The 12 Best Carry-on Backpacks
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Even though much of my job as a travel writer involves testingsuitcases, I usually prefer to fly with acarry-onbackpack when I have the choice. You just can’t beat the sense of freedom that comes with strapping your possessions to your shoulders and heading to the airport — to me, a suitcase says “business trip” whereas a backpack says “adventure.” Not to mention the fact that backpack wearers are almost never singled out at the gate to check their luggage.
As backpack reviewer Geoff Grisdale ofOne Bag Travelsexplains, a carry-on backpack means “you can move around a lot quicker — it’s a lot easier to travel around cities with one.” Suitcases become cumbersome as soon as you’re confronted with cobblestone streets or multiple flights of stairs, adds freelance backpack designer Jeff Mullins. “And you have to have room to store them when you get home, whereas a backpack can be compressed.” Below, you’ll find the best carry-on backpacks for different sorts of trips, as tested by myself and other globetrotting experts. While you’re here, I’ve also written guides to thebest travel pillowsand thebest toiletry bottles.
Updated on March 11, 2025
I named theCotopaxi Allpa 50Lour best carry-on backpack system, and thePeak Design Travel Backpackour best carry-on backpack for business travel.
Our top picks
Whatwe’relookingfor
Capacity
For trips longer than a weekend, you’ll require a carry-on backpack with a capacity of at least 28 liters, says Grisdale. From there, the size you choose will depend on your packing style, how long the trip is, and whether you need room for warm layers or extra shoes. Most of the experts I spoke with agreed that the sweet spot is somewhere between 28 and 35 liters.
Some carry-on backpacks can be as large as 45 liters, which is actually five liters more volume than anAway carry-on suitcase. While this size of backpack can be useful for long-haul trips, just note that it will be “really big and heavy — and you lose a lot of the mobility you’d get when carrying a smaller backpack,” says Grisdale. Mullins agrees: “If you’re a smaller woman, for example, I don’t think you should go over 35 liters.” Even though I’ll happily hike with an ultralight 55 liter backpack, I’m not a fan of wearing carry-on bags larger than 40 liters — they’re significantly bulkier, and the back pain afterwards just isn’t worth it.
Packing style
The best carry-on backpacks are designed for ease of packing. Rather than unzipping at the top, they’ll either open up like a clamshell (with separate zippered compartments on either side), or like a duffel bag (with one big compartment that’s accessible from the front of the bag). If you’re an intentional packer who likes to keep organized on the road, the former option is likely best. But Grisdale notes that duffel-style bags are usually quicker and easier to pack because “you can just stuff your gear in there and off you go.”
Your backpack will be crammed into overhead bins or underneath aircraft seats, so look for one that’s fairly rectangular in shape, with straps and a hip belt that can be removed or tucked away. “Anything that dangles has to be gone,” says Mullins. He also notes that there should be a handle on pretty much every side of the bag, so you can grab it from whichever space it’s wedged.
Organizational features
A nice thing about living out of a backpack as opposed to a suitcase is that exterior pockets provide easy access to small items like wallets and passports. I also love that backpacks typically have loops or straps on the outside to which you can attach carabiners and clips. A good backpack will enable you to “get to all your small stuff without fully opening it,” says Mullins. “Whether that’s your phone, earbuds, book, glasses, or food.” You still don’t want a backpack withtoomany pockets, as these will steal real estate from the main compartment inside. “I like enough exterior pockets to be able to hold gear but not so many pockets that they take up a lot of room in the bag,” says Grisdale.
Best carry-on backpack overall
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Capacity:35 liters |Packing style:Clamshell, tuckaway straps, removable waist belt |Organizational features:External laptop sleeve, top pocket, carabiner loops, water bottle holder
The Cotopaxi Allpa is truly a backpack for suitcase people. Its clamshell design unzips fully to reveal a large mesh compartment on the right-hand side and two smaller ones on the left, mimicking the layout of rolling luggage. It has a hidden laptop sleeve in the back that’s generously padded (I once checked my Allpa with a MacBook inside and the laptop survived unscathed), as well as an easy-access storage compartment on top that can fit snacks, a book, and your passport. The bag is comfortable to carry, with a sternum strap and removable waist belt for extra support. It comes in three different sizes, but this 35-liter version will be the best for most people — it’s big enough for a week’s worth of clothes but small enough that you can use it as an airline personal item or large daypack. Strategist contributing writerMargaret Ebytook one on a flight to Italy in addition to a rolling suitcase, and says the tuckaway straps helped her squish it under the seat in front of her.
Best (less expensive) carry-on backpack
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Capacity:34 liters |Packing style:Clamshell |Organizational features:External laptop sleeve, hidden valuables pocket, carabiner loops, water bottle holder
When a well-traveled reader in the Strategist comments section claimed that COR Surf’s Island Hopper is “a good alternative to the Cotopaxi for half the price,” I immediately ordered one to test out for myself. After comparing them side by side, I agree that the two bags are eerily similar in look and function. Both open like suitcases, with internal zippered compartments for easy organization on the road. Both feature hidden laptop compartments and external water bottle holders, as well as small external pockets for phones and passports. And both are designed for comfortable long-term wear with padded straps, adjustable sternum straps, and waist belts. Still, the Island Hopper’s affordable price comes with a few concessions. It is lighter and less substantial compared to the Allpa, and less waterproof. It has two grab handles instead of three, and the waist strap isn’t removable. It lacks Cotopaxi’s lifetime repair or replace warranty and is made from new fabric rather than recycled or deadstock materials. If it’s mainly the Allpa’s clamshell opening style that appeals to you, though, here is a worthy dupe.
