Samsonite Upright Wheeled Carry-On Underseater, Black, Small

I purchased this suitcase about a year ago when I started a new job that would involve travel every 3 months or so. Outside of the US (and in many urban US areas like NYC), you don't have the luxury of escalators, elevators, or curb ramps. I started out with a 21" Samsonite Spinner that just barely met the carry-on requirements. I usually checked it because it was too bulky and it was a nightmare to get up stairs and in tight transit. I graduated to an eBags Weekender Convertible which was initially great but after a few trips that involved walking long stretches of airport corridors after a long flight, I realized how un-ergonomic this bag really is. Sometimes you really want wheels. When I learned about the "underseater" wheeled suitcase style, I did my research and settled on this model. I settled on this one because the construction is solid and the suitcase is lined with pockets. I've taken this suitcase for 1-2 week trips to places like Tokyo, Bristol, Amsterdam, Toronto, and to overnight and weekend trips. This is absolutely the best suitcase I've ever owned. Don't believe anyone who tells you this is only good for overnights. Learn how to pack, do a little sink laundry, and you can travel indefinitely with this thing. This suitcase has fit under the seat of every single regular sized plane I've been in and in overheads of smaller commuter jets. I use this suitcase in conjunction with the eBags Savvy Laptop Tote (Eggplant) (which I just noticed now comes in more colors). That tote has a velcro strap on the bag so I can secure it to the extended handle of this suitcase. My laptop, books, knitting, food, cardigan, travel jacket (compresses into a pouch), and water bottle go in the laptop tote. My clothes and toiletries go in the suitcase. I use one slim packing cube AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Cube Set - Slim, Black , one small packing cube eBags Packing Cube - Small (Aquamarine) , and one eBags shoe sleeve Shoe Bag - Stretchable Shoe Sleeves by goBags - Set of 2 . I usually pack 1 pair of flats, 1 skirt, 1 dress, 4 shirts, 1 cardigan, 3 sets of undergarments, 4 pairs of socks, plus additional layering items depending on the climate. I usually wear bulkier things on the plane, specifically a pair of jeans, a blouse, and a cardigan (in addition to the one I've packed). I've certainly packed more with this and when coupled with a small backpack it's pretty amazing how much you can carry around with you. I've labeled each pocket to keep track of what's in each because there are omg so many. Some of the pockets are plastic which is good for things that might leak while others are netted so they can hold strangely shaped items. Some smaller pockets on the inner divider are felt lined which make them good for jewelry. There's a detachable hanging bag which is useful for shared bathroom situations. There's a very high quality clear pouch for liquids that fits comfortably in the front pocket. My biggest advice for this suitcase is don't overpack it. If the front is bulging, it won't fit under the seat. I also recommend bottom loading it and putting smaller items you may need to access during your trip on top. Overall, this is a solid piece of travel gear and I can't recommend it enough. PS. To do laundry in the sink, soak your clothes in warm water with some shampoo or body soap, rinse well, then roll up in a towel and stomp on it. Hang dry (without the towel) overnight. You don't need special sporty materials to do this, poly blend cotton knits, thinner slub cotton knits, and even modal and rayon blouses work great. I usually wear a pair of bike commuter jeans that dry really fast. I use nylon underwear (Ex Officio and Cosa Bella make some good ones) because it dries quickly even when it's humid. Get yourself a few clothespin hangers and you're set!

