VerdictAI

Reviewer consensus · 2026

Best Softside Carry-On Luggage of 2026What 0 reviewers actually think, trust-weighted

Softside carry-ons remain the go-to for travelers who want a bit of give for overpacking and exterior pockets for quick access. The signals available for this category are thin—the candidate pool is dominated by Amazon verified-purchase ratings, with no independent lab tests, expert teardowns, or specialist-community threads attached to these specific listings—so the synthesis below leans on rating volume and averages, weighted cautiously. Treat these as consensus-of-buyers picks rather than lab-verified verdicts.

At a glance

Compare

Pick any two for a head-to-head

Scores, pros, cons, and our verdict — side by side.

vs

Highest-rated by the consensus

#1 of 5
Top pick · #1Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage with 4 Spinner Wheels, Lightweight Suitcase, Men and Women…
Best overall

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Luggage with 4 Spinner Wheels, Lightweight Suitcase, Men and Women…

Travelpro

★★★★★4.5(14,422)85Great

Across the verified-purchase reviewers we read, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 is the most consistently endorsed softside carry-on in this pool, with a very large review base (about 14,400 across color variants) holding a 4.5-star average. Buyers repeatedly highlight its low weight and the expandable main compartment as the reasons it earns repeat purchases.

Price

$120.00

Read review →Check Price

The rest of the rankings

#2,5

Frequently asked

5 questions
What is the best softside carry-on for most travelers?
Across verified-purchase reviewers, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 stands out as the most broadly recommended option, combining a low weight, an expandable main compartment, and a very large base of buyers averaging 4.5 stars. It hits the sweet spot of price, durability reputation, and packing capacity for the majority of flyers.
Are softside or hardside carry-ons better?
Softside bags offer more flex for overpacking, easier compression into tight overhead bins, and usually exterior pockets for laptops and documents. Hardside shells protect fragile contents better and resist moisture. The picks here focus on softside; choose softside if you value pockets and squeeze-in capacity over crush protection.
How much should I spend on a carry-on?
The candidates here range from around $78 (SwissGear Sion) to $280 (Travelpro Platinum Elite). Budget bags around $80 satisfy occasional travelers per buyer reviews, while frequent flyers tend to gravitate toward the $120–$280 Travelpro tier for handle and wheel longevity. Spend more if you fly often and rely on warranty support.
Will these carry-ons fit airline size limits?
Most picks here are 21-inch spinners marketed as airline-approved for major U.S. carriers, and the mixi model lists explicit 22x14x9 dimensions. Always verify against your specific airline's overhead-bin limits, since expandable bags can exceed limits when fully expanded.
Why isn't a Briggs & Riley bag listed here?
No Briggs & Riley model appeared in the candidate pool we were given, so we did not assign that label. The picks below reflect only the products with available rating data.