9 Best Carry-On Backpacks for Owning the Overhead Bin in 2025
Each of these carry-on backpacks will help you get through security in style.
The best carry-on backpacks have an big impact on our overall travel comfort: Pick the wrong one and you’ll end up hauling what feels like an oversized load through a never-ending airport terminal. Compound that with strict airline regulations that only allow for backpacks that can fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin, and suddenly, finding the best carry-on pack can feel like a tall order. That’s why we tested a grip of the best technical and fashionable carry-on backpacks for every kind of traveler, from aesthetic objets d’art to carry-on travel backpacks that look as good in the TSA line as they do in a meeting or on the trail. With spring break travels picking up soon, all of these picks will have you looking and feeling like a first-class traveler (even in basic economy).
Best Carry-on Backpack Overall: Peak Design Travel Backpack, $300 Best Budget Carry-On Backpack: Jansport Venture Pack, $150 Best Lightweight Carry-On Backpack: Aer Travel Backpack 3, $249 Best Carry-On Backpack You Can Wear Multiple Ways: Topo Designs Global Travel Bag, $229 Best Carry-On Backpack for Day Trips: Yeti Ranchero, $275 Best Carry-On Backpack for Travel: CalPak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack, $175 Best Water-Resistant Carry-On Backpack: Rains Rolltop Large Backpack, $170 Best Everyday Carry-On Backpack: Lululemon Cruiser Backpack 23L, $168
Planning a trip is stressful enough, so packing the bag should be the easy part. Right? If only all bag companies took a cue from Peak Design's playbook, because its Travel Backpack is the ideal companion for all journeys short and long. This 45-liter bag has a black-hole-like interior, where organization and ease of access take precedence so that packing and unpacking your bag is a breeze. Ingenious storage solutions—like hidden exterior storage straps and zippered pockets throughout the inside and outside of the bag—might get you confused as to where exactly you put that travel adapter, but that's a minor complaint for all the ways you can optimize the storage to bring literally everything you want and need. The biggest selling point of this bag is that despite its massive size, you can compress it to be a 35-liter bag so it's more convenient to tote on the daily. Either way, you'll have no issue getting this on your plane without having to argue with TSA about it passing the carry-on size requirements. Jansport, the brand of backpack you probably carried in high school, recently released a carry-on-sized backpack that's graduated from carrying pencils and a couple textbooks. The Venture Pack is a hefty backpack with one large main compartment, which fully opens for ease of access. We like that there's a laptop sleeve that's designed to sit closer to the wearer's back so it feels more secure, making it harder for pickpockets to access if you're too busy burying your head in Google Maps. Compression straps are great for overpackers who like to squeeze as much air out of their goods as possible so that the pack can actually squeeze into that overhead bin. For wearability, the bag features a perimeter wireframe suspension system and an adjustable torso length so that your stuff doesn't feel as heavy once you're strapped in. Additionally, you can buy the separate Venture Daypack, which buckles into the Venture Pack so that you can carry double the load: one on your back and one at the front. Is it a good look? Well, it's a look, and you'll increase just how much stuff you can carry. Clearly you're looking for a carry-on to wear as a backpack, but say your back is killing you one day. Maybe you want a backpack that can also be shoulder bag. Hell, what if it were sort of a duffel too? The Topo Designs Global Travel Bag can be held those three ways to accommodate your travel style, but above all else, it's a great way to get from point A to point B with all of your stuff (and anymore things you might gather along the way). The main compartment has a zipper that opens all the way so you can get to your things more easily without blindly rummaging through your belongings to find something. Another not-as-large compartment holds flatter items, which can be easily organized into neat little zippered pocket. To get the most out of your Global Travel Bag, get the brand's packing cubes to maximize the already-large space. If your bag's already heavy and you still need to back a week's worth of gear in there, well, your chiropractor's going to be busy in a couple weeks. Luckily, Aer's lightweight Travel Pack 3 clocks in at just a tad over four pounds so you can load it up with all the clothes you can humanly imagine bringing on your trip, just shy of packing your whole dresser. A bevy of zippered pockets around the exterior of the bag means your phone, passport, boarding pass, etc. have a dedicated home so that they can easily be accessed amid the chaos of going to your destination via plane, train, or automobile. Compression straps mean you can cram just a tad extra into this slightly small bag, but above all else, you'll be able to hoof it with your backpack without having to schedule a post-vacation spinal realignment session. What does a brand that makes coolers and insulated tumblers know about bags? Apparently a lot, because Yeti's recently released (like, yesterday) Ranchero has all the makings for your next favorite travel bag. The 27-liter Ranchero (also available in a smaller 20-liter option) has a Y-shaped opening that makes getting into the thing a breeze, especially if you need something that would be at the bottom of the