ECOHUB 18" Underseat Backpack Review: The Perfect Personal Item for Budget Airlines?

$65 gate-check fee on a $49 Spirit flight. The fee cost more than my ticket. That was the moment I decided to figure out this whole "personal item" thing once and for all.

I spent way too many hours on Reddit reading about underseat bags. The ECOHUB 18" Underseat Backpack kept coming up, so I grabbed one. Five flights later—three on Spirit, two on Frontier—here's where I'm at with it.

Quick Verdict

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The ECOHUB hits the sweet spot for organized travelers who need guaranteed airline compliance. At $31, you get 13 pockets, eco-friendly materials, and a luggage strap—all in a bag (18x13x8") that comfortably fits within the 18x14x8 sizer limit.

Best For: Organized travelers, business trips, frequent budget airline flyers

Skip If: You need maximum packing space or prefer soft, compressible bags

Best for Organization

ECOHUB 18-inch Underseat Backpack

4.7 (4.0K reviews)

$31

Check Price on Amazon

Product Specifications

My First Impression (Unboxing)

When the package arrived, I was surprised by how structured the bag felt. Unlike my old duffel that flopped around like a dead fish, this thing actually holds its shape. The material has a slightly textured feel—not cheap and plasticky, but not premium leather either. It's that practical "I can wipe coffee off this" kind of fabric.

The zippers were stiff out of the box. Like, really stiff. I spent a good five minutes just zipping and unzipping everything to break them in. Fair warning: don't wait until you're packing for your flight to do this.

The Sizer Test

On my first trip with this bag (Spirit, LAX to Las Vegas), I walked up to that dreaded sizer box with my heart pounding. I'd packed it pretty full—laptop, change of clothes, toiletries, the works.

It slid in with room to spare.

Not "barely squeezed in" room—actual, visible clearance on all sides. The 18x13x8" dimensions are genuinely smaller than Spirit's 18x14x8" limit. I've now used it on Frontier twice and Spirit three times. Zero issues, zero fees, zero stress.

One thing I noticed: because the bag is structured, it doesn't bulge out even when packed full. My old soft backpack would pass the sizer empty but fail miserably once I stuffed it. This one maintains its shape no matter what.

What I Love After 3 Months of Use

✅ The Organization is Insane (13 Pockets!)

I'm not naturally an organized person, but this bag turned me into one. Here's how I use the pockets:

• Main compartment: Clothes (rolled, not folded—rolling saves so much space)
• Laptop sleeve: My 14" MacBook Pro fits perfectly with padding to spare
• Front organizer: Passport, boarding pass, pen, earbuds
• Top quick-access pocket: Phone, wallet, keys—stuff I need at TSA
• Hidden back pocket: Emergency cash and a backup credit card
• Side pocket: Water bottle (fits my 24oz Hydro Flask)

The front organizer pocket alone has like 6 sub-pockets. At first I thought it was overkill, but now I can find my chapstick in 2 seconds instead of dumping everything out.

✅ The Luggage Strap Actually Works

I was skeptical about the back panel luggage strap—seemed gimmicky. But on a recent connection through Denver where I had 35 minutes to get across the airport, being able to slide this onto my carry-on handle and just GO was clutch. No shoulder strap slipping, no awkward carrying. Just smooth rolling.

✅ Eco-Friendly Without Being Preachy

Look, I'm not going to pretend I bought this bag to save the planet. But knowing it's made from 50%+ recycled materials is a nice bonus. The "Climate Pledge Friendly" badge on Amazon isn't just marketing—they're actually certified by the Global Recycled Standard.

✅ USB Port is Convenient (When You Remember It)

There's a built-in USB port that connects to a power bank inside. I forget to use it half the time—I keep meaning to set it up before flights and then just... don't. But when I do remember, it's nice to charge my phone without digging through the bag.

What Annoys Me

⚠️ It's Not Compressible

The trade-off for guaranteed airline compliance: you can't squish this bag. On a recent flight where the overhead bins were full and I had to shove my bag under a particularly cramped seat (looking at you, row 28), I wished I could compress it a bit. It fit, but just barely. Honestly, I was sweating a little trying to wedge it in while the flight attendant gave me that "hurry up" look.

⚠️ The Pockets Eat Into Space

All those organizational pockets? They take up room. The bag is technically 30L, but the usable space feels more like 25L because of all the dividers and padding. If you're a "throw everything in one big compartment" packer, this might frustrate you. Sometimes I just want to shove a jacket in there without playing Tetris with all the compartments.

⚠️ Shoulder Straps Are Just Okay

For short carries through the airport, the straps are fine. But I wore this bag for a 2-mile walk through San Francisco once, and my shoulders were killing me by the end. The padding is adequate, not plush. If you're planning to use this as a daily commuter bag with heavy loads, maybe look elsewhere. Seriously, after 30 minutes with a full load, you'll feel every ounce.

