Find the best luggage for LDS missionaries—durable, lightweight, and mission-approved suitcases and bags to last 18–24 months.
Why Missionaries Need Durable Luggage
Suitcases or luggage are one of the bigger purchases you will make for your missionary. And it is an important purchase! The luggage will they carry ALL their belongings as they move many times over an 18 month-2 year period.
If you are looking for the best luggage for LDS Missionaries, I’ve compiled a complete guide with the most durable luggage, explanations of the different types, and even some budget options.
Read on for the Best Luggage for LDS Missionaries: Complete Guide.
You might also like: The Ultimate LDS Mission Packing List: What to Pack (and what to leave behind)
What to Look for in LDS Missionary Luggage
Here are some Important characteristics to look for in LDS missionary travel bags
- Sturdy: It needs to last their whole mission and many transfers.
- Lightweight: You want the majority of weight to be your missionary’s stuff, not their suitcase.
- Easy to carry/push: Depending on the mission, your missionary might be battling subways, trains, and even a truck full of chickens to get to their next area. Their suitcases should be as portable and easy to transport as possible.
- Waterproof: You’ll want to keep their belongings nice and dry, so waterproof is an excellent characteristic.
There are also different considerations depending on where your missionary is serving. Typical rolling suitcases have wheels that can move in any direction, but if your missionary is serving where there are unpaved roads or cobblestone, fixed wheels will last longer and make it easier for them to transport.
In this post I moved up the actual Luggage Suitcase Recommendations, but if you are looking for more tips on packing and choosing a suitcase (including the debate of hard-side vs. soft side!), please scroll down.
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LDS Missionary Luggage Recommendations (Top Picks)
Top Hard Shell Suitcases for Missionaries
Amazon 26” Hardside Medium Suitcase This affordable suitcase is expandable, getting it very close to the church travel guidelines’ 62 dimensional inches.
It has multi-directional (spinning) wheels and comes in a variety of colors. This weighs in at 9.4 pounds. The reviews are amazing as well!
Samsonite UpLIFT Hardside Luggage: This one squeaks in at 60 dimensional inches and a very light 8 pounds. It has spinning wheels and a built in TSA lock.
U.S. Traveler 30” Hardside Suitcase: At 60.25 dimensional inches this large hardside luggage will hold a lot of stuff! It is 9.23 pounds on its own, This also has 360 degree spinning wheels and can expand by two inches with an additional unzipping.
Recommended Reading: 100 of the Best Extras for Missionaries
Top Soft-Sided Suitcases for Missionaries
SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable Luggage, Large 29-Inch This large softsided luggage piece is water resistant, has two outer zipper pockets and is 57.5 dimensional inches. It has several inner zipper pockets as well and 360 degree spinning wheels. This one is a bit heavier at 11.1 pounds empty!
American Tourister Expandable Softside Luggage with Spinner Wheels, 24 inch American Tourister is a well-known brand with amazing reviews. It is NOT water resistant but you could spray it with waterproofing spray. The large suitcase of this brand is over the allowed dimensional inches, so the 24 inch would be the best option. It is a lighter option at 9 pounds and has 360 degree spinning wheels.
Travelpro Softside Expandable Rollaboard Upright Luggage, Medium 25-Inch The large size of this is duffel style and slightly over the 62 dimensional inches so you might want to choose that? This is a more expensive piece of luggage but it is waterproof, has sturdy neoprene handles and several exterior and interior pockets. This one also has FIXED (skateboard) wheels so it will hold up better on bumpy roads.
Best Roller Wheeled Suitcases for rough roads/cobblestones
Travel Select Amsterdam Upright Roller Suitcase 29”: This is water resistant, with inline wheels and quite a few interior and exterior pockets. It weighs in at 9 pounds.
Dakine Carryon Roller 42L: This is technically carry-on size, but one of the few fixed wheel suitcases available on Amazon. This is also pricey, but a very durable brand.
REI Big Haul 30 Inch Rolling duffel: This is the suitcase we sent with my son to Brazil (we sent two of this size!). These are super durable, with fixed, oversized wheels and exterior pockets. These held up wonderfully and we plan to send them with our next four missionaries. 🙂 This weighs 9.7 pounds unpacked and comes in several colors.
You might also enjoy: 91 Clever Missionary Package Ideas and Themes
Top Duffel Style Bags for Missionaries
Not all missionaries will appreciate the ability to pick up their suitcase and hold it on their shoulder, but if you have a missionary who wants a suitcase that can be pulled as well as hauled a wheeled duffel bag is a great way to go!
My #1 choice (from experience) is the REI Big Haul 30 Inch Rolling Duffel Bag. But here are some less expensive options available on Amazon.
Amazon 30 Inch Wheeled Duffel Bag: This has amazing reviews and is quite inexpensive. It has a front compartment and multiple interior compartments along with fixed wheels. It is water resistant and weighs 11.4 pounds.
