At under $100, budget bags are a pragmatic choice. You typically won’t find one with insanely smooth-rolling wheels or jam-proof zippers. You won’t find garment foldouts and suiters either. What you will find, however, are bags that get the job done at a great value.
Our picks
Our picks highlight budget bags that offer a exceptional functionality and quality for their price. At under $100, you can’t expect to have it all, but these bags will serve most leisure travelers and even some business travelers well.
When shopping for a sub-$100 bag, know that you’ll be trading off features between on bag and another. If you haven’t yet, read through our article exploring the many features of a bag to see which ones matter to you.
1. Samsonite Omni PC 20" Luggage
Samsonite’s Omni PC (list: $99) features a textured polycarbonate surface making it not only durable, but resistant to scratches. Its handles are also exceptionally sturdy, which means you’ll likely lug this bag around for at least a few years. There’s even a TSA-compatible built-in combination.
The bag’s interiors are a bit more basic, inline with what we expect for a sub-$100 bag. You’ll find two compartments separated by a divider, which itself has a full-length mesh pocket. One thing we do like about the Omni PC 20” is that it’s expandable, which comes in handy if you like to overpack or happen upon a souvenir you want to stow.
Samsonite also makes the Winfield 2, a close runner-up to the Omni PC. It loses the textured exterior pattern and the expandability, but offers a bit more organization and a sleeker finish.
Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Luggage, Black, Carry-On
Available from: Amazon
Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage, Charcoal, Carry-On
Available from: Amazon
2. Travelpro Maxlite 3 22” Rollaboard
Travelpro’s Maxlite 3 (now: $89) balances durability and organization.
On the durability front, it provides handles made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Other elements, like skid guards, protect the bag’s bottom and corner from rips and scuffs. The bag also features recessed wheels, which withstand impact better.
For its price, the bag offers above average organization. Aside from its single main compartment, you’ll find full-length interior and exterior lid pockets. There's also a large accessory pocket.
As of this writing, the newer Maxlite 5 is on sale for just a hair under $100. This pricing won't last, which is why we have it here as a runner-up. For the extra cost though, you get a bag that's a whole pound lighter (at 5.4lbs). You also get DuraGuard® coating, which helps the bag repel water and spills.
Travelpro Luggage Expandable Carry-On, Black
Available from: Amazon
3. Travelers Club Chicago 20” Rolling Expandable Hardcase
The Travelers Club Chicago 20” (now: $40) is a stylish roller made for travelers of all budgets. As is typical with hardshells, this suitcase offers two compartments separated by a zip-up divider. A small zippered pouch is thoughtfully stitched along the interior, providing built-in organization for small accessories.
While the ABS exterior is less rugged than tougher polymers, this bag includes minor features to improve durability. Bumpers on all eight corners of this bag prevent wear where it’s most it’s most likely to occur. Plastic feet mounted to the side of the bag also allow you to set this suitcase down lengthwise without scuffing.
A push-lock trolley handle clicks into three fixed height levels while two side handles make for easy hand carry. Combined with four single spinner wheels, this bag offer a frictionless, ergonomic, glide when lugged over even surfaces.
All things considered, this entry-level suitcase provides function and design at a compelling price.
4. Ricardo Beverly Hills Malibu Bay 20" Spinner
Ricardo Beverly Hill's Malibu Bay ($99) is equal parts functional and fashionable. Its stylish exterior is made of "dreamful," a unique polypropylene fabric that's tough, lightweight, and environmentally friendly—it can decompose naturally or sent in for recycling. It also features two front pockets, one that zips horizontally and the other vertically.
On the inside, the Malibu Bay 20" sports a large mesh pocket that extends edge-to-edge along its opening side. Water resistant nylon lines every square inch of the roomy main compartment. You'll also find a TSA-compliant toiletry bag that snaps on and off. The Malibu Bay comes in an array of stylish colors, but as of this writing, just the chic orange color comes in at under $100.
5. Delsey Helium
Delsey’s Helium ($85-140) offers mid-range durability at budget prices. The highlight of the Helium is in its tough polycarbonate shell, which sports a matte metallic finish for scratch resistance. You’ll also find double spinner wheels for better handling and reliability along uneven surfaces. The Helium, as with most hardshells in this price range, sports a TSA-compatible combination lock.
Inside, the helium sports two compartments. Organization is sparse as expected for a durable hardshell in this price range. You’ll find only a couple of non-mesh zippered pockets here to help sort your belongings.
Prices vary depending on color, but we were able to find several colors for under $100 as of this writing.
DELSEY Paris Luggage Carry-on, Graphite, 21 inch
Available from: Amazon
6. AmazonBasics Hardside 20" with TSA Lock
For the price (list: $59), AmazonBasics’ Hardside 20” with TSA lock accomplishes a lot.
The exterior sports a durable polycarbonate shell typically reserved for more expensive suitcases. You’ll also find double spinner wheels and an easy-to-configure TSA lock.
One feature we love is the compression pad, which replaces the straps found in most budget suitcases. Aside from offering “fuller” compression, the pad also includes its own full-length zipped pocket. Add to that the pockets on the divider and you get three zipped pockets in this bag. Impressive!
Expansion zippers allow the bag to expand by up to 15% in volume.
The only downsides we noted on this model are the handles and wheels, which feel less sturdy. We might even call the handles flimsy when fully extended. Taken as a whole though, the Hardside is still one of the more compelling budget options we’ve seen.
Note: this bag is different from the Hardside Spinner 20” without TSA lock. This bag is an older model that uses compression straps, a weaker shell material (ABS plastic vs. polycarbonate), and drops the TSA lock. At $49, it’s still an excellent option, especially if you don’t care for the improvements in the newer model.
7. Samsonite Leverage LTE Spinner 20"
The Leverage LTE ($99) is built for business travel on a budget. We love that it includes a removable suiter, which you typically find on much more expensive bags. A suiter is useful for keeping shirts, dresses, and suits wrinkle-free in transit. The bag also offers an abundance of organization, with more internal and external pockets than any other bag featured on this list. There’s even an expandable zipper if you need more space on demand.
Compared to higher end business bags, the Leverage LTE makes a few sacrifices to keep it budget-friendly. Road warriors will immediately notice how plasticky its wheels feel to roll. The ballistic polyester it uses, while resistant to scuffing and ripping, also won’t last as long as a tougher nylon blend like the kind you find in a mid-range model.
Finally, if you fly smaller regional aircraft, know that Samsonite has a tendency to label the size of their bags based on body dimensions. These don’t include wheels or handles. If you include those, this bag comes out closer to 23”, which is slightly oversized on most major US carriers.
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