In my ten years of full-time travel, I don't even want to tell you how many backpacks, weekenders, giant totes, and various other personal items I have purchased and tried in the search for a truly perfect backpack amongst them all.
Specifically, after all the trial and error, I realized which features a perfect bag needed to have:
- 30L to 35L size
- A slide-through trolley strap to secure it on top of a suitcase
- Dedicated pocket for a 16" laptop in a sleeve with easy access
- Side opening, like a weekender bag
- Backpack straps
- Sleek, under-the-radar look that doesn't draw attention to the size
Maximizing carry-on ability (aka pretty much the largest possible bag you can get away with as a 'personal item' carry-on) comes to around 30 - 35 Liter capacity. One big note is that if you have a smaller laptop, eliminating the 16" specification opens up many more options for you, as many of the bags I found specified laptops up to 15", tragically. And what turned out to be the real struggle: the ability to open the bag from the side - not a clamshell that you need to lay down and flip all the way open, or a little side access pocket, but a way to unzip the side of the bag and really see and access most everything in it. My biggest struggle with more classic backpacks is that once everything is in, it feels impossible to get anything out without having to dig, or pull out a ton of other items first, while a weekender style makes this so much more convenient.
My exact requirements won't be the same as yours (but my thousands of hours and hundreds of flights of experience mean I know which little things make all the difference over time) - and no single backpack is the perfect choice for every traveler because the way you pack, the airlines you fly, and the gear you carry all influence what will work best. Someone taking weekend city breaks with a laptop has very different priorities than a photographer carrying lots of camera equipment or a one-bag traveler trying to avoid checked luggage for weeks at a time.
Rather than ranking bags solely by capacity or features, I've broken this list into the categories that matter most, highlighting the best option for every type of travel and every packing style so you can find the backpack that best fits the way you travel.
The Best Travel Backpacks at a Glance
| Backpack | Category | Capacity | Laptop | Personal Item? | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lululemon Cruiser Travel Backpack 35L | Best Overall | 35L | Up to 16 inches | Most airlines, at discretion | One-bag travel, weekend trips and general travel | $168 |
| Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6L | Best for Strict Personal-Item Limits | 26L - 32L | Up to 16 inches | Yes, when unexpanded | Strict airlines, frequent flights and minimalist weekends | $110 |
| Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L | Best Convertible | 30L | Up to 16 inches | Most airlines, but exceeds strict 18-inch limits | International travel, active trips and versatile carry | $179 |
| WANDRD PRVKE 31L | Best Camera Backpack | 31L | Up to 16 inches | Possible when lightly packed, but better overhead | Photographers, drones and mirrorless camera systems | $250 backpack / $344 bundle |
| Cotopaxi Allpa 28L | Best Organized | 28L | Up to 15 inches | Most airlines, but outside strict 18 x 14 x 8 limits | Visual packers and travelers who dislike packing cubes | $205 |
| Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L | Best for Cameras and Tech | 27L - 33L | Up to 16 inches | No for strict personal-item limits | Photographers, content creators and tech-heavy trips | $240 |
| Leatherology Harwood Weekender | Best Weekender | Approximately 35L | 16-inch laptop without a sleeve | Some airlines, depending on packing | Luxury weekends, road trips and business travel | $435 |
| BAGSMART Blast 38L / Blast Pro 38L | Best Budget | 28L - 38L | Up to 15.6 inches | No when fully expanded | Budget-conscious trips, students and occasional travel | $75 basic / $90 pro |
Best Overall Carry-On Backpack: Lululemon Cruiser Travel Backpack 35L
For the chronic overpacker, one-bag traveler, or anyone who wants a great, versatile backpack with all of the features.
After a deep, deep dive into the far corners of the internet looking for a bag that fit all of my requirements, I was shocked when the absolute best option seemed to not be from a bag company but... Lululemon?
The Lululemon Cruiser Travel Backpack 35L is my top pick because it was the only bag that seemingly exists with all of the above requirements, and hits a rare sweet spot: it packs like luggage, carries like a backpack, can fully open sideways like a weekender bag, and still looks polished enough to detract from its size. The clamshell opening makes it easy to see an entire weekend wardrobe, camera gear, or travel essentials at once, while interior compression straps can hold everything in one place.
Turns out, this bag is a brand new release - when I bought it, there was only one single review. So you heard it here first!
the main interior pocket and double zipper gives you full control of how to access inside.
