Best underseat luggage guide- We travel more these days, and many of us are traveling lighter and smarter. Who wants to waste time in baggage check queues, or waiting to collect luggage from carousels? Not to mention, lost luggage that doesn’t even arrive at your destination (this happened to me on a recent trip to China).
Airlines also reward people for traveling with check in luggage only- they offer cheaper flights if you don’t have baggage to check in, and then add hefty fines for those who exceed their luggage limits.
Luggage companies know this, so they now offer many different types of carry-on luggage. One type is under seat luggage. This is a carry-on bag that’s a little smaller, so that it fits neatly underneath your seat.
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Why would you want to find out the best underseat luggage? Underseat luggage offers the following benefits:
Save time
You spend less time at the check-in counter because you aren’t checking in luggage or making sure that you haven’t exceeded the weight limit. You also don’t need to weight at the luggage carousel at your destination, looking for your luggage, because you’ll already have it with you!
Save money
You can avoid checked luggage costs. Many airlines charge extra if you have luggage to check in, and all airlines charge fees if you exceed their luggage limits.
No lost luggage
Losing luggage in transit is awful, especially if you’re traveling with kids. With underseat luggage, you’ll have your luggage with you at all times. There’s no need to worry about losing anything during your flight! And if you have connecting flights, again you won’t need to worry about checked in luggage missing on another flight!
Best Underseat Luggage Guide 2017/2018
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Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 2 Softside Spinner Boarding Bag
I’ve chosen the Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 2 as one of the best underseat luggage pieces on the market, as it’s a great choice for longer trips. There are several compartments so that you can neatly organize your belongings. There’s a plastic coated wet pouch, a modesty pocket, detachable garment pouch for hanging longer garments and there are two mesh pockets. This also makes the bag the best underseat luggage for business travelers that may have a suit to pack. There are four split sphere spinner wheels that are multidirectional, so that there’s no strain on your body when you’re wheeling your luggage. The push-button handle is gel-infused and textured and TPR coated to give you extra comfort when moving your luggage. For carrying your underseat luggage, there’s a top and side carrying handle and a bottom slip handle so that you can easily slide your luggage under your seat. The bag also features an I.D. tag on its side. The bag comes with a 10-year warranty.
Summary of features:
Four split spherical spinner wheels that rotate 360 degrees
Large main compartment
Multiple storage pockets
Padded compartment for laptop storage (up to 15.6 inches)
Detachable pouch to store small belongings
Telescopic handle with gel infusion and TPR coated for comfort and durability
Rubberized and texturized corners to guard and protect from tearing
Expandable case to fit in extra items
Nylon exterior with water-resistant coating
Size: 17 x 14 x 0.5 inches
Weight: 7.5 lbs
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Samsonite Wheeled Underseat Large
Samsonite is an excellent brand, which is why I chose its large wheeled underseat luggage as one of the best underseat luggage pieces on the market at the moment. It’s a large bag that’s great for both family travel and business trips yet still meets most airline requirement for carry-on. It features inline wheels that have reduced friction and resistance when your luggage is wheeled, due to the ball bearings used and the polyurethane material the wheels are made of. There are two extra wheels that keep your bag balance when you’re standing it upright and not wheeling it. The telescopic handle can be covered in its own compartment when it’s not being used, to keep the handle protected. There’s a padded laptop compartment so you can travel knowing that your laptop will be safe and protected. The main compartment of the bag is large enough for clothing, and there are meshed pockets inside the bag to keep your items separate. The bag itself is lightweight yet durable for long travel. There’s a front zip pocket that you can store bits and pieces such as pens, your business cards, travel itinerary, tissues etc. The pocket also has a divider so you can put your newspaper in there.
Summary of features:
Padded storage compartment for your laptop (up to 15.6 inches)
Exterior made of durable polyester-nylon combination
Large main opening to access your items easily
Front zippered pocket that features smaller compartments for easy organization
Compression straps to keep your items secure and organized while in transit
Durable inline skate wheels
Size: 17.5 x 13.0 x 5.75 inches
Weight: 7 lbs
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Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-on with Back-up Bag
I’ve reviewed Travelon products before, and I own a Travelon messenger bag, which is why I chose the Travelon wheeled underseat carry-on bag as one of the best underseat luggage pieces. It’s a trusted brand with great quality luggage. The underseat bag is different in design- it’s quilted, so it might not be everyone’s taste but it’s unique and stands out. It has plenty of room to pack essentials for your next flight. You can even use it as an overnight or weekend bag. I like that there is an “add a bag strap” included so that you can attach it to other upright luggage. There’s also a matching tote that you can use to carry extra items or to store any souvenirs you’ve bought. You can fold the tote and it fits in the side pocket of the underseat bag. The bag is TSA-approved and meets the carry-on requirements of most airlines. The bag comes in a few colors including black, red and eggplant.
