Carry on luggage has long been a practical way to keep key belongings with you when taking a flight. Most of us like to have a book, tablet, or laptop to help pass the time, a sweater handy for chilly flights, and perhaps a snack to avoid purchasing expensive onboard food. With the convenience of the best carry on luggage backpack, you can wear your bag on your back when needed, such as when navigating through crowded airport terminals and down narrow plane aisles. Then stow it overhead or under the seat in front of you so that your items are easy to access.
In light of airlines imposing ever increasing checked luggage fees, now more than ever it makes sense to carry as much as you can with you onto the plane as possible. In fact, experienced travelers and frequent fliers everywhere pack so efficiently that they organize all of their items into one of the best carry on luggage backpack options, so that they have everything with them when they reach their destination. Imagine – no more waiting for your bags at baggage claim, and no more reporting of lost bags!
eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible Junior
If you love eBags as much as we do, you’ll know why this this Mother Lode Weekender Convertible bag from eBags is at the top of our list of best carry on luggage backpack without wheels. This bag comes extremely highly reviewed by actual users around the world due to it’s rich set of thoughtful features that meet the needs of travelers of all types.
The backpack straps are contoured and generously padded for comfort, and have a fully adjustable and removable sternum strap and waist strap for added support. These straps can be neatly tucked and zipped away when not needed. A removable shoulder strap is also included, so that the bag can be carried as a duffel bag when preferred.
This bag has two spacious compartments. The main one area’s dimensions are 19″ x 5″ x 13″, and it has removable dividers for flexibility in keeping items separated. Zippered compartments provide additional organizing versatility.
At the bottom of the main compartment is a hidden padded laptop area will accommodate your laptop computer up to 11.75″ x 17.5″, utilizing eBags’ unique Laptop Sling smart adjustment technology to keep its securely cradled.
The front compartment spans nearly the entire length of the bag, and can be accessed through a convenient exterior entry zipper. This gives quick access without having to open up the whole bag, making it a perfect place to stow items you’d like to grab quickly, such as a sweater, cosmetics, or change of clothes.
And when you need a bit more room for those souvenirs, just unzip the expandable zipper to get 10% more capacity.
The front of the bag has a flat zippered panel that’s great for travel documents and papers. And inside the front zip flap is an organizer with pockets and slots for pens, cell phone, iPod, lipstick, keys, and other smaller items. You’ll even find a tuck away water bottle pocket, that is easily pulled out only when you need to use it.
Wheels: None
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 19.5″ x 14″ x 9″
Weight: 3.7 lbs
Colors: black, blue, eggplant, graphite, red, green, or turquoise
High Sierra AT7 22″ Wheeled Duffel with Backpack Straps
A leader in wheeled duffel bags with backpack straps, High Sierra offers pieces that meet the needs of most any type of traveler. The AT7 22-inch rolling duffel with backpack straps is one of the most popular in this series because it can be used as a carry on. The backpack duffel bag provides the 3-in-1 convenience of a duffel bag, a carry-on backpack, and an rolling upright, all combined into a single highly versatile bag.
Constructed of high density foam that’s lightweight and highly durable, this bag is designed to handle the rigors of frequent travel. Unlike traditional duffels, this bag has a book style opening with a zipper that extends all the way around three sides of the bag, allowing the top to flip completely back for full access to the interior.
A zippered divider panel separates two spacious interior compartments. The drop bottom lower compartment enables you to keep bulkier items, such as jackets or shoes, separate from other belongings. But if you’d rather have one extra spacious interior compartment, you can simply unzip and roll back the divider panel. Tie down straps on the interior can be snapped over clothing to secure it in place.
Extend the recessed telescoping SURE GRIP handle from its locked closed position when you want to roll your bag along on its two inline skate style wheels. Or use the well padded backpack shoulder to carry like a backpack. As with other convertible carry on backpacks, the straps can be tucked away into a back panel when not in use.
Do keep in mind that carry on backpacks with wheels are heavier than those without wheels. However, even with the wheels and handle mechanisms, this bag weights less than 7 1/2 pounds.
Wheels: 2
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 22.0″ x 14.0″ x 9.0″
Weight: 7.4 lbs
Colors: Black
High Sierra AT7 Carry-on Spinner Duffel with Backpack Straps
For those who prefer the upright wheeling capability of a 4-wheeled spinner style bag, you’ll want to have a look at the AT7 Carry-on Spinner Duffel Bag with Backpack Straps from High Sierra. This bag is nearly identical in features as the 2-wheeled version reviewed above, with spacious compartments and ability to use as a backpack, duffel, or upright suitcase.
