Best Carry on Totes for International Travel

Woman at the airport

The style and colors could hold their very own appeal, and the room inside might accommodate any must-have purchase you care to name — but the best carry-on tote for international travel is only as good as your destination.

A two-night trip to Mexico City doesn’t require the same bag as the suite you’ve just sent ahead to Bangkok and don’t forget that its only purpose is to transport articles from point A to B.

The wearables are inside, not out, unless you’re into something you haven’t told us.

That isn’t to say we are out to spoil your fun. It offers any number of carry-on totes that fit both bills — form follows function and vice-versa, leaving you happy with your purchase and your totable items as unwilted as the day you brought them home. If you want to find the best carry-on tote for your international flight; please consider this list very, very brief.

RomWell Travel Duffel Bag

Despite its modest 17 x 12 x 6 dimensions and 1.45-lb. weigh-in, the RomWell Travel Duffel Bag is a workhorse, ideal for camping, travel, hiking or the beach. Reinforced handles and an adjustable strap ensure durability and convenience; if you’re planning on purchasing gifts or clothes, this is perfect for getting everything home.

Pockets accompany anything from your cell phone to documents, and a generous sleeve attaches to your rolling luggage.

5 Cities’ 16-Inch Carry-On Hand Luggage Flight Duffel Bag


The coolest thing about 5 Cities’ 16-Inch Carry-On Hand Luggage Flight Duffel Bag set isn’t that it’s a carry-on tote — it’s actually two. You get an under seat bag as well, and you have your choice of plum and black. Each item weighs only 1.1 lbs. and is designed specifically as size-approved by several major airlines.

There’s an adjustable shoulder strap and an extra lockable zip pocket up front for incidentals like tickets. One traveler said he packed two pairs of jeans, three thick long-sleeved shirts, two T-shirts, five pairs of socks, five pairs of boxer briefs, one pair of gym shorts and a bunch of sweets to take home from a four-city tour in the U.S. and U.K.

Travel & Carry On Tote Bag


Somehow, the folks at Bella Taylor outsmarted the airlines with their Travel & Carry On Tote Bag — apparently, the trick is in the width, which allows the bag to slide under the seat and still carry everything you can imagine. Pinks, blues, browns, reds, and oranges adorn an exterior which sports a canvas panel down the center, featuring Navy-stenciled “Legacy League” and “Established 1911” with a collegiate insignia.

Malirona Ladies Weekender Overnight Carry-on Shoulder Duffel Tote Bag


If you’re toting the Malirona Ladies Weekender Overnight Carry-on Shoulder Duffel Tote Bag, chances are you’re on your way to a rich countryside — such is the extent to which the beautiful 16 x 8 x 13 bag is adorned. Its black, green, red and yellow flowers make a statement about your fashion sense and where you’re headed.

Durable clips on both sides attach to each other, letting you contract the bag in the event of a trip on a smaller plane. In addition to generous pockets, you get a trolley sleeve that slips over the handle of your luggage, leaving your hands free as you tote it.

Samantha Brown Expandable Cabin Bag


One patron tells us that she recently received a Samantha Brown Expandable Cabin Bag as a gift — whereupon she immediately bought two more. That what you get when you add spinner wheels and an extra-long handle for easy maneuverability and get your choice of five awesome colors.

This one also comes with three lightweight cubes that fit inside to separate your belongings.

Steve Madden Carry-On Expandable Softside Suitcase


The Steve Madden Carry-On Expandable Softside Suitcase saves you money on the go — its lightweight construction is designed to avoid airline fees, and its 20-inch size qualifies it as a carry-on. Choices of colors (black, teal, gray and purple) won’t mar your fashion sense, and 360-degree spinner wheels enable mobility in crowded airports. Ergonomic handle grips allow for maximum control.

Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On with Back-Up Bag


The Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On with Back-Up Bag has an unusual shape — it’s domed, providing easy under seat access to its equally unusual water-bottle slot during flight. One traveler said it worked well for a two-week trip to Europe and that its secondary bag comes with its own strap.

Samsonite’s Spinner Underseater with USB Port


Fashion and form go together when Samsonite’s Spinner Underseater with USB Port is on board. Vivid blue, wine, and purple mark the beautiful 16 x 13 x 9 under seater, whose spinner wheels sit below an integrated USB port for charging smaller devices (charger not included). A sleeve on back lets this bag slip over most upright luggage.

Baggallini Rolling Tote Bag


The overlong handle is the dead giveaway to the functionality behind this Baggallini Rolling Tote Bag. Three zippered compartments (one padded) let you store your laptop, clothes, documents and more; what’s more, you can slide it over your suitcase handle for ease of maneuverability. The item’s 17 x 14.5 x 8 size meets TSA carry-on guidelines — and at 5 lbs. and 7 oz., it’ll give you no problem from terminal to terminal.

Jhonson R

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