I love this rolling luggage! I challenged myself to pack like a minimalist for my 8 day trip to Costa Rica. Not only did I have everything I needed but also had unworn items on the way back! I took a few pics after my trip just to show my friend how much actually fit in this luggage. This is my first review ever so you can guess how much I'm obsessed with it. I figured why not upload the pics for others. My fav things: 1. Tons of zippered compartments to organize your toiletries etc. 2. You can remove one of the inside pouches. I used mine for toiletries and kept it in the bathroom or dresser depending on the hotel. 3. It has plastic pouches on the sides for wet bathing suits or dirty laundry. I put thin souvenirs like postcards, and pens. You can even put a waterbottle there. 4. It rolls so smoothly and feels like a very high end item. Unlike cheapo ones which seem like they will fall apart soon or have zipper issues. 5. The front zippered section held my iPad mini, it's charger, and my phone charger and made it very accessible while going through security check. 6. I love the strap on the back for being able to place it on another carry on. While at the airport, I just put this item on top of my husband's carry on and my hands were free to push my daughter's stroller. 7. I didn't fly on Spirit airlines but I was on a super tiny connecting flight once and I was the only one who was allowed to bring my bag on board. It fit in the overhead as well as under the seat without any problems with room to spare. Not so fav things: 1. The main issue I had was when I tried to pack my clothes under the bottom organizer that lifts out on one side. The rough side of the velcro since it was separated from the base and over the clothes kept getting stuck on my clothes. So next time I will have to get a strip of the soft side of velcro and stick it to the strap to prevent it from getting stuck on my clothes or just leave that section at the bottom of the luggage and pack above it. This could get annoying to open zippers under the packed clothes. 2. If you stuff you bag to the max like I did, it's hard to fit a water bottle on the sides. I wish they had an outside pocket or net that lets you expand it for a water bottle. But then again if it did, it probably wouldn't look as nice. I'll attach a few pics of all the items that I fit in this mini roller. P.S. I had also packed a hairbrush, my toothbrush, flat iron, bathing suits, socks, and tennis shoes that are not in the pics. Here's a list of what I packed: 1 light raincoat 1 set of Pjs 9 tops 2 leggings 2 shorts 2 dresses 2 sets of bathing suits 1 coverup Undergarments Tennis shoes Socks *On the plane I wore my heaviest items...jeans, cardigan, and my Sperrys. *Obviously if you are a guy you might not be able to fit as much as me. I pretty much picked thin fabrics for the most part and rolled each item tightly. If you are on the fence just go for it!!

Edited to add: I know that this won't be relevant to most people, but I am currently on an extended trip and using this suitcase as my main carry on. A smaller backpack is being used for my under seat bag. You can see a photo of the two below. While most travelers are not going to be adopting the super minimalist approach of a long-term nomad, I thought it would still be useful to know just how much can fit in this bag. However, I do have to note that I am a small woman traveling with lightweight merino wool clothing that doesn't take up a lot of room. Still, this bag is holding up well. I've stuffed an even smaller backpack in the trolley strap on the back of the Samsonite Underseater and tied an ultra-light down coat to handles. So I am actually prepared for traveling through 4 seasons with this small bag as my main suitcase. I wanted a small bag with one big compartment, 2 wheels and a luggage sleeve in back. Bonus points for the side pockets for a water bottle & umbrella. So this small suitcase fits the bill perfectly. With one big main compartment, this small suitcase fits an amazing amount of stuff. See my photo of it stuffed with 4 packing cubes 10x7x3, 1 cube 7x5x3, a pair of boots in a shoe bag and a toiletries bag. That is literally enough clothes for months, if you know how to pack. Theoretically, you could travel the world with just this suitcase. The water bottle pictured is a 20 oz. Rubbermaid, but you won't be able to zip up something that size if the interior is jam packed. For normal carry on items, you should have no trouble utilizing both side pockets for maximum effectiveness. Though the umbrella still needs to be a small one. Mini tablet, phone, even a small purse can fit in the front exterior zippered compartment. And as others have mentioned, there are an astonishing amount of pockets. The flap inside the lid snaps off and the one that folds out the front can be attached to the Velcro on the bottom of the suitcase. The one nitpick I have is that I feel the Velcro is unnecessary. It will prevent people from just throwing in some types of clothes because they will catch on the Velcro. I do like the black flap and side snaps for holding things in place. Most people will be throwing odds and ends in this size bag, not packing cubes, including me. And the normal straps are not as effective for keeping that kind of stuff under control. Using the front flap and the black one, you've got everything covered and can still use the visible pockets for things you might want accessible during a flight besides what's in the exterior pocket. It's sturdy, well-made, and not too heavy. Samsonite is a good, and reliable, brand. Still, while I adore this bag, I do have to admit I thought it was a bit overpriced for its size at more than $79. However, the price apparently fluctuates more than I realized, and it is available from Amazon Prime for as low as $60.34 with free returns as I write this. So if you don't need it right away, and it's higher than that when you read this, keep an eye out for lower prices. A few words about wheels. My larger bag is a spinner, and the body is only a couple of inches longer than this one because of the wheels. I was willing to make that trade off because I wanted the convenience of being able to roll a heavier bag alongside me instead of dragging it, which hurts my arms and shoulders. Since this bag can piggyback on that one, two wheels were sufficient for those times when I'd be using it by itself or checking the larger bag. I wanted the extra space in the packing section instead. Still, with the wheels, this bag is 14" high. You don't need to count the handles because they are flat. Most bags this size assume you want at least a big padded laptop compartment, or 3 separate zippered compartments. Though I travel with a slim laptop, I didn't want any of that, I consider it wasted space. This is like a real suitcase, just tiny sized, which is what I wanted and is almost impossible to find - or at least, if you also want two wheels, two side pockets and a luggage sleeve. Please note, I have not traveled with this bag yet. If it doesn't hold up, for some reason, I will revise this review. Edited to add: I have now traveled with this bag three times and it has held up very well. It fits perfectly under even the aisle seats on Spirit, and I used it once as my only bag for a full week of travel with no complaints.

