# The Underseat Bag Most Travelers Regret Buying (Duffel vs Backpack vs Roller)

**Channel:** Aly Smalls
**Source:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2mQWGqlTAE
**Transcript page:** https://www.withtranscript.ai/video/c2mQWGqlTAE

## Chapters

- 0:00 — Choosing the Right Personal Item
- 2:30 — Packing Test Across Three Bags
- 9:05 — Carrying Comfort and Travel Use
- 14:19 — Under-Seat Functionality Compared
- 17:31 — Final Recommendations and Wrap-Up

## Transcript

**[0:00]:** When it comes to choosing a personal item for your next flight, you basically have three choices. A duffel or tote style, a backpack, or something with wheels. So in this video, I want to talk about which style might be best for you so that you don't end up with something that just doesn't work for the way that you travel. So we'll compare all the features and functionality of each type of bag and who they're best suited for in terms of real world use cases and scenarios for when you're actually traveling. And to do that, I'll be comparing three bags from Nomad Lane. The Bento Bag, the Bento Backpack, and the Bento Underseat Roller. So if you've been waiting for a deep dive into how these compare, we'll cover all of that, especially the packing portion. Also, this is not a sponsored video. Nomad Lane doesn't know that I'm making it, but a lot of you have been asking for a head-to-head test.

**[1:02]:** And I think having three bags from the same line is a good way to show more of an accurate comparison. This is truly like the best control group for testing because they're essentially the same bag but just configured a little differently. So even if you're not considering one of their bags, but you're still trying to decide between a duffel, a backpack, and a roller, I think you'll still come away knowing the pros and cons of each style and which type makes the most sense for the way that you travel. Okay, so the first thing you want to consider is what job does your personal item need to do and how will you be using it? So it might be a flight essentials bag alongside your carry-on suitcase. It might be the bag that stays with you after checking your luggage, meaning you might want to throw a few extra things in there in case your suitcase gets lost.

**[1:54]:** Maybe you're a bit of an overpacker, so you need that extra packing space that makes carry-on only possible. You might want something that would hold everything you need as your only piece of luggage if you don't want to pay to bring a full carry-on. Or maybe you're looking for a personal item bag that could be both your flight essentials bag when you have a main carry-on and then have it play double duty as your only luggage for a shorter trip. And to help you figure that out, let's do a packing test to see how much each of these bags fit, especially because they all have a similar capacity.

**[2:30]:** All right, so I've put together what would be a typical pack out of flight essentials, including comfort items, a few toiletries, tech items, snacks, and some clothing to see how they compare. And inside this little clear pouch, I've got some hydrating masks, body wipes, nasal diffusers, hand sanitizer, lotion and lip balm, sunscreen, throat spray, eye drops, and Vaseline. So these are all the things I'd want to use on the flight. And then I've packed a tech pouch with my chargers, cables, Bluetooth connector, and earbuds. So I'm just going to move everything so I can get packing. And then I forgot that I have this little pouch. I always pack a small pharmacy kit that would have things like Band-Aids, electrolytes, some Advil, and some anti-bloating pills, and Tums, and Pepto. All right, we're starting with the Bento bag. And this is the side that I like to pack first.

**[3:32]:** On the bottom, I put things that I won't necessarily need access to during my flight. So I usually put my extra outfit in here. And as the top layer, I'll put things that I will use. So things like my book, flight slippers, maybe an extra sweater, and my travel pillow. And this is the side I can access from the top zipper, which is why I packed this half the way I did.

**[3:59]:** Then I'll slide my laptop in. Then on the other side, I have an extra pair of shoes. I'm also putting a sling bag in here and some snacks, sunglasses, and a cork massager ball. Then I make one tech pocket and I'll put in my tech pouch, selfie stick, and travel adaptor. In the other pouch is my little amenity pouch with my steam mask, my hydration and comfort items, and tissues.

