When you’re heading off on a trip that only requires one outfit change and a few pairs of socks and underwear, you don’t need to be lugging a suitcase around and paying for extra baggage. Which is why getting yourself a budget-airline friendly rucksack that can hold your clothing as well as electricals, washbag and more in is a savvy way to save space, time and money – and one we’ve spotted on Amazon is on sale from £29.99 to just £16.99.
The underseat travel bag by Samfolk measures in at 40x20x25cm, which is ideal for those travelling on flights with RyanAir, EasyJet and more. These are dimensions which the likes of more expensive brands like Antler’s Discovery Backpack in Heather Purple and the £92 Essential Backpack in Black don’t quite fit for underseat luggage. Sizing at 45 x 31 x 20 cm and 41.5 x 28 x 15 cm, they just about exceed the RyanAir dimensions, which sit at 40cm x 25cm x 20cm – although these can fit in the overhead locker.
Similar to Antler’s more expensive £112 (on sale from £140) design, the Amazon bag is made up of three compartments that vary in size as well as having additional document-dedicated pockets and tech pockets for your phone, tablet and passport too.
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The bag’s main compartment is spacious and opens up like a suitcase, which makes it a breeze to pack, unpack and find tucked away items during your trip. It’s also got elastic straps to keep your bulkier items like shoes more secure.
Although the backpack, which comes in both black and grey, does have its own separate section to store your shoes, so you don’t need to worry about your clothes getting filthy. The pocket does filter into the main compartment so keep that in mind when packing.
With adjustable buckles at the side, your bag can be compressed for easy fitting either under the seat in front of you or expanded for the over head locker.
While the front pocket has a waterproof lining for your wash bag needs, the back pocket is great for storing books, magazines or your laptop. With quick access pockets on the front for smaller items – like your boarding pass or simply some snacks – the bag also has a secret pocket at the back which is great for storing your passport.
A nifty feature that makes this backpack pretty desirable is that it ha a built-in USB charging port to keep your gadget’s batteries topped up, so you have no fear of being left with a dead phone on the go. Of course, to charge it you’d need to connect your power bank inside.
The lightweight bag is waterproof and has breathable straps to help ensure you don’t get too warm whilst trying to find your AirBnB or hotel. As someone who has a variation of this bag from Amazon, I can attest that it’s a great tool for keeping your holiday luggage to a minimum and makes getting to your destination a breeze – no need to wait for luggage and checking in online means you can float straight through to security. Dream.
With some pretty practical details, I’m not the only one who’s impressed by the bag as it has accrued a 4.4 star rating from avid travellers, one of which has described: “This bag is used for regular travel, it has to be one of the best on the market at an affordable and competitive price. There are so many storage pockets, the wet section is a great idea, and accessing the bag from the bottom is brilliant, especially from an overhead locker on a plane. It is also very comfortable to carry on your back, It is well worth the investment.”
Another Amazon shopper was left ‘Surprised at how much you can pack into this bag’. They remarked: “Lots of useful pockets and fits neatly under airplane seats. Well made too.”
One traveller even hailed it as a ‘Tardis’ and ‘Mary Poppins handbag’, highlighting how much more you can fit in it than it looks. They said: “What a purchase. Managed to get 10 rolled dresses, another bag, toiletries, my hairdryer, straightners. Won’t quite hold my liquids bag but I always stuff that in with my meal deal at the airport.. Free hack for you. Whoop.”
While the functionality of the bag has been praised, one shopper shared how the shoe section, despite it being a ‘good idea’, ‘eats into the main storage compartment’. They added how it has ‘more straps and pockets than you would ever need’, causing you to look in a plethora of compartments before finding what’s needed.
Another shared how they felt it looked ‘a little cheap’, with ‘some of the stitching being uneven’ – although for the most part, it did the job of being an easy travelling backpack well. Get it here.
If you’re after something that’s a bit sturdier with a hard case and a good reputation (backed by A-listers), Antler’s Underseat suitcase in Antler Green is currently on sale for £97.50 down from £130 and just about fits the dimensions for EasyJet (45 x 36 x 20 cm) measuring at 45 x 35 x 20 cm.
Alternatively, Nordace’s Siena backpack just about fits the criteria and is also on sale for £88.99 down from £139.