Bellroy Tokyo Wonder Tote 12L

When you think about a personal item-sized bag for travel, you might not think about a tote. Well, we’re here to change that! The Bellroy Tokyo Wonder Tote 12L is small but mighty. Because of the size restraints of carrying a 12L tote, this likely won’t work for you as the only pack you’ll take on your trip. If you’re an ultralight packer, you might be able to make this work for a warm-weather trip. Still, it shines bright when paired with a carry on or checked bag, especially considering it has a luggage pass-through to accommodate telescopic handles. Plus, the top is zippered, so you don’t have to worry about your gear tumbling out when you put it under the seat in front of you, and there’s a dedicated laptop compartment and external pockets for goodies you want access to during the flight.

As a personal item-sized bag, this is one of the best performers on this list at the gate. It’s quite small, so it’ll work for almost all airlines. You can bring up to a 14-inch laptop, which is a solid feature considering the size of the tote. Regarding comfort, the straps are padded and have a grippy material to ensure the tote doesn’t fall off your shoulder as easily while carrying it. This isn’t as comfortable as some of the daypacks and travel backpack options on this list; however, it’s smaller and is great for daily carry once you arrive, depending on the trip. Load it up and take it to the beach, go to the local market and load up on produce, or enjoy the local library on an extended trip. When paired with a carry on, the world is your oyster!

Why We Like It

• It has grippy material on the straps to ensure it doesn’t slide off your shoulder
• You can stow a 14-inch computer inside, which is huge for a small tote

What You Should Know

• You likely won’t be able to fit all your clothing inside, making another pack necessary
• The luggage pass-through is a bit flimsy