Do you need a suitcase that can withstand any heavy impact and hauling and yet remain intact? But also offers great value for money? Well, join me as I dive in and take a look at 10 great options for the best carry on luggage under $100.
Most airlines allow you to bring on board one full-sized carry-on bag plus one personal item free of charge. Although be sure to confirm before you fly as many airlines are reducing this, especially across Europe.
There are many types of carry on suitcases available, from regular backpacks or backpacks with wheels, to duffel bags or suitcases, but in this post, I wanted to focus on wheeled suitcases as they tend to be the most efficient option.
When choosing the best inexpensive luggage for this list, I considered various factors such as durability, portability, customer ratings, price, and popularity of each brand. I have included both hard case and soft sided luggage, as well as a couple of smaller, under-seat carry-ons that you can use to travel with confidence.
So, let’s get going with a few of my top picks before the full list of the top luggage that you can buy for under $100.
Just a quick disclaimer – there may be small variances in price, but they were all below at the time of first publication.
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Best Carry-On Luggage Under $100
- SwissGear 7585 Hardside Spinner
- AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage – 21-Inch.
- Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside 20” Luggage
- Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 20″
- Kensie Women’s 20” Shiny Diamond Luggage Set
- It Luggage, World’s Lightest 8 Wheel Spinner Collection
- Steve Madden Luggage Wheeled carry on Suitcase Under Seat Bag
- Samsonite Upright Wheeled Carry-On Underseater
- DELSEY Paris Titanium Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels
- Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Set
1. SwissGear 7585 Hardside Spinner
SwissGear are market leaders in the luggage business with a wide range of excellent backpacks and suitcases that are always well thought out, and this hardside spinner is no different. Getting a good quality brand of luggage under $100 is always a win.
First and foremost, the 360-degree spinner maneuverability makes traveling so much smoother, especially when trying to navigate a busy or crowded area. The retractable aluminum handle and durable top and side handle to make it simple to switch from carrying to pulling in an instant, to get on with your journey.
The organization is also made easy, thanks to the split case design and large, open interior space. There are several pockets inside, plus tie-down straps to hold clothing or similar items.
This way, you won’t need to worry about having to re-organize and tidy everything up when you arrive at your destination. Simply put, it’s made in a way that keeps your stuff in place while keeping your luggage easy to access.
The mini suitcase is compliant with all airline regulations and comes in silver and black, along with larger versions if you’re looking for something bigger, too.
- 360-DEGREE SPINNER MANEUVERABILITY: Constructed with 8 premium spinner wheels and a locking aluminum retractable handle, take advantage of its easy pushing...
2. AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner Luggage – 21-Inch.
The 21-inch spinner from AmazonBasics is among the best affordable suitcases and cheap luggage because of its sleek look and great price. It is made of scratch-resistant ABS extra-thick material for sturdiness and durability. The interior has a full lining and has different sections. The interior organizer has three zip pockets for toiletries and other personal items.
Despite the material used, it is expandable to 15% giving you extra room for any additional items. It is an all-direction spinner due to its 4-double spinning wheels for smooth rolling maneuvering and mobility.
It has a telescopic handle that can lock it up into place. When you need to roll it, you can easily extend the handle and collapse it back after use for storage. It also has a short handle that is securely mounted on its top for easy lifting. It comes in eight different amazing colors for your unique choice.
The only con with this carry-on luggage is that the handle moves slightly but, considering it is one the best value carry-on luggage around, that should not stop you from considering it.
- DURABLE AND RELIABLE: This suitcase is crafted with an extra-thick ABS hard shell, providing dependable strength and a scratch-resistant finish for...
3. Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside 20” Luggage
OK, so this one slightly tips the budget of affordable and cheap luggage, but Samsonite will always be one of my favorite luggage brands and this is just so close to the price point not to include.
The Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside 20” Luggage suitcase is best for business travelers who would like a professional look. The polycarbonate construction of this spinner is the reason for its durability. It can handle any impact because it flexes under intense pressure but pops out without leaving any dents when the pressure is released.
The black version in the image above certainly has a somewhat masculine aesthetic to it, and I’d consider it among the best carry on luggage for men, but other colors are available.
It rides effortlessly on its multi-directional spinner wheels, even under any heavyweight. You can easily maneuver your way in and out of your hotel or your flight without feeling that weight. The side-mounted lock with a combination compatible with TSA that does not need any key ensures the safety of your belongings all through your traveling.
