At a Glance
- After six months of real-world testing, the $33 Cheruty Backpack Purse beat purses costing 10× more
- Team members flew 30 styles and scored capacity, durability, security and value
- Why it matters: The right under-seat bag can save you $60 in carry-on fees per round-trip
Our editors boarded planes, trains and road trips with 30 popular travel purses for six months or longer. One emerged as the clear winner: a vegan-leather backpack that costs less than a airport sandwich.
How We Tested
Every purse had to survive at least half a year of actual travel. Testers rated each bag on:
- Capacity-what fits under the seat yet holds daily essentials
- Portability-weight and strap comfort on long concourse walks
- Security-zipper quality and pick-pocket deterrence
- Durability-fabric wear after repeated stuffing into overhead bins
- Value-price versus performance
The result: 13 purses that never let us miss a connection.
Top 13 Travel Purses
| Rank | Bag | Price | Weight | Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheruty Backpack Purse | $33 | 1.4 lb | 17-18 L | Overall winner |
| 2 | Dagne Dover Landon | $240 | 3.6 lb | 29 L | Runner-up |
| 3 | Uniqlo Round Mini | $15 | 3.6 oz | 4 L | Budget pick |
| 4 | lululemon Festival Micro | $38 | 7 oz | 2 L | Belt bag |
| 5 | Baggu Crescent Medium | $52 | 7.4 oz | 5.3 L | Medium size |
| 6 | MultiSac Lorraine | $45 | 1.26 lb | 3 L | Multi-pocket |
| 7 | Patagonia Atom Sling | $90 | 0.75 lb | 8 L | Sling style |
| 8 | Longchamp Filet Mesh | $130 | 0.35 lb | – | Lightweight |
| 9 | Longchamp Expandable | $285 | 1.6 lb | 30-50 L | Versatility |
| 10 | Portland Leather Tote | $109 | 3.2 lb | 19-20 L | Tote lovers |
| 11 | Longchamp Backpack | $140 | 0.8 lb | – | Backpack fans |
| 12 | Portland Camera Bag | – | 1.44 lb | 1.2-2.2 L | Leather fans |
| 13 | Lo & Sons O.G. 2 | – | 2.6-3 lb | 25-26 L | Investment buy |
Winner Deep Dive: Cheruty Backpack Purse
Price: $33 | Weight: 1.4 lb | Colors: 26 options
Our testers awarded perfect scores across every category. The bag opens only from the back panel, foiling pickpockets while still allowing wide-mouth packing. Water-bottle sleeves, padded straps and water-resistant vegan leather round out the package. The only miss: no luggage-handle sleeve, but the backpack straps sit comfortably over roller bags.
Runner-Up: Dagne Dover Landon
Price: $240 | Weight: 3.6 lb | Capacity: 29 L
Neoprene construction shrugs off spills and folds into its own pocket for hotel-room storage. A shoe bag, key leash and laptop sleeve keep contents organized despite the open main compartment. After repeated washes it still looked new.
Budget Hero: Uniqlo Round Mini
Price: $15 | Weight: 3.6 oz | Capacity: 4 L
Dumpling-shaped polyester expands to swallow an iPad mini, notebook and passport. No exterior pockets means everything stays hidden under a jacket. Eight colorways match any outfit.
Belt-Bag Champion: lululemon Festival Micro
Price: $38 | Weight: 7 oz | Capacity: 2 L
Nylon construction survived a year of daily use without pilling. Multiple zip pockets size phones, cards and cash perfectly; credit-card slots would have earned full marks.
Medium Goldilocks: Baggu Crescent
Price: $52 | Weight: 7.4 oz | Capacity: 5.3 L
Recycled heavyweight nylon is machine-washable and zips shut for security. No exterior pockets keeps the silhouette sleek; interior zip pouch corrals keys. Adjustable strap lets you wear it high and tight in crowds.
Organizer’s Dream: MultiSac Lorraine
Price: $45 | Weight: 1.26 lb | Pockets: 7 total
Three front pockets (two flat, one gusseted) plus a hidden back zip keep passports and boarding passes separate. Vegan leather looks sharp in business settings; narrow top opening slows quick grabs.
Sling Star: Patagonia Atom
Price: $90 | Weight: 0.75 lb | Capacity: 8 L
Asymmetrical strap keeps the bag tight to your back so it doesn’t swing while you jog to the gate. Water-repellent recycled polyester handles coffee spills; front zip stashes phone for TSA bins.
Ultralight: Longchamp Filet Mesh
Price: $130 | Weight: 0.35 lb
Cotton mesh expands to hold beach towels yet scrunches into a palm-sized bundle. Contents are visible, but the snap flap plus leather trim adds polish.
Expandable Workhorse: Longchamp Le Pliage
Price: $285 | Weight: 1.6 lb | Capacity: 30-50 L
Zip expansion boosts volume from weekend-bag to carry-all. Fold-flat design tucks into checked luggage as a just-in-case bag. Polyamide canvas wipes clean after muddy adventures.
Tote Luxe: Portland Leather
Price: $109 | Weight: 3.2 lb | Capacity: 19-20 L
Full-grain leather refuses to slouch even after two years of daily commuting. Choose open-top for speed or zip-top for security; all sizes include a key loop. No interior zip pocket is the only omission.
Backpack Elegance: Longchamp Le Pliage
Price: $140 | Weight: 0.8 lb
Magnetic-snap flap plus top zip give double security without slowing airport access. Lightweight recycled canvas handles rain; folds into a rectangle when empty.
Compact Leather: Portland Camera Bag
Price: – | Weight: 1.44 lb | Colors: 18
Structured leather holds its shape even when stuffed. Side-zip extends an inch down the walls for easy access to sunglasses or a passport wallet.
Investment Grade: Lo & Sons O.G. 2
Price: – | Weight: 2.6-3 lb | Capacity: 25-26 L
Nylon body survived four years of weekly flights with only minor strap fraying. Suitcase sleeve, shoe compartment and key leash turn security lines into a breeze.
What to Look For
Size: Keep under 16 × 13 × 7 inches to count as a free personal item on most airlines.
Style: Backpacks distribute weight; totes swallow sweaters; cross-bodies keep documents close.
Material: Nylon and polyester wipe clean; leather looks sharp but needs care; cotton is washable.
Price: Our list ranges from $15 to $285-every pick delivers above its price point.
Key Takeaways
- The $33 Cheruty Backpack outperformed purses costing 8× more
- A true personal-item bag keeps you from paying carry-on fees
- Water-resistant fabric and secure zippers matter more than brand prestige
- Testers logged six months of flights-no airport survived unscathed
