Welcome to FT, djhans73!

First of all I always recommend reading the packing sticky. Then the lightest bag sticky. Both on top of this forum. Once you devoured those two, you will know what the lightest bags are and what the techniques and tips for packing efficiently are. Basically, those two stickies will answer your questions and be generally more useful than any recommendation fitting the VERY vague criteria given. For example you don't tell us where you travel, how, how many wheels you want, how light exactly it needs to be, if you are very short or very tall (extension handle), etc. All of these will be needed to make a rec that is only half-way decent.

Then do a search refining what you have learned into more specific request.

Your task is nothing out of the ordinary. Even a shoulder carried bag would work as long as the weight is alright for you to carry.

22 inchers can be unwieldy. Not all of them actually fit in sizers or overhead bins. They are also by definition quite a bit heavier than a 20 incher. I say that because from the packing volume your post suggests, a 20" or even just an 18" model will do fine. No need to go for a 22" model. That is unless you forgot to tell us that you are 6.5ft tall and weigh 300lbs. In which case I recommend a 22" model.

In your price range I'd look for a discounted Travelpro Platinum from a discontinued series. Usually they are excellent bags, very priceworthy and come with a great warranty.

If you plan on putting a briefcase on top of the roller, I advise against mono-pole models. The briefcase will not be steady and swing around. Maddening.

The Travelpro Plat 7 20" weighs 8.7 lbs, comes with a no matter what warranty lifetime (also read that thread) and cost about $220.
http://www.luggageonline.com/product...oduct_ID=16715

That would be the no-brainer, top of my head recommendation, given the little we have to go from.

Till