Call us overthinkers, but we believe there’s a science to the perfect personal item. Maximum space + minimum stress about whether or not your item will fit under the seat in front of you = the ideal bag for travel of all kinds. From plane to train to your daily work commute, a personal item should be perfectly sized and personalized to your everyday needs. 

Check out our top picks for best personal items! 

Sure, we love a bag we can just throw everything into, but… we’re also hyper-organized and love having a pocket for all of our little items. That’s where our tote selection comes in handy — with removable pockets for your laptop, zipper compartments to keep small items, and even slots for your pens, our totes come with all sorts of storage solutions to keep you organized on the go. 

Try one of our many black travel tote options like the North to South Tote which makes the perfect everyday bag. Made of recycled materials, this style is also travel-ready and easily wipeable (just in case there’s a little turbulence on your flight and something spills — you can never be too prepared!). Plus, these bags come with multiple strap options a.k.a. so many ways to carry so you can stay flexible when you’re juggling a suitcase, sweater, and a coffee as you’re going through security. 

If you need a little more space, a black mini weekender makes a great personal item for anyone. Grab one for yourself or give it as a gift, this style is a staple for everyone from busy college students to frequent corporate travelers to free-spirited road trippers (we’d love to be in that last group right about now). 

With a wide, easy-access opening so you can see everything inside, a built-in padded laptop sleeve, and a separate bottom compartment (perfect for shoes), this bag is the personal item everyone needs on their list.

A duffle bag that fits under an airplane seat? Count us in. We love duffle bags for their versatility, and our beige sport duffle is the epitome of flexible. It’s great for the gym (yes, we sized it specifically to fit in a locker), but it’s also perfect for sliding under the seat in front of you. With tons of space for all of your items plus a trolley passthrough, it pairs perfectly with your roller for seamless travel. Plus, this bag even has hidden backpack straps, so you can use it as a duffle while you travel, then wear it as an everyday backpack once you reach your destination. 

So, when you’re searching for that perfect personal item bag, start with considering how much space you need. Then, we like to think about materials. Are you on team classic canvas? Nylon? Something from the recycled collection? From Totes to Weekenders to Duffles, we’ve got an option for every traveler, and with thousands of 5-star reviews, you can’t go wrong!