**[4:26]:** In the front admin pocket, I'll put my passport, Lysol wipes, little hand wipes, and my compression socks. And then I can either clip my little pharmacy pouch to the side or there's also room inside the bag. Now, I could squeeze a little more into this bag, but this is about the size that I like to keep it just in case I need to squish it to fit into a sizer or under the seat. This gives me some room to play with. And this would be pretty typical of what you would pack in a personal item. So for the weigh test, it weighed 6.6 kg or 14.6 lbs. Now, you could also pack this a lot lighter. I had a book in here and a pair of jeans. So if you use a Kindle or you don't pack a book and you don't pack bulky jeans, that would cut down the weight significantly.

**[5:16]:** Now, we'll pack everything into the backpack. As you can see, the pocket setup is a little different, so we'll see if everything fits just like it did in the Bento. So I'm starting with this side and I'll do the same thing where I pack the items that I need less access to at the bottom, like my extra pair of shoes and outfits. And then just stack it in order of what I would use on the plane. I also like that I can open up this backpack flat to pack it, but then unzip it from the top to reach down into. So here I was able to fit everything, but I left out the blue sweater. I'm going to put that on the other side as well as the sling bag. Then I place the laptop in the padded sleeve. And now I 'm packing the tech pouch, which holds the same things as the Bento bag, and then my comfort items pouch along with a steam mask and pack of tissues.

**[6:08]:** Then in the front admin pocket, I'll put my passport, Lysol wipes, and then filling the remaining pouches with all the other items that I'd probably want to grab, like my pharmacy pouch, socks, snacks, hand wipes, and sunglasses. So with it all packed, I still have some room to squish down if needed, but it was feeling a little uneven, so I decided to open it up and remove one of the shoes to place it on the other side, and that balanced it out much better. Again, I could fit a little more in here, but this leaves me some wiggle room. And altogether, it weighs 14.7 lbs or 6.7 kg, so pretty much the same as the bento bag. Now for the bento roller, as you can see, the exterior is a little more flat compared to the others and not as many pockets, so I was curious to see how this would pack up in comparison to the

**[6:58]:** other two. So once again, for packing, I really do like the two wide open sides, but I will say I had to be a little more strategic in the order I packed everything to have access to my items. So what I've done is basically put anything I don't need as much access to at the bottom and then working my way up to the top of the bag, and you'll see that I've split accessible things into both halves and kept them near the top. And I actually really like how flat and organized everything did fit this way. I would say packing wise, the fit was much better than the first two bags. I decided to leave out the accessory pouch that you can buy for this roller and just use the other two pouches for the most comparable packing test. So I've added my laptop in here and then I packed my passport, steam masks, and Lysol wipes in the front pocket, so basically anything kind of flat and rectangular.

**[7:50]:** Then I placed the accessory pouches and the tissues and wipes in the separated compartment. Because basically what I was thinking was that when I'm on the flight, if I was pulling the bag out from underneath the seat in front of me, it would open up like this, and then I could just easily grab the pouches as well as the few small items that I had underneath. Everything fit pretty well this way, and so I think this would be pretty functional on the plane. So now we have that compartment figured out. I did have a few more smaller items that I hadn't found the perfect spot for yet. So I opened up the bag and rearranged a few things on each side, and everything fit great. Now all packed up, it holds everything the same as the other two bags, and once again, it isn't bulging too much.

**[8:35]:** This is also unexpanded, so you would actually have more room in here if you chose to use the expansion. And it weighs 7.8 kg or 17.2 lbs. So almost 3 lbs heavier than the other two bags. So as far as the packing test goes, I can confirm that they all hold the same amount of items. There isn't one that's significantly smaller or bigger in capacity, but using the expansion on the roller would give you several more inches of room.

**[9:05]:** I still maintain that my favorite pack out is using the Bento bag as it's the easiest to pack for usability on the plane and in the airport or if it's sitting on your lap maybe while you're on a bus ride or a train ride. But if you want to carry it, the backpack still functions pretty close as far as usability. And I do think that because it opens up clamshell style, it gives you the freedom and flexibility to choose how you want to pack. This is also really good when you have to unpack and repack if you're moving around a lot. Now with the roller, I will say that I haven't used it as much as the other two. So I am thinking the more I use it, the more I would find that sweet spot as far as how to pack everything. But I think I really like the system of using the two pouches for easy grabbing instead of the larger accessory pouch.

