There are many things to consider when choosing the right luggage for your trip to Europe. The most important consideration is the size and weight of each bag you need to take.
Nowadays, most airlines are very picky on what luggage they will allow on board the plane as your carry-on. Plus, the size and weight of the bags will be added as checked luggage.
The weight of your luggage is going to be something you need to focus on before setting out on your trip. It can be very frustrating to find out at check-in time at the airport that you will need to pay extra hefty fees that most airlines are now charging for overweight bags.
Don’t be caught paying those ridiculous fees! You are much better off investing the proper bags and luggage that meets the airline’s regulations saving you money in the long run. Not to mention that dragging around heavy luggage can be quite annoying!
The best way to find out the luggage regulations for your trip is to contact the airline via their website or call to confirm. You can also have a look at the following page on Wikitravel to see a weight limit guide for some of the major airlines.
In this post, I will show you the best lightweight luggage you can use when traveling to Europe.
Ultralight Luggage – IT Luggage Catwalk Ll 18″
Dimensions: Exterior 17.5 x 14 x 7.9″ Interior 16.9 x 13.8 x 7.9″
Features
- Perfect luggage for all airlines — works great as a carry on bag
- Smooth and silent corner wheels
- Telescoping push button top handle which is easy to grab
- Convenient to carry
- U-shaped zip opening provides easy access to all your essentials
- Interior features an organizer section with slip pockets — keep all your items safe, like passports and other important documents
This 18″ ultra-lightweight carry-on and under seat luggage is perfect for your next vacation. The IT Luggage Catwalk features 2 smooth and silent wheels, a telescoping top handle, and easy-to-grab top handles.
Use the u-shaped zip opening for easy access to all your essentials, documents, passports and tickets. Plus the organizer section keeps all other belongings safe and secure. This carry-on comes complete with side pockets and a padded iPad pocket, perfect for iPad lovers!
Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside 24″ Luggage
Dimensions: Body 24 x 16.5 x 11″ Total 27 x 17.5 x 11.75″
Features
- Lightweight and durable
- 100% polycarbonate material
- Side-mounted TSA lock feature – no keys included
- Stylish custom and detailed design
- Featuring 10 oversized zippers and full-zip interior divider with organizational pockets
Carry all your travel essentials effortlessly and stylishly all around Europe. The Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage is extremely lightweight (only 9.3lbs). Te durable spinner features 100% polycarbonate construction with sharp molded details. It is made to absorb impact by flexing while under stress then popping back to its original shape, eliminating dents and dings while protecting its contents.
The brushed pattern hides any potential scratches or scuffs from your journeys. This luggage will stay looking great for a long time. The fully-lined interior has cross-straps, a privacy curtain with its own zippered organizational pockets. This luggage features a TSA-approved combination lock for security and peace of mind, as an added bonus.
Coolife Luggage Expandable 3 Pcs Set
Dimensions: 20″- 9x15x22″, 24″- 11x17x27″, 28″- 12×19.5×30.5″
Features
- Solid ABS+PC construction
- Durable and lightweight hard shell, with a finish designed to prevent scratches
- Beveled-edge design increases strength
- 20″ and 24″ size luggage is perfect for business and personal travel
- 28″ size is expandable adding 15% to the scalable space
- Sturdy and solid ergonomic aluminum telescoping handle system
- Includes multi-directional silent wheels will not make any noise when being rotated
- TSA lock which allows only TSA agents to inspect your bags without damaging the lock
This three-piece Coolife Luggage set is ideal for personal vacations, weekend getaways, and business travel. This luggage follows airline guidelines and standards. The three-piece set is stylish and will transport your travel essentials effortlessly. The set can be stored inside each other, offering more convenience and saving storage space.
This best seller and popular set Includes a fully-lined interior with a separate mesh pocket, functional elastic cross ribbons to secure the packed clothes. You will receive one 28″ suitcase for consignment, one 24″ suitcase for checking in, and one 20″ suitcase suitable for carrying onto the plane.
A very important feature for luggage wheels is durability and quality. This luggage set has double wheels which are smooth operating and quiet. The 28 in. bag is expandable and will give you 15% more packing capacity. Every modern traveler loves to have more luggage space and this 28″ expandable bag does just that.
Travelpro 22″ Luggage Maxlite 5
Dimensions: Case: 21x14x9″, Overall: 23×14.5×9″
Features
- Ultra-lightweight and very durable
- 22″ expandable Rollaboard suitcase maximizes your space
- Perfect for carry-on or checked luggage
- Polyester fabric with stain-resistant, water-repellant duraguard coating
- Strong zipper pulls provide long lasting durability.
- High-performance inline skate wheels are silent and built to last
- PowerScope Lite handle reduces wobble and ensures a smooth, easy roll
- Expands up to 2″ to maximize packing capacity with a tapered shape to prevent tipping
- Stylish design with low-profile top, side, and bottom carry handles.
- Two exterior compartments, full-length interior lid pocket, side accessory pocket, and adjustable hold-down straps
The Maxlite 5 22″ Expandable Rollaboard gives you lighter luggage without sacrificing durability or performance. This roomy all-in-one suitcase makes packing easy and will keep everything organized. It includes two quick-access, exterior front pockets, a full-length interior lid pocket, a side accessory pocket, and adjustable hold-down straps.
A huge bonus feature of this luggage is the high-tensile-strength expandable zipper that adds up to 2″ more capacity. This is very convenient for all travelers. You will enjoy the two-position adjustable PowerScope Lite handle and high-performance inline skate wheels which guarantee a smooth ride.
This all-in-one carry-on rollaboard has been tested to fit in the overhead bin space on most major US airlines. The fully-expanded carry-on may not meet airline restrictions, so always check with your airline to confirm.
Lightweight Luggage Considerations
Price
You shouldn’t have to spend a fortune to get great lightweight luggage. Any luggage bag listed in this post will be suitable without breaking the bank.
If you travel a lot, it probably makes sense to spend more for a quality product that will last you a long time, saving you money in the long run. If you’re on a limited budget, you can find suitable options but they tend to be much heavier.
Weight
Lightweight luggage makes traveling much easier and if you’re traveling to Europe covering a lot of miles, this will be important.
A few ounces here and there might not seem like a big deal, but keeping weight down is going to save you money and save your back! You don’t want to be charged for your heavy luggage unexpectedly.
You can check the weight of your luggage using this digital hanging luggage scale.
Durability
The durability of lightweight luggage is crucial to how long it will last. Depending on the type of traveling you plan to do and the environment, the luggage durability will be important.
All of the luggage listed here are lightweight and durable. Many people find the luggage designed with ABS and polycarbonate to be most durable.
TSA Luggage Locks
This is something I find some people ignore but it can be a huge bonus.
TSA screens all checked and carry-on baggage before it is permitted to be brought on board commercial aircraft. Sometimes, TSA officers will have to open your baggage as part of the screening process.
If you decide to lock your luggage and TSA cannot open it, then the locks may have to be cut. Approved TSA luggage locks will allow agents to inspect your bags without damaging the lock.
Using TSA luggage locks, the agent has to re-lock your suitcase to remove their key. You never worry about your suitcase locks being left open again. The locks I recommend are the Forge TSA luggage locks. They are available on Amazon via the link.
If you enjoyed these luggage reviews, have a look at all our travel gear guides here:
We also have another great blog post that highlights some of our favorite lightweight luggage of all time here. It will help you in all kinds of ways, including avoiding additional luggage fees because of your luggage’s weight. You can read that post here.
As always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message anytime via our contact form.
Thanks for reading!
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