Best Lightweight Carry-On Luggage 2019 – Here It Is!
Don’t worry, your bag doesn’t need to be this small to be light ;-), but we have not compromised on the weight! When we picked which bags to review, we decided that lightweight for us means around 5 lbs. or less. Some manufacturers call luggage light even when it weighs 7 or 8 lbs. We don’t agree with that. The weight limits used by some airlines are as low as 11 lbs., and 15 lbs. are common. If your carry-on bag weighs 8 lbs. in itself you’ve already used up half or more of what you’re allowed to take with you onboard.
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Enjoy our pick, we hope you will find your favorite companion for your future trips! We have not gone for the cheapest here, but for the best lightweight carry on luggage for you!
(But we actually have inluded one budget alternative too!)
Read on, or use the table of contents to take you directly to the most interesting part.
Quick Comparison Table Lightest Carry On Luggage
| Bag (Click on name for price and availability on Amazon) | Size | Weight | Warranty | Spinner or Inliner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartmann 7R Hardside | 21.65" x 15.75" x 8.7" | 5.1 lbs. | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Spinner |
| Samsonite Black Label Cosmolite 3.0 | 21.7" x 15.7" x 7.9" | 3.7 lbs. | Limited 10 Year Global Warranty | Spinner |
| Eagle Creek Expanse Wheeled Duffel Carry-On | 13.75" x 21.5" x 8.5" | 5.4 lbs. | No Matter What | Inliner |
| IT World's Lightest Los Angeles Carry-On | 21.8" x 14.2" x 7.3" | 3.8 lbs. | 10 Year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty | Inliner |
| Delsey Paris Brochant Carry-On | 21.6" x 13.8" x 9.8" | 3.7 lbs. | Limited 5-Year Warranty | Spinner |
Hartmann 7R Hardside Luggage with Double Spinner Wheels
In a hurry? Go check out the Hartmann 7R Carry-On Spinner on Amazon right away!
We like this Hartmann carry-on a lot because of its outstanding design and features.
The shell is extremely durable and lightweight. This is due to the new and innovative composite material called Curv®. This material is lightweight, scratch resistant as well as impact resistant.
Curv is a self-reinforcing polypropylene structure. To make it into the marvellous material it is, several layers of the polypropylene are put on top of each other and then heat compressed which makes them partially melt together. Chemical engineering at work for travelers around the world!
It’s amazingly beautiful as well, considering it’s made of woven polypropylene. The fact that it’s metallized probably accounts for some of the beauty.
The case is trimmed with leather details (not fake!), which certainly adds to the stylish impression.
Available colors are black with black trimmings, titanium with natural trimmings, or rose gold with tan trimmings. Which is your favorite?
The wheels are double shock-absorbing spring wire steel wheels with a transparent core. They obviously don’t make much of a contribution to the weight, and are super-durable.
The dual tube trolley handle is made of aluminum, a very strong material that will not break when you run to the gate. The leather handle lies comfortably in your hand. It retracts all the way down and will not be in the way when you store the bag in the overhead compartment. It also locks in place when pulled out and when pushed back into the bag.
Have you ever run through heavy rain with your carry-on in tow, worrying about whether the splash from the passing car just soaked your underwear? If you buy this bag that is a worry you can forget, since the strong zipper is water-resistant and will keep your clothes dry and nice inside.
There are many additional features. An integrated and recessed TSA combination lock keeps your belongings safe (and customs happy). There are two soft leather-wrapped carry handles, one on top and one on the side, for when you have to carry your bag up the flight stairs. A removable leather ID-tag is included as well.
Inside is a well-spaced and divided interior with textile lining, complete with cross straps to hold your clothes where you want them. There are mesh dividers and two zippered pockets as well as a removable divider/garment sleeve for organizing your packing.
Fun facts: 7R stands for the gene in the human genome that is said to control our lust for adventures and taking risks. Presumably, 20% of the world’s total population have the gene, and these people are the ones who explore new territory and try out new ideas.
Conclusion
It's obvious this is a very durable and lightweight carry-on of highest quality. Are there any cons then? For credibility's sake, we somewhat wish there were, but we have to admit: we love this carry-on with all our heart!
The only 1 star rating on Amazon is about the buyer not understanding the TSA-lock and having a hard time talking to customer support. Another reviewer considered the bag being too small. Well, what can we say, it is after all a carry-on.
And! This awesome bag is actually available as a large or extra-large checked suitcase as well! You can have matching carry-on and checked beautiful and durable Hartmann luggage. Hard to resist, right?
