My Travel Essentials: The Princess Traveller PT-01 EVO & Underseater Backpack

I travel quite a lot, mostly on shorter city trips around Europe, and my trips usually involve a combination of flying, public transport and a lot of walking. I’m not exactly the traveller who gets a taxi from the airport to the hotel every time either – we’re on a budget here, babe! So when I choose travel gear, I need it to be practical, good quality and sturdy enough to survive being dragged through train stations, airports and cobbled city streets. When Princess Traveller reached out and offered to send me some pieces from their newest collection, I was particularly interested in trying them on one of my own trips rather than simply telling you about the products based on their specifications.

I was recently heading to Gothenburg, Sweden, for four days, so it was the perfect opportunity to put two of Princess Traveller’s newest products to the test: the PT-01 EVO suitcase, size L, and the PT Underseater Backpack.

And honestly? I was pleasantly surprised by both.

The Princess Traveller PT-01 EVO Suitcase

The PT-01 EVO is Princess Traveller’s hard-shell suitcase designed to combine durability with a lightweight design. The suitcase is made from 100% polycarbonate, a material that is known for being both strong and flexible, while keeping the overall weight down. The PT-01 EVO is available in several colours and comes in both a smaller 35-litre cabin size and a larger 98-litre size. I received the PT-01 EVO in Pure Sage in size L, which has a capacity of 98 litres and measures 78 x 53 x 29 cm.

The suitcase also comes with four double 360° spinner wheels, making it possible to manoeuvre it in any direction, as well as an integrated three-digit combination lock. Another feature is Princess Traveller’s No Longer Lost system, which is designed to help reunite you with your suitcase if it ever gets lost. The PT-01 EVO also has an interior divider and packing straps to help keep everything organised while you’re travelling.

The L size currently retails for €109,99, making it a relatively accessible option for a large hard-shell suitcase.

My Travel Essentials: The Princess Traveller PT-01 EVO & Underseater Backpack

Lightweight, without compromising on space

The first things I noticed when I received the PT-01 EVO was how lightweight it felt!

One of my biggest annoyances with larger suitcases, especially hard-shell ones, is how much the suitcase itself can weigh before you’ve even put anything inside it. When you’re travelling with a larger suitcase, every kilogram matters, particularly when you’re trying to stay within an airline’s luggage allowance. The PT-01 EVO feels surprisingly light for its size, which means more of your luggage allowance can actually be used for, you know… luggage.

And can we talk about the colour for a second? The Pure Sage is gorgeous. It’s understated without being boring, and I loved how it looked while travelling.

Putting the wheels to the test in Gothenburg

The real test for me wasn’t going to be simply wheeling the suitcase through a smooth airport terminal. During our four days in Gothenburg, we actually stayed at two different hotels, which meant I had to take my suitcase through the city with me and put it to the test. That involved walking, public transport and, of course, Gothenburg’s famously charming cobblestone streets.

And surprisingly, the wheels handled it incredibly well. They felt smooth and easy to manoeuvre, even when I was rolling the suitcase over uneven surfaces. I didn’t have to constantly fight with the wheels or lift the suitcase every few metres, which is something I’ve definitely experienced with other luggage. And yes, we took public transport instead of getting a taxi between places. We’re travelling on a budget, remember?

For me, that’s actually an important part of reviewing luggage. A suitcase might be perfectly fine when you’re rolling it through an airport, but I want to know whether it can handle actual travel too. The PT-01 EVO survived airports, trams, pavements and cobblestones during this trip without any issues.

Who would I recommend the PT-01 EVO to?

Because mine is a size L, I’d particularly recommend it for longer trips where you’re taking more with you. Think long-haul flights, longer holidays, colder destinations where your clothes take up more room, or simply those trips where you’re not interested in playing How Little Can I Pack?.

For my usual short European city breaks, I don’t necessarily need a suitcase this large every time. But for a longer trip, I can already see myself getting a lot of use out of it. And the lightweight design is a big selling point for me.

The little QR code with a lot of useful information

One feature of the new PT-01 EVO collection that I found particularly interesting is the QR code on the side of the suitcase.

Rather than being just a suitcase that you buy and then forget about, scanning the QR code gives you access to Princess Traveller’s platform, where you can find information connected to your suitcase. This includes things like a product passport, information about the background and sustainability of your suitcase, and the option to order replacement parts.

There’s also the NoLongerLost&Found service, designed to make it easier to get your suitcase back if you ever lose it. I actually really like this idea because luggage is something you can potentially own for years. Having access to information about your specific suitcase and being able to order replacement parts makes it feel much more like a long-term travel companion rather than something disposable.

Discover the PT-01 EVO collection on Princess Traveller

The PT Underseater Backpack

Now for the product I think I’ll personally get the most use out of: the PT Underseater Backpack in Pitch Black.

The PT Underseater Backpack is designed specifically as a personal item for air travel, with dimensions of 40 x 29 x 20 cm and a 22-litre capacity. In other words, it’s made to fit underneath the seat in front of you while still giving you enough space to pack your essentials for a short trip. At 800 grams, the backpack is also lightweight, which is particularly useful when you’re trying to make the most of a limited luggage allowance. It’s currently priced at €44.99 on the Princess Traveller website.