pack. The dual buckled exterior act as compression straps, as well as extra storage, say if you want to attach your jacket to the outside of the bag. “I love the way the bag opens completely," GQ's senior commerce editor Ian Burke says. "I've tested a lot of bags in my day, but this Y-shaped opening is a new one for me. It makes it super easy to pack bulkier items like shoes or gym gear without having to blindly stuff them in. The big water bottle pouches are a nice touch, too.” Like any good travel companion, there are loads of zippers, pouches, and pockets, so you don't have to make like your dad and wear cargo pants through the TSA. Small but mighty, the Alo Stow Backpack has a matte neoprene shell which (aside from being water-resistant) makes the pack soft and malleable while always keeping its shape—even when I’m cramming it in between seats. I like that its chunky, jam-free zippers allow me to grab it and open compartments from any angle, too. While other backpack straps have a way of twisting and feeling like daggers cutting into my shoulders, Alo figured out the delicate balance of having lightweight straps that can support up to 75 pounds of weight against my back while staying firmly in place. The roomy main compartment, two exterior zipper pockets, water bottle pouch, interior pocket, and laptop sleeve that can fit my entire packing list just sweeten the deal. The torture of a long-haul flight is usually followed up by what feels like equally long Uber wait times—which can make even the lightest of backpacks start to feel heavy. Thankfully, the CalPak Terra 26L’s best feature is that it easily converts from backpack to duffel in under five seconds, making it a pleasure to stand in line with. (Its adjustable shoulder straps are also detachable for even more versatility.) But perhaps its most impressive feature is the compression straps with buckles that keep anything important or fragile from shifting around inside. Made from recycled ripstop polyester, it also sports a 17” laptop sleeve and comes with a bonus sling bag. I’ve been a fan of Rains since I first acquired their waterproof (read: basically floodproof) backpack, which I still use to this day. I’m equally infatuated with their Rolltop Rucksack: Minimalist, refined, durable, and with black-hole-levels of storage, this bag’s sensibly sized dimensions allow for easy storage under an airline seat or in the overhead bin. The rolled top secures with a lobster clasp to make sure I can tightly squeeze in all of my chargers and gear or let things breathe a little if I’m simply packing a hoodie or two. I also thoroughly enjoy the side pockets which ensure I'm able to slip in everything from my earbuds to a pack of gum with ease. Plus, there’s a two-year warranty should anything happen to your pack. As a frequent traveler, storage is a huge priority for me, and when I found this high-quality backpack from Lululemon in a retro-fun style, I immediately had to have it. The Lululemon Cruiser has a pocket for everything and then some, from the external hard shell case that protects my favorite sunnies to the quick-access side and front pockets where I stash toiletries and travel-sized packets of Morning Kick (the Chuck Norris-approved digestion aid I swear by to combat fatigue, traveler’s tummy and jet lag on trips). Despite being so slim, this bag had a solid amount of padding meant for laptop protection and a strap to slip it right onto your rolling bag. I also love that the poly-nylon fabric is water-repellent and made to keep everything safe even when I inevitably spill my inflight drink. First of all, you need to be able to, well, carry on your carry-on bag—which means it’s got to be small enough to squeeze by airline restrictions (you’re generally safe with anything 40L or smaller). A true goldilocks carry-on luggage pick features multiple pockets and compartments, is comfortable enough to lug through an airport, and looks good enough to make us feel stylish even on the most brutal of travel days. Bonus points for extras including packing cubes, hip belts, water bottle storage, laptop sleeves, water resistance, and easy-access compartments. Most importantly, make sure to pick the carry-on backpack that works best for you—i.e., don’t just snag the first pack you find on Amazon without making sure it addresses your specific travel needs. GQ has been testing and reviewing men’s backpacks for years, and we’re currently conducting in-depth testing on the top carry-on travel packs. We’ll continue to update our selections in this guide as we pack, carry on, and rack up air miles with these bags. When evaluating the best travel backpacks and carry-on backpacks, we first consider durability. Does the bag have durable fabric, internal frames, or waterproofing? Next, we consider how much travel gear can be stored inside. Access is also important, and we check to see how easily we can reach our items from the various pockets and compartments. When we go hands-on, we load up the backpacks with gear and other personal items to see how comfortable they are during long walks. We hate back sweat as much as any traveler, and we’re looking for bags with generous and comfy padding in all the right places. Finally, we check to see how much wear and tear the bag sustains. Whenever possible, we used the bags as carry-ons during air travel to see how travel-friendly (and “carry-on size”) they really are. Since this is GQ, there’s one final test: the fit test. We want to see which bags earn unsolicited compliments and look best on our backs. Call us vain if you like, but we believe looking your best is a sign of self-respect and its own reward.
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