Best Lightweight Samsonite Luggage (Softshells And Hardshells)

Best Lightweight Hardside Luggage By Samsonite

Samsonite Winfield 2

The Winfield 2 is one of Samsonite’s most popular suitcases. That’s because it checks all the boxes; it is

• lightweight
• durable
• practical
• affordable

And if you are not sure what kind of suitcase would be best for you, the Winfield 2 is a pretty safe bet.

It is available in three sizes:

• carry-on
• medium checked bag
• large checked bag

You can grab all three in the 3-piece luggage set.

This Samsonite suitcase is made from polycarbonate – an incredibly durable material. The shell of the luggage is designed to bend upon impact, unlike the shells of cheaper plastic luggage which will break. Polycarbonate is also one of the lightest materials around, which means the Winfield 2 one of Samsonite’s best lightweight suitcases.

It has two packing compartments with expandable capacity, so you should be able to fit quite a lot of stuff. One compartment features a full-panel zippered divider with multiple pockets, while the other one has a pair of elastic cross straps.

I found this suitcase rolls with ease thanks to the four single-spinner wheels. And with some help from the telescopic wheel handle, I was able to get just the right height so that I could pull it through the airport comfortably. Not something that is always the case.

Additionally, the Winfield 2 also has a TSA-friendly lock, which ensures the safety of your belongings. Although this feature is much more important for checked bags, it really doesn’t hurt that you also have it on the carry-on.

READ MORE: SAMSONITE WINFIELD 2 REVIEW

Samsonite Omni

The Omni collection by Samsonite is very popular with frequent flyers. All luggage is lightweight, functional, durable, and seriously affordable, so it’s a great option no matter what you are primarily looking for in a suitcase.

The Omni also comes in three sizes:

• Carry-on
• Medium Check-in
• Large Check-in

These Samsonite suitcases are all made from polycarbonate. Their shells also feature a micro-diamond texture, which helps improve the scratch resistance of the luggage. This eliminates one of the main downsides of polycarbonate – it is known for being prone to scratches.

Although the Omni suitcases only have four single spinner wheels, I found that they still roll quietly and smoothly. They easily allow you to maneuver your suitcase however you want and eliminate any strain on your arms. And the adjustable telescopic wheel handle makes it even easier to move around with a large suitcase.

All three Omni suitcases have two packing compartments with expandable capacity. One compartment has elastic cross straps that will hold your clothes in place, in addition to a small zippered pocket inside. And the other compartment is equipped with a full panel zippered divider, which unfortunately lacks pockets.

So, there’s only one pocket inside the Omni suitcase, regardless of which size you get. But that’s pretty much the only downside of this luggage; all of the other features perform as well as you’d expect them.

This luggage also has a TSA-friendly lock, which will keep all your belongings safe. The classic, three-digit combination lock will keep the contents of the main compartment secure, and allow only TSA agents (and you) to open it.

Pro tip: If you have heard about the Samsonite Clearwater LTD, which is a cheaper model sold on third-party sites, then this is a way better option.

READ MORE: SAMSONITE WINFIELD VS. OMNI VS. FIERO

Samsonite S’Cure

The S’Cure suitcase is some of the lightest Samsonites you can find. If you’re looking for the ultimate lightweight suitcase, this is the one. With a polypropylene shell, the S’Cure luggage is not just incredibly lightweight, but also very sturdy and durable.

The Samsonite S’Cure is getting harder to find online and I could only see the Large Check-in.

These are zipperless suitcases, meaning that they have a 3-point clasp and latch closure. This makes the S’Cure extremely secure in comparison with a zippered suitcase which you can get into with a pen in many cases.

One of the three latches is TSA friendly, so TSA agents can still open up your suitcase without damaging it, should they choose to inspect it.

No zippers mean no expandable capacity, so keep that in mind. The overall capacity of the S’Cure is somewhat smaller than the capacity of other Samsonite suitcases. Especially since you can close it as easily with the latches if the suitcase is overpacked.

One way Samsonite keep this bag so light is to remove everything they can. So, the interior of this luggage is also not lined, and it doesn’t feature any pockets. All you get are elastic cross straps in one compartment and a zippered divider in the other. So, it’s not a luxury easy-packing suitcase like a Monos, but it does the job it’s designed for.