Best carry-on duffel backpack
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Capacity:30 liters |Packing style:Duffel, tuckaway straps, tuckaway waist belt, convertible shoulder strap, trolley sleeve |Organizational features:External laptop compartment, top pocket, water bottle holder
Patagonia’s Mini MLC is constantly sold out, and for good reason. This is an unusually roomy and rugged bag that can be used as your main piece of carry-on luggage (it’s available in a45-liter versionas well, if you prefer to overpack) or as apersonal itemthat sits atop your wheeled carry-on. Unlike the Allpa, the Mini MLC opens duffel-style, revealing a deep interior compartment that can fit several outfits and a pair of extra shoes. There’s also a laptop compartment that opens completely flat, small stash pocket on top of the bag that’s big enough for a passport or wallet, and stretchy water-bottle holder.
Best (less expensive) carry-on duffel backpack
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Capacity:40 liters |Packing style:Duffel opening, compression straps |Organizational features:External laptop compartment, water bottle holder, quick-access front pocket
At less than half the price of the Allpa or Mini MLC, TomToc’s Navigator is a thoughtfully designed carry-on backpack with a large capacity and helpful organizational features. It zips open at the front to reveal a generous duffel compartment that can be filled with several outfits, whether or not you’re usingpacking cubes. There’s also a front pocket that’s big enough for a book, as well as a laptop sleeve in the back that can be fully unzipped, revealing extra storage space for documents, cables, and stationery. It’s an excellent affordable option, according to Grisdale.
Best airline-approved carry-on backpack
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Capacity:28 to 42 liters |Packing style:Duffel opening, compression straps |Organizational features:Laptop compartment, water-bottle holder, quick-access front pocket, inner zip pockets
CabinZero is a unique travel-bag company that allows you to shop according to different airline carry-on allowances — they’re all listed on its site, and you can choose your bag according to the policies of each airline. Measuring 17.7 inches by 12.2 inches by 7.9 inches, this one is a good option for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines as well as Spirit and Frontier. It has a duffel opening that maximizes space, and it’s easy to pack and unpack; as Grisdale puts it, the brand “makes great bags that are simple, well built, comfortable, and are a bargain for the price.”
Best carry-on backpack for business travel
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Capacity:45 liters |Packing style:Duffel, stowable hip belt, compression straps |Organizational features:Internal and external pockets, laptop sleeve, water-bottle holders
After years of honing his packing methods, Tickadoo founder Francis Hellyer (who operates his company across four time zones) says that Peak Design’s travel backpack is the only bag he trusts. “I’ve tried everything, and this is it,” he says. “It looks professional in boardrooms but functions like a technical pack.” I own one of these myself and agree that it’s unusually sleek-looking for a backpack, as well as durable. The thick nylon fabric doesn’t pill or tear and can be wiped down easily; there are lots of internal and external pockets for separating items and staying organized on shortbusiness trips. The backpack straps are comfortable, especially when the optional hip belt is deployed, and the bag’s zip-around duffel opening makes it easy to just stuff your clothes and toiletries into this bag and head to the airport in a rush — and unpack them quickly once you get to your destination.
Best carry-on backpack with lumbar support
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Capacity:40 liters |Packing style:Duffel, adjustable tuckaway hip belt and harness |Organizational features:External laptop sleeve, external toiletries pocket
When spending her year abroad as the inaugural New York Times 52 Places traveler, journalistJada Yuanlearned the hard way that rolling luggage is terrible for long-haul travel. “I don’t know how I got through 16 stops of my trip before buying the Osprey Fairview,” she recalls. “My back and shoulders hurt all the time. I needed something with strong lumbar support, a waist belt, and a chest strap so that I could make it through the trip without getting crippled.” The Fairview’s packing style she says, is perfectly bare-bones: “Just one giant cavity, plus a zippered section for your laptop and a bunch of straps on the outside for carrying, say, a bulky jacket.” It’s definitely the most comfortable backpack on this list, says Grisdale: “Osprey’s packs are good because they have a lot of padding, they’re really thick, and they’re also adjustable. So if it doesn’t fit you right out of the box, you can move things around.”