**[9:56]:** And I think the roller would be better suited as more of a dual function bag where you're using it as your only piece of luggage for shorter trips as well as being able to use it as a personal item for longer trips. So honestly, they're all pretty close in capacity, but another important piece to think about is what it's like to actually carry it around and use it, both while you're at the airport and when you're on your actual trip itself. Let's start with the duffel style. Now, my favorite function of this style of bag is how easy it is to pick up and grab, to keep beside you, and to get into. You don't have to take it off your back every time that you need something. With the original Bento, I can set it down beside me and it stays upright on its own, or I can keep it on top of my carry-on and easily access all the pockets and compartments while I'm just standing

**[10:53]:** in line at the gate or somewhere in the airport. It's right beside me at my hip. But once you start adding a laptop, your chargers, some toiletries, maybe a few pieces of clothing, that weight adds up. So you do need to determine if you will actually have to carry it for any length of time. For example, if you're going to be using a roller carry-on, it can sit on top of that suitcase, so you don't need to worry about carrying it on your shoulder or cross body. But if you are checking your luggage or if there's a chance that you'll be forced to gate check your carry-on, you will be hauling it on your shoulder. For me, I usually travel with a carry-on, and for the odd occasion that I do check a bag, I find that I'm only ever walking through an airport for maybe 15 minutes at a time.

**[11:42]:** So having a bag on my shoulder has been manageable. Now, that leads us to the backpack, which some of you might prefer. The backpack helps with two big things. It distributes the weight across your shoulders, and it also keeps your hands free. Having your hands free when you're traveling is very nice. For air travel though, there is the on and off part that you have to consider when you use a backpack. Personally, I find it less convenient to use a backpack for things like accessing my passport, my phone, boarding pass, or anything I might have to constantly grab and then put away. Because you do have to swing it around to your front and then I find that you basically need both hands at this point to, you know, one to hold the backpack and the other one to open up the pockets. Compared to having a tote or a duffel style like the Bento bag just kind of like right in front of you or right beside you within arms reach at all times.

**[12:41]:** However, this could be a me thing though. Like I'm pretty short, so my arms are also pretty short. So maybe this isn't relevant to those of you who have a larger wingspan, but it is something that makes a difference for you petite travelers out there. However, when you are out of the airport and actually traveling on your trip, a backpack can be really useful when you're moving around a lot. Like if you're changing hotels every couple of days, maybe those hotels don't always have elevators, so you're having to walk up a few flights of stairs or maybe you're doing some train travel or taking ferries. I actually used this backpack earlier this year on a 27-day trip through Ireland and Portugal. So we not only had lots of hotel changes, but there was also a lot of bus travel and some shorter flights and I did really like the backpack functionality.

**[13:33]:** And one last benefit to using a backpack is that in my experience, backpacks are the most inconspicuous type of personal item. Like when it's on your back, people just notice it less and because this one is black, it visually hides bulk even more, kind of like how black clothes look a little more slimming. So when I had this thing absolutely stuffed to the max, it didn't look overly huge and no one has ever made me check it in a sizer. Then we've got the roller option. The benefit here is that you're not carrying any of the weight on you. You're rolling it. So for any of you who don't want to risk having to carry your smaller bag on your shoulder or on your back, then I think you definitely want to consider something with wheels.

**[14:19]:** Now let's go over which type of bag is best for actually using on your flight. So the whole point of all three styles of these bags is that they can slide under the seat. I've traveled with each of them under the seat and there are some big differences. When you have this duffel style, you can easily pull it out and quickly grab everything you need at any time from the top of the bag. That's what I do particularly like about the Bento bag. And in my opinion, out of all three, I think it's the better choice for actual usability on the plane. But even if you're not interested in the Bento but are considering a different style of duffel or tote bag, being able to reach straight into the top can be convenient. But if everything has kind of settled down into just one big pile, you might be digging around for what you need.