Samsonite Black Label Cosmolite 3.0 20 Inch Spinner
If you like you can go directly to Amazon and check price and availability for the Samsonite Black Label Cosmolite 3.0 20 Inch Spinner.
This Black Label Cosmolite 3.0 is the new and revised edition of the popular and well reviewed bag from Samsonite. It's now even lighter than the previous version, and weighs in at only 3.7 lbs which we think is incredible! This bag truly fits into the category of best lightweight carry-on luggage.
Like the Hartmann 7R above this is also made form the innovative and very light material Curv®. Other components of the bag have been developed with the latest technologies to reduce the weight of the bag even further.
Let's have a quick look at what you get with the Cosmolite 3.0:
Conclusion
It's easy to recommend the Samsonite Black Label Cosmolite 3.0 Carry-on Spinner. It's well designed, beautiful, extremely light, and has a good reputation and happy reviews online.
We haven't really been able to find anything negative about it. The only negative statement we've seen is a from a buyer who had to return it because the wheels vibrated so badly. Some kind of manufacturing mishap we believe. The buyer still gave 3 stars out of 5.
Eagle Creek Expanse Wheeled Duffel International Carry On
Time for a softsider! And not just any ol' one, but a sturdy and one-of-a-kind bag from well-renowned Eagle Creek, the Expanse Wheeled Duffel International Carry On.
Admittedly, at 5.4 lbs this one creeps a tiny bit above our weight limit of around 5 lbs. But given the extraordinary quality of this still light carry-on we decided to allow it.
The durability of the Expanse Wheeled Duffel carry-On can not be emphasized enough. As for the fabric we cannot refrain from quoting Eagle Creek themselves: "The durable scuff resistant fabric can withstand decades of abuse".
Watch the video below for a quick briefing of all the awesome features of this bag. Or, check out our listing of all the features below it.
Pro tip! Combine your Eagle Creek bag with packing cubes for maximum organization!
Conclusion
If you're looking for a light, softsided carry-on with supreme durability, this is the one you want. It has a simple yet functionable design.
The No Matter What warranty also makes this an easy choice. Eagle Creek promises to repair or replace your product during it entire lifetime, no matter what the cause of the failure is. Wow. They must have extreme confidence in their products!
If we have to wish for something, that would perhaps be an easily accessible outer front pocket. But, if you make sure to put the things you want that easy access to at the very top of the bag that's just as good. You can even reach down for your laptop that way!
We have no reservations when recommending the Eagle Creek Expanse Wheeled Duffel International Carry On!
IT Luggage 21.8" World's Lightest Los Angeles 2 Wheel Carry On
We could hardly exclude the world's lightest luggage in an article about best lightweight carry-on luggage, now could we? Of course not.
So, let us present the softsider IT Luggage 21.8" World's Lightest Los Angeles 2 Wheel Carry On! We believe this to be the best budget lightweight carry on luggage.
Check out the video or read about the key features below.
Like what you saw? Then head directly to Amazon to check out the IT World's Lightest Los Angeles 2 Wheel Carry On!
Key features:
Conclusion
The World's Lightest Luggage is extremely well reviewed and popular. It scores 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, which is amazing.
The few negative reviews are about the trolley handle being too short, and the width of it making it difficult to roll the bag in a straight line.
The zippers have also gotten some criticism about being hard to work. Some have also had the unfortunate experience of the zippers breaking and their warranty requets being ignored.
One design detail we don't understand is that the zippers don't go all the way on the front pockets. Why? This makes it impossible to use the large pocket for documents without cramming them.
So, all in all, do we recommend the bag? With all the positive reviews in mind, we do think this is a great budget alternative.
As always, you get what you pay for.
Delsey Paris Brochant Suitcase, 55 cm,Carry On Size
We're actually amazed by how many lightweight softsided carry-on suitcases there are on the market. This one is from popular Delsey Paris. And yes, it does come from France, the land of great wine and baguettes!
It's because of this the Delsey Paris Brochant Suitcase Carry On Size is using the metric system. For your convience, we have transferred the numbers to the imperial system!
This light carry-on is in the medium price-range, and well worth the money. Let's look at its features and see if it's what you need!
Watch the video or look directly at our list below it.
Delsey Paris Brochant Suitcase Carry On Size is available on Amazon!
Conclusion
The Delsey Paris Brochant Carry On is a functional but perhaps not extraordinary lightweight softsider. The durability seems good enough, and the bag will probably last you a few years, depending on how frequently you travel of course.
If your looking for a mid-range, softsided and light carry-on this is a good choice that we recommend!
