Let’s talk personal item bags. Not to be confused with your carry-on suitcase, your personal item is that magical bag that fits under the seat in front of you and somehow holds your entire personality, emotional support snacks, and everything you’d need to survive a minor apocalypse at 36,000 feet.
And here’s the kicker:
We’re checking luggage. That’s right—no rolling carry-on, no overhead bin brawl, no stuffing a suitcase into a bathroom stall. Just one under-the-seat personal item per person and a whole lot of faith in baggage handlers.
This time around, our weapon of choice is the ECOHUB 16″ underseat backpack. I’ve previously used their 16″ duffle—construction isn’t exactly luxury-tier, but let me tell you: that thing survived a week-long trip to Mexico as my only bag. So I’m not mad at it. The new backpack version seems to be made of sterner stuff, and honestly? I’m impressed. Again, not the most high-end, but we’ll see how it holds up with months of heavy lifting—literally.
So what’s inside my backpack? Everything I need to feel like I’ve got it together—even if my luggage ends up in Lisbon without me.
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The Essentials Inside my Personal Item Bag
- My Laptop
- Electronics Chargers – love these 3 in 1s!
- Noise Cancelling Earplugs – that double as headphones.
- Sleep Mask – love this mask! Total blackout, super comfortable, and a lifesaver for long flights!
- An Emergency Outfit (packed in a compression cube) – because I believe in hoping for the best, but planning for the worst. One full outfit lives in my bag, just in case my luggage decides to live its own truth elsewhere
- Flip Flops
- TSA Approved 24-Hour Survival Kit
- Travel-size toothpaste
- Contact solution + contact case (did you know contact solution is exempt from the 100ml rule as it’s considered a medical essential?)
- My Face Cream – Because moisturizing is essential!
- A mini Toiletry Bag
- Hairbrush – for when I emerge from a 10-hour flight looking like a tumbleweed
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Contact Case
- My Glasses
- Mini First Aid Kit (see Travel First Aid Kit Essentials on what I packed)
- A refillable Water Bottle
- My Purse (fits inside my personal item bag)
- Passport
- Chapstick
- Sunglasses
- Phone
- Notebook and Pen
- Foot Hammock – it might sound silly, but trust me—it’s essential. I laughed when my husband first bought one, but now I can’t imagine traveling without it.
Bonus: What Personal Item Bag My Husband Uses
For those of you curious about what my husband travels with — he’s currently testing a new personal item bag from CARRYX. It’s a duffel-style bag that’s super packable and (importantly!) fits under the seat on most airlines.
Our favourite feature?
The smart front pocket. Because when the bag is tucked under the seat, you can still reach everything you actually need — headphones, charger, snacks — without hauling the whole bag onto your lap and digging around like you’re performing a magic trick.
It’s simple, practical, and so far, husband-approved.
The Syp’s Survival Summary
Status: One bag checked. One personal item.
Survival Strategy: Layers, liquids (TSA-friendly, obviously), and enough optimism to believe my luggage will arrive with me.
Will I Survive Baggage Roulette? Probably. But if not, at least I’ve got moisturizer and a spare pair of underwear.
If you are interested in why we chose to check our luggage or what we packed for an entire year away, check out:
- To Check or Not to Check?: Our take on checking bags vs. carrying on—and what works best for family travel
- Packing for an Entire Year: What Made the Cut: How my obsession with capsule wardrobes came in handy