The push button releases the long aluminum handle that provides a comfortable grip and smooth pull. It also has to retract carry handles at the top and the side that you can use to haul the luggage. It comes in ten different colors giving the purchaser a wide choice.
The only slight setback is its lack of expanding but, it is still the best carry-on luggage for business travel.
- Carry-On meets these airlines' size restrictions: United, American, Delta, Southwest, Allegiant
4. Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds 20″
From the pitch black to a deep pink color you can hardly miss the color of your choice. The carry-on luggage from Kenneth Cole is of molded ABS material known for its toughness and high resistance to any impact making it sturdy and durable. Despite its toughness, it is lightweight to adhere to weight restrictions by many airlines.
The multi-directional spinner wheels to maneuver even in the most crowded place. It would not be hard for you to handle due to its top, side, and trolley handle with retractable push-button.
Its guards molded at the corners reinforce it to deflect and absorb shock to resist subjection to any impact. The size of this spinner is compact enough to fit into overhead compartments in most airliners.
Its drawback is that it does not expand. However, it can fit a week’s change of clothes for a week-long trip.
- OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 21.75" x 14.5" x 8.5". WEIGHT: 6 lbs.
5. Kensie Women’s 20” Shiny Diamond Luggage Set
Kensie offers a great mini suitcase for women that does everything you could ask for – while topping it off with a fantastic design.
Functionality wise, it’s a decent bag that certainly isn’t lacking.
The fully-lined interior on its own is great, but the addition of waterproof multiple pockets and compression straps make it even more appealing. There are top and side carry handles, and a 4 double spinner wheels system for improved mobility, which makes traveling a breeze.
Additionally, the mounted TSA approved locking system will give you added security, and makes it a safer choice, and there’s no harm in having that extra security when you’re on the go.
If you’re going to buy this particular product though, you may be more interested in its appearance than anything else. The unique gemstone-like design is certainly eye-catching and comes in 3 different color options (black, lavender, and sky blue), allowing you to travel in style.
Of course, you’ll be glad to hear that it meets both domestic and international airline regulations, so you won’t have any worries when going on a flight. Plus, it’s carry-on compliant, so you can keep your style on point no matter where you are.
- 20" Carry On Vertical Gemstone Luggage Meets Domestic and International Airline Regulations
6. It Luggage, World’s Lightest 8 Wheel Spinner Collection
It Luggage has an excellent 3-piece set on offer, but the highlight is the carry-on 22” bag. Available in several stylish colors, it’s a great choice for essentially anyone who’s in need of a small, lightweight bag without lacking in esthetics.
It offers 360-degree maneuverability, as well as a wide handle design (plus a smaller top and side handles for carrying). One notable feature that’s unique to this carry-on bag is that it has a fiberglass frame.
This makes it incredibly lightweight, without detracting from its durability and structural safety. If you’re looking for something that makes traveling far more comfortable, this is certainly a useful feature.
The fabric is strong and durable too, which is an important factor to take into consideration.
You’ll find 2 pockets on the exterior, as well as 1 large zip pocket inside and 2 tie-down straps, offering plenty of room to store your luggage on the go.
There may not be any crazy, specialist features overall, but you’ll get a good quality bag with plenty of storage space (which is exactly what you should be looking for). The fully lined interior is also certainly worth a mention.
- Exterior Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 inches, interior Dimensions: 18.7 x 13 x 9 inches, weight: 4.07lbs
7. Steve Madden Luggage Wheeled Carry on Suitcase Under Seat Bag
If you are looking for the best carry on roller bag, there are a variety of reasons to love it this incredibly high-quality Steve Madden bag, from its design and multiple color options, to how much care and effort went into creating it.
This bag has been crafted to be as effective and easy to use as possible. It achieves this in many ways, with an ergonomically designed telescopic handle and a plethora of interior and exterior compartments (all of which are fully lined and secure) to name but two. The lightweight construction makes it even easier to carry along with you on your travels. Especially if you have to store it in an overhead compartment.
With all this in mind, it’s certainly one of the best carry-on bags to use when flying. Thanks to its small size, it’s so easy to use with most major airlines, and it can even be taken as your underseat personal item, so you can keep it with you the whole time.
Better yet, should anything go wrong, there’s a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty, as well as a trusted companion promise, meaning that the company will cover the costs of repairs for damages from a manufacturer caused the defect, or replace the bag.
- ✈️ AIRPLANE FRIENDLY MULTI-PURPOSE DESIGN: The perfect carry-on bag for airline travel and small enough to be your underseat personal item on major...
8. Samsonite Upright Wheeled Underseater Carry-On Bag
This under-seater from Samsonite comes in four different colors which are black, deep teal, fresh pink, and purple cloud. It is made from a 100% blend of nylon and polyester fabrics with zipper closure.
While this is a little cheaper than some of the other popular carry-ons on the market right now, it still has a number of features that make it a great choice for anybody who’s looking for a good quality mini suitcase.
Characteristics like ergonomic handles are almost essential, simply because of how much difference they could make to your overall comfort during use. There are 4 great color choices too, allowing you to pick the one that best suits your style. It’s worth noting that this if far from all that’s on offer, too.
Some other great points to take into consideration include the many exterior pockets and interior compartments, as well as the inline, polyurethane skate wheels. On one hand, there’s plenty of storage space and the opportunity to quickly and easily access everything you need, but there are also the durable, smooth-rolling wheels that make getting around so much simpler.
All this, alongside its small size, makes it an excellent choice for a comfortable and useful bag. With a great price tag, you simply can’t go wrong with Samsonite.
- Fits Under Most Airline Seats for easy access to belongings en route, please check with your Airline for more information as under seat storage capacities...
9. DELSEY Paris Titanium Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels
If a 19”, hardside carry-on bag is what you’re after, it might be worth adding this particular product from DELSEY to your wish list.
While it does have quite a price tag attached to it, there’s a lot to love – from the color options to its durability.
The polycarbonate hard shell suitcase is both lightweight and hard-wearing, and if you opt for a titanium model you can also get a 10-year warranty, too.
When it comes to the safety of your luggage, you won’t need to worry at all thanks to the large, fully-lined compartments inside, web straps, and even a padded sleeve made to safely house a laptop up to 15.6”.
Alongside these, there is also a zippered pocket for other items that you may want to keep separate from the rest of your luggage.
The spinner wheels are an excellent asset to this carry-on bag since they’re an essential feature to have for smoother, easier travel. Other factors like the resistant matte finish, integrated TSA approved combination lock, recessed one-button locking handle, and more are all well worth keeping in mind if you’re interested in purchasing this mini suitcase.
If you’re looking for something small, safe, and secure it’s well worth taking a closer look at this particular hardside carry-on bag from DELSEY.
- Lightweight and durable polycarbonate shell that is extremely resilient to cracking or breaking; with an integrated padded sleeve for up to a 15.6 inch...
10. Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Set
The Rockland luggage 2-piece set is an excellent choice if you are looking for value. Not only are you getting 2 excellent, matching cases, but there is also a huge variety of designs to choose from from classic black to zebra stripes or leopard print, you can really show off your personality in your choice.
The set is a combination of a carry-on bag that measures 19” upright, 19”x 13”x 7.5” and a smaller travel tote for extra storage measuring 14”x 11”x 5.5”.
The set is made from heavy-duty Eva-molded polyester material and some parts of PVC.
The carry-on bag is expandable with three uprights that can give you more room for extra packing. It has an internally stored telescoping self-lock handle that retracts by a push-button when not in use.
This carry-on luggage has ergonomic padded side and top handles for gripping when lifting it either lengthwise or widthwise, whichever way is comfortable for you. The fully lined internal compartment has three pockets to organize your travel items to avoid throwing them all over. The exterior two front full-size pockets are zipper-secured. It has in-line EZ-roll skate system wheels for an easy haul.
The tote features a shoulder strap that is non-slip and adjustable. The shoulder strap is also detachable in case you don’t need it. The main compartment is a spacious interior for a tote bag. The tote bag has a back-strap you can use to slip in the carry-on luggage handle and make one big luggage for easy carry.
There is a slight drawback to the set since some people find them to be smaller than they expected. Otherwise, the sizes are right for most airlines’ size restrictions.
- Upright: 20" x 13" x 7.5" (with wheels)
Final Thoughts
If the best travel carry-on luggage under $100 is what suits you then the selection in these reviews will give you an ample choice to narrow to your best. However, what you should begin with while in search of carry-on luggage is to choose one that is lightweight but with durable material.
Security on your carry-on luggage is of utmost importance. Whatever you carry for your travel is private and personal, and anyone should treat them that way. But, there will always be one curious person who would wish to look at your content either with an evil intention or just out of curiosity.
For that reason, I would recommend that you should your carry-on luggage or your bag for security purposes. After all, there is nothing as relaxing as peace of mind especially while traveling and discovering new and old places.