired it.

• Dedicated shoe and laptop compartments
• Machine washable
• Fits most airline carry-on specs
• Trolley sleeve for smooth suitcase piggybacking

• Soft structure means less protection for delicate items
• No built-in lock or RFID protection

If Mary Poppins had a taste and a weekend flight to catch, this would be her bag. The Away Featherlight Weekender lives up to its name—coming in at just 2.2 lbs—but don’t let the weight fool you. With 44 liters of space, it packs like a pro: laptop? Check. Two (or three) pairs of shoes? Absolutely. Passport? Right in the secret pocket that feels oddly… presidential.

Between the wide top opening (read: zero rummaging), machine-washable fabric, and a bottom compartment for everything you don’t want touching your clothes (looking at you, sneakers), this bag is a minimalist’s dream and an overthinker’s security blanket. Sling it over your shoulder, crossbody it for cool points, or slide it onto your Away carry-on and strut through the terminal like you own the gate.

• Durable and stylish polypropylene shell
• Expandable capacity
• Smooth, custom wheels and handle

• Exterior can show scuffs over time
• No external access pocket

If carry-ons are about efficiency, checked luggage is about ambition—and the Antler Medium Luggage checks all the right boxes (and one at the airport). At just under 8 lbs, it’s shockingly light for a hardside case this roomy. The durable polypropylene shell feels ready for anything from Heathrow to Hartsfield, and the bold colors? Let’s just say you won’t be mistaking this one at baggage claim.

With 89 liters of packing space (expandable to 97L), it's ideal for mid-length trips or longer ones if you know how to edit. The fully recycled interior lining and compression straps keep everything tight, clean, and eco-conscious. Custom wheels and a bespoke handle mean it glides through terminals with confidence—even if you don’t.

• Budget-friendly and functional
• Massive 98L capacity when expanded
• Folds flat for storage
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Multiple grab handles for easy lifting

• Soft sides offer minimal protection
• Not suitable for carry-on

Let’s call it what it is: the Swiss Army knife of budget luggage. The Hanke Expandable Duffel isn’t flashy, but it’s absurdly useful. For the price of two airport coffees and a sad sandwich, you get a lightweight, collapsible, expandable beast of a bag that can handle everything short of relocating your entire apartment.

Starting as a compact pouch, it unzips and unfolds into a full-size checked suitcase—growing to fit your needs like some kind of polyester Pokémon. Up to 98 liters of space, multiple grab handles in all the right places, and wheels that keep it rolling without the backache? That’s a steal.

Perfect for family trips, last-minute moves, or overpacking emergencies. It’s not built for glamor—it’s built for getting stuff done.

• Ultra-durable Tegris shell
• TUMI Tracer security system
• Smooth dual-wheel maneuverability

• Premium price tag
• No external pocket for quick-grab items

If James Bond had to pack his own bag, this would be it. The TUMI 19 Degree Lite Continental is sleek, sculptural, and engineered with the kind of obsessive precision that borders on art. It’s made from Tegris—a high-tech material typically reserved for race cars and NFL pads—so it's practically indestructible yet still light enough to lift into the overhead bin without dislocating your shoulder.

Inside, it's all about quiet luxury: compression straps, elegant zip pockets, and the confidence of TUMI’s Tracer system in case your bag gets a little too adventurous on its own. The signature ripple design turns heads at the gate—and signals you’re not flying basic.

It’s not cheap, but when you're flying first (or want to look like you should be), this is the bag to roll with.

• Huge 142L capacity
• Eco-friendly, moisture-resistant lining
• Smart, practical organization
• Smooth-rolling and easy-to-handle

• Slightly over airline size limits (but usually accepted)
• Soft sides offer less protection for fragile items

Think of this as the gentle giant of the luggage world. The Maxlite 5 Large suitcase is soft-sided, yes—but it’s anything but soft on performance. At just 8 pounds, it’s shockingly light for its size, with a cavernous 142L interior that makes overpacking feel almost responsible.

Designed for long trips, life transitions, or your third international wedding of the year, it has all the right pockets: one up front for grab-and-go items, internal straps, and enough zip compartments to please even the most neurotic organizer. Bonus: the ECOFAB lining is made from 100 percent recycled bottles and treated to resist moisture—so yes, your suitcase can be both sustainable and spill-proof.

With smooth 360° wheels and a handle that adjusts to your height (no more slouch-rolling), it’s built to glide—no matter how heavy your life is at the moment.

• Built like a tank, light on the planet
• Three-way carry for any terrain
• Internal organization is top-notch
• Crush-proof wheels and heavy-duty zippers

• No external water bottle pocket
• Bulkier than typical carry-ons

This one’s for the rugged travelers—the ones who think “vacation” should come with blisters, bug spray, and at least one questionable street food decision. The Global Travel Bag Roller is built for all that and more. Think of it as your indestructible, rollable sidekick: part backpack, part duffel, part carry-on-sized tank.

Crafted from recycled ballistic nylon and PC plastic, it shrugs off baggage carousels, puddles, and overly aggressive cobblestones. You’ve got three ways to carry it—roll it, grab it, or wear it like a backpack—and it won’t blink when you toss it into the back of a pickup in Patagonia

Inside, there’s a smart dual-compartment layout with pockets for organizing gear, socks, and possibly your sanity. And the PackFast clips? Genius. They let you attach your personal item and move like a pro through terminals or tuk-tuks.