A few things about this bag. This bag worked great for my trip and it did indeed fit under the seat. I was very happy about this because I was intending on bringing another bag as my carry-on and the this bag would be my personal item. I was also pleased to see the many compartments, and pockets this bag has. I was able to fit an outfit, my ziplock bag of toiletries, a couple of books and my iPad in this bag with room to spare. It was amazing at the amount room in this little travel bag. There were two things that I feel are design issues that could improve this bag. The first issue is that the flap that has many of the zippered compartments and sections is attached near the top opening of the bag. So when you unzip the bag and open it from the top, the flap covers the opening so you can't reach in and access the contents of the bag. You have to lay the bag on its back and unzip it then move the flap out of the way. Really inconvenient when you need to quickly get something from the bag. The second issue I had with this bag was that I think it's small enough that a shoulder strap would be helpful. There were times when it would have been really nice to be able to put it on my shoulder so I could manage my other belonging. Other than that, the bag works! I really like this bag and I really like the fact that it is compact enough to fit under the seat on an airplane. I can truly recommend this bag, even with the two design flaws previously mentioned.

I am not very generous with my stars, however, this deserves 5++ stars!!! I loved this on my last trip! It is well made, fit under the seat in front of me just fine on both Jet Blue & Frontier. Having the right gear makes traveling so much nicer. I purchased the large & I was a bit concerned that it would not fit; that I would have regrets & or return it, however, it was perfect! Pros: -- Balances upright perfectly -- Glides seamlessly in airport or airplane, between seats without a hitch -- Is well made, no zippers have come apart or broken & I am a packer -- It fit perfectly under the seat in front of me on at least 4 flights thus far -- The small pocket in the front fit my 10.5 inch tablet such that I could readily and easily access it during the flight -- I could role it down the isle between the seats without a hitch; without ever needing to lift it -- I was able to put my backpack/purse handle over the extension bar, then my neck pillow on top of that & it still balanced perfectly -- It fit & balanced perfectly with me in the restroom stalls at the airport -- It balanced perfectly beside me with my purse, pillow & coat perched on top of it next to me in the restroom as I washed & dried my hands & freeing up my hands at the NY airport salad bar -- It wheels super smoothly, both in the airport & on the plane between the seats -- It helped me balance my load such that my checked in baggage was not over the limit, there is plenty of room for all your carry on needs, such as a notebook, snacks of a variety, pens & pencils, extra coat & other items which are very handy to have with you -- I had room for a drink cup (empty until through security) on the side, although I wish the side pocket was just a bit more flexible for holding drinks, however this is not a problem as it is SO perfect otherwise! Possibly the best and handiest piece of luggage/travel gear I have ever purchased. This made for such a pleasant travel experience. I have carried heavy bags through the airport and this has made for a not so positive experience. I may consider using this as my "purse" in the future when traveling by jet, as it roles so pleasantly & there is plenty of room in it for all my "pursely" possessions until reaching my destination. I will also keep this in mind as a gift for travelers in the future as well. One wish: I do wish they would figure out a way to pare down the packaging as the luggage arrived in a box, then inside of another very large box. This does not, however, reflect on the product in any way. Happy Travels!

