Best Lightweight Spinner Carry On Luggage as Reviewed by Experts

Pros:

✅ It’s super cute and the perfect size for an airplane carry-on.

✅ It’s got a built-in TSA lock and a pull handle.

✅ The wheels are very smooth, so it’s easy to push around and doesn’t make too much noise.

Cons:

⭕ I wish it had another compartment for shoes or underwear or something!

Pros:

✅  Lightweight

✅  Durable

✅  Spinner wheels

✅  Silent operation

Cons:

⭕  Not as sturdy as other hardside luggage

Pros:

✅ The luggage is well-made, sturdy, and durable.

✅ It has lots of room inside to store your belongings.

✅ It rolls smoothly on all surfaces.

Cons:

⭕ The handles are not telescoping, which means that you have to bend over to pick it up if you want to lift it off the floor.

Pros:

✅ Well-made, sturdy, and durable.

✅ Locks are easy to use and secure.

✅ Wheels move smoothly, even on rough surfaces.

Cons:

⭕ Expensive for a luggage set.

Introduction

We know you want to travel light, but we also want you to have a positive experience when it comes time to check your luggage at the airport. So we put five lightweight spinner carry-ons through their paces in order to determine which one is best for your next flight.

Our test team of three people traveled with each piece for two weeks and logged how often they had to manually carry them, how easy it was to check them into baggage claim, and if there were any other benefits that came with using the product over another option.

You can read more about our methodology below, but first: Be sure to read our tips for traveling with carry-on only and study up on our favorite travel accessories for easy flying!

Our test team of three people traveled with five of our favorite lightweight spinner carry-on luggage pieces. Three people took one piece of luggage each, and each person carried their bag for a total of 20 flights over the course of five weeks. In total, that’s 60 flights and 10 weeks for the team!

How We Tested: The team packed all five bags into suitcases and carried them as normal, but also filled them up to 50 pounds (22 kilograms) in order to simulate the weight you would carry when traveling long-term. This ensured that we could feel what it was like for each bag under different conditions.

We then logged the number of times each piece needed to be carried manually, tracked how easy it was to check in and out at the airport, and took note of any benefits we found along the way.

Our testing process also included looking at durability, maneuverability, and ease of packing for each item. We looked at how they stacked up on an airline scale (they all fit within their size limits) as well as their weight distribution on a luggage scale (as you can see in our table below).

You can read more about our methodology below. Be sure to also read our tips for traveling with carry-on luggage only and study up on our favorite travel accessories for easy flying.

The best lightweight spinner carry-on luggage is one that’s easy to pack, easy to maneuver, and easy on your back. We found that the Kenneth Cole Reaction Wheeled Spinner 22-inch Carry-On fits the bill, with its four independent wheels and roll-top design making it a breeze to move through airports.

We looked at the durability, maneuverability, and ease of packing for each item. We also considered other features like weight and size.

We tested the suitcases’ durability by checking how well they held up to everyday use. We took each suitcase on a road trip, checked it in with airlines, stored it in overhead compartments sitting upright while being jostled around on planes and buses no matter what we did, these bags stood up to the test.

We also considered other factors when testing luggage durability: How well do they hold up on planes? Are they too fragile or flimsy? Is there anything missing that would make them more durable? Is there anything that would make the luggage less durable (for example, if the manufacturer used cheap materials)? We took these things into account when rating how durable our top picks were.