Summary of features:
Main compartment holds clothing, toiletries and laptop
Inline skate wheels
Zippered front pocket
Front organizational compartment
Water bottle mesh pocket that is expandable
Four interior pockets
A clear panelled, zippered side pocket
A foldable, full-sized tote bag is included
Size: 14 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches
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Ciao Luggage Carry On Suitcase Wheeled Airplane Weekender Under the Seat Bag
The Ciao wheeled underseat bag is a great choice for short trips or a weekend away. I like that it’s made of 100% ballistic nylon which is a stronger material than the polyester fabric used for most other luggage pieces. This the Ciao bag durable and longer lasting than other brands. It has a basic and clean design that’s suited to any traveler including business travelers. It’s easy to pack and access your belongings as the bag has a full zip around entry system to the main compartment. There are three interior compartments so you can easily organize your belongings. For storing smaller items, there are interior pockets for you to slip these items into. There are side pockets for storing things like a drink bottle or magazine. The telescopic handle is lightweight and has an extended length that makes this bag suitable for tall people. The bag has been tested extensively to fit under the seats of most airlines.
Summary of features:
Spacious main compartment
Made of 100% ballistic nylon
Multiple interior compartments for easy organization
Extended length telescopic handle- great for tall people
There is a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty
Easy to access side pockets
Two inline skate wheels and additional feet for stability when standing upright
Size: 14.75 x 15.50 x 9.25 inches
Weight: 4 lb
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American Tourister Ilite Xtreme Wheeled Boarding Bag
American Tourister is one of the best-selling brands of luggage on the market today. I couldn’t create a list of the best underseat luggage without including at least one American Tourister bag! This a great little bag with lots of great features and recent improvements on design. It has four spinner wheels to make it easy for you to roll your luggage around the airport. It has a lightweight telescopic handle that’s easy to pull up and push down. It’s made of 100% polyester with a fully-lined interior. I like the additional carry handles as they have been integrated into the case and are color matched- you almost can’t notice them! I also like that the bag is expandable so that you can squeeze in a few extra souvenirs on your way home.
Summary of features:
Four multi directional spinner wheels
Integrated and color matched carry handles
Lightweight aluminium telescopic handle
Large compartments for lots of storage space
New panel design and new, stronger zipper pulls
Size: 17 x 13 x 8 inches
Weight: 6.1 lbs
Travelpro Luggage Maxlite3 Rolling Tote
If you’re a frequent traveler shopping around for the best underseat luggage, then you can’t go past the Travelpro Maxlite 3 rolling tote bag. I love this bag because it’s made of polyester and has a water and stain-resistant coating to help keep your bag clean. This is handy if you travel a lot and if you have kids who always manage to ruin everything! It’s a soft-sided luggage piece that expands nicely to allow you to pack in those extra bits and pieces you’ve accumulated on your travels. You can detach the lid from the bag so that you can easily pack your bag and access the items when needed. The zipper pulls are high-tensile-strength which is important for longer lasting zippers. The telescopic handle is made of airline-grade aluminium. There are two strong inline wheels and two extra feet to help with stability when you’re standing the bag upright. There’s a built-in carry handle and an exterior pocket to pack those items you need easy access to. All in all, a versatile and sturdy underseat bag.
Summary of features:
Strong inline skate wheels
Airline-grade aluminium lightweight telescopic handle
Water and stain-resistant coating
Strap so that you can attach the bag to other upright luggage pieces
High-tensile-strength zipper pulls
Built-in carry handle
Exterior pocket for extra items
Expandable to fit in your souvenirs and extra items
Size: 13 x 15.5 x 8.5 inches
Weight: 5 lbs
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Baggallini Carryon Rolling Travel Tote
The Baggallini underseat luggage tote is a great looking bag that comes in a range of colors and designs, so if you’re after something that stands out, this might be a good choice. There are two main compartments for storing your shoes, toiletries and clothing. There is a third compartment in the center for storing your laptop, and this compartment is padded. You can easily pack and unpack your items thanks to the three-sided zipper. There are two lock straps in the main compartment to hold everything in place while you’re traveling. The expandable telescopic handle can be stored neatly in its zippered compartment when it isn’t being used. There’s also a carry handle at the top. The wheels are inline skate wheels and there are two extra feet to help balance your bag when it’s being held upright. You can slip the bag over other upright luggage using the sleeve at the back. The bag is water-resistant, looks smart and is a functional underseat travel tote.
Summary of features:
Three main compartments
Middle compartment is a padded laptop storage compartment
Inline skate wheels with additional feet for support
Water-resistant material
Expandable telescopic handle that can be stored when not in use
Exterior pockets for extra storage
Size: 14.5 x 7 x 8 inches
Weight: 5.5 lbs
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Samsonite DK3 Underseater
The Samsonite DK3 underseat luggage is a great choice for business trips and weekends away. It has a large central compartment that’s easy to open and access while you’re in transit. There’s a large padded compartment for laptops up to 15.6 inches, which is great when you’re traveling for business. There are three other zipped compartments as well as a zipped mesh pocket for your other belongings. You can easily pack everything in an organized manner. The exterior is made of a combination of polyester and nylon while the interior has a fabric lining. The aluminium handle is retractable and locks into place. There are two rolling wheels and also a carry handle underneath the bag.
