1. Tortuga Travel Backpack: Best Carry-On Backpack Overall
For dashing from country to country and city to city like the traveling pro you are, no bag can match space efficiency, durability, or style that the 40L Tortuga Travel Backpack brings to the table. There’s a reason it tops our list of the best carry-on backpacks.
The front-loader main compartment makes the Tortuga Travel Backpack open just like a suitcase, and it has plenty of open space for all the clothes you could possibly need for a successful one-bag adventure. But you organizers out there needn’t worry; there are ample pockets in this travel pack as well.
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Gear such as laptops and tablets will find dedicated sleeves, while anything and everything from underwear to toothbrushes can find a home in one of the many accessory pockets. Plus, the nearly indestructible sailcloth exterior will stand up to all the rigors of international travel.
But what the sailcloth boasts in durability it lacks in rigidity. So all the space and compartments available to you can be a bit bulgy, especially if you’re an over-packer. This may lead to an awkward sizing situation as you’re trying to board your flight with a large bulging bag as a carry-on. And be warned, that if you’re a superb over-packer, the bag may not fit in the carry-on sizing box at all!
Keep an eye on size, and utilize the padded shoulder straps and removable belt to distribute the extra heft this bag has.
The Tortuga Travel Backpack isn’t overly complicated. It has just the right features to keep you organized, and the comfort and durability make this travel pack really stand out from the crowd of carry-on backpacks.
Pros
- Incredibly durable sailcloth material
- Practically identical bag available in 35L and 45L
- Intuitively organized pockets and sleeves
- Plenty of open space for clothing storage
Cons
- Can easily expand beyond official carry-on size restrictions with a lot of gear stuffing
- A little on the heavy side