Underseat Carry-On Review

I have been on the hunt for a rolling carry-on which will fit under the airline seat for an upcoming International journey. So far I have bought five different models to get a first-hand look at them and I have it narrowed down to my two favorites listed below.

The creators of these handy bags have all incorporated some very nifty features into their individual designs. And now that I have been exposed to several of them I want to cut them apart and put all of the best features into one awesome bag.  Here is hoping that some luggage head honcho will catch a glimpse of this post and make me the ultimate bag!

Features I love!

- Lightweight. Some airlines now impose weight limits on carry-on bags

- Small enough to fit under the seat in front of you

- Rolling bags with a preference for spinners which are hard to find or very high profile

- Back strap to fit over checked luggage handle

- Sturdy handle that retracts well

- Unstructured handle for picking up on the go but is not bulky taking up space under the seat

- Shoulder strap for when rolling is not an option and you want your hands free

- Organizational pockets. Lot's of them and well designed

#1 Pick

Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On with Back-Up Bag

This get's my #1 vote and is the one I am keeping primarily because it has spinner wheels. This feature is extremely handy especially when trying to fit down those narrow plane aisles! Another pro is the look of the bag. It is available in several fabrics but I like the matte quilted look. The Con: The interior pockets are far less functional than those on the #2 pick bag below. I also wish it were a bit lighter. Some airlines now weight carry-on bags with a weight limit of 15lbs. This bag eats up a lot of that allowance.

Lightweight	5.2 lbs
Small Size	16 x 8.5 x 13 inches
Roller wheels	Spinners!
Back Luggage strap	Yes, fits over other luggage handles
Retractable handle	Seems pretty sturdy, slides up easily
Unstructured handle	Webbing, love that it is flexible and falls out of the way when not in use.
Shoulder strap	Yes! Not many bags have this option
Organizational pockets	Nice net pocket on the side for a water bottle, second snap pocket on the opposite side. A good variety of multi-use pockets on front and interior… however not very impressive when compared to other bags. This is my primary negative review of this bag.

#2 Pick
Samsonite Wheeled Underseater (Large)

This bag would probably get my highest rating if it had spinner wheels on it.  It is made with tons of functionality and the interior pocket systems are AWESOME. In addition to the many well thought out compartments with frosted fabric allowing you to see what you put in them, there is one entire snap in a pocket system that can be pulled out to hang in the bathroom. It breaks my heart to send this wonderful bag back, but the lack of low profile spinners was it's demise although the lighter weight and pocket system almost won the day! A sweet smaller size is also available.

Lightweight	6 lbs
Size	18 x 9 x 13” (size listed on Amazon is incorrect) I am concerned about the size fitting under some airline seats, however, it does come in a smaller size.
Roller wheels	Two wheels, low profile
Back Luggage strap	Yes, fits over other luggage handles
Retractable handle	Seems pretty sturdy, slides up easily
Unstructured handle	Fabric, love that it is flexible and falls out of the way when not in use.
Shoulder strap	No. No place to attach one as an option
Organizational pockets	Some organizational genius designed the pockets on this bag.  Love, love, love it!  One multi-pocket section with a handle can be removed and hung. Many wonderful interior pockets.

Other bags I considered and the reasons that steered me away from them. Maybe they will fit your criteria so they are worth a look!

Samsonite Luggage Silhouette Sphere Spinner Boarding Bag

This bag had the spinner wheels I was looking for however they are very high profile and make the bag larger than it needs to be.  The width is also wider that will most likely fit under an airline seat even if it is only partially filled. While the specs say it is 7.5 inches on actual measurement it is closer to 10 inches. It also does not have a back strap to piggyback it on your checked luggage.

LUCAS Wheeled Under the Seat Cabin Bag

I liked this little bag and the price is right.  However, it does not have spinner wheels which were negative and I do not like the pull handle. This T-style hurts my hand and does not allow for a second tote bag to be piggybacked over the handle. The bag itself also does not have a back strap if you want to piggyback it over your larger checked luggage.

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.