⚠️ The USB Port Placement is Dumb

Here's the thing—whoever designed the USB port location clearly never actually used it. It's positioned in this awkward spot where the cable constantly gets pinched when you zip up the bag. I've had to re-route my charging cable like three times because it kept getting caught. Would it have killed them to put it somewhere more accessible?

⚠️ The Zipper on the Front Pocket

Minor gripe: the zipper on the front organizer pocket has caught my earphone cable twice. There's a small gap where the zipper meets the fabric that likes to grab thin cables. Super annoying when you're rushing to board and your AirPods are held hostage by a zipper. I've learned to tuck my earbuds into a small pouch instead of just tossing them in—shouldn't have to do that.

What Can You Actually Fit?

Here's exactly what I packed for a 3-day work trip to Phoenix:

Clothing:

• 2 t-shirts (rolled)
• 1 pair of jeans
• 3 underwear, 3 pairs of socks
• 1 light hoodie (compressed in a packing cube)

Tech:

• 14" MacBook Pro
• Charger and cables
• AirPods
• Small power bank

Essentials:

• Dopp kit with travel-size toiletries
• Sunglasses in a hard case
• Snacks (protein bars, almonds)
• 24oz water bottle (side pocket)

Everything fit with a little room to spare. Could I have packed more? Probably not much. But for a personal-item-only trip, this is pretty solid.

Pro Tip: Packing cubes are your friend. I use a small compression cube for clothes, and it makes a huge difference in how much I can fit.

What Other People Are Saying

I'm just one data point—and I've only had this bag for 3 months, so I can't speak to long-term durability yet. Here's what I found digging through nearly 4,000 Amazon reviews:

What People Love:

• "Fit perfectly in Spirit's sizer—no issues at the gate" (this comes up A LOT)
• "So many pockets! Everything has a place"
• "Love that it's eco-friendly"
• "Laptop compartment is well-padded"
• "The luggage strap is a lifesaver"

Common Complaints:

• "Wish it was a bit more compressible"
• "Zippers feel stiff at first" (they loosen up—give it time)
• "Smaller than expected inside due to all the pockets"
• "Shoulder straps could be more padded"

4.7/5 stars across 3,967 reviews is solid. Most complaints are minor—personal preferences rather than quality issues.

ECOHUB vs. Competitors

I considered the coowoz (it has way more reviews), but the lack of a luggage strap was a dealbreaker for me. The coofay is tempting at $20, but I've heard mixed things about its dimensions being right at the limit rather than safely under.

The ECOHUB costs more. For me, the extra $10 is worth it for the peace of mind. Your priorities might be different.

Who Should Buy the ECOHUB?

Perfect For:

• ✅ Frequent Spirit/Frontier/budget airline flyers
• ✅ Organized travelers who want a place for everything
• ✅ Business travelers with laptops
• ✅ Eco-conscious consumers
• ✅ Anyone tired of gate-check fees

Not Ideal For:

• ❌ Ultralight packers who prefer soft, compressible bags
• ❌ Travelers who need maximum packing volume
• ❌ Those on a tight budget (coofay at $20 is cheaper)
• ❌ People who carry heavy loads for extended walking

Pros & Cons

What I Love:

• ✅ Guaranteed airline compliance — fits Spirit/Frontier sizers with room to spare
• ✅ 13 pockets for insane organization
• ✅ Luggage strap actually works for airport sprints
• ✅ Eco-friendly materials (50%+ recycled)
• ✅ USB port pass-through for charging

What Bugs Me:

• ❌ Not compressible — can't squish it under tight seats
• ❌ Pockets eat into usable space (30L feels like 25L)
• ❌ Shoulder straps are just okay for long carries
• ❌ USB port placement is awkward
• ❌ Front zipper catches thin cables

Should You Buy It?

After three months and five flights, the ECOHUB 18" Underseat Backpack has earned a permanent spot in my travel rotation. Perfect? No. The shoulder straps could be better, and I wish it was slightly more compressible.

But here's what matters: I haven't paid a single gate-check fee since I bought it. At $65+ per incident, this bag paid for itself on the first trip.

If you're tired of the "will it fit?" anxiety at the gate, this bag removes that stress. Guaranteed airline compliance, 13 pockets for organization, and eco-friendly materials—all for $31. Solid deal.

My Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best for Organization

ECOHUB 18-inch Underseat Backpack

4.7 (4.0K reviews)

$31

Check Price on Amazon

Price History & Best Time to Buy

The ECOHUB typically retails at $36 but frequently goes on sale:

• Current Price: $31 (13% off)
• Prime Day/Black Friday: Often drops to $25-28
• Best Strategy: Add to cart and wait for price drop notifications

💡 Tip: Prices fluctuate. Check the Amazon page for current deals and coupons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• The 5 Best Underseat Backpacks for Flights — Our complete guide to personal item bags