As summer approaches, many of us are eagerly anticipating our weekend getaways and holidays to sunnier locales. However, one aspect that can put a dampener on the excitement when booking these trips is the extra luggage fees associated with flights.
Thankfully, passengers have the option to bring a bag onboard that fits under the seat at no additional cost, and there’s a plethora of cabin bags on the market that meet budget airlines’ size requirements.
We’ve discovered a gem on Amazon that customers praise for its ‘surprising’ spaciousness despite being a backpack, making it perfect for a brief jaunt without having to compromise on packing. Even better, it’s currently discounted.
The ECOHUB Cabin Bag, which measures 40x20x25 – the exact dimensions permitted by Ryanair – typically sells for £49.99. But thanks to a limited-time deal on Amazon, you can now snag it for just £37.99. Offered in seven different colours ranging from black and green to red and purple, this bag boasts a 20-litre capacity.
Its main compartment opens up suitcase-style, simplifying both packing and locating your essential items during your journey, reports Chronicle Live. The bag features elastic straps for compressing larger items such as shoes and clothing, along with a dedicated compartment for laptops – ideal for business trips. It also includes a specific pocket for a power bank.
Three front pockets provide separate storage for smaller items, while a quick-access pocket at the top is perfect for essentials like passports, boarding passes and mobile phones. Additionally, the bag has two side straps to further condense its contents, optimising space usage.
Carrying this bag should be a breeze thanks to two handles, one on the side and another on top. It also boasts thick shoulder straps padded with foam for added comfort. Environmentally conscious consumers will appreciate that the bag is crafted from 30 recycled plastic pet bottles. This eco-friendly fabric is not only lightweight and water-resistant but also GRS-certified.
The ECOHUB bag’s zippers are constructed with heavy-duty SBS and reinforced with ripstop stitching, offering reassurance that the bag won’t easily fall apart. However, some customers have disputed this claim, noting that after a year of use, the bag started to deteriorate, with one stating “a seam has let go in the laptop compartment”.
Despite these criticisms, the bag has earned an impressive 4.6-star rating from avid travellers, with over 1,274 five-star reviews praising it as ‘top class for travelling’. A delighted Amazon customer recently praised a bag particularly well-suited for under-the-seat airline use, as well as for general travel and commuting. They hailed its ideal size, compressibility, and the unexpected utility of its external handles.
Sharing their satisfaction, they said: “This is an almost perfect bag for underseat airline travel and general travelling and commuting. It’s the right size and can be compressed, and external handles are really useful (I didn’t think they would be). The pockets are the right size in the right places. The back band (too big to be a strap) really holds this bag over the handles of a larger cabin trolley with no slipping. The straps are comfortable for commuting and airports. Zips are really good.”
The shopper further advised that the bag is great for any commuting or travel situation but added a caveat that it might not be suitable for hiking or trekking, saying: “I’d use this for any type of commuting or travel,” but cautioned, “but if you are hiking or trekking, it’s not the right product, but for everything else, perfect.”
Additionally, another buyer recounted their positive experience with the bag, noting its ideal compatibility with budget airlines like EasyJet and its deceptively large capacity. They particularly appreciated the lightly padded back section meant for electronics and the multiple compartments for organising belongings, highlighting a handy pocket for quick passport and boarding pass access.
Their review stated: “Just back from holiday and we took this as our underseat carry on (EasyJet), no issues with size and it holds a surprising amount. The back section is lightly padded for laptops and tablets and the bag has numerous compartments including a small pocket that’s ideal for the passport/boarding pass.”
The user also commented on the bag’s durable impression and their lack of any problems after its initial journey. They extolled its many pockets that aid organisation and finding items quickly, along with side straps that allow for compression, making it easier to fit the bag into airport luggage stands.
Comfort while carrying was not a concern either, thanks to adjustable straps and some padding on the back, leaving them very content with their new travel accessory. They concluded: “The bag seems like good quality and I cant see any issues with mine after its first round trip.
“The numerous pockets make it easy to pack and find things and the side straps allow the bag to be compressed to fit into the luggage stand at the airport. Quite comfortable to wear, with adjustable straps and some back padding, very happy with this little carry-on bag.”
A third person shared their enthusiasm: “Such a wonderful find. Bought 2 of these for travelling recently. The perfect luggage companion for a weekend/short trip away. So many compartments to put all your clothing/tech/toiletries/ etc. Easy to carry. Easy to fully open. Not super heavy before you start to fill it.”
You can snap up the ECOHUB cabin bag on Amazon. For those willing to invest a bit more in a travel backpack, there are deals to be had. The Nordace Siena backpack, meeting budget airline size requirements, has been reduced from £139 to just £88.99.
If you’re after something different, Antler’s Essential backpack in taupe is now available for £92, down from £115. Although slightly too large for Ryanair’s strict limits, it will fit within EasyJet’s generous 56 x 45 x 25 cm allowance. On the more affordable end, Dunelm offers a straightforward black Carry On Travel Backpack at a mere £25.