Best Affordable Travel Luggage For Men (Reviews For 2023)

cheap travel luggage men

Ok, guys, let’s face it. All men love to travel with awesome luggage, and all men love to save money and still get a great bag. As a traveler myself, I know how important it is to choose the right luggage for me. Not only does it need to check all the right boxes, but it has to look good too!

There are some important features you want to look for when choosing the right luggage which I will cover in this post. It is not always easy to make the right selection for good travel luggage. There are so many styles and options so it can be difficult to make the right choice.

One important thing to know is that you don’t need to spend a fortune. You can stay on a budget and still buy very nice luggage sets and luggage bags.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to pay some extra cash, you can get some really nice luggage. But that’s not what we are talking about in this post. I want to introduce some luggage bags that are lightweight, compact, durable and of course easy on the pocketbook.

So today, let’s have a look at the best affordable travel luggage for men!

Table of Contents

What To Look For With Travel Luggage – Must-Have Items

Quality
Expandable
Built-in Compartments
Durable Zippers and Tabs
Lightweight
Durable Wheels and Handles

1. Quality

With quality luggage, you have two options. Go the cheap route and buy new luggage more often, or pay more upfront and get the high quality that will last. The problem with the first option is you will end up paying more in the end and be frustrated with your purchase.

Let’s say you bought a cheap set of luggage or a luggage bag; maybe you spend $50, but it ended up wearing down and breaking in the first few months. So you bought a new set twice every year for 6 years, which means you are down $600.

Now let’s say you bought a really good quality luggage bag for $150 and it lasted for over 6 years. That’s $150 spent in total for way better quality, and one purchase instead of 12. Which would you prefer?

2. Expandable

This is something that often gets overlooked. If possible, try to get luggage that is expandable. You will appreciate having that extra packing space. Many times over the years I can honestly say that I was glad I bought expandable luggage.

There will always be something that comes up where you purchase something extra or don’t allow for more items. Also, realize it may not all fit. It’s much cheaper to just have expandable luggage than have to buy another bag last minute to fit all your items. In my opinion, having a non-expandable bag is just not an option.

3. Built-In Compartments

For increased organization and safety, I recommend your luggage has interior built-in compartments. Some luggage have pockets or lined mesh inside to keep things secure and prevent damage from being moved around.

This is also good for smaller items that have a tendency to go missing or stolen. Electronic gadgets, office supplies, and many other small items can fit into a built-in compartment easily.

4. Durable Zippers And Pull Tabs

This is one of the most frustrating things when using poor-quality luggage. How many times have you been traveling and have to deal with a broken zipper? Far too many times for me personally. Most luggage that is built and designed well won’t have this problem. You should always check the luggage reviews before you purchase to find out if people have troubles with broken zippers.

The same for pull tabs. Many bags have zippers with attached pull tabs. These pull tabs can sometimes be of poor quality and tear or break right off with just a bit of effort. This is not what you are looking for. Like zippers, if the luggage bag is built and designed well, this won’t be an issue for you.

5. Lightweight

In today’s world of advanced travel luggage, all the brands are competing with each other in many ways to be the best. One of those things is the luggage weight. Of course, everyone wants lightweight luggage for obvious reasons.

The other thing to consider with luggage weight is the ever-changing hefty baggage fees the airlines are charging these days. The lighter the bag weight, the cheaper it will be for you to either carry the bag on board or have as checked in luggage.

You want to avoid showing up at the airport with your luggage, then be shocked to find out your bags are overweight and now you have to pay an extra fee. I always recommend weighing your luggage first before heading to the airport to avoid these fees. Weighing your luggage is easy to do. You can use a luggage hanging scale to find the exact weight of your bags when completely packed and ready to go.

6. Durable Wheels And Handles

Have you ever heard the sound of a luggage roller bag with broken wheels? It sometimes can be unbearable! The clackity-clack sound of wobbly wheels or broken bearings inside the wheel can be very frustrating to you and the people around you. Having luggage with durable wheels that don’t wear easily and break down is super important.

Another must have if you are using a roller luggage bag, is a proper extendable handle that operates properly. There are times when your luggage will be heavy and the last thing you want to do is carry it around the airport due to a handle that has either broken off or won’t operate normally.

All of these must-have items with respect to buying luggage will be addressed in this post. You won’t have to worry about any of these concerns with the following bags.

Best Overall Pick – Carry On Travel Luggage For Men

#1. Samsonite Aspire XLite 21.5″

Features and Specifications:

Durable polyester fabric
Designed to fit in an airplane overhead bin – perfect carry on bag
Polyurethane wheels – smooth-rolling ball bearings reduce friction
Smooth operating retractable handle
Expandable with built-in pockets
Heavy duty zippers
Lightweight: 7.5 lbs
Dimensions: 21.5″ x 14.5″ x 8.0″

The Samsonite Aspire XLite luggage bag is the perfect choice if you plan to use it as a carry on airplane bag. It’s a lightweight roller bag that covers all the must-have items on the list.

The retractable handle operates very smoothly; there is no jamming or rubbing against the side of the bag. It also locks into place when not in use with a durable push button to operate.

