Airline "Personal Item" Luggage

I have been using a Timbuk2 Robin, it looks dressy enough and I like the magnetic closures vs snappy buckles and velcro, but the flap-top design and lack of internal organization mean I get to dig through the opening to try to find things. Also when I use it with my "j-hook" (smart link strap from B&R) the dangly bits from the straps drag on the ground unless I tuck them in the side pockets. Also the material is quickly not looking as nice as it was new.

So I'm looking for some sort of personal bag that can also function as a backpack but also cruise attached to the luggage. I allso need space for full-size headphones. I am more of a fan of things that open up and have internal organization than things that have 20 zippers on the outside. Builtin padded space for 13" MBP and iPad. Roughly 18x10x10 inches or smaller. Something that doesn't have a ton of Molle webbing, leather patches, etc... Needs to be available in black.

So far top contenders are the B&R Sympatico and Relay, Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 18, and eBags Professional Slim (and maybe the leather version?). But haven't found any yet scream "that's it!".

Oh and I'm not opposed to a briefcase either, but being able to use it as a backpack would be nice occasionally and not sure they have enough space for all.

Here's my load out for my last trip:
Travelrest pillow: https://www.amazon.com/Travelrest-In...dp/B001DYDAEK/
Big Headphones
MacBook Pro 13"
iPad Pro 11"
Apple Pencil
Power adapter: https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type-...dp/B07M97XGNZ/
Thumb drive
a couple pens/penciles
Lysol Wipes
Hand sanitizer
"Dopp bag": https://www.amazon.com/Osprey-242001...dp/B00PKMXQNQ/
Dopp bag could go in my overhead luggage, I just usually keep it for when I invariably end up needing to pull out liquids/gels/electronics it means only one item.
Misc garbage: car keys, mints, vitamins, ear plugs, eye mask, etc...

The travelrest and headphones are probably the bulkiest. I ditch the travelrest in business class but it's the only way I can sleep in steerage -- most other pillow type things make me too hot. Headphones need to come even though I also have some nice in ear monitors that block sound.

I really liked the Peak messenger bag, but it's not in black and I'm not sure how great it would look in a suit...not that a backpack is much better.

Hey Two - When I carry both my 15" macbook pro and 12.9" ipad on a plane I use a Greenroom136 Bootstrap in Medium : Greenroom136 Official Online Store . Honestly it makes the most sense of any bag I have owned for carrying that much stuff.

I travel most of the time with my 12.9" iPad in a Tom Bihn Daylight, Daylight Briefcase - Briefcases - Every Day Carry – TOM BIHN I carry headphones, chargers, cables, etc in that. But to make my life easier, I put it inside my Patagonia MLC and only take it out moments before boarding. I think the Daylight looks good enough for important meetings or carrying around town.

Hope that helps.

-Joe

The green room custom stuff looks nice as they can put the fidlocks on for me as I am not a fan of the fastex buckles. Their backpacks look interesting too.

Bihn makes some nice bags but I am generally more of a fan of the padded laptop slot than the removable sleeve. Maybe I need to rethink that as I have been winning in the special screening department lately when returning to the US.

I spend a lot of time sitting in the back of airplanes and this is one of the best products I’ve ever owned. Mine isn’t identical but it’s very similar and is high quality, holds a ton of useful stuff and most importantly, fits under the seat in front of me, meaning I can access it in flight without having to stand up and rummage around the overhead bin.

Highly recommended as a “personal item”.

Holistic Flight Tote

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Originally Posted by Saab2000

Highly recommended as a “personal item”.

Holistic Flight Tote

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Saab...do you know anything about their suiters as my trusty old TravelPro is about ready for that overhead bin in the sky...no pun intended.

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Originally Posted by rwsaunders

Saab...do you know anything about their suiters as my trusty old TravelPro is about ready for that overhead bin in the sky...no pun intended.

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Suiters? Suit bags? Not familiar.... I own the crew roll aboard bag and this little personal bag for my flight tools (headset, iPad, flashlight, etc) as well as my personal iPad, Bose QC35 and a bevy of charging cables, a spare battery, charging adapters and all my personal documents.

No suit bag here.

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Originally Posted by rwsaunders

Saab...do you know anything about their suiters as my trusty old TravelPro is about ready for that overhead bin in the sky...no pun intended.

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Not Saab, but my Briggs & Riley Baseline International 2 wheel is awesome. One of the only international sized ones that comes with the suiter fold gadget in the lid. Works great with my suits, but my suits aren't particularly wide (40 US). Service Temporarily Unavailable

The warranty is bulletproof, using it is painless, and the bag functions very well. They advertise it as expandable but it is really more "compressible". See 8:45 here: Review: Briggs & Riley Baseline International Wide Carry-On (Full) | Tekuben.com - YouTube

The only downside to it (and most others as well) is if you are on an ultra low cost carrier with 6kg limits, it weighs in at ~4kg itself (Travel Pro Crew is comparable weight). But flying Lufthansa, BA, or any of the other European higher tier airlines it has never been questioned or an issue.