**[15:11]:** So that's why I do like the Bento compared to something like a weekender bag. Now using a backpack under the seat also functions a little differently. And this is in regards to the straps. So you're going to have to choose to either lay your backpack straps down on the ground so that the pockets are accessible and facing you or you turn the bag upside down so that you don't have the straps resting on the dirty floor. But that makes accessing the zippers and pockets a little more inconvenient. Of course, you could always lay down a plastic bag first as a barrier if you're worried about the dirty floor. Now when you do go to grab things from your backpack mid-flight, I would say you definitely want one that has lots of pockets, but also pockets that are accessible from the exterior of the bag. A lot of backpacks out there are just one large compartment with maybe one or two exterior pockets.

**[16:05]:** So that's what is nice about this version is that there are four individual pockets plus one larger pocket that spans the whole depth of the bag. So what I like to do is use those five pockets for things that I will need reach for mid-flight. And then I like the clamshell design because anything I'm just planning to transport, but not actually use on my travel day, like sometimes I pack extra shoes or a hair tool or extra clothes, I can just easily organize and pack everything up because of the clamshell design. And that brings us to the roller. Function-wise, you want to find something that easily opens from the top when you slide it out to grab something. Now, this Bento roller has a smaller separate zip compartment for this, but the larger compartments aren't really easily accessible. And this is compared to something like maybe the Travel Pro style, which has been around for a long time and the whole front unzips.

**[17:03]:** Another thing to remember is that anything with wheels is going to make the bag bigger and a little less squishible. So I would say there's always a risk that it might not fit under the seat. If that's the case and you do have to pop it into the overhead bin, what I would do is pack yourself a plain pouch, which would be all the little items that you'd want to have at your seat as soon as you sit down. Just pack this at the top of your bag and then you can easily grab it and stow away your larger bag.

**[17:31]:** Okay, so now that we've considered the functionality, let's talk about which bag would be best for you. So I would say if you usually bring a roller carry-on and you want easy access to your things and only need to carry your personal item for short stretches, I would definitely lean towards the Bento bag or some sort of tote style, maybe a weekend or style of bag. That's where this style really makes the most sense to me. It can sit on your suitcase throughout your airport travels. You can get into it really easy without taking anything off your back and I find it's the easiest out of all three of these to use on the flight. Personally, I really do like the Bento bag in this particular category because I haven't found another bag that matches this amount of like well thought-out organization. If your trips involve a lot more moving around, I would probably lean towards a backpack.

**[18:25]:** you're going to be doing a lot of hotel changes, stairs, lots of trains, ferries, or walking between transportation and your accommodation, this is where being able to put your bag on your back and keep your hands free and available can make your whole setup easier. And the Béis backpack makes sense if you want that functionality with suitcase style packing and a more polished look rather than like a sportier, outdoorsy looking backpack. It now also comes in a nice violet color as well as blue. And finally, if carrying the weight is the thing that you're trying to avoid, then I would lean towards the under seat roller. But if you also regularly check your luggage and don't restrict yourself to carry-on, then this is the perfect bag to bring. Or honestly, you could use this as your actual carry-on and still bring a different personal item bag, like maybe a backpack.

**[19:21]:** Because this would still give you up to about 50 L of packing space, and then you never have to worry about an oversized carry-on because this is going to fit in all the small regional jet overhead bins. And then you can still have a personal item bag at your feet. And if you're someone who can't lift bags into the overhead compartment, a bag like this is probably going to give you a little more packing flexibility if you pair this with a smaller checked bag. Now, if I had to choose one, like if one of you doesn't have any of these and you just really want one of them, if I had to choose one, personally, I would choose the original Béis bag. And if you're interested in any of these bags, there's actually a great sale on right now. The Béis bags are 20% off and the backpack is 18% off.

**[20:11]:** So if you want to check out any of these bags, I've put the links to them in the description below the video. Or if you're watching on your TV, you can just scan the QR code. And one last note, I want to say that if current bag already does everything you need, you might not need a new one because you are allowed to admire something without purchasing it. If you're still trying to make a decision between any of these, drop your questions, your comments in the comments below. I'll try to answer as many as I can. I would also love to hear your thoughts on all of these or if there's something else to consider that I didn't share in the video. That's going to be all for this video. Thank you so much for watching and we'll see you in the next one.