The backpack is made from polyester and is designed with organisation in mind. It has two internal zipped compartments, multiple zipped pockets on the front and back, and a padded laptop compartment. There’s also a trolley sleeve on the back, so you can slide the backpack over the handle of a suitcase rather than carrying it separately. The padded, adjustable backpack straps can be tucked away when you’re not using them, and the detachable shoulder strap means you can also carry it as a shoulder bag.

If you’re a frequent budget airline traveller, you might understand immediately why I was so excited about this one. I’m often flying with airlines such as Ryanair, where the small personal bag that fits underneath the seat is included in the cheapest fare. For years, I’ve just used a normal Eastpak-style backpack or a weekend bag. I had never actually invested in a proper underseater. After using this one, I’m wondering why I waited so long.

Designed to fit underneath your plane seat

The PT Underseater Backpack is specifically designed to fit underneath the seat in front of you on an airplane. Making it particularly useful for budget-conscious travellers who want to maximise the luggage they’re allowed to bring without paying for another cabin bag.

And unlike a regular backpack, the inside is designed almost like a little suitcase. It has two separate main compartments, alongside lots of smaller pockets and compartments for keeping everything organised. There’s even a dedicated laptop compartment, which is something I really appreciate. I’m always carrying my laptop or other electronics when I travel, so having somewhere specifically designed for it makes a huge difference. There’s also a small compartment on the back where I can keep things like my ID and wallet. It’s tucked against your back rather than sitting somewhere easily accessible to other people, which gives me a little extra peace of mind when I’m navigating busy airports, train stations and tourist attractions.

The secret to packing more with a personal item

The two large compartments are probably my favourite part. They almost work like built-in packing cubes, making it much easier to organise clothes and squeeze in as much as possible. And let’s be honest: this is exactly what you want when you’re flying on a budget airline. We’ve all seen the people at the airport wearing approximately five layers of clothing because their bag won’t fit everything. I’m not saying I’ve never been that person… But having a bag that makes better use of the available space means you can actually organise your outfits instead of turning your backpack into one giant game of luggage Tetris.

The backpack is also sturdy and practical, while still being comfortable enough to actually carry around during a city trip. It’s also water-repellent, which is another useful feature when you’re travelling somewhere where the weather likes to surprise you. And if you don’t want to carry it as a backpack, it can also be used as a shoulder bag, giving you another way to carry it depending on what you’re doing.

Why I think an underseater is such a good investment

For me, this is the product that makes the most sense for my usual style of travelling. I tend to take short city breaks rather than weeks-long holidays, and I’m often flying somewhere for three, four or five days. If I’m travelling light, I don’t necessarily want to pay extra for a larger cabin suitcase. Having a properly designed underseater means I can take advantage of the free personal-item allowance on budget airlines while still having enough space for clothes, electronics and everything else I need for a few days away.

It’s also useful once you’ve actually arrived. When I’m exploring a city, I don’t want to be dragging a suitcase around with me. A backpack is much easier when you’re jumping on public transport, walking between attractions or checking out somewhere before you can check into your accommodation.

Take a closer look at the PT Underseater Backpack

Taking My Princess Traveller Luggage to Gothenburg

So, what was it actually like travelling with both pieces?

I took the PT-01 EVO and PT Underseater Backpack with me on my recent trip to Gothenburg, and this was probably the best way for me to properly test them. Rather than taking photos of them sitting nicely in my bedroom and telling you that they’re “perfect for travel”, I actually got to use them the way I normally travel.

The suitcase came through the airport with me, got wheeled around Gothenburg and went over cobblestones and onto trams while we moved between two hotels.Meanwhile, the underseater came with me while exploring the city and gave me somewhere to keep everything I needed throughout the trip.

And that’s ultimately what I want from travel gear. I don’t want something that looks good in a product photo but becomes annoying the moment I actually have to use it. I want practical, sturdy pieces that make travelling easier. And these items from Princess Traveller don’t just look good, they’re practical too!

So, Would I Recommend Princess Traveller?

After taking both products on a real trip, I’d say yes.

The PT-01 EVO impressed me most with how lightweight it is for a large suitcase and how smoothly the wheels handled different surfaces. For longer trips where I need to pack more, I can definitely see myself reaching for it again.

But the PT Underseater Backpack is probably the one I’ll be using most often. For the kind of European city trips I usually take, especially when flying with budget airlines, having a personal-item bag that’s actually designed around the space underneath the seat is a game changer.

I also really appreciate that both products feel designed with long-term use and practicality in mind. The QR system on the PT-01 EVO, replacement parts and NoLongerLost&Found service are thoughtful additions that you don’t necessarily expect from a suitcase.

And, of course, the fact that they survived my very glamorous method of travelling around Gothenburg, walking with luggage over cobblestones and taking the tram because we’re not paying for a taxi – gets a thumbs up from me.

If you’re looking for new luggage for an upcoming trip, I’d definitely recommend taking a look at the Princess Traveller collection and seeing which pieces fit your own travel style.

Shop Princess Traveller’s collection

Xo Bug Girl

Instagram: @thebuggirladventures