Does Sam's Club Offer Good, Budget-Friendly Luggage? Here's What Reviewers Think

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Even if you know exactly what to look for when buying quality luggage, it can be difficult to find reliable travel gear that is also affordable. Matters get more complicated when you have specific features in mind. Want a lightweight, hardside smart suitcase that works as a carry-on and charges your phone? Expect not only limited options but also products with price tags that can exceed $800, like the SE3S Smart Rideable Suitcase. Want to shell out under $100 on a piece of luggage that can handle your wardrobe? Remember that you'll get what you pay for, and sometimes, that means wasting hard-earned cash on a flimsy product that falls apart after its first use. 

All hope is not lost, though. As countless financially-savvy Reddit users from travel and frugality communities can attest, it is possible to find good, budget-friendly luggage. It might be easier than you'd think to snag that golden combo. All you need to know is where to look. One key place to start? Sam's Club.

With roughly 600 locations across the United States, Sam's Club offers a surprisingly well-reviewed collection of suitcases available for under $150. These options range from two-piece luggage sets for about $140 to 21-inch carry-ons for $70, and kitschy Hello Kitty bags for under $100. While fussy shoppers may still struggle to find their all-inclusive perfect pick, there are even items available with some impressive and handy features (like 360-degree spinner wheels and a USB charging port). So, if the travel world's wildly expensive cult luggage brand is far out of your price range, consider these options from Sam's Club. Plus, get the lowdown on the trustworthiness of each product by reading reviewers' comments. 

At $139.98, this Member's Mark 2-Piece Hardside Luggage Set is the most expensive product on this list. For the money, you'll get a 20-inch carry-on bag and a 28-inch suitcase. Both feature combination locks and an outer shell made of polycarbonate (the material behind the durable type of luggage that's considered best for international travel). Inside the carry-on, you'll also find a special pocket space for shoes.

Currently, this set of suitcases is sitting pretty with a 4.5-star rating from about 250 reviews on the Sam's Club website. Among the 190 5-star reviews, one buyer highlighted the product's reliability for international travel, writing: "The wheels are very sturdy and roll very well even on the streets of busy cities like Edinburgh and Tokyo." Additional praise for the Member's Mark 2-Piece Hardside Luggage Set mentioned that the "... luggage pieces are really good quality for the price. Can't beat the lifetime warranty either."

Not all the customer testimonies are so flattering, though. In a measured 3-star review, one buyer said of the bags: "... both leaked around the zippers during rain at Denver's airport." However, the reviewer did note that "part of it was the Denver baggage handlers' fault for not covering the luggage trucks." Another shopper who rated the suitcase set 3 stars explained that, while well-crafted, it wasn't durable.

Next up, we have the Hurley Wave 21" Carry-On Spinner Luggage for $69.98. With this 2-toned, trolley-handled bag, you'll get 8 wheels, all of which are 360-degree spinners. As a carry-on, it measures in at 21 inches by 14 inches by 9.5 inches. Keep in mind that these dimensions may not work for all airlines, as that extra half-inch or so can make for an impossibly tight squeeze on airlines like American or JetBlue. Also worth noting is that this bag doesn't feature that durable polycarbonate material for its outer shell. Instead, it uses Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) hardshell technology. Perhaps best for the occasional traveler rather than busy jetsetters, this carry-on is a decent lightweight option.

While potentially less sturdy than polycarbonate luggage, the Hurley Wave Carry-On seems to please customers. Online, it boasts a 4.8-star rating, though that number is based on 10 reviews. Of those reviews, 80% gave the bag 5 stars. As one buyer wrote in a review, "Love, love, love these suitcases! Awesome quality and sleek looking." Another reviewer applauds the Hurley Wave for being "A great carryon [sic] lightweight and spacious." So, while it may not be as professional as Rick Steves' perfect rolling carry-on, this suitcase is one to think about if you need affordable luggage for a last-minute trip.

Also coming in at just $69.98 is the Nautica Birch 21" Carry-On Hardside Spinner Luggage. Available in black with a navy blue interior and orange detail, the carry-on bag has similar dimensions to the Hurley Wave but weighs half a pound less (7.5 pounds compared to the Hurley's 8 pounds). It also uses ABS hardshell technology. Shoppers with a keen eye may even notice that some of the two suitcases' online specification sections include many of the same, word-for-word descriptions. Given all these similarities, it's no wonder the Hurley and Nautica sell for the same price. Aside from their ratings, the one key difference between them is Nautica's lighter weight.

