Ever since getting diagnosed with LADA Type 1 Diabetes, I have been on the hunt for a tote I could use as a personal item that would optimize the allowance for a personal item when flying. I bought the Beis East to West tote and I have used it on two trips so far, and I love it.

When it comes to luggage I want certain features but I don’t want it to have more features than I want. When luggage has too many compartments that I personally would not utilize, it can actually make it more difficult to pack and stay organized.

The bag is made of a durable material that is easy to clean. It measures at 17.13″ W x 14.17″ H x 9.06″ D. TSA doesn’t have restrictions for personal items as it has more to do with the specific airline. Generally as long as your personal item can fit under the seat in front of you, it’s not going to cause a problem. Both of the trips I used this bag for I flew in basic economy on United Airlines and did not have a problem fitting it under the seat in front of me.

There is a pocket in the front exterior of the bag that is the perfect size for a small wallet, passport, and phone. It’s nice to have easy access to those items when I’m in the airport and going through TSA.

On the inside of the bag there is a zip closure pocket that is perfect to stick some snacks into. The bag has two water bottle pockets. As someone that always travels with my Larq water bottle I love to have a pocket for it so it’s not rolling around in the bottom of my bag and it’s easy to get out. There is also a padded pocket inside the bag that would be perfect for any size laptop or tablet. I personally don’t travel with a laptop or tablet but I have been using that pocket for in flight entertainment stuff, like a book, my airpods, and charging cables.

Once I have packed everything I mentioned above, I still have plenty of space in the bag to pack other items. The bag has three different straps so you can carry it however you want and it does contain a slot in the back so you can slide it over a roller bag handle.