Finding the best personal item bag for travel can be difficult considering so many airlines have different rules for what is considered a personal item bag. You might find yourself in a dilemma on what style bag suits you best for your next trip and that’s where I’m here to help you out. Not all bags are the same or fit the same needs for everyone which is why I’ve reviewed the top travel bags for personal items so you can make the best decision for you.
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Support my blog here.
TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
21+ Best Personal Item Bag For Travel
We’ve all been there, trying to find a particular item that we surely packed on our next trip only to remember it was loaded into our carry-on luggage or overhead bin compartment. Instead of trying to get by people on your aisle, you leave it up there or constantly worry if you did put it in there during your travels. There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing your next personal item bag, personal item backpack, or personal item tote.
Quick Recommendations – Best Personal Item Bags
Best Personal Item Backpacks
Best personal item backpack for cameras
Best Personal Item Purses
Best Personal Item Bags and Totes
Best Personal Item Bag with Wheels
Carry On vs Personal Item Bag
What’s the difference between a carry on and a personal item bag, well a personal item bag is a bag that is pretty much on you at all times. It’s not allowed to take over the overhead bin spaces, it can be anywhere from a purse, backpack, or tote. You personal item bag may carry your headphones, your phone charger, laptop, a waterbottle, wallet, and other miscellaneous things.
A carry on on the otherhand, is typically the suitcase that you carry on to the airplane that fits in the overhead bins. It’s usually on wheels but can sometimes be a duffle bag as well. You carry on usually holds all of your clothes, sometimes your liquids (less than 100ml or 3oz bottles) if you are traveling light, shoes, and other things you may need on your trip.
How to choose the best personal bag for you – What to look for in a personal item bag
Now there is no right or wrong way for this, but there are a few things that you should consider below on things you may want or need for your next personal item bag. Not every airline is the same and there is no cookier cutter it fits all mentality.
Travel Necessities
What are your travel necessities? What are some items you would or should include in your carry on item?
Here are a few examples of items you may want to have on you at all times:
- Cellphone
- Wallet
- Headphones
- Medication
- First Aid Supplies
- Laptop
- Camera, Lenses, Charger, Accessories
- A book or tablet
- Waterbottle
- Snacks
- Baby Bottles, Formula, Diapers
- Blanket or Pillow
- Sweater, Scarf, or Compression Socks
- Change of Clothes – Although this can stay in your carry on bag
- Toiletry Bag – Same with this
How will you use this bag?
This depends on you and your needs. Will this bag be used as a diaper bag, a tech bag, a business bag, or just general personal bag. You should consider what items you plan to include in your personal travel bag, what size suits you best and how you want this to be used. Do you want your personal travel item bag to be able to see on your carry on roller suitcase so that you can be more hands free with less weight on your back? Or do you prefer something on your back that is easy to wear and be used as a day pack when you arrive at your destination.
Budget – What budget are you looking to spend?
Now, a budget is important. However, if you want a good quality bag, the prices can range between $100-200 USD. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a bag that is more affordable, but keep in mind that if you want this bag to last, quality is more important than quantity. Purchasing a quality bag that will last also reduces waste in the landfills, thrift stores, and so much more. It also will be more reliable for your trips and will be a sturdy bag that will protect your important belongings while traveling.
Weight
Weight is important these days. Although, most airlines don’t weigh your personal item, I have been caught in some circumstances where some have weighed my personal item bag. So having something lightweight is important. Additionally, you want something that you can carry. If you have something that holds too much or weighs a lot it can be too heavy to carry around the airport from gate to gate even if it can sit on your carry on rollerbag.
Durability
These days durability is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing a bag. You want something that would be worth the money you pay and last throughout your trips. It would suck to purchase something that was expensive and broke after your first few trips of travel. We want to prevent things from going into the landfill by purchasing intentionally products that actually work and work for you.
If you bag does fall apart, you want a company that stands by its product. Many companies believe in their products so much that if there is a chance that it breaks many will replace them which is one customer service aspect I really appreciate.