The S’Cure suitcases feature double spinner wheels, for the effortless maneuvering of your luggage. And they have a multi-stage wheel handle, which locks into both stored and extended positions. The handle is made from aluminum, so it’s sturdy and lightweight.

READ MORE: SAMSONITE S’CURE SPINNER REVIEW

Samsonite Voltage DLX

One of the absolute lightest suitcases by Samsonite is the Voltage DLX. The carry-on bag weighs just 6.06 lbs, making it the most lightweight hard-side suitcase out of the bunch. And if you’re gunning for an extremely lightweight zippered suitcase, this is the one to get.

The shell of Voltage DLX luggage is made from polypropylene, a lightweight material that is durable as well. It also allows Samsonite to make a very modern wave design on the outside that I really like.

There are three sizes as you would expect:

• Carry-on
• Medium Check-in
• Large Check-in

And should you want to save some money, there is a luggage set as well.

This is a more premium suitcase from Samsonite and the carry-on features a USB port that works with the TSA-approved lock panel for an easy charging experience.

This luggage has all of the premium features you would expect from a Samsonite suitcase

• double spinner wheels
• 1-inch expandable capacity
• Aluminum telescopic handle
• TSA-friendly lock
• multiple grab handles. 

Because this luggage is a little more premium, it also comes with a small wet pack on the zip-open panel. Which is great for wet or smelly items you want to separate from your gear on the way home.

And inside it is nicely lined with a material I found to be very smooth and easy on the eye.

Samsonite Freeform

If you’re looking to get a checked suitcase, the Freeform is a good option for you. It comes in three sizes, and all of them weigh less than 10 lbs. This is actually quite rare; with most of the other suitcases I talked about here, the largest one weighed 11-12 lbs. The 28” versions of the Freeform and Inova are the only two Samsonite hard sides that don’t weigh more than 10 lbs.

And that is mostly due to the shell. It is made from polypropylene, a remarkably lightweight and durable material. The impact-resistant plastic is strong, flexible, and has decent water resistance.

The Freeform luggage also features double spinner wheels, which allow for the effortless maneuvering of the bags. And with the height-adjustable wheel handle that locks into both extended and stored positions, you will glide around the airport with ease.

The interior of this suitcase is just as feature-packed as the exterior. They have two spacious packing compartments with expandable capacity, which means you will always have extra room in your luggage. One compartment features elastic cross straps and a zippered pocket, while the other has a full panel divider, with a small zippered pocket.

It’s not the best suitcase in terms of staying organized, but it’s definitely one of the best hard sides – two pockets is a lot more than you get on the Inova or the S’Cure.

The Freeform luggage also comes with TSA-friendly locks, which will keep all of your belongings safe. The standard, three-digit combination locks can only be opened by you and TSA agents who have the master key.

READ MORE: SAMSONITE FREEFORM REVIEW

Best Lightweight Softside Luggage By Samsonite

Samsonite Solyte DLX

The Solyte DLX is another great lightweight option from Samsonite. The suitcase is available in three sizes all of which are made from rugged polyester. All three bags are lightweight and have a lot of features in common.

They all have double spinner wheels and a retractable wheel handle, which allow for easy handling of your luggage. Additionally, all three bags have a top, side, and bottom grab handle, expandable capacity, and two spacious external pockets. And the telescopic handle locks into multiple height positions on all sizes of the Solyte, allowing you to easily adjust it to fit your height perfectly.

The carry-on version of this suitcase actually has a few unique features. It comes with a USB charging port, which allows you to charge your phone on the go. And there’s a zippered side pocket, designed to hold your phone and external battery, while you’re roaming through the airport. Plus, this suitcase also features a luggage strap in the back, which allows you to mount it on top of a larger Samsonite bag.

There’s another difference between the carry-on and the larger bag – the two checked Solyte DLX suitcases have a total of five internal pockets, while the carry-on has only two. There’s one zippered pocket inside the actual packing compartment, and the carry-on has two other zippered pockets on the top panel. One of those is a Wetpack – a waterproof pocket designed to hold any wet items.

