The airlines are really cracking down on overweight luggage. If that checked bag is more than 50 pounds, you'll have to pay an extra fee. So maybe it's time to find a good, lightweight suitcase.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 11 bags and found a few it recommends.

These days, you can't always take it with you.

"With so many airlines charging if your checked luggage is over 50 pounds, you'll want to make sure that any of the new luggage that you purchase is lightweight," said Kathleen Huddy, the institutes's textiles director.

The editors tested a variety of lightweight luggage.

"We looked for durability, the ability to withstand the drop test, ability of the handle to withstand jerking, and, of course, most important -- packing," Huddy said.

The editors looked at how much the bag weighed overall once it was packed to the max, and asked consumers to evaluate the bags for ease of use.

Weighing in at under 8.5 pounds, the Eagle Creek Hovercraft 25 ($225) was the lightweight champion.

"It easily held clothes for a five-day trip, and our testers found it easy to maneuver and very stable," said Huddy.

The Victorinox E-Motion Collapsible Trunk ($228) was the only duffel bag Good Housekeeping wanted to recommend.

"It's got a lot of room, but best of all, its collapsible for under-the-bed storage or storage somewhere in the closet. And it only weighs 8.5 pounds," said Huddy.

"The single telescopic handle is easy to maneuver and the bag is pretty lightweight. And I also like how the duffle bag sits up by itself," said tester Christina Peterson.

The sturdy Briggs & Riley 24-inch Upright ($300) was the only bag to earn perfect scores in Good Housekeeping's water resistance and abrasion tests.

"This fabric did extremely well in all of our durability tests," Huddy said.

Keep in mind most pieces of luggage weigh 8 to 13 pounds when empty. You need to take that into consideration when you're packing. You'd be smart to weigh your bag on the bathroom scale before you head to the airport.