LW doesn't have a top reputation these days as it seems they have farmed their stuff out to the lower cost manufacturers - but might be worthwhile for a tote.

Stolen from the briefcase thread I found WaterField. Their air porter looks good, just not sure I want to drop that coin only to figure out it wasn’t quite what I wanted. Air Porter Carry-On Bag

Synapse 25 - Backpacks - Travel Bags – TOM BIHN

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Originally Posted by Two

I have been using a Timbuk2 Robin, it looks dressy enough and I like the magnetic closures vs snappy buckles and velcro, but the flap-top design and lack of internal organization mean I get to dig through the opening to try to find things. Also when I use it with my "j-hook" (smart link strap from B&R) the dangly bits from the straps drag on the ground unless I tuck them in the side pockets. Also the material is quickly not looking as nice as it was new.

So I'm looking for some sort of personal bag that can also function as a backpack but also cruise attached to the luggage. I allso need space for full-size headphones. I am more of a fan of things that open up and have internal organization than things that have 20 zippers on the outside. Builtin padded space for 13" MBP and iPad. Roughly 18x10x10 inches or smaller. Something that doesn't have a ton of Molle webbing, leather patches, etc... Needs to be available in black.

So far top contenders are the B&R Sympatico and Relay, Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 18, and eBags Professional Slim (and maybe the leather version?). But haven't found any yet scream "that's it!".

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I have the ebags professional slim which fits the bill except for the many zippers. I do not love it as it does not have space for bulky items (if, for example, I wanted to throw a sweater inside, then room for there is not much room left for my admittedly obnoxiously large Bose QC headphones; gym clothes/shoes are also a hard no with this bag). But it works really well if I just have laptop, ipad, headphones, chargers and some work documents/papers.

https://www.goruck.com/

I use the Tumi Alpha Bravo Aviano Slim. Which is a stupid name, and I had to hunt through their site to figure out exactly what it was:

Aviano Slim Brief - Alpha Bravo - Tumi United States - Graphite

It has a couple zips on the back that open to create a pouch to slide over the handle of your roll aboard luggage, making it easy to tote through the airport. It is slim, so not good for stuffing with lots of things, but it will fit my 13" MacBook (with room for a 15"), chargers, Sennheiser noise cancelling headphones, and a small notebook. An iPad would easily fit in the notebook pocket if that's your thing. There is a magnetically closed pocket on the front that is perfect for dropping your phone in prior to walking through security.

It won't fit much else - like a Dopp kit for example. But I leave the Dopp in my roll aboard, I haven't had to take it out for years now after getting TSA PreCheck.

people shouldn't be allowed to bring anything on an airplane. they should make you change into TSA issued flannel pajamas and even check your underwear through. there is no reason for anyone to bring a tenth the shit they bring inside the planes except for the airlines charging people checked bag fees.

without luggage security would be 100 times faster- with TSA issues pajamas there wouldn't need to be security.

i wish i was only kind of joking.....

Craig, I want to walk into the airport, be scanned, and then drugged so that I'm unconscious until I reach my destination. Scan me, drug me, and I fall into a box. I'd be happy to change into TSA issued pajamas beforehand.

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Originally Posted by nahtnoj

Craig, I want to walk into the airport, be scanned, and then drugged so that I'm unconscious until I reach my destination. Scan me, drug me, and I fall into a box. I'd be happy to change into TSA issued pajamas beforehand.

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Now well off topic, but this just reminded me of the Stephen King short story "The Jaunt". Summarized briefly on the relevant wikipedia page. I was way too young when I read it, and it seriously freaked me out. Still does, but probably more because I remember how scared I was then.

I think they should weigh the person with their bags. Just saying.

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Originally Posted by j44ke

I think they should weigh the person with their bags. Just saying.

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I completely expect to be weighed using my method. Charge me by weight, and also get my dosing correct...

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Originally Posted by j44ke

I think they should weigh the person with their bags. Just saying.

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Me too! I am just over 100 lbs and I have sat next to many people who weigh more than I do, with my bags. It would be one of the few times where being small would be a bonus.

You know there's an organization out there that is actively pursuing just the opposite -- that people who take up two seats are still *one* person and should only be charged as one person.

NAAFA. Scary stuff.