The padded exterior laptop pocket fits up to a 16-inch computer with room, and is extra easy to take in and out at TSA, and the fully unzipping main pocket means in-flight essentials are easy to reach. There's a good mix of organization and open pockets to adjust to your needs.
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with Lululemon for dropping this bag, and really thinking through the functionality and design details. On our first trip, my husband was eyeing it, saying he might need to get one of his own. Currently, this bag only comes in black and a muted mushroom brown.
Best for: general travelers, weekend travelers, and anyone wanting one stylish carry-on backpack that can fit most of a suitcase's contents.
Price: $168
What out for: it measures 20.3 x 13.6 x 9.1 inches, so it is a little bigger than the strictest carry-on size, but the benefit of a black backpack is that they are easy to go unnoticed. It hasn't received a second look on any of the flights I've taken.
Shop on Lululemon here
Best Truly 18 x 14 x 8 Personal Item Backpack - Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6L
This bag is essentially a mini version of the Lululemon Cruiser, with an almost identical opening style and interior organization, perfect for travelers who need a bag that genuinely fits inside the strictest personal item 18 x 14 x 8-inch limit. The Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6L is a standout: this is the bag I would reach for if I knew bags are being measured, and didn't want to spend the whole boarding process wondering whether I am about to be charged at the gate. Its unexpanded dimensions are 17 x 12 x 6 inches, leaving a little breathing room to use the expander.
The suitcase-style opening, internal mesh divider, laptop sleeve, and quick-access front pocket give it all the same great features of a larger or more expensive backpack.
Best for: frequent flyers, budget-airline travelers and minimalist weekend trips
Watch out for: expansion can push it outside personal-item limits
My verdict: the safest pick when a true 18 x 14 x 8 fit is the priority
Shop on Nordstrom Here | Shop on REI Here | Shop on Amazon Here
Best Convertible Travel Backpack: Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L
The Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L is an excellent do-everything travel bag and repeatedly came up in my search. Its shoulder straps tuck away, and its padded hip belt converts into a shoulder strap, allowing it to work as a backpack, briefcase, or duffel, and a wide luggage pass-through slides over a roller handle, while the dedicated tech compartment opens flat for easier airport screening. Patagonia is legendarily an ethical company with well-made products and extremely generous warranties, so you know that when you buy one, you can keep it for life.
The weather-resistant recycled shell is suited to travelers who are hard on their gear. At 20 x 12 x 7 inches, however, the Mini MLC is two inches too long for a strict 18-inch sizer, but it is a very good compact carry-on that will not be questioned on 90% of flights.
Best for: international travel, active trips, and travelers who want multiple carrying options
Price: $179
Watch out for: the rigid length is outside strict personal-item measurements, for budget carrier travelers
My verdict: one of the most durable and versatile small carry-on backpacks
Shop on REI here | Shop on Dick's Sporting Goods here
Best Camera Backpack for Photographers: WANDRD PRVKE 31L
For photographers who travel with a mirrorless camera, multiple lenses, or a drone, the WANDRD PRVKE 31L is one of the most thoughtfully designed camera backpacks available. Unlike many camera bags that sacrifice comfort or organization, the PRVKE manages to function equally well as a travel backpack, making it an excellent choice for photographers who spend as much time in airports as they do behind the camera.
The two things that set this backpack apart are the side-access door and the photography cubes inset included in the photography bundle, which keep your gear incredibly safe and secure. Instead of taking the backpack off every time you want your camera, you can swing it around one shoulder and have your camera in your hands within seconds. The removable camera cube keeps gear protected while allowing you to customize the interior depending on how much equipment you're bringing, and the expandable roll-top provides additional space for a jacket, food, or extra clothing when needed. A suspended laptop sleeve, weather-resistant materials, hidden passport pocket, and luggage pass-through round out a design that feels purpose-built for travel photography rather than simply carrying camera gear.
The tradeoff is that the PRVKE prioritizes photography equipment over maximizing packing space. If your goal is fitting as many clothes as possible into a personal item, there are better options. However, if your camera is your most valuable travel companion, it's difficult to find another backpack that strikes such a strong balance between protection, accessibility, and comfort.
I used this as my main travel backpack for a couple of years, and Brandon has been using his religiously, on every trip, since about 2018 (see the lead photo on this post). For me, the biggest thing that made me switch this out was not being able to get into the entire backpack from the side and see everything - as I tend to jam-pack my carry-on, and prefer not to fully open the clamshell every time.
