Best Luggage Black Friday Deals 2026

The Platinum Elite 21-inch is the carry-on we would buy first. OutdoorGearLab ranked it first of the 16 carry-ons it tested, and Wirecutter names it its top pick for most travelers. The magnetic wheels line themselves up as you roll, and Travelpro's warranty covers airline damage once you register the bag.

Skip it if you fly airlines that measure carry-ons strictly, since OutdoorGearLab found it slightly over standard limits. At 8.1 lb it is also heavy for a softside bag; the Maxlite 5 below weighs about 5.5 lb.

This is not a deal yet. Amazon has it at about $390, right on its 90-day average, and it sold for about $295 in late June. We would wait for Black Friday week and look for a price near that low.

The Freeform is the cheapest carry-on we would buy from a major brand. OutdoorGearLab gave it its Best Buy award among hardshells for its packing space and a shell that flexes instead of cracking, and CNN Underscored found the wheels smoother than it expected at the price. Unlike most hardside bags, it expands for the trip home.

The shell scuffs quickly, the trolley handle feels weak, and OutdoorGearLab measured it at 23 inches tall, an inch over the limit most US airlines use. If your airline sizes bags at the gate, that inch matters, and the Travelpro Platinum Elite above is the safer buy.

Amazon has it at about $130, its 90-day average. It fell to $84 in late June, so anything under $100 would be a real saving.

For a checked bag, we would buy the Platinum Elite 29-inch. OutdoorGearLab gave it its Editors' Choice among checked suitcases for its sturdy build and its packing and compression features. It rolls on the same self-aligning wheels as our top carry-on, so the two make a matched pair, and a fold-out suiter keeps a jacket from creasing.

It is big and heavy. A full 29-inch bag can pass the usual 50 lb checked limit, so weigh it before you leave for the airport. If you would rather carry less, the Maxlite 5 29-inch below weighs about 7.9 lb.

Amazon has the grey version at about $485, its 90-day average. It sold for $370 in late June, so this is one to watch rather than buy at this price.

The Freeform Large is the checked hardshell for people who do not want to spend Travelpro money. OutdoorGearLab gave it a Best Buy award, and it holds roughly 112 liters at about 9.5 lb. It rolls well for a budget bag, a TSA combination lock is built in, and Samsonite backs it with a 10-year limited warranty.

As with the carry-on, the shell scratches easily, and the handle and wheels are a step below the Travelpro's. Frequent flyers who check a bag every month should spend more on the Platinum Elite 29-inch.

At about $210 it costs roughly $12 more than it has averaged over the past 90 days. It fell to about $126 in early October, so the current price is well short of a deal.

If you are buying for a household or starting from nothing, the Sion set covers a carry-on, a medium and a large bag in one box. OutdoorGearLab gave the large bag its Best Buy award among softside bags for its light weight, handy storage and sturdy handle, and the carry-on stayed dry in its hose test.

The carry-on is the weak piece. OutdoorGearLab measured it at 23 inches tall, about an inch over US limits, and found it heavy for its class with basic wheels.

Price is the problem right now. At about $415 from Amazon it sits at its 90-day average, but it sold for $199 in mid-February. As we checked, our Freeform carry-on and Freeform Large together cost less.

The Maxlite 5 is for travelers who lift their own bags into the bin or fly airlines that weigh carry-ons. OutdoorGearLab measured it at 5.5 lb, the lightest of the 16 it tested, with 46 liters inside, and Wirecutter makes it its budget pick. Next to the Platinum Elite it saves about 2.5 lb.

The trade is toughness. OutdoorGearLab scored it lower on durability than the heavier softside bags, and Wirecutter notes that its airline-damage coverage lasts only one year, so anyone who flies every week should buy the Platinum Elite.

At about $160 from Amazon it is at its usual price. Its lowest of the past year was about $126, during Thanksgiving week last year, which makes it the one Pick here with a record of dropping at Black Friday.

Most US airlines cap a checked bag at 50 lb, so every pound the empty bag weighs is a pound you cannot pack. The Maxlite 5 29-inch weighs about 7.9 lb for roughly 110 liters, about 1.5 lb less than the Freeform Large at a similar capacity. It also matches the Maxlite 5 carry-on if you want two bags that look alike.

No testing publication has given this size an award, and the line is less durable than the Platinum Elite. Travelers who check a bag often should spend more on the Platinum Elite 29-inch; occasional travelers who care most about weight will be happy here.

Amazon has it at about $225, its 90-day average. It sold for $180 in late June.

The Baseline Essential is the carry-on to buy once and keep. OutdoorGearLab ranks it second of the 16 carry-ons it tested, Wirecutter calls it its upgrade pick, and Briggs & Riley's lifetime warranty covers airline damage. Its compression system adds depth when you need it and pulls the bag flat again when you do not.

Skip it if weight matters: OutdoorGearLab measured 10.1 lb, the heaviest carry-on here. CNN Underscored also found that the external handle scuffed on stairs and cobblestones.

Amazon was not selling it when we checked. The price is from a third-party seller at $729, and its lowest of the past year was $724. Gavler reports that Briggs & Riley prices follow retailer price matching more than holiday sales, so do not expect a big Black Friday cut, and check who the seller is before you order.