What it is: A carry-on-size bag with — get this — a foldaway seat. And it’s a real carry-on size, not a bloated bag that requires a jackhammer to jam it into an overhead bin. It measures 22 inches by 12 inches by 8 inches and includes a laptop pocket. Weight: 6.8 pounds. The nylon cover is water repellent.
How it works: The surprisingly comfortable, stable 9-by-9-inch seat folds flat against the underside of the bag and deploys with the push of a button.
The good: On a plane/train/car trip along the West Coast, the seat was a godsend at crowded airport gates and while I was waiting for a ferry on a benchless dock. At one airport, I sat comfortably on it for an hour. One 201-pound skeptic sat on the chair, figuring he would break it. No problem. The specs say the seat can hold up to 300 pounds. I also packed an eight-day vacation into the bag, using my briefcase for overflow. Into the bag went two guide books, two pairs of shoes, two pairs of pants, six shirts, swim trunks, and four pairs of socks and underwear. The bag probably could have held a tad more. The bag rolled more easily on the four 360-degree wheels upright, as it was designed to, than on two as a drag bag. The wide handle locks in place at several levels and makes for stable, easy pulling, actually providing enough support to lean on. The bag can easily detach from the frame for use, say, as a beach bag or shopping bag. The ultimate praise: I am buying one — maybe two, because my wife likes it as well.
The bad: Many people asked about the bag at airports, saying they liked it, but some said they would want a larger version. Frankly, the way the airlines are going with fees, I would prefer to play it safe with this smaller version, staying under the radar and within carry-on regulations. Bigger bags wouldn’t meet those specs if airlines decided to enforce them.
Cost: $165
Where to get it: walkinbag.com
— Ross Werland, Chicago Tribune
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