The 9 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

5

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear brand Cotopaxi builds brightly colored clothing and accessories to last. The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack earned our top pick as the best carry-on backpack with its perfect performance in all categories of our testing. We loved its high capacity and thought the unstructured style was ideal for wedging clothes into every corner, maximizing packing space in the clamshell-style compartments. One side of the backpack has two small and one medium zippered pockets, while the other side consists of one main compartment for storing bigger clothing items like jackets and shoes. The rear of the Allpa 35L has a padded sleeve as well as a cleverly placed zipper for reaching items packed at the bottom of the main compartment. The front of the backpack has a large zippered pocket that we thought was perfect for fitting smaller electronics and a 32-ounce water bottle, but, disappointingly, there is no exterior water bottle holder. The shell is made of a TPU-coated 1000D polyester with a rubbery feel, and although it feels resistant to liquids, the backpack comes with a rain cover to ensure that your belongings stay dry while traveling. Handles on all four sides of the backpack make it easy to carry and lift into an overhead bin from any angle. 

After our comfortability tests, we really liked how the straps contoured to the shape of our shoulders and chest. The material used on the back of the pack is mesh, so it's very comfortable. (Mesh also helps promote air flow and breathability for days when you’re hauling your backpack in the heat.) Overall, we think this durable Cotopaxi bag will remain in excellent condition no matter how many times it hits the road, as it was not damaged at all after we repeatedly tossed it onto the ground. The rubber texture also seemed easy to clean and resistant to liquid spills. After six months of regularly using the bag, we found that it's the perfect size for long weekend trips and helps keep all of our items organized and easy-to-access. Both stylish and functional, this backpack can even be made one-of-a-kind by choosing the surprise colors option when purchased through Cotopaxi’s website.

Price at time of publish: $200

The Details: 35 liters | 20 x 12 x 8 inches

Best Budget

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

Perfect for travelers on a budget, the Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack impressed us with its packing features and comfortable fit. We thought the bag provided excellent organization thanks to the interior and exterior compression that provided extra room for packing. The backpack also includes three different packing cubes; small, medium, and large. We also like that this backpack includes both a suitcase strap and a handle to hold it horizontally. The backpack itself also includes straps in the inside and a laptop sleeve to easily hold down items and pack electronics.

The design didn’t blow us away like those from some of the more costly brands, but it does feature a laptop sleeve and a water bottle holder. We also liked the flexibility of being able to wear the Asenlin as a backpack, hold it like a briefcase, or use the trolley sleeve to slide it onto a roller suitcase’s handle. However, a bigger adjustment range for the chest strap would have been ideal. During our durability test, the backpack didn’t scuff or show signs of damage. We think this budget pick is well worth the low price for those looking to get a durable, comfortable, and spacious carry-on backpack. 

Price at time of publish: $80

The Details: 40 liters | 18.5 x 12.5 x 9.5 inches

Best for Business Trips

Nomatic Travel Bag 40L

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  3/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

With plenty of space to pack bulky clothes, we think the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L would make an excellent carry-on backpack for business trips. After six months of use, we notice the bag's rectangular shape makes it easy to pack folded clothing and keep them tidy. There are two separate shoe compartments, a padded laptop sleeve, and several smaller pockets for work-related items like pens, glasses, chargers, and folders. The bag also includes a laundry sack — a thoughtful touch for separating dirty garments while traveling. This is much slimmer than other bags we've used in the past, and having the full zipper is much more ideal than a top loaded backpack, which can be difficult to pack.

The Nomatic Travel Bag can be converted from a backpack with shoulder straps to a duffel bag with tote straps depending on your carrying preference. While we loved the design of the backpack, the straps weren’t super comfortable to wear, as they were stiff and may dig into your neck slightly. However, we appreciated the hip belt and felt that it helped to evenly distribute the weight of the backpack. Although comfortability wasn’t the backpack’s strongest attribute, we still think it’s worth the price thanks to its durable, efficient design that can keep you organized on work trips. 

Price at time of publish: $290

The Details: 40 liters | 21 x 9 x 14 inches

Best Traditional

Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

The Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack is ideal for travelers who like the structure and sleek, minimalist style of a traditional suitcase but want the portability of a backpack. We love that this bag opens like a suitcase, making it easy to access everything inside. There was plenty of space leftover after packing the backpack, and the classic clamshell opening allowed for easy access to items in the compression-strapped main compartment and the zippered pockets on the interior of the front flap. All of the interior and exterior pockets, including the water bottle holder and padded laptop sleeve, are useful for traveling. The backpack can be converted to being worn as a duffel bag or a briefcase, and it has a rear strap to place on a rolling suitcase if desired. The straps were easy to adjust and felt like the weight was nicely distributed thanks to the structured style of the backpack. There was a small scuff on the bag after it was tossed during our durability test, but the contents of the backpack were unharmed. When flying with the bag during our six-month test, we found that it easily fits in airplane overhead bins and under the seat. Overall, it’s a backpack with the features of a well-compartmentalized suitcase and much more.