Best for: photographers, content creators, and travelers carrying mirrorless camera systems or drones
Price: $250 Backpack / $344 Backpack + Photography Bundle
Watch out for: the camera cube reduces usable space for clothing, and the 31L size is generally better suited to the overhead bin than under the seat when fully packed
My verdict: if photography is a priority, this is the camera backpack I recommend most because it offers the best combination of organization, protection, and travel-friendly features - this is by far the backpack I see used most by other photographers, so you know it's the one that works.
Shop on Best Buy Here | Shop on Amazon here
Best Organized Travel Backpack: Cotopaxi Allpa 28L
The Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Backpack opens like a suitcase and divides the interior into large, medium, and small zippered sections. That built-in organization can replace packing cubes on a short trip, which I love when I want to open my bag and see everything at once instead of digging through one dark compartment. The current design also includes a stretch water-bottle pocket, front accessory pocket, padded 15-inch laptop sleeve, luggage pass-through, and tuck-away waist belt.
Cotopaxi Allpa 28L Backpack interior organization
Some of the most unique and useful internal organization I've seen! Its colorful options stand out on a baggage carousel, while the black version feels more understated. The 19 x 12 x 9-inch measurements exceed an 18 x 14 x 8 limit in both height and depth, so this is a compact carry-on-not a guaranteed personal item.
Best for: visual packers, weekend travelers, and anyone who hates digging through one large compartment
Price: $205
Watch out for: the structured 9-inch depth is difficult to compress when fully packed
My verdict: the best travel backpack that can double as a small suitcase
Shop on Nordstrom Here | Shop on Dick's Sporting Goods Here | Shop on Backcountry Here
Best Camera and Tech Backpack: Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L
The Peak Design Travel Backpack 30L is designed around quick access and modular organization. Its large rear hatch opens the full main compartment, while the divided top pocket corrals passports, keys, and other small essentials. It includes padded laptop and tablet sleeves, large side pockets, stowable shoulder straps and external carry straps.
Photographers will get the most value from the bag because it works with Peak Design’s camera cubes and packing accessories. I would choose this one when protecting and organizing camera gear matters more than shaving every possible ounce from the bag. The weather-resistant recycled shell and robust zipper construction add protection, although they also make this a more substantial and structured pack.
At approximately 20.9 x 13.4 x 7.9 inches, it meets many international overhead carry-on rules but not an 18-inch personal-item maximum.
Best for: photographers, content creators and tech-heavy digital nomads
Watch out for: premium price and too much length for a strict personal item
My verdict: the best carry-on backpack for organized camera and tech travel
Shop on Best Buy Here | Shop on Nordstrom Here | Shop on Backcountry Here
Best Weekender: Leatherology Harwood Weekender
The Leatherology Harwood Weekender is one of the most refined travel bags I've tested, combining premium full-grain leather with an unusually practical layout that makes packing feel effortless. Unlike many leather weekender bags that sacrifice function for aesthetics, the Harwood features a wide doctor's bag-style opening that allows the entire interior to remain visible while packing, making it easy to organize clothing, shoes, and toiletries without digging through layers. Inside, a padded laptop sleeve, multiple slip pockets, and zippered compartments keep smaller essentials organized, while the structured silhouette helps the bag hold its shape even when fully packed.
This one feels like a bit of a Hear Me Out: not a backpack, but I used this bag on so many trips for years. I kept acquiring other backpacks trying to replace it - and I always came back to this Weekender, over and over. While the same size or smaller than many of these, the shape just felt like I could always fit so much into this. The top opening made it so easy to grab anything I needed out of it from under my airplane seat; the trolley strap is secure and easy, and the front pocket doubles as a water bottle holder - if I had a 15" laptop, I probably would have never replaced it. (It fit my 16" laptop easily without a case, but with even the slimmest laptop sleeve, it was just the slightest half inch too narrow.) And after a few years and a couple hundred trips, this bag still looks great and shows only the slightest amount of wear.
Best for: luxury weekend trips, business travel, road trips, and anyone who prefers timeless leather luggage over technical backpacks
Price: $435
Watch out for: significantly heavier than nylon travel bags, lacks backpack straps
My verdict: I never expected to love this as much as I did, and I'm still tempted to go back to her.