Gonex Rolling Duffel Bag with Wheels 33 inch Your missionary will love all of the access points this rolling duffel bag has, so many pockets to organize things! This is water resistant, a teensy bit bigger than the recommended dimensional inches (62.92), and has amazing reviews. It weighs 10.75 pounds.
Samsonite Andante 2 Wheeled Duffel Bag – 32-Inch Weighing in at just 8.8 pounds, this sturdy, waterproof duffel bag is a great buy. It has 60 dimensional inches, two large side pockets perfect for separating shoes from clothes, and two main compartments for clothing.
What are the Best Types of Suitcases for LDS Missions
There is a lot of debate amongst missionary parents about the best type of luggage for missionaries. While there is no right or wrong, here are the pros and cons of each type.
Hard-Shell vs Soft-Sided Suitcases
Pros of Hard-shell suitcases: They offer more protection to the products inside. They also can offer more protection against water. If you buy two different sizes, you can store the smaller suitcase inside the larger one.
Cons of Hard-shell suitcases: Hard-shell suitcases are often heavier and not as easy to pick up. They can also crack.
Pros of Soft Sided suitcases: These are easier to store, and can be folded down and put underneath beds. If you choose a duffel-style bag, they can be much easier to pick up and carry. Additionally, many soft sided suitcases have exterior pockets making it easier to organize and access items.
Cons of Soft sided suitcases: Soft-sided suitcases are susceptible to absorbing smells and liquids. They also offer less protection for breakable items.
Spinner Wheels vs Roller Wheels
Pros of Spinner Wheels: Luggage with freely spinning wheels are easier to maneuver.
Pros of Roller Wheels: These “locked” wheels only go in one direction but they are much sturdier and will last longer in places with rough roads or cobblestones.
How many bags should my missionary take?
The first thing you should do is check your missionary’s portal for specific guidelines for their mission. I have heard of some missions (Africa I believe?) that only allow for one suitcase.
General guidelines are: “You may check two pieces of luggage. Each bag must not exceed 62 total dimensional inches or 157 total dimensional centimeters (total dimensional measurements = length + width + height). The maximum weight allowed for each checked bag is 50 pounds (22 kilograms).
You may also take one carry-on bag which cannot exceed 45 total dimensional inches or 114 total dimensional centimeters (total dimensional measurements = length + width + height). Weight allowances vary depending on the airline. Garment bags should not be carried on.”
For missionaries serving in a developing country, you might need to pack 18-months to 2-years of essentials (i.e. deodorant, contact lenses, medications) and you will want to have the biggest suitcases possible!
For missionaries serving stateside or in a country with easy access to stores, I would consider doing one larger suitcase, and one medium sized suitcase OR one larger suitcase and a rolling carry-on. If they can easily buy things where they are at, make their luggage more minimal.
Budget-Friendly Suitcase Options for Missionaries
If the cost of these suitcases seem overwhelming, here are some budget friendly suitcase ideas for missionaries.
- Borrow luggage: Many people have luggage in their storage room/garage that they no longer use. Ask around and see if anyone has luggage they can spare for a few years!
- Deseret Industries/Goodwill: There are often great suitcases available! You can wipe them down and use them.
- TJ Maxx/Marshalls: Discount stores are a decent place to find discounted luggage. Sometimes the quality is questionable, but they will work in a pinch!
Packing Tips for Missionaries (with Luggage in Mind)
One of the best tips I can give for packing is to use compression packing cubes! We bought different colors so it would be easier for my missionary to find what he needs. It’s like adding drawers to your suitcase.
Another smart packing tip for missionaries (especially those serving outside the U.S.) is to organize their belongings into two “time-based” suitcases. Pack everything needed for the first year (or the first 9 months for sisters) in one suitcase, and everything for the second year (or months 10–18) in the other. At the halfway point, your missionary will get a “fresh start” with new clothes, garments, and supplies—plus it keeps them from digging through everything at once to find what they need.
How much can my missionary’s baggage weigh?
One of the reasons I kept emphasizing the weight of the suitcases themselves is because your missionary will have luggage weight limits. My son’s were not to be above 50 pounds each, but I have heard of some missions where they can only have one 40 pound bag. PLEASE CHECK THE MISSIONARY PORTAL! And if all else fails, contact the Mission office (email address is in the Missionary Portal near the mailing addresses of the Mission Home).
Having a handheld Luggage Scale is inexpensive and totally worth it for the peace of mind it provides!
Now, it is worth it to some people to plan on paying extra fees for overweight luggage. I get the urge to overpack but remember your missionary will be carting these around! We ended up abandoning some of the things we bought to get my son’s luggage to the correct weight.
Missionary Suitcase Takeaways
When you’re looking for the best suitcases for an LDS mission, you’ll want something sturdy, easy to transport and waterproof to keep all of your missionary’s things safe and dry.
Whether your missionary prefers hardsided, softsided or a rolling duffel bag, these luggage recommendations should meet all of the characteristics you’ll need without breaking the bank.
Remember, take a breath, one step at a time, you’ve got this!