As recommended by readers of Electric Speed
- For everyday & travel: Baggallini w/RFID protection: lightweight, durable, numerous pockets, good value for money. Frequently on sale. My favorite bag for traveling with my camera & use as a purse: ThinkTank lightweight, lots of pockets & rain protective cover. —Barb Magera
- I recently used a SCOTTeVEST Featherweight travel vest. I love its versatily and ability to hold stuff while keeping both hands (and shoulders!) free. —Mike Palanski
- I just purchased a Baggu Cloud carry-on after admiring the one my friend has been using. It is light and packs into a pouch. You can easily use it for a weekend get away. —Sandy Reynolds
- I swear by Longchamp as a go-to travel bag brand. I had an apple green tote for 10 years before I gave it away. It was indestructible going from plane to place to the wash and back. —Kristen Fiani
- My purse/briefcase or under-the-seat bag is the O.G. 2 by Lo & Sons. I tend to get the large size. After one of the women in my work circle got one, it became the go-to for a group of us who travel frequently. I even slip one of their smaller Waverly bags inside that I can pull out and use as a crossbody or even a belt bag. Can’t recommend highly enough. And for a new experiment, I’m trying Nomad Lane’s Bento Bag—stay tuned for the reviews, but I really like the clamshell-style opening and multiple sections for a combination over-nighter and
briefcase. —Kate Mcenroe
- Tom Bihn Small Cafe bag (they also have medium and large). My daily bag is the Baggalini Triple Zip Bagg. —Deborah Robson
- Oh man, I loved Overland travel purses. When I went to replace my last one, I discovered they don't exist anymore! However, Travelon purses come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, many of which have the large number of organizing pockets I'm looking for. I ended up with the Classic Mini Shoulder Bag. —Abigail Welborn
- Reisenthel Shopper e1: super-sturdy, light, expandable, foldable polyester zip-top shoulder tote. Large enough for my laptop and other essentials, it “fits easily in the seat in front of me” and is going strong after 10 years. —Cynthia Penney
- I love the Foldie as an extra light travel bag. It folds down to a small pouch so you can take it with you in your suitcase to use during the day or as an extra bag, should you buy a lot of things. But I find it most useful when I have a carry-on suitcase and you can only take one other item. When I board, I put my small pack (for things I will need on the plane) and my purse in the Foldie which hooks right onto the handle of my suitcase. —Elizabeth Winthrop
- I’m a travel writer and i regularly visit off the beaten track spots as well as cities in Europe. I take a sling bag (your basic belt bag/fanny pack) where I put my essentials, and have a larger North Face holdall for everything else. It feels indestructible. In European cities these days, roller suitcases announce you’re a tourist at a thousand paces, add unnecessary noise and look naff. I’m much happier with a holdall. —Laura Hall
- I always bring along a waist pouch (aka fanny pack) when I travel because I like having my arms free, and I dislike straps on my shoulders. If I am traveling with my husband, it's even better because he'll wear his Patagonia backpack if I ever need something more than a waist pouch. He never minds the backpack; after having hiked the entire AT, a smaller travel backpack is nothing for him! Recently, though, I decided to simplify my everyday handbag/purse because I was tired of carrying around so much stuff, so I purchased a Baggallini Modern Everywhere Mini to actually use daily, and I love it! —Angela L Eckhart
- Vera Bradley’s mini hipster: This is the only bag I travel with. The wallet is built right in to the front. You have plenty of room for necessities and my phone is always in the back pocket. Crossbody shoulder strap, the only way to go. —Tonya Pember
- I travel a ton and I really like my new Wander+ Anti-Theft Travel Bag. I recently took it with me on a trip to Australia. It was very lightweight (unlike Baggalini products), had room for all my daily essentials, and I love the hidden passport pocket. Highly recommend. —Megan E. Freeman
- We just got back from 13 days in Europe, and I am so glad I took my Longchamp Le Pliage Original M Tote bag. I've had it for 14 years, which is a testament to the quality of the product. The bag is foldable and takes up little space in my carry-on during flights. Once I arrive at my destination, it is lightweight and spacious enough for all my day tripping needs. This bag has been to all across the United States as well as Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand. I'll get another when the time comes, although I found out recently I can have the bag repaired for life at Longchamp. —Jennifer Kelly
- I've fallen in love with Healthy Back Bags, sold in the US under AmeriBags. They have a nice range of sizes and the bags have pockets on the inside, allowing you to organize your stuff. There's also a zippered section inside that I use for keeping passports and other documents secure. Outside pockets are secured with either magnets or zippers, and there's a pouch on the spine that holds a glasses case or water bottle. I have four now and will never go back to a regular purse! Amazing while traveling, fantastic for running around town. —Stacy Stapleton
- I actually bought the Nordace Siena bag (heavily advertised on Instagram) after finally seeing one in person. It's been my go-to commute and travel backpack, because it has pockets for everything. —Heather Button
- I bring two bags with me when I travel: one's a bigger bag that holds all my electronics and things I'll need when I'm on the bus and plane (currently I'm trialling the Aer Travel Pack 2 and the Alpaka Bravo Sling Max v2) and the other's my Bellroy Sling, which goes into either of the bag. At my destination, I'll take out the Bellroy and use that for whatever I need when on the go. This allows me to keep necessities in easy reach at all times (like my battery pack, hand sanitizer, earbuds etc) without needing to worry about losing them in the clothes bag. —Patricia P.
- When I travel I carry a Baggalini satchel, an oversized narrow bag that fits my laptop, papers, Moleskine calendar, a small crossbody purse, book to read and/or my Kindle. Convenient pockets for a water bottle, oversized sunglasses, credit cards, essential cables, food and/or snacks. It is lightweight nylon and fits under the seat in front of me on the plane and has both handles and a sturdy over-the-shoulder strap. —Sharon Bader
- Tom Binh medium cafe bag (there's also a small version or an Everyday Cubelet for very small). Add a Freudian slip if you like, it's a fantastic insert. They're washable & they come in various colors. —Meg Mahoney