I first fell in love with the idea of using a carry-on backpack instead of a suitcase while living in New York City. The commute to the airport involved more stairs than I was comfortable lugging a suitcase up and down.
Compared to a hard-shell suitcase, carry-on backpacks are typically more malleable — allowing you to truly pack as much as you want inside of them and still be able to (hopefully, ideally) fit them in the overhead bins.
In the pursuit of the best of the best, I took a carry-on backpack with me everywhere from weddings to campgrounds over the course of 8 months. Read the findings from my travels (and learn which ones are actually worth the money) below.
What I look for in a carry-on backpack
To me, a good carry-on backpack is easy and comfortable to carry. As a transplant to New York City and someone who was in a long distance relationship, I’ve spent my fair share of time in airports, on airplanes and trekking from my apartment. That being said, there's a few things I look for in a carry-on backpack to make it stand out:
- It's easier to travel with than a suitcase (which isn't hard just by virtue of what the product is).
- It needs to remain durable amidst constant travel. The last thing I want is for a strap or handle to break mid-commute.
- It'll stand the test of time. A good carry-on bag isn't cheap, so I want something that's worth the money that'll last for years.
- It's easy to clean. Between traveling on public transit, putting bags in the overhead bin or putting them underneath the plane when they need to be gate-checked, carry-on backpacks can get dirty quickly so it's important to me to have one that's easy to clean.
The experts also weighed in with their expertise: “I also love interior compartments to help me stay organized, especially when I’m living out of my [bag] during back-to-back adventures,” Jill Whelan, celebrations ambassador for Princess Cruises, previously told us. “And I always opt for something lightweight—because the less the bag weighs, the more I can bring without worrying about fees or hauling around something heavy.”
Best overall carry-on backpack
Ease of use: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 3/5 | Overhead bin compatibility: 4/5 | Comfortability: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.25/5
This pack rivaled my Cotopaxi (one that I’ve had for years), and I found myself favoring it for longer trips. The sleek, white pack provided a more formal look compared to the outdoorsy, rugged look Cotopaxi offers. It proved to fit just as much, if not a little bit more (which is probably why I started to prefer it).
This pack sits a little higher on the back than the others, no matter how much or how little you fit inside. This, plus the supportive back panel, helped it be comfortable no matter how much I packed in it. The hip belt slides into the back of the bag, so you can easily access it when you need it and neatly stow it when you don’t.
This pack was deep. Rather than employing the use of multiple meshed zipper pockets like some other carry-on backpacks I’ve seen, it used its 45-liter capacity to the best of its ability: an open space to pack however you’d like rather than being limited to pre-sized pockets.
Beyond the main pocket to pack all of your clothes, there are a plethora of additional functional pockets, including a padded laptop sleeve, a “smugglers pocket” (which sits nearly flush to the back and allows you to store small valuables such as key, a passport or wallet), an “admin” pocket for things like pencils and chargers and a water bottle pocket.
There were next-to-no cons to note for this bag. At times, it did grow heavy after a long day of travel, but that’s more of a personal problem than a problem with the bag itself.
I also deducted a point for overhead compatibility because if you stuff it too full, most airlines will gate check it. While a majority of these bags are malleable and can often be stuffed into the overhead bin, I’ve found that most gate agents take one look and laugh before taping a ticket onto it.
More carry-on backpacks, tested by the author
A very close second:
Ease of use: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 2/5 | Overhead bin compatibility: 5/5 | Comfortability: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.25/5
This product (which was a 2023 Shop TODAY Travel Gear Award winner!) has the most affordable price tag out of all of the bags I tested, yet ranks above some pricier, name-brand options. I took this pack while flying to and from Arizona before heading home for the holidays, so it needed to put in work to serve me (and my overpacking tendencies) for up to three weeks.
The trolley sleeves made traveling a breeze, with the ability to easily slide it over the handles of my suitcase, rather than schlepping it through the airport. Plus, the adjustable straps on the side were able to compress the bag in a way that made it easier to fit in the overhead bin.
It can be carried as a backpack or duffel bag and I found it comfortable both ways. Plus, no matter how much I packed inside, the weight was distributed evenly and didn’t slow me down or give me poor posture.
The exterior got messy as messy could get. The Arizona climate isn’t for the weak (or white-colored tennis shoes, for that matter). Upon leaving, everything had a dusty red hue and a couple of scuffs from wear and tear around the airport in overhead bins and through baggage claim. The red coloring was easy to get off with a couple of wipes and a wet paper towel in the airport bathroom, but I found the scuffs to be a bit more permanent. Based on my experience, I think each of the colors aside from gray would easily show any damage or scuffs to the exterior.
Cleaning aside, the excellent user experience and budget-friendly price point were what very nearly earned it the title of best overall.
Best for long weekends and light packers:
Ease of use: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 3/5 | Overhead bin compatibility: 5/5 | Comfortability: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
The first thing that I noticed right away about this bag was how structured it was. It didn't lose its square shape over time despite multiple uses. For me, this was a plus because it not only ensures the bag looks good on the outside, but it also keeps me from overpacking since it's not super malleable.
Many of the bags I tried have mesh or zippered pockets on either end, but this one has zippered mesh pockets within the main compartment. I've found that this helps the bag close easier when you zipper the bag shut.