Organization
Having a bag with organization pockets, containers, etc. will make the most of your personal item bag. You want something that will be able to separate important items you want easily accessible from under the seat in front of you or between the tight spaces of your seating. There are a lot of cords, chargers, beauty products, etc that many people like to have on hand to make their flights a bit more comfortable. These include a lot of small products that need their own spaces to keep things compact and organized.
Dimensions – Keep Airline Regulations in Mind
There are a lot of bags out there on the market that say they are the perfect carry on suitcase or personal item bag and when you end up checking the airline’s rules on luggage, many of them don’t fit the bill and can be too large. It’s important to consider the dimensions. Most airlines have carry on bags are around 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches and personal item bag sizes should not exceed 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high.
Ryan Air being a budget airline, unfortunately, has a smaller personal item bag size at 14 inches long x 8 inches wide x 8 inches high.
Style
You want a bag that fits your style. Not all bags are meant for the same people. Each bag has different functions and different designs, colors and aspects that should meet your personal needs. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your personal style for the wrong bag.
Suitcase Handle Support
Being hands free at the airport is really important to me and many travelers out there. You want to be able to walk through the airport flawlessly and having a backpack with a suitcase handle attachment is an important feature to consider. You can easily slide your bag over your suitcase handle to reduce weight on your back or shoulders and roll your bag around the airport instead.
Types of Personal Item Bags
- Tote bags
- Backpacks
- Weekend bags
- Select duffel bags
- Crossbody bags
- Briefcases
21+ Best Personal Bag for Travel
After you’ve considered the items above, I’ve done a lot of research to determine the best and most popular personal bags for travel.
Best Personal Item Backpacks
Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack – Best underseat personal item bag
It’s a versatile day pack and is a very lightweight personal item bag. It’s a 13L backpack with side mesh bottle pockets, adjustable chest straps and hip belt, it’s made with lightweight and water resistant materials. It onlys weights about 1.2lbs which makes it super lightweight. Zipper pulls make it a bit easier for those with disabilities to be able to zip and unzip their bags fairly easily.
Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack Pros
- YKK Zipers and Clips
- Padded Straps and Ventilated back padding
- Adjustable Sternum Strap and hip belt
- Incorporated Whistle on Chest Clip
- Hydration Bladder Storage Space
- Pockets for Waterbottle, Tripod, or Hiking Pole Storage
- Front Kangaroo/Compression Pouch for Jacket or Shoe storage
- Laptop pouch
Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack Cons
- Material is not super durable
- Water bottle pockets not as secure
- Top handle not ideal
- Horseshoe Zipper Access vs Clamshell that allows for full access
Tropicfeel Shell Backpack
This is one of the best constructed personal item bags that can have multiple purposes depending on your needs. You can easily purchase some additional accessories to expand and make this bag fit your needs perfectly. This personal item backpack features a hidden pocket for your passport, water bottle pockets, a laptop pouch, clamshell opening or top opening access, a shoe pocket at the bottom of the backpack and so much more.
There are a lot of accessories you can purchase for the back like the compression wardrobe bag, tech bag, camera cube, compression packing cube, and so much more.
Tropicfeel Shell Backpack Pros
- Clamshell Opening
- Hidden Pockets
- Laptop Pocket for up to
- Kangaroo Pocket
- Spider Net System to Fit an Additional Packing Cube
- Additional purchase for a removable pouch for accessible items
- Weatherproof
- Elastic Strap Holder to attach to Luggage Hands
- Sternum and Offloading straps
- Sustainable
Tropicfeel Shell Backpack Cons
- Expensive
- Compression Wardrobe can be bulky
- No side compression straps
- Kangaroo pouch should be more durable
Coofay Travel Backpack – Most affordable Personal Item Backpack
This is the most affordable and most popular backpack on Amazon right now. They have a bunch of different colors that can fit anyone’s style. It comes with a zippered shoe pocket, multiple pockets for organization, clips to compress your bag and a full clam shell opening. It’s main compartment is great for packing for a Ryan Air flight and having a backpack that can pack personal belongings and clothes as well.