Speaking of ratings, this carry-on has 4.6 stars from a total of 15 ratings. Of that total, 73% were 5-star ratings, with those remaining being split equally between 3- and 2-star reviews. One helpful customer testimony notes that this suitcase "Had enough room for a four-day trip. Is very light weight and had no trouble fitting it on the overhead plane bin. Rolls very easy would buy again [sic]." Meanwhile, a constructive 3-star review noted that it's a "Beautiful carry on suitcase but wheels are cheaply made."

For just $20 more than the Nautica and Hurley, you can buy the Member's Mark Hardside Carry-on Pro Spinner Suitcase With USB. Priced at $89.98, this 22.2-inch by 14.6-inch by 9.7-inch bag comes in three colors: blue, gray, and neutral beige. It features polycarbonate for its outer shell and recycled plastic material for its interior (a detail that eco-conscious buyers may appreciate). Meanwhile, tech enthusiasts on the go will like the suitcase's USB charger. A 16-inch laptop sleeve built into the front of this luggage also helps take some of the hassle out of working from the airport or on a plane.

Like the Member's Mark 2-Piece Hardside Luggage Set, the Pro Spinner Suitcase has earned a 4.5-star rating from shoppers. Out of 88 total ratings, 77% gave the bag 5 stars. Ratings of 3 stars and below account for only about 14% of overall reviews. So, what do those reviews have to say about this budget-friendly luggage? 

As one customer wrote, the Pro Spinner is an "Excellent trip companion." They continued: "Nice compartments for packing. The laptop zipper pouch on outside was a bonus and I found it more useful than my normal backpack ..." Another reviewer said: "Not only was this a great price, but the quality is excellent. The side pocket for electronics is really nice. The pockets and securing straps on the inside are very helpful." That said, not everyone was pleased with their purchase. A shopper who gave the Spinner a 1-star rating wrote: "I hate this carry-on bag. It tips over if you actually have a laptop in the laptop compartment and a bag sitting on top. It doesn't roll smoothly, either. The inside clip mesh is a joke; it doesn't actually compress [anything]."

Last but certainly not least, there's the adorable Hello Kitty Ful 21" Hard-Side Spinner Carry On Luggage. Available in pink for $99.87 (or black for an extra $100), this suitcase spruces up its ABS plastic exterior with a molded impression of popular Sanrio character Hello Kitty. It might not be what comes to mind for most adults seeking budget travel essentials, but with eight spinner wheels, an easy-grip handle, helpful organizing compartments, and a 4.7-star rating, it may be a product worth considering.

Like the Hurley and Nautica carry-ons, this bag doesn't have a plethora of reviews to investigate. That said, of the 13, 92% award it a 5-star rating. However, it is also worth noting that many of those reviews were collected as part of a promotion. Whether or not and to what extent that impacts the ratings is unclear, but here's what a few 5-star reviewers had to say. 

"When I saw this, I couldn't resist ... very happy with this piece and am thrilled to start taking trips with it, since it will definitely make a splash and be unique among bags at the airport!" wrote one customer. Another commenter mentioned that the suitcase's "... spinner wheels make for easy travel. The inside is line with cute hello kitty lettering. The luggage is also expandable so you can squeeze more in for travel." Not everyone was so easily appeased by the cute cat on this luggage, though. As the buyer behind the bag's sole 1-star review wrote, "It cracked at wheel after checked return. Of course baggage handlers sling bags, it didn't hold up. It's super cute though. It's more of a carry on item when you must handle it with care."

To compile this list, we began a deep dive into Sam's Club's budget-friendly luggage offerings by online shopping the same way millions of average travelers do. Similar to how you would browse virtual listings, sort from least to most expensive, and then scan for suitcases with high ratings and relevant features, we visited Sam's Club's website and narrowed down the results to only products priced at or below $150. From there, we filtered out irrelevant items like luggage racks and baskets. We also excluded travel backpacks. Explore already has those recommendations covered with this round-up of top-rated carry-on backpacks for every budget.

After fine-tuning our Sam's Club search, we were left with a blend of search criteria narrowed down to a range of 18 total listings. Of those, a varied handful of suitcases got the in-depth research treatment. Readers who have made it this far into the list have likely seen that our selections include sensible picks (like the highly and widely rated Member's Mark 2-Piece Hardside Luggage Set) and out-there options (such as the Hello Kitty Hard-Side Spinner Carry On). This motley crew of characters was chosen to give curious customers an idea of the diverse products on offer in the low-cost luggage game. In-stock items were also prioritized (though availability may change by the time you read this), as they represent a variety of brands. After all, a list composed only of Member's Mark suitcases hardly showcases the full range of luggage sold by Sam's Club.