Traveling light or traveling with the least possible weight is essential for all travelers. Our article will help you find the best lightweight luggage for Europe.
We focus on Europe because there are tons of sightseeing to see and things to do. Carrying heavy or inconvenient luggage to move through the stone-paved roads in their historical centers is not the best for you.
When it comes to lightweight luggage, durability, materials, weight, and capacity have a primary decision role. You don’t want your luggage to be lightweight but prone to scratches or huge dents from possible airport misusage. On top of these, the type of wheels a piece of luggage comes with also adds to the overall ease of use.
So, without further ado, here are our findings and suggestions.
Comparison Chart for Lightweight Luggage
See the basic features of our best lightweight luggage suggestions and their analysis and research data.
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1. Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels
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2. Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds
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3. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable
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4. Lucas Ultra Lightweight Carry On – Softside 20 Inch Expandable Luggage
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5. Coolife Luggage Expandable
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Best Lightweight Luggage For Europe
1. Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels
The Freeform Carry-On Spinner is exceptionally lightweight and durable. This lightweight luggage has been created to bring the strength and maneuverability you need, combined with a fantastic futuristic design that comes with a more streamlined panel, increased packing capacity, and thoughtfully integrated components.
It gives a very spacious and effortless ride. This lightweight line offers heavyweight protection riding on effortless 360-degree spinner wheels.
Specifications
| Materials | Hard Shell (Hardside Polypro) |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs. |
| Size | 21.25″ x 15.25″ x 10.0″ |
| Wheels | Spinner wheels |
Features
- TSA 3-dial Compatible Combination Lock
- Buit-in ID tag
- Cases expand for added packing capacity
- Easy to clean
- 360 Spinner wheels system
- Ultra-Light, ultra strong shell
- Cross ribbon and divider for easy packing
- Multiple pockets to keep belongings organized
- Push-Button Handle
What We Like
We like the durable materials and design, along with the ultra-light capability. The luggage expands well and allows more room for carrying. The 360-degree spinner wheels system is considered a must.
What We Don’t Like
It is scratches resistant, however, do not expect total protection from scratches as that may happen provided the circumstances.
Pros
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- Ultra-light
- Excellent materials
- Fantastic design
Cons
- Nothing important
2. Kenneth Cole Reaction Out Of Bounds
It is loaded with amazing features, including a spacious fully-lined interior, molded corner guard reinforcements for maximum impact resistance, and a large U-shaped zipper pocket that allows double-sided packing. The Kenneth Cole Reaction “Out Of Bounds” Collection features a stylish and innovative design.
This wheeled suitcase features heavy-duty, lightweight ABS construction, which allows it to absorb impact by flexing while under stress, then popping back to its original shape, eliminating dents and dings. It boasts a spacious, zippered, lined main compartment with a convenient book-style opening, garment restraints, zippered pockets, and a lid pocket.
Specifications
| Materials | Hard Shell (ABS Plastic) |
| Weight | 9.6 lbs. |
| Size | 29.5” H x 20.5” W x 11.75” |
| Wheels | Spinner wheels |
Features
- Durable and lightweight hard-side construction
- ABS exterior with molded corner guards for maximum impact resistance
- Spacious, fully-lined interior with large zipper pocket for easy, double-sided packing
- Multi-directional 4-wheel spinner for smooth, 360-degree rotation on rough surfaces
- Top and side grab handle for easy maneuvering
- Tear-resistant interior lining
- Retractable Push-Button Handle
What We Like
The lightweight design and ABS exterior with the molder corner guards are handy to avoid harsh airport transfers. The 4-wheel spinner allows smooth strolling on rough surfaces.
What We Don’t Like
It is not expandable, so no extra room is provided.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Four-wheel spinner
- ABS Exterior
Cons
- Not expandable for extra space.
3. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable
A compact, ultra-lightweight carry-on designed to meet the size restrictions of most international airlines.
Perfect for short to medium-length trips or for packing your onboard essentials, this must-have bag features a two-position adjustable PowerScope Lite handle with a comfortable Contour Grip and 2 high-performance ball bearing wheels that ensure a turbulent-free glide.
Specifications
| Materials | Soft Shell (High-density ballistic nylon fabric) |
| Weight | 5.4 pounds |
| Size | 23″ x 14.5″ x 9″ |
| Wheels | Roller wheels |
Features
- Expandable for more packing
- Contour grip, designed with rubberized touch points for a comfortable handhold
- Ultra lightweight but sturdy
- Stain resistant
- Water repellant duraguard coating
- High tensile strength zipper
- Side and bottom carry handles
- Two exterior compartments
- Full length interior lid pocket and side accessory pocket
- Size bin tested
What We Like
It is a piece of lightweight luggage due to its materials, and the details of the rubberized contour grip make it more comfortable to drag around. Being expandable will give the extra room when needed.
What We Don’t Like
The soft fabric can compress more than you need, and the two wheels limit the motion range. Also, soft shell fabrics clean harder than hard shells, but on the other hand, they don’t scratch or dent.
Pros
- Ultralight
- Expandable
- Stain resistant
Cons
- The 2 wheels is limiting the motion range
- Soft fabric compress a lot and items will too
4. Lucas Ultra Lightweight Carry On – Softside 20 Inch Expandable Luggage
The expandable luggage provides lots of packing area for your personal belongings; it Helps you adhere to airline weight restrictions and avoid unnecessary airport fees, making it a good suitcase for domestic and international travel.
The 8-spinner wheels system allows smooth, 360° degree movement over any rough terrain for complete mobility and free-weight rolling.
Wide wheel positioning provides better balance and resistance from falling forward.