Coofay Travel Backpack Pros
- Affordable
- Variety of different colors
- Lots of organization compartments
- Comfortable padding on the back
- Water bottle pocket
- Laptop section
Coofay Travel Backpack Cons
- Some think it is too small
- Quality is not as great compared to the more expensive brands
- Not as durable as some other compared personal item bags
- If overpacked, does not fit airline requirements
Aer Travel Pack 3
The Aer Travel Pack 3 has a simple, clean, and modern design. The backpack straps has load lifters which helps reduce the weight that is on your back which has been added to this design. There is a sternum and waist strap to help secure the bag to your back. The zippers are lined up side by side allowing you to access your space without loosening your compression straps.
Aer Travel Pack 3 Pros
- Load lifters
- Padded shoulder straps
- Optional hip belt
- Strap to attach to a rollerbag
- Compression straps
- Clamshell opening
- Waterbottle Pocket
Aer Travel Pack 3 Pros
- Front magnetic chest clasp vs a clip
- Limited color options – black, grey, and olive
Pacsafe Go 25L Anti-Theft Backpack – Best Personal Item Bag for Ryan Air
Probably one of my favorite backpacks that can be used as an every day backpack or even for school. It’s a great size for packing the necessities, no so much for all of your clothes, but more of a personal items backpack. They come in limited colors, but has locking mechanisms that is perfect for keeping your items secure and also made of anti slash material.
Pacsafe Go 25L Anti-Theft Backpack Pros
- Laptop Pocket for up to 12” Laptop or 13” Macbook
- Side pocket for a water bottle or small umbrella
- Water-Resistant
- Made of Recyclable Materials
- Luggage Slip
- Zip Clip
- Slashguard Materials
- TurnNLock Security Hooks
- RFID Blocking Materials
Pacsafe Go 25L Anti-Theft Backpack Cons
- Front slip pocket hard to keep things organized
- Smaller backpack
Best personal item backpack for cameras
PacSafe Camsafe X25 Anti-Theft Camera Backpack
This is one of the safest camera backpacks on the market. Pacsafe is a bag company known for their anti theft products. They do their best to keep your products safe with locking zippers, clasps, and anti slash materials. It’s not as sleek as some of the other camera bags on the market, but it is safer in protecting your camera gear. The backpack straps are filled with cables to prefer cutting by thieves.
PacSafe Camsafe X25 Anti-Theft Camera Backpack Pros
- Built in raincover
- Hydration Pack spot
- Hip Belt and Sternum Strap
- Holds a 16” Macbook Pro
- PopNLock Security Clips
- Slashguard Materials
- RFID Materials
- Locking Clips
- Waterbottle Pocket
PacSafe Camsafe X25 Anti-Theft Camera Backpack Cons
- Padding and straps could be a little more padded
- No airport luggage strap
- Not as sleek/modern looking
Wandrd All New Prvke
It’s a balanced travel camera backpack that has won many awards and positive reviews from many camera enthusiasts. They come in three different sizes the 11L, 21L, and 41L. It’s made of waterproof materials, YKK zippers, minimal branding and a clean style for a minimalist and modern look. Wandrd is a company that started on kickstarter with their main focus being for photographers.
Wandrd All New Prvke Pros
- Weather resistant
- Zippered waterbottle pocket
- Compression straps
- Rolldown top
- Quick camera access
- Padded straps
- Sternum straps
- Plenty of organization
- Durable
- Lifetime Warranty
Wandrd All New Prvke Cons
- A bit expensive
- No load lifting straps
- No hip straps
- Heavy
- Not waterproof
Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L
This modern designed bag is an amazing camera bag that has been on the market for a while. They have a hidden passport pocket, access to your camera, and lots of pockets. Although this backpack is very well made, I would have to say it’s my least favorite bag on the market. However, there are many who absolutely love this bag. I just find the bag to be a bit bulky for me as someone who is only 5’2”.
Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L Pros
- Durable straps and harness
- Lots of pockets
- Thick padding and straps
- Roller luggage pocket
- Hidden passport pocket
Nomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L Cons
- Scratches easily
- Small waterbottle pack
- Heavy
Tropicfeel Hive with Camera Cube XXL
The Tropicfeel Hive Backpack with Camera Cube XXL is the perfect camera backpack for travelers. The cube helps keep your photography equipment safe and organized. There are a plenty of hidden pockets and straps that help attach your tripod, laptop, chargers, cords, camera memory cards, extra batteries and so much more. You can also purchase additional accessories like the tech pack that can be removable while in flight so that you have access to all of your important items easily.
