With all the well-publicized changes in air travel, not having to check your bags has a lot of advantages these days.  And for quick trips, I’ve found the eBags Professional Deluxe Tote a roadworthy addition to my luggage collection.

Usually, I travel with a lot of gear. A lot.

But for short trips, I can leave behind some of the larger bags and carry the eBags tote instead.  That’s liberating!

One of the most important things I looked for was a bag that will fit on any commercial plane I’ve ever flown. Space is often limited on smaller, regional jets and turboprops. Airlines are also cracking down on carry-on bags that are too large.

Many airlines are now charging for checked bags—for example, many of the “legacy” airlines such as American, Delta and Continental  charge $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second bag (unless you have elite status or travel with someone who does.) United and USAir just started charging $20 if you don’t purchase this checked bag “service” in advance.

Avoiding the checked-bag fees a few times will more than cover the cost of the tote.  That’s a big plus during these difficult economic times. Plus, you’ll avoid waiting for checked baggage at the end of the flight.

Even though it’s small and only 2.3 pounds, the eBags Professional Deluxe Tote is versatile. The main compartment is suitable for clothes, with built-in shoe pockets.  Another section, the business compartment, includes an office organizer and is ideal for a notebook computer, papers, energy bars, even a small video camera.

There’s also a zippered side compartment with a pocket and a couple of side pockets good for carrying a cell phone, itineraries, boarding passes, receipts, car-rental contracts and notes.

The tote is made of nylon and has a rugged, padded shoulder strap that can be removed if you just want to just carry it by the handles.

eBags offers an impressive lifetime exchange warranty (five years for commercial use.) The list price for the bag is $75, but the actual sale price is often half that amount.

The eBags Professional Deluxe Tote gets high marks from many road warriors and is ranked as a “Best of the Best” on the company’s website-—meaning more than 90 percent of buyers who took the time to review it would buy it again. I would.

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