For this buyer’s guide I researched 22 carry-on backpacks, tested 10, and settled on 7 winners. I physically reviewed and tested every one of these!
Of course, not everyone needs a carry-on backpack for the same purposes. A frequent business traveler is clearly going to want something different from a student heading off to backpack around Europe. That’s why I’ve included some versatile all-rounders as well as some more specialized bags.
A carry-on backpack lets you travel without ever checking-in your luggage, and will also give you a much more versatile solution than your typical wheeled luggage.
Do keep in mind that carry-on size limits are not strictly standardized across every airline. Some lower-tier airlines use their own weird size restrictions.
For example, in Europe the ultra-budget airline Ryanair can be difficult with their carry-on limits. Then again, flying Ryanair is like flying on a prison bus, and their business model is built around selling you add-ons. There are other budget airlines like this around the world. But broadly speaking, the backpacks on this page all conform to generally accepted carry-on size norms.
Elsewhere, I also have a guide on how to travel light with some neat tips on how to pack efficiently and minimally.
Note: this buyer’s guide is fully independent, i.e. no sponsorships of any kind.
Quick Overview: Best carry-on backpacks
Tortuga Setout
Top Choice
- Maximum carry-on size
- Clamshell-style main compartment
- Laptop & organizer compartments
Osprey Farpoint 40
- Clamshell-style main compartment
- Great for hostelling & budget travel
- Detachable shoulder strap included
Osprey Porter 46 (US only)
- Front-loading
- Many side-pockets and a travel organizer
- Laptop compartment at the back
Tortuga Outbreaker 45
- Everything I like about the Tortuga Setout
- Made of premium sailcloth
- Fully adjustable suspension system
Best general carry-on backpacks
Top pick Tortuga Setout
Price $199
Pros
- Maximum carry-on size
- Clamshell-style main compartment
- Great suspension system
- Not too heavy
Cons
- No major cons
Tortuga Setout is the best all-purpose carry-on backpack that I’ve come across. This 45-liter pack has a clamshell design, giving you easy access to all your stuff. You will also find a ton of handy pockets and organizers inside.
The Setout is clearly designed to be a versatile tool, making it easy to recommend for any type of trip. If you’re using it mainly for urban or air travel, then that’s great! But if you want to take this on a more adventurous trip, then it’s equally suited for that as well.
The harness of the Setout is kind of a big deal for a travel bag. It has thick comfy straps, a back panel with proper padding and ventilation space, and even a hip belt with two spacious zipped pockets for quick access. (This is a feature normally found on trekking bags. But if you don’t like it, you can detach it.) A laptop or tablet compartment sits in the back, which is ideally placed for load balancing. On the side it has a large mesh bottle holder, which could also hold a small tripod.
A grey heathered material on the outside and a white interior make the Setout quite stylish as well — though without screaming “tourist” or drawing needless attention. The main material is 900 denier polyester which has a water-resistant coating.
Again, this bag is all about versatility. If you don’t want to carry it as a backpack, you can detach the harness and attach a shoulder strap. Ta-da: it’s now a duffel bag!
The Tortuga Setout currently retails for $199 (via Tortuga’s online shop), and I think in this price category it’s the best carry-on backpack you can get. You can also read my in-depth review here.
Osprey Farpoint 40
Price $140
Pros
- Clamshell-style main compartment
- Lightweight, great for backpacking
- Budget priced
- Detachable shoulder strap included
Cons
- Intense neon green interior on some versions
- Lack of clever storage spaces (packing cubes recommended)
The Farpoint 40 is one of the most popular backpacks around, and often seen in backpacker hostels all over the world. I myself traveled around South America and Asia with one of these continuously for two years. The Farpoint 40 is designed to be lightweight and budget-friendly, though I do think it also lacks a few clever organizational features found on other bags.
The big selling point of the Farpoint 40 is its fully padded harness. This means the Farpoint 40 is comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time, making it more than just a transit bag. This is why it’s popular with backpackers who may need to walk around town to find a place to stay or hike up to a hostel in the countryside. I even took it trekking in the Himalayas for a week and had no issues (even though it is not really a trekking backpack).
The design is quite appealing, though I do feel the internal lime green color is a bit over-the-top (apparently this makes it easier to find things, but I don’t know if this is worth it!). It uses a mix of 600D and 210D nylon which is fine, though these lighter materials might not quite satisfy the most hardcore travelers. The Farpoint 40 is best suited for light packers and for hostel-style travel.