These High Sierra bags are constructed of a 1200 Denier Duraweave Duralite fabric that features a special water resistant coating to help keep gear dry when you’re caught out in an unexpected rain. And the retractable handle make it easy to maneuver your suitcase when rolling, and then stores neatly inside when not in use. This handle locks in place when fully extended, and when in stored position.
Unlike the 2-wheeled duffel bag above, this bag is equipped with 4 sets of dual spinner wheels that let you guide smoothly and with minimal arm strain across all types of surfaces, even when the bag is completely full.
Wheels: 4
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 22.0″ x 14.0″ x 9.0″
Weight: 8.5 lbs
Colors: Black
SwissGear ScanSmart Laptop Computer Backpack
Traveling with a laptop? Then consider this laptop computer backpack from SwissGear. Not only does this bag help you carry your gear comfortably and efficiently, but it also keeps your laptop extra secure with SwissGear’s own ScanSmart design. Rich with features and enhanced usability, this has continued to be a popular best seller year over year.
Designed with air travel in mind, the TSA-friendly bag unfolds flat to quickly and easily access or remove your laptop without having to disrupt any of your other belongings. Inside, your laptop up to 17″ is securely stored in a separate padded compartment with adjustable padded straps that tighten to fit different laptop sizes. An open viewing compartment has a window that enables quick identification of the laptop without needing to take it out.
Numerous pockets and compartments provide alternate packing and organization choice for clothing, toiletries, accessories, and electronics. Well padded shoulder backpack straps together with an airflow system in the back help you carry the bag on your back with enhanced support and comfort. This bag is a winner for taking on board your next flight, or for everyday use when heading out to work or school.
Wheels: No
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 18.5″ x 13.5″ x 9″
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Color: Black
Hynes Eagle 38L Flight Approved Weekender Carry on Backpack
Convert from a backpack to a compact suitcase in seconds with this 38 liter Flight Approved Weekender Carry on Backpack from Hynes Eagle. Designed to accommodate 3 packing cubes plus additional gadgets and gear, it will fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you on most flights.
Because there are no wheels or retractable handle that takes up interior space, you’ll be surprised how much packing room this bag provides, and how lightweight it is. With a top handle, side handle, and adjustable hideaway shoulder straps, you’ll have multiple ways of easily carrying your bag wherever you need to go.
The generous exterior front pocket fits up to a 15.6 inch laptop, with additional front compartments and organizer for phone, pens, and travel documents. Use the interior straps to hold items in place, then synch the exterior compression straps to protect your items and get just the right fit on your back. Additional sternum strap creates even more support and stability when carrying as a backpack.
Wheels: None
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 19.7″ x 13″ x 7.9″
Weight: 1.72 lbs
Colors: Camo Pattern, Black, Grey, Brown, Maple Leaf Pattern, Grey/Orange Trim, RedViolet, Travel Stamps Pattern
Do you like this style but need just a little bit more packing space? Then have a look at the Hynes Eagle 40L Flight Approved Carry On Backpack. This slightly larger 40 liter version shares most of the same feature set as the 38L, but measuring 20.1″ x 13.4″ x 9.8″ it has just enough added room to fit in some extra goodies. And it comes in some compelling color choices.
J World New York Sunrise Rolling Backpack
Choose from a huge range of fashionably fun patterns and colors with the New York Sunrise Rolling Backpack from J World. A favorite among young women and girls of all ages, these packs make a stylish carry-on bag when traveling by air, and are also great for school, around town, and week-end getaways.
This bag is not only cute, but is extremely functional as well. The extendable handle locks at multiple lengths to accommodate users of different heights, and is used when you want to easily roll through the airport on the two smooth gliding wheels. Or, you can opt to carry your bag on your back by pulling out the backpack straps from their concealing back pocket for convenient hands-free handling.
These bags feature versatile organization choices with useful compartments including: a side mesh pocket that’s great for an easy to grab snack or water bottle, a spacious front zipper pocket for a sweater, tablet, or other quick access items, and a smaller front zip pocket with organizer slots that are perfect for smaller items such as cell phone, glasses, lipstick, keys, pens, papers, and other belongings.
A protective molded casing at the bottom has integrated feet so that the bag does not topple over when at rest. It also provide durable protection for the bottom of the bag. Compact and easy to maneuver make these a popular choice for teens and pre-teens.
Wheels: 2
Exterior Bag Dimensions: 18″ x 13″ x 9″
Weight: 4 lbss
Colors: Over 35 color and pattern options