Wirecutter's Top Picks for The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags

$190 to $400+. ...WOW

Not sure if this is a legitimate post or perhaps, financially benefiting from clicks.

Meanwhile, I have my eye on a 30 liter roll-top pack on Amazon for a whopping $33.
However, I just bought a new underseat bag for $60 on Amazon.

It doesn't appear that cost is a consideration in their evaluation!

Based on Utility/cost, a paper bag would come out ahead of any of their picks.

I have been following a travel magazine on my Apple News feed and I feel like all of the articles are just lists of purchases you can make on Amazon. Rarely do they present any real knowledge and there are so many of these empty articles I feel fatigued. Am I the only one who feels like they are caught up in one huge shopping bag scam? Maybe I need to disconnect for a while ...

Lavandula

Maybe all of you do. Does anyone remember mom saying “if you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all”? I was just trying to be helpful. I’ll think twice about posting next time.

Wanderlust58, don't take it personally. I apologise if I offended you. The onus is on me to avoid shopping posts, not on you to avoid posting them.

Lavandula

Wanderlust58, any information is useful or at least interesting. Thank you. I learned a bit more on how the other half lives. No way I could spend an entire goat on a bag.

Wirecutter is owned by the New York Times, which is a legitimate newspaper. They don't just pick stuff out of the air and throw it on a website. They have dedicated staff members who test everything, and that's how they make the recommendations.

They do use affiliate links on some of the recommendations, but they don't recommend something just because they get a commission. For example, I was looking up something one day on Wirecutter, and the top pick was a product found at Costco, where they don't get a commission. It's somewhat similar to Consumer Reports (and FWIW, Consumer Reports has also started posting affiliate links).

Generally, I've been very happy with things that I bought based on their recommendations.

Wanderlust58

I do not see any comments as being critical of you for posting the article, just commentary on the article and how practical some of their choices are.

Please don't be offended. For me it was a " so that's how the other half lives" ( the 1% ers?)

My under seat bag is a $40 Eddie Bauer bag I bought on a 50% off sale.

IME, The Wirecutter staff never consider the weight of the bag unless it's a travel backpack. I mean, 6lbs for an underseat roller bag is heavy. And yeah, these prices are very high!

Mardee,
Thank you for your input about wirecutter.
The problem I often see with various lists is that the target group seems to be primarily business men.
I encourage travelers to write down their own personal criteria for luggage selection.

For example - water resistance, light weight, backpack or roller, etc., are among my criteria.
Wanderlust58 - for some reason, the numbers of posts you contributed was not listed at the top. Usually, single posts are red flags on this forum. Further down in the comments, your posts are listed.

I just looked up a few random questions on the forum. I just learned that no one’s posting record is listed in the question/topic area. Oooops! My bad. I apologize.

I have seen red flags on some postings.

Folks. the first bag is sold by a company that has "made in San Francisco" at the top of their website. Want a made in the U.S. bag, bike, watch, maple syrup? It'll cost you in quality of materials and labor. The write-up expressly admits that the bag is expensive but is well made. Doesn't mean I'm running out and buying one, but I did bother to try to determine why they'd include it on their list.

OP, thank you for sharing.

Keep in mind the audience the NY Times Wirecutter is trying to reach. Mostly younger, urban, upper middle class who care about names. At least in their bag reviews. (If this isn't you, don't start getting mad. This is their target audience but they do reach others.)

I used to review bags and travel accessores. I would get quite a few things from Waterfield and their products were well made.

As stated, Waterfield, like Tom Bihn and Red Oxx, carry higher price tags because they are made in the US. But, they are also very well made.

I personally don't like these "best bag" reviews. It's all subjective. Did they really test every bag? Probably not.

Buy a bag that meets your needs not one that someone else suggested is best. (Unless, of course, being trendy is important.)

As for me, I'm still using a five year old Samsonite spinner and just got a new Ecohub backpack off Amazon for my personal Item. It cost about $35. It works just fine. Is it perfect? No. But it does what I need and I found ways around the negatives.

@FrankII,
I want to add that men are the target group for these bags. Not older women who are shorter than 5’6.”
I could not carry at least half of those bags. I could use the travel pro roller. I need a roller or backpack. No shoulder or cross body heavy bags for me.

Also, many bags are designed for computers now - a feature I do not need or desire.

Wanderlust

I bought a Briggs in Riley carry-on several years ago

I still think it was a good choice for me as much as I travel and as well as as it’s held up

No, well yes, sort of. Mostly its a lack of good communication skills or poor humor ... or just a lack of goats. I would say 96% did not intend to offend and 4% are receiving therapy.

Carol,
Briggs and Riley makes good cases. While not my thing, I do respect B&R.

I’m stuck between two conflicting thoughts here. On one hand, I’m a firm believer in the "buy it for life" philosophy. Coming from backpacking, I appreciate the craftsmanship of cottage industry makers and dislike buying disposable junk. I value the soul of a handmade item — and the labor behind it — over a factory machine.

On the other hand, I can’t help but feel like Wirecutter is trapped in a NYC bubble. It’s hard to tell if these prices reflect genuine, long-term quality or if they are just a byproduct of a reviewer's perspective where a $400 bag is seen as a standard entry-point. There's a difference between paying for quality and paying for fashion luxury.

But I'm not traveling in the same manner and I'm probably not the target audience. I'm not traveling for business, not testing gear, and I'm content with my Osprey bag.

VAP,
Osprey is a long standing industry standard. I believe Osprey is ethical in its business practices.
Make your own criteria and do what works for you!
We are spoiled for choice. That’s why having your own filters for purchase is best.
NYC is not a bad thing. It’s whether it’s the right choice for you personally.

I got trashed royally for admitting that I bought a Briggs in Riley carry-on several years ago

I think that some folks where jealous of your bag choice.

"...4% are receiving therapy."

James, all they need is a couple of cold ones at the Dixie Chicken and every thing will be okay!

Everyone is going to have their own choice in bags and what they wish to pay. My wife and I stopped even thinking about bags, after we acquired a couple of Tom Bihn bags. We acquired them for their sturdiness, warranty and because our daughter raved about them.

Ed,
Where is the Dixie Chicken? Sounds like a store in my county. I agree.
3 criticisms that I think are legit are weight, water resistance, and dimensions.
Airlines are particular about weight and dimensions. I am particular about water resistance.
All else is up in the air. Expensive luggage - look at TUMI or any “fashion” brand like Gucci.

I try the opposite of fashion. My luggage looks like it’s not worth stealing. If it gets lost - I just hope it’s at the end of the trip.

Where is the Dixie Chicken?

It is a watering hole right by the Texas A&M campus. Mr É is a proud alumnus of the university as are our daughter and son-in-law. They all bleed maroon!

Sun Baked, your points are good. What I think gets missed a lot of times is focusing on exactly what you are putting in the bag. Both my wife and I have come to the point that less is better in your bag. Now getting there is the struggle!

We have a Winn-Dixie (grocery chain) and Maryland Chicken (chicken - still need to try).
Our local watering hole is called ... Watering Hole.