VerdictAI

Reviewer consensus · 2026

Best Underseat Luggage of 2026What 0 reviewers actually think, trust-weighted

Underseat luggage spans a wide range, from soft totes and wheeled mini-spinners to backpacks built to slide beneath an airline seat as a personal item. The candidate pool we reviewed for this subcategory carried strong verified-purchase signals on major retailers but little independent lab testing or specialist-community discussion, so the rankings below lean on customer-rating volume and averages, cross-checked across listings, rather than hands-on expert measurements. Treat these as a trust-weighted summary of buyer consensus, not a substitute for checking your specific airline's personal-item dimensions.

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Highest-rated by the consensus

#1 of 7
Top pick · #1Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Lightweight Underseat Carry-On Travel Tote, Overnight Weekender Bag
Best overall

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Lightweight Underseat Carry-On Travel Tote, Overnight Weekender Bag

Travelpro

★★★★★4.7(5,080)82Great

Across the verified-purchase reviews we read, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 underseat tote earns the most consistent praise of any bag in this pool, holding a 4.7 average across roughly 5,080 ratings (counted across two effectively identical listings). Buyers repeatedly highlight its low weight and soft-sided flexibility, which lets it compress into tight underseat spaces, and Travelpro's broader reputation for serviceable construction carries over in customer comments.

Price

$65.55

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The rest of the rankings

#2,7

Frequently asked

4 questions
What size counts as underseat or personal-item luggage?
Most U.S. airlines cap personal items around 18 x 14 x 8 inches, though budget and international carriers can be stricter. The bags here range from compact 14- to 16-inch totes and spinners to an 18 x 14 x 8 backpack, so always confirm your airline's published limits before buying, since reviewers frequently note that a bag fitting one carrier may be rejected on another.
Should I get underseat luggage with wheels or a tote/backpack?
Wheeled underseat bags ease airport walking but the wheels and handle eat into interior space and add weight. Verified-purchase reviewers favor lightweight soft totes and backpacks when maximizing packing volume matters, and wheeled models when minimizing carrying strain matters. The right call depends on whether you value rolling convenience or capacity more.
Is a budget underseat bag good enough, or should I splurge?
Budget picks like the TPRC at around $31 draw large volumes of satisfied verified-purchase reviews, making them reasonable for occasional travel. Premium options like Briggs & Riley cost roughly ten times more but are backed by a lifetime-style warranty and self-repairing zipper reputation. Frequent flyers tend to justify the splurge on durability; occasional travelers usually don't need to.
Do underseat bags with USB charging ports actually charge devices?
The USB port on bags like the TPRC and Samsonite models is a pass-through; you still need to supply your own power bank inside the bag. Buyers should not expect a built-in battery, and several note this is a convenience feature rather than a charger in itself.