Shop on Leatherology Here
Best Travel Backpack on a Budget: BAGSMART Blast 38L (Basic) / Blast Pro 38L
The BAGSMART Blast series has become one of the strongest values in the travel backpack market because it delivers many of the features typically found on bags that cost two or three times as much. Both versions open fully like a suitcase, making them far easier to pack than traditional top-loading backpacks, and both expand from approximately 28 liters to 38 liters for trips where you need the extra capacity. A padded laptop compartment, multiple organization pockets, compression straps, and an expandable design make either bag an excellent option for carry-on-only travel.
The standard Blast is the better choice if you're looking for the lowest price while still getting an impressively functional travel backpack. The Blast Pro adds several thoughtful upgrades, including a more refined internal divider system, a ventilated shoe compartment, RFID-blocking pocket, lockable laptop compartment, upgraded ripstop nylon construction, and YKK zippers. Those improvements make the Pro feel noticeably more polished, although the overall packing experience remains very similar between the two.
BAGSMART Blast 28L/38L Pro - Seriously impressive organization!
For anyone trying to maximize value, it's difficult to find another backpack in this price range that offers this much usable space, organization, and versatility. I would happily recommend the standard model for occasional travel, while frequent flyers will likely appreciate the extra features of the Pro.
Best for: budget-conscious travelers, weekend trips, carry-on-only travel, students, and anyone looking for maximum features without paying premium prices
Price: $75 for Basic / $90 for Pro
Watch out for: the laptop compartment fits up to a 15.6-inch laptop, and when expanded to the full 38 liters, the bag is designed for overhead-bin carry-on use rather than fitting beneath an airline seat.
My verdict: the best budget travel backpack currently available, offering features and packing efficiency that rival far more expensive bags while keeping the price comfortably under $100.
Shop on Bagsmart Here | Shop on Amazon Here
How to Pack a Personal Item Backpack
- Measure the packed bag. Exterior dimensions-not stated capacity-determine whether it fits the sizer.
- Leave the expansion zipper closed. Expansion panels are useful at your destination but can push a bag beyond the airline’s limit.
- Use one or two compression cubes. Overstuffing multiple cubes can create a rigid block that will not compress under the seat.
- Wear the bulkiest pieces. A jacket and heavier shoes consume a disproportionate amount of a 20–28L bag.
- Keep liquids and electronics accessible. Do not bury the items you may need to remove at security.
- Do not fill the quick-access pockets completely. Bulging front pockets count toward the bag’s depth.
- Check the rules for every flight. The most restrictive airline on a multi-airline itinerary should determine your bag choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an 18 x 14 x 8 bag a carry-on or personal item?
On airlines such as Frontier and Spirit, 18 x 14 x 8 inches is the maximum personal-item size. It must fit under the seat. A full-size carry-on usually has a larger allowance and goes in the overhead bin.
How many liters is an 18 x 14 x 8 backpack?
A perfect rectangular box with those exterior measurements would hold about 33 liters. Real backpacks typically offer less usable capacity because of padding, curved edges, seams and compartments. Most genuinely compliant personal-item backpacks fall between 20 and 28 liters.
Can a 35L backpack be a personal item?
Usually not when fully packed. Some soft 35L bags may fit under a seat when lightly loaded, but many have frames or back panels longer than 18 inches. If your airline checks bags in a sizer, choose based on published exterior dimensions rather than liter capacity.
What is the best personal item backpack for international travel?
The Osprey Daylite 26+6L is the safest choice from this list because its unexpanded dimensions are compact. International limits vary widely and may include a weight maximum, so always verify the operating airline’s current policy.
What is the best carry-on backpack for women?
The Lululemon Cruiser 35L is my favorite for its streamlined look, clamshell organization and supportive harness. Petite travelers or anyone carrying less weight may prefer the shorter Osprey Daylite 26+6L.
Will airlines measure a personal item backpack?
They can. Some gate agents ask passengers to place personal items in a metal sizer, particularly on fares that charge separately for overhead carry-ons. A soft bag being “close enough” is not a guarantee.
Final Verdict
The Lululemon Cruiser Travel Backpack 35L is my overall winner for travelers who want a stylish, comfortable and exceptionally useful carry-on backpack. It has enough space for a real weekend wardrobe, a thoughtful clamshell layout and better travel-specific support than most lifestyle backpacks.
For a true 18 x 14 x 8 personal item bag, choose the Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6L and keep it unexpanded. It is the strongest combination of compliant dimensions, suitcase-style packing and carrying comfort-and the one I would choose when an unexpected gate fee could cost more than the extra space is worth.