When not using the retractable handle, the Samsung Aspire XLite comes with soft padded carry handles which makes it easier to lift and carry with you.

Another bonus with this bag is how sturdy it is when not in use. As you can see in the photo, the bag will not tilt and stays upright when in place due to the vertical uprights in the front. So if you have this bag unevenly packed, it will naturally stay upright versus other models without the stability stands.

lightweight luggage for men

Who should buy the Samsonite Aspire XLite?

If you are on a budget and looking for a carry-on roller bag that has all of the must-have items, this luggage bag is for you. Samsonite has a long history of making great quality luggage at amazing prices.

Who should not buy the Samsonite Aspire XLite?

If you are looking for a heavy luggage bag with lots of storage space for bulky items, this is not a bag for you. At only 21.5″ in size, this bag is lightweight and not meant to hold bulky or heavy items.

You can get the Samsonite Aspire XLite on Amazon.

Best Spinner Luggage – Samsonite Winfield 2

#2. Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage

Features and Specifications

Very durable – 100% polycarbonate
Interior fabric lining
Strong zipper enclosure
Push button retractable handle
TSA compatible combination lock
360-degree spinner wheels
Organizational pockets
20” Spinner 20 x 13.5 x 9, 6.7 lbs.
24” Spinner 24 x 16.5 x 11, 9.3 lbs.
28” Spinner 28 x 19 x 12, 11.5 lbs.

The Samsonite Winfield 2 is my top choice for a hard shell luggage bag. Not only is it very well priced, but it also comes with many features and options that you would normally see in a more expensive luggage bag.

The 100% polycarbonate material is extremely durable. It is built to absorb impact by flexing while under stress then popping back to its original shape, eliminating dents and dings while protecting its contents. It will also hide any scratches or scuffs.

The four 360-degree spinner wheels are smooth operating and quiet. They are very durable and built to last.

best roller bags for men

Who should buy the Samsonite Winfield 2?

If you are looking for a hardshell luggage bag that provides great value and a low cost, this is for you. Also, if you need a modern looking, lightweight and durable luggage bag that will last, this is a great choice.

Who should not buy the Samsonite Winfield 2?

If you are looking for a carry-on luggage bag, this might not be the best choice. Although it does come in a variety of sizes, the 20″ spinner is going to be your only option for a carry on bag. It is important to always check with your air carrier first to find out the rules and regulations for carry on luggage.

You can also refer to my post what to pack in a carry on bag for more info.

Best Travel Backpack For Men

#3. WITZMAN Canvas Travel Backpack

Features and Specifications:

21″ Size backpack made with premium materials
Multiple handles make it easy and convenient to carry
Front and side pockets big enough to hold a laptop
Use as a duffel back or backpack with the included straps
Perfect workmanship and stitching
Multipurpose design
Dimensions: 11.5 x 8 x 18.5 inches
Lightweight: 3.09 lbs
Heavy-duty metal zipper pulls

If you are looking for a multi-purpose travel backpack or duffel bag, this is for you. It is made with premium combined materials of leather and canvas. It has a very classy look and feel that all men will love.

This bag can be taken anywhere with you including camping, backpacking, and hiking, air travel, cruises, and any other travel spots. It is very lightweight and easy to take anywhere. The quality leather handles and straps make it very comfortable and convenient to carry.

There are many internal and external pockets and pouches making it easy to pack various size gadgets, pens, iPhones, wallets, books, keys, and even a laptop will fit.

You can buy the WITZMAN travel backpack on Amazon.

Other Great Travel Luggage For Men – For Guys On A Budget

High Sierra Rolling Upright Duffel Bag

Features and Specifications:

Can be used as a wheeled upright, backpack or as a duffle bag
Durable design built to last
Padded backpack straps
Zippered divider panel
Drop-bottom compartment with hold-down straps
Telescoping handle with locking mechanism
Reflective piping for safety
Inline skate wheels
Dimensions: 22.0″ x 14.0″ x 9.0″
Weight: 7lbs
Capacity 50L

The High Sierra upright rolling duffle bag is available on Amazon.

Coolife Luggage 3 Piece Set – Expandable Suitcases

Features and Specifications:

3 different sizes: 20 inch (23 x 10x 14), 24 inch (16.5 x 11 x 27) 28 inch (18 x 12.5x 31)
24 inch and 28 inch is expandable – add 15% to the scalable space
20 in features a large front pocket
Designed with Oxford cloth, making it very durable and long lasting
Corner protectors
Heavy-duty zippers and tough pouches
Retractable push-button handle
Fully lined interiors
Four 360-degree durable and smooth rolling wheels
A secure combination TSA lock
Weight: 20 inch: 7.6lbs, 24 inch: 8.7lbs, 28 inch: 10lbs

The Coolife Luggage 3 piece set is available on Amazon.

As you can see there are plenty of options for the best affordable luggage for men. These are a few examples of what I recommend and believe are some great options. Any of the luggage I mentioned you can buy with confidence as they are all proven to be great luggage with many five-star reviews on Amazon. Choose the luggage that will suit your traveling needs and enjoy!

I should also mention to don’t forget your TSA travel luggage locks! These are very important to have on your luggage.

Hopefully, you found these guides helpful.

Thanks for reading!