Similar to Matador, this bag has an "admin" pocket at the front, but it doesn't unzip all the way across in a way that allows you to leave it open. I found that I needed to hold it open when searching for whatever you need.
My main gripe with this backpack is that I found the way the main compartment opened to be more frustrating than not. It has zippers on either side that force you to peel back the front like the tongue of a shoe. Over time, I found that it got easier and easier to leave the pocket open, but this was after several instances of placing a packing cube on one end to act as a weight to hold it the flap down.
I wasn't the only one who was a fan of this bag. My boyfriend used this for a weekend trip home and was impressed by the end — comfortability and size played a large role in winning him over. He typically uses a larger duffel but appreciated how this one could be used as both that and a backpack.
Stands the test of time (and overpacking):
Ease of use: 4/5 | Ease of cleaning: 2/5 | Overhead bin compatibility: 3/5 | Comfortability: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.25/5
I received my Cotopaxi for Christmas in 2022 and it is still one of my most-traveled-with pieces of luggage. How “cute” a backpack normally takes the backseat in terms of priorities for me — I’m more drawn to how functional it is. Luckily, this bag balances both pretty well. As a chronic and constant overpacker, I need a backpack that is functional, durable and able to stand the test of time (and way too many shoes).
It helps that Cotopaxi’s bags come in flashy, mismatched colorways that help you spot it at baggage claim (if you end up having to gate check it).
Each Allpa pack unzips similar to a traditional suitcase, unveiling two sections of mesh, zippered pockets that you can use to store your items. I find that the larger mesh pocket can hold up to two or three packing cubes depending on their size, while the medium-sized mesh pocket is perfect for stashing shoes.
I typically reserve the two small pockets for random accessories that don’t have a pre-established space like sunglasses, a disposable camera, chargers, etc.
Whether you’re relying on the shoulder straps to wear it as a regular backpack or you’re carrying it one-handed with the included duffel handle, I’ve found that’s it’s easy enough to carry. (Though, depending on how full and heavy you pack it, you could grow some calluses from maintaining a good grip like I did.)
My biggest gripe with this bag is that I’ve found it extremely difficult (read: nearly impossible) to get out any smudges or streaks that may appear from checking it ahead of time or being forced to gate check it. It requires more than the traditional Clorox wipe treatment that’s sufficient for most hard suitcases or nylon items. The only thing I’ve found success cleaning with is a Magic Eraser, so all hope isn’t lost for getting it clean!
While this bag had middling scores for ease of (exterior) cleaning, it’s been my go-to for years and it’s been hard to give up for some of these other carry-on backpacks. I’ve never experienced anything spilling within the bag and, after owning for nearly four years, the interior has stood the test of time. Even though it requires a little elbow grease the exterior, the colors are still vibrant and the zippers still slide with ease.
Frequently asked questions
“For cotton canvas duffel bags and luggage, toss it in the washer with your usual detergent and run the warm/cotton cycle,” cleaning coach Leslie Reichert previously told us. “Tumble dry until it is just damp, then air dry. When the bag is clean and dry, treat it with Scotchgard. (Beforehand, though, it’s best to protect painted metal parts like zippers and locks by covering them with masking tape.) Before storing away your canvas luggage, make sure it is completely dry or you’ll end up with a bagful of mildew and rust.”
We'd recommend treating a carry-on backpack like the rest of your luggage which should be cleaned after every trip, experts have previously told us.
How I tested carry-on backpacks
Over the course of 8 months (since August 2025), I overpacked several carry-on backpacks, asking strangers to help me shove them in the overhead bins with a “Midwestern Nice” smile and even developing calluses on my hands from carrying oversized bags every which way throughout New York City, multiple airports and back.
My travels took me on several modes of transportation, including planes, trains and the subway. I took these bags with me to Arizona, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. So it's safe to say they've seen their fair share of the midwest and the east coast.
When it was time to pack them, I never let a backpack slow me down. I like to think that I told the backpack how much it could carry, rather than the other way around. If a bag couldn’t fit everything I needed, I moved on to the next one. Each bag was packed the same Baggu packing cubes.
Each backpack was scored on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best) in the following categories:
- Ease of use: How easy was it to pack? Did it fit a lot of clothes? Was it easy to handle/carry/maneuver?
- Ease of cleaning: How easy was it to clean any marks or scuffs that appeared on the outside? Was it easy to clean on the inside?
- Comfortability: How comfortable was it to carry in all of the ways that the bag provided (as a backpack, as a duffel bag or any other way)?
- Overhead bin compatibility: While this varies by airline, I typically fly Frontier, a budget airline that allows carry-on bags to be no more than 24 x 16 x 10 inches and 35 pounds, according to their website.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
Sierra Hoeger is a former associate editor at Shop TODAY, and has written broadcast segments, Shop TODAY Awards articles and conducted other tests for Ranked, including rice cookers, protein bars and water pitcher filters, so she has a deep understanding and knowledge of methodology and testing processes.
Meet the experts
- Jill Whelan is the celebrations ambassador for Princess Cruises.
- Leslie Reichart is a professional cleaner and cleaning expert.