The larger two bags feature two additional slip pockets on the front panel, allowing for even better organization of your belongings. This makes it a great bag for almost any trip in my opinion!

Samsonite Ascentra

The Ascentra luggage is made from Recyclex 100% recycled PET bottles, a tough and durable material. Nylon has good water resistance, thanks to the tight weave of the fibers, so your clothes will stay protected if you get caught in the rain with this suitcase.

At 6.99 lbs, this is actually one of the heavier suitcases in this review, but for a softside with so many premium features, it is quite lightweight. So what kind of premium features does it have:

• The ZipWash removable and washable lining
• A removable Organization system with a mesh zipper pocket and a WetPak
• Power Access Pocket with USB cord (carry-on only)
• Retractable ID tag

These suitcases have four double spinner wheels and a telescopic wheel handle. The handle is height adjustable and can be customized to your specific height. Something that is not common at all.

The Ascentra suitcase has a spacious packing compartment with expandable capacity on the medium and large check-in versions. There’s one zippered pocket on the lid and tie-down straps that I found great for securing your clothes once you have packed.

Softsides like this are in some ways harder to pack because of the one cavernous space you have, but if you like that, then this lightweight Samsonite case is ideal.

Check out the four sizes below:

• Carry-on
• Medium Check-in
• Large Check-in
• Underseater

Samsonite Aspire xLite

Another great lightweight Samsonite suitcase is the Aspire xLite. The carry-on size weighs 7.5 lbs, which is pretty great for a soft side Samsonite. Especially considering that this luggage is partly made from steel wire, which seriously enhances its durability. The steel wire is combined with polyester, and the two materials create a rather unique blend of strength and flexibility.

The Aspire xLite luggage features a spacious main compartment, with expandable capacity. There are multiple internal pockets, which let you stay organized while you travel. And the expansion zipper of this suitcase has a red puller, which differs from all the other zippers on the bag. This makes it easy to differentiate between them, and means you won’t mix up the zippers ever again.

I really like the suitcase that has wide tie-down straps. They will really keep the clothes in place, and they will protect the clothes against wrinkling. One of the main things I hate about elastic cross straps is that they can bunch up the clothes. And after you’ve spent an hour ironing everything in sight, it can be frustrating when two thin straps of elastic erase most of your hard work.

Luckily, that’s not something you have to worry about if you get the Aspire xLite luggage. All of your clothes will stay neatly ironed, and you can even protect them from any wet or dirty items you need to throw in your suitcase. Just put those in the Wetpak – the waterproof pocket on the top panel.

This Samsonite luggage features four single spinner wheels and a multi-stage aluminum wheel handle. The wheels roll smoothly, but they are not quite as sturdy as double spinner wheels. They will perform equally well on a smooth airport floor, but maybe don’t roll these suitcases on uneven terrain.

READ MORE: SAMSONITE ASPIRE XLITE FULL REVIEW

Samsonite Andante Wheeled Duffel Bag

Softshell luggage doesn’t necessarily mean a suitcase. Samsonite also makes some really great duffel bags, which might be just what you are looking for. And the Andante is easily the best duffel bag you can get – with a durable exterior and a spacious interior, it’s the best piece of luggage for a road trip. 

Duffel bags are great if you’re driving places, and plan to just put them in the trunk of your car. However, I would not recommend this bag for air travel – it is a 22” bag, and not all airlines will let you take it inside the cabin. That means you would have to check it, and I’m not sure that the Andante would survive that.

One advantage this duffel has over all the suitcases featured so far is organization. With multiple internal and external pockets, you will have zero issues organizing your belongings. And the large, U-shaped zipped compartment makes it super easy to pack and gives you easy access to everything inside the bag.

At a little over 5 lbs, the Andante is the lightest bag featured in this review. And that weight also accounts for the in-line skate wheels and the telescopic wheel handle.

The bag has a total of three grab handles. There’s one at the top, and there are two on the panel, which is joined together with a velcro strap. Unfortunately, the Andante duffel bag does not come with a shoulder strap, which is one thing I don’t like. Another thing I’m not a fan of is the lack of compression straps.

Although the bag has a pretty large capacity, internal compression straps would allow you to pack even more things inside, and would also help keep everything in place.