This bag was an excellent additional on my latest trip. It fit perfectly with room to spare beneath the seat on 2 types of Southwest planes. I was in the window seat which loses space due to the wall shape, but it still fit with room on the side for me to stow a medium/large soft side tote style purse. It accommodated more items than I expected. My trip was 2 days but it held all I needed, despite being a notorious over-packer. I am a small, short person but it accepted a pair of pants, 2 shorts, 4 shirts, a light maxi dress, flip flops, a pair of flats, a TSA sized toiletry bag (that I maximized with small travel jars and bottles for my skin care, a thin sweater, snack bags, and had room for me to spare for a couple other items. An average sized person or one needing cold climate apparel may likely fit less, but I use packing cubes to organize and was pleased this fit all I needed. I enjoyed not checking a bag and at 5 foot 2, I was very happy to not need to get a suitcase over my head to the luggage bins! It was sturdy and wheeled nicely but felt the handle height might be difficult and inadequate for a taller person- although it fit me perfectly. Due to its small size and weight, be careful with sharp turns. I tend to walk in airports like I’m late for everything and a couple times found it on 1 wheel taking sharp turns. Maybe I’m just a crazy luggage driver... For those wishing to carry electronics: this bag has no compartment for a laptop. While a small one might fit in the main compartment, there is not a way to secure it separately from your other items. I have a 10” iPad I hoped to slip in the front pocket. It has a rubberized back cover and didn’t fit where I hoped it would. When packed full, I couldn’t maneuver putting my iPad in the front pocket in any way I felt it wouldn’t be damaged if I could get the pocket to zip at all. I believe this was an excellent purchase for me and just what I was looking for - minus a place for my iPad, but I simply used my purse for that and other items I wanted quick access to. The many pockets were nice, even if I didn’t have a use for them all this trip. Plenty of ways to organize your small items, easy to use at the airport and convenient for storing under seat. I am considering another for my daughter to eliminate heavy backpacks.

I just took this bag on a four-day trip to Boston, and it is wonderful. Incredibly light even when filled to the brim, and tons of pocket options. This is a smallish bag that can be carried on a plane so you can avoid checking a bag, but if you pack light there's no worries about fitting everything you need. I love the way it forces you to pack things vertically, as the entire front of the bag zips down and you pack in one stack of "rectangle" folds. I packed: - 5 pairs underwear - 5 undershirts - 3 dress shirts - 3 tshirts - 2 pairs shorts - 1 pair sneakers - 1 pair pants - 1 rolled rain jacket The absolute best feature of this thing though is the fact that on the inside of the front flap, there is a detachable, 3-compartment toiletry bag. I fit everything my wife and I needed (travel-sized, granted) in this bag and could easily snap it off and back on again as we went through TSA security. As for its mobility, I don't think it could really be better, unless you're the type who prefers a spinner (wheeled bag with four wheels). If that's your preference, that's neat, but I'd prefer to remain in the group of people who prize forward momentum over the ability to kind of move in a direction while their lazy, 4-wheeled bag kind of follows next to them. At some point, I wonder if spinner users are wheeling their bags, or if their bags are wheeling them. The bag fit easily into overhead compartments on my Southwest flight, and I'm almost sure it could fit under the seat, but did not test this, as I had another bag to go under there (I like to carry a man purse for tablets, plane tix, gum, souvenirs for return trip, etc.). It is just the right size to actually go into the overhead straight on instead of sideways, so when you get up to in the mad rush to exit the plane, it makes your escape that much quicker. It also is the perfect width to be rolled in front of you down the aisle. The only drawback is once this bag is filled, it is hard to fit very much into the front pockets, although I really didn't have much of a use for them anyway, and there are pockets in the back of the bag, but I'm unsure of how or when to use these because they become inaccessible one you fill the bag up. Once again, no real complaint there because I didn't need them, but I'm sure you could cram some stuff in. The side pockets on the left and right of the bag are pretty genius, though, as they're purposely meant for long, flat objects like papers, documents, etc. or even flatly folded clothes. The bag seems well constructed and although I've only taken it on one trip, it suffered no real damage. Wheels seem sturdy. I worry less about durability for this bag since I'll never check it.

Perfect sized carry on and underseater luggage. I got my mom one for Mother's Day and she loves it. So I ended up getting myself one, too. I recently took it on a weekend trip this weekend and it fit under the aisle seat in front of me on Southwest perfectly. (SEE PICTURE BELOW) Just make sure you do NOT pack it too full on the outside side pockets, or it will be a tight fit under the aisle seat. Will definitely fit under the middle seat in front of you, but who wants to sit there. :) On my return flight home, my suitcase was jam packed from shopping, so I simply stored it in the overhead compartment with no issues. I will update my review when I use it to fly on Jetlblue next month. UPDATE 12/2/16: Does NOT under seat on JetBlue now. It used to fit! Fits under seat in front on southwest. PROS: -well made, good design and reliable luggage -I packed it to the BRIM, super stuffed with clothes on a return flight home. Everything fit! -I took it on a weekend trip and fit 2 pairs of heels and 4 outfits. This bag is roomy. -always happy with Samsonite products -lightweight and study handle -plenty of packing space for weekend trip (and I'm NOT a minimalist) :D -overall perfect bag for a short trip -a lot of side pockets for misc items CONS: -Fits on Southwest seat in front, but may not fit every single airline. Don't pack it too full in front pocket.