6 Pieces of Personal Item Luggage That Make Great Day Bags

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

After interning at SmarterTravel, Ashley joined the team full time in 2015. She's lived on three continents, but still never knows where her next adventure will take her. She's always searching for upcoming destination hotspots, secluded retreats, and hidden gems to share with the world.

Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A reusable filtered water bottle—it saves you money, keeps you hydrated, and eliminates waste—win-win."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

Travel Motto: "Travel light, often, and in good company."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window—best view in the house."

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On my constant quest for the “perfect” personal item—I’ve realized that it’s surprisingly hard to find something compact that fits all your carry-on essentials, so I researched and tested a variety of personal item luggage that can also function as your day bag when you hit the ground. Here are my top picks.

Travelon Anti-Theft Parkview Hobo Crossbody

Travelon’s line of anti-theft bags is a smart purchase for travelers, especially those traveling to destinations prone to pickpocketing. The Parkview Hobo Crossbody has an RFID-blocking pocket, zippered pockets, and slash-resistant panels. My favorite part? The interior LED-light key chain, so you can easily find those items that tend to go missing at the bottom of your bag.

MZ Wallace Travel Jimmy Tote

quilted tote bag personal item — Nordstrom

Travel-friendly brand MZ Wallace consistently makes stylish and practical personal luggage and the Travel Jimmy Tote is no exception. The mid-size tote bag comes with a cross-body strap and comfy tote handles, so you can carry it whichever way suits you best. The quilted plush material is crushable for packing purposes and weather-resistant, so you can count on it holding up wherever you go.

Dagne and Dover Landon Carryall

personal item black bag exterior and interior view — Dagne & Dover

Dagne and Dover’s Landon Carryall is my personal item of choice. I love the soft neoprene material—you can literally stuff this personal item to the brim and it will always close—and the stylish shape. Travelers can choose from a variety of colors and sizes, but the medium-size is the best-fitting for travel, especially if you’re traveling with electronics.

Away Daypack

With Away’s Daypack, the name says it all. With a laptop sleeve and a strap to slide the bag onto your rolling luggage, this backpack is a traveler’s best friend. Plus, the roomy interior and comfortable straps make it an ideal day bag for exploring new destinations.

Samsonite Encompass Convertible Backpack

Samsonite’s new Encompass Backpack isn’t just your typical personal item, it’s a business traveler’s dream backpack. You can fit all your working-on-the-road essentials, a spare change of clothes, and more. The bag can be carried as a backpack, cross-body, shoulder bag, or as a handheld.

HEX Terra Sneaker Backpack

backpack with pair of shoes and computer slot — HEX

HEX’s Terra Sneaker Backpack can hold a pair of shoes and laptops up to 17-inches. With two “device-ready” pockets, this unisex backpack is a useful personal item without the bulkiness, which makes it great to carry around as a day pack, too.

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Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.