Best Mini Suitcases in 2023: Lightweight & Stylish ⋆ Expert World Travel (2024)

• Best Softshell Mini Suitcase
  Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port 15-inchJump To Review
• Best Organizational Features
  Tumi Small Compact 4-Wheeled Suitcase 16-inJump To Review
• Best Hardside Mini Suitcase
  Rimowa Original Compact 16-inchJump To Review
• Best Budget Mini Suitcase
  Rockland Melrose Upright Wheeled Underseater Luggage 15”Jump To Review
• Best Carry-On Luggage
  Mixi Carry-On 18” Hardside LuggageJump To Review

Briggs & Riley Rhapsody Softside Underseat Carry-On Cabin Spinner, Wide 16-Inch

Briggs & Riley is known for high-quality luggage made from excellent materials. Their bags are usually equipped with all the features you would expect from a really good suitcase, and the Rhapsody underseat luggage is no exception.

The bag is made from micro-weave nylon with good dirt, water, and abrasion resistance. It’s equipped with self-repairing YKK zippers, a telescopic wheel handle mounted to the exterior of the luggage, and double-spinner wheels. It’s worth noting that underseat bags don’t often feature spinner wheels, so this is a very convenient inclusion.

There’s also a luggage strap in the back, in case you’re traveling with a larger suitcase and you want to mount this bag on top of it. The Rhapsody underseater features a spacious main compartment with a wide mouth opening, and you can fit quite a lot of items inside it.

In addition to the roomy packing compartment, this bag has multiple internal and external pockets for effortless organization. The frontmost compartment boasts an internal organizer with several open and zippered pockets, allowing you to have a dedicated spot for all the essentials you want easily accessible. One of the pockets is RFID-blocking, for ultimate safety.

Best Softshell Mini Suitcase

Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port 15-inch

Samsonite is a safe bet with luggage, and mini suitcases are no exception. This underseat spinner measures 16.5” tall with wheels and handles, so it should fit under most airline seats. It’s got spinner wheels, a retractable wheel handle, and a smart travel sleeve in the back.

The mini suitcase boasts a roomy interior with multiple sleeves and pockets. There’s a dedicated laptop sleeve and a tablet sleeve, as well as several smaller pockets for easy organization.

The luggage features two external compartments – one in the front and one on the side. The front compartment is great for items you want to keep handy at the airport, while the side compartment connects to the USB port above it and it’s great for power bank storage.

Also, the USB port allows you to charge your phone on the go, which is extremely convenient for airport and in-flight usage.

Overall, the Samsonite spinner offers excellent performance and functionality for a good price. It’s one of the more affordable bags in this review, and if you don’t want to overspend on a mini suitcase, it’s certainly one of the top options.

Best Organizational Features

Tumi Small Compact 4-Wheeled Suitcase 16-in

Tumi’s underseat bag is the best option for people who prioritize having multiple pockets and compartments in their luggage. This mini suitcase features about a dozen different pockets, including a dedicated compartment for the telescopic wheel handle.

Tumi luggage is made from premium materials and the Compact suitcase is no exception. It’s manufactured from durable ballistic nylon with great abrasion and water resistance, for ultimate durability. The bag also has premium zippers and spinner wheels, as well as a sturdy and height-adjustable wheel handle.

The main compartment of the bag can be split in two, and it comes with a removable, padded divider. You can use the divider to store electronics and other important items or take it out completely to get more space inside the bag, which is more useful if you’re packing clothes.

This case also features an additional compartment in the front with a zippered pocket, as well as two pockets on the front of the bag. If you enjoy organizing your items and you like having a dedicated spot for all the most important possessions, this bag is unbeatable.

Additionally, Tumi includes a USB charging port on the Alpha mini suitcase. You’ll also get a Tumi name tag, plus the bag can be registered in their Tumi tracer system. The underseat bag doesn’t feature any built-in locks, but it does come with a TSA-compatible padlock.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-On Rolling Underseat Bag 15-inch

Travelpro is a popular mid-range luggage brand with excellent options in many different shapes and sizes. This brand is a favorite of frequent flyers and airline professionals, so they’re a good choice if you want a reliable and durable suitcase.

The Maxlite underseat carry-on is made from polyester with a DuraGuard coating, for excellent resistance to stains and water. The luggage features recessed in-line skate wheels, which aren’t as convenient as spinner wheels, but allow the luggage to be smaller in dimension.

The Travelpro bag also has a telescopic wheel handle that locks in multiple height positions and features its own storage compartment. It even has two feet so it can stand upright on its own, and a grab handle at the bottom of the case.

The interior of the Maxlite 5 underseat bag is quite spacious with a padded sleeve for electronics and a removable toiletry bag. The toiletry case includes a hanger for easy packing and storage, and it’s an excellent addition to this mini suitcase.

Other features of this mini luggage include a zippered pocket on the side, another pocket in the front, a trolley sleeve in the back, and a name tag.

Best Hardside Mini Suitcase

Rimowa Original Compact 16-inch

Rimowa Original Compact is a 16” suitcase made from durable aluminum. It’s possibly the best option for travelers who want a small suitcase that can easily work for short trips of up to three days. With a capacity of almost 29 liters and a height that doesn’t exceed 16”, this is one of the best underseat suitcases you can get your hands on.

But it’s very pricey, and it’s certainly not a piece of luggage that everyone can easily afford. Rimowa is a luxury luggage brand and their prices often sport four digits, so you can just skip this luggage if you’re not looking to spend a small fortune on a mini suitcase.

The aluminum construction means that this bag is virtually indestructible. The case also features double-spinner wheels for smooth and silent movement, a TSA-friendly lock, and a telescopic wheel handle that can be locked at any height. Rimowa’s wheel handles usually feature stageless adjustment, which is a premium feature unique to this brand.