The Farpoint 40 comes in S/M and M/L editions. As of 2017, there’s also the Osprey Fairview 40, which is the exact same bag but with a women’s specific fit and a different color.
Best duffel-style carry-ons
Osprey Porter 46 (US only)
Price $140
Pros
- Front-loading
- Many side-pockets and a travel organizer
- Laptop compartment at the back (better balance!)
- Stow-away harness
Cons
- Harness not quite as good as Farpoint or Setout
- Lime green interior (though this is a matter of taste)
The Porter 46 is a duffel-style bag that also has a harness, allowing you to carry it as a backpack. It’s made of thicker material than the Farpoint 40 and has padded foam walls that stand up when empty. It has plenty of side-pockets and a built-in travel organizer. I think its harness is not quite as good or well-padded as other backpacks reviewed here, though it still makes for a good general purpose carry-on bag. It excels mostly with its great organizational features and neat protective shell.
The Porter 46 seems ideal for urban and air travel. If you’re going on very long or outdoorsy adventures, I would suggest getting a bag with a more advanced harness like the Farpoint 40 or Tortuga Setout.
Note that this backpack is available from Osprey US but not from Osprey Europe. You can read my full review here.
(The Porter 46 was updated in 2017. I reviewed this newest edition.)
Osprey Transporter 40
Best for expeditions, storing climbing gear, sports equipment, etc.
Price $110
Pros
- Extremely tough material
- 4 grab handles
- Stow-away harness
- Superb for active outdoors use
Cons
- While tough, it’s not so versatile
This bag is not a race car nor an SUV; it’s a tank.
Made of laminated 840D nylon and double-coated for weather-resistance, it’s designed to be a workhorse. No, it doesn’t come with a laptop compartment or side pockets or little spaces to keep your pens or keys or whatnot. It’s not that kind of bag. It just gives you one big storage space with four big carry handles and a stowable backpack harness.
This is a super durable adventure carry-on bag. It’s designed to be thrown around and you can trust it to keep your gear secure and protected from the elements. It can certainly be carried on your back, but it would be equally at home in the back of a pickup truck or in a garage or on a boat. If you need to carry any sporting gear or expedition gear, this is your best bet.
As a traveler and digital nomad, I need my bags to be light and versatile. But when testing the Transporter 40, it’s clear to me that it serves a specific purpose extremely well. I reviewed the 40L carry-on sized version, though it has bigger versions up to a whopping 130 liters. The Transporter 40 comes in a small stuff sack, so you can compress it way down for storage.
(The Transporter 40 was updated in 2018. I reviewed this newest edition.)
Best premium carry-on backpacks
Top Choice Tortuga Outbreaker 45
Best for long-term travelers.
Price $299
Pros
- Everything I like about the Tortuga Setout
- Made of premium sailcloth
- Fully adjustable suspension system
Cons
- Boxy design
- Heavier than the Setout
This bag has the same features and advantages as the Setout reviewed earlier on this page, but with a few key differences (besides the $100 difference in price).
Firstly, it has a fully adjustable suspension system. This means you can precisely adjust this bag to your particular height, giving you the maximum possible comfort. It’s a feature normally reserved for advanced trekking- or adventure bags. Secondly, instead of normal polyester or nylon, this backpack is made of sailcloth (yep, exactly what boat sails are made of). This material consists of four separate layers giving ultimate durability and weather-resistance. While surely overkill for just a weekend trip, this bag is made with the seasoned world traveler in mind.
I do think its design is a bit awkwardly boxy, though it does aim for maximum volume within the carry-on limits.
Minaal Carry-On 2.0
Ideal for businesspeople & digital nomads
Price $299
Pros
- Focused on minimalist travel
- Integrated packing cubes
- Lots of clever features
Cons
- A little pricey
- Not maximum carry-on size
The result of a popular Kickstarter campaign, the Minaal 2.0 has a clean look and numerous ways to manage your items inside. I think it’s a great bag in particular for business travelers and city-hopping digital nomads, as it really invites you to pack minimally with just your laptop + electronics and a few neatly organized clothing essentials.
One of the cool things about this bag is its clamshell-style main compartment has several integrated packing cubes already included. If you get a kick out of traveling in a minimalist style, then you’ll surely enjoy this feature. With a capacity of about 35L, it has a streamlined shape and light design, though its modest size can make it arguably a bit less versatile than other packs I’ve reviewed for this guide.