Price at time of publish: $200

The Details: 13 x 20.5 x 10.5 inches

Best Style

Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack

4.2

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If you’re looking to travel in style, Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack is the perfect fit. Functional and contemporary, we found it to be best suited for weekend trips because of its smaller capacity. The bag fit all of the packing items during testing, but it would be difficult to fit much more in the main compartment. The ReNew Transit was comfortable to wear thanks to its lightweight polyester material and compact build. The front flap of the backpack has an external pocket for smaller items, and it folds over to attach magnetically to the front of the backpack. During our durability tests, the front magnets stayed securely together, and the body of the backpack didn’t get crushed or damaged. We liked how it can fit under an airplane seat, making it a versatile backpack for traveling with or without other pieces of luggage. There is a laptop sleeve in the back of the bag as well as a water bottle holder on the side and a front zippered pocket below the folding magnetic lock. With six earthy tones to choose from, this is a bag to fit all travel style preferences. 

Price at time of publish: $95

The Details: 27 liters | 12 x 17.5 x 7.25 inches

Best Large

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

This 45-liter backpack has a main compartment that is spacious enough to fit clothes for at least four days, and its expansive design is helpful for packing bulky items like jackets and shoes. Placing the clothes and shoes into the bag during testing was efficient and simple thanks to a removable divider sleeve and compression straps to hold everything down securely. Designed with photographers in mind, the backpack can fit camera cubes, and four points of entry to the main compartment allow travelers to quickly grab clothes or accessories without unzipping the backpack. There is a padded laptop sleeve and stretchy side pockets for water bottles or a camera tripod. 

We appreciated having handles on all four sides of the backpack, which made lifting the bag into the overhead compartment easy. Peak Design didn’t let any space go to waste on its backpack, so even the hip belt has a small pocket on it for storage and can be packed away when you’re not looking for extra support. It’s also easy to adjust all of the straps to prevent weight imbalances and pinching.

Made of weatherproof and water-resistant recycled nylon, the bag held up perfectly after we tossed it on the ground, showing no signs of scuffs or damage. Although the price of this bag is steep, it comes with plenty of helpful features for travelers, and the stellar performance leads us to believe that it would last a long time. 

Price at time of publish: $300

 The Details: 45 liters | 13 x 22 x 9.5 inches

Best for Foot Travel

Osprey Fairview 40

5

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Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

For travelers journeying on foot, the Osprey Fairview wowed us with its spacious interior and comfortable fit. The straps for walking longer distances are really the best part. It makes your bag feel like your carrying less since the weight is so well distributed. The bags have the same storage capacity and general style, but Osprey’s women’s backpacks are designed to fit a smaller torso with waist and chest harnesses that sit upward and outward for a more comfortable carry. In testing, the main compartment and mesh zippered pouch on the front flap proved to be spacious. There are two internal compression straps and one external strap that kept belongings secure through our rough handling, so we think the bag would provide sufficient protection if you do need to check it in for a flight. 

We appreciated the padded shoulder straps and back that made wearing the backpack comfortable, despite the weight of its contents. The Osprey Fairview bags have an internal suspension the brand calls “LightWire” that distributes the weight from the harness to the hip belt, and our shoulders didn’t hurt after carrying the backpack since most of the weight shifted to their lower body.

Price at time of publish: $159

The Details: 40 liters | 22 x 14 x 9 inches

Best Compression

Tropicfeel Shell Backpack

4.4

View On Tropicfeel.com

Our Ratings

• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

We love this backpack’s thoughtful features geared toward all types of travelers. The Tropicfeel Shell Backpack has the ability to store 30 to 40 liters worth of clothing for a weekend or week-long trip, but it can also be used as a 22-liter backpack for day trips, sightseeing, and everyday use. After regularly using the bag for six months, we found it to be incredibly sturdy and durable. We had no issues fitting the number of clothing items and added that there was plenty more room thanks to the variety of buckled straps that allow you to adjust the size of the bag. The front buckle can be loosened to allow the roll-up opening flap to expand to fit more items, and there is a kangaroo pouch at the bottom of the backpack that provides an additional 6 liters of space for shoes or other items you want to keep separate. There’s also a padded compartment in the back of the backpack that can fit laptops up to 17 inches long. We thought the backpack was comfortable to wear after adjusting the shoulder and waist straps, but we found that it might take some effort to get the buckles into your desired setting. 

The Shell Backpack didn’t show any signs of damage throughout testing, and the material is weather-proof. For travelers looking to add upgrades to their backpack, the brand has an organization system and accessory pouches that can be added for additional fees. If you need an all-in-one kind of carry-on backpack, we think this backpack’s versatility makes it well worth the higher cost. 

Price at time of publish: $249

The Details: 22 liters compressed | 12 x 20 x 7.5 inches