If you don’t need it as a camera bag, you can purchase the packing cubes or packing wardrobe which is a great feature to use as a carry on backpack that easily fits and slides under the seat. This allows this bag to be completely customizable to your personal needs. It comes in 3 different colors – black, green, and tan.
Tropicfeel Hive Pros
- Clamshell Opening
- Hidden Pockets
- Laptop Pocket
- Kangaroo Pocket
- Spider Net System to Fit an Additional Packing Cube
- Additional purchase for a removable pouch for accessible items
- Weatherproof
- Elastic Strap Holder to Attach to Luggage Hands
- Sternum and Offloading straps
- Sustainable
Tropicfeel Hive Cons
- Expensive
- Requires additional products that make it more customizable adding to the price tag
- Limited color options
Best Personal Item Purses
I figured I would include a section about purses, some people love to travel light and just want a purse rather than a big backpack. You might not be carrying a large laptop, or you prefer to have your laptop in your carry on luggage and that is fine. These are some of the best purses on the market that I feel are amazing for travel and have great aesthetics.
Lo & Sons Pearl
I’ve literally being eyeballing this purse for quite some time. It’s a beautiful crossbody purse that fits all of your necessities in one location. It has 2 zippered pockets and a middle sections to keep your easy to grab items like chapstick, powerbank, and other necessities.
Lo & Sons Pearl Pros
- Easy to clean
- Crossbody providing hands free travel
- Many organization pockets
- Small and compact
- Stylish
- Light and thin
- Adjustable strap
- Amazing customer service
Lo & Sons Pearl Cons
- Expensive
- Some experience poor quality in stitching
Arden Cove – Best Anti Theft Personal Item
One of my favorite anti theft bags on the market! It’s honestly a dream. If you don’t already know, finding anti theft bags that are cute are nearly impossible to find. Many anti theft bags are ugly in design, color, and aesthetic. So when the Arden Cove Crissy crossbody purse came out, it’s been a popular staple among the competition.
Arden Cove Pros
- Locking zippers
- Anti slash materials
- Cute and stylish design
- Card pocket, helps reduce carrying a wallet
- Waterproof
- RFID blocking materials
- They don’t look like anti theft bags
Arden Cove Cons
- Lighter fabrics stain easily
- Can be expensive but not as expensive as some of the bags listed
Gatta Christie
This is a beautiful mini backpack that is perfect for your DSLR camera. It’s an excellent bag for travel and a great way to carry less and still be stylish. This bag is made of leather and comes in 2 color options sand and black. It costs about $207 but there are ways to pay with monthly installments making it quite cost effective. You can easily carry your camera, charging cords, extra batteries, SD cards, along with your phone, wallet, and keys.
Gatta Christie Pros
- Fits your DSLR
- Stylish
- Can carry as a crossbody or backpack
- 3 internal pockets
- Is multifunctional and can hold a water bottle or book
- Spacious
Gatta Christie Cons
- Not completely weatherproof
- No removable/adjustable padding
- Have to buy camera bag divider
Pacsafe Metrosafe LS250
My most trusted anti theft bag. I have taken this bag literally everywhere mostly because of it’s size, design and organization. I love the separation of pockets where I place cash and cards in various locations in case a thief tries to take my belongings. The bag has locking clasps, a water bottle holder, pockets for your passport, clip for your keys and several pockets to hold a variety of things including a pen.
Pacsafe Metrosafe LS250 Pros
- Waterbottle/Umbrella Compartment
- Turn N Lock Security Clips
- Slashguard Strap
- ExoMesh Slashguard Material
- Hidden Zip Clip
- RFID Blocking Card Materials
Pacsafe Metrosafe LS250 Cons
- Not very pretty or stylish
- A bit expensive – which is expected for anti theft bags
Best Personal Item Bags and Totes
Lo & Sons OG 2 Bag
This is an amazing tote that makes one of the most stylish personal item bags and laptop bag on the market. This bag features a laptop sleeve, a shoe pocket, organizational pockets, a cross body and over the shoulder strap, and is made well. It has a spacious main compartment and the bag can be used for a variety of occasions like an overnight bag or daiper bag.