The Minaal 2.0 is a concept bag that’s sure to appeal to one-bag enthusiasts and urban travelers. On the other hand, it may not be the obvious choice for more outdoorsy or adventurous trips, and its price tag may be a little high for the average traveler.
Comparison table best carry-on backpacks in 2019
Finally, a quick comparison of all the backpacks mentioned in this post. The prices are approximate as this can be affected by color choices and sizes. (Click the links to see the most up-to-date prices.)
| Backpack | Type | Size | Price | My rating |
| Tortuga Setout | General | 45L | $199 | 5.0 |
| Osprey Farpoint 40 | Backpacking | 40L | $160 | 4.5 |
| Osprey Fairview 40 | Backpacking | 40L | $160 | 4.5 |
| Osprey Porter 46 | Duffel | 46L | $140 | 4.5 |
| Osprey Transporter 40 | Heavy/expedition | 40L | $110 | 4.0 |
| Tortuga Outbreaker 45 | General/nomad | 45L | $299 | 4.5 |
| Minaal Carry-on 2.0 | Business/nomad | 35L | $299 | 4.5 |
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Awesome review! I just bought the Patagonia Cragsmith 45L as a travel/gear hauler, but will probably return it. I’m afraid it’s too big for getting by as carry on. It’s one of those tall skinny packs that just looks too big. If they made it 3″ shorter and 1.5″ deeper, the profile would be much lower and maintain a good volume.
I looked at the Osprey Porter 46 today. Awesome pack, just didn’t love the style, and the harness felt a little small on me (6’1″). Never heard of tortuga. The outbreaker looks great, just wish it came in the setout gray and wasn’t so $$$.
Awesome reviews!
I’m debating on the Farpoint 40 and the Porter 46, but i was also looking at the Kelty Redwing 44 as well. I’m not sure if you had any experience with the Kelty, but I thought I’d ask. My main want is to make sure I can use the bag as a carry-on with MOST airlines. Secondly I want something I can carry for long periods of time without having to worry about comfort. I plan to backpack Europe next year for a month, but I also want something I can use on most trips and want to replace my carry-on suitcase with a backpack. I felt the Kelty was more breathable and had better straps, even though you can’t store them but these are based on reviews as I have not and probably won’t have the chance to try them on before purchasing.
Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance!
For carry-on compliance and back comfort I’d recommend the Farpoint 40 over the Porter 46. Haven’t checked out the Kelty yet (though it’s on my list to review)!
Hi Marek,
Great and in-depth of the bags.
I am comtempating to buy the Osprey Farpoint 40, Osprey Porter 46, or Tortuga Setout.
I saw a review about the Setout that there is no load lifters so the bag tend to tilt back. Also with longer torso, the shoulder strap and the hip belt tend to be too close.
Did you encounter either problem?
I like the Farpoint 40 for the comfort shoulder straps and hip belts but dislike it same as you mentioned for lack of organization, laptop in front (instead in back), and green interior (livable but not likable).
The Porter 46 2017 solves for what the Farpoint doesn’t have but the hip belt is small and shoulder strap doesn’t seem as comfortable.
Each of the 3 bags is missing one or the other.
Would like to get your take since you have all 3 and used them.
I am not budget conscious as all are within $100 of each other but more important is comfort, good organization, and quality.
Thanks!
Hi Dan. That’s a great question. I think the Setout combines the best of the other two bags you’ve mentioned: it has organization like the Porter and a good suspension system like the Farpoint. That makes me like the Setout the most out of these 3 bags.
I haven’t had a problem with the lack of load lifters personally (the load hasn’t been flopping around or been too far removed from my back). But I do have a long torso (I’m 1.94m) and with my height the Setout’s hip belt is a little higher than ideal. If your budget allows you could also look at the Tortuga Outbreaker – I think it’s not quite as stylish as the Setout, but it has load lifters and can be fully adjusted to your torso length.
Hi Merek,
Thanks for getting back to my inquires!
Appreciate the feedback based on your real life experience of the 3 bags.
It seems like the Setout seems to be shine in terms of comfort, organization, look and feel, and good value for money.
I just click on Tortuga website and the Setout is temporarily out of stock.
Will check back again later
Best,
Dan
FYI, I got an email from Tortuga saying they’ll be out of stock until June. Apparently the Setout proved a bit more popular than anticipated.
Great article! I have been thinking about getting the Tortuga Setout and you have me sold. I have an older version of a Tortuga bag and have wanted to update. Thank you!!!
If you liked the older Tortugas I bet you’ll like the Setout. It’s a really nice upgrade from the previous designs!