The Best Carry-On Backpacks, Tested By Experts On Multiple Trips

Our rating: 10 | Dimensions: 11.5 x 16.5 x 6 inches (without the metro kit add-on) | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Volume: 18 liters | Material: Nylon or vegan leather options | Laptop compartment: 15 inches

Best for:

• City travel
• Pairing with carry-on luggage as a personal item
• Organization

Skip if:

• You need a larger backpack for one-bag travel

Monos’ Metro Backpack is one of our favorite carry-ons for every type of travel; I have used this bag on at least 10 trips since I started testing it a year ago (I also use it as a daily commuter bag, too). After over a year of testing, the vegan leather exterior still looks brand new—but where it shines is its functionality. It’s big enough that I’ve used it to store an outfit and everyday essentials for a weekend trip. It also has a separate shoe compartment so I don’t get my clothes dirty.

I appreciate that it stands up on its own so it’s easy to pack, and when I’m at the airport, I put my passport in the discreet pocket along the back panel for easy access without worrying that it’ll get snatched in a crowd. But best of all, it looks sleek and doesn’t scream “tourist” when you’re wearing it around a city. I own it in the Mahogany color, which pairs well with every outfit but isn’t too boring.

Expert tip: Thanks to the modular design, you can unsnap the front compartment and stow it in the seatback pocket with items you need handy, like a phone charger. This was crucial on my short flights in Europe when the underseat space on the small airplanes is limited.

Our rating: 7 | Dimensions: 19.75 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 2.38 pounds | Volume: Not listed | Material: Recycled water bottles | Laptop compartment: 17 inches

Best for:

• A medium size pack to use as a personal item or carry on, depending on the length of your trip
• Laptop drop protection
• Enough compartments without being overkill

Skip if:

• You’re looking for something a little more stylish

Sarah Knoll, a lawyer from Edinburgh, travels to nearby cities like London and Glasgow for work each month and frequently takes long weekend trips and holidays by plane. Throughout all of her travels over the past year, she has been using the Targus Spruce Ecosmart Backpack; she also carries it to work three days a week (a 35 minute walk each way). “I feel like a lot of business and travel bags get overly particular with pen loops and charging cable holders and nonsense that’s overkill and determines how you have to pack it,” she says. “This is a good in-between. I like that it has a lot of compartments and storage options but not too many that are single purpose.”

Even though it’s over $100 cheaper than other bags on this list, the Targus Spruce Ecosmart Backpack has all the features you need, including a SafePort sling that protects your laptop from drops and bumps. Plus, while “it’s not sexy looking, it’s not at all offensive,” Knoll adds.

Expert tip: This bag is slightly over the size for the small personal item on European airlines, but it fits under a seat just fine, so Knoll hasn’t had any problems with it.

Our rating: 8 | Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Volume: 45 liters | Material: Nylon and polyester | Laptop compartment: 16 inches

Best for:

• Photographers and videographers needing space for equipment
• A comfortable waistband for carrying heavy weight
• Mid-trip lengths (about 5 – 7 days)

Skip if:

• You want an external laptop pocket

Peak Design is well known for its sleek, stylish and tech-savvy bags, and the brand’s Travel Pack is another one that I always reach for during travel. While this backpack is capable in all situations, it really stands out for travelers who jet set with a lot of tech. (If you need extra protection and organization, check out the brand’s camera cubes.) But even if you don’t need to carry heavy cameras and lenses, I found that this bag is super handy thanks to its 360-degree handles. There are four in total on the top, back and sides, which make it easy to grab from the passenger seat of the car or the overhead bin on an airplane. If the 45-liter pack is too big for your needs, the Travel Pack also comes in a 30-liter version, which I prefer for a short weekend getaway or to pair with a roller carry-on.

Expert tip: With multiple zippers, you can access any point of the pack without completely unloading your gear, but this unconventional style takes a bit of adjustment. You may want to use it for a few days at home before taking it on a trip.

Our rating: 9 | Dimensions: 22 x 12.8 x 11 inches | Volume: 45 liters | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Material: Ripstop nylon with PU waterproofing | Laptop compartment: 16 inches

Best for:

• One-bag travel
• The weatherproof and durable exterior is ideal for outdoor-oriented trips
• Lengthier trips (more than 7 days)

Skip if:

• You don’t want to wear a large backpack

Forbes Vetted has already called out the Matador GlobeRider45 as one of the best travel backpacks (you can read this in-depth review for more details), and I also consider this bag to be the best carry-on backpack for long trips. Whenever I want to travel with only one bag, I reach for this one—most significantly on a recent two week trip to Spain that involved both climbing and city travel.

I’m a chronic over-packer, but I managed to fit everything I needed for multiple activities and weather conditions all in this bag. This gave me so much freedom when I needed to move between accommodations (that pesky check-out, check-in timing issue) and didn’t want to deal with rolling luggage. I walked miles with this pack and it never gave me any discomfort because of the robust harness system and squishy back panel that rival a backpacking pack. It even has load lifters, which are secondary straps on the shoulders to balance and secure the weight. The only reason I deducted a point? Sometimes the zipper is hard to move because the pack is so flexible.

Expert tip: Don’t be afraid to pack the Matador GlobeRider45 to the brim; the zipper is incredibly durable and the top pocket stays functional no matter how full the rest of the pack is.

Our rating: 9 | Dimensions: 15.3 x 12.5 x 5.9 inches | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Volume: 18.7 liters | Material: Vegetable-tanned vachetta leather | Laptop compartment: 16 inches

Best for:

• Business travel
• Padded shoulder straps
• Exterior pocket

Skip if:

• You’re on a budget

Forbes Vetted senior travel editor Astrid Taran traveled with this bag on a recent trip to Mexico City and has been raving about it ever since. “I don’t usually wear backpacks, but when it comes to travel, I always like to have my hands free,” says Taran. “I was immediately smitten with how elegant this backpack looks. It’s made with high-quality Italian leather that elevates just about every outfit or suitcase you pair it with.”

In addition to its great looks, Taran was also impressed by its capacity and handy exterior pocket. “It was spacious enough to hold my 16-inch laptop, a tablet, a makeup case, my wallet and a water bottle without feeling heavy, thanks to its comfortable padded shoulder straps,” she says. “I especially appreciate its exterior pocket, which is the perfect size for my passport. Due to its material, it’s not exactly weather-proof, which is why I deducted a point.”

Expert tip: For travelers who want to avoid leather, Carl Friedrik also makes a nylon-based 72-Hour Backpack that is just as elegant–and (a tiny bit) more affordable.