Imagine, dear reader, cruising through an airport terminal with both hands free. With no bag in hand, you effortlessly scan tickets, double-thumb texts and scarf down disappointing $15 sandwiches. A passing flash mob breaks into the “YMCA,” and you join in, unencumbered arms swinging breezily through the air. Such is the liberating power of the carry-on backpack.
In all seriousness, the carry-on travel backpack is a strong contender for the best hack to upgrade your frequent flyer game this year. You’ll be shocked when you realize how much gear can be packed away and carried comfortably on your back — and your weary arms will thank you for it.
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Check out our favorite carry-on backpacks from Amazon and other retailers:
1. Best Budget Carry-On Travel Backpack
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack
Amazon Basics has emerged as a respectable competitor to other big names. Their Carry-On Travel Backpack exemplifies what makes the house brand attractive — it’s a simple, straightforward product, perfectly designed to meet consumer needs at a low price point.
All of which is to say, Amazon Basic’s Carry-On pack is a budget bag that still hits all the important notes. It’s got roughly 45 liters of carrying capacity that hangs well-balanced on padded backpack straps and removable sternum and waist straps. The expandable storage space has compartments galore, including an internal padded laptop pocket and an ID pocket. With an included shoulder strap and side carrying handle, this is a backpack that moonlights as a suitcase whenever the situation calls for it.
Dimensions: 21.5 (h) x 15.75 (w) x 8.25 (d) inches
2. Best Carry-On Backpack with Wheels
BANGE Weekender Carry-On Backpack
Sometimes, you want to give your shoulders a break and let the ground help you carry your luggage. Our favorite rolling backpack out right now is the Weekender Carry-On, an expandable, waterproof bag that’s ergonomic on the shoulders and smooth-rolling on the ground.
The Weekender is designed around the core needs of the jet-setter: 25 liters of storage space that expands to 45 liters, a shockproof laptop compartment and multiple carrying handles. But with features like a waterproof internal pouch and built-in USB charging port, it’s also a bag packed with bells and whistles. We mean this figuratively and literally — there’s an emergency whistle located on the chest buckle!
Dimensions: 19.5 (h) x 13 (w) x 6.8 (d) inches
3. Best Compression Carry-On Backpack
Osprey Daylite Carry On Travel Backpack
An ongoing struggle for all air travelers is packing the maximum amount of stuff in the minimum amount of space. The Osprey Porter answers that challenge with its exterior sidewall Straitjacket compression straps, which squeeze up to 44 liters of your gear into a tighter package.
The Daylite s a great carry-on backpack in its own right, with a big, packable U-zip access main compartment, toting handles and a laptop carrying sleeve. It’s made of a durable, padded material that’s aided by the sidewall straps in keeping your luggage extra safe from bumps and drops.
Dimensions: 22.44 (l) x 15.83 (w) x 2.95 (h) inches
4. Most Versatile Carry-On Backpack
KAKA Travel Backpack
Available in three muted colors — olive green, navy blue and black — the KAKA travel backpack is carry-on luggage with a classic adventure gear look. The boxy backpack boasts 40 liters of carrying capacity and a whopping 10 total pockets for organizing your stuff.
What really makes this bag stand out is its versatility — it can be carried in hand like a suitcase or slung across the shoulder like a duffel. While other carry-on backpacks feature similar shoulder straps and carrying handles, KAKA’s bag seems designed with convertibility in mind, with its well-balanced rectangular shape. It’s a backpack that’s truly comfortable to transport however you choose to carry it.
Dimensions: 6.7 (l) x 12 (w) x 20.5 (h) inches
5. Sturdiest Carry-On Backpack
Nomatic Travel Bag
Given the rough nature of air travel, investing in a durable bag can save frequent travelers a lot of headaches down the line. Nomatic’s 40-liter travel bag is built with a durable, waterproof tarpaulin material meant to withstand years of use and abuse in the not-always-so-friendly skies.
In addition to its sturdy build, this backpack is a feature-packed dream for compulsive organizers. Nomatic brags their bag has “a pocket for everything,” and this seems to be accurate advertising. There’s an RFID-safe pocket for credit cards and passports, fleece-lined pockets for electronics, separate laptop and tablet pockets, and even a compartment for shoes — to name a few.
Dimensions: 22 (h) x 14 (w) x 9 (d) inches
6. Best Low Profile Carry-On Backpack
SwissGear 1900 Scansmart Backpack
Travel backpacks can have a bit of a bulky look that’s not appealing to everyone. If you’re looking for a carry-on bag that actually looks like a backpack — but is still packed with airline-friendly features — we recommend the Swissgear 1900 Scansmart Backpack.
As the name hints, the Swiss Gear 1900 Scansmart Backpack focuses on the techier side of travel. The backpack has a padded tablet pocket and zippered compartment for laptops up to 17 inches, both of which lay flat to comply with TSA requirements. It remains a great backpack to carry non-tech gear as well, with 31 liters of capacity as well as several internal and side compartments.
Dimensions: 19 (h) x 14 (w) x 9 (d) inches
7. Best Carry-On Backpack for Short Trips
Topo Designs Global Travel Bag
Maybe you’re not in the market for uber-high-capacity luggage, but you still want a backpack that’s designed with travelers in mind. The Global Travel Bag isn’t much shorter on packing space than its peers, with a 30-liter total capacity, but it does sport a thinner profile. Nor does the bag sacrifice organizational power, boasting several separate compartments for a water bottle, laptop, papers and more.
The Global Travel Bag forgoes some air-travel-specific features to create a more versatile day tripper bag — a backpack that feels just as at home on a hiking trail as it does in a terminal. The hip color scheme and the simpler design make the Global Travel Bag from Topo Designs a good choice if you’re looking to balance function with fashion. Most carry-on backpacks are more practical than pretty, but Topo Designs manages to walk the fine line in between.
Dimensions: 20 (h) x 12.5 (w) x 7 (d) inches
What Makes a Backpack ‘Carry-on?’
A carry-on backpack is a multicompartment, high-capacity backpack, usually designed specifically for airline travel. While most backpacks can be brought on a plane as a “personal item,” carry-on backpacks are designed to function as your sole carry-on baggage.
What To Look For in a Carry-On Travel Backpack
The perfect travel companion for you will depend on your specific needs — such as the length of your trips, your personal style and your budget. Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind when shopping our list of carry-on backpacks.
Capacity
Backpacks typically measure their capacity in liters; the more liters, the more of your stuff it can hold. While you might be tempted to go as big as your airline will allow, keep in mind that large-capacity bags get quite heavy when fully loaded.
Comfort
On that note, remember you’ll often carry any backpack you buy for several hours. Look out for key comfort features like padded straps and waist/chest buckles. Rolling wheels or carrying handles will also allow you to give your back a break from time to time.
Airline Restrictions
Most carry-on backpacks take airline size requirements into account, and these restrictions don’t vary too much between companies. That being said, it’ll still save you some headaches to do a little preflight research and check the specific bag size requirements of any airline you travel with.
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