What Size Backpack Is Allowed On International Carry-on?
What size backpack you can bring on an international flight depends on the airline and the rules of the country you are visiting. Use these general rules to figure out what size backpack you can bring with you.
Most airlines allow the largest carry-on bags, which are about 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 inches). This applies to both bags and backpacks. However, keep in mind that these sizes can change, so always check with your airline before your flight.
Airlines may limit the size and weight of large and heavy items that passengers bring on board. These limits are usually between 15 and 22 pounds (7 to 10 kg). Remember that you might have to check your bag, even if it’s the right size and weight.
Also, remember that different airlines have different rules about carry-on bags. This is very important for low-cost airlines and flights with smaller planes, as the weight and size limits may drop even more.
If you want to be sure it can handle the rules, you should buy a backpack that is made to be carried on. Most of the time, these backpacks are made to fit within the allowed sizes. They also have features like compression straps that help you use space efficiently.
Generally, carry-on backpacks can be less significant than 22 x 14 x 9 inches. However, there are different size limits for international flights. But it’s always a good idea to call your airline to ensure there aren’t any issues with your trip.
5 Best Carry-on Backpacks Of 2024
1. Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
Pros:
- Extra-durable material
- Very comfortable with several carry methods
- Less heavy and more durable than new models
Cons:
- Nothing Yet
Is there a perfect backpack for traveling? The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is the only one that comes close. This second version of Cotopaxi’s best-selling backpack is rugged, comfortable, very organized, and just the right size to fit in an overhead bin, drive with, and carry from the train station to your hostel.
The pack is made of heavy-duty 1000-denier polyester with a TPU coating and light 840-denier ballistic nylon panels. The comfortable shoulder, sternum, and hip belts help spread the weight well, and you can hide the straps and carry the bag by its side handles. Inside, there are many different-sized pockets, which we found to be perfect for keeping clean and dirty clothes, electronics, and shoes separate. Plus, it has a rainfly to keep it dry.
2. Osprey Fairview 40
Pros:
- It’s very roomy while still being carry-on-sized.
- Keeps things safe
- A good amount of padding and weight distribution
Cons:
- Nothing Yet
Our tester was impressed by the size, space, and organization of Osprey’s Fairview 40 pack for women. Our test subject said this bag has many sections and straps to keep things in place. Even though the bag was a bit big, our tester said it was still very comfortable. Osprey’s Lightwire Frame Suspension helps spread the weight across the back panel and from the harness to the hip belt.
It’s a 40-liter pack, but it only weighs about 3 pounds because the frame and nylon ripstop material are so light. Our tester said, “It didn’t hurt my back, and I like how most of the weight was moved to my lower back.” Not only did it fit well, but all of the straps can be folded up, which makes it easy to check the bag on a plane (which you can do with this bigger pack on smaller planes). Check out the Farpoint 40 for the same pack made for men.
3. Vancropak 40L Travel Backpack
Pros:
- Great for trips of short to medium length
- Pack that could be used for business trips, too
- Full of features and easy to use
Cons:
- Not enough space for tech
- It’s easy for clothes to get dirty.
This 40-liter pack is excellent value and meets all the requirements. It looks big enough for three to seven-day trips, and we have to agree. “I packed quickly and without much thought or planning,” our tester said. It fits everything.” It’s great for trips over the weekend where you want to bring extra clothes or things “just in case.”
It can even get more prominent to make more room. It opens like a suitcase, has many different handles, and has backpack straps that can be tucked in and quickly snapped shut. Compression straps help the bag get smaller again after it’s been packed.
It also comes with packing cubes if you need more than that to convince you of its worth. A tester also said its business-casual style makes it great for short business trips. One small thing? There’s no place to put a laptop. But the people who tested it thought that the comfort and other features more than made up for that minor problem.
4. Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack
Pros:
- Straps that work
- There are several ways to carry
- Not too heavy
Cons:
- The Style Could Have Been A Hit With Our Tester.
If you liked the cheap pack above, here’s another great-value travel pack. The Asenlin Travel Backpack has three packing cubes, just like the Vancropak. Our testers found plenty of room for everything they needed for a weekend trip. They also liked how the internal straps helped keep things organized and how the external straps squished things together. It comes in three different ways, which testers like.
It has many pockets and places to put things. The side bottle holder can also be unzipped to make it bigger, which is a nice touch. The testers liked that the bag wasn’t too heavy (the company says it weighs less than 3 pounds) and was comfortable to wear. This could also be used as a business tote bag.
5. Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
Pros:
- Excellent capacity
- Simple to use
- Intelligent ways to store things
Cons:
- Costly
Peak Design’s 45-liter travel pack debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Expo in 2018 and quickly won many awards. It still works after a few years. Peak Design made this pack with everything in mind. The outside is made of recycled 400-denier nylon canvas that is waterproof and ultralight padded foam. It has a sternum strap, hip belts that can be stowed, and grab handles on each side. Inside, there are many pockets to keep things in order and enough space for trips of four days or more.
The testers liked how big it was and how the zippers let them open it from four sides. Packing was straightforward, and there were just enough organization options to use different packing methods. I liked how there were a lot of handles, too. The bag is effortless because it has grab handles on all four main sides. This is especially helpful when putting the bag in the overhead compartment.