For me the carryon and personal item are about the destination speed. In some international airports, I go from gate to car in 10 minutes. I have pre-check, global entry and their international variants like easy pass rtp in Germany. The reason I put the Dopp kit in my backpack lately is I seem to be winning the SSSSpecial screening on my return to the US. Once on the ticket but for the last four times in a row the third country national decides I am enough of an arse to warrant it. Thus, even with precheck and everything else the fluids have to come out.
I thought about putting my backpack inside my luggage as there is usually plenty of room. But I wasn't too keen on putting it next to all my clothes after it has been sitting in an airline seat footwell.
As far as carryon amounts go I agree. I can do a month out of my carryon fine. The departure and arrival loading and unloading of the passengers is the worst part of air travel. Even internationally people carryon more than they should -- if you can't put your bag in the overhead bin and get _completely_ out of the aisle in 5 seconds you brought too much or need to board with the feeble and elderly. The airlines also screwed this up by letting people with credit cards board early, as that means someone in the front row coach aisle is the first to get on, and holds up the line as they figure out how to get their huge bag, inspector gadget trenchcoat, umbrella, body-bag personal item, and stray cat into the overhead for 5 minutes. This is also the same person who will want to head toward the rear of the plane as we disembark to get the cello they stored in the back. Priority boarding generally works for those with frequent flier status as they have done it a few times and usually can get on and sit down.

Precheck is equally bad as now it seems to have made its way to many people for whatever reason. I am ready to go through security by the time I am at the security station. In front of me the passenger from before doesn't know what goes on and what goes off. They brought a tub of crisco with them and want to argue whether it is a solid, liquid, or gel. They took their shoes off but forget to take their keys out of their pocket.

I am all for inexperienced travelers flying -- but just don't cut them to the front of the line. I'll often fly on an itinerary where I go Europe->USA Hub->regional airport.

As far as being drugged to your destination: the three b's apply: booze, benedryl, and business class. Even without business class I can generally sleep most of the flight as long as I have a window seat. My 12 your flight from Munich to LA in the coach aisle seat, however, was torture. Between the big bottomed flight attendants and everyone needing to touch, grab, and shake every aisle seat as they walk to the bathroom -- I didn't sleep at all.

As far as bags go -- the Airporter from WaterField seems optimal -- but I still want something more like a backpack when I grab a bike to get somewhere. The best solution for the dangly straps I have found are the USWE "no more dancing monkey" straps: USWE Race Harness Instructions - YouTube I just want to see them on something a little more useful/professional that retains the top "hanging loop" for j-hook attachment and all-black.

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Originally Posted by taylorj

Me too! I am just over 100 lbs and I have sat next to many people who weigh more than I do, with my bags. It would be one of the few times where being small would be a bonus.

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We can just end the passenger charade in economy, and just treat the people like the cargo they are. Use the UPS model and charge per lb. We can have separate planes for business and first.

Works for me.

RyanAir had been contemplating an all-standing configuration, in which case I would imagine that it would be somewhat easier to deal with passengers of different widths. Or, to create a designated fatties section.

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Originally Posted by Two

but I still want something more like a backpack when I grab a bike to get somewhere.

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As I mentioned already, I think Goruck is not a bad consideration. Personally, when I travel with a bike, I use a surplus Norther Ireland patrol pack. 30 litres is within the limit of the stricter airlines, waterproof, robust, has a variety of pockets, and fits all sorts of stuff I don't want to check in, such as shoes and helmet. Of course, it is camo rather than black, but you can find one in a lightly used condition for not much more than 20 pounds. And, yes, it's got some dangly bits, but you can just cut them off: it's not like you're going to make a dash for the bunkers wearing it.

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Originally Posted by Chik

And, yes, it's got some dangly bits, but you can just cut them off: it's not like you're going to make a dash for the bunkers wearing it.

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I wrote to the dudes I bought all my ruck mods for when I did dash bunkers with a ruck and asked if there was anything newer than the 100MPH tape I used back then (tactical tailor). They wrote back with these: https://www.amazon.com/ITW-Web-Domin.../dp/B005IAAZUC which look good at being able to still adjust the straps and quickly roll them up, without the excess webbing popping out like it does on the elastic style keepers. Now to find the right model...

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Originally Posted by Two

I wrote to the dudes I bought all my ruck mods for when I did dash bunkers with a ruck and asked if there was anything newer than the 100MPH tape I used back then (tactical tailor). They wrote back with these: https://www.amazon.com/ITW-Web-Domin.../dp/B005IAAZUC which look good at being able to still adjust the straps and quickly roll them up, without the excess webbing popping out like it does on the elastic style keepers. Now to find the right model...

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OK, I did make a dash once... to the train station, thinking I might miss the TGV from Paris to Turin... only to realise that I still have half an hour. :)

I typically use and absolutely love my Goruck GR1. Big fan of the Mystery Ranch Urban Assult too