When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Amazon/Business Insider
Summer travel is here and so are Prime Day luggage deals that will help you get a leg up on your vacation planning.
Amazon Prime Day is happening today, July 16, and tomorrow, July 17. We're keeping track of steep discounts on suitcases, backpacks, and packing cubes from Calpak, Samsonite, Travelpro, American Tourister, and other top retailers. These brands have made it into our best luggage and best carry-on guides — written by two travel editors who each take more than 50 flights a year — due to their impressive construction, convenient interior design, and overall durability. Keep an eye on this page for the latest luggage deals, or head on over to our main hub for all things Amazon Prime Day.
This is a great time to invest in a quality suitcase set. One of the best deals we've seen is 36% off the two-wheeled version of the Travelpro Platinum Elite — our favorite soft-sided suitcase. The two-wheeled version is preferred by flight crew, since it has more packing room and better stability. Otherwise, it has all the same features we love in the four-wheel option including an expandable interior, USB charging port, and smart internal storage. You can read everything we love about this bag in our Travelpro Platinum Elite review.
Like all Amazon Prime Day sales, today's luggage deals are exclusive for Amazon Prime members. If you're not a member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out. We've also highlighted some deals from top luggage brands that are running competing sales, like Monos, which you don't need a Prime membership to shop. Monos' sale is one of the best we've seen from the brand and will net you up to 35% off sitewide with code FREQUENTFYLER.
Shop all Prime Day luggage deals on Amazon.
Right now, the best Amazon Prime Day luggage deals are on sets rather than individual suitcases. In some cases, like with Samsonite luggage sets, you're getting two suitcases for the usual price of one.
Soft-sided vs. hard-sided
Hard-sided luggage is incredibly popular, but in our testing we've found it's no more durable than soft-sided bags (and more likely to show wear and tear). Soft suitcases have some stretch to hold more items and are easier to compress to fit in an overhead compartment; they're also more likely to have external pockets for holding items you may need in flight. Hard-sided luggage looks sleek and may offer a bit more protection from rough handling for fragile packed items. To learn more about the differences between soft-side, hard-side, and aluminum carry-ons, check out our guide to the best carry-on luggage.
Size
For carry-on bags, you'll want to stick with a maximum bag size of 22" x 14" x 9", which will fit most domestic and international airline carrier limits. For checked luggage, keep in mind that bigger isn't always better. You may be tempted to buy the biggest checked bag you can find, but extra large bags easily end up over the airline's max weight once packed. A checked bag with max dimensions of 29" x 20.5" x 12.5" will accommodate most trips without being too hefty.
Wheels
We recommend most people choose a roller bag with four wheels instead of two. The extra wheels make it easier to maneuver the suitcase. However, two-wheeled bags generally have more packing space and are better for navigating uneven terrain, making them a solid option if you anticipate frequently navigating city subways and streets with your suitcase.
Extra features
Many luggage brands aim to stand out by offering a fleet of special features. The features we find most useful are built-in combination locks and in-bag compression. Ejectable batteries are popular add-ons, but we find they're not often used and can be a bit of a pain to travel with: Most airlines do not allow these batteries to be checked into a plane's cargo hold.
Prime Day luggage deals typically echo savings you would find during major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Black Friday. You'll be able to find savings on everything from travel backpacks to rolling luggage sets. Throughout the event, we'll be watching for new deals that go live and updating our articles with the best luggage discounts on Amazon and competing sites.
Shopping for more great Amazon Prime Day deals? Check out our roundup of all of the best deals here, or browse Amazon's website for more.