Summary of features:
Large padded laptop compartment
Multiple compartments
Zipped mesh pocket
Large opening in the middle of the bag
Retractable lightweight telescopic handle
Inline wheels
Size: 16 x 15 x 8 inches
Weight: 7 lbs
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Delsey Luggage Helium Hyperlite Trolley Tote
Delsey is a brand that I’ve already written a review about, as I really like their luggage pieces. It’s why I’ve chosen the Helium Hyperlite spinner tote as one of the best underseat luggage pieces on the market. Delsey is known for its style, being a French brand. It has two large compartments. The first is suitable for clothing and has tie down straps to keep your items in place. The second compartment has a padded section to store your laptop and has a mesh pocket too. There are two exterior pockets at the front. The zipper can expand by an extra 2 inches, to give you more packing space. The handle is a lightweight aluminium telescopic handle that can be zipped in a pouch when it’s not being used. There are two carry handles at the top. The exterior is made of Dura Tec fabric, while the wheels are inline wheels.
Summary of features:
Padded compartment to store a small laptop
Expandable by up to 2 inches for extra storage
Lightweight aluminium handle can be zipped in pouch when not used
Made of Dura Tec fabric
Smart band so that the tote can slide over the handles of larger luggage
Stylish French design
Size: 14.5 x 17 x 7 inches
Weight: 5.8 lbs
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Kemyer 15 Inch Underseater Spinner With Laptop Pocket- Carry-On Wheeled Luggage
The Kemyer underseater luggage piece is a great choice for those who want a larger, more durable underseat bag. It is very spacious and is 15 inches high. It’s made of polyester with a lined interior and has a padded pocket for storing your laptop or iPad. It has 8 multidirectional spinner wheels that rotate 360 degrees, making it easy to move your luggage around the airport. There are two exterior pockets for extra storage. The zippers are oversized, making them more durable and easy to open and shut. The telescopic handle is covered with PVC for extra comfort.
Summary of features:
8 multidirectional spinner wheels
Padded pocket for storing your laptop or iPad
PVC-covered telescopic handle for extra comfort
Oversized zippers, for extra durability and ease of use
Spacious compartments
Size: 15 x 14 x 8 inches
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How To Choose The Best Underseat Luggage
When I was researching the best underseat luggage, I couldn’t believe how many different underseat luggage models there are on the market!
This means that you have to do your research to find out which ones is best for your travel needs. I’ve come up with a list of typical things to look for when choosing the best underseat luggage. This should give you a better idea (along with reading my best underseat luggage review guide, of course!)
Wheels
There are two types of wheels on luggage: spinner wheels, and inline wheels. Spinner wheels are great because they allow you to rotate your luggage 360 degrees. This makes it easy to roll your luggage around while at the airport or in transit. This is important if you’re traveling with family- have you tried keeping an eye on your luggage and your kids while at the airport? With spinner wheels, you can carry a child in one arm and wheel your luggage using your other arm.
Then why would you want inline wheels instead of spinner? The main downsides to spinner wheels is that they tend to eventually break. They also move even if you’re not wheeling your luggage. For example, if you’re standing on a train or bus with your spinner luggage, your luggage might move. The wheels don’t lock in place! This is one downside that some travelers find frustrating. Personally, I don’t. I prefer the ease of spinner wheels.
Handles
Most of the best underseat luggage pieces have lightweight aluminium telescopic handles that you pull up or down. These types of handles are very easy to use. Also look for extra handles that you use when you’re carrying your underseat luggage. For example, if you’re lifting your bag to put it in a car trunk, or when you’re placing your luggage on a conveyor belt, you would use one of these carry handles instead of the telescopic handle.
Pockets
When traveling with a family, organization is important for things to run smoothly. Pockets in your luggage help you keep things stored and organized neatly, so that you can find everything when you need to. Look for exterior and interior pockets and pockets of different sizes. Check also to see what material the pockets are made of- some are external mesh pockets for drink bottles.
Design
This is purely a personal choice! Do you like something that looks sleek and stylish? Do you prefer a bag that is bright and stands out, making it easy for you (and your kids) to find? Are you a business traveler who needs the best underseat luggage that looks sleek and professional? These questions will help you choose which design you prefer.
Hard sided or soft sided?
Again, this is a personal choice. Some people prefer hard sided luggage because it looks more sleek and appears to be more durable. Most hard sided best underseat luggage is slightly flexible to absorb shock. However, they aren’t completely indestructible! You can find soft sided luggage that is more durable than hard sided luggage. Soft sided luggage is often more flexible because of the material it’s made of. Soft sided luggage pieces have exterior pockets whereas hard sided luggage pieces don’t.
Size
The best underseat luggage pieces come in different sizes, so you need to think about what you prefer, and what your airline will let you use. Think about how you will be using your luggage while traveling- will you need to squeeze your luggage into tight fitting places? In this case, the smaller the bag, the better!