It looks stylish and sleek while still a quality bag that Lo & Sons stand by. They come in a variety of colors and easily fit under the seat in front of you. It has a zippered pocket on the exterior and several on the interior.
Lo & Sons OG 2 Bag Pros
- Trolley Sleeve
- Shoe pocket
- Laptop compartment
- Crossbody strap
- Beautiful design
- Detachable shoulder strap
Lo & Sons OG 2 Bag Cons
- Pricey
- Not waterproof
- Sort of loses it shape after a while
Cuyana System Tote
One of the new products on the market or at least one of the newer ones that I am familiar with. Cuyana is a over the shoulder bag that has come up with a system tote design that allows youto add things to your bag depending on your needs to make it the perfect tote for anyone. It has built-in snap buttons that allow you to add and remove accessories. You can choose a variety of extras. It is made of Italian leather and ages beautifully.
Cuyana System Tote Pros
- Versatile
- Chic
- Adjustable Strap
- Leather
- Laptop sleeve
- Zipper pouch insert
- Simple and Classic
Cuyana System Tote Cons
- Bag starts to crease over time
- Lighter bags discolor easily
- It’s expensive, it can be even more expensive as you purchase more add ons
- No zippers, can be a danger to pick pocketing depending on where you are traveling to
Away the Small Everywhere Bag
This bag is an amazing bag that allows you to pack some clothes and would be a great bag for flights like Ryan Air where a carry on is an extra charge and you want to save money. The Away Everywhere Bag comes in 3 different sizes – small, medium, and large. The small comes in 5 colors, but the medium comes in 4 colors and the large in 3 colors.
The medium bag is one of the best sizes and has an amazing clamshell opening which allows you to pack it easily like a suitcase given that it has enough room, however, the medium bag only counts as a carry on item and not a personal item like the small size.
Away the Small Everywhere Bag Pros
- Water resistant
- 15” laptop pocket
- Perfect for personal item bag or overnight trips
- Trolley sleeve
- One year limited warranty
- Stain resistant
- 100 day free trial
- Durable
- Wide opening
Away the Small Everywhere Bag Cons
- It can be heavy when overpacked and stuffed
- No clamshell opening – only on the medium and large sizes
- Expensive
Dagne Dover Allyn Leather Tote
There are 3 different sizes, large, medium, and small. The medium and large are great sizes because they make for the perfect work shoulder bag depending on the person. The large size can hold a 15” laptop size and the medium can hold a 13” laptop size. There are only the tote straps, no cross-body straps. You can sinch in the sides which are adjustable. There are plenty of storage and interior pockets to help keep you organized. The hardware is quite lovely and makes for the perfect fashion travel piece.
Dagne Dover Allyn Leather Tote Pros
- Pocket for a phone
- Lots of organizational interior pockets
- Flat shoulder straps that sit well on the shoulder
- Pen pockets
- Removable water bottle pocket
- Detachable key leash
- Durable leather
Dagne Dover Allyn Leather Tote Cons
- No large exterior pockets
- No crossbody straps
- No trolley sleeve
- No feet on the bag
Longchamp Le Pliage Tote – A classic personal item tote
This is a foldable tote bag that is perfect for any trip. It’s a lightweight bag, comfortable to hold, and secure. The stitching on the bag is made well and overall a great quality bag. It’s one large compartment of a bag that can fold up when not in use. It has a single pocket for small items like phone/wallet. There are no feet or structure to this bag which can be a downside to this. It’s the perfect personal item tote for a minimalist.
