Many people have caught onto the minimalist travel movement. Meaning, more and more people travel with nothing more than a small cabin carry-on. To some, this may seem crazy, but to others it is perfect to pack only the essentials and save money by not checking in baggage! But whether you are traveling with extra baggage or not, a solid carry-on suitcase is still a must!

Packing for a trip can be quite an exhausting procedure, especially when you don’t have the right type of luggage. Finding the perfect carry-on suitcase can also be quite daunting, especially for those not into shopping or with a budget. Luckily, we have searched high and low to prepare a ready-at-hand list of our top picks for carry-on suitcases. To make this list optimal for affordable, minimalist travel, we’ve made sure each suitcase is small and light enough for RyanAir requirements. RyanAir is a budget airlines that has strict guidelines on how big and heavy your carry-on suitcase can be before you have to pay more for check-in.

RyanAir cabin luggage requirements: a max of 55x40x20cm with a 10kg max weight. (In inches that means: 21.65 inches x 15.748 inches x 7.87 inches and 22.0462 pounds)

So whether you are searching for a new suitcase for business or pleasure purposes, each of the suitcases listed below are sure to provide satisfaction!

Best Carry-On Suitcases that Meet RyanAir Requirements

1. SwissGear Sion 21″

This SwissGear suitcase is affordable yet practical! It has a 360 degree multi-directional spinner wheels and 2″ expansion that allow for a lot of space.  

You can check out this product here – SwissGear Sion 21″ (click this link to check the price).

2. Tommy Hilfiger Lochwood 20 Inch Upright

This Tommy Hilfiger suitcase offers the best of both worlds – sleek and stylish yet practical and durable! It is very fashionable with 6 different color options. This suitcase is very durable with its outer hard shell. Not to mention, the inside is super cute, with its blue interior and elastic bands to hold items in place. Stylish doesn’t have to break the bank!

You can check out this product here – Tommy Hilfiger Lochwood 20 Inch Upright (click this link to check the price).

3. Hard Shell ABS 4 wheel Spinner

This suitcase is made by Italian designer Gianmarco Venturi and will last for many trips with its scratch resistant hard outer shell. It features a 3-digit TSA combination lock which is super convenient to secure your valuables. The price is quite shocking for a carry-on suitcase to include both combination lock and 4 multidirectional smooth and silent 360° double wheels. The suitcase comes in 5 colors.

You can check out this product here – Hard Shell ABS 4 wheel Spinner by Gianmarco Venturi (click here to check the price)

4. Calvin Klein Cortlandt 2.0 21″ Expandable Spinner

For the minimalist traveler, this Calvin Klein soft shell bag exceeds traveler standards. The gorgeous, clean sleek black look, inside smart compartments, and inexpensive price tag make this a very well rounded suitcase.

You can check out this product here – Calvin Klein Cortlandt 2.0 21″ Expandable Spinner (click here to check the price)

5. American Tourister Ilite Max Softside Spinner 21

This American Tourister Ilite Max suitcase is a soft-shell features a push-button locking handle and four, multi-directional spinner wheels for easy mobility. American Tourister is a great suitcase brand as you may already know, so you can trust its durability and efficient use. The inside of the bag includes nice smart compartments as well:

With a variety of colors and an inexpensive price tag, this case is perfect for any modern traveler!

You can check out this product here – American Tourister Ilite Max Softside Spinner 21 (click this link to check the price)

Conclusion

Before, I had a strong stance on getting a flexible case instead of a hard-case carry-on but I’ve now changed my mind. Both are great, and I’m actually using a hard-case one now and love it.

For this list I tried to choose fashionable suitcases that are durable, affordable, and compact. I hope this list helps! Let me know if you have others to add to the list.