There's nothing like going on a quick weekend trip exploring other cities or taking the time to visit friends and family you haven't seen in a while. However, the costs of flying are skyrocketing (pun intended), luggage is getting lost, and airlines are charging a pretty penny for carry-on bags [1] and checked luggage. The hunt for cheap flights and convenient travel is an ongoing challenge. One way to keep travel costs as low as possible: utilising the personal item bag. The personal item bag is a must when you have to fly no-frills options like Spirit Airlines, Frontier, or basic economy seating for domestic travel since it's the only bag you can carry, free of extra costs. These functional bags also make long-haul flights easier with convenient access to all your necessities right in front of you.
What qualifies as a personal item bag?
A personal item bag can be a backpack, a tote bag, a nappy bag, a laptop bag, or anything small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Each airline has different qualifications on sizes and proportions, and we've listed a few common ones below:
- United: 9" depth x 10" width x 17" height
- Allegiant: 7" depth x 15" width x 16" height
- Spirit: 8" depth x 14" width x 18" height
- Delta: 9" depth x 13" width x 17" height
- Southwest: 8.5" depth x 13.5" width x 18.5" height
- JetBlue: 8" depth x 13" width x 17" height
- Frontier: 8" depth x 18" width x 14" height
A quality personal item bag has enough room for all your travel essentials [2] and necessities while compact enough to fit the airline guidelines. Going on a quick weekend getaway? Your go-to personal item bag should fit all your holiday must-haves, including a few outfits, an extra pair of shoes, toiletries and makeup, necessary chargers, and maybe even a flat iron and a reusable water bottle. There are several stylish and quality personal item bags on the market that take all this into consideration so you can travel smarter. We curated the best personal item carry-on bags for flying ahead.
An Eco-Friendly Option: Paravel Medium Cabana Tote
Embrace holiday mode with this stylish and fun Paravel Medium Cabana Tote [4] ($175). It's made out of 60 percent recycled materials, including ecycled vegan leather. The bag is made with an ecocraft canvas that is spill-proof and quite durable. It has several slip and zippered pockets on the inside for plenty of organisation. It has a secure zip top closure, top handles, and an adjustable crossbody strap. It has a sturdy base that will keep it upright, so you can easily access your must-haves. Plus, you can personalize it with a monogram. It comes in four colours. It's 18" x 12" x 7.5".
A Compartment For Shoes: Béis The Mini Weekender
The Béis The Mini Weekender [5] ($88) is the smaller version of the bestselling Weekender Bag [6], which is also an editor-favourite. It can be used as an everyday tote, and it's also perfect for overnight trips or as a personal item on flights. It has a padded, built-in laptop sleeve; a bottom compartment for shoes, hair tools, and toiletries; and a trolley passthrough sleeve. Plus, the inside has a large zip pocket and two small slip pockets. It has a top handle and a padded longer strap. It comes in four colours. It's 16" x 16" x 8".
For Organisation: Open Story Weekender Bag
The Open Story Weekender Bag [7] ($80) has a large-capacity main compartment, an interior zip compartment, a padded laptop compartment, and several interior and exterior pockets to keep you travel essentials all organised. There's even a dedicated spot for your sunglasses and keys. It has a useful trolley strap as well that doubles has an external pocket when not in use. You can carry it using the top handles or the adjustable crossbody strap. It's made with a durable, water resistant fabric as well. It comes in two colours. It's 18" x 12" x 10".
For a Long Weekend: Bolosta Canvas Weekender Bag
The Bolosta Canvas Weekender Bag [8] ($44) is a stylish, easy to carry weekender bag that comes with it's own shoe compartment. It's made from a canvas fabric with faux leather accents that is quite durable. It comes equipped with six pockets and one main compartment. It can fit up to two to four days worth of essentials. It comes in seven colours. It's 19" x 13" x 9.5".
For Easy Access: Away The Medium Everywhere Bag
The Away The Medium Everywhere Bag [9] ($225) is a water-resistant durable yet sleek option perfect for fitting a few outfits, toiletries, and your tech. It has a 15-inch laptop pocket, several interior and exterior pockets to help you stay organised, and a useful trolley sleeve. It has an easy-access clamshell opening and a detachable shoulder strap as well. It comes in four colours, and you can personalize it. It's 17.7" x 11" x 7".
A Travel Backpack: Lubardy Travel Backpack
If you're looking for a durable backpack you can use for weekend trips, the Lubardy Travel Backpack [10] ($42, originally $66) is a great option and comes with three packing cubes. It has a spacious main compartment that can fit a few outfits and a pair of shoes. Plus, it comes with a laptop compartment, a wet pocket for toiletries and laundry, and a side pocket for a water bottle or an umbrella. The zippers are studry and reinforced, so you can keep squishing items in without the bag exploding. The waterproof and durable backpack comes in three colours. It's 20" x 13" x 8".
An Expandable Design: Dagne Dover Large Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag
The Dagne Dover Large Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag [11] ($200) is soft and durable, perfect for squishing under a seat. It may look compact at first, but it has an expandable design that can fit several outfits, slim shoes and hair tools, and more. It comes with plenty of accessories and compartments that will keep your travel essentials organised like a laptop sleeve, a shoe/laundry bag, and a removable mesh pouch for your chargers and cords. Plus, it has a crossbody strap, top handles, and two side pockets perfect for water bottles and shoes. It comes in three colours. It's 18" x 12" x 11".
A Waterproof Option: Rains Small Weekend Travel Bag
The Rains Small Weekend Travel Bag [12] ($85) is a sleek waterproof option that offers plenty of space in a compact design. It has one singular compartment, perfect for those who like to organise in their own ways. It has carry handles, a detachable shoulder strap, and a secure zip-top closure. It's a durable option made from 100 percent polyester with a polyurethane coating. It comes in four colours. It's 15" x 12.5" x 7".
A Bag For Organisation: Cuyana Triple Zipper Weekender
The Cuyana Triple Zipper Weekender [13] ($348) is perfect for those who need to keep things compartmentalized. It's equipped with three zippered compartments that are ideal for those who like to organise by day, item, or person. One of the compartments has three large slip pockets that are great for storing shoes, hair tools, and other necessities. The bag even has a trolley sleeve. Carry this in your hand, over your shoulder, or as a crossbody. It comes in three colours. It's 13" x W 20.5" x 7".
An Affordable Travel Bag: Narwey Foldable Travel Duffel Bag
The Narwey Foldable Travel Duffel Bag [14] ($12, originally $15) is a foldable and affordable travel option that comes in a ton of different colours and prints. It has a two top handle carrying straps, a trolley sleeve, and an external zipper pocket. It's made with a waterproof fabric as well. Plus, it's a best seller on Amazon. It's 18" x 13" x 6.3".