Longchamp Le Pliage Tote Pros
- Simple
- Easy to pack up and make flat
- Lightweight and comfortable to hold
- Large main pocket
Longchamp Le Pliage Tote Cons
- Expensive
- No Organizational pockets
- Not a structured bag
- No carry on bag pocket
Mono’s Metro Duffel Bag
The duffel bag comes in 4 nylon colors and 3 vegan leather colors. This duffel bag has a removable pouch to keep travel essentials organized. It is great for just having items you might need for the entire flight but not necessarily in your bag that goes under the seat. You can add all your important items like your keys, passport, pen, etc. It had many organizational pockets and can be used as a toiletry bag.
The main bag has a detachable shoulder strap that can sit on your carry on bag handles making it handsfree when you are in the airport. It has a spacious main compartment with organization tools to keep your items in place. It also has a 15″ padded laptop compartment. It has exterior pockets perfect for easy access.
Mono’s Metro Duffel Bag Pros
- Organizational pockets
- Large compartment
- Beautiful design
- Crafted with travel in mind
- Long crossbody straps and shoulder straps
- 2 year warranty
- Laptop Compartment
- Water bottle holder
- Padded laptop sleeve
Mono’s Metro Duffel Bag Cons
Best Personal Item Bag with Wheels
Travelpro Maxlight 5 Rolling Tote
This is probably one of the only personal carry on bag that has wheels. This rolling suitcase is the perfect size for those who want to travel light. The rolling luggage has a pocket for your laptop or tablet. You can fit a weekend’s worth of clothes or more depending on your packing ability. The rolling bag is lightweight and perfect for those with mobility issues. It’s water repellant which keeps your items dry. Unfortunately, I don’t believe this actually counts are a personal item bag, but I wanted to include an item with wheels.
Travelpro Rolling Tote Pros
- Water resistant
- Lightweight
- Trusted brand
- Secure
- Long lasting
Travelpro Rolling Tote Cons
- Doesn’t count as a personal item bag
- Small compartment compared to other carry on luggage
My Personal Item Bag Top Pick and Why
I prefer a backpack and tote over any of the other bags. Some people prefer to have a purse and something light rather than a backpack or tote. I really love my Lo & Sons OG bag because it fits my laptop, my electronics, it’s aesthetically beautiful and one of my go to bags and the only bag you’ll need. It’s made well and when I had issues the company replaced it no questions asked.
When it comes to the backpacks, my favorite is the PacSafe backpack because it has a slot for my laptop and it makes me feel secure with my personal items being locked up. I remember being on an airplane once and someone on the plane had something stolen from their bag while on the plane. I always make sure my bags are locked and visible in front of me for that reason. Having a bag like the PacSafe Go 25L Anti-Theft Backpack makes me feel confident that my items are protected.
FAQs about the Best Personal Item Bags
What size bag is a personal item?
Most personal item bags are about 18” x 14” x 8” and must fit in the plane seat in front of you. Personal items can usually be a purse, a backpack, a weekender bag, or small duffel bag.
Is a backpack considered a personal item?
Yes! Just make sure it can fit under the seat in front of you. A personal item is generally a bag that does not go in the overhead bin.
What is a personal item bag to fly with?
A personal item is a bag that can fit under the seat in front of you and not in the overhead bins. It can be a purse, backpack, or small duffel bag.
How strict is personal item size?
This varies from airline to airline. I’ve been able to use the same bag in most airline carriers, however I have been denied for that same bag in others. It’s best practice to check the airline you are traveling with and making sure your bag fits the dimensions listed on their website.
Can I bring 2 personal items on a plane?
No, typically you are only allowed one personal item. However, if you buy something within the airport, that typically allowed onto the plane with you.
Can clothes go in my personal bag?
Of course! There are no rules saying you can’t. Some airlines like Ryan Air charge for any bag not a personal item, so many travel with a personal item as their luggage to save money.
What is not allowed in personal item bag?
Sharp objects – some scissors, knives, straight razors, and safety razor blades. Sporting equipment. Self-defense items like knives, pepper spray, or brass knuckles. Liquids over 3oz or 100ml unless prescribed by a doctor or used for baby formula. Be sure to check the airport guidelines before your flight for updated rules. Drugs without a prescription.
POSTS RELATED TO PERSONAL ITEM BAGS
Liked this post on finding the best personal item bag? Pin it!