Specifications
| Materials | Soft Shell (Polyester) |
| Weight | 5.8 lbs |
| Size | 20″ x 14″ x 8″ |
| Wheels | Roller wheels |
Features
- Spinner wheels
- Telescopic push-button handle
- Ultra Lightweight
- With Interior And Exterior Compartments
- Ergonomic telescopic handle
- 360-degrees dual spinner wheels
- Fully lined interior
- Compression straps
What We Like
It is a piece of ultralight luggage, and the dual spinner wheels help a lot to slide around. Its expandability is an added value.
What We Don’t Like
The soft fabric can compress more than you would like.
Pros
- Ultralight
- Expandable
- Dual spinner wheels
Cons
- Its softshell makes it lose balance when you drag the bag sideways.
- Soft fabric compresses a lot and items will too.
5. Coolife Luggage Expandable
It is designed to provide travelers with comfort, functionality, reliability, and peace of mind. With the TSA lock, you can ensure your valuables are secure and safe.
The suitcase benefits hugely from its ABS+PC hard plastic shell. It is highly suited for modern transportation and rough treatment from baggage handlers.
The handle allows you to maneuver in tight spaces quickly.
Specifications
| Materials | Hard Shell (ABS+PC) |
| Weight | 10.88lbs |
| Size | 20.5″ x 11″ x 29″, plus 2 more sizes |
| Wheels | Spinner |
Features
- Expandable
- 3-step pure aluminum telescoping handle
- Four silent spinner wheels for 360 degrees of motion
- Built-In TSA lock
- Push-button locking system
- Fully-lined roomy interior with down straps
- Zippered interior divider
What We Like
Silent spinner wheels are a plus, along with the TSA lock and expandability. Having more space and reducing the compression of clothes is always a plus.
What We Don’t Like
It is not a piece of lightweight luggage.
Pros
- Very good design
- Durable
- Expandable
- Silent spinner wheels
Cons
- Not lightweight.
Our Selection
Our suggestion is the Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels as it combines the best of all features. It has a very modern look along with its hardshell durability. On top of that, it is expandable and with 360-degrees spinner wheels, is ultralight, and is PSA-ready.
Why Buy Lightweight Luggage?
The next time you go to the airport, bring a pedometer along or track your steps using a fitness app on your phone. It might surprise you how many miles you cover moving from gate to gate, especially if you have several transfers during your journey. A piece of lightweight luggage can often be the difference between a fleet-footed journey through the terminal and a missed flight!
Travel can be stressful, and an easily transportable suitcase or bag is one less thing to worry about when your brain is already full of information! Likewise, the best lightweight luggage is simply more comfortable to transport. Lightweight luggage sets reduce muscle strain and injuries, so you’ll still be in top shape when it’s time to engage in vacation activities!
Furthermore, many airlines put severe weight restrictions on both checked and carry-on luggage. The weight of your luggage will count toward this weight limit. By significantly reducing the weight of your luggage, you can ensure that you’re not forced to pay extra fees or leave essential items behind.
You will also appreciate your lightweight luggage during the return trip. Lighter luggage means more room for presents, foreign delicacies, and gorgeous souvenirs from your travels! If you’re purchasing souvenirs on your journey, they will most likely add extra weight during your trip home.
What Weight Is Considered “Lightweight?”
There is no official definition of “lightweight” when describing luggage, and quite a few different types of bags and suitcases may fall into this category. Often, manufacturers include the weight of the empty luggage on a product’s tag. Since you cannot weigh luggage in the store, always lift it yourself to see how it might compare to other pieces.
In general, however, we believe that the lighter a piece is, the better!
For a piece of carry-on luggage, aim for a piece of luggage in the 5-6 pound range. Compare this to your standard piece of carry-on luggage, which might weigh ten pounds or more! The average international airline will allow you to bring a single carry-on bag weighing somewhere between 35 and 40 pounds.
A lightweight piece of luggage might weigh anywhere between 7 and 10 pounds for checked bags. Sometimes larger bags weigh less than anticipated because they have a lot of space, so don’t be afraid to go big!
Find the largest, lightest bag that you can, and you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently transport everything you need for your travels! The average airline allows you to check up to 50 pounds per bag. These checked bags can be up to 62 inches in total size.
Lightweight Luggage Considerations
Even if you find an incredibly light bag, there are still some things to keep in mind before you commit. If you have purchased the wrong piece of luggage for you, you’ll often figure that out very early on in your journey! Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for best suitcase for European travel.
Number of Wheels
Decide whether you’d like a piece with two wheels or four wheels. The odds are good that your piece of checked luggage will come with wheels, which can make it easy to move freely about the airport as you scuttle from gate to gate. While a two-wheel piece will probably be lighter due to having half as much hardware, a four-wheel piece can often allow for more stability and ease of multidirectional movement.
Consider Your Handles
Luggage typically comes with two types of handles: handles used to lift luggage, such as when placing it in an overhead well, and handles used to pull luggage along. These handles must be sturdy and well-constructed because they will be grabbed, tugged, yanked, and drawn by many hands during the journey!
Ensure that your luggage has enough lifting handles to make transfer simple. Furthermore, make sure that any pulling handles are durable and not prone to locking up or getting jammed. If you are exceptionally tall or short, ensure that the length is appropriate and comfortable.
Overall Durability
Ultimately, you should always choose quality for any piece of luggage. Find the lightest piece with the most secure construction to ensure the most seamless trip possible. A great piece of lightweight luggage is an investment, and you’ll enjoy many wonderful, stress-free trips together!
When you travel from afar, having your clothes and valuables not squeezed from an airplane suitcase “packing” is something you want, right? We believe we have helped you choose the best lightweight luggage for Europe. Choosing a good and durable one makes lots of difference when going through all those narrow cobblestone roads.
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