For so, so, so many reasons, flying is a pain. Lately, it feels like there’s a 50-50 chance that your flight will either be delayed or canceled, and that’s on top of all the other indignities that come with modern air travel — long security lines, price gouging at the airport restaurant, baggage fees, and middle seats. Flying is hard enough, but the best budget luggage lets you cross at least one item off your travel to-do list without too much hassle.
Of course, when shopping for cheap luggage, it’s important to choose wisely. Although all luggage is designed to store your clothing and other belongings while you travel, not all budget luggage is created equally. Some cheap suitcases will do the job effectively for a year or two, whereas others can last for a decade. The best budget luggage will also look more aesthetically pleasing, which means your new luggage doesn’t have to look cheap.
To help you find the best cheap luggage sets, carry-on suitcases, and check-in luggage for your upcoming journey, Mashable has been testing the top options from Samsonite and other trusted brands. All of the affordable travel bags below are Mashable tested and approved.
Is cheap luggage worth it?
The best cheap luggage from brands like American Tourister and Samsonite are definitely worth it, according to our own tests. When shopping for luggage, spending more money doesn’t always result in a better suitcase. While you can certainly spend more if you have your heart set on personalized suitcases from luggage brands like Roam or even smart luggage, there are plenty of great travel bags under the $100 and $200 price point. Remember: just because luggage is cheap that does not necessarily mean it’s lower quality.
No matter your budget, you should always look for luggage that’s made from high-quality materials, is durable, and can hold many items without breaking. The best budget carry-on luggage will also have convenient features such as multiple storage areas, spinner wheels, and TSA locks for added security.
Do you need hardside or softside?
When buying cheap suitcases, you should consider whether you prefer hardside or softside pieces. Both have their pros and cons.
Hardside suitcases typically have a more polished look but are generally pricier. However, with the increase in price, they typically are made out of higher-quality materials and are often able to repel water. These suitcases can also be sturdier.
Softside luggage is typically lighter and easier to squeeze into tight spaces. However, softside luggage may not always be completely waterproof. If you want to keep certain items accessible during your journey, most softside suitcases come with external pockets, which can be convenient.
Which wheels are best for budget carry-on luggage?
Unless you’re buying a duffle bag or travel backpack, the best budget luggage will usually have wheels. The most common types of wheels are spinner and in-line wheels.
Spinner wheels provide a full range of motion and are easily able to move with you on the go — there’s not as much of a need for constantly readjusting your luggage. These bags are often called “spinner bags” because you can spin them 360 degrees. In-line wheels tend to be sturdier, especially when traveling over more textured surfaces, but they do have a simpler look. They also lack the spinning ability. In short, if you favor maneuverability, choose a spinner suitcase. If you prefer durability, go with luggage with in-line wheels.
After testing some of the best budget luggage sets, we’ve selected the top travel bags for every type of adventure. Keep reading to find the best cheap luggage under $200, all tested and approved by Mashable’s shopping experts. And if you’re really on a budget, we also threw in some of our favorite under-$100 luggage picks as well.
How we tested
To find the best budget luggage for 2023, we tested all of the products featured in this review. We hands-on tested both carry-on and checked luggage priced at under $200 by packing and moving each of them.
While testing, here are some of the things we looked out for:
Best bang for the buck: We compared luggage in several categories (“under $200” and “under $100″) to see if we thought they delivered on the value for the price. We also considered whether the bags were designed to be checked-in or carry-on pieces.
Cool factor/features: When testing and comparing these pieces of luggage, we considered whether or not they had any unique features that set them apart. For instance, the DELSEY Paris Sky Max 2.0 travel bag is one of the only suitcases that can fit underneath an airline seat.
Ease of closing/zippers: Suitcases sometimes have difficulty when it comes to closing them, as the zippers sometimes get stuck or the suitcase is filled with more than it’s capable of carrying. We noted how easily each of the suitcases were able to close after being packed, as well as whether the luggage had features that helped with the process. Both the Samsonite Winfield 2 and the American Tourister Luggage Set scored high marks in this category.
How much can be packed: You should definitely check the overall capacity before buying a bag, but that won’t always tell you what you need to know. For each of the suitcases we tested, we checked to see how many items could be packed inside and how comfortably they rested in the piece. The Samsonite Andante 2 Duffel Bag and the DELSEY Paris Helium Aero Spinner proved to be especially roomy, for example.
Water resistance: For bags that promised protection from the elements, we checked to see if the exterior shell would really keep the contents inside dry. While it’s not completely water resistant, the Samsonite Bartlett 20-Inch Carry-On Spinner adequately kept our items dry.