The interior of this mini suitcase features three packing compartments. Two are classic packing compartments with zippered dividers, and the third is a padded compartment in between the other two, which will work perfectly for any electronics. This compartment is also the most easily accessible when you first open the luggage, so it’s great for items you want to keep handy.

Hanke 14 Inch Underseat Carry On luggage

The Hanke underseat luggage is an excellent budget option. If you’re not looking for a premium mini suitcase, this luggage will work perfectly. The bag is small enough that it will fit under airplane seats on most airlines, except for a few budget ones. At the same time, the luggage has a capacity of 23 liters, which is enough for trips up to three days.

This mini luggage features double spinner wheels and a height-adjustable wheel handle for easy maneuvering. The shell of the case is made from pure polycarbonate, for excellent durability and flexibility. Polycarbonate is the best material for hardside luggage, so you can expect great performance and impact resistance from this case.

The Hanke bag features zippered closure with a TSA-friendly lock to secure it. The wheel handle is height adjustable, and the double spinner wheels are smooth and silent.

The interior of this luggage is similar to that of much larger suitcases. The top compartment features a full-panel zippered divider, while the bottom compartment has a pair of tie-down straps to keep the clothes in place. There’s an extra zippered pocket on the divider, but that’s it for internal pockets, which is probably the biggest downside of this underseat luggage.

Verage Carry-On Underseat Luggage 14” Compact

The Verage mini suitcase is a great option if you’re looking for soft-shell underseat luggage with a fair price point. This is an inexpensive 14” suitcase that measures 17” with wheels and handles, so it should still fit under the seat on most airplanes.

The packing case is only about 14”, but the extra height is due to the smooth double-spinner wheels that allow you to maneuver this luggage in any direction. It’s certainly a convenient feature for getting around the airport, but the spinner wheels add quite a bit of height to this bag.

This underseat bag also features a telescopic wheel handle, a trolley sleeve, and a built-in USB port. It weighs only 4.5 lbs, which is an impressive weight for luggage this size.

Additionally, the Verage mini suitcase has lots of pockets and separate compartments, making it great for people who like to be organized. It has a padded laptop sleeve in the front compartment, a power bank pocket on the side, and a roomy main compartment with compression straps. The bag even has an extra quick-access pocket, which is great for storing your passport and boarding pass.

This underseat luggage is available in five sizes, and it comes with a three-year warranty. Overall, it’s one of the best options for people who are looking to buy affordable mini luggage.

Somago Carry-On Luggage 18-Inch Hardside Spinner Lightweight Suitcase

The Somago 18” suitcase is a great choice if you want small-factor carry-on luggage. This case measures 17.3” tall with wheels and handles so it’s not the ideal size for a carry-on case, but at the same time, it’s the perfect size for a suitcase for three-day trips.

It’s got smooth double spinner wheels, a wide wheel handle that doesn’t take away from the packing capacity, and two TSA-approved locks. It’s possible to lock the wheel handle in multiple heights, for easy adjustments. The body of the case is made from polycarbonate and it boasts zipperless closure, for ultimate security.

The suitcase features two packing compartments with tie-down straps in the bottom and an adjustable divider in the top compartment. The adjustable divider doubles as an organizer panel, with sleeves for a laptop, tablet, phone, and other necessities.

You can get this luggage in four different colors, with beautiful pastel blue and green as options in addition to classic black and white. Overall, it’s a really good polycarbonate suitcase that can be great for short trips, but it’s not the ideal option if you’re specifically looking for an underseat bag.

Best Budget Mini Suitcase

Rockland Melrose Upright Wheeled Underseater Luggage 15”

Rockland Melrose mini suitcase is an excellent option if you’re on a tighter budget. This affordable bag measures just 15” tall with wheels and handles, which makes it an excellent universal underseater. It will be accepted as a personal item on most flights, and it’s spacious enough that you can use it as your only piece of luggage on shorter trips.

The Melrose luggage features in-line skate wheels and two feet at the bottom, which allow the bag to stand upright. The in-line wheels mean you can only drag the case behind you, but they are low-profile and don’t add a lot of height to the bag.

The telescopic wheel handle is standard and it stores in its own compartment. As for the packing capacity of this luggage, it’s pretty much a basic underseat bag. That means that you get a single packing compartment with a detachable half-panel divider, and a few convenient pockets inside.

There’s also a waterproof pocket in this bag, which is great for toiletries or clothes that aren’t totally dry. The Melrose bag had two additional zippered pockets in the front, as well as two stretchy open pockets on the sides, that are great for bulkier items like water bottles and umbrellas.

Best Carry-On Luggage

Mixi Carry-On 18” Hardside Luggage

The Mixi carry-on luggage is possibly my favorite option out of the bunch. If you’re not looking for an underseat bag and you just want a mini suitcase that can fit in the overhead bins on airplanes, this is an excellent option.

This luggage boasts a capacity of 41 liters, which is absolutely impressive for its size. It’s made from durable polycarbonate, and it features a spacious packing compartment, as well as an extra zippered compartment in the front. That front compartment has a laptop sleeve, a tablet sleeve, and a few other small pockets, so it’s perfect for items you want to keep easily accessible, and it doubles as an easy access point for the main compartment.

You can secure the organizer panel to the top cover so that the items stay in place if you need to access something from the main compartment. But this type of opening is very secure and it allows you to utilize the space inside the luggage very easily.

The packing compartment has elastic cross straps to secure the clothes in place. This mini suitcase also features a TSA-approved lock, double spinner wheels, and a telescopic wheel handle.