Flylite On the Go Wheeled Backpack – review of my new hand luggage

I’ve been struggling to find the right hand luggage for a while. It’s not that we don’t have multiple options but nothing was quite right. I am Goldilocks when it comes to hand luggage, I’ve tried various types bags but I’ve found it hard to get a piece of luggage that was just right. After a recommendation from a travel writer friend, I think I’ve finally found the one that’s versatile and ticks all the boxes.

Flylite On the Go Wheeled Backpack – review of my new hand luggage

Above you can see the hand luggage I’ve previously used. The large handbag style of bag was great for popping on top of my luggage to wheel through the airport but once my luggage was checked in, I would carry the bag over my arm and found it got too heavy. Have I mentioned I don’t pack light? The wheely bag in the middle is handy for rolling through the airport but it’s awkward to manage when I travel with two large checked suitcases, like on my most recent trip to the US. Plus, when I open this one up, everything is on show for all to see (including my spare undies which you’d know are a must if you’ve read this post) And the backpack on the right doesn’t open up wide so it’s hard to find things and it also gets heavy when carrying it around.

Before I travelled to the US in May I was keen to find a new bag so I popped a post in a travel writing group asking for recommendations from those that I know are globe trotting more often than most. I had multiple suggestions but the one I liked best was the Flylite On the Go Wheeled Backpack. The writer who suggested it offered her reasoning and it was convincing enough to get me to visit my local Strandbags store to check it out. Given airlines are becoming so strict on their hand luggage weight limits I was particularly drawn to the Flylite Backpack’s weight, just 2.1kg. I need my hand luggage bag to be as light as possible so I can attempt to stick to that pesky airline weight limit. The bag seemed like it was a good choice so I bought it and travelled with it to the US.

After travelling with it through the US I can report it was just the bag I needed. There are many features I like and I’m yet to find any negatives.

I like the fact I can use the bag as a backpack or use the backpack straps to attach it to my main luggage. It would also strap onto Braeden’s wheelchair canes if I was using it while pushing him in his chair.

I love the versatility to use the Flylight On the Go Backpack as a wheeled bag with a long handle hidden away until needed. The backpack’s straps then just zip away and it becomes a wheeled bag. Converting from backpack to wheeled bag or vice versa is quick and easy to do.

Side pockets allow space for me to store a small drink bottle where it’s handy to grab on the go.

Although my laptop could fit in the front pocket I prefer to store it inside the backpack in a more padded position just in case someone else puts something heavy on my bag in the aircraft’s overhead locker. There are plenty of pockets for me to organise my many hand luggage items which I find preferable to one big open bag.

I also found the backpack handy for my many meetings when I needed to carry copies of Travel Without Limits magazine. The bag looks like any other backpack and is sturdy so it was ideal for my day to day use too.

This is not a sponsored post.The Flylite On the Go Wheeled backpack is exclusively sold by Strandbags stores or online. The usual price is $190 but I signed up to the Strandbags’ email and received 10% discount which brought the price down to $171. Keep an eye out for sales because the hand luggage is sometimes found at just under $100.

Update Nov 2023

The Flylite on the go wheeled backpack is no longer available at Strandbags but a new version has been released and looks to have similar features. The basic concept of a hand luggage which can be used as a wheeled bag or backpack is the same. You can read about this hand luggage on the Strandbags website.

You can read more about my packing essentials in this blog.

And about items that make travel with our wheelchair user easier here.