I’ve been traveling a lot for events recently, and it made me realize something: as much as I love my luxury tote bags, they’re not always the most practical bags to bring to the airport.
They’re fine when they’re just your personal bag, but most of mine don’t even have zippers. And when you’re rushing through security, carrying your bag around, or constantly moving it from one place to another, having a zipper really makes a difference.
So I started looking for a more functional tote bag that I could actually use for traveling.
I wanted something lightweight and affordable, with plenty of pockets. A tote-style bag was still a must for me, but it also needed to fit under the airplane seat. Ideally, I also wanted a luggage pass-through so I could easily attach it to my suitcase.
After going through A LOT of options online, I narrowed my choices down to three bags: the Baggu Cloud Carry On, Baggu Small Cloud Carry On, and Beyond the Vines Carry All 03.
Here’s my comparison of the three, including the pros and cons, and why I eventually chose one over the others.
Baggu Cloud Carry On
Price: $78
Size: 13 ¾" H × 19 ¼" W × 7 ½" L
Weight: 567 grams
Material: Heavyweight nylon, 59% recycled
Pros
- Has 2 large exterior pockets
- The whole bag can be packed down into a detachable pouch
- Comes in several colors and patterns
- Has a trolley sleeve
- Has a legitimate reseller in the Philippines
- The reseller has a physical store in Manila
- Available through Lazada and Shopee via the reseller
Cons
- Cannot fit under the airplane seat when full, although the size is still okay for the overhead bin
- Doesn’t have a structured bottom, so it can get floppy when you put heavier things inside
- Can only be worn one way, as a shoulder bag
- Doesn’t have 2 side pockets
- Doesn’t have a dedicated laptop pocket
- Only has 1 pocket inside
The regular Cloud Carry On was actually one of the first bags I considered because I really liked how lightweight and spacious it is. The trolley sleeve and the fact that it can be folded into its own pouch are also big pluses for me.
The main dealbreaker was the size. Based on what I read from other users, it can be difficult to fit under the airplane seat, especially when the bag is full. Since fitting under the seat was one of my requirements, I started looking at the smaller version.
Baggu Small Cloud Carry On
Price: $72–$82, depending on the color or design
Size: 12.5" H × 16.5" W × 6.5" L
Weight: 510.3 grams
Material: Heavyweight nylon, 59% recycled
Pros
- Can fit under an airplane seat
- Has a laptop pocket that can fit up to a 16" laptop
- Has 2 large side pockets and 2 front exterior pockets
- The whole bag can be packed down into a detachable pouch
- Comes in several colors and patterns
- Has a trolley sleeve
- Has a legitimate reseller in the Philippines
- The reseller has a physical store in Manila
- Available through Lazada and Shopee via the reseller
Cons
- Doesn’t have a structured bottom, so it can get floppy when things get heavy
- Can only be worn one way, as a shoulder bag
- Only has 1 pocket inside
Where to buy
The Small Cloud Carry On started to make more sense for me because it basically solved my biggest problem with the regular Cloud Carry On: the size.
It’s smaller, lighter, and can fit under the airplane seat. It also has exterior pockets, which I really appreciate because I don’t always want to open the main compartment just to get something small.
Beyond the Vines Carry All 03
Price: Php 5,490
Size:H14 ½" X W17" X D7"
Weight: 571grams
Material: 100% Nylon
Pros
- Feels more structured compared to the Baggu Cloud bags
- Can be worn in 2 ways: as a shoulder bag or sling bag
- Has multiple pockets and compartments inside
- Has 8 solid colors to choose from
- Brand has an official Philippine website
Cons
- Doesn’t have exterior pockets
- Cannot be packed into a pouch
Where to buy
https://www.beyondthevines.ph/
The Beyond the Vines Carry All 03 was also a strong contender because I really liked its structure and organization.
I’m the type of person who appreciates having different compartments because I like being able to organize my things instead of just throwing everything into one big space.
But when it comes to an airport bag, I realized that exterior pockets are also really important to me.
So Which One Did I Choose?
After comparing the three, it eventually came down to the Baggu Small Cloud Carry On vs. the Beyond the Vines Carry All 03.
The regular Baggu Cloud Carry On was already out of the running for me because of the size. If I’m bringing a bag to the airport, I want the option of putting it under the seat in front of me, especially when I don’t have that much stuff.
Between the Small Cloud Carry On and the Beyond the Vines Carry All 03, I actually liked the BTV bag's organization more.
BUT...
I realized that having easy access to things is just as important as having compartments.
For example, imagine you’re at the airport, and you want to grab your water bottle. If your bag is already full, you don’t necessarily want to open the entire main zipper and risk everything inside shifting around or spilling.
That’s where I really appreciated the exterior pockets of the Baggu.
I also love that the Baggu has a luggage pass-through. Being able to slide it onto my luggage handle is such a small thing, but it makes traveling so much easier.
Honestly, if I could create my own perfect airport tote, it would probably be a combination of these two bags.
I would take the interior pockets and organization of the Beyond the Vines Carry All 03, combine that with the luggage pass-through and packable design of the Baggu, then add the exterior pockets of the Baggu and the ability to wear the bag two ways, like the BTV.
Now THAT would be my perfect airport bag.
One thing I really love about both brands is the length of the handles. As someone who is on the bigger side, I appreciate a tote with handles that are actually comfortable to wear on the shoulder. They’re long enough that I can still wear the bag comfortably even when I’m wearing a big fluffy jacket or coat.
The One I Actually Bought
In the end, I decided to buy the Baggu Small Cloud Carry On, and so far, I’m really loving it.
Do I have one regret?
The color.
I went with the most basic option: black.
And honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with the color. I know black is practical, easy to match, and probably the safest choice for a travel bag, but sometimes I look at it and think I should have picked something more fun.
But when it comes to the actual functionality of the bag, I have very little to complain about.
It’s lightweight, spacious enough for my travel essentials, has the exterior pockets I wanted, fits under the airplane seat, and has the luggage pass-through that I was specifically looking for.
For someone who has been traveling quite a bit for events lately, I think I finally found the practical airport tote I was looking for.
And at the end of the day, that was really what I wanted: a bag that looks cute enough to carry around but is actually functional when I’m running through airports, attending events, and traveling.
Now, let’s see how long it takes before I convince myself that I also need it in another color.
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