Airlines may have gotten rid of their free checked bags. Some are even starting to charge for carry-ons. But none have gone so far as to touch the personal item, which makes personal item bags more valuable than ever.
Personal items can take many forms—purses, backpacks, cameras, and totes are common.
Of these, the underseater, a kind of small suitcase that can squeeze underneath an airplane seat, is underappreciated. Unlike other forms of personal items, they offer more ruggedness, a bit more space, and the ability to roll. Overall, we find they improve the travel experience.
Our Picks
Underseaters make up one of our favorite categories of suitcase to curate for. They’re widely varied in design options. Some manufacturers create underseaters that are miniatures of their larger suitcases. Others treat the underseater as upsized briefcases, fitting a plethora of thoughtfully placed dividers, pouches, and pockets.
The options for underseaters is limitless, which makes shopping for one exciting, if not a bit daunting. This curated guide, updated again in January 2020, highlights our favorite underseaters across different configurations and prices.
1. Briggs & Riley Transcend Cargo Backpack
Dense nylon twill gives the exterior of this bag (list: $219) durability, wear resistance, and a sleek and understated appearance. The front panel opens fully along three sides to reveal a minimalist interior. You’re free to pack this backpack as you please. Use it as your primary luggage on a long weekend trip or pack it for a picnic on the beach.
This bag also packs enough organization so you’re not wholly dependent on packing cubes. A front organizer pocket fits smaller belongings and even includes a small sleeve for a tablet or e-reader. A middle compartment lets you store a laptop as large as 17”. All of this manages to carry easily thanks to two comfortably padded straps and a padded carry handle.
2. Travelers Club Stafford 16” Underseat Carry-On
The Travelers Club Stafford 16” (list: $47) is the least expensive luggage among these picks, but don’t let its price fool you. This underseater packs a gamut of features, including a waterproof zipper pocket, a USB port, and pull-out handles that zip away out of sight. There’s even a padded pocket for a ultrathin 13” laptop or tablet.
The highlight of this bag is an expandable top, which lets you convert this underseater into a full-sized carry-on roller in seconds. That makes it versatile enough for anything from a short weekend away to a week-long journey.
At just 4.7 pounds, this bag is also incredibly light, making it a breeze to pull across a terminal. One tradeoff: the exterior material. While the polyester weave used here is incredibly light, it’s less durable than denser weaves or stronger fabrics. Still, if you’re using this bag as a carry-on—not for check-in—this will only be of minor concern.
Update: You can now read our full review.
3. American Tourister Lynnwood 16” Spinner
The Lynnwood 16" (list: $69) offers plenty of space for the essentials and then some. Smooth-rolling spinner wheels and a lightweight body means the Lynnwood is easy on the wrists as you breeze through the terminal.
Inside, this bag offers plenty of room to pack a couple of days' worth of clothes and a jacket. Garment straps and zippered pockets offer abundant organization as well. In all, this bag makes for a solid choice for short trips.
4. Tumi Alpha Bravo Aviano Laptop Slim Brief Briefcase
Tumi's Alpha Bravo Aviano (list: $385) offers discerning business travelers style without compromising on function. Its sleek leather exterior gives it a durable yet “slim fit” appearance. In spite of its compact dimensions, it'll easily sport a full 15" laptop. A two-inch wide main compartment in addition to a dedicated tablet pocket means you'll have plenty of room for extras.
As with the company's other products, Tumi offers a generous warranty, but whether you'll need it is another question. This brief is built to last, its shell made up of patented ballistic nylon. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or daily commuter, you’ll find in this briefcase a reliable travel partner.
5. Samsonite Kombi Small Backpack
The Kombi Small Backpack (list $80) from Samsonite brings simplicity to the personal item. It’s primarily geared towards business travelers, but it could easily appeal to anyone looking for a well designed, compact, pack to store your small belongings and electronics. There’s a dedicated sleeve for your phone, another for your tablet, and a dedicated compartment for a laptop up to 14”.
You won’t travel on any trip with just this bag alone, but it’s a great companion, especially if you’re lugging along an upright suitcase. That’s because the Kombi Small Backpack features a handle strap that lets you securely fasten the pack to your suitcase handles. At only 1.5 pounds, this pack is also extremely lightweight, which makes it easy to shoulder.
Samsonite Kombi Small Backpack, Black/Brown, One Size
Available from: Amazon
6. Samsonite Underseater with USB Port
The Underseater (list: $70) from Samsonite features plenty of organization, which makes it an excellent companion if you need sleeves for your tablet and laptop and pockets for everything else.
There’s even a sizable compartment for your clothes. That makes this Underseater particularly well suited to take as your only luggage for a short trip or as your sole companion during a flight when your other bags are checked.
Our favorite feature of this bag is its USB port. It lets us charge our phones and devices by plugging into the bag itself. That means no more hunting around for an open outlet at the airport.
Spinner Underseater with USB Port Black
Available from: Amazon
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