Best carry-on backpack for long trips
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Capacity:45 liters |Packing style:Duffel, compression straps, removable shoulder straps, trolley sleeve |Organizational features:External laptop compartment, hidden top pocket for valuables
Away is best known for its hard luggage, but the DTC brand’s outdoor gear shouldn’t be overlooked. Brand marketing consultantJennifer Olsoncame across this big duffel-backpack while gearing up for an eight-monthroad trip through South Americawith her partner. “We’d be living in a converted Land Cruiser and needed baggage soft and malleable enough to be thrown around the back of a truck and wedged into small spaces,” she explains. “Though we’d be hiking here and there, we weren’t doing any hardcore treks, so we didn’t need a traditional trekking backpack — but rather something in between.” True to Away’s suitcase-y roots, the bag’s internal storage compartment features compression straps that are designed to secure a set ofpacking cubes, which Olson says really helped keep things organized on her big trip. And the convertible straps have come in handy now that she’s returned home: “I usually use it as a duffle when I’m on weekend trips or using it as a carry on, and when the bag is a little more loaded with my things, I use it in backpack mode to disperse the weight.”
Best carry-on backpack for short trips
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Capacity:30 liters |Packing style:Duffel, compression straps |Organizational features:Internal laptop sleeve, stretchy side and front pockets, front bungee elastic
I firstheard about the ULA Ultra Dragonflywhen lurking on the 729,000-member-strong sub-Redditr/OneBag, which has popularized the idea of bringing no more than one smallish bag on trips and vacations. And while many One Baggers own Allpas and MLCs, this is the bag they covet most. It unzips duffel-style, with a Goldilocks-size 30-liter capacity that means it can hold a decent amount of stuff but still slide underneath a plane seat if needed. There’s no hip belt, but uniquely shaped shoulder straps are designed to be worn for hours at a time without discomfort. There’s a laptop sleeve for digital nomads, and the Ultra fabric is slightly stretchy (allowing for a bit of overpacking), unusually durable (similar to ripstop nylon), and highly waterproof (which makes it appropriate for treks and other more rugged adventures). There’s just one catch: Due to stock issues, you can only purchase the Dragonfly Ultra once a week on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. ET. Within a couple of hours, the bag sells out and its buy button disappears for another seven days.
Best carry-on backpack for rugged trips
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Capacity:45 liters |Packing style:Duffel, tuckaway shoulder straps, compression straps |Organizational features:External shoe compartments, external laptop sleeve, passport pocket
More duffel-shaped than some of the very suitcase-y backpacks on this list, Timbuk2’s unique carry-on has zip-up shoe pockets at each end, allowing you to separate dirty footwear from the rest of your stuff — an especially nice feature for anyone packing a pair ofhiking shoes. I also like how waterproof this bag is. All of the fabric is easy to wipe down, and the bottom of the bag has an extra protective “boot” which means you can plonk it down anywhere without worrying about it getting muddy. “The very considered design is ideal for someone who is most at home hopping on and off planes and trains,” says Andrew Barker, the chief content officer atCmagazine. He appreciates the TSA-friendly slip pockets, which give easy access to your laptop and passport.
Best carry-on backpack for hiking trips
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Capacity:35 liters |Packing style:Clamshell, tuckaway straps |Organizational features:External zipper pockets, strap pockets, water-bottle holder, stretchy external pocket, trekking-pole loops
Backpackers I know are obsessed with the brand Six Moon Designs, which makes technical hiking packs from ultra-lightweight fabrics. Six Moon’s first ever travel backpack is designed to be a little more versatile — it’s trail-ready but also suitable for more urban trips. Like many of the backpacks on this list, it opens suitcase-style to reveal two packing compartments, but there’s also a stretchy open pocket on the front that can fit a pair of shoes or a jacket. That’s not all: The backpack straps have small zipper pockets big enough for stashing your phone and passport, which removes the need to wear an additional sling bag or cross-body at the airport. There are external loops to secure a pair of trekking poles as well. The brand sent me one of these to test prior to launch, and I’m impressed by its comfortable suspension system and the fact that the whole thing weighs just 2.5 pounds.
Best carry-on backpack system
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Capacity:50 liters (42-liter main pack, 8-liter cross-body) |Packing style:Duffel with stowaway hip belt and detachable crossbody nbag |Organizational features:Laptop pocket, bottle pocket and front accessory pocket, as well as interior organization pockets
When traveling with most of the carry-on backpacks on this list, you’ll probably need an additional personal item — be it a fanny pack, tote bag, or small day pack — in which to stash essentials. So why not bring one that’s designed to attach to your main bag? That’s the thinking behind Cotopaxi’sAdventure Travel backpack, which includes a comfortable 42-liter duffel-style travel bag (it has one main compartment, unlike the smaller Allpa above that has two) and an eight-liter cross-body sling that zips onto the top. The system allows you to carry two entire bags hands-free and to meet tougher airline carry-on restrictions when necessary by downsizing your pack. I hope that future versions of this bag might be three-in-one, with the front pocket popping out into a small day pack — ideally one that’s sized for a laptop. This would be perfect forone-baggingdigital nomads and day hikers and would provide a true sense of modular flexibility. But for now, it’s still a great design for most long-haul adventurers.
Ourexperts
• Andrew Barker, chief content officer atCmagazine
•Margaret Eby, Strategist contributing writer
• Geoff Grisdale, backpack reviewer atOne Bag Travels
• Francis Hellyer, founder,Tickadoo
•Jeff Mullins, freelance backpack and soft-goods designer
•Jennifer Olson, brand marketing consultant
•Jada Yuan, WashingtonPostreporter and inaugural New YorkTimes52 Places traveler
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