The Perfect Wheeling Tote Bag

Last Updated on March 18, 2025

Update 2025: We no longer use the Delsey travel bag highlighted below. In what we call the bowling ball bag category, we each use a Travelpro Luggage Maxlite 5 Rolling Compact Carry on 2 Wheel Bag. the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Rolling Compact Carry On is now our perfect wheeling tote bag. As always, we don’t buy black luggage so it is easier to spot ours on the carousel.

While we love Travelpro, and recommend this bag for a carry on, we don’t use them anymore for our larger 21″ 4-wheeled bag. The handles of the larger bag flare out at the top making it difficult to slide the trolley sleeve of the smaller bag over it. This leaves you in the awkward position of fighting your luggage, often while trying to board a train or leave an Uber. Even Travelpro’s own bags with trolley sleeves don’t fit over the handle. This is an inexcusable design flaw which makes us wonder if the Travelpro designers actually travel. It’s a shame because we love Travelpro luggage but can’t buy the larger bags due to this major flaw but still recommend their two-wheeled compact carry on.

Note: The old post about the Delsey carry on appears below. The bag gave us many good years but it was time to change to a wheeling tote that was more squared off, most of which weren’t available when we purchased the Delsey bag as the industry hadn’t caught up to us.

Four years of constant travel have made me a stickler for luggage. During this entire time I’ve been on the search for the perfect wheeling tote bag, one that could hold my computer and a few other assorted accessories. I wanted something to supplement my standard 22” suitcase.

Ever since we started our nomadic life I’ve used a large shoulder tote from Baggalini for my computer. It’s been sturdy and reliable, and is okay when I strap it on to my suitcase to wheel about the airport. But when I check luggage I’m left with a heavy bag to slog around the airport on my shoulder. I needed something like my existing tote bag, but on wheels.

This Delsey rolling tote easily fits under an airplane seat

My list of requirements for the perfect wheeling tote bag was simple, but specific:

• 2 wheels, with a telescoping handle
• Large enough to hold my computer while it’s in a protective sleeve
• Small enough to fit under the average airplane seat
• Narrow enough to navigate airplane aisles easily
• Lightweight—no sense starting with a heavy bag, then adding more weight
• A large open compartment that could store virtually anything (note: there are many wheeling briefcases available, but the pockets are designed to store files. They don’t work if you’re looking to pack a camera, shoes or anything chunky.)
• A trolley sleeve—that simple strap on the back that allows you to slide the bag onto the handle of your main suitcase. (For those times I’m wheeling all my luggage around together.)

It took 3 years of research, but I finally found the perfect wheeling tote bag, the Delsey Quilted Rolling Underseat Tote. I’ve had a few of their bags in the past, and they are well-constructed and reliable, so I felt comfortable purchasing this one. The price–around $80 plus shipping from either Amazon or eBags– seemed reasonable.

It’s boxy enough to store a few chunky items, yet it still fits easily under an airplane seat (or in the overhead bin), so no tussling with the airlines about bringing it aboard. There’s a “portable office”-like set of pockets in front, which is handy for storing documents and work-related stuff, along with some outside pockets that give you easy access to a water bottle.

The quilting gives the bag a little protection against bumps (but I still wrap my computer securely—this isn’t marketed as a “shock-proof” bag). It has decent straps, which make it easy to lift, plus that all-important trolley sleeve for attaching to my suitcase

The trolley sleeve, which allows a bag to slide over the handle of a wheeled suitcase, is a MUST for any carry-on bag.

I purchased the bag a few months ago and have field-tested it on our 3-month trip through Europe. It has fit nicely under airplane seats and wheeled smoothly through airports, train terminals and city streets. It’s also lovely to not have a 20-pound weight hanging off my shoulder.

The bag has also worked well as an “overnighter” on the few occasions when we left our vacation rental for a quick trip. I can stow a change of clothes, a pair of shoes, my cosmetics and still have room for my computer.

It’s a bit heavier than my old reliable shoulder tote, but I rarely have to carry it for any distance. It’s either strapped to my other larger suitcase using the trolley sleeve, or I’m breezily pulling it behind me on it’s own two wheels.

It’s the perfect wheeling tote bag—I’m SO glad I’ve finally found it!

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Note: when Michael saw it he was so jealous he ordered one for himself. Fortunately it comes in dark colors that aren’t too “girlie” for his he-man sensibilities.

I purchased the perfect wheeling tote bag from Amazon.

Larissa and Michael are your typical middle-aged couple from Philadelphia who’ve been traveling the world full-time since 2011, seeking off-beat, historic and tasty sights. To receive our free quarterly newsletter with updates and valuable travel tips subscribe here.