Finding the Best Suitcase
Traveling to visit my grandparents in Germany when I was a kid turned into working with my parents being able to travel the world together. We've been doing it since I was five. My mom is in the market for a new suitcase so she bought 10 off of Amazon. We put them through a rigorous testing process to actually find out which Amazon suitcase is really the best. We've ranked them 1-10 and given you the pros and cons of each.
#10- Kenneth Cole REACTION Chelsea Chevron Quilted Luggage 20-inch
$89.99
This bag was our least favorite. While it was nice that it came with a TSA approved cosmetics/wet bag, and the outside design was fun, the flimsy handle and poor construction made this suitcase pretty underwhelming.
#9- RIRAKE Carry On Luggage
$159.99
We love that this case has the most fun features. It comes with locks a built in cupholder, phone holder and both USB and USB-C ports. We didn't like that it has limited room and doesn't expand. We also feel the flimsy construction of this suitcase would make it likely to get broken or damaged pretty easily.
#8- Kenneth Cole REACTION Chelsea Chevron Quilted Luggage Underseater
$90.72
We love how this suitcase fully opens and has lots of pockets. We really don't like the flimsy handle, it feels like it might break off pretty easily! Also, the fact that it has really specific organization pockets which in the end just end up taking up extra space took this one out of the running for us.
#7- Travelpro Maxlite Air Hardside Expandable Carry on Luggage
$137.41
We love how this suitcase is expandable and has a smooth/sturdy handle. This suitcase, though, is deceivingly small. It is dual-sided but both sides are really shallow. You couldn't even fit 1 packing cube comfortably in each side!
#6- BAGSMART Carry On Luggage 20 Inch
$83.99
This was a cute bag with a good amount of pockets and it also comes with a separate laptop case. In the end, though, it was too small overall to suit our needs. Paris would need a third bag to fit everything which kind of defeats the purpose. It was pretty underwhelming overall.
#5- Genius Pack Hardside
$119.99
We love the gadgets on this suitcase! It has 2 external USB ports, locks and is dual-sided. The "genius pack" idea was nice in theory, however we realized it actually limits you quite a lot with how you can pack, especially for an experienced traveler. Also the fact that it doesn't expand made this a no for us.
#4- BAGSMART Rolling Laptop Briefcase 17.3 Inch
$79.99
We love that this case locks and has lots of storage compartments. However, the fact that it doesn't expand and is too wide to roll comfortably down an aisle took it out of the running.
#3 - Kenneth Cole REACTION Diamond Tower Collection Lightweight Hardside
$120
We love that this has a roomy matching extra backpack included, is dual-sided and both sides can be compressed with zippers and straps making for more room in the suitcase. This suitcase has a LOT of space. The wheels don't roll as smoothly as some of the other suitcases and we were worried it would be hard to roll down the airplane aisle.
#2- Hanke 20 Inch Carry On Luggage Wide Handle
$135.99
Like the other Hanke suitcase on this list, we love that it has a lock, a super sleek design and is probably the BEST rolling suitcase we've ever found. Also the wide handle design makes for more room inside of the suitcase. However, that wide handle is also what took this suitcase out of the running for number one. In the end it isn't practical because another bag can't fit on it with the wide handle.
#1b *WINNER* (under seat carryon) - LIGHT FLIGHT Rolling Laptop/Computer Bag
$89.99
We love the compact design of this bag but it still has LOTS of room. Paris was able to fit everything she needed with extra room to spare. It also fully expands, is slim with 4 wheels making it easy to maneuver down aisles. Something to note with this case is that it will fit under a coach seat, however it is too large to fit under a business class seat. It also is a little wobbly resting on top of another suitcase. That being said, Paris is still obsessed with this suitcase and is so happy she chose this one.
#1a *WINNER* (overhead carryon)- Hanke 20 Inch Carry On Luggage
Price: $149.59
We love that it has a lock, a super sleek design and is probably the BEST rolling suitcase we've ever found. All 4 of the wheels roll SO nicely.
The only slight negatives about this is it light colored so we will need to buy a cover for it to stay pristine and it doesn't expand. However, Paris is still super happy with this choice and has already used it on a trip and loved it! In fact, she even bought a matching one for my dad and 2 more larger sizes for an upcoming long trip. After going through her testing process we can confidently say this